So much for the series being even, in any sense.
Game 3: Los Angeles vs. NY Rangers.
Even with a 2-0 lead, I was certain that the Kings weren't clearly better than the Rangers.
Now the Kings are up 3-0 after a 3-0 win (not a coincidence, I'm sure). And whatever I thought about this series has basically gone out the window.
The slight glimmer of hope that remains is that the Rangers out-shot the Kings in Game 3, 32-15. How's it possible to have that kind of advantage in shots on goal (and likely possession as well) and come away with nothing?
Jonathan Quick.
I've called him overrated. The media has said that he hasn't brought his best to any of the series the Kings have been in.
And yet, the Kings have a 3-0 lead in the Stanley Cup Final because Jonathan Quick refused to let anything past him, despite the 2-to-1 margin in shots on goal.
For Quick to have a shutout at this stage of the playoffs says a lot about him and a lot about the team in general. Despite not being able to score goals for most of the regular season (something that only began to pick up with the acquisition of Marian Gaborik, but was really only felt after Game 3 of the first round), and not looking good in general, the Kings are on the precipice of their second Stanley Cup in three years.
This could very well be the beginning of something quite interesting on the West Coast. Or maybe that was 2012, and 2014 is the continuation of that intriguing beginning.
But assuming Quick doesn't do something stupid like give up five goals in Game 4, this series is o-v-e-r.
Los Angeles leads 3-0. Game 4 is Wednesday.
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