Home Ice Holds Strong, Kings Advance To Conference Finals

OVERALL RECAP

It’s been the same notion talked about for the last few games. Every game has been won by the home team, and now with a crucial game 7 on the line, could San Jose break the spell, or would the King march to the conference finals? It got hectic in the third period, but an early lead helps the Kings advance 1 round closer to a return appearance.

May 28, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Kings goalie Jonathan Quick (32) makes a save off San Jose Sharks center Joe Pavelski (8) in the third period of game seven of the second round of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Staples Center. Kings won 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

GAME RECAP

The first period was a completely different game than the final 2 periods. You could feel the hesitation amongst the players as the two teams combined tallied up 8 shots in the period. The goalies at either end didn’t need to be overly sharp because…well…no one else was to start this off.

That all changed in the second period. In minor hockey coaches always teach you to go to the net, and then when you get there, jam away at every piece of rubber you see. As my father loudly proclaimed at dinner while we were watching the game, that’s how I scored all my goals in hockey. Garbagemen and garbage goals win games and they win series, and Justin Williams is one of those men. With a Kings power play winding down, Williams jammed away at a loose puck in the crease sneaking it across the line and making this a 1-0 and visibly knocking the wind out of the sails of San Jose. Because Justin Williams is a nice guy and really doesn’t care too much for sailing, he takes a cross ice feed a few minutes later and rips one from the high slot just passed a sprawling Antti Niemi. With a 2-0 lead the Kings look comfortable.

Unfortunately in hockey, comfort is a bad thing. The Sharks came out in the third needing to pick up the pace. 5 Minutes in a Dan Boyle point shot weaves its way through traffic and beats Jonathan Quick, drawing the Sharks within 1. Despite the onslaught of offensive pressure by the Sharks in the period, and limiting the Kings to only 4 shots, they just could not solve Quick again. Once again, the Kings advance to the Conference Finals.

SENSHOT 3 STARS

1 – Justin Williams

2 – Jonathan Quick

3 – Antti Niemi