Postgame: That's all for tonight, folks. Thank you for following along with Vavel USA's LIVE commentary of Game 3. Have good night!
Postgame: The Kings play another complete game to win another game at the Honda Center. The Ducks outhit and outshot the Kings, but they failed to convert on too many powerplays (going 1 for 4 in the game) and failed to find a way to solve Quick more than once. Los Angeles seemed to collectively play a defensive-minded game, making the most of their rare opportunities tonight. Regardless of the shots, hits, and chances, the Kings found a way to outscore their rival and head back to the City of Angels with a 2-0 series lead. The Kings are relying plenty on Jonathan Quick, who must be driving Anaheim quackers. One Duck who have must be frustrated is Corey Perry, who has yet to register a point for the Ducks in this series. Anaheim will need production from him, among others, if they want to get back in this series.
Third Period 0:00: The Los Angeles Kings win 3-1, taking a commanding 2-0 series lead.
Third Period :29: The Anaheim Ducks take their one and only timeout. Anaheim must score two here to force an overtime, otherwise they head to Los Angeles down 2-0 in this best of seven series.
Third Period :58: Kings goal! Williams totally redeems himself, setting up Dwight King for an empty-netter, all but sealing the win for the Kings. 3-1 Kings.
Third Period 1:23: Justin Williams inadvertently ices the puck while going for the open net. Huge faceoff here between Nick Bonino and Jarret Stoll.
Third Period 1:30: Jonas Hiller heads to the Ducks bench to create a 6 on 5 situation for the Ducks.
Third Period 2:30: Los Angeles is doing a great job keeping Anaheim out of the offensive zone. Not a lot of time left for the Ducks to tie.
Third Period 4:02: The final TV Timeout of the third finds the Ducks still searching for the tying goal. Quick has been sensational for Los Angeles, even though the team in front of him has been terrific defensively. The Kings-especially Jonathan Quick- will have to have their best four mintues of the series here to escape victorious.
Third Period 6:00: Anaheim is pushing for the tie, but the Kings are playing a suffocating defensive game, barely allowing Anaheim to pentrate the zone.
Third Period 7:48: Los Angeles can be more comfortable than most teams with a one goal lead, so long as Quick is between the pipes and on top of his game. They can expect everything from Anaheim in the final minutes of this third. If they can limit the scoring opportunities for the ducks, they may be able to hold on. expect to see Getzlaf and Perry out quite a bit from here on out for the Ducks.
Third Period 9:15: This is setting up to be another fantastic end to a third period for these two teams. Both teams are continuing to test the opposing goaltender, but Hiller and Quick are coming up big. Look for the Ducks to play a more desperate brand of hockey as they try to tie this game.
Third Period 12:19: Both teams are back to full strength. The Ducks had two shots on the powerplay. 2-1 Kings.
Third Period 14:19: Los Angeles is heading back to the penalty box. Slava Voynov is called holding.
Third Period 15:30: A frantic pace to this third as both teams are producing chances at both ends of the ice. The Ducks seem desperate to tie this game, firing from all over the ice. Quick has been a wall tonight.
Third Period 18:10: Anaheim kills off the overlapping penalty from the second period, keeping the Kings from registering a shot on the opportunity.
Third Period 19:08: Andrew Cogliano with a huge shorthanded breakaway opportunity, but Quick makes the save.
Second Intermission: Shots for the second: 12-5 in favor of Anaheim, while both teams registered 10 hits each in the second period.
Second Intermission: From a Kings Perspective: Although they are currently being outshot 22-13 by Anaheim, the stat does not reflect the strong defensive game Los Angeles is playing. The Kings are playing a tight defensive game, allowing many low-percentage shots. When the Kings allow a quality chance- which was rare in the second period- Quick is there to bail his team out. If they can convert on this upcoming powerplay early in the third, their defensive style that has been on display through the first forty minutes may be their ticket to a 2-0 series lead heading back to the Staples Center Thursday night for Game 3.
