Kings were seconds away

ANAHEIM - The Los Angeles Kings were seconds away from falling behind 1-0 in the Western Conference second round until Marian Gaborik altered their fate. Fake Balenciaga Shoes . After a comeback victory in Game 1, Gaborik and the Kings will shoot for a 2-0 lead when they visit the Anaheim Ducks for Mondays Game 2 battle at Honda Center. You can see all the action on TSN beginning at 9:30pm et/6:30pm pt. Gaborik tied the game late in regulation and scored the winner 12:07 into overtime to help Los Angeles rally for a 3-2 win in Game 1 on Saturday. It was the first-ever playoff meeting between the longtime Pacific Division rivals, who are battling for Southern California supremacy and a right to play in the Western Conference finals. The Kings acquired Gaborik from Columbus for forward Matt Frattin and two draft picks at the trade deadline, and the move has paid off big so far in the postseason. With his two-goal effort on Saturday, the Slovakian sniper now has five tallies in the 2014 playoffs, placing him in a four-way tie for the league lead. The Kings were trailing 2-1 after Teemu Selanne scored earlier in the third period, and they pulled goaltender Jonathan Quick for an extra attacker. It appeared the Ducks were poised to win this one in regulation after Ducks goalie Jonas Hiller made stops on Anze Kopitar and a rebound chance by Justin Williams inside the final minute. However, Mike Richards threw the puck on net from the left boards in the dying seconds, and Gaborik was able to knock the rebound out of the air and between the pads of Hiller with just seven ticks showing to force overtime. "Its a playoff game so youre never going to see teams lay down," said Los Angeles head coach Darryl Sutter. "We were just working hard to tie the game." On the winning goal, Kopitar received the puck in the high slot and threw a hard pass to the left side for Gaborik, who tipped the puck on net where it went off the post and in for the winner and a 1-0 lead in this best-of-seven set. "We werent sharp in some parts of the game, we gave them some odd-man rushes and turned the puck over," said Gaborik. "But we came back and got a very important win for us." Gaborik, owner of 347 regular-season markers, now has 21 goals over 61 career playoff games. Kopitar had three assists and Alec Martinez scored the other goal for the Kings, who became the fourth team in NHL history to rally from a 3-0 hole as they defeated the San Jose Sharks in a seven-game matchup in the opening round. Kopitar leads all skaters in the playoffs with 13 points on four goals and nine assists. Quick made 33 saves in Saturdays victory, as the 2012 Conn Smythe Trophy winner improved to 34-24 in his playoff career. Saturdays win did come at a cost for L.A., which lost defenseman Robyn Regehr to an undisclosed injury. Regehr left the game midway through the first period and did not return. He is questionable for Mondays contest. The Kings are already without defenseman Willie Mitchell, who sat out Game 7 of the first round and the opener of this set with an undisclosed injury. Matt Greene has replaced Mitchell in the lineup and defenseman Jeff Schultz, who was recently recalled from the American Hockey League, could join the roster if both Mitchell and Regehr sit out Game 2. Selanne and Matt Beleskey scored for the Ducks, who took out the Dallas Stars in six games to advance to the semifinals. Hiller had 33 saves in the loss, while Anaheim captain Ryan Getzlaf had two assists. "Youre looking at a 3-2 overtime loss where both teams played evenly," said Anaheim head coach Bruce Boudreau. "It wasnt the other, its what two good hockey teams do, one wins and the other doesnt. like one team was dominant over. Maybe on Monday it will be reversed." Although the Ducks won all three of their games in Los Angeles this season, the club would like to even this series before it shifts to Staples Center for Games 3 and 4. The third tilt is set for Thursday in L.A. and will be followed with Game 4 on Saturday. Anaheim, the top seed in the West, finished 16 points ahead of Los Angeles in the Pacific Division standings and went 4-0-1 against the Kings during the regular-season series. However, a 3-0 win by Anaheim in L.A. on Jan. 25 marked the only encounter that was decided by more than one goal. Fake Jordan 4 . -- First baseman Carlos Pena and outfielder Brennan Boesch have signed minor league deals with the Los Angeles Angels. Fake Air Max Plus TORONTO – It became clear pretty quickly that James Reimer was at the