The majority of people predicted the Los Angeles Kings would win their Stanley Cup Final series over the New York Rangers. Not many, however, thought the Kings would hold a three games to zero lead heading into game four. I know I wouldn't have predicted a potential sweep.
I also think everyone would agree that the Rangers deserve much better that the 3-0 hole that they are in. They could very easily be up in the series right now or at least trailing, two games to one.
When you look at the first games that LA won in overtime, they had no business winning them, but they did. Games like that are backbreakers to the team that loses, no matter how brave they act afterwards. It shakes a team's confidence.
In Game Three in New York, two of the three goals were “own… goals (to borrow a soccer term) and the third was a very lucky bounce. It’s no wonder that the Rangers where looking like the proverbial deer in the head lights in their post games interviews. They have deserved a much better fate!
The best interview that I have seen thus far is a by a LA King player -- I did not catch which one -- but the question was something like this “How do you explain your ability to come back? How is it that you guys are so resilient and nothing seems to faze you as a team?…
The kid thought about it for a moment and replied “It’s the guy behind the bench, it is his attitude. He never lets us forget that the game is 60 minutes – he never lets us forget that we have to work for 60 minutes.…
What a simple but true message! I also must admit that I chuckled when I heard it because that was the very same attitude that Ron and Rich Sutter (my teammates in Philly) had. It must be a Sutter thing.
So now that the series is 3-0 and the Rangers have a very deep hole to climb out of to get back in the series, the conversation has switched to who is going to win the Conn Smythe assuming LA closes out the series. Most of the talk has been around LA defensemen Drew Doughtly, leading scorer Anze Kopitar or Justin Williams.
All of the above players deserve to be in the conversation. I will not go into detail of what they have accomplished, their stats and their play speaks for itself, but the player that I think should win is getting nothing more than an honourable mention. You keep hearing, “he’s come up big when needed.…
Are you kidding me? The Los Angles Kings would not be in the Final, let alone up 3-0 if were not for Jonathon Quick. Yes, he struggled early in the playoffs but he's returned to form in a major way and should win the Conn Smythe barring a Rangers miracle.
This trophy is awarded to the player who is the best in the Stanley Cup playoffs – all 4 rounds. I hear the knock against Quick winning is that he has let in a few “soft… goals in the playoffs. So what? They have played 24 games and if memory serves me correctly, I think his team also played a number of “soft… games in front of him – especially in the San Jose series. Even a great goalie needs his team to compete in front of him to have a chance.
The Kings have faced elimination on seven occasions in these playoffs, let’s look at Quick’s stats for those games.
Round 1 vs. San Jose – down 3-0 In these four elimination games Jonathon only allowed 5 goals while facing 135 shots. The Kings were outshot in three of the four games.
Round 2 vs. Anaheim – down 3-2 In games six and seven, Jonathon faced a total of 49 shots and allowed 3 goals. The Kings were outshot in game seven.
Round 3 vs. Chicago – tied 3-3 Allowed 4 goals on 41 shots, they were outshot again.
Tell me those aren’t MVP stats! In seven elimination games Jonathon Quick faced a total of 225 shots and only allowed 12 goals. Keep in mind the Kings were outshot, even outplayed, in five of these seven elimination games.
If those stats are not enough, all we have to do is look at game three of the final series. Everyone in the hockey world knew that the Rangers had to win this game. And everyone knew that the Rangers were going to come out flying, the fans were into it and Madison Square Gardens was rocking. Quick stood on his head, with countless big saves which were followed by several highlight reel saves. The Kings were badly out shot in this game (32 – 15) but they managed to win the game 3-0, thanks in large part to Quick.
The Kings are one win away from their second Stanley Cup in three seasons and in my opinion they owe their success to Mr. Quick. His name has to be added to the list of contenders for the Conn Smythe Trophy.