Kings Of The Cup: L.A. Wins First Championship

2012 Los Angeles Kings Feature Plenty Of New Hockey Heroes

The Los Angeles Kings are 2012 Stanley Cup Champions, and in L.A., fans have plenty of new heroes to celebrate. SB Nation's Dirk Hoag breaks them all down for us.

Darryl Sutter's team wasn't Darryl Sutter's team until December, but after the midseason coaching change the Kings really began to develop their identity as potential champions. The trade deadline move that saw Jeff Carter come to town for Jack Johnson was a bit of addition-by-subtraction, but Carter's work in Los Angeles was noteworthy as well. He did score the Cup-clinching goal, after all.

Jonathan Quick's work in the goal crease was second-to-none, of course, and without him the Kings may not have even made the postseason, let alone the Finals. Now, the Stanley Cup is in Hollywood and there are plenty of new stars to be seen.

Stick with our StoryStream for complete Stanley Cup Finals Game 6 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.

'Five Minutes In Hell': The Story Of Game 6

Stanley Cup 2013 Odds: Pittsburgh Penguins Favorites, Kings 11/1 To Repeat

The Los Angeles Kings are 11/1 to repeat as Stanley Cup champions, but they're not the favorites to lift the cup in 2013.

Zach Parise Refuses To Discuss Free Agency After Game 6 Loss

Of course Zach Parise refused to discuss his free agency status moments after the biggest game of his career, a loss in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals. Reporters had to ask him about it, of course, and we all still wonder whether or not he's played his last game in a Devils sweater, but give Parise credit for quickly shouting down the question.

Via the Bergen Record:

Devils captain Zach Parise, who is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, wasn't ready to speak about his [future], though, in the quiet postgame dressing room.

"I'm not talking about that," he said, cutting off a questioner.

The Devils surely want to keep Parise around this summer, and it's definitely the biggest question as the defending Eastern Conference Champions enter the 2012-13 season. Parise signed a one-year deal one summer ago to stay with New Jersey and the team anointed him captain in the process, but the allure of big money elsewhere and the threat of financial issues with the Devils may bring him elsewhere.

On the flip side, going to battle with a team for two months on an incredible playoff run certainly plays into this as well, and if Parise feels like he has unfinished business in New Jersey, there's no reason to suspect he'd want to play elsewhere.

It'll be an interesting offseason when it comes to Parise for sure, and perhaps we'll learn more at Devils break-up day later this week. In the meantime, check in with In Lou We Trust for everything Parise and the Devils.

Stanley Cup Finals TV Ratings: Game 6 Perks Up Big, Overnights Up From 2011

Game 6 was easily the most-watched game of the series.

Kings Exit '1967 Club' With Stanley Cup Victory

Jonathan Quick Deserving Of Conn Smythe Trophy

Jonathan Quick stood out for the Los Angeles Kings throughout the 2012 playoffs, and he was really the only true candidate for the Conn Smythe Trophy.

Have We Seen The Last Of Martin Brodeur?

Many thought the 40-year-old was headed for retirement after the 2-12 playoffs, but it sounds like Martin Brodeur feels he's got more left in the tank. Should the Devils be interested in retaining the legendary goal keep?

PHOTOS: The 25 Best Images Of The L.A. Kings Stanley Cup Celebration

What's it look like to win the Stanley Cup? Los Angeles and their Kings found out on Monday night.

Follow @SBNationNHL

Dustin Brown Drops F-Bomb After Winning Stanley Cup

Steve Bernier, Devils Try To Get Over Stanley Cup Finals Game 6 Loss

By all accounts, Steve Bernier took the flogging like a pro following Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals. The Devils forward was responsible for a brutal boarding hit on Kings defenseman Rob Scuderi in the first period of the hockey game Monday night, and when all was said and done, Los Angeles scored three goals on the ensuing five-minute power play.

