The Los Angeles Kings may be favorites to win the Stanley Cup entering these 2012 Finals against the Devils, but given how the playoffs have unfolded so far this year for New Jersey, there's nothing to make fans in North Jersey believe that their team can't bring home the Cup this season.
For starters, the Devils were able to roll through the rival Philadelphia Flyers with ease in the Conference Semifinal round, and in the Conference Final, they were able to finally get the New York Rangers monkey off their backs. So while they prepare to face the Kings, who themselves have steamrolled through the entire Western Conference on their way to the Campbell Bowl, there's not much that Devils fans think can stop their team. Via In Lou We Trust:
The Devils have dealt with teams that were better on paper in some or most areas and still won. They won games they deserved from the run of play. They won some games they were out-played in. They have built up some leads that were protected and others that were blown - which not deter the Devils. They've matched lines in some games, and in others they just rolled them or mixed them.
They came from behind in games and in the first round to win. They took games into OT and won them. Players played through pain and mistakes and misfortunes and still found ways to produce, excel, and succeed. What can the Kings do that New Jersey hasn't been through before in this very postseason? My understanding and the emotions have the same answer: nothing.
Stick with SBNation.com for full Stanley Cup Finals coverage. For more on the New Jersey Devils, check out Devils blog In Lou We Trust. For more on the Los Angeles Kings, check out Jewels From The Crown and SB Nation Los Angeles.