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NHL: Each franchise’s best team ever

By Nick Villano

WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 03: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals skates with the Stanley Cup prior to watching the 2018 Stanley Cup Championship banner rise to the rafters before playing against the Boston Bruins at Capital One Arena on October 3, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 03: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals skates with the Stanley Cup prior to watching the 2018 Stanley Cup Championship banner rise to the rafters before playing against the Boston Bruins at Capital One Arena on October 3, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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Los Angeles Kings
Alec Martinez #27 of the Los Angeles Kings. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

NHL: Each franchise’s best team ever: 2013-14 Los Angeles Kings

The Los Angeles Kings finally broke the “ice” when they won the Stanley Cup in 2012. It was one of the most incredible runs to the Final of all time, but when comparing that team to the 2014 squad, there’s no comparison. The stars were better in 2014. Tyler Toffoli and Tanner Pearson added youth to what was quickly becoming a veteran-laden team. Anze Kopitar was becoming a true star, and Jeff Carter had a playoff for the record books.

This team had tenacity. Jonathan Quick got hurt in the middle of the season, and Martin Jones and Ben Scrivens kept them alive in the playoff race. Jones and Scrivens both put up a .931 save percentage with the Kings for the regular season. Drew Doughty was squarely in his prime. He was in the conversation for best defenseman in the game.

There were contributors everywhere on this team. That was very important in the playoffs. The San Jose Sharks took a 3-0 series lead in the first round, but the Kings mounted a comeback and became the first team to win four straight after going down 3-0. They faced two more Game 7s before reaching the Stanley Cup Final. Thank goodness they had “Mr. Game 7” Justin Williams on the team, who had points in each Game 7. He even scored a goal in Game 7 against the Chicago Blackhawks in the Western Conference Final, and he had the primary assist on the overtime goal that sent them to the Final.

The Kings ended up vanquishing the New York Rangers, winning their second Stanley Cup Championship in three seasons.

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