Second Intermission: From a Ducks Perspective- Another solid period for Anaheim. Unfortunately nothing tangible to show for it. The Ducks continued to play a physical game, seemingly targeting Drew Doughty of the Kings. Anaheim visited the box twice that period, probably two more times than what they would have liked. They have tested Quick many times, but Quick has been up to every challenge. They can hope to continue to pepper Quick with shots and hope one finds a way past him to tie this game up.
Second Period :10: Anaheim Ducks are going to the box again, as Matt Beleskey gets caught tripping Drew Doughty of Los Angeles. Kings on their third man advantage of the contest, yet still looking for their first powerplay goal.
Second Period 1:40: More end-to-end action as both teams are finding a new level to the physical play. More action after the whistle, accompanied by more chatter between the two teams. We can only guess what they're saying out there.
Second Period 5:11: Doughty is back on the ice for Los Angeles. Kings fans can breathe again.
Second Period 7:15: Drew Doughty is heading to the locker room with an apparent injury. This could be bad news for the Kings. Details will be provided once they are received.
Second Period 9:16: Matt Beleskey heads to the box for interference. Second powerplay for the Kings, who are 0 for 1 thus far.
Second Period 9:41: Second TV Timeout. The Kings dominated on the penalty kill, even out-chancing Anaheim as Jeff Carter nearly caught Hiller off-guard with a slapshot from the right wing. Lets see if the Kings can build some momentum off that kill.
Second Period 10:31: The Kings keep the Ducks to a single shot on the powerplay opportunity. Still 2-1 Kings.
Second Period 12:31: Jarret Stolll of the Kings heads to the box, bringing the Ducks powerplay back on to the ice. Not what the Kings want at this point in the game.
Second Period 13:03: Ducks kill off the penalty.
Second Period 14:05: Alec Martinez misses an open net. Ducks catch a break and the game stays at 2-1 for the Kings.
Second Period 15:04: Patrick Maroon of the Ducks is called for slashing. More 4 on 4 hockey.
Second Period 16:39: Perry crashes the Kings net hard, much to the dismay of Jonathan Quick and his teammates. Quick is called for roughing, with Gaborik serving the time in the box for his goaltender.
Second Period 17:50: Both teams are off to a hard hitting start to the second. No clear-cut scoring opportunities yet, but plenty of hits.
First Intermission: The Ducks outhit the Kings 20-18. Shots were 10-8 in favor of Anaheim.
First Intermission: From a Kings Perspective- Los Angeles built off their stellar comeback in Game 1 with a quick strike early in the first. This gave them control of the game, until a trip to the box cost them their lead. Their penalty kill, which has been spectacular the past few games, allowed Maroon of the Ducks to score from right in front of the net. Besides this, the Kings played a near flawless period, scoring twice and establishing a physical style to the start of this game. Quick has made some huge saves so far, and will most likely need to make a few more to keep the Ducks offense grounded.
First Intermission: From a Ducks Perspective- The Ducks finally found a powerplay marker, which should be huge for thier confidence. The Kings seemed to put the Ducks back on their heels early with a goal only seconds in, but Anaheim regained their composure to play a physical, relatively effective first period. If they continue with this gameplay, they will give the Kings all they can handle.
First Period 3:00: Gaborik with another chance, but Hiller makes a huge save to keep it at 2-1.
First Period 3:41: Third TV timeout. Although the lead belongs to Los Angeles, the Ducks seem to have a lsight edge thus far in the first period. Anaheim has a 9-5 advantage in shots up to this point.
First Period 7:53: Kings goal! Alec Martinez blasts one from the point that finds a way through Hiller. 2-1 Kings. Tyler Toffoli with the assist.
First Period 8:39: Second TV Timeout. The Ducks convert on their powerplay opportunity and even the score at one. Both teams are still flying at a pace unlike that of Game 1's first period. Hiller and Quick are making some great saves to keep the score low.
