The 8 Seed That Can Make History

After winning 5-2 over the #2 seeded St. Louis Blues, who are defensive juggernauts under Ken Hitchcock, it was very easy to see how the Los Angeles Kings could make history this year. There has only been one eight seed to ever make it to the Stanley Cup Final, in 05-06 as Chris Pronger led the Edmonton Oilers. They ended up losing in seven games to the Carolina Hurricanes but made history as the only eight seed to ever make it that far. This year could bring the second team to ever make it to the Stanley Cup Final. But this time, they may even be the ones to win it.

Before the season even started, the Los Angeles Kings were picked to be major contenders in the West. Bringing Simon Gagne bolstered up an already impressive offense that had made some huge changes in a swap with Philadelphia. Mike Richards was gearing up for his first season as a King while Wayne Simmonds and Braydon Schenn settled in on the east coast. Combining those players with Anze Kopitar and Dustin Brown created a potent offense that was also gritty. The defense is full of veterans that know how to win mixed in with younger, offensive defensemen. Matt Greene, Willie Mitchell, and Rob Scuderi all have great experience and will be crucial in the development of the others like Slava Voynov and Alec Martinez.  It also doesn't hurt having Norris caliber defenseman Drew Doughty. In between the pipes sits one of the most athletic goaltenders in the league, Jonathon Quick. He is lightning fast and never gives up on a shot, covering the lower part of the net with his splits and the upper with his flexible arms. As of right now, Quick and Henrik Lundqvist of the Rangers are 50/50 for the Vezina Trophy. 

However, when the season began, the Kings floundered and did not meet expectations. In December, when the Kings lost four straight games and dropped to the lowest scoring team in the league, head coach Terry Murray was fired and replaced by Darryl Sutter. Quick kept them in the standings through those tough months, however, since then the team has turned it around. By the end of the season, they were in a four team race to win the Pacific Division. They lost out by two points but were able to hold onto the eight seed. 

Since the playoffs have started, the Kings have been dangerous. They easily ousted Vancouver in only five games. By game two the Kings had put Canuck's starter Roberto Luongo on the bench for the rest of the series to be replaced by upcoming RFA Cory Schneider. He was able to win only one of the next three games and the Kings moved on. So far in round two, they have seemed to be dominant over the defensive-minded St. Louis Blues. After Quick played brilliant in game one to give the Kings the early series lead, the offense took over last night and put up five goals, four in the first period. They also started quickly as Mike Richards scored 31 seconds in. 

The Kings are confident, well-coached, and hungry. They seem to want it more than the Canucks did and so far than the Blues have. They will return home for two crucial games, which will either make it or break it for the high seeded Blues. If the Kings make it past this round, they will have eliminated the top two seeds in the Western Conference. One thing is certain, if the Kings keep this effort up, you will see them in the Stanley Cup Final. They will be only the second team to ever make it from that seed. If they win it, well, welcome to the record books.