During the NHL’s hiatus, we at the Last Word on Hockey are going to look back at each date’s historical significance to the game. We’ll remember the moments that shaped the sport of hockey that happened on this day. Here’s our look at this date in hockey history for June 11th, featuring Jonathan Quick.
Today in Hockey History
Jonathan Quick Leads Kings to First Cup
2012: The Los Angeles Kings goalie is named Conn Smythe Trophy winner for playoff MVP. He makes 17 saves as the Kings dispatch the New Jersey Devils, 6-1, in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final. Quick finishes with a 16-4 record with a 1.41 goals-against average and .946 save percentage.
Los Angeles blows the deciding game wide open after Rob Scuderi is boarded by Steve Bernier in the first period. The Kings score three times on the five-minute major to secure their first cup in 45 years. Los Angeles also becomes the first No. 8 seed to win a Stanley Cup. The Kings are also the first team to beat all three top seeds in the conference in the same post-season.
Other Notable Events
1969: The Chicago Blackhawks gets goalie Tony Esposito in the annual intraleague draft from the Montreal Canadiens. He’s well worth the $25,000. He’s the first goalie to win the Vezina and Calder trophies in the same season.
1974: The Washington Capitals and Kansas City Scouts are approved to enter the league for the 1974-75 season. Kansas City would move to Colorado to become the Rockies and eventually to New Jersey to be the Devils.
1994: Jeff Brown and Geoff Courtnall each score twice as the Vancouver Canucks beat the New York Rangers, 4-1, to force Game 7.
1995: Vyacheslav Kozlov scores 2:25 into the second overtime as the Detroit Red Wings reach their first Stanley Cup Final in 49 years. The goal helps Detroit down Chicago, 2-1, in Game 5 of the Western Conference Final.
Claude Lemieux scores with 45 seconds left in regulation as New Jersey beats the Philadelphia Flyers, 3-2, in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Final.
1998: Kris Draper scores 15:24 into overtime to give Detroit a 5-4 Game 2 win over Washington. Detroit rallies from two goals down with 12 minutes left in regulation.
2014: Henrik Lundqvist makes 40 saves as the Rangers fend off the Kings, 2-1, in Game 4. Los Angeles outshoots New York, 41-19, but still lose.
2017: Sidney Crosby wins the Conn Smythe as the Pittsburgh Penguins repeat with a 2-0 Game 6 win over the Nashville Predators. Matt Murray stops 27 shots as the Penguins are the first team since the 1997 and 1998 Red Wings to repeat as Stanley Cup Champions.
Happy Birthday to You
1895: Frank Fredrickson
1907: Hec Kilrea
1966: Scott Mellanby
1969: Kip Miller
1981: Derek MacKenzie
