Game 5 live: Kings capture Cup vs. Rangers
The Los Angeles Kings needed a second game to get it done, but they captured their second Stanley Cup in three years in Game 5.
The Kings also won their 2012 championship at home (in Game 6) and they are the only team to parade the Cup around home ice since the Anaheim Ducks won in 2007.
The odds were against the New York Rangers. Of the 26 previous teams that trailed the Final 3-0, only three had reached Game 6.
A look at the game (GIFs are from @myregularface):
Conn Smythe winner
It goes to Justin Williams, who had the opening goal and had two goals and seven points in the Final. He had 25 points for the playoffs, one behind LA's Anze Kopitar. Williams also won a Stanley Cup with LA in 2012 and with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006.
Kings win
The LA Kings' Alec Martinez scores and the Kings defeat the New York Rangers 3-2 in double OT to win the 2013-14 Stanley Cup.
He got the Kings into the Stanley Cup Final by scoring in overtime for Los Angeles in Game 7 against the Chicago Blackhawks.
100 face-offs
That's how many there have been in this game. 6:36 left in double OT.
More numbers
Dustin Brown and Benoit Pouliot have six hits each. Lundqvist has 42 saves. Ryan McDonagh has 40:21 of ice time.
Nash misses
Rick Nash had a wide-open net and clear lane to get the game-winner for New York, but the puck deflected just enough off a stick to miss high.
POST!
Another Rangers shot rings off the post behind Quick while New York was on the power play.
Kings take penalty
LA's Clifford heads to the box for boarding after hitting Derek Dorsett from behind. 14:16 to play in 2nd OT.
Back at it
The 2nd overtime period is barely underway and Lundqvist has already robbed the Kings with a great save.
Big game, big numbers
New York's Ryan McDonagh has played 36:45 through four periods and Los Angeles' Drew Doughty has played 35:48.
Shot disparity
After four periods, the Kings are outshooting the Rangers 42-24.
Double overtime it is
After 20 extra minutes, the Rangers and Kings are still tied 2-2
QUICK!
Jonathan Quick showed off his flexibility while making a difficult, crucial save
King Henrik
Lundqvist is carrying the Rangers through the overtime frame with one improbable save after another.
Doc Emrick on his game as well
Another post!
Tyler Toffoli banked a slapper off the cross bar behind Lundqvist. Still tied.
Shot blocker
Benoit Pouliot doing a great job blocking shots in front of Lundqvist
Rangers hanging in
The Kings won't let up on New York but Lundqvist and the Rangers continue to flood the lanes and take away chances.
Off the post!
The Rangers' McDonagh ring a shot off the post behind Quick while on the powerplay.
Kings come out swinging
LA jumps on the Rangers and Lundqvist trying to end the overtime period early.
Here we go! Overtime!
Overtime ahead
A flurry of shots from the Kings couldn't find mesh. After 60 minutes, it's 2-2 and the teams head to OT.
Goalie battle
Lundqvist and Quick making tough, stellar saves to keep this game tied.
Conn Smythe update
From David Leon Moore: If you're still trying to figure out a Conn Smythe winner if the series ends tonight, here are some updated stats, not that they make things any clearer.
Anze Kopitar leads all playoff scorers with 26 points.
Marian Gaborik leads all goal-scorers with 14, including the game-tying goal tonight.
Justin Williams has 25 points, a goal tonight and lots of heroics recently.
Jeff Carter has 25 points, including an assist tonight.
Drew Doughty has 18 points and a lot of huge plays.
Can they split it five ways?
There's that Kings dominance
Midway through the third period, shots are 8-1 Kings.
Kings tie it up
With the Kings on a power play, former Ranger Marian Gaborik scores on a rebound to tie the game. That's his 14th goal of the playoffs.
Kings apply pressure
Henrik Lundqvist makes saves on Willie Mitchell, Drew Doughty and Jake Muzzin.
Slow start to third
The Kings usually dominate in the third period, but five minutes in, the shots are 1-0 LA.
Puck drops
Third period is under way
Second period over
2-1 Rangers. The Kings outshot the Rangers 10-6 in that period and lead 17-12 for the game. They also have a 22-20 edge in faceoffs, but the Rangers now lead in hits (21-20) and blocked shots (9-8).
Rangers go up 2-1
What a killer goal. New York's Brian Boyle scores a short-handed goal with a perfectly place shot with 25 seconds left in the second period to put the Rangers ahead. The Kings have shown great resilience in these playoffs, but those types of goals often deflate teams.