All Bernier could do was sit in the locker room alone with the roar of the crowd alerting him of each deadly strike of a puck hitting the back of the net. Via the Bergen Record:

"I'm going to finish my hit on that play," Bernier said. "I thought he was going to keep with the puck on his forehand and he turned back. I feel very bad, but it's a fast game out there and it ends up being a bad play."

Bernier said he didn't watch the rest of the game, but sat in the locker room "and tried to listen to the crowd."

"It was very hard, for sure," he said. "I wish I could take that play back, but I (can't)."

The Devils didn't blame Bernier for the loss despite the magnified nature of his penalty and the direct result of his exit from the hockey game.

"If you want to ask me about that in about a week," Devils coach Peter DeBoer said after the game, "I'll give you my honest opinion on it. It's a bad spot for him to be in. Everybody knows Bernie's heart's in the right place. He's not at fault."

Zach Parise and Martin Brodeur were just a few of the players who echoed the same thoughts, but Devils blog In Lou We Trust still isn't happy with Bernier for the hit, saying that "He royally screwed up tonight." There's a Kings pun in there somewhere.

Stick with our StoryStream for complete Stanley Cup Finals Game 6 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.

Keys To The Stanley Cup: Doughty, Kopitar, Quick Carry Kings All The Way

It took team-wide contributions to reel off a 16-4 playoff march, but the Kings are Stanley Cup champions because their stars played like stars all playoffs long.

Los Angeles Kings Fans Celebrate Stanley Cup Without Booing Gary Bettman

Did you hear that? The Stanley Cup was carried out by its Keepers on Monday night at Staples Center. It was ceremoniously walked around the ice and placed on the presentation table to cheers from the capacity crowd. Then, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman continued his speech.

No boos.

Not. A. Single. Boo. Ah, but maybe we missed them. Were they there when Bettman first took the mic prior to the Conn Smythe Trophy presentation to Jonathan Quick?

Again, not one single boo for Gary Bettman. This is the first time I can really think back and remember the commissioner failing to hear boos upon the start of his speech, but the Los Angeles crowd was pretty easy on him after their win on Monday. Of course, it's also the first year since 2007 that a Cup has been won by a team on its home ice, so perhaps that plays into it as well -- the fans in the building aren't nearly as salty.

The best part, though, is that Bettman does seem a little surprised at his welcome. He's used to talking over the boos by screaming into that microphone, and he starts off his congratulatory speech by screaming, but after a few seconds he seems to tone it back just a bit as he realizes the crowd isn't ripping him apart.

It's nice to see from L.A. The focus should be on the team, not the commissioner. And besides, what would Kings fans have against Gary Bettman anyway?

Stick with our StoryStream for complete Stanley Cup Finals Game 6 coverage. For more on the New Jersey Devils, check out Devils blog In Lou We Trust. For more on theLos Angeles Kings, check out Jewels From The Crown and SB Nation Los Angeles.

Stanley Cup Finals 2012: Poor Performance Ends Season For New Jersey Devils

The New Jersey Devils were still two wins away from actually winning a Stanley Cup this season but, entering Game 6, you knew that a win would almost theoretically lock up a title. Maybe not 100 percent, but the energy they'd have after reeling off three straight wins to climb out of an 0-3 hole, heading back home for Game 7 in Newark?

That'd be really tough for the Los Angeles Kings to overcome, but the Devils were unable to take advantage of the opportunity presented to them in Game 6 Monday night. The Kings won the game, 6-1, to clinch the Stanley Cup for the first time in team history, and the Devils didn't even really come to play. Via In Lou We Trust:

Tonight, the Devils got out-shot 25-18, got no power play shots on net in two opportunities, allowed 3 goals on 13 power play shots by L.A., and only got to positive puck possession values at evens late in the game. The Devils put up a stinker in Game 6 and it doomed them since they couldn't afford one as they were on the brink of elimination since last Monday.

