Alex Steen wins Game 1 for Blues after Jonathan Quick’s stunning gaffe (Video)
You had to feel for the Blues when Kevin Shattenkirk went to the box. After outplaying the Kings for the majority of the game, Dustin Penner took a high-stick to the face and Los Angeles was blessed with a four-minute powerplay. Suddenly, St. Louis was in danger of losing a Game 1 they deserved to win.
But that's when the hockey gods smiled on St. Louis. Or maybe they scowled at Jonathan Quick. I'm not sure. Either way, 41 seconds after the powerplay began, Quick handed the Blues the opening game of the series with a misplay behind the net. Alex Steen pounced, taking the puck and tucking the shorthanded game-winner into the unguarded net.
Clearly, Quick thought he had more time than he did. He may have been confusing the 2013 playoffs with the 2012 playoffs, when he could do no wrong and God smiled on him daily.
Instead, Alex Steen made him look like Jonathan slow -- there's some free comedy for you -- charging the Kings' netminder and forcing the turnover.
With that, I think we can safely say the Kings won't find this year's playoffs as easy as last year's. Their first road loss last year: Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final.
Follow Harrison Mooney on Twitter at @HarrisonMooney
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