The chase for Lord Stanley's Cup begins
<p>Los Angeles Kings left wing Dwight King (74) checks Vancouver Canucks defenseman Alexander Edler (23) during the second period of Game 1 of an NHL hockey first-round playoff series Wednesday, April 11, 2012, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Jonathan Hayward)</p>
Dustin Penner scored with 3:14 left in the third period to help the visiting Los Angeles Kings beat the Vancouver Canucks 4-2 in the opener of their Western Conference quarterfinal series Wednesday night.
Penner had gone the last nine games of the regular season without a goal. The winger capitalized after Mike Richards’ pass went off Jeff Carter’s skate, and Penner whipped the puck past Canuck goaltender Roberto Luongo.
Dustin Brown added an empty net goal in the final minute for the Kings, who secured a playoff berth with three games left in the regular season.
The Canucks finished first overall in the NHL for the second straight season with a 51-22-9 record, while the Kings finished eighth in the Western Conference with a 40-27-15 mark, but the Kings controlled most of the play in the first two periods.
Game 2 is Friday night in Vancouver.
Predators 3, Red Wings 2: Gabriel Bourque scored twice and Nashville beat visiting Detroit to open their Western Conference playoff series.
Game 2 is Friday night in Nashville.
Flyers 4, Penguins 3, OT: Jakub Voracek scored 2:23 into overtime to give Philadelphia a comeback victory at Pittsburgh in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series.
Game 2 is Friday night in Pittsburgh.