For a franchise that has taken so many twists and turns, it seemed only fitting that 45 years of frustration would crumble this way. The Kings, the team that ranked 29th in the NHL in goals this season, scored six goals to win the Stanley Cup. Before last night, in 101 regular-season and playoff games, the Kings never scored more than five goals. The Kings’ power play, so maligned — and rightfully so — all season, scored a jaw-dropping three goals in a span of 3 minutes, 58 seconds, in the first period to give the Kings a commanding three-goal lead against New Jersey. After Jeff Carter added a goal early in the second period, the game became all about time. There was more clock-watching going on at Staples Center than among a classroom of eighth-graders on the last day of school.
It also seemed fitting that Rob Scuderi, a low-profile, lunch-pail defenseman, would end up holding the Stanley Cup with a stitched-up, sliced-and-diced face. It was Scuderi who went face-first into the boards after a hit by Steve Bernier, a hit that gave the Kings the five-minute power play. Scuderi stayed on the ice for a couple stomach-turning minutes, but returned for the start of the second period and gave the Kings some massively important minutes. It almost goes without saying that Jonathan Quick did the job again, and the Kings got step-up efforts from throughout the lineup. What was the key aspect of the Kings’ 6-1 victory over the New Jersey Devils in Game 6? I present three options at the link below, and you can vote for your choice…
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For those who enjoy the traditional game recap, it can be found by clicking here.
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