The dream run of the New Jersey Devils ended tonight in Los Angeles. Tonight's blowout loss was like dumping a bucket of cold water on someone asleep. The dream ended abruptly and harshly and the target ends up all wet wondering what in the world just happened.

The questions now begin for the Devils in the offseason: Will Martin Brodeur be back? Will Zach Parise be back? What's up with the team's financial situation? How hurt was Ilya Kovalchuk in these playoffs? Will the team give up its first-round pick in this year's draft as a result of the Kovalchuk contract situation? The list goes on and on.

Stick with our StoryStream for complete Stanley Cup Finals Game 6 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.

Kings Parade 2012: Los Angeles Will Celebrate Stanley Cup Victory Thursday

The Los Angeles Kings have finally captured their first Stanley Cup. The big victory parade will happen Thursday.

Los Angeles Kings Win Stanley Cup: Fans Say 45-Year Wait Well Worth It

Forty-five years is a long time to wait for a Stanley Cup and, while not everybody at Staples Center on Monday night had waited quite so long -- because of age or otherwise -- plenty of Los Angeles Kings fans saw years of loyalty paid off in spades following Game 6 of the 2012 Stanley Cup Champions.

The Kings are kings of the hockey world and, if you're a fan like those at Jewels From The Crown, the long wait is now completely worth it.

This is for the fans, all of you. Every single one. Whether you've been a fan of this team for 43 years or 43 minutes, you can celebrate this win. Of course, the longer you've been a fan the sweeter it probably is for you, and that in the end is the true reward of fandom. All your years of suffering are paid back tonight, with a whole lot of interest.

Be sure to head over to Jewels From The Crown and SB Nation Los Angeles for celebration with other Kings fans, or just to stare at their party with jealous eyes.

Los Angeles Kings Stanley Cup Celebration Has Philadelphia Flavor

There's definitely some Philadelphia flavor in Los Angeles tonight. The Kings are Stanley Cup champions, and it's a bit awkward to be a Flyers fan like myself, but how fitting is it that Simon Gagne hoisted the Cup third, and then Mike Richards passed it to Jeff Carter later in the line?

Oh, and yes, Gagne almost dropped it.

But while the Flyers storyline is a big one -- don't forget Ron Hextall, John Stevens, Dean Lombardi and Justin Williams as former Flyers as well -- it's not the real storyline. The Kings were led by a phenomenal playoff performance from Dustin Brown. They were led by an admirable Conn Smythe Trophy winner in Jonathan Quick.

They overcame more than just about any other Cup champion in history -- a coach being fired, barely squeaking in at the end of the season, beating the No. 1 seed in the West, the No. 2 seed in the West and the No. 3 seed in the West. They did it in impressive fashion and they are absolutely deserving Stanley Cup Champions.

Conn Smythe Trophy: Jonathan Quick Named MVP Of 2012 NHL Playoffs

On Monday night, the Los Angeles Kings took advantage of a costly New Jersey Devils major penalty in the first period and racked up a trio of quick goals en route to winning Game 6 by a final score of 6-1, claiming the first-ever Stanley Cup in franchise history.

It was historic in another respect, too, as goalie Jonathan Quick became just the third American to win the Conn Smythe Trophy. The Conn Smythe Trophy is awarded each year to the player considered most valuable to his team during the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs.

Quick was absolutely indispensable during the Kings' breathtaking postseason run. He was 16-4 in 20 games played in the 2012 playoffs, managing three shutouts and posting a save percentage of .946 in more than 1,000 minutes in the net. His goals allowed average was 1.41.

Quick joins Brian Leetch and last year's winner Tim Thomas as the only American-born skaters to ever win the Conn Smythe.

Stick with our StoryStream for complete Stanley Cup Finals Game 6 coverage. For more on the New Jersey Devils, check out Devils blog In Lou We Trust. For more on theLos Angeles Kings, check out Jewels From The Crown and SB Nation Los Angeles.

