Jun 11, 2014; New York, NY, USA; The puck stops on the goal line behind New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist (30) and center Derek Stepan (21) during the third period in game four of the 2014 Stanley Cup Final against the Los Angeles Kings at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Bennett/Pool Photo via USA TODAY Sports
I will make this short. You have to get ready for Friday, I have to get ready for Friday and the Los Angeles Kings have to get ready for Friday. Why? The New York Rangers beat LA, 2-1 in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final. As several Kings have said throughout the playoffs, they are not making it easy.
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New York scored on a power play when Willie Mitchell was called for high-sticking, giving the Rangers a much needed early advantage. They were not able to capitalize on it initially, but with two seconds left on the power play, Benoit Pouliot finally got a puck past Jonathan Quick. New York was up 1-0. The Rangers kept attacking in the second period, which proved costly for the Kings when Chris Kreider got an unintentional assist. His broken stick turned a shot attempt into a pass that went under the legs of Quick and into the blade of Martin St. Louis right in an open net. Rangers had two goals on the board.
Later in the period, the Kings committed another penalty, which had the Rangers in possession of the puck for the majority of the advantage. Unfortunately for New York, Dustin Brown got a break away as the penalty expired and got the Kings on the board just as they got to even strength. It did not matter, Brown had one guy in front of him and ten guys in back. LA was back in this, 2-1. The Kings were definitely not going away and they attacked they net the best they had all series. LA had a total of 26 shots to NY’s 18 through two periods.
WATCH: @DustinBrown23 comes up with a steal, and then beats Lundqvist to bring the #LAKings within 1 -http://t.co/1g1eVCbTII
— LA Kings (@LAKings) June 12, 2014
The third period was like a 20-minute cardiac arrest. Slow, painful and a little bit shaky. Both teams had good chances, but LA had better chances. The Kings had 15 shots in the third period, compared to the one for New York. The flurry of shots really put the pressure on Henrik Lundqvist, but he prevailed with a Quick-esque game, saving a total of 40 shots. Los Angeles had several good looks at the net and one of the last opportunities was mere inches away from tying this game.
MUST WATCH: Watch the play that had the Kings INCHES from tying Game 4: http://t.co/qe1oxib9lg pic.twitter.com/AsikzMfkFu
— NBC Sports Hockey (@NBCSportsHockey) June 12, 2014
It is over. We now move on. Game 5 is Friday at Staples Center in Los Angeles. If there was every a game for the Kings to close out on, it would be the one on home ice.
Mike W.R.
Twitter: @TheBigDisco