Stanley Cup Finals 2012: 6 Players Who Need to Have a Monster Game 1

The Stanley Cup Finals are here where two unexpected teams will go against each other on the ice come Wednesday.

After beating out the top-seeded teams in each conference, both teams have proven that they have the ability to take the highly coveted Cup back home. The matchup looks pretty even, but there are six players who will need to show a more aggressive, monstrous play once the first puck drops in Game 1.

NJ Devils: Ilya Kovalchuk

With seven goals in the playoffs so far, the Devils are relying on Ilya Kovalchuk to the be the big playmaker against the L.A.Kings. With ample playing time and 11 assists throughout the playoffs, Kovalchuk is all over the place.

With 58 shots on goal in postseason play, Devils fans have seen him make opposing goalies sweat. An incredibly versatile and quick left wing, Kovalchuk needs to continue to be unforgiving on the ice.

L.A. Kings: Drew Doughty

The Kings defenseman, Drew Doughty, is just as good on defense as he is on the attack. He has made 35 shots on goal during the playoffs and scored two. He plays a good amount on the ice and is a consistent player for the Kings.

If Doughty can continue his two-way play and keep the puck on the Kings offensive half of the ice, they should be able to clinch Game 1 on Wednesday.

NJ Devils: Martin Brodeur

Brodeur is looking to win his fourth Stanley Cup. At age 40, Brodeur is older and wiser, but certainly not weaker.

Pushing through the playoff rounds, the Devils have had great play from Brodeur who holds a .923 save percentage in the playoffs. However, younger L.A. Kings goalie Jonathan Quick holds a higher save percentage with a .946, and has a lower number of goals allowed than Brodeur’s 37.

Quick is a fairly even match up for Brodeur, and the Kings power forwards are sure to  challenge and frustrate the veteran goalie. But because Brodeur has been to the Cup Finals before, he knows what it feels like. He will be familiar with the pressure, the atmosphere and the level of play.

To have a monster Game 1, he will need to dig deep and keep a strong stance against the Kings offense.

L.A. Kings: Anze Kopitar

The L.A. Kings center forward has six goals and nine assists in the playoff so far. He is the driving playmaker for the Kings and a necessary component to the team’s scoring.  Combine him with Dustin Brown and Dustin Penner and they will be sure to create quite the challenge for the Devils Defense.

Kopitar will have to be even more of a presence on the ice than he already has been. The Devils do not scare easy by any means, so Kopitar will need to portray himself as a viable threat. The only way to really do that is to show it in his play.

NJ Devils: Zach Parise

The team captain, Zach Parise, trails right behind Kovalchuk with seven goals and seven assists.

The left wing is an impressively transitional player with strong leadership on the team. If he outperforms the Kings with intensity and a sense of urgency, his teammates are sure to follow suit and the plays will come.

Parise will enter the Free Agency after the Cup Finals so this is a great opportunity to show his worth to New Jersey. A monster Game 1 for Parise, on home ice, would be the perfect combination for a New Jersey win.

L.A. Kings: Jonathan Quick

Yes, I have a soft spot for goalies. But past play has shown that goalies can be a significant determining factor in the level of play and overall attitudes of the entire team.

Quick has an impressive save percentage of .946 and has only allowed 22 goals in the playoffs. However, because the Kings have played less playoff games and overtimes than the Devils, perhaps Quick has less experience with pressure and urgent play.

Quick will need to display monster play in Game 1 in an effort to steamroll the New Jersey offense, while taking charge of his defensemen. Maybe then the Kings will claim the final series in their usual less-than-six-games fashion.