NHL Stanley Cup Final: Record Setting Kings Look To Sweep Devils
It hasn’t happened since 1998 but the Los Angeles Kings are on the verge of sweeping the New Jersey Devils in the 2011-12 National Hockey League Stanley Cup Final. This record-breaking Kings crew is as good as any Cup Champion we have seen in recent years. After an impressive 4-0 win in Game 3 on Monday, the Kings now lead the Cup Final 3-0. To avoid the sweep – the Devils need to dig down deep in Game 4 tonight!
Los Angeles Kings Give Cup Final a Men vs. Boys Feel
Numbers don’t lie and when it comes to the Los Angeles Kings – they also speak volumes. Ten consecutive road wins, 15-2 through 17 playoff games, 24 goals against (1.41 GPG) a ridiculous 92.8 percentage penalty kill (64-69) along with goal scoring from 17 of their 21 skaters, all adds up to Stanley finally going Hollywood!
Throw in the fact that Kings are now the first modern era NHL club to go up 3-0 in each of the four series they have played in and this record setting run comes into full focus. The Kings are also trying to get off of an NHL record list. Los Angeles is currently second, behind the Toronto Maple Leafs and St. Louis Blues (44 years), with 43 seasons of Stanley Cup winning futility. This will be the LA Kings first Cup win in franchise history.
Stanley Cup Final Game Five: Bettors Beware of Marty Brodeur
Standing in the way of the Kings tying the 1988 Edmonton Oilers, for the least loses in a Stanley Cup playoff run, is Marty Brodeur and a proud New Jersey crew. In what could be his last NHL game, we expect a big effort from Brodeur in the Devils net tonight. This future first ballot, three-year wait exempted, Hall of Fame net-minder has been here before and came up big – as recently as this year’s NHL playoff season.
In the quarterfinal round, against the Florida Panthers, Brodeur was pulled in the Devils 4-3 Game 3 loss and came back with a 4-0 shutout in Game 4. In the semifinals, Marty gave up four goals in Game 1 versus the Philadelphia Flyers but he and the Devils rebounded with a 4-1 victory in Game 2. The New York Rangers registered three goals, on just 22 shots, in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final but Brodeur shut the door in Game 4 as the Devils won 4-1 to even that series. Can the greatest modern era goalie save his club again?
If anyone can help prevent a sweep from happening – it’s Martin Brodeur. That said, the Kings do not want to make the cross-country journey back to New Jersey for a Game 5. Deep down, we do feel that the Kings will complete the sweep tonight but we do caution against betting the farm with Brodeur back stopping the Devils!
