A Day in the NHL: Kings Down Devils and the Stanley Cup is Living in Los Angeles
The Night that Was:
The Los Angeles Kings failed to close out the Stanley Cup Final at home in Game 4 and saw their road winning streak snapped in Game 5, as the New Jersey Devils looked to hand the Kings another loss and force a historic Game 7. Early on the two teams struggled to take the upper-hand, with the Kings failing to capitalize on an Anton Volchenkov hooking call three minutes into the game. Then came the play that decided Game 6. As Rob Scuderi went back to play a puck in his own corner, Steve Bernier hit a defenseless Scuderi face-first into the boards. The hit drew a five-minute major and a game misconduct for Bernier, leaving the Devils irate that a similar hit against Stephen Gionta didn’t result in any call. It took less than a minute for the Kings to strike as Dustin Brown re-directed Drew Doughty’s pass through Martin Brodeur to open the scoring. Just over a minute later, Brown spun and fired on Brodeur as the puck caught a piece of Jeff Carter on the way through for a 2-0 lead, and Trevor Lewis tapped home a loose puck in the crease with nine seconds left in the major for a 3-0 advantage through one. The Kings didn’t quit come the second when Carter added his second of the game 1:30 into the frame. The Kings let up partway through the period and the Devils got one back from Adam Henrique, but the 4-1 Kings’ lead after two was too much. The Devils pulled Brodeur with four minutes to go in the game but that only led to an empty-netter for Lewis, while Matt Greene would cap the scoring on a point-shot Brodeur never saw. The Kings claimed the Stanley Cup with a 6-1 victory over the Devils, as Jonathan Quick (who made just 17 saves) earned the Conn Smythe Trophy.
New Jersey Devils 1 vs Los Angeles Kings 6 – Kings win Stanley Cup 4-2
Conn Smythe Quick
Jonathan Quick was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP, marking just the third time in NHL history that goalies have won the award in back-to-back playoffs. Quick finished the playoffs with a 16-4 record, a 1.41 GAA and a 0.946 save percentage. In 20 games Quick allowed three goals just twice, recorded three shutouts, and allowed two or fewer goals in all six games of the final.
Playoff 3-Stars of Game 6
1. Dustin Brown, F – LAK: Brown scored the first goal of the game for the Kings and assisted on the second, both power play markers. He would add an assist on Jeff Carter’s second period goal for a three-point night. Brown’s goal was his eighth of the playoffs but first since Game 1 against Phoenix. Brown had recorded just one point in the Cup Final before Game 6, an assist in Game 3.
2. Jeff Carter, F – LAK: Jeff Carter scored the second and fourth goals for the Kings, with his first goal ultimately counting as the game-winning goal. Carter scored eight goals in the playoffs but four of them came in the Final with two of those goals being game-winners. Overall Carter had three game-winning goals in the playoffs and the four-point series against New Jersey was his second-highest total in a single series (5 points vs. Phoenix).
3. Mike Richards, F – LAK: Richards recorded assists on the first two Kings goals, both coming on the power play. Richards recorded 15 points in the playoffs including 11 assists (4 of them coming in the Finals). He also finished the game 10/13 on faceoffs as well.
Don’t Doubt Doughty
Drew Doughtynot only had a big Game 6 where he recorded two power play assists with one coming on the opening goal, but a big Stanley Cup Finals as well. Doughty recorded points in five of six games against New Jersey, finishing with 2 goals, 4 assists and a +1 rating. Doughty also led all defencemen in scoring during the playoffs with 16 points in 20 games.
Can’t Stop Kopitar
Despite recording just one assist in the final game of the playoffs, Anze Kopitar proved to be an offensive leader for the Kings. He scored 2 goals and 3 assists in the Finals for LA, and added a +3 rating for good measure while recording 20 points in 20 games overall. He tied for the team lead in points and plus/minus (+16) during the playoffs with captain Dustin Brown.
News and Notes
-The Edmonton Oilers have brought back former Head Coach Craig MacTavish. He will hold the position of Senior Vice President of Hockey Operations. He was with the franchise for eight years as Head Coach.
-The Boston Bruins came to agreements on new contracts with Chris Kelly and Greg Campbell. Kelly received a four-year contract that will see him earn $12-million, while Campbell was re-signed for three years and $4.8-million.