'It all comes down to a Game 7. Which was probably to be expected.' - #LAKings Brown on how the series ended up playing out.
— The Mayor John Hoven (@mayorNHL) April 29, 2014That was the quote from Dustin Brown after the Kings won 4-1 on Staples Center ice.
A victory that now pegs them as one of only 9 teams to ever force a game seven after being down 3-0. They are also one step closer to something only four teams in the history of sports have pulled off. More importantly, it puts them one step closer to the second round.
You are right Dustin, we all did expect a seven game slugfest, but this is probably the most dramatic way to go about it wouldn't you say?
Much like the series, Game 6 was no stranger to drama. We had Quick trying to fight Thornton, Richards fighting Couture, officiating that was all over the place, 5-on-3 powerplays...pretty intense stuff.
I'll say it straight up, right now though, if I am a Sharks fan I am livid.
Their coach was livid also. McClellan pulled no punches as he was questioned by media after the game.
Todd McLellan, on the game-winning goal: "We got cheated, simple as that." More quotes to come.
— Jon Rosen (@lakingsinsider) April 29, 2014Here is the play in question:
It appears as though Williams pushes Stalock back with his stick, thus forcing the puck to go over the line.
It's a REALLY unfortunate call (or non-call rather) if you are the Sharks. The game systematically unraveled for the Sharks after that. They began taking penalties, and gave up another Quick two goals to bury any chance they had at getting back in the game.
Before you go slamming Sharks fans and McClellan, just ask yourself how you'd be responding if this happened to Quick and the Kings.
Sports is a funny, funny, funny world full of hypocrisy. It really is.
It all evens out eventually and that's why I rarely get too upset by any sort of call or non-call. Some more harshly affect outcomes than others, but it all evens out. This one just happened to fall against the Sharks. Think of it what you will, but from an officiating standpoint and an NHL standpoint, oof, that one is a tough one to overlook.
Regardless of said controversy, the Kings got unbelievable performances from Anze Kopitar and Mr. Clutch AKA Justin Williams. Kopitar and Williams each had three point nights with two goals and an assist. All three of Kopitar's points came in the third period. Doughty, as well, played a tremendous third period and stepped up in a big way in helping lock that game down before it broke open.
One shining ray of hope for the Sharks, who now really have to dig in and endure a mental test, was the performance of Alex Stalock. The four that got posted up on him were by no means his fault, and he actually held the Sharks in this game. A dominant first period by the Kings was limited to one goal of damage by the 26-year-old. If I am McClellan I am starting Stalock on Wednesday night. I thought it was a mistake to go with Stalock over Niemi originally, but the University of Minnesota-Duluth alum proved incredibly capable tonight. Question is, do you put him in net for what might possibly be the biggest game in San Jose franchise history in the last...20 years? Tough call McClellan, that one is on you.
Or maybe Arturs Irbe, anyone know what he is doing these days?
It's going to be a very very trying and frustrating off day for the Sharks tomorrow. Trying to shake this one off will be difficult.
Thanks to Steph (@myregularface) for this lovely GIF. Remember Joe, when you stare long into the abyss, it also stares back into you. Thornton is now a -4 with zero points in the games that the Sharks could have put away the Kings in. Couture is likewise a -2 with zero points. Marleau has been absent from the scoresheet in both Game 5 and 6. Pavelski has one goal and is a -3 in the past three games.
Meanwhile, on the Kings side, Kopitar has points in every game in the series and five in the last three. Justin Williams has five points and four goals in the last three games. Drew Doughty also has 5 points in his last three games. Safe to say the Kings big players have come to play when the time called for it.
Despite the score being lopsided in the end, the possession battle was incredibly close, and the Sharks were the losers of a coin flip. Much akin to the fate the Kings suffered in Game 4.
What will Game 7 bring? Well, it will be Game 7 so what do you expect?
All pressure is on the Sharks now, who have to deal with three missed opportunities, a hot goalie (1 goal in 120 minutes and 55 of the last 56 shots stopped), and now the creeping belief that this series has gotten away from them. I expect a tension filled SAP Center on Wednesday, but an energetic one no less. That energy could quickly turn into disbelief though if....well...we are getting ahead of ourselves.
My Kings in 7 pick is starting to look like a real possibility, which is much better than how I felt about a week ago when a Game 7 seemed far outside the realm of believable consideration. If there is a team that can do it though, it might be this one. San Jose will surely have something to say about that come Wednesday though.
I thought Logan Couture nailed it in his post game interview,
"In my mind if it gets to game seven it doesn't matter how it gets there, it gets there, and you are going for one game."
All goals courteousy of NHL.com
1-0 Kings - Williams (Doughty, Muzzin)
1-1 Sharks - Sheppard (Braun, Torres)
2-1 Kings - Williams (2) (Regehr, Kopitar)
3-1 Kings - Kopitar (Williams, King)
4-1 - Kopitar (2) (Doughty, Martinez)
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