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 The Kings, who have done their business the hard way in their
playoff run with three Game Seven wins on the road and battled back
after falling behind by two goals in each of their two wins at home
changed the script in their visit to Broadway.
Los Angeles put themselves firmly in the driver's seat with pinpoint
shooting and a spectacular performance by goaltender Jonathan Quick.
The winners converted three of their modest 15 shots on goal, while
Quick saved all 32 shots from the Rangers, who failed to take
advantage of six power play chances.
"He was obviously the best player on the ice," said Rangers coach
Alain Vigneault.
Kings coach Darryl Sutter said the power play was the key.
"They didn't score on any of them," Sutter said.
"I think the second period was probably the most important part of
it. We scored on the power play and they didn't. That's a big
difference."
 Now it is the Rangers who must be comeback kings if they are to win
their second Cup in 20 years and third since 1940. Only one team has
ever overcome a 3-0 deficit to win the final - the Toronto Maple
Leafs, who notched four successive wins to beat the Detroit Red
Wings in 1942.
"We're happy we're up 3-0," said right-winger Justin Williams, who
vowed the Kings would not suffer from overconfidence since