Stoll Scores in OT as Kings Send Canucks Packing

Stoll Scores in OT as Kings Send Canucks Packing
Ed Condran

Vancouver, Canada

The Vancouver Canucks were the NHL's best team in the regular season, that won't mean much after an early playoff ouster.

Jarret Stoll scored at 4:27 of overtime to lead the Los Angeles Kings to a 2-1 victory over the top-seeded Canucks in Game 5 of their Western Conference quarterfinal series.

The Kings, seeded eighth in the West, won the series with the Canucks 4-1 and move on to face the Central Division-champion St. Louis Blues in the conference semifinals.

Vancouver took a 1-0 lead with a power play goal with just under six minutes remaining in the first period. Daniel Sedin set up twin brother Henrik for the goal but it would be the only one the Canucks could muster.

It wouldn't be enough.

Brad Richardson tied the game early in the third period. In overtime Trevor Lewis forced Canucks defenseman Dan Hamhuis into a turnover just inside his own blue line. Stoll picked it up and rushed in on a 2-on-1, beating Cory Schneider high to the stick side from the left faceoff circle.

Jonathan Quick made 26 saves for the Kings, who won three road games in a playoff series for the first time in franchise history and won their first playoff series since 2001.

Schneider stopped 35 shots for the Canucks, who recorded a league-best 111 points in the regular season.