Joe Pavelski News

But the L.A. Kings' goalie, the Conn Smythe winner from a year ago, didn't have to anything really extraordinary Thursday night.

The Washington State Patrol says the Interstate 5 bridge over the Skagit River at Mount Vernon has collapsed, dumping vehicles and people into the water.

With the series now tied between the LA Kings and the San Jose Sharks , at two games each, I think the biggest question everyone should have isWhich team's veterans will step up and take over the series to win it for their team? May 21, 2013; San Jose, CA, USA; San Jose Sharks center Logan Couture celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal ... (more)

The Sharks did the necessary thing Tuesday night. They turned a best-of-seven series into a best-of-three. With momentum.

Neatly framed but almost forgotten, a front page from the San Jose Mercury News sits against the wall in a room above the Sharks' practice rink.

MAY 14: Drew Doughty #8 of the Los Angeles Kings checks James Sheppard #15 of the San Jose Sharks in the first period of Game One of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2013 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Staples Center on May 14, 2013 in Los Angeles, California.

From his first big save to his flawless final minutes, Jonathan Quick showed the San Jose Sharks they'll have to do much better to dethrone a champion.

Sharks forward Raffi Torres was suspended for the rest of San Jose's second-round playoff series against Los Angeles on Thursday for an illegal check to the head of Kings forward Jarret Stoll during the opener.

The first round of the NHL's Stanley Cup Playoffs wrapped up Monday night, and Wisconsin was the talk of the league.

From his first big save to his flawless final minutes, Jonathan Quick showed the San Jose Sharks they'll have to do much better to dethrone a champion.

The Pittsburgh Penguins still look like the team to beat in the Eastern Conference as Stanley Cup playoff second-round series get under way.

Apr 27, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Kings center Brad Richardson watches as the puck bounces in between San Jose Sharks center Andrew Desjardins and goalie Antti Niemi during the game at the Staples Center.

Former Wisconsin forward Joe Pavelski had more points than any other college hockey alums in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Ottawa Senators' Jason Spezza skates during hockey practice in Ottawa, Sunday, May 12, 2013.

The Detroit Red Wings defeated the Anaheim Ducks in Game 7 Sunday night on the road, which places the San Jose Sharks in a matchup with the Los Angeles Kings in the second round of the Western Conference playoffs.

Patrick Marleau's power-play goal with 6:42 left in overtime secured San Jose's first-ever sweep of a seven-game series, as the Sharks downed the Vancouver Canucks, 4-3, at HP Pavilion to advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals.

When the San Jose Sharks moved defenseman Brent Burns to forward in March it provided an immediate spark to what had been a lackluster season to that point.

After a first round sweep of the Vancouver Canucks, the Sharks are resting up as they await their Western Conference Semifinal opponent.

We're still only midway through the opening round of the NHL playoffs, but some players are already stepping to the forefront as they lead their teams a little closer to hockey's ultimate prize.

The 2013 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs are more than a week old, and just like in years gone by, there are a few players that have just a bit more at stake than others.