Photo Credit: Jeff Gross/Getty Images North America
Game 7 of the freeway series took place at Honda Center were the Ducks hosted the LA Kings…and what a game and series it was. The Kings team looked like the same team that took out the San Jose Sharks out of the Stanley Cup in game 7 of their series. They were strong, the defense, which is ranked #1 in the league, looked great and the Ducks, a team that struggled to score in the first 2 periods of the game, just couldn’t get it in the net of Jonathan Quick.
The Honda Center was in a moment of awe to see that their Ducks team was losing. The stadium was filled with Kings fans cheering, being loud and chanting, “GO KINGS GO”, “GO KINGS GO”, over and over again. A lot of tension was also felt in the stadium as fights broke out between players of both teams, but more coming form the Anaheim Ducks.
As the first period kicked in, the Ducks had many chances already to take the lead, but Quick, who has looked phenomenal this post-season, denied the Ducks again and again. But not 4 minutes into the game, Justin Williams opened the scoring to take the 1-0 lead during a Power Play with assists coming from Richards and Voynov. Justin Williams, who is 6-0 in game 7’s, is also 6-0 in opening the scoring for his former teams and the LA Kings. 4 minutes later Jeff Carter gave the Kings a 2-0 lead in a beautiful play. He was assisted by both Gaborik and Muzzin and then got between two defenders to score on such a beautiful play. Cory Perry had a chance to give the ducks some life in game 7. On a penalty by Drew Doughty in which he hooked Cory Perry, Perry went 1 on 1 with Quick and as Perry was about to score on Quick, Quick was there to get the puck away form Perry with his hockey stick. A minute later, Mike Richards gave the Kings a 3-0 lead with assists from King and Clifford. The Kings had many opportunities to make the lead even bigger, but somehow the goal posts and goalkeeper, John Gibson, saved the ducks.
As the 1st period came to an end, the Kings hopes of advancing looked great. 2nd period came into play and hopes for the Kings became even bigger. Not 2 minutes into the 2nd period, Anze Kopitar gave the Kings a 4-0 lead with assists coming from both Doughty and Clifford. After this goal, Coach Boudreau had enough and pulled out the Rookie John Gibson and replaced him with Jonas Hiller to help the Ducks out, but that didn’t stop the Kings. In another power play that came into play during the 12 minute helped the Kings take a 5-0 lead with a goal coming from Marian Gaborik. Then with 3 minutes left in the 2nd period, the Ducks started to get some life into this game and Kyle Palmieri scored for the Ducks, making it 5-1 to end the 2nd period.
3rd period kicked in and the Ducks came out with hopes of making history and wanting to come back from a 5-1 score. 3 minutes into the 3rd period, Cory Perry recovered his mistake he made earlier in the first period by giving the Ducks a bit more hope and making the lead much smaller 5-2. Not seconds after the goal went in, the Ducks won the face off and had a chance to make it 5-3 but Quick, who has been the hero for the LA Kings denied the Ducks. With 7 minutes left in the 3rd period, Tanner Pearson created such a beautiful play that gave the Kings a 6-2 lead and thus ending the Ducks post-season.
Quick, who has been great this post-season, had 26 saves and denying the Ducks from either taking the lead or at least tying the game. Williams(5), Carter(4), Gaborik(9), Pearson(2), Kopitar(5) and Richards(2) all helped get the Kings reach the Conference finals making all six goals come from 6 different King players. The Kings, who are 6-0 after facing elimination, will be facing the Defending Champions, the Chicago Blackhawks in a last year’s Western Conference Final Rematch. Game 1 will take place at the United Center @3PM ET/12PM PT