Swedish goaltender Henrik Lundqvist is the heart and soul of the New York Rangers. He is the last line of defense for his club and perhaps the most scrutinized when his team fails to pull off a victory. However, the city of New York praises him the most when the Rangers come up with a win. After a phenomenal 40 save performance in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final that prevented his ninth season in the National Hockey League from ending in elimination, “Hank” was tested constantly in Game 5 in the Staples Center.
Just like in Game 4, he was more than fit to the task once again, but would it be enough to force a Game 6?
Stanley Cup Final Game 5
The Los Angeles Kings were hoping to have a quick start in Friday’s contest, an aspect of their game that alluded them in prior matchups against New York. In fact, it was the Blueshirts who have scored the first goal in three of the four previous games. Looking to strike first blood, Game 5 opened with a defensive chess-match between head coaches Darryl Sutter and Alain Vigneault.
With their respective lineups battling for time and space throughout the three zones of the ice, minimal offensive chances arose as a result. As we’ve seen in the 2014 postseason, the Kings have been known to create something out of nothing. A little over six minutes into the first period, the determination of the home team was put on display.
A Willie Mitchell drive from the point created a scramble in front of the blue paint where Lundqvist was unable to secure the initial shot as well as several stuff-away attempts from forwards Dwight King and Jarret Stoll. The puck made its way toward the middle of the circles where 32-year-old Justin Williams was located, who then backhanded the puck through the buzzing crowd, hitting the back of the net.
This was the second time this series that the Kings registered the first tally in the game (Game 3), much to the delight of Sutter and the rest of the organization. Then, the strategical mind-games continued, resulting in only 13 shots combined for both teams in the opening frame.
The next set of 20 minutes were heavily favored towards the visitors, as the Rangers were able to break through the Kings defense and opened the game up using their elusivness, causing penalties to be taken by the Kings. With only one powerplay goal scored in the entire series, the Rangers hoped to end their slump with the man-advantage by improving their shot selection on goaltender Jonathan Quick.
The Hamden, CT native is known to take away the bottom of the net while sliding from post-to-post. Rarely, this tactic leaves him over-committing to a certain side, leaving the backdoor area open. Rangers Defenseman Ryan McDonagh recognized this and slid the puck across the crease to an uncontested Chris Kreider who buried the chance past Quick 15:37 into the second period, tying the game at one. The net-front presence that New York lacked in quite some time had paid off once again.
Three minutes later, the Kings were the ones who found themselves on the powerplay thanks to a Dominic Moore hooking infraction. Despite this, the Rangers were once again the benefactors of the scenario as Brian Boyle blistered a shot over the glove of Quick with just 30 seconds to play before the intermission.
The chance was created when Carl Hagelin won a footrace to the puck against Slava Voynov, twisting a pass towards Boyle who found himself one-on-one with Norris Trophy winner Drew Doughty. However, the 6’7″ power forward moved to the outside and quieted the Staples Center with a quick release that put the Rangers up 2-1.
As the third period began, the Kings hoped they could comeback once again like they had twice previously in the series. Utilizing their heavy-hitting style and hard-nosed forechecking, L.A. was able to draw another penalty. Mats Zuccarello headed to the box on a questionable tripping call, providing the Kings with their fourth man-advantage of the night, hoping to even the game at two.
Marian Gaborik crashed the net off of a Drew Doughty shot that was caught in the paraphernalia of Lundqvist and dropped to the ice. Gaborik then poked the skittering puck through the wickets of his former teammate for his league-leading 14th goal of the postseason at 7:56 in the final frame. Only Wayne Gretzky has more goals in one postseason in Kings franchise history (15).
With momentum shifted toward the home team, Lundqvist stood on his head, keeping his team in the game (as he always does) when it seemed as if the Kings were going to take the lead. The shots were 12-3 in favor of L.A. in the third period, re-enforcing the theme of the Rangers sitting on a lead in the latter stages of the game.
Extra time would then be required for the third game in the 2014 Stanley Cup Final. Both teams had their respective chances in overtime, but none were closer than McDonagh’s howitzer from outside the left circle that rang off the iron while the Rangers were on the PP. Tyler Toffoli also fired one off the crossbar later in OT but the puck never crossed the goal-line.
Justin Williams had a pair of chances in overtime as well, desperately hoping to change his nickname from “Mr. Game 7” to “Mr. Overtime,” but failed to re-direct centering feeds past the pads of Lundqvist.
Jonathan Quick was also tested on various Ranger opportunities, including a breakaway from Chris Kreider with under a minute to play in the first overtime, but was able to fight them all off. Another overtime period would be needed in order to get an end result. With the two best goalies facing off on the NHL’s biggest stage, we should expect no different.
Jeff Carter tipped one off the post during the first shift of the second overtime, as did Zuccarello eight minutes in. Intensity couldn’t describe the play of these two clubs throughout the period, as they were fighting for every inch, attempting to be the hero for their team.
They say the Stanley Cup Playoffs is a spectacle where individuals find it within themselves to come up bigger than they ever have before. Thirteen minutes and forty-three seconds into the second overtime, Alec Martinez found the puck on his stick with a wide-open net off of a rebound from a shot by Toffoli and made no mistake, burying it past Lundqvist (who made 48 saves in the loss) to win it for the Kings.
Martinez was the one who brought his team to the Cup with an overtime game-winning goal against the Chicago Blackhawks in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals.
In the longest game in their franchise’s history, the Los Angeles Kings regained their crown atop the National Hockey League with their second title in three seasons. Justin Williams received the Conn Smythe Trophy as the NHL’s most valuable player throughout the postseason (8G, 16A).
Enjoy it Hollywood, your hockey team are the champions of the hockey world.
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