NHL playoff update #1

Here is everything you need to know about last night's round one/game one playoff game between the St. Louis Blues and the Los Angeles Kings--

• The Blues dominated the game from almost the very start-- physically, in time of possession, and in terms of shots and scoring opportunities.
• Despite this, the Blues managed only one goal-- by Alexander Steen in the first period.
• Predictably, the Kings did put together a brief bit of attacking pressure right at the end of the game. And, also predicatably, they scored (a goal by Justin Williams with 31.6 seconds left-- click here for video).
• The Kings dominated the early part of overtime.
• When Kevin Shattenkirk got a double minor high sticking penalty midway through the first overtime, I assumed the game was about to be over.
• It was, in fact, over, less than a minute later, on Steen's shorthanded goal (see video below).

Game two is tomorrow night. Just in case you want to watch Steen's game-winning goal over and over again, here it is--

Blues beat Predators

The St. Louis Blues don't usually win in Nashville- going into last night's game, they had won only once in their last twelve tries there. Last night was different, though, former Predators goalie Chris Mason blocked 47 shots through regulation and overtime and shut out Nashville. However, the Blues couldn't score, either, so it came down to the mind-bogglingly stupid penalty shootout format that the NHL currently uses (because, like Donovan McNabb, they don't like ties, apparently). The Blues scored twice, Mason stopped both shots he faced, and the St. Louis was the winner - officially the NHL lists that as a 1-0 victory (I'm not sure why). Let's go, Blues!