2012 Stanley Cup Final. (6) New Jersey Devils vs. (8) Los Angeles Kings.

[Motor City Sonics]

At the beginning of the season my prediction was the Buffalo Sabres over the L.A. Kings for the Stanley Cup Final. That was a reach on my part, but it's almost always going to be a team that nobody expects to be there.


In the NHL - you just need to make the playoffs. Anything can happen after that. a 1 seed has a minimal advantage over an 8 seed - and if the 8 seed wins one of the first two games - its even money - and if the 8 seed has a better coaching staff - they have the advantage.

Think about this in recent sports history.....

World Series Champion - St. Louis made the playoffs on the last day of the season. They only made it because the Braves choked. They had the worst record of the 8 teams going into the playoffs.

Super Bowl Champion New York Giants had the worst W-L record of the playoff teams in their conference.

Now the Stanley Cup finals have a 6 seed vs. an 8 seed.


Parity, indeed.


The LA Kings have been a machine in the playoffs. Dustin Brown has become a star player and Jonathan Quick is finally getting the recognition he deserves. The only reason they lost a game to Phoenix is because they were kind of celebrating their conference title before they actually won it and eased off the gas for one game. That won't happen again.



L.A. Kings in 5 (and I am being generous to New Jersey).

[Biff Mayhem]

I predict a lot of low scoring games. Good series to watch IMO. I am torn on who I'd like to see win. If LA wins it will drive a lot of the purists nuts. If New Jersey wins, then Brodeur can retire after raising the cup (if he retires that is).

I'm excited for this series.

[skyguy52]

At the beginning of the season my prediction was the Buffalo Sabres over the L.A. Kings for the Stanley Cup Final. That was a reach on my part, but it's almost always going to be a team that nobody expects to be there.


In the NHL - you just need to make the playoffs. Anything can happen after that. a 1 seed has a minimal advantage over an 8 seed - and if the 8 seed wins one of the first two games - its even money - and if the 8 seed has a better coaching staff - they have the advantage.

Think about this in recent sports history.....

World Series Champion - St. Louis made the playoffs on the last day of the season. They only made it because the Braves choked. They had the worst record of the 8 teams going into the playoffs.

Super Bowl Champion New York Giants had the worst W-L record of the playoff teams in their conference.

Now the Stanley Cup finals have a 6 seed vs. an 8 seed.


Parity, indeed.


The LA Kings have been a machine in the playoffs. Dustin Brown has become a star player and Jonathan Quick is finally getting the recognition he deserves. The only reason they lost a game to Phoenix is because they were kind of celebrating their conference title before they actually won it and eased off the gas for one game. That won't happen again.



L.A. Kings in 5 (and I am being generous to New Jersey).

I don't dispute your argument on league parity, however did you watch the Devils / NYR series? I do think its going to be closer than you indicate. LAK has been my team throughout the playoffs, because of their depth & coaching. Until the Rangers/Devils series I saw no reason they wouldn't go all the way. However, the Devils are just as deep in my opinion and just as capable. Gonna be a good, hard series. LAK, a slight edge in 7.

[Hongbit]

Some good stuff here from the Kings Blog:

Ties run deep for Kings, Devils
Posted by Rich Hammond on 26 May 2012, 9:00 am

The Kings learned who their Stanley Cup Finals opponent will be last night, and although the teams don’t play very often, there is a startling number of ties between the Kings and the New Jersey Devils. Here’s a rundown…

– Kings defenseman Willie Mitchell was drafted by New Jersey in the eighth round in 1996 and played parts of two seasons with the Devils.
– Kings defenseman Matt Greene and Devils forward Zach Parise were roommates and teammates at the University of North Dakota.
– Kings center Mike Richards played junior hockey for the OHL’s Kitchener Rangers and was coached by current Devils coach Peter DeBoer.
– Devils assistant coach Larry Robinson played three seasons with the Kings and was the Kings’ head coach for four seasons.
– Devils defenseman Peter Harrold and winger Alexei Ponikarovsky are former Kings.
– Kings defenseman Alec Martinez and Devils defenseman Andy Greene were teammates at Miami (Ohio) University.
– Devils winger Ilya Kovalchuk rejected the Kings’ free-agent offer to re-sign with the Devils in 2010.
– Brent Sutter, brother of Kings coach Darryl Sutter, coached the Devils for two seasons.
– Kings general manager Dean Lombardi and Devils GM Lou Lamoriello are close, and Lamoriello served as something of a mentor to a young Lombardi.