top of his game yet again at the Air Canada Centre on Saturday evening. "Im not sure how many people were here tonight, maybe 20,000, I think they could all tell," said Morgan Rielly, following the 2-1 shootout victory. "The guys on his game." Reimer stopped 49 of 50 Washington shots in regulation, with Alex Ovechkin being the lone Capital scorer. He would then stop three of four in the shootout. The 25-year-old now leads the NHL with a sparkling .947 save percentage this season, stealing victory for his club once more on this night. "When you get into situations like tonight, it was one where we needed the save and he continued to make them," said Randy Carlyle of Reimer, who remains a perfect 4-0-0 at home this season. "What can you say?" said Rielly, "the guy was unbelievable. "I think the whole team is just playing a lot more comfortable and playing with a lot of confidence because hes back there and hes kicking and hes playing great. Hes unbelievable." Reimer turned shot after shot aside amid a Capitals onslaught that picked up steam at the outset of the second period. With a pair of power plays to start the frame, Washington managed to fire 10 shots unanswered at Reimer, none of which eluded the Leafs netminder. Only an Ovechkin rifle with less than five minutes to go in the third period found the back of the net. "Obviously its piling up a bit," said Reimer of the one-sided shot clock, "but honestly it was more of them just throwing pucks to the net from everywhere." Wholly impressive last season when he posted the leagues seventh-best save percentage, Reimer appears to be even better at the outset this season, looming as one half of the Leafs dominant netminding duo. "I feel like Im the best I am in my career," said Reimer, asked if this was the best stretch of his career. "The best Ive played? I dont know. I think in the playoffs last year I felt like I was playing well every game there, too. "I feel good about how Im playing right now and I think Im the best Ive ever been, but the best Ive ever played? I dont know how to answer that." Five Points 1. Ovechkins Brilliance Alex Ovechkin entered the ACC with a league-leading 19 goals, including eight on the power play. Hed scored at least once for the Capitals in 14 of 21 games. His career numbers against the Leafs were devastating: 25 goals and 46 points in 30 games. And though he was kept quiet for the better part of the evening, the Washington captain managed to stun the home crowd late with his 20th goal this season. Tracking a lofting pass from Mike Green into the offensive zone, Ovechkin snapped a laser beyond Reimer. Cody Franson explained what made the three-time Hart Trophy winner so unique. "He kind of picks his spots a little bit," Franson told the Leaf Report prior to the game. "You see him just watching the game, watching the game, and then hell see something develop and hell just explode. Hes one of those guys that has that gift to be able to see something happen before it does. With his skill-set hes able to jump into those holes very quickly and make those tough plays in tight areas that allow offensive scoring chances to happen." Asked where Ovechkin, who won his third Hart Trophy last season, sat amongst the leagues elite, Franson said, "Top of the list. Hes in there with Crosby, Malkin and all those guys. Hes evidently one of the top guys in the league. All those guys that are in that top class you can argue whos better at what, but hes definitely in that mix." 2. Finding a Comfort Zone David Clarkson hit the score-sheet for the fourth time in the past five games, scoring the lone Leaf goal in the opening period. Parked in front of Braden Holtby on a Toronto power play, Clarkson redirected a Jake Gardiner point shot for his second goal this season. Now 13 games into his career with the Leafs – he missed the first 10 games due to suspension – Clarkson is beginning to feel at home. "Im starting to feel more comfortable, 100 per cent," said Clarkson, especially effective alongside Nazem Kadri and Joffrey Lupul in the first frame. "Starting to feel better, like myself. But when youre behind the eight-ball or when youre coming into a new situation its always tough." While acknowledging the players improvement in recent days, Carlyle said hed like to see Clarkson limit some of the on-ice antics, which included a feisty back-and-forth with the Capitals. "I think thats part of his make-up," said Carlyle, "but Id like to see that toned down. I dont think we need that with our group. We have enough fuel to give