What it means: L.A.'s Anze Kopitar made a pretty move to beat Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur on a breakaway and score the winner, giving the Kings a 2-1 overtime win and a 1-0 series lead in the Stanley Cup finals Wednesday night at Prudential Center.
While the Kings racked up another road win, the Devils open yet another series with a loss after a strange game that featured bad ice, weird bounces and a couple of demoralizing missed chances in the third period.
Easy review: Devils fans jeered, but the call to wave off a goal for New Jersey early in the third was the right one. After captain Zach Parise fanned on a chance with an open net, he tried sweeping the puck past Kings netminder Jonathan Quick on a second attempt 3:58 into play. The no-goal was reviewed and ultimately upheld.
Another open net: Mark Fayne will be haunted by a glimmering opportunity missed midway through the third that could've given his team a go-ahead goal. With the game tied, the Devils defenseman shot a bouncing puck wide of an open net.
All tied up: With 1:12 remaining in the second period, the Devils pulled even with Anton Volchenkov's first goal of the 2012 playoffs, originally credited to Devils veteran Patrik Elias. Volchenkov's shot appeared to deflect off Kings defenseman Slava Voynov for the equalizer. Before earning the primary assist on Volchenkov's marker, Elias entered Wednesday's match having been held off the scoresheet in seven of the previous eight contests.
Depth scoring: With both teams boasting impressive offensive depth, the Kings drew first blood with a goal from their fourth line. Kings winger Jordan Nolan forced the puck from Andy Greene behind the net and dished the puck to find Colin Fraser at the right circle for a 1-0 Kings lead at 9:56 of the first period.
Quick-silver: Quick faced only five shots in the first frame and robbed Travis Zajac from the slot at 13:07 on the period's only power play. New Jersey's David Clarkson also missed the net on two high-quality chances.
Slow second: Quick didn't have to do too much work in the second, either. The Devils didn't register a shot on goal until 14:30 minutes into the period, when Parise was credited with one as he drove to the net on a short-handed attempt. The Devils finished the game with 17 shots. According to ESPN Stats and Information, the franchise record for fewest shots in a home playoff game is 14 (Game 5, Eastern Conference quarterfinals in 2007).
Up Next: Game 2, Devils vs. Kings, 8 p.m. Saturday.