Defending champions ease pressure with late show to tie series 2-2.
The Los Angeles Kings battled back to secure a 4-3 win over the St. Louis Blues on Monday, to even their first round series 2-2.
A defeat would have put the defending NHL champions under huge pressure with a potential elimination game in St. Louis, but two late strikes from Anze Kopitar and Justin Williams, just 76 seconds apart in the third period, sealed a memorable comeback.
Having trailed 2-0 in the first period, and then 3-2 in the third, it was the first time since April 2001 that Los Angeles have recovered from two goals down to win in a Stanley Cup Playoff game.
As noted by Kopitar in his post-game interview, the key to achieving the comeback and holding their nerve under pressure, was the calmness around the locker room and belief in their ability to turn their fortunes around.
Having dropped the first two games of the series in St. Louis, the Kings barely survived a 1-0 victory in Game 3 before tying matters in the fourth. They will be back on the road for Wednesday’s clash before returning to the Staples Center hoping to hold the advantage ahead of Game 6.
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