the officials opportunity to put us in the box so lets not enhance that." 3. Point Shots James van Riemsdyk scored a pair of goals against Buffalo last week when he parked himself in front of Jhonas Enroth and redirected a pair of Cody Franson point shots. Clarksons goal, as noted, came off a similar attempt from Gardiner, who simply flung the puck at the crease of Holtby. Its something Carlyle would like to see more of from his defence and group as a whole. "Weve been preaching and weve been pleading with our players, just direct pucks toward the net and drive the middle lane," Carlyle said. "Were far, far too cute. We just refuse continually to direct pucks and were not getting that second and third opportunity, that flurry of shots. And the opposition thhat we play against are doing it to us. Cheap Air Jordan 1 China. . They take one shot on net and they get two or three whacks at it where we seemed to be one and out. Were very selective on when we want to shoot the puck. Weve got to simplify, put the pucks toward the net. I would say we have some thick heads." 4. The Ovechkin Strategy Just as he did with success against John Tavares earlier in the week, Carlyle employed the trio of Jay McClement, Nikolai Kulemin and Mason Raymond – in addition to the top pair of Carl Gunnarsson and Dion Phaneuf – opposite Ovechkin and the Capitals top line. Most interesting in the Toronto strategy was their approach in defending the Capitals captain on the power play. Shadowing Ovechkin, the Leafs were content to allow one-time after one-time from John Carlson in the middle of the ice. Carlson fired seven shots on goal, including five on the man advantage. "It didnt look very good, but consciously we felt it would be more of an advantage for us to let our goalie see the one-time shot from the other players other than Ovechkin," Carlyle said. "You see what he can do with it." Yielding a pair of power play goals to Nashville two nights earlier, the Leaf penalty kill ultimately bounced back with a perfect 3-for-3 effort against Washington. The Caps entered the night with the leagues second-ranked power play. 5. Grabovskis Return Mikhail Grabovski was quiet in his return to the ACC on Saturday. The 29-year-old made most of his noise in scary fashion during the middle frame. Looking to keep a puck in near the Toronto blue-line, Grabovski fell to the ice, his face then sliced by the skate of Clarkson. Bloodied and down on the ice, he departed for the Washington dressing room as soon as play was whistled down, returning for the second period with 20 stitches in two separate places. "Im really happy to be here," said Grabovski prior to the game. "Im happy to be around my friends who love me before and I love them, family, friends. Like home ice, my old home ice. Im just very excited and very happy." Grabovski finished with two shots in 16 minutes. Bonus Point – Sharp on the Draw Added to the roster amid growing trouble at centre ice, Jerred Smithson has proven valuable for the Leafs, particularly in the faceoff circle. In just eight games, Smithson has already taken 134 draws, now up to 61.2 per cent on the season. The 34-year-old has, in Tyler Bozaks absence, assumed the bulk of key defensive zone faceoffs, be it at even-strength or on the penalty kill. Date Opponent Percentage Total Nov. 8 NJ 89% 8-9 Nov. 9 BOS 50% 9-18 Nov. 13 MIN 53% 16-30 Nov. 15 BUF 49% 11-23 Nov. 16 BUF 47% 8-17 Nov. 19 NYI 81% 13-16 Nov. 21 NAS 89% 8-9 Nov. 23 WAS 75% 9-12 Bozak missed his 12th consecutive game against the Capitals on Saturday. The 27-year-old is still recovering from a hamstring injury which has kept him out since Oct. 25. "Were surprised that hes not available to us," said Carlyle prior to the game. "We fully counted on him being able to play..." Stat-Pack .947 – Save percentage for James Reimer, tops in the NHL. 4 – Points in the past five games for David Clarkson, who scored his second goal this season against the Capitals. 62% – Leafs on the draw against the Capitals. 134 – Face-offs for Jerred Smithson in eight games as a Leaf. 10 – Shots for Washington on three power plays. 9-3-0 – Home record for the Leafs this season. 23:02 – Ice-time for Jake Gardiner against the Capitals, including 22:05 at even-strength. Special Teams Capsule PP: 1-1 Season: 24.7% PK: 3-3 Season: 83% Quote of the Night "No [expletive]." - Randy Carlyle, reminded that Mikhail Grabovski had some unflattering things to say upon his exit from Toronto. Up Next The Leafs host the Columbus Blue Jackets at the ACC on Monday night ' ' '