The Los Angeles Kings: 2012 Stanley Cup Champions

Yes, Darryl Sutter smiled.

Los Angeles Kings Win First Stanley Cup With 6-1 Win Over New Jersey Devils

After two setbacks in a row, the Los Angeles Kings looked vulnerable for the first time in the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs. But after throttling the New Jersey Devils 6-1 in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals, the Kings have won the Stanley Cup for the first time, and did it while looking invincible.

L.A. ran up a 4-0 lead in the first 22 minutes of play, absorbed a brief New Jersey charge, and then added two more goals in the third period — Trevor Lewis' second on the night came on an empty net, but Matt Greene's came afterward, and was the fifth to elude Martin Brodeur — for good measure.

The Kings outshot the Devils 25-18 on the evening, and scored the most lopsided triumph in the last game of a Stanley Cup Finals since an 8-0 win by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1991.

Los Angeles also became the first No. 8 seed to win the Stanley Cup since the NHL began seeding by conference in 1994, and tallied an amazing 16-4 record en route to it.

Stick with our StoryStream for complete Stanley Cup Finals Game 6 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.

The Stanley Cup Is In The Building

We imagine this is what Keeper Of The Cup Phil Pritchard does non-stop for months, all in preparation for a night like tonight. He doesn’t sleep. He doesn’t eat. Just forever polishing until he carries the Cup out to the presentation table after the Stanley Cup Finals each year.

Dustin Brown With An Unnecessary Hit On Petr Sykora

We talked about how the Devils were showing their frustration back in the second period. It was sort of embarrassing how they had lost their composure. But it’s apparently going both ways for some reason. Here’s Dustin Brown doing something that makes zero sense when you’re 10 minutes away from the Stanley Cup.

Sykora got up gingerly and threw a punch at Brown after, so we won’t feel too sorry for him, but still a pretty unnecessary hit — which led with the elbow — from Brown.

Kings, Devils Just Going Through The Motions Late In Game 6

It really just feels like we’re going through the motions at this point. The Devils are still playing hockey, the Kings are still playing hockey and the score is technically within reach at 4-1 in the third period, but is there anybody in the world who actually believes this thing isn’t sealed up?

The Kings look like they know it in their skating. The Devils look like they’re just prolonging the inevitable — damn that clock.

The Los Angeles Kings are about to win their first Stanley Cup in their 45-year history. They just have to be patient for about 10 more minutes of hockey.

Linesman Pierre Racicot Leaves Game 6 With Injury

Backup linesman time! Pierre Racicot was injured in this collision with Devils defenseman Anton Volchenkov early in the second period, and as a result he’s been removed from the game.

Linesman Derek Amell has been waiting as a backup, and he’s in the game for the third period as a result. We imagine this will be … inconsequential.

Al Michaels Must Be A 'Snake' Fan

… because that’s the only reason why he’d still have a flip phone from 1999.

Stanley Cup Finals 2012: Devils Show Frustration In 2nd Period

It's unfortunate and sort of understandable, but as the time ticks off the clock in Game 6, the Devils have gotten more and more frustrated with the Kings. It's showing in their play. We'll ignore the first period penalty that likely ended Steve Bernier's season, but Ryan Carter and David Clarkson have allowed the emotions to boil over just a bit too far.

Here's Carter crashing Jonathan Quick's net a bit too strongly in the second period. He is, indeed, quite mad.

Carter was given a roughing penalty and a ten-minute misconduct for the play. About four minutes later, David Clarkson mouthed off to a few Kings and got a bit physical and saw a ten-minute break of his own. Both players returned by the end of the second period.

Meanwhile, the Kings are playing physical too -- but they're doing it cleanly. Here's Alec Martinez adding injury to insult for Travis Zajac:

The Devils aren't quite out of this thing just yet with some power play time to kick off the third period, but they need a three-goal period just to tie Game 6. That's a tough mountain to climb.

Stick with our StoryStream for complete Stanley Cup Finals Game 6 coverage. For more on the New Jersey Devils, check out Devils blog In Lou We Trust. For more on theLos Angeles Kings, check out Jewels From The Crown and SB Nation Los Angeles.

Kings Vs. Devils, 2012 Stanley Cup Finals Game 6: Traded Goals Keep Kings Up 4-1

It didn't come until the end of the second period, but the New Jersey Devils finally have a goal in Game 6 of the 2012 Stanley Cup Finals. Now they'll need three more at least in the third period to erase the Los Angeles Kings' 4-1 advantage and keep their hopes of hoisting the Cup alive.

L.A. ran its lead to 4-0 just 1:30 into the second period, with Jeff Carter wristing a shot past Martin Brodeur, but the Devils finally stemmed the Kings' tide that had rolled over them for the first 25 minutes or so by tightening up on the penalty kill. New Jersey gave up three power play goals in the first, but none in the second, despite racking up 26 minutes in the period.

And then Adam Henrique scored with 75 seconds left in the period to give the Devils a little bit of life, pushing the puck between Jonathan Quick's pads.

It's not much, but it's more hope than New Jersey had before, because something is better than nothing.

Stick with our StoryStream for complete Stanley Cup Finals Game 6 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.

No, The Los Angeles Kings Will Not 'Keep It Classy' Tonight

@cj225devs it is actually.

— LA Kings (@LAKings) June 12, 2012

Even The Linesmen Are Against New Jersey In Game 6

Nothing is going right for the Devils in Game 6. An awful penalty against, three goals on one power play in the first period, another quick one early in the second period, and now … picks being set by linesmen.

(We doubt linesman Pierre Racicot meant it, Devils fans. You can take some comfort in that.)

Animated Adam Oates

Stanley Cup Finals 2012: Jeff Carter's 2nd Goal May Have Put Game 6 Out Of Reach

Jeff Carter was credited with his seventh goal of the postseason at the first intermission. It didn't take him long to grab his eighth. An absolute snipe of a shot beat Martin Brodeur over the blocker-hand shoulder at the 1:30 mark of the second period, and any hope of a New Jersey comeback seems to be vanishing by the second in its aftermath.

Carter's known for those kinds of shots. He picked a corner and he nailed it -- although it's not exactly like he had a ton of pressure on him from the Devils defense. If you allow an elite sniper to get that kind of look, he's going to hit it just about every time, and it's unfair to think Martin Brodeur can stop that one.

Stick with our StoryStream for complete Stanley Cup Finals Game 6 coverage. For more on the New Jersey Devils, check out Devils blog In Lou We Trust. For more on theLos Angeles Kings, check out Jewels From The Crown and SB Nation Los Angeles.

Jeff Carter Credited With Kings' 2nd Goal; Rob Scuderi Returns To Action

Jeff Carter was given credit for the Kings' second goal, originally credited to Dustin Brown. That’s Carter’s seventh goal of the playoffs.

Meanwhile, out for the first shift of the second period? Rob Scuderi, who suffered a nasty hit from Steve Bernier in the first period.

Yes, Taylor Stevens Is Behind The Devils Bench Again

You didn't think we'd forget that Taylor Stevens, noted Kings enthusiast and acclaimed Person With Boobs, is behind the New Jersey Devils bench again in Game 6 at Staples Center, did you?

Ah, because we didn't. There she is, this time in a black Kings top, cheering on her team and attempting to distract the Devils yet again.

New Jersey Devils Furious Over Jarret Stoll Hit On Stephen Gionta

These two hits happened on the same shift. First, Jarret Stoll hit Stephen Gionta from behind near center ice. Gionta complained to the refs after the hit but play continued. No penalty was called against Stoll.

Seconds later, when the puck found its way down below the Kings goal line, Steve Bernier delivered a crushing blow to the back of Rob Scuderi.

Scuderi stayed down for a bit after his face collided with the glass. He was bleeding, and he's yet to play a shift since the hit. Bernier was given a five-minute major and a game misconduct for the infraction. The difference in the penalty for each hit didn't make Devils coach Peter DeBoer happy ....

... and it's certainly been the difference in the game. The Kings scored three goals on the ensuing five-minute power play and that could wrap up the Stanley Cup for them. Who knows. We'll see as this game continues.

Looking at the two hits, it doesn't seem like DeBoer really has much of a case. The five-minute boarding major was more than justified for the Bernier hit, and in comparison, the Stoll hit is essentially nothing. Of course, had a minor penalty been called against Stoll, the Bernier hit never would have happened, but the fact of the matter is that Bernier still delivered an awful, awful hit here and there's only one person to blame for that.

Stick with our StoryStream for complete Stanley Cup Finals Game 6 coverage. For more on the New Jersey Devils, check out Devils blog In Lou We Trust. For more on theLos Angeles Kings, check out Jewels From The Crown andSB Nation Los Angeles.

Kings Vs. Devils, 2012 Stanley Cup Finals Game 6: Flurry Of Goals Has L.A. Up 3-0

The Los Angeles Kings stormed through the Stanley Cup Playoffs until Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals or so, laying waste to opponents' offenses and getting just enough goals to be comfortable. Then, the Kings lost Game 4 and Game 5.

But after pumping in three goals against the New Jersey Devils in a dominant first period, the Kings look ready to be crowned again.

Dustin Brown scored two of those goals in a span of 1:42, and Trevor Lewis added a third not three minutes later to give the Kings their edge. All three goals came on the power play, which gave Los Angeles the edge it needed to break through after throttling the Devils in the first 10 minutes and getting nothing to show for it.

Los Angeles took 13 shots to New Jersey's four in the first period, and now sits 40 minutes from claiming its first Stanley Cup.

Stick with our StoryStream for complete Stanley Cup Finals Game 6 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.

Los Angeles Kings Score 3 Goals On 5-Minute Power Play In Game 6

In Game 5, Zach Parise scored his first goal of the Stanley Cup Finals. The Devils captain finally broke through and seemed to pace the Devils — at least emotionally — to victory on home ice. In Game 6, the Kings have seen the exact same type of performance from their captain, and we're not even done with the first period.

Following what might just go down as the dumbest penalty in the history of the Stanley Cup Finals, the Kings went to town on a five-minute-long power play. Dustin Brown scored early in the man-advantage, and thanks to the major boarding call against Steve Bernier, the Kings remained on the power play. Yep, Dustin Brown scored again.

Finally, Bernier's nightmare ended near the finish of the five-minute power play with a Trevor Lewis goal. He was able to get his stick on a puck in the crease and Brodeur just couldn't get there in time.

The first score was a shot placed on goal from Drew Doughty. Brown got his stick on it in front of Martin Brodeur for the redirection and ... well, the rest is history.

The second Brown goal was a beautiful individual play. He gathered the puck in front of the net, turned around with it and ripped a shot past Brodeur to give his team a 2-0 lead.

Then, just under four minutes later while still on the power play, Lewis' goal seems to have made this one unreachable for the Devils.

Although ... the last time there was a 3-0 series comeback, the Flyers chipped away a 3-0 deficit against the Boston Bruins in Game 7 of the 2010 Eastern Semifinals, so there's history here that shows it's possible.

Stick with our StoryStream for complete Stanley Cup Finals Game 6 coverage. For more on the New Jersey Devils, check out Devils blog In Lou We Trust. For more on theLos Angeles Kings, check out Jewels From The Crown and SB Nation Los Angeles.

Steve Bernier Hit Injures Rob Scuderi, Gives Kings Crucial Power Play

Steve Bernier may have critically injured his New Jersey Devils team with this hit early in Game 6. We can only hope he didn't seriously injure Rob Scuderi, too.

