For just the 2nd time in the 44 year history of the Los Angeles Kings, they will be playing for Lord Stanely's Cup. LA defeated the Phoenix Coyotes 4-3 in overtime on Tuesday night to clinch the series 4 games to 1. It was undoubtedly one of the most exciting and stressful hockey games I've ever watched.
The Kings looked terrible to start the game. I was legitimately worried the series was turning to favor the Coyotes. Phoenix was outworking LA and getting all of the fortuitous bounces. Then Drew Doughty cranked a shot in that Anze Kopitar deflected past Mike Smith. It looked like things were turning around. Then the Kings got unlucky and had two goals slip past Quick that Phoenix didn't really earn. What I mean by that is they didn't set up a play or anything. The Kings just kind of "derped" and the Coyotes were able to capitalize. At the end of regulation, which consisted of 3 of the hardest fought periods I've seen all year, the score was tied at 3.
By far the biggest story that will come out of the game will be Dustin Brown's hit on Michal Rozsival just before Penner buried the series-clinching goal. Did he absolutely clobber him? Yes, no argument. But for those who are saying he meant to drive the top of his knee into the side of Rozsival's knee, I ask you this. Do you really think in the 2 seconds before they came together, Brown had enough time to think, "Hey, if I come in at this angle I'll be able to take out his knee"? It's just not possible, the play happened too fast. Also, if you watch the replay, it looks pretty clear that he was leading with his shoulder, not his knee. It was an unfortunate occurrence, but hey, that's hockey. Coyotes goalie Mike Smith was quoted as saying, "if Raffi Torres gets 25 game then he ought to be out forever." This really illustrates how dumb Smith must be. Headhunting a defenseless goalie behind the net is nowhere near the same as an open ice check. I understand that Smith is emotional and everything, but come on man. Think about how ridiculous that statement is. But then again, he flops like crazy and whacks guys in the back of their knees with his stick, so I'm not really surprised. Have fun golfing tomorrow Mike.
The Kings will face either the Rangers or the Devils for the Stanley Cup which will start on May 30th. Currently their series is tied at 2 games apiece. Whoever LA faces, they are going to have to play better than they did tonight. If they can play like they did against the Canucks, Blues, or even the first 2 games of the Western Conference Finals, they have a very serious chance of bringing home the Stanley Cup for the first time in franchise history.
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