Stanley Cup Final 2012: Are the Devils Delaying the Inevitable?

Game 4 turned out to be the most competitive game yet between the Los Angeles Kings and New Jersey Devils. After 60 minutes of play and a 3-1 win, the Devils managed to avoid the sweep in the 2012 Stanley Cup Final. The Devils have managed to slow the Kings’ warpath through the postseason, if only temporarily.

By winning 3-1 on Wednesday, the Devils have forced Game 5. Even though they played very well in their crucial road win, the Devils only delayed the inevitable.

Both teams played exceptionally well. The Kings and Devils each played a physical game, recording 33 and 43 hits, respectively. They also blocked shots, making sure that the puck wouldn’t have a chance to reach the net.

All of this attributed to the almost two-and-a-half scoreless periods. Jonathan Quick and Martin Brodeur also played a huge role in holding the other team off the score sheets. Brodeur’s play was perhaps the biggest factor in preventing the Kings from raising the Stanley Cup at Staples Center Wednesday night.

New Jersey’s veteran goaltender turned away 21 of 22 shots, including a handful of quality chances, and ttruly looked like the Martin Brodeur of old.

In the end, the Devils came out in the third poised to claim the game. They only had 11 shots on goal throughout the first two periods. In the final period, they tallied 13. It was only natural that the puck would find its way around Quick, and Patrik Elias was the first to find twine when he scored on a backhand 7:56 into the third.

A minute after Elias' score, Drew Doughty answered with a power-play goal to tie the game for the Kings. Adam Henrique would break the tie and give the Devils the lead again with another clutch goal at the 15:29 mark.

Whatever hope the Kings had of tying the game in the last few minutes seemed to disappear when Willie Mitchell took a high-sticking penalty with 2:50 left in the game. When the Kings pulled Quick, Ilya Kovalchuk would score on an empty net to put the nail in the coffin.

The Devils played very well and deserved their Game 4 win. No doubt, they will be very confident upon their return to home ice on Saturday.

However, the Kings have bounced back from a Game 4 loss to close the series twice already this year. Even though the Devils played arguably their best hockey of the series, they may only be delaying the inevitable.

Michael Prunka is a Bleacher Report Featured Columnist. To stay up to date with his WWE and NHL commentary, you can like his Facebook page and follow him on Twitter.