First Period 10:20: Ducks goal! Pat Maroon banks a shot off of Jake Muzzin's skate to make it 1-1.
First Period 10:39: Maroon has a big chance out fron for Anaheim, but Quick stretches out with the glove to keep the Ducks off the scoreboard.
First Period 11:06: Drew Doughty is called for hooking. The Ducks will start this powerplay with a 4 on 3 advantage.
First Period 11:31: Devante Smith Pelly has the Ducks first great scoring chance, but Quick makes another highlight reel save. Still 1-0 Kings.
First Period 11:43: Greene gets two minutes for roughing, and Bryan Allen of the Ducks receives a roughing minor as well. 4 on 4 action for the first time tonight.
First Period 11:43: First TV Timeout. Patrick Maroon of the Ducks takes a shot that seemed after the whistle blew and Matt Greene took exception.Lets see if this meeting results in some time in the box for Maroon and Greene.
First Period 13:00: Nick Bonino of the Ducks has a great chance in the slot, but fans on the attempt.
First Period 14:39: It's a fast-paced start to the first period. Both teams have had some chances early, but only Marian Gaborik of Los Angeles has found the net. Still 1-0 Kings in what is a heavy-hitting Game 2.
First Period 18:03: Tyler Toffoli of Los Angeles is robbed by Jonas Hiller. Toffoli tried to convert a Tanner Pearson rebound, but Hiller flashed the glove to keep the game at 1-0.
First Period 19:26: Kings goal! The duo of Kopitar and Gaborik connect again. Kopitar catches Gaborik in full stride, feeds him with a perfect pass up the left side, and Gaborik puts it over Hiller's glove. 1-0 Kings
First Period 20:00: The puck is dropped and we are under way!
Pregame: We are just over thirty minutes from the start of Game 2. Stay with Vavel USA for up to the minute coverage of tonight's contest from Anaheim, California.
Pregame: The goaltending matchup will be the same as it was in Game 1, as Jonathan Quick will start for Los Angeles opposite of Jonas Hiller for the Ducks.
Pregame: Ryan Getzlaf, the Anaheim Hart Trophy candidate, has seven points in his last five games. Look for him to lead the dangerously deep Duck attack.
Pregame: Tongiht's contest should be intense from the opening faceoff. Anaheim will be looking to get on the board early, taking the Kings- and their fans who made their way to the Honda Center- out of it early. The Kings will look to build off their momentum obtained from the thrilling Overtime victory of Game 1. With that win, the Kings have strung together five straight wins, dating back to the Quaterfinal series against San Jose.
Pregame: Tonight will be Schultz's debut with the Kings. Since signing with the Kings in the offseason, Jeff Schultz has only seen action with the Kings AHL affliate, the Manchester Monarchs.
Pregame: Los Angeles looks to be without Defenseman Robyn Reghr this evening. Reghr left Game 1 after taking a hit from Anaheim's Teemu Selanne. Look for veteran Jeff Schultz to replace Reghr in the lineup. Schultz played for current Anaheim Ducks Coach Bruce Boudreau while both were with the Washington Capitals. Also out for Los Angeles is veteran Defenseman Willie Mitchell.
Pregame: Marian Gaborik was the hero in Game 1 for Los Angeles, tying the game at two with only seven seconds left in regulation. Gaborik once again came up big for the Kings, netting the game winner in Overtime. Look for Gaborik and the NHL's leading scorer- Anze Kopitar- to lead the Kings offense in Game 2.
Pregame: Happy Cinco de Mayo folks and welcome to Vavel USA's coverage of Game 2 of the NHL Western Conference Semifinals. Tonight's matchup between the visiting Los Angeles Kings and the Anaheim Ducks is set to be another intense battle between the two rivals. The opening faceoff from the Honda Center in Anaheim, California is scheduled for 7:00 Pacific.