ASS News » It was a shot-pass that went off the post

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- After waiting 20 years to meet in the playoffs, the Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks provided an overtime thriller in the opening tussle for Southern California supremacy. Marian Gaborik scored with seven seconds left in regulation to force overtime, and then scored 12:07 into the extra period to lift the Kings to a 3-2 victory Saturday night. Wresting home-ice advantage from the Ducks comes after the Kings staged a memorable comeback against San Jose, becoming the fourth NHL team to win a best-of-seven series after losing the first three games. "It was awesome. Really, it was what you expect," Kings coach Darryl Sutter said. "It was a physical game. I think the crowd really responded to that." Gaborik redirected Anze Kopitars shot past Jonas Hiller for the winner before being mobbed in the corner by his teammates. "We did a good job on the forecheck," Gaborik said. "The puck got to Kopi, he saw me driving to the net, and made a nice play. I just tried to tip it in." Gaborik "is a big reason that we won the first round, and if he hadnt finished some of those opportunities it would have only gone six," Sutter said. "If you look at both those goals, those are classic goals. You got to go to the net to score in the playoffs. "Doesnt matter if we pull the goalie, still got to go to the net. Not many guys can score those goals, but you still got to go to the net." Hiller said the Kings "suddenly had a 2-on-1 out of nowhere. It was a shot-pass that went off the post and off my back and in. Its too bad. We had a couple chances in OT to finish it, but at the end its still a 1-0 series. We need to focus on the next game and learn from this. We have room for improvement." The Ducks and their fans -- who got to chant "Beat LA!" for the first time in the post-season -- appeared poised for a win after 43-year-old Teemu Selanne beat Jonathan Quick between the pads for a go-ahead goal with 11:52 to play in regulation. It was the first goal and fourth point of the playoffs for the Finnish Flash, who plans to retire at seasons end. But the Kings pulled Quick for a sixth attacker with 1:22 left. In the closing seconds, Mike Richards took a shot from along the left boards, and Gaborik wristed the rebound past Hiller, who slumped in the net after giving up the tying goal. "They just threw it at the net," Hiller said. "I thought I got a piece of it, but it got up in the air and he batted it out of the air back door. We werent strong enough. We were too passive there." Gaborik also had an assist on L.A.s first goal of the night. Quick, who led the Kings to their only Stanley Cup championship two years ago, came up big several times in overtime. Even when he didnt, the Kings held off the Ducks. Quick got out of position during one wild scramble and defenceman Alec Martinez jumped into the net until Quick recovered. "Unbelievable. It was a little chaotic. Probably owe him dinner there," Quick said. Their rinks just 30 miles apart, the Kings and Ducks have played each other 117 times in the regular season since Anaheim entered the NHL as a Disney-backed expansion franchise in 1993. They even met at Dodger Stadium in January, with the Ducks winning 3-0. But never in the playoffs, until Saturday night in Orange County. Game 2 is Monday night at Anaheim. The Ducks advanced after beating Dallas in overtime in Game 6 of their opening series. Martinez scored his first goal of the playoffs on a power play 9:04 into the game, beating Hiller on the glove side with a backhander after taking a pass from Gaborik from behind the net. Nick Bonino was in the penalty box for hooking. Anaheims Matt Belesky tied it less than three minutes later after a beauty of an assist by Ryan Getzlaf. Getzlaf skated into the Kings zone and behind the net, drawing Quick out of the crease. He passed to Belesky in the slot, who put home a wrister before Quick could get back into position. It was Beleskys second goal of the playoffs. Getzlaf, who also assisted on Selannes goal, has nine points in the playoffs. Hiller, a veteran who came in and saved Game 6 against Dallas -- and beat the Kings at Dodger Stadium -- got the start over 24-year-old Frederik Andersen. Rose Lavelle Jersey .C. - The Panthers will be without starting defensive tackle Star Lotulelei for Saturday nights NFC divisional playoff game against Seattle after undergoing surgery Wednesday to repair a broken bone in his foot. Lynn Williams Jersey .3 seconds remaining, and No. 7 North Carolina held off a resilient No. 25 Virginia team, 54-51, on Saturday. John Henson contributed a double-double with 15 points to go with 11 rebounds for the Tar Heels (25-4, 12-2 ACC), who have won five straight and 10 of 11. http://www.uswntproshop.com/c-19-crystal-dunn-usa-jersey.aspx . Watch the announcement live on TSN.ca at 12:30pm et/9:30am pt. This years honourees will be recognized at the 2014 Hockey Canada Foundation Celebrity Classic, scheduled for June 23-24 in Vancouver. Abby Dahlkemper Jersey . Alvarez hit his first career home run, pitched six innings and hurt his right hamstring while running the bases in the Miami Marlins 4-3 win over the Chicago Cubs. Megan Rapinoe Jersey . LOUIS -- Alexander Steen scored a power-play goal with 59.New York, NY (SportsNetwork.com) - Colorado Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki was named the National League Player of the Month for April. Tulowitzki posted a .364 average to go with seven homers, 24 runs scored, 22 RBI and nine doubles during the month. The California native smacked homers in three straight games from April 22ndd-25th.dddddddddddd Others considered for the National Leagues monthly honor included Tulowitzkis teammates first baseman Justin Morneau and outfielder Charlie Blackmon, Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, Miami outfielder Giancarlo Stanton and Milwaukee outfielder Carlos Gomez. ' ' '