Kings Of The Road: L.A. Keeps Perfect Playoff Road Record Alive

Stanley Cup Finals TV Ratings: Kings Vs. Devils Game 2 Hits Another Five Year Low

Stanley Cup Finals TV Ratings: Game 2 Initially Down Further From Game 1

Despite Better Play, New Jersey Devils Again Fall Short in Overtime, 2-1

For the second straight game, Jonathan Quick appears to be inside the heads of Devils' shooters. Despite his club being outplayed for long stretches of Game 2, the Kings were able to take a second consecutive 2-1 overtime decision.

Sutter Impressed With His Team's Effort In Game 2

Daryl Sutter hasn't ever been necessarily known for big displays of emotion, but you can tell that the Los Angeles Kings coach is very pleased with his team finding a way to win two hard-fought overtime games to lead the Stanley Cup Finals 2-0 headed back to the Staples Center for Game 3 Monday night.

Sutter was almost downright effusive in praise of his team, though he could have just been trying not to waste words with his team heading for the bus to get back home to Southern California tonight. He responded bluntly, and with a smirk on his face, to inquiries about how his team played, saying, "I thought it was a hell of a battle. What did you think? Were you happy with how our team played tonight? Tough building. You just finished playing a team with the most home wins in the Stanley Cup Playoffs that played hard."

He was even more pleased with Drew Doughty's Scott Niedermayer-esque goal in the first (Doughty himself even compared the goal to Niedermayer's after the game) with the joy of a proud papa. He said, "Made a great play. You know what, a 200-foot play, right? One of those coast-to-coast things. You'll look at a lot of times. Win or lose, that's a great play."

Sutter -- who replaced Terry Murray half-way through the season -- admired the hard-fought battle between both clubs, who's play resulted in the first Stanley Cup Finals since 1951 to begin with two straight overtimes. The Devils especially pushed in the opening period. "I think we weathered the storm the first period," he said, "and withstood a pretty strong forecheck, made some mistakes. Our goalie made some saves, same as theirs."

Still, Sutter remains unimpressed by Los Angeles' 10-0 road record, seemingly wanting to win this for the fans back in SoCal. He responded to questions about their road record almost bizarrely, saying, "I'd hate to say that we went undefeated on the road."

You can understand his desire to get it done on home ice, but even if they don't, an undefeated road record in this series will win his franchise's first-ever Stanley Cup.

Jeff Carter Beats Martin Brodeur In Overtime, Kings Go Up 2-0

It seems ridiculous to keep repeating this cliché, but the Los Angeles Kings yet again found their home on the road. This time, Jeff Carter beat Martin Brodeur with a long wrister with 6:18 left in the overtime period to win 2-1. It was their 10th consecutive playoff road victory. They now lead the Stanley Cup Finals 2-0 over the New Jersey Devils with the series headed back to the West Coast.

Martin Brodeur absolutely dominated the first part of the overtime period, making save after save as the Kings kept the puck on the right side of the ice until they finally broke through on Carter's brilliant goal. The Devils had a few opportunities, but never came too close to penetrating Jonathan Quick and the Kings defense. The Kings haven't been quite as flawless at home in the playoffs — after all, they have lost a few games — but you can bet the Staples Center will be rocking when they return for Game 3 Monday night.

Stick with SB Nation's dedicated NHL hub 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 .

Game 2 Will Also Be Needing Overtime

Doesn't this feel a bit familiar?

Los Angeles -- with a 1-0 series lead -- will need overtime with the New Jersey Devils to settle the score of Game 2.

Both teams had abbreviated power plays after Ryan Carter's game-tying goal at 2:59 of the period. Dainius Zubrus took an interference penalty, and then Drew Doughty kept Zach Parise from a shorthanded breakaway with a hold. Neither team scored.

The best chance of the period came from Ilya Kovalchuk, who nearly had a gift of a giveaway on his stick, but an Anze Kopitar stick-check sent the puck up in the air and off the post. Kovalchuk's had a rough game, and though he's gotten better as it's gone on, one has to think he'd have liked to quiet the fans and media questioning if he's got enough in the tank.

This is the first Stanley Cup Finals to see the first two games need overtime since 1951. All five games of that series (which Toronto won) went to overtime. The last Finals with two overtimes at any point in the series was 2010, when Chicago ended the second overtime with a Stanley Cup-winning goal from Patrick Kane. The series could be in the balance here, especially for New Jersey, who need to avoid going down 2-0 headed back to Los Angeles.

Fourth Line Brings New Jersey Devils To Life

Suddenly, the Devils are back to life. A once-dead Prudential Center is rocking again, and it’s all thanks to the energy brought by New Jersey’s fourth line. First, Ryan Carter tied the game with a beautiful deflection goal, and now Stephen Gionta’s crushed Colin Fraser along the wall.

It’s not just that we have a hockey game on our hands now. We also have a series on our hands.

Devils Fourth Line Strikes Again To Tie It Early In The Third

The Devils spent 81 games of the 2011-12 NHL season without a fourth line. They’d try a seventh defenseman, the odd forward out, or just double shift Ilya Kovalchuk on it.

They found their fourth line with one game left in the regular season, and it continues to pay dividends into the Finals, as Ryan Carter’s tip-in goal tied Game 2 at 1-1 at 2:59 of the third.

Carter deflected a Marek Zidlicky shot from the point — essentially, succeeding on the Devils strategy all night — and beat Jonathan Quick after a good Kings start to the period.

It’s now even, with New Jersey decidedly grabbing the momentum. The crowd is as loud as it’s been here at Prudential Center through the first two games.

Quick Continues To Bedevil New Jersey In Period Two

Jonathan Quick has been in the head of everyone in the entire Western Conference throughout the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs, and now it's the New Jersey Devils turn to fight off the demons. Quick has stopped 20 of 20 shots through two periods, as Drew Doughty's goal remains the only one of the game after the second frame.

New Jersey continued to control the territory, though the shots on goal were even at nine. The Devils had another poor power play, one that elicited boos from the sold out Prudential Center in Newark. They continued getting chances off the rush on Quick, but New Jersey has chosen to go for deflections instead of Game 1's "shoot high all the time" gameplan. It still hasn't worked, as Anton Volchenkov's fluke goal in Game 1 remains the only one.

The Kings have been counterpunching a lot in the second period, and have come close a few times, but each time, Martin Brodeur's glove hand has come up big, as Brodeur's turned back the clock at times during the second.

This game is a goal away from becoming really interesting, but New Jersey has to be wondering when that goal will come.

David Clarkson Takes Stick To The Face

Devils fans wanted a penalty called against Willie Mitchell for this high-stick on David Clarkson, which seemed to catch the New Jersey forward right in the eye. But when you’re taking a shot or following through on a shot, there’s no such thing as a high-stick, and that’s unfortunate for the Devils and their fans.

Oh, and Clarkson’s eye, too.

Kings Penalty Kill Ruining Devils' Night

The Kings just got done with an awesome power play. Pierre McGuire called it a clinic, and that’s a pretty apt description. The Kings are bragging about it on Twitter, naturally, as they do.

Devils fans booing their power play or the vastly-superior #LAKings penalty kill. Hard to say.

— LA Kings (@LAKings) June 3, 2012

The power play was forced by this Dwight King high stick on Jacob Josefson, and while his team couldn’t do anything on the power play, there’s something to be said for his remarkable ability to basically skate through a stick to the face without flinching.

Anze Kopitar Doesn't Care About Your Stinkin' Rules

There is a rule in the NHL that you're not allowed to close your hand on the puck. Not stopping Anze Kopitar.

Marty Brodeur's Glove Hand Doesn't Look A Day Over 30

Martin Brodeur got beaten blocker side by Drew Doughty in the first period, but he's held steady since then, including this vintage glove save on Justin Williams.

Doughty Goal Stands Up Despite Devil Determination In First

The Devils probably played a better period than any individual period they played in Game 1, outshooting the Kings 10-6, but the Kings got something extraordinary from Drew Doughty to lead 1-0 through 20 in Game 2 in Newark.

Doughty made an exceptional, end-to-end rush, beating one of his own players and Devils forward Ryan Carter, before using Bryce Salvador as a screen to shoot past Martin Brodeur blocker side.

The Kings had good individual shifts from their top line, but the Devils have sustained better attack. They are clearly looking for deflections to beat Kings netminder Jonathan Quick after spending much of Game 1 trying to shoot high. We’ll see if the Devils find a strategy to beat Quick before time runs out in Game 2.

Ice Quality Considerably Better In Game 2

One noticeable difference between Games 1 and 2: the ice at Prudential Center sucks considerably less tonight as compared to Wednesday. Who knows what they did to fix things, but the puck no longer appears to be a tennis ball.

It is hard to say which team benefits the most. Perhaps it made an impact on Drew Doughty’s opening goal, after which he danced past Stephen Gionta before finessing his way to a great shooting position?

Martin Brodeur Is A Little Lost

Drew Doughty Goes End To End To Make It 1-0

The Los Angeles Kings didn't have a great start. They got out-worked and heavily forechecked by the New Jersey Devils and had to kill a penalty. Drew Doughty, however, took things into his own hands and LA got the game's first goal.

Doughty came out of his own end, got by one of his own prone teammates, abused Ryan Carter, and went blocker side on Martin Brodeur to give Los Angeles a 1-0 lead.

The goal was reminiscent -- since were in New Jersey -- of Scott Niedermayer's end-to-end goal in the 1995 Finals. Doughty appears on his way to an okay career himself, and gives the Kings the result they wanted to start this game.

Matt Greene Takes Silly Cross-Checking Penalty Early In Game 2

The Devils have started out Game 2 with a bit of a swarm, and that swarm has caught the Kings a bit off guard. Tempers have flared, and it appears as though Matt Greene took things a little too far.

The Kings killed the penalty. Would you say Ryan Carter took a dive here or not?

Stick with SB Nation's dedicated NHL hub 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.

Devils, Kings Prepare For Game 2

The skaters on the ice for warmups confirmed for us what we’ve been speculating for what feels like days: no lineup changes for either team.

The Kings will start the game-winning Williams-Kopitar-Brown line with Drew Doughty and Rob Scuderi on defense.

The Devils will go with Parise-Zajac-Zubrus up front to begin, with Mark Fayne and Andy Greene on defense. Martin Brodeur will start his 1,377th game (regular season and playoffs combined) against Jonathan Quick.

It’s a later arriving crowd, but it’s no less pumped up here at The Rock, where the “Beat L.A.!” chants have already begun.

Stanley Cup Final Game 2: Devils Need To Reclaim Home Ice

With Game 2 coming up tonight, the Devils must reclaim their home ice in a full 60-minute effort, while the Kings simply need to remain vigilant as they attempt to steal another road win before returning to the West Coast.

2012 Stanley Cup Finals: Likely No Changes For Either Team In Game 2

Same lineups for Los Angeles and New Jersey as Game 1

Stanley Cup Finals 2012, Devils Vs. Kings Game 2: Game Time, TV Coverage And More

The Los Angeles Kings will try to remain undefeated on the road this postseason and take a 2-0 lead over the New Jersey Devils in Game 2 Saturday night.

Kings At Leon: LA Tries To Keep It Light With Stand Up Trip