The LA Kings beat the NY Rangers 3-2 in 2 OT Friday night to win the series 4-1 and the Stanley Cup. This is the second time in two years the Kings have won the cup but it wasn’t easy. Every series leading up to the finals the Kings went all the way to game seven before defeating their opponent. In the first round against the San Jose Sharks the kings had to come back from a 3-0 deficit to win the next four straight eliminating the Sharks.
The Kings won Games 6 and 7 against the Anaheim Ducks in the second round. They moved on to the Conference Finals to meet the defending Stanley Cup champions Chicago Blackhawks.
The Kings beat the Blackhawks in seven games despite losing Games 5 and 6; they won Game 7 after falling behind 2-0. Martinez scored the overtime winner in Game 7 of the Western Conference Final against the Chicago Blackhawks. The 5-4 win was the Kings' third Game 7 victory in as many rounds, all on the road. No NHL team had done that before, just as no team had played 26 games in the playoffs and finished as champions.
Defenseman Alec Martinez scored off a rebound at 14:43 of the second overtime. He led the rush into the zone and passed to Tyler Toffoli, whose shot was stopped by Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist. The rebound came right to Martinez, who put it in before tossing his gloves and stick in the air.
"Character and leadership in the locker room," Martinez said when asked why the Kings are so resilient. "We've got an unbelievable group in the room. [General Manager] Dean [Lombardi] has always said that we've got to be able to play hockey well together, but we've also got to like each other. All the guys in that locker room, we love each other. It's an unbelievable group."
Justin Williams wins the Conn Smythe Trophy. Williams is a three-time Stanley Cup champion and now a Conn Smythe Trophy winner.
Justin Williams might never be called a legend like some of his favorite players were when he was growing up, but what the Los Angeles Kings forward has accomplished in his hockey career is nothing short of legendary.
"There is no one that is better than him," Kings president Luc Robitaille said.
Williams scored the first goal Friday in a 3-2 double-overtime win against the New York Rangers in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final at Staples Center. He had two goals, including the overtime winner in Game 1, and five assists for seven points that led the series.
Williams had nine goals and 16 assists for 25 points in the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs. He had five points in three Game 7 wins, and his 14 points in seven career Game 7s are an NHL record, one better than Doug Gilmour. Williams' seven Game 7 goals are tied with Glenn Anderson for the NHL record.
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