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Kings’ playoff opener: 2-2 after two periods

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Despite being outshot, 17-6, in the first period, the Kings scored early in the second period on a power play that had carried over from the first period. Jarret Stoll scored it 54 seconds into the second period, after Anze Kopitar made an excellent pass to Michal Handzus down low and Handzus passed back to Stoll between the faceoff circles for a 25-foot wrist shot.

That lead didn’t last long. Jack Johnson was sent off at 2:06 for delay of game after shooting the puck over the glass and the Canucks capitalized at 3:09. They won a faceoff in the Kings’ zone and got the puck to Sami Salo, whose shot from the blue line bounced in front and was whacked by Daniel Sedin before Mikael Samuelsson prodded it past Jonathan Quick.

The Sedin twins combined to put the Canucks ahead at 8:31 on a world-class play that showcased their skill and speed. They made the Kings’ shutdown defense pair of Matt Greene and Sean O’Donnell look like statues as they carried the puck up ice and Henrik Sedin fed twin Daniel on the rush. Daniel maneuvered within 12 feet before lifting a backhander off the crossbar and into the net.

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The Kings gained a five-minute power play at 11:09, after Vancouver defensemen Andrew Alberts got a major boarding penalty and game misconduct for a dirty hit on Brad Richardson, and they took advantage of that to pull even at 2-2.

Randy Jones made a rare good play to keep the puck in the zone and make the play possible. Dustin Brown picked it up along the boards and pivoted to create some room for himself before passing down low to Alexander Frolov. He relayed it to Fredrik Modin, whose one-timer beat Roberto Luongo to the glove side and silenced the crowd. Alberts’ hit seemed an ideal candidate for review and possible supplementary discipline under the NHL’s new anti-headshots rule.

Drew Doughty took a holding penalty that erased the final 30 seconds of the Kings’ power play and gave the Canucks a brief power play.Quick made a good glove save on a blast by Christian Ehrhoff during that Vancouver advantage.

Through two periods, the Canucks had a 26-19 edge in shots.

More later at www.latimes.com/sports

--Helene Elliott in Vancouver, Canada

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