Latest News

Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Crowning achievement

L.A. Kings, fans finally rewarded

By: Gary Lawless

Posted: 06/12/2012 1:00 AM | Comments: 0

Los Angeles Kings goalie Jonathan Quick and defenceman Drew Doughty celebrate their Stanley Cup victory. (ALEX GALLARDO / REUTERS)

LOS ANGELES -- They were an experiment skating in uniforms reminiscent of the packaging used by one of Canada's most popular whiskies.

A SoCal hockey team owned at different times by the likes of Canadian magnate Jack Kent Cooke, L.A. playboy Dr. Jerry Buss and con man Bruce McNall.

Wayne Gretzky came to save them and for a while made them relevant with an unsuccessful run to the title in 1993.

They had the Miracle on Manchester and Marty McSorley's illegal stick penalty.

They played in a building with the irresistable name of The Fabulous Forum.

There was Rogie Vachon and Marcel Dionne and Dave Taylor and Charlie Simmer and Butch Goring and Luc Robitaille and Cowboy Bill Flett and Eddie Shack and Bernie Nicholls and Tiger Williams.

They played in a building dressed with 12 championship banners all owned by basketball's Los Angeles Lakers.

But there was no Stanley Cup banner. Not for these Los Angeles Kings. Not for 45 years.

All that changed in five whirling minutes as the Kings popped three power-play goals en route to a 6-1 win over the New Jersey Devils to win Game 6 and take the Stanley Cup by a 4-2 margin.

Devils winger Steve Bernier drilled Kings defenceman Rob Scuderi in the back and referee Dan O'Rourke rung him up for a five-minute major and game misconduct. Scuderi lay on the ice bleeding for several minutes before leaving the ice under his own steam and eventually returned for the start of the second period.

The Kings, who had opened this series with a 3-0 lead but lost Games 4 and 5 to give the Devils a reprieve from hockey hell, exploded for three goals with captain Dustin Brown, Jeff Carter and Trevor Lewis all beating Martin Brodeur.

Bernier took his role in the loss very hard.

"I didn't want to hurt my team. I wanted to help them. This is extremely hard. It's been a long playoff run for us. To finish on that note, it's not fun for sure, but there's nothing I can do now," he said.

On the play: "He turned back. I feel very bad, but it's a fast game out there, and it ends up being a bad play. You certainly don't want to get five minutes for it. I wish I could take that play back."

Carter added a second goal in the second period to stake the Kings to a 4-1 lead. Lewis scored an empty-net goal in the third and after the Devils put Brodeur back in net Matt Greene added L.A.'s sixth marker.

New Jersey rookie Adam Henrique scored his club's lone goal.

"This is the ultimate. I've dreamed of this a million times since I was five years old but it didn't compare to the moment when I got that Cup," said Kenora native Mike Richards, who picked up a pair of assists in the final game and finished the post-season with four goals and 11 assists. "This is the greatest. What a moment. I can't believe it."

Winkler native Dustin Penner put his hands on the Cup for the second time, the first coming as a rookie with the Anaheim Ducks.

"It's even better this time because the first time you don't realize how hard it is to get here," said Penner.

Los Angeles netminder Jonathan Quick, who led the post-season in all meaningful goaltending statistics, including goals-against, save percentage, wins and shutouts, was named the Kings' first-ever Conn Smythe Trophy winner.

"The first thing you think of as a coach is, these guys are young enough we might be able to try again," said Kings coach Darryl Sutter.

The Bernier penalty will be debated, whether it should have been a minor or a major, but there can be no doubt as to its impact on the game.

"This night is about the Los Angeles Kings. Call me in a week and I will give you an honest opinion on the penalty," said Devils coach Pete DeBoer.

The title vanquished the ghost of McSorley's illegal stick infraction in 1993, the turning point in the team's Cup loss to the Montreal Canadiens.

"I've been waiting a long time for this moment," said Kings fan Steve Buelcher. "When I was a little kid I asked my grandmother for tickets to the Kings and she was able to get them. I've been coming to these games with my friends and I share this with all of them. And with Marcel and Rogie and all the great Kings. I knew I would be bawling. This means so much to me. We have the Cup. Finally."

gary.lawless@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @garylawless

HERE'S what your Manitoba-Kings connections had to say about winning the Cup:

Ron Hextall

Hometown: Brandon

Position: Assistant GM

"It's pretty sweet. I just wish I had a jersey on and could feel it the way the players are right now. I'm sure this is a close second."

Darren Granger

Hometown: Brandon

Position: Equipment manager

"You dream of doing this as a player when you're a kid. That obviously didn't work out but this is amazing. I'm speechless."

Mike Richards

Hometown: Kenora

Position: Centre

"This is such a team moment. I came here and in 20 minutes they made me feel like I belonged. For me, these are the guys to win this with."

Dustin Penner

Hometown: Winkler

Position: Wing

"What joy. It's the perfect ending for an up and down season. It's been tough to sleep the last couple of nights. I've been nervous. I won't sleep tonight but a good one is coming real soon."

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition June 12, 2012 D1

Factual inaccuracy? Something missing? Help improve our journalism.

Know about news? Share your story suggestions, photos and video.

Spelling error? Punctuation problem? Send us an email if you’ve found a typo.

More Latest News

Undock

You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.

Have Your Say

New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.

The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.