Kings grab commanding 3-0 series lead over Rangers in Stanley Cup Final
The Los Angeles Kings grabbed a commanding 3-0 series lead in the Stanley Cup Final with a 3-0 win over the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on Monday.
Jeff Carter got the Kings' offense going with a first period buzzer beater past Henrik Lundqvist, while Jake Muzzin and Mike Richards added the follow up tallies to seal the win.
Goaltender Jonathan Quick stopped 32 shots against for the shutout, his second of the postseason.
Star Performer
Quick entered Game 3 with a .906 save percentage through 23 playoff games, but he posted his best performance to date with 32 saves, some in spectacular fashion.
In the first period, for example, Quick somehow thwarted this glorious opportunity off the stick of Mats Zuccarello.
As evidenced in the table below, the Rangers largely dominated possession - thanks, in part, to six power-play opportunities - but Quick answered the bell every time, putting his team within one win of a second Stanley Cup in the past three seasons.
[Courtesy: Extra Skater]
Turning Point
With the Kings up 2-0 halfway through the second period, Quick thwarted this Derick Brassard scoring chance right after a Rangers power-play had expired.
It was just that kind of night for the Blueshirts.
Highlight Reel
Carter's goal at 19:59 of the first period - his 10th of the postseason - proved to be all the offense Los Angeles needed in Game 3.
Fellow former Flyer Mike Richards scored his first goal in 10 games to give the Kings a 3-0 lead late in the second, totally intending to bounce the puck off Ryan McDonagh's skate and back to his stick in order to get the best of Henrik Lundqvist.
Or something like that.
[Courtesy: NHL.com]
Quote of the Night
The Kings finished third in the Pacific Division and dropped their first three games of the playoffs at the hands of the San Jose Sharks, but have been on the rise ever since.
It's all part of the plan, according to potential Conn Smythe Trophy winner Drew Doughty.
We aren't the best regular season team, we never have been. When playoffs come our guys rise up.' - @dewyy8
— The Mayor John Hoven (@mayorNHL) June 10, 2014
Series at a Glance
Game 1: Kings 3, Rangers 2 (OT) (Kings lead series 1-0)
Game 2: Kings 5, Rangers 4 (2OT) (Kings lead series 2-0)
Game 3: Kings 3, Rangers 0 (Kings lead series 3-0)
Game 4: Wednesday, June 11 - 8 p.m. ET
Game 5*: Friday, June 13 - 8 p.m. ET
Game 6*: Monday, June 16 - 8 p.m. ET
Game 7*: Wednesday, June 18 - 8 p.m. ET