The Los Angeles Kings, born as one of six expansion teams for the 1967-68 season, ended 45 years of wandering in the NHL wilderness Monday night.Captain Dustin Brown re-emerged in the Stanley Cup Final series with a goal and two assists, getting the Kings started on a 6-1 victory over the New Jersey Devils at Staples Center on Monday night. Brown is the second American-born captain to be presented with the Stanley Cup.
The Devils, who had won back-to-back games after falling behind 3-0 in the series, were out of Game 6 fast.
Forward Steve Bernier all but put the Cup in the Kings' hands with a five-minute major penalty for boarding 11 minutes into the game. The Kings scored three power-play goals during the penalty, the first by Brown.
Jeff Carter and Trevor Lewis scored two goals and Matt Greene added another for the Kings, who are the first eighth-seeded team to win the Stanley Cup.
The early 3-0 lead took pressure off the Kings, who had been peppered with questions about whether they would join the 1942 Detroit Red Wings as the only team to blow a 3-0 series lead in the Stanley Cup Final.
The Kings had been close to the Cup once before. They won Game 1 against the Montreal Canadiens in 1993 and were leading late in Game 2 when Marty McSorley was caught with an illegal stick. The Canadiens tied the score in regulation and then won in overtime before capturing the series.
After Monday, McSorley will probably be forgiven by Kings' fans.
Bernier set the Kings in motion. He went behind the net and slammed defenseman Rob Scuderi into the boards, opening a cut. Bernier was ejected and the Kings had a five-minute power play.
Brown got the scoring spree started. He charged the net and re-directed a Drew Doughty shot for a 1-0 lead at 11:03. Brown was the catalyst less than two minutes later. He came from behind the net, whirled and whizzed a shot toward goaltender Martin Brodeur that Carter tipped into the net.
Lewis put the Devils in a deep hole 15 minutes into the game. Dwight King bulled his way toward the net but lost the puck. Lewis was at the crease and swept it into the net.
The Kings had a 13-4 edge in shots after the first period.
Any comeback thoughts by the Devils were doused quickly. Carter slipped into the slot, took a pass from Brown, and whipped a wrist shot that beat Brodeur 1:30 into the second period.
The Devils finally got on the scoreboard with 1:13 left in the second period. Petr Sykora got a shot on net after a faceoff. Adam Henrique knocked in the rebound.
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The Devils, who had won back-to-back games after falling behind 3-0 in the series, were out of Game 6 fast.
Forward Steve Bernier all but put the Cup in the Kings' hands with a five-minute major penalty for boarding 11 minutes into the game. The Kings scored three power-play goals during the penalty, the first by Brown.
Jeff Carter and Trevor Lewis scored two goals and Matt Greene added another for the Kings, who are the first eighth-seeded team to win the Stanley Cup.
The early 3-0 lead took pressure off the Kings, who had been peppered with questions about whether they would join the 1942 Detroit Red Wings as the only team to blow a 3-0 series lead in the Stanley Cup Final.
The Kings had been close to the Cup once before. They won Game 1 against the Montreal Canadiens in 1993 and were leading late in Game 2 when Marty McSorley was caught with an illegal stick. The Canadiens tied the score in regulation and then won in overtime before capturing the series.
After Monday, McSorley will probably be forgiven by Kings' fans.
Bernier set the Kings in motion. He went behind the net and slammed defenseman Rob Scuderi into the boards, opening a cut. Bernier was ejected and the Kings had a five-minute power play.
Brown got the scoring spree started. He charged the net and re-directed a Drew Doughty shot for a 1-0 lead at 11:03. Brown was the catalyst less than two minutes later. He came from behind the net, whirled and whizzed a shot toward goaltender Martin Brodeur that Carter tipped into the net.
Lewis put the Devils in a deep hole 15 minutes into the game. Dwight King bulled his way toward the net but lost the puck. Lewis was at the crease and swept it into the net.
The Kings had a 13-4 edge in shots after the first period.
Any comeback thoughts by the Devils were doused quickly. Carter slipped into the slot, took a pass from Brown, and whipped a wrist shot that beat Brodeur 1:30 into the second period.
The Devils finally got on the scoreboard with 1:13 left in the second period. Petr Sykora got a shot on net after a faceoff. Adam Henrique knocked in the rebound.
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Twitter.com/cfosterlatimes