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Kings vs Rangers

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Corey Masisak

Kings complete longest-ever trip to Stanley Cup title

Saturday, 06.14.2014 / 3:18 AM / Kings vs Rangers - 2014 Stanley Cup Final

NHL.com

The Los Angeles Kings completed the longest journey to the Stanley Cup in NHL history when they beat the New York Rangers 3-2 in Game 5 of the Final on Friday.

The game was the Kings' 26th in the playoffs, the most ever by a championship team. The 1987 Philadelphia Flyers and 2004 Calgary Flames also played 26 games in one playoff season, but each lost a seven-game Final. The 2006 Carolina Hurricanes and 2011 Boston Bruins had shared the mark of 25 games played by a Cup winner.


Kings' Martinez again plays hero, scores Cup-winner

Saturday, 06.14.2014 / 3:11 AM / Kings vs Rangers - 2014 Stanley Cup Final

Curtis Zupke - NHL.com Correspondent

LOS ANGELES -- When Alec Martinez gets a moment to see a replay sometime in the next few days, maybe it will refresh his memory. The details tend get a little fuzzy because of emotion, even for someone who scored his second straight Stanley Cup Playoff series-winning goal.

Martinez didn't quite know how to react after he etched his name in Los Angeles Kings history with the Cup-clinching goal against the New York Rangers in a 3-2 double-overtime win Friday at Staples Center.

He jumped, threw his gloves and stick, and excitedly waved his hands before the rest of the Kings mobbed him against the end boards.

"I blacked out," Martinez said after Game 5. "I don't really remember. I think I threw my gear. I don't know. I just remember everyone coming at me and I couldn't breathe."

Intense Sutter again guiding hand in Kings' Cup run

Saturday, 06.14.2014 / 2:03 AM / Kings vs Rangers - 2014 Stanley Cup Final

Mike G. Morreale - NHL.com Staff Writer

Los Angeles Kings defenseman Willie Mitchell sported a wide grin before offering two words when asked earlier this week what separates coach Darryl Sutter from other coaches.

"Intense dude," he said, shaking his head for emphasis.

"He wants everyone to get the proper focus; that's the biggest thing," Mitchell added. "You're always prepared. He's a master motivator, knows when to push the buttons and how to push the buttons. Sometimes you don't like it, but look at his track record … it works."


Cup-winner was longest game in Kings history

Saturday, 06.14.2014 / 1:32 AM / Kings vs Rangers - 2014 Stanley Cup Final

NHL.com

The longest game in Los Angeles Kings history produced the sweetest reward.

Alec Martinez's goal 14:43 into the second overtime Friday gave the Kings a 3-2 victory against the New York Rangers in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final, wrapping up their second championship in three seasons. It also ended the longest game in franchise history.

The Kings' previous longest game came last spring, when they were eliminated by the Chicago Blackhawks in Game 5 of the Western Conference Final on a goal by Patrick Kane at 11:40 of the second overtime.


Fantastic finish for Kings' tandem of Toffoli, Pearson

Saturday, 06.14.2014 / 12:50 AM / Kings vs Rangers - 2014 Stanley Cup Final

Mike G. Morreale - NHL.com Staff Writer

There was a time not too long ago when Los Angeles Kings forwards Tyler Toffoli and Tanner Pearson snarled at one another as opponents in the Ontario Hockey League.

On Friday night, the two rookies got the chance to raise the Stanley Cup on the ice at Staples Center in Los Angeles.

The Kings defeated the New York Rangers 3-2 in double overtime in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final to win the best-of-7 series. Toffoli got the primary assist on Alec Martinez's Cup-winning goal.

It was a run through the Stanley Cup Playoffs the rookie tandem will never forget.

"If someone told me this was the way my career would go, I would have taken it in a heartbeat," Pearson said prior to Game 4 of the Cup Final.

Kings' trip to the Stanley Cup wasn't a smooth one

Saturday, 06.14.2014 / 12:30 AM / Kings vs Rangers - 2014 Stanley Cup Final

Jon Lane - NHL.com Staff Writer

The Los Angeles Kings' journey to winning the Stanley Cup for the second time in three seasons was anything but scenic. In fact, their run was all but over at the beginning when they trailed the San Jose Sharks 3-0 in the Western Conference First Round.

