LOS ANGELES, Calif. – History has been made. The Los Angeles Kings are the winner of the 2012 Stanley Cup, after defeating the New Jersey Devils in six games. The final victory was the sweetest, since it came before the home crowd at Staples Center with a final score of 6-1.
As the first puck was dropped, the noise level in the Staples Center was thunderous. The Kings dominated most of the game, taking advantage of a five minute major power play, they scored three separate times.
At 3:01, Anton Volchenkov got caught hooking giving the Kings their first power play. The Devils were able to fend off any goals despite the chippiness in front of the net. On one occasion, Justin Williams tried to wrap around the back of the net with the puck, but Marty Brodeur quickly brushed it off.
At 10:10, a hard hit on Rob Scuderi on the boards behind their own net, by Steve Bernier would be the beginning of the bad news for the Devils. Play continued for a few seconds, while Scuderi lay on the ice behind the net. Following a brief review by officials, Bernier was assessed a five minute major for boarding, as well as a game misconduct, sending him to the showers early. Scuderi made his way back to the bench shortly after with the help of his trainer.
That was all the Kings needed, as they took full advantage of the five minute 5-on-4, scoring three goals. The first goal, at 11:03, a pass from the slot from Drew Doughty found Dustin Brown at the top of the circle, and a long shot beat Brodeur glove side. The second goal came as Dustin Brown had the puck and was moving away from the net looking for an opening. He checked behind him, and then quickly fired the shot towards the net, and a tip in by Jeff Carter would put the fans on their feet.
As the fans were screaming, a third goal came at 15:01, as Dwight King shot the puck towards the net, as the puck was fumbled around, Brodeur couldn’t quite get a hold of it and it was ultimately stuffed over the line by Trevor Lewis.
By the end of the period, the Kings led 13-4 in shots on goal.
In the second period, another Jeff Carter goal came on a long wrister down the slot at 1:30, beating Brodeur stick side.
As the teams moved the puck back and forth, one of the linesmen became a casualty, when Dustin Brown couldn’t stop quick enough and knocked him to the ground, causing a fat lip.
Sloppy passing and mistakes plagued the Devils as the second period progressed. The Kings failed on two consecutive power plays over the next few minutes. Just over 14 minutes into the period Jonathan Quick stopped a shot. After the official blew the whistle, Ryan Carter (New Jersey) jumped on Quick while he was down. A pile up ensued. Carter was assessed a roughing minor, as well as a misconduct.
But again, the Kings came up empty handed on the power play. Finally at 18:45, Petr Sykora threw the puck towards Quick, but he couldn’t get a hand on the puck and the rebound was wristed past him by Adam Henrique for the goal. Shortly afterward, the Kings Dustin Penner was called for roughing, giving the Devils their first power play of the game.
As the teams returned to the ice for the third period, with a score of 4-1, in favor of the Kings, the fans were hungry for the win, as they chanted “We want the cup!” The Devils were continuing to make mistakes, and they could sense the urgency of their situation, but it seemed that they couldn’t catch a good bounce.
Devils Coach Peter DeBoer pulled Brodeur with just under five minutes remaining, but the momentum was still in the Kings favor. Trevor Lewis scored an empty net goal at 16:15. Then, after Brodeur was back in the net, only 15 seconds later, the puck wizzed past Brodeur, by Matt Greene. The final score 6-1 at the bell, came as fans were on their feet screaming. The streamers began to fall, and the celebration began.
The Devils players stuck around for the traditional congratulatory handshake line.
Then the Conn Smythe Trophy was presented to Jonathan Quick, as the Most Valuable Player in the playoffs. Quick ended the series with a 1.41 save percentage, and .946 goals against average, setting the NHL record for the lowest goals-against average and the highest save percentage in a single playoff year. He also tied the postseason record in shutouts with three. He allowed fewer than two goals in 18 of 20 games.
Then, the Stanley Cup was carried down a long red carpet, where it was ultimately presented to the Kings Captain Dustin Brown. As each player took his turn in hoisting the cup, the fans cheered anew as each player presented a kiss to the coveted cup.
The Kings became the first NHL club to take a 3-0 lead in all four series of the postseason. They outscored their opponents 57-30, not to mention the 4-0 in overtime winning. The Kings became the first number eight seed, since 1994 to capture the cup.
The Los Angeles Kings won the Stanley Cup in their 44th NHL season, since joining the league in 1967-68.
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