As the NHL teams rearrange their
rosters, I wanted to take a look back at the exciting Game 4 and Game 5 of the
2014 Stanley Cup finals that showed the determination of two teams. New York
worked hard to win Game 4 in New York with the hope of coming all the way from
their 0-3 series deficit to give New York its first Stanley Cup celebration in
20 years. Los Angeles had game 7s throughout each of their playoff series and
did not want to leave the game to the momentum-neutral finale.
Game 4: At
Madison Square Garden, the New York Rangers were facing a Los Angeles Kings team
that had a 3-0 lead in the series. The Stanley Cup was nearby, awaiting the
outcome of the game. As it turned out, the richest prize in hockey would not be
awarded this night as the Rangers team mounted a comeback to steal one game in
this series. The New York forwards put
LA goalie Jonathan Quick to the test early on with shots on net. Penalty
killing for the Kings had to be good throughout the night. Madison Square
Garden fans were energized when Benoit Pouliot and Martin St. Louis put the
Rangers on the scoreboard through hard-fought goals. LA’s Dustin Brown would
score off a breakaway chance to cut the lead to one, but that would be all his
team could get past New York netminder Henrik Lundqvist. For the rest of the
game, the home team used their solid defensive game to hold off the Kings. As
time expired on the clock, the 2-1 win was further proof that the Rangers could
regroup when their playoff future was on the line.
Game 5: Back at
the Staples Center in Los Angeles, The Kings prepared to finish off this series
and avoid a momentum shift that could alter the course of the series. New York
came into Game 5 hoping to build upon the work started at the Garden. When the
puck dropped, the Rangers had a gritty showdown with the Kings. The momentum
shifted throughout the game. Tied at 2 goals at the end of regulation, what
followed was two exciting sessions of overtime. Los Angeles and New York played
with heart and determination, but it would be LA’s Alec Martinez who would
score the game-winning goal for his team’s second Stanley cup in 2 years.
After the game, the hometown fans celebrated. The Conn Smythe
Award for Most Valuable Player in the playoffs went to Los Angeles Kings player
Justin Williams. After the Conn Smythe was handed out, Commissioner Gary
Bettman called for Kings’ team captain Dustin Brown to come pick up the Stanley
Cup. Everyone on the team got to skate around with the trophy as the fans
looked on.
The NHL is now in the off-season. The 30 teams prepare their rosters for another
long journey. Free agency is in full swing as players are negotiating or being traded.
Young players have been drafted…and fans
watch the proceedings and countdown till October’s opening night ceremonies.