It was during those dire predicaments, however, where the Kings are the most dangerous. Los Angeles rallied to beat the Sharks, becoming the fourth team in NHL history to win a best-of-7 series after trailing 3-0.

The heavy lifting didn't end with their first-round escape. The next two series each went the seven-game distance, against the Anaheim Ducks and Chicago Blackhawks. The Kings became the first team in League history to play all 21 possible games in the first three rounds and advance to the Cup Final, and also the first to win three Game 7s on the road in one postseason.

Rangers defenseman Stralman quietly gets job done

Thursday, 06.12.2014 / 11:08 PM / Kings vs Rangers - 2014 Stanley Cup Final

Corey Masisak - NHL.com Staff Writer

LOS ANGELES -- Now that enough time has passed since the New York Rangers changed coaches, it's obvious some players have enjoyed more success playing for Alain Vigneault than they did for John Tortorella.

Ryan McDonagh blossomed into a No. 1 defenseman and a fringe Norris Trophy candidate. Chris Kreider became a regular up front and an important offensive weapon.

The player who might end up prospering the most from the change is defenseman Anton Stralman. Not only has Stralman been given more responsibility by the new coaching staff, he's become a key player for a Stanley Cup finalist because of his ability to play well in those situations.

"I think this is obviously his best year since he came to New York," Rangers forward Carl Hagelin said. "The coaches have a lot of confidence in him, and you can see how he's growing throughout the year. ... He's not going to be a flashy player but he's always finding ways to break the puck out pretty smoothly. He's a good skater. He's finding ways, even when the forecheck is hard on him. He will pivot off guys and find a way to break out.

"He's showed a lot of improvement over the year too. Maybe that's all it takes, is some more confidence and you can do the things you want to do on the ice and make the plays you know you can make. He's not a guy who gets too down on himself. He benefited from the change for sure."

Rangers' Richards copes with demotion to fourth line

Thursday, 06.12.2014 / 10:25 PM / Kings vs Rangers - 2014 Stanley Cup Final

Dan Rosen - NHL.com Senior Writer

LOS ANGELES -- Brad Richards sensed a change was coming. It usually does when your team is trailing 3-0 in any series, let alone the Stanley Cup Final. The way he had been playing and feeling in the series, he probably could sense the change involved him.

So when New York Rangers coach Alain Vigneault approached Richards before Game 4 on Wednesday to talk to him about the lineup and where he was going to play, you can imagine how unsurprised Richards was to learn that he was being bumped down to the fourth line.

He said his reaction to the news that he was being demoted was simply, "Go try to win a game, really. If you're down 3-0, you know, there's something that has to change sometimes. Just talk to the new linemates, go play."


Rangers know they have to be better to win Game 5

Thursday, 06.12.2014 / 9:54 PM / Kings vs Rangers - 2014 Stanley Cup Final

Dan Rosen - NHL.com Senior Writer

LOS ANGELES -- Thursday was a big-picture day for the New York Rangers because of what they survived on Wednesday.

The players woke up in the morning, stretched out their arms and collectively realized their season wasn't over yet, that they preserved it for at least another two days by beating the Los Angeles Kings 2-1 in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final at Madison Square Garden.

The cross-country flight that can sometimes summon tired groans from weary players was in fact a welcome gift. Upon landing, the Rangers went directly to Staples Center for a full team practice that was met with enthusiasm and vigor instead of dread and lethargy.

Kings focused on getting one more win, not fatigue

Thursday, 06.12.2014 / 7:49 PM / Kings vs Rangers - 2014 Stanley Cup Final

Curtis Zupke - NHL.com Correspondent

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- So much for jet lag and recovering from a cross-country flight in preparation for an NHL record-tying 26th Stanley Cup Playoff game for the Los Angeles Kings. A handful of regulars took the ice Thursday despite arriving back in Los Angeles at 3 a.m. local time.

The flight from New York?

"I had a good Chilean sea bass," center Jarret Stoll said. "It was good. It was great, actually."

The Kings were in a calm, confident and somewhat playful mood one day after they narrowly missed winning the Cup for the second time in three seasons in a 2-1 loss to the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday.

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