Kings’ playoff opener: Scoreless after one
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No score at GM Place between the Kings and Vancouver Canucks after the first period of the Kings’ first playoff game since April 29, 2002, but the Kings had some good chances.
Surprisingly, the fourth line of Raitis Ivanans, Jeff Halpern and Fredrik Modin had a good amount of offensive zone time, as Ivanans planted himself in front of Roberto Luongo and made the Canucks’ goaltender see around his tall, wide body.
The Canucks had a 17-6 edge in shots over the first 20 minutes but the Kings had a power play that carried over from the final seconds of the first period, gained when Andrew Alberts was sent off for interfering with Ryan Smyth. The Kings killed the lone penalty called against them in the period, on Halpern for goaltender interference at 16:54.
As the home team the Canucks had the last line change and were able to keep their top line of Daniel Sedin, Henrik Sedin and Alex Burrows away from the Kings’ checking line of Brad Richardson, Michal[cq] Handzus and Wayne Simmonds. Burrows and Mason Raymond each had three shots in the period to lead both teams. Anze Kopitar led the Kings with two.
More later at www.latimes.com/sports
--Helene Elliott, from Vancouver, Canada