LOS ANGELES – Arriving in Los Angeles today for game three of the Stanley Cup Finals it is evident the bandwagon needs an upgrade. Kings fever has hit the City of Angles.
On Saturday evening, the Kings used a brilliant effort from Jeff Carter in OT to win game two and sweep the opening brace of games from the New Jersey Devils.
For Carter, the whole play developed off the defensive end of the ice.
“ Well, it was a great play by the D. I think it was Marty to get it up quick. Just tried to turn and get it to the net. I tried to hit Penns’ (Dustin Penner) back door. It kind of popped out to me,” Carter described of the play making. “I had someone’s stick in the lane there. Just tried to get out of the way, get it on net.”
But for Carter this was his biggest moment in his professional career, the first overtime goal.
“ I think this is by far the biggest. I think it’s my first playoff overtime goal. It’s a huge one. It’s a big one for the team. Gets us a two-game lead here. Gets us where we wanted to be coming in here,” Carter said.
Where Carter’s game winner was an individual effort in the offensive zone, he circled the Devils net and picked up his own rebound of a shot and then came out to the high slot before shooting the puck, Drew Doughty’s was a a near end-to-end rush before rifling the puck past Martin Brodeur from the left circle.
“ I just saw some ice in front of me. Decided to skate with the puck. I don’t know who the D man was, but I tried to use him as a screen,” Doughty said of his goal. “Marty (Brodeur) has that quick glove so I went blocker side. I didn’t even know it went in actually, but luckily, it did.”
The goal stunned the home crowd but did little to slow the Devils who continued their strong forecheck scheme in the Finals. Los Angeles had few quality scoring chances where they were uncontested. A Devils player was always near or on top of a Kings player.
Of the Kings bandwagon Carter was quick to acknowledge the support the team has received for the LA faithful, old and new.
“ I think it’s grown by every game. It’s great to see. It’s fun for us. Hopefully we can keep it going.”
For Doughty, the atmosphere in the Staples Center is something to look forward to for the next two games.
“It’s going to be nuts. Every series, the rink is getting louder and louder. People around the city have been enjoying the fan crew,” Doughty said. “We can’t wait to get in front of those home fans and hopefully get them a few wins.”
The Kings will need that home ice support according to Doughty. Because despite the two road wins in New Jersey, the Kings still need to play better hockey.
“ I don’t think too much is going to change. Obviously they might be on their heels a little bit. I think going into L.A., they’re going to come out hard. They’re playing desperate. They know they have to win four out of five now. They’re going to be playing their best hockey,” Doughty said of the shift to LA. “I think these first two games we haven’t been at our best, so it’s about time we pick up our socks and play our best hockey, too.”
Now the real work starts for the Kings who hit the ice tonight knowing they elad the series but that the Devils can come back and steal all that thunder away.
Game three is set for 5:00 PM Pacific (8:00 PM east).
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