Three things you need to know about the opening game of the Stanley Cup final between the New Jersey Devils and Los Angeles Kings at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. on Wednesday.
New Jersey goaltender Marty Brodeur is an obvious key to any hopes that the New Jersey Devils have of winning the Stanley Cup again. His excellent puck-handling skills have proved to be a strength and advantage for the Devils in the first three rounds.
Anze Kopitar's hometown in Slovenia is not far from the Austrian border, and it was seven years ago in Innsbruck, Austria that a 17-year-old Kopitar had his coming out party as a teenage hockey sensation at the 2005 world championship. He's turning even more heads in his Los Angeles Kings bid to beat the New Jersey Devils for the Stanley Cup title.
Climbing back into the saddle for the Stanley Cup final never gets old
for the New Jersey Devils, especially if you have been around the
organization as long as pro scout Bob Hoffmeyer.
Here are a dozen intriguing individuals to get to know as the Los Angeles Kings and New Jersey Devils prepare to meet in the championship series opener in Newark on Wednesday.
Two unlikely combatants will meet in the 2012 Stanley Cup final. But the New Jersey Devils and Los Angeles Kings have survived and will meet for the championship on Wednesday.
New Montreal Canadiens assistant general manager Rick Dudley has had mixed results in the past 14 years as he bounced around from the Ottawa Senators to the Tampa Bay Lightning to the Florida Panthers to the Chicago Blackhawks to the Atlanta Thrashers and his one season with the Toronto Maple Leafs last year.
Despite his horrific giveaway on what was the tying goal for the Devils in Game 5, the puck handling skills of Marty Brodeur have helped offset the continued excellence of Henrik Lundqvist in their Eastern Conference final.
The past six weeks have gone extremely well for Dustin Penner and the Los Angeles Kings in their unexpected run to the Stanley Cup final and the 29-year-old from Winkler, Man., who scored his team's series-clinching overtime winner in the Western Conference final, sure needed an upturn in his life.
Captain Shane Doan and Phoenix Coyotes goalie Mike Smith expressed their frustration with the officiating in the Western Conference final finale, shortly after Dustin Penner scored his first career overtime goal to send his Los Angeles Kings to the Stanley Cup final.
Three things you need to know about Game 5 of the NHL Western Conference final between the Los Angeles Kings and Phoenix Coyotes on Tuesday. Kings lead the best-of-seven series 3-1.
By our count, Phoenix Coyotes defenceman Adrian Aucoin played in 1,393 games before he suited up for his first game in the West final in Los Angeles against the Kings on Sunday, a 2-0 win to pull Phoenix within 3-1 in the series. Game 5 is set for Jobing.Com Arena on Tuesday.
As much as the Phoenix Coyotes were better as a unit in their 2-0 win over the Los Angeles Kings on Sunday, it was difficult to ignore the contributions of two elder statesmen in captain Shane Doan and defenceman Adrian Aucoin.
Unless you have been invited to the home of Donna and Dwayne King, or the residence of their eldest son D.J., the best place in Meadow Lake, Sask., to watch a Los Angeles Kings' game these days is at the Milltown Sports Bar on 9th Street.
The Vancouver Canucks now have company in being charged, tried and convicted of embellishment. After Los Angeles' 2-1 victory for a 3-0 West final lead on Thursday, Phoenix Coyotes coach Dave Tippett wasn't pleased with the Kings taking their close proximity to Hollywood a little bit too seriously with their acting skills.
While the Los Angeles Kings have received contributions from their entire roster this playoffs, it was Jarret Stoll's turn to shine in Los Angeles' 2-1 win on Thursday. With his checking ability, his doggedness as a penalty killer and his hard work to help set up linemate Dwight King's game-winner early in the third period, Stoll was very noticeable in the Kings' eighth win.
Here are three elements you need to know about Game 3 of the West final between the Los Angeles Kings and Phoenix Coyotes on Thursday. The Kings lead the series 2-0.
With Martin Hanzal suspended for Game 3 of the Western Conference final on Thursday, the Phoenix Coyotes will need even more from one of their playoff heroes in the first two rounds, dependable centre Antoine Vermette.
