Photo Credit: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images
It was another overtime thriller in Staples Center as the Los Angeles Kings battled the New York Rangers for the Stanley Cup. Once again the Rangers got on the board first and looked like they were going to even the series before heading back to the East Coast. However, the Kings cut New York’s two goal lead quickly thanks to an early goal in the second period by Jarret Stoll.
Martin St. Louis pushed the Rangers lead back to two goals later in the period, but the most memorable came when goals were exchanged within a matter of fifteen seconds. At the end of the second quarter, the Rangers had a 4-2 lead and once again were just one period away from a win. Unfortunately, history repeated itself and the Rangers were unable to hold onto the lead and coughed up to goals to the Kings which allowed Los Angeles to force overtime. The Kings have made clutch hockey look easy so far this series.
One of those late goals, scored by Dwight King, was met with controversy as referees swallowed their whistle on an obvious goalie interference call. It was a slapshot by Matt Greene that bounced off King and caused him to fall on Rangers’ goalie Henrik Lundqvist that cut New York’s lead to 4-3 in the third period.
“I’m extremely disappointed on that call — or non-call,” Lundqvist said. “I mean, they’ve got to be consistent with that rule. … They score a goal, and I can’t even move. It’s extremely frustrating for them to get life like that. After that, it’s a different game.”
It was a decision that the Rangers could not recover from and ultimately lost in double overtime on a goal by Dustin Brown. New York finds itself in a position no team wants to be in. They did not take care of business in the first two games of the series; two games in which they never trailed. They go back to New York to an energized crowd who will do anything to help their team get back on track. Game three is scheduled for Monday night at 8:00 PM EST.
