Kings take it to game 6, but no further *

The Los Angeles Kings' season ended tonight, not unexpectedly, with a loss to the quicker, hungrier and more experienced Vancouver Canucks. The Kings sailed into the third period with a one-goal lead, just like in the last game at Staples Center, but once again coughed up the lead to a line led by the Sedin twins (Daniel and Henrik.) Coach Terry Murray said afterward that he liked how his team played, and he blamed the go-ahead goal on the fluke of a broken stick. "I believed we were going to win tonight," he told the media. "We had the perfect start, we had the 2-1 lead going into the third period...the team played well...I felt we deserved it." The Canucks go on to the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs while the Kings go golfing, after L.A.'s best regular season since 1990-91 and first playoff wins since 2001-02.

Noted: T.J. Simers watches with Tim Leiweke.

Original headline and post after the jump.

Kings take 1-0 lead in the first period

With his Los Angeles Kings facing elimination in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, Alexander Frolov came from behind the net to score a wrap-around goal and put L.A. up 1-0. That's how the first period ended. The Kings outshot the Canucks 16-5 and played a more solid all-around game than they did Friday night in Vancouver. Both teams killed off a couple of minor penalties in the period. Stay tuned for updates.

Both teams scored once in the second period — Drew Doughty for the Kings. After two periods, 2-1 Kings over Canucks,
Kings give back a 3rd period lead again, less than two minutes in. 2-2 tie, now 14:46 left, Kings facing elimination.
Canucks score with 2 minutes left then add an empty netter. Season is over in L.A. Fans give the Kings a decent ovation, but not ecstatic. Teams shake hands on the ice, then it's all over but the analysis.
The NHL draft is being held in Los Angeles this year, June 25 and 26.

Post-game photo of Kings goalie Jonathan Quick and one of the Sedin twins, TSN.CA