LOS ANGELES, CA – The first two games of the 2012 Stanley Cup Final ended in 2-1 overtime victories for the Los Angeles Kings after tight-checking affairs which featured stellar goaltending and close scoring chances which just missed the mark on the red light side of both goal lines. The series could have easily shifted to the West Coast with the Devils leading two games to one. But close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.
The Devils carried with them the burden of being in a deep hole with the potential for it to get deeper. And it did when the Devils never really competed for victory in Game Three losing to Los Angeles 4-0. The Kings entered Game Four needing to win to lift the first Stanley Cup in their 45-year history over their heads at Staples Center with a packed house and the second largest city in the United States ready to explode into euphoria.
But it wasn’t to be as New Jersey cracked the “Quick” code. What was the combination that worked? Create traffic in front of the Los Angeles goal to score in close and shoot high! Presto………………a 3-1 victory helped by an empty net goal to close out Game Four.
So the Devils take a second cross country flight back home to the Prudential Center, still trailing, but this time three games to one. New Jersey will seek to achieve something monumental, but with the first two games being so close, shouldn’t they be confident they can pull out the series? Maybe, but history says otherwise.
Only three teams have ever rebounded from being down as deep as the Devils and won the series. During the 2010 playoffs, the Philadelphia Flyers defeated the Boston Bruins. In 1975, The New York Islanders caught the Pittsburgh Penguins. And in 1942 while trailing the Detroit Red Wings three games to none, the Toronto Maple Leafs rattled off four straight wins to capture their fourth Stanley Cup.
Brodeur has played well all series, but until Game Four, never really played well enough to steal a game. Maybe tonight will give his teammates the confidence they can win again and again and again. Wednesday night, he stole the game and it is why New Jersey still has life.
New Jersey found scoring touch with two goals in Game Four and as many as they scored in the previous three games. Add the empty net goal and they surpassed their three-game total in one game. Patrick Elias and Adam Henrique are alive again. The Devils hope Kovalchuk and Parise join them in Game Five.
Despite Los Angeles having won all ten of their road games this season, they have to lose at least once on the road during the playoffs. Will Game Five in New Jersey be the first post-season loss for Los Angeles?
In returning to New Jersey, you have to believe the new life means a great deal. And, they have nothing to lose by taking a few risks to win one game at a time from here on out. A different, more confident New Jersey team will take the ice against the Kings. The Devils can string together wins.
Keep in mind, the Devils ended the regular season winning six in a row and have won six of nine at home in the playoffs. New Jersey is 19-9 in their last twenty games. If I play for Los Angeles, I am a little concerned. A championship series that could have ended Wednesday night continues with a cross-country flight and a three day waiting game.
You have to believe the Kings are kicking themselves knowing they could have closed out the series in front of their fans and the entire city excited to celebrate a championship. Oh how that must hurt. Wonder how this will affect their play in Game Five. Look for a new series beginning Saturday night and don’t expect it to end like the Conference Finals did when the Kings netted an overtime winner to punch their ticket to the Final.
The puck drops at the Prudential Center Saturday night at 8:00 PM (ET).
Contact: dennis.morrell@prohockeynews.com
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