Photo Credit: Jae C. Hong/The Associated Press
A new winner has been crowned! The Los Angeles Kings are your 2014 Stanley Cup Champions! In the longest game ever played in the franchise’s history, the Kings got to hoist the trophy for the second time in just three years. It took the Kings 94 minutes, but Alec Martinez provided the game-winning goal at Staples Center. Martinez, like the rest of us, could not believe the puck actually went in. “After it went in, I think I blacked out,” Martinez said. “I’m just so happy for these guys.”
Both Henrik Lundqvist and Jonathan Quick played their hearts stopping almost everything that came their way. Quick finished the game with 28 saves, and while he did give up the series ending goal, Lundqvist had an astounding 48 saves. Justin Williams, who scored Los Angeles’ first goal in last night’s game, received the Conn Smythe trophy for his incredible effort throughout the series. Williams finishes this postseason scoring nine goals and assisting on sixteen.
The Kings are a dominant force in the Western Conference and are creating a dynasty with two titles in three years. They have a great team that compliments each other very well. They have played the maximum number of games to get the finals and shown that they can live up to the big moment. They trailed in almost every game this series, but never let that affect their play. They never played anxious, but instead stuck to their game plan that got them this far.
It was a pleasure to watch this series, I wish it did not have to end, but congratulations to the Kings players and their head coach Darryl Sutter!
I have to agree with your statement about how it “was a pleasure to watch this series.” My only wish was that it would have gone on for another game or two… game 7 anyone?
Personally, I was conflicted in terms of who to cheer for. I’m glad that Willie Mitchell (ex Vancouver Canuck) and Robin Regher (ex-Calgary Flames) now have Stanley Cup rings. Also, I was happy for the coach (ex-Calgary Flames).
I could also have cheered for The New York Rangers because of their coach, Alain Vigneault (ex-Vancouver Canuck.) Had the Rangers reached game 7 or won the cup… it would have sent a clear message to the management team of The Canucks that Vigneault is, indeed, a great coach.
Alas, at the end of the day… I decided the best team would win the cup. In this case, it was the L.A. Kings. So, hats off to them from a Vancouverite! 🙂
Cheers