Devils forward Adam Henrique celebrates his game-winning goal over the hometown Kings in Game 4. "We want to keep playing," he says. "Everybody has stepped up their game, brought their best, right from our first line to our fourth line, all of our D and [goalie] Marty [Brodeur], too. (Harry How/Getty Images)
Here are three things you need to know about Game 6 of the Stanley Cup final between the Los Angeles Kings and New Jersey Devils at the Staples Center on Monday (CBC, CBCSports.ca, 8 p.m. ET).
The Kings have a 3-2 lead after a 2-1 loss snapped their 10-game win streak on the road on Saturday. But the Kings have another shot to clinch the franchise's first championship in its 45-year history.
Can the Kings avoid the distractions of home?
The Kings admitted they got caught up in the party-like atmosphere in anticipation of Stanley Cup celebrations prior to Game 4. They vow to be focused this time around.
"We don't want any distractions," defenceman Drew Doughty said. "I think a lot of us before Game 4 were distracted with family members and friends, the Cup coming in the building. A lot of things we have to put aside.
"Family always comes first for everyone, but at this point of the year, the team has to come first. We're a family in the room, on the ice. Right now we're number one in everyone's mind."
Devils out to make history
Only three teams in Stanley Cup playoff history have overcome 3-0 series deficits, but in recent seasons not only did the Philadelphia Flyers win four consecutive games to beat the Boston Bruins in 2010, the Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings both bounced back to win three in a row to tie series against the Vancouver Canucks and San Jose Sharks, only to lose the seventh and deciding game last spring.
"We want to keep playing," Devils rookie Adam Henrique said. "Obviously, our backs are against the wall. Everybody has stepped up their game, brought their best, right from our first line to our fourth line, all of our D and Marty [Brodeur], too.
"We believe in ourselves and the guys in the room. We want to keep playing, and through the playoffs I think we have gotten stronger the deeper each series has gone."
The Devils have gone 4-0 in elimination games so far, and have been an impressive 10-1 in Games 4, 5, 6 and 7.
Score first and go home
Both teams will be gunning to score the all-important first goal in Game 6. In this low-scoring, tight-checking final, the difference maker has been the first goal.
The Kings scored first in the opening two games in New Jersey to skate away with a pair of 2-1 victories in overtime. They scored first again in their 4-0 win in Game 3 a week ago. But the Devils reversed the trend by scoring first in victories last Wednesday and Saturday.
Kings' projected forward lines
Dustin Brown - Anze Kopitar - Justin Williams
Dustin Penner - Mike Richards - Jeff Carter
Dwight King - Jarret Stoll - Trevor Lewis
Simon Gagne - Colin Fraser - Jordan Nolan
Starting goalie: Jonathan Quick
Devils' projected forward lines
Zach Parise - Travis Zajac - Ilya Kovalchuk
Alexei Ponikarovsky - Adam Henrique - David Clarkson
Petr Sykora - Patrik Elias - Dainius Zubrus
Ryan Carter - Stephen Gionta - Steve Bernier
Starting goalie: Martin Brodeur
Tim Wharnsby
Tim's worked the sports beat at The Globe and Mail and the Toronto Sun, specializing in Canada's one true sporting obsession - hockey. He knows the players, the coaches, the backroom boys and most importantly, the fans. That's what he brings to his stories. Knowledge, fairness and understanding are trademarks of a Wharnsby story. That's what you will get here as he writes for CBCSports.ca.
