Stanley Cup Finals: 3 Reasons the L.A. Kings Will Win It All

Now that’s a homecoming fit for a king. Or better yet, a whole team of them. Kings fans could not have asked for a more electrifying game than the one they had last night at the Staples Center.

Returning home after their 10-game streak of postseason road wins, the Kings brought even more excitement and bigger play. Games 1 and 2 were both close calls going into overtime, but the Kings showed dominance in Game 3 with no question that this was their turf. It was their home game to win.

And win they did.

Game 3 ended in a shutout with the Kings scoring a total of four goals in 60 minutes of regulation play. With the Kings leading the series 3-0, it’s hard to believe that they won’t clinch the finals altogether. They’re on a roll, a hot streak, a wave—whatever it is, they’ve got it, and there are three big reasons why the Kings will be bringing the Stanley Cup home to L.A. for the first time in their franchise history.

1. Unstoppable Defense

The Kings are very capable of scoring on the offense and last night was not the first time they finished a game with four goals.

They have had plenty of games with four-goal wins in the playoffs. We know they can attack. And with the four-goal shut out in Game 3, the offense is what should be capturing my attention. But my applause goes out to the defense.

The L.A. Kings play like a team with a real love of the game. The players exhibit more of an old school cohesiveness that is sometimes lost in professional franchises. They resemble a team of school boys who have grown up playing together, with the same passion and emotional investment in the game. What many players in this league are just now learning to do, the Kings have been doing. And that is putting everything on the line for the game.

In Game 3 last night, the defense threw themselves in the direct line of incoming shots, crashed the net, jabbed at players, and took shots to the body as long as it meant the puck was staying away from goalie Jonathan Quick. The defense was all over the place, and it worked.

Of course, you can’t have a shutout without significant effort from the goalie. Quick saved all 22 shots against him without even batting an eyelash. Even during those shots that seemed impossible to see, he was there.

And yes, he was incredibly quick.

The most impressive display of the Kings defense was in the second period. With a double penalty called against the Kings, the ice turned into a 5-on-3 situation. But the Kings were able to hold off the Devils during the entire duration of the penalty and power play. In a situation where the Devils should have scored, the Kings showed their force on defense.

2. Home Sweet Home Ice

Yes, the Kings have an incomparable record of road game wins, but home ice always has its advantages.

And the way the Kings came out last night at the Staples Center with the 4-0 shutout, they must have been dying to come home to their fans.

The Kings’ performance last night was what home ice fans dream of—a fast paced game with nerve-racking penalties, and shots flying into the net. Everyone likes to watch a close game, but when it comes to the Cup, the more goals the better.

L.A. fans want to see a win no matter what, but when it’s a really big win that really shows the Kings ability and deserving of the championship, then it makes everything so much sweeter.

Devils fans can say Games 1 and 2 were close with both going into overtime, but Kings fans can say Game 3 was a statement. The Kings have called the Devils’ bluff.

Four goals were just enough to lift the Kings up and put the Devils in their place.

3. Sealing the Deal

The Kings know how to finish, and with Anze Kopitar, Jeff Carter and Justin Williams, they keep it nothing short of exciting. Kopitar is the Kings’ biggest rally cry, threat and performer. In Game 1 of the finals, Kopitar's game-winning goal in overtime gave the Kings the momentum for the following games.

In Game 3, Kopitar scored the second goal of the night to provide a confident cushion over the Devils with a little over half of the game left to go. And when it came time for the fourth goal to really seal in a clear-cut win, Kopitar came through with an assist to Justin Williams in the power play. The Kings’ center leads the team and brings spark to the ice.

Jeff Carter follows Kopitar in performance. He scored the game-winning goal in overtime during Game 2 in New Jersey, as well as a power play goal last night in Game 3. Carter is right where the Kings need him to be on big plays and he knows exactly where to score in the net.

The Kings are sure to rely on him come Wednesday night.

Make Way for Royalty

If the Kings don’t wrap this up and bring the shiny Cup back home to L.A. in Game 4 on Wednesday, then it will most likely happen in Game 5. The Kings have not had a full seven game series in the playoffs, and there’s no reason for them to start now. If the first three rounds show anything, it’s that the Kings can take care a of a series in just five games.

If they win on Wednesday, then all is right with the L.A. world and the Kings’ nearly stellar record. If they lose, they will come into Game 5 with a vengeance and an urgency to secure a win without pushing it to seven games.

I have a feeling this will be an underwhelming post season finale, with the Kings winning soon (like they should). And then the Staples Center will finally have something to boast about this season. The Kings have yet to win the championship.

It’s been a long time coming and they could really use a Cup.

So come Wednesday night, when I have to choose between the Devils on my shoulder or the L.A. Kings on the other—I’ll be pulling for royalty.