Update: Kings Still Clicking as They Coast to Stanley Cup Final

L.A. Kings celebrating Dustin Penner's goal and trip to Stanley Cup finals.
Photo courtesy of sports.yahoo.com

The Los Angeles Kings advance once again in the Stanley Cup Playoffs defeating the Phoenix Coyotes in five games to claim the Western conference championship. I never thought I would say this, but the Kings are four wins away from hoisting the Stanley Cup in June.


As the eighth seed this postseason, the Kings have only lost two games making their record 12-2 and are the hottest team in hockey. The Kings knocked off top seeded Vancouver in five games, swept the second seeded St. Louis Blues and last night advanced past the Phoenix Coyotes in 5 games in a 4-3 overtime win.

The Kings will be well rested when they hit play the first game of the Stanley Cup. Game 1 is set for Wednesday, May 30. In the Eastern Conference, the New Jersey Devils and New York Rangers are tied in the series 2-2 and have traded wins with each other. The Rangers have went to game seven in the  first round against the Ottawa Senators and also in the second round against the Washington Capitals. The Devils played a seven game series in the first round and went to six games last round.

I think the Stanley Cup Final will present a good match up and could raise a few questions. The L.A. Kings haven't faced any adversity so far in the playoffs. They haven't trailed a series, dealt with injuries like the two other teams in the East. The Rangers have overcome the most being down 3-2 in each series. In both series they forced game seven and capitalized.

Each player for the Kings is contributing and playing a role in their wins. Players who struggled in the regular season are playing great hockey. Rookie Dwight King is a player who has been throwing his big body around and scoring goals for the Kings. Dustin Penner has been doing much of the same and was the hero of game 5 with his OT goal. The backbone of the team, Jonathon Quick, hasn't skipped a beat since the beginning of the season. If the Kings are going to win the Stanley Cup, Quick is going to have to play like a Conn Smythe winner.

Its hard to determine what will happen in the finals, how many games will be played. We still have to sit back and see which team claims the East. But until then lets enjoy how remarkable the the L.A. Kings have been this postseason so far. The Kings can't be content, they've made it this far and are the hottest team in the league.