Suspense, Defense, Whoa Baby!

Vol. III, No. 16

The suspense was intense. The Cup was in the house. The Kings were ready to celebrate. They almost own the Cup.

But nobody almost wins the Cup.  It takes four games. There's only one small problem. Two Devils, Patrik Elias and Adam Henrique, were able to find the back of the Kings net tonight. 

Henrique's game winner added to an impressive playoff run, following his game and series OT winner against the Rangers two weeks ago. #14 should now have a lock on NHL Rookie of the Year honors.

New Jersey added a cushion with a third empty net goal in the last minute by Ilya Kovalchuk, moments after he suffered a nasty high stick under his visor.

In other words, a resilient never-say-die Devils team answered. As always, it boils down to defense.

The Devils only allowed 22 shots on goal. Martin Brodeur stopped 21 of them. He denied all even-handed chances. The only Kings goal was a power play which happened after a questionable call on Devils forward David Clarkson. He received two minutes for boarding. It was a weak call on what was essentially a moderate check against the boards.

On the other side, the LA defense could not stop Elias, Henrique and Kovalchuk. The Kings have to start thinking, because the top Devils scorers were able to wake up tonight.  The only other NJ scores of the entire series - two goals total - were put in by Anton Volchenkov and Ryan Carter in the first two games. 

The Devils big lines had been kept off the board for three games. Not tonight. The confidence boost, the attitude change is an intangible. But it's real.  The Devs return to Newark with a sense that the series is up for grabs and that the Kings can be beaten. LA flies to New Jersey, wondering if they can win an 11th straight game on the road.

LA lost in another way tonight. They had a chance to equal the 1988 Gretzky-powered Edmonton Oilers stellar playoff record of 16 - 2. The Kings could not get it done and now posses a record of 15 - 3. It's an impressive stat, but it does not qualify for the record books.

The series starts up again, with Game 5 at the Rock on Saturday night.

One of two things will happen. Either the Devils will find a way to win one at home and end the King's phenomenal road 10 - 0 road game record, or else the Cup will appear at the end of the game amidst a scrum of white road jerseys. Either way, the crowd in NJ will have a great experience.

Hockey Rules!