Clifford dangerous again
The Kings' No. 13 makes a power move across the crease on Friday the 13th. Henrik Lundqvist is forced to make two saves.
Rangers tie it up
Chris Kreider scores on the power play, deflects in a nice pass from Ryan McDonagh. Brad Richards gets the other assist. Score now 1-1.
Says David Leon Moore: There was an odd, quiet feeling – and definite lack of intensity – in the building before Kreider's goal. The place has come alive now.
Rangers back on power play
LA's Dwight King goes off for high-sticking.
Ten minutes in, the Rangers have only two shots in the second period.
Shot dearth
Kings pressure
That's two shifts in a row where LA's Kyle Clifford has made some strong moves.
Lundqvist save
Henrik Lundqvist is forced up to come up big on Jarret Stoll after a giveaway in the Rangers' zone.
Quick save
Jonathan Quick stops Mats Zuccarello in close. Gives up a big rebound, but no Rangers are there to capitalize.
Former referee weighs in
Second period under way
Kings kill off the remainder of the Drew Doughty penalty.
Your first-period stats
Kings lead in shots (7-6), hits (10-8), faceoffs (9-7) and blocked shots (4-3).
First period over: Kings up 1-0
Says Kevin Allen: The Kings had a decent start, but not as strong as coach Darryl Sutter would have wanted. The Rangers seemed to play better as the period progressed.
Kings take penalty
Defenseman Drew Doughty goes off for cross-checking Derek Stepan. The Rangers' power play will have 49 seconds remaining when the second period begins.
Kings on power play
Benoit Pouliot collides with Kings goalie Jonathan Quick, whose mask comes off. Goaltender interference.
More on Justin Williams
Williams' goal gives him 25 points in the playoffs, behind only teammate Anze Kopitar with 26. Leading goal scorer Marian Gaborik has 13 goals, 21 points. Jeff Carter has 24 points and Drew Doughty 17.
Rangers pushing
The shots were once 5-0 Kings. Now they're tied at 6-6.
Penalty killed
The Rangers had one shot on goal during their power play.
Clearing the crease
In this TV timeout, the Kings shovel people seem to be doing an extra careful shoveling job in Henrik Lundqvist's crease.
Probably because of this from Game 4.
Rangers on power play
Rangers' first shot came 7:38 into the game. Dustin Brown goes off for hooking Martin St. Louis shortly after.
Conn Smythe update
Says David Leon Moore: The question of who might win the Conn Smythe if the Kings win the Stanley Cup tonight does not have an easy answer, as there are more than a handful of candidates, including Anze Kopitar, Marian Gaborik, Jeff Carter, Drew Doughty, Dustin Brown and even goaltender Jonathan Quick.
But Justin Williams, the man with many nicknames, might have gotten a leg up on the award with his first-period goal.
Which might make Mr. Game 7, who also became Mr. Game 1 and Mr. OT in this series, Mr. Game 5 or Mr. Cup or Mr. Smythe or . . .
1-0 Kings
Apparently Mr. Game 7 is also Mr. Game 5. Justin Williams scores on a rebound as the Kings pressured.
Five minutes in
We've played five minutes and the Rangers have no shots on goal.
Penalty killed
The Kings had two shots during their first power play.
Kings on power play
Rick Nash goes off for hooking Jake Muzzin at 1:44. Offensive-zone penalties have been an issue for the Rangers in the playoffs.
Says Kevin Allen: What was Rick Nash thinking on that play? Needless penalty.
Puck drops
And we're under way
Friday the 13th
It's been pointed out all day, so let's say it, too.
It's Friday the 13th, there's a full moon tonight and Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist is playing the 666th NHL game of his career. A creepy convergence.
Kevin Allen's key for the Kings
1. Make the front of the Rangers' net look like the 101 at rush hour. The Kings want traffic, congestion and confusion parked in front of Lundqvist, who is 5-0 with a 1.00 goals-against average and .971 save percentage when the Rangers have faced elimination this postseason.
2. Strong start. It might be true that the Kings have done their best work playing from behind, but if they get a lead in the Staples Center, it will get rock concert-loud in that building.
3. Get strong performances from their best players. It's time for Anze Kopitar to be Wayne Gretzky-good in this series.
Kevin Allen's keys for the Rangers
1. Generate some offense. The Rangers were offensively useless in the second half of Game 4.
2. Play the perfect road game, strong defense, dedicated shot-blocking, consistent effort start to finish. Expect to win a 2-1 decision.
3. Have every Rangers player perform at a higher level because the Kings are going to be better.