NHL Playoffs 2012: Last Night in the West (April 15)

Published: 16^th Apr 12 10:41 am

by Derek Kessinger
Colorado Blogger

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NHL Playoffs 2012: Last Night in the West (April 15)

Rick Osentoski- US PRESSWIRE

The Los Angeles Kings made history by becoming the first eight seed to go up in a series 3-0, while back in Motown, “Hockey Town” got a jolt. The Eastern Conference will dominate headlines with the Crosby-Giroux fight, while the West series are still very compelling.

Nashville Predators 3 Vs. Detroit Red Wings 2 (Predators Lead Series 2-1)
The Red Wings almost tied the game at two in the second period, but the puck crossed the line a second after time expired and the Red Wings ultimately lost by a goal. Pekka Rinnemade the save of the playoffs to keep the Red Wings down a goal late, and the Predators look to get revenge for two eliminations in the playoffs in the last eight years.

The Predators took an early lead with Shea Weber scoring in the first and Kevin Kline in the second. Pavel Datsyuk scored after that and then almost added the ill-fated second goal. The Predators took a 3-1 lead with a goal from Sergei Kostitsyn. Henrik Zetterberg pulled the Wings within striking distance with one minute remaining, but time expired.

Los Angeles Kings 1 Vs. Vancouver Canucks 0 (Kings Lead Series 3-0)
In hockey, a 1-0 game is often the most exciting. The game culminated in 61 shots andJonathan Quick, who got the shutout, made 41 of the saves. With such lopsided shot margins, it would be easy to say that the Canucks outplayed the Kings, but the Kings were matching the number one seed’s intensity. With the stars aligned in L.A., including Kobe Bryant sitting by the glass, the Kings made a case for hockey to bloom in Los Angeles.

The Kings’ goal was by Dustin Brown, who had two in his previous game and has impacted every goal for the Kings in this series. It is the first 3-0 Kings’ lead in their playoff history, including Gretzky teams. The Canucks, who were in the Stanley Cup Finals last year and won the Presidents’ Trophy for most points in the league, are almost out. Already missingDaniel Sedin, his brother Henrik was hit hard and left the game. He returned later, but did not seem to be all there. Without two of the best players in the world, the Canucks may be nursing their wounds for the summer after game four of the series.

Tonight:
(2) St. Louis at (7) San Jose 10:00 EST on NBC Sports (Blues lead 2-1)

Playing in the East:
Boston vs. Washington
New York vs. Ottawa

Check out Stephanie Lewark’s page for the Last Night in the East

Previous Posts:
Last Night in the West (April 11)
Last Night in the West (April 12)
Last Night in the West (April 13)
Last Night in the West (April 13)

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