The Hockey News - Greatest Games (USA)
FINALLY, THE CROWN
Nearly a half-century after introducing the NHL to California, the Kings claim hockey’s biggest prize
FtKhiynghsewiretroetahne uthnrwoonre-. OR 45 YEARS, THE But decades as diletmtanantedsinwge1r6e-4purrugnedininthae 2co0m12mtanantedsinwge1r6e-4purrugnedininthae playoffs, the unlikely crowning c6o-1mCinugpi-ncltinhcehfoinrgmwoifnaorvaeurcothues aDnedviclsortohnaattiwoans. both exorcism
With multi-generational torment hanging over the Staples lCeeandtefer,lt tphrecaKriinoguss’. N3e-2w Jseerrsieys had won Games 4 and 5, and saeDndevtihlsewseinrieins bGacmkeea6stwfourlda onBe-ugtamiedswhaoywtdhorowung.h the first period, New Jersey’s Steve Bernheiehr ittoRookbaSmcuadjoerripfernoamltybewhhinend and, like magic, hockey sticks turned to scepters. Dustin BLerowwisns,cJoerfefdCoanrttehreapnodweTrepvlaoyr to give L.A. a 3-0 lead, and the NHL’s longtime jesters took on tDhoewanp4p-e1arinantche tohfiradr,isthtoecDraecvy-. iLleswpiusllsecdorMedarthinis Bsreocdoenudr,gbouatl oeaxtf i1tsh6tie:n1gg5a,imnaneLdiontshtoeAanmngierealemcslpeftioynfanilcelyet made sense. a SKoinrrgys Asel asMoinc-htiacekles,t bhuotldears, we’re sure you will understand. FinorhKoicnkgesyfahniss,ttohreygrweastens’t cuatl-l 1te9r8e0d, binutuipnstaetaed NinedwowYonrtokwin Lyeos, Aitnwgealsems, i3ra2cyueloaurs .later, and EmTrhicek iwnotrhdeswvaoniicnegdmboymeDnotcs of a decisive win that brought tohreigiSntalnnleoyn-CtruapditiontahlemNaHrkLe’st fsour rtehael fiarnsdt tiwmoertwhetrheeelneegarnlty, half-century wait. “The Kings,” Emrick said, “are the kings.”