The LA Kings return to California with a chance to clinch the Stanley Cup Final in front of their home fans with a Game 5 win over the New York Rangers on Friday night at 8 p.m. ET on NBC. The New York Rangers forced a Game 5 with a 2-1 victory at Madison Square Garden, due in large part to goaltender Henrik Lundqvist.
After goals from Benoit Pouliot and Martin St. Louis to spot the New York Rangers a two-goal cushion, and a breakaway goal from Dustin Brown to cut New Yorkโs lead to one, Lundqvist carried his team to victory. Lundqvist stopped 40 shots in all, including all 15 shots in a third period in which the New York Rangers registered just one shot on goal. New York avoided a sweep to send the series back to Los Angeles tomorrow night.
It was a game of inches in New York. TWEETS OF THE GAME: https://t.co/8gjogxNJ8j pic.twitter.com/JJEPULT6Si
โ LA Kings (@LAKings) June 13, 2014
The Kings aim for their second Stanley Cup title in franchise history and second championship in three years. Two years ago, the Kings held a 3-0 series lead against the New Jersey Devils in the 2012 Stanley Cup Final, and eventually won it in six games.
The New York Rangers need three straight victories to become only the fourth team in NHL playoff history to win four straight games in a series after falling into a 0-3 deficit. One of those four teams to complete the feat is this yearโs Kings, who climbed out of a 0-3 hole to the San Jose Sharks in the first round.
The 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs are the only team to win a Stanley Cup after losing the first three in a series. A win on Friday night in L.A. would shift the series back to New York for a potential Game 6 on Monday night at 7 p.m. CST on NBC.
Here to break down the Stanley Cup Final and talk New York Rangers versus L.A. Kings is our very own Jeff Hicks. He previews the Stanley Cup Final, talks about his other company 120 Sports, and also previews the NHL Draft. He also talks about his upcoming Chicago Blackhawks offseason moves and their draft outlook.ย Follow him on Twitter @skcih_ffej.
Paul M. Banks ownsย The Sports Bank.net, an affiliate ofย Fox Sports. Heโs also a frequent guest on talk shows across the world. Banks has been featured in hundreds of media outlets including NFL.com, Forbes, Bleacher Report, Deadspin,ย ESPN, Washington Times,ย NBCย and the History Channel. Presidentย Barack Obamaย follows him onย Twitter (@paulmbanks)