It was just a devastating hit that kept Scuderi down for quite some time, and when he got back up, there was blood streaming down his face. Scuderi's face was drilled right into the end boards. He appears to be fine, aside from perhaps the need for a few stitches.

It's a five-minute major for the boarding and a game misconduct for Bernier, and who knows, there could be supplemental discipline as well. But that's the least of anybody's concerns right now -- the Devils have a five-minute penalty to kill in a game where the Kings attack has been on point.

And before we could even finish this post ... there's goal number one. Still more than four minutes left on the man advantage, too.

Stick with our StoryStream for complete Stanley Cup Finals Game 6 coverage. For more on the New Jersey Devils, check out Devils blog In Lou We Trust. For more on theLos Angeles Kings, check out Jewels From The Crown andSB Nation Los Angeles.

Kings Controlling Play Early Despite Unsuccessful Power Play

Los Angeles is running things early. They've come out swarming in Game 6 and the only reason they've yet to get on the board is continued brilliance from Martin Brodeur.

Anton Volchenkov's hooking penalty at the 3:01 mark of the first period was the direct result of a lengthy spell of Kings possession in the Devils zone, and prior to the penalty, Los Angeles had attempted five shots on net. In three minutes.

The penalty has been killed, and the Kings seem to be faced with more missed opportunities. That was the story for them in both Games 4 and 5. Can they finally capitalize on some of those chances this evening? If they keep this up, chances are in their favor.

Stick with our StoryStream for complete Stanley Cup Finals Game 6 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.

Martin Brodeur's Helmet Must Smell Nice

Martin Brodeur has been doing this goalie thing for a long time. He has some secrets, of course, and some superstitions he follows religiously, as does seemingly every elite athlete.

This, though? Just weird, man.

Or:

@TravisSBN he's kissing his kids' initials I think.

— Laura/theactivestick (@theactivestick) June 12, 2012

Clay Matthews: Blissfully Unaware Of Recent Stanley Cup Rioting History

Been a few years since we rioted in LA... GO KiNGS!!

— Clay Matthews III (@ClayMatthews52) June 12, 2012

Stanley Cup Finals 2012: Kings The Popular Pick For Victory In Game 6

As we begin Game 6, the consensus certainly seems to be that the Kings are going to take this thing tonight.

That’s for good reason: The Kings controlled possession, scoring chances and shots in both Games 4 and 5, only held back by missed opportunities and brilliant — perhaps unsustainable? — play by Martin Brodeur. The Devils are playing with fire here, and it seems like only a matter of time before the Kings are able to capitalize on the chances they’ve generated.

There’s a reason only four teams have ever come back from 0-3 deficits to win a series in NHL history, of course, but on the flip side, the Devils have been notoriously strong in Games 4 through 7 in these playoffs. In fact, they only have one loss in 11 of those games so far this year.

The Kings have home ice on their side and yes, despite two losses in a row, they still have the upper hand. But should they lose tonight, it all changes. What do you think? Does L.A. end this tonight?

Stick with our StoryStream for complete Stanley Cup Finals Game 6 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 andSB Nation Los Angeles.

LAPD 'Preparing For Inevitable,' Taking Precautions To Avoid Ugly Stanley Cup Riots

Los Angeles Kings Need To Work On Their Email Game

Stanley Cup Finals, Game 6: Kings, Devils Must Avoid Distraction

Looking at the challenges for both New Jersey and Los Angeles to keep on track and remain focused in Game 6 tonight.

After 2 Straight Losses, What Now For Los Angeles Kings?

After blowing two chances to clinch the Stanley Cup, what now for the Kings? They can't worry or wallow in self-doubt. They've earned this margin for error, and now is time to cash in.

Stanley Cup Finals 2012, Kings Vs. Devils Game 6: Game Time, TV Coverage And More

Los Angeles and New Jersey will meet in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals Monday.