[lordstanley]

The Kings' trainer should use one of the days off before the series starts to check the curves of each of his own players' sticks.

[Motor City Sonics]

The Kings' trainer should use one of the days off before the series starts to check the curves of each of his own players' sticks.

Barry Melrose is still fuming..........

Brilliant move by Jacques. Hard to believe Canada has not raised the Cup since that season.

[Motor City Sonics]

The NHL has had a great playoff season. But they are making us wait too long for this to start. It should be starting with a Sunday Afternoon National TV game. (I know, I know, they had no way of knowing the ECF would end in 6).

[lordstanley]

Barry Melrose is still fuming..........

Brilliant move by Jacques. Hard to believe Canada has not raised the Cup since that season.

15 Canadian players on the Kings' roster.

[jonjd]

I tried not to jinx it throughout, but now that we've come this far, I can state that I had placed a 100 on the Kings before the playoffs started at 18 to 1. I thought they'd beat my Canucks, and have a decent chance from then on. I didnt expect this kind of domination. I think I got robbed at 18/1 actually. Anyway, you know who Im cheering for.

[Walt]

I was watching the local news last night, and they brought up a good point. Any team that wants a chance at signing Parise should be rooting for LA. Has a team captain on a Stanley cup winner ever left during the offseason after winning?

[lordstanley]

I was watching the local news last night, and they brought up a good point. Any team that wants a chance at signing Parise should be rooting for LA. Has a team captain on a Stanley cup winner ever left during the offseason after winning?

For sure I've felt that every round won has made it less likely Parise's leaving. And to think this team was forced to win OT and 2OT games back to back against Florida to avoid elimination.

[Walt]

For sure I've felt that every round won has made it less likely Parise's leaving. And to think this team was forced to win OT and 2OT games back to back against Florida to avoid elimination.

The funnier thing from the broadcast was that the sports guy thought that the Wild has a shot at Parise and Suter as a package deal. Minnesota fans are always so optimistic.

[Lousluggage]

This series needs to start already. I think the first two games are actually on NBC so that I can watch them! I may need to relax my no coffee after noon rule, though.

[lordstanley]

[Hongbit]

This series should come down to the defense that makes the fewest mistakes in their zone in the face of an aggressive forecheck. I think both offenses will have some success creating pressure but the Kings blueliners will stay more composed and Quick will bail his guys out of more times than Brodeur.

Kings in 5!

[Mr.TaterSalad]

Through one period I'd say they have been evenly matched, though I feel Brouder should have stopped that Colin Frasor goal. An almost in the net by Clarkson on Quick and of course the goal by Frasor for the Kinds.

[lordstanley]

Not exactly gripping start, with shots at 1-1 at the 10 minute mark just before the Kings scored.

[Mr.TaterSalad]

Outside of the last couple of minutes that was a boring period. The Devils really caught a break and got a goal.

[lordstanley]

OT. 1-1 after 3. Not sure I can watch - this Lidstrom news has pretty much killed my hockey buzz for the day.

[Lousluggage]

Kings win in OT, 2-1.

5 am is going to come too fast, I already know... but I'm glad I got a chance to watch.

[lordstanley]

Kings win. Kopitar had all the time in the world on the breakaway and calmly and deliberately deked Brodeur and slipped it in.

[skyguy52]

haha. Kopitar makes it looks easy ... or Brodeur very average.

LAK roll to another win on the road. In OT no less.

[Hongbit]

Go Kings Go! NJ was the better team for the last 2 periods and OT but Jon Quick gave his team a chance to win.

The Devils are really up against it now not wanting to go back to LA down 0-2 just like everyone else.


3 MORE WINS!!!

[Hongbit]

It's sad that the Kopi goal is only the 4th best play of the night on Sportscenter.

[Mr.TaterSalad]

What else should we expect from ESPNBA? We gotta se that drive to the basket by Dwayne Wade or some double dribble by Lebron.

[lordstanley]

Terrible ratings for Game 1. Not a surprise, I'm hardly watching the series myself. 2.9mm viewers on NBC, down 33% from Game 1 last year when only one of the teams was American. Lowest rated SCF final since Game 4 of Ducks-Sens in '07. Heat-Celtics outdrew the game handily in both the L.A. and New York markets. More people watched Game 1 in the Boston market last year than this year's Game 1 in the LA and NY markets combined.

Stanley Cup Finals TV Ratings: Game 1 Hits A Five-Year Finals Low - SBNation.com

[lordstanley]

What else should we expect from ESPNBA? We gotta se that drive to the basket by Dwayne Wade or some double dribble by Lebron.

But I have to admit, the NBA has ended up with its heavyweights in the final four, as it often does, and interest continues to increase as the playoffs go deep. While the NHL seems to have had excitement levels peak in the 1st round, as it often does. LA and NJ both deserve to be there, as they`ve clearly been the best team in the conferences these playoffs and I`d be thrilled if the Kings win after 45 years of being a pretty stellar franchise. But it`s not the glamour matchup of high seeds like Vancouver-Boston, Chicago-Philly and Detroit-Pittsburgh that the league had been blessed with for 4 years in a row.

[Hongbit]

Game 2 about an hour away. This should be a lively one.

[PuNk42AE]

1-1, 12 mins left in OT.

[lordstanley]

Jeff Carter wins it and LA is now closer to the Cup than any time in their history

[Lousluggage]

I'm enjoying this, even though I'm still hoping for 7 games. The people who decided not to watch because there are supposedly no power teams? Their loss.

[lordstanley]

That Doughty goal was something. Nice to see an end to end rush for a score. Not common in these playoffs.

First time in 61 years the first 2 SCF games went to OT. Must be extra sweet for Kings fans given all those OT losses in '93.

[Mehm]

The funnier thing from the broadcast was that the sports guy thought that the Wild has a shot at Parise and Suter as a package deal. Minnesota fans are always so optimistic.

Parise is from Minnesota, which is likely why they feel that way.

Albert Pujols won the World Series and was as much of a God in St. Louis as Steve Yzerman was in Detroit, and he left. I think players leave for a variety of reasons, some we know, some we may not...of course, it's NEVER about the money...I don't feel like winning in the playoffs will determine whether a player will leave or not. Last offseason, James Wisniewski was one of the top Free Agents and he signed with the Columbus Blue Jackets, despite interest from teams like the Wings...so, who knows...I'd like to see Parise or Suter sign here, and knowing Mr. I, money will not be the issue for not signing with the Wings. But who knows what's in a players mind, whether it's all about a winning team, family considerations, length of the contract, quality of an organization, playing with buddies...who knows...

Not sure if it's true, and I don't have a link, but was reading that the Devils are near bankruptcy which is why many don't believe that they will be able to afford to keep Parise.

[lordstanley]

A few Game 3-day items:

- Simon Gagne will play today. Huh? I knew he's a star player when healthy, which apparently he finally is, but why mess with a good thing

Report: Simon Gagne returns for Kings in Game 3 - The Globe and Mail

- Kings' PP currently at 7% in the playoffs. And that's with 3 goals in the first 2 games against the Canucks. So it's 3 for the last 65! This after Boston had a lousy PP last year in the playoffs. Knocking conventional wisdom for a loop.

- I just noticed that Claude Giroux is still just 1 point off of the playoff scoring lead, despite being eliminated in the 2nd round. Not sure if that says more about Giroux' results or how about how defensive the play has been in recent rounds

[lordstanley]

Video of a reported 4,000 Kings greeting their returning team to LA at the airport after Game 2:

Thousands of Fans Welcome the Kings Back Video - NHL VideoCenter - Los Angeles Kings

[lordstanley]

If the Kings get a chance to clinch, the organization needs to find a way to get legendary PBP Bob Miller involved with the final call. The way Bruce Martyn called the 2nd period of Game 4 in '97. Reportedly in the works for awhile was that Miller would call the clinching game live in a studio and that it would be dubbed onto a commemorative DVD broadcast but this may have fallen through.

[lordstanley]

The Great One!

[lordstanley]

Devils had their chance. 5 on 3 for a minute late in the 1st, and the 2nd penalty was a 4-minute minor but was largely negated when a King penalty killer almost created a breakaway. So 0-0 after 1.

[mtutiger]

Devils had their chance. 5 on 3 for a minute late in the 1st, and the 2nd penalty was a 4-minute minor but was largely negated when a King penalty killer almost created a breakaway. So 0-0 after 1.

Devils have had their chances... LA making them pay for not taking advantage of them.

[lordstanley]

Kings making it look easy. 4-0 in the 3rd.