Kings end 45 year drought with first Stanley Cup title
Posted June 11, 2012 9:18 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
LOS ANGELES, CA (NEWS1130) – The Los Angeles Kings scored three times in the first period and cruised to a 6-1 victory over the New Jersey Devils to earn their first Stanley Cup title in franchise history. The Kings won the series 4-2.
Former Canuck Steve Bernier took a five-minute major boarding penalty when he hit Kings’ defenceman Rob Scuderi midway through the first period and Los Angeles took advantage, scoring three goals to take a big early advantage.
Jeff Carter scored his second goal of the game early in the second period to give the Kings a 4-0 lead, but the Devils broke Jonathan Quick‘s shutout bid when Adam Henrique knocked in a rebound late in the frame.
The Kings rounded out the scoring with a goal from Trevor Lewis into the empty net followed shortly after by a Matt Greene tally.
Quick was named the Conn Smythe Trophy winner as the MVP of the playoffs as he posted a 16-4 record with a 1.41 goals against average and a .946 save percentage.
Despite being praised for his heroics throughout the post-season, Quick is giving his teammates their dues.
“Obviously at the end of the day it’s got to come from the room and guys have to make a decision to work. I think we did that and you can’t say enough about this group and how hard they worked.”
After receiving the cup from NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, Kings captain Dustin Brown handed it to former Canucks’ defenceman and Port McNeil native Willie Mitchell. Mitchell won his first cup in his 14-season career.
The victory ended a 45-year title drought for the Kings’ franchise. Los Angeles joined the NHL in 1967 and had never won a Stanley Cup.
