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While the Kings were unable to sweep the Coyotes, they did stop their rivals in the 5th game, earning the LA Kings a spot in the Stanley Cup Final Game. A game that the franchise has not been to since 1993. While this is exciting for the team, they have their work cut out for them as they go up against the unexpected Eastern Champions, The New Jersey Devils.
The Kings played much like they did in the first two series against the Coyotes, but what was really worrisome was the shutout win that they allowed the Coyotes to have. The Kings were able to win in the 5th game, but they had to fight pretty hard for the win by going into an overtime period. Their determination to prevent their rivals from winning, allowed LA to win the Western Conference, but the fight is not over yet.
The Eastern Conference Final was less one sided than the Western. The Rangers got the head start with the first win, but the Devils proved that they had not gone that far for nothing. By game 4 the series was tied, and the Devils really showed their prowess in game 5 when they beat the Rangers once more to lead the series 3-2. All the Devils had to do was win one more game to destroy the top team’s chances to go to the Cup Series.
Like the last Kings, Coyotes game, the final Rangers, Devils match up led to an overtime period. The Devils got the early lead in the final game with goal by Carter and Kolvalchuck, proving once again that Martin Broduer was playing just as well as he did in his early days. Then in the second period the Rangers scored twice to tie up the game. In the thrid both Lundqvist and Broduer were not letting any pucks past them, although Broduer proved to be the better goaltender in the end when Devils Henrique wristed a shot behind Lundqvist to win the game and the series.
The Rangers out shot the Devils 35-29, but that also meant that Brodeur saved 33 shots over Lundqvist’s 26. Brodeur proved to be the better goaltender, and now he is up against equally as talented Jonathon Quick of the LA Kings.
Both the Kings and the Devils have good goaltenders backing the teams and are getting pucks past their enemies so this could be anyone’s game. This is also the final showdown, the series for the cup, so anything can happen. Stay tuned for Wednesday night when the action finally begins.
