Kings win in OT, advance to second round of NHL playoffs

The LA Kings had to go into sudden death overtime to win tonight in Vancouver, but they didn't wait long to score. Jarret Stoll of the Kings shot with 4:27 gone in the overtime period. Then he was mobbed by his teammates in a corner of the ice, while the abashed Canucks waited, stewing, to shake hands with the Kings and get out of view. The Canucks were the NHL's best team in the regular season, and last season had gone to the final round of the Stanley Cup playoffs before losing. Their fans expected much more than for the Canucks to be ousted in the first round, in just five games. The Kings had the worst record of any western team in the playoffs, so this is a major upset in the sport. Last year, there was street violence in Vancouver when the Canucks lost. We'll see what happens tonight.

The Kings will now get about a week off to rest then will play the St. Louis Blues in the second round.

Read up:
TSN Canada
Helene Elliott-LA Times
LA Kings Insider
Mayor's Manor
Frozen Royalty
2011: A cultural critic attends the NHL playoffs

Instant YouTube video of winning goal and post-game handshake:

Photo: Jeff Vinnick/NHLI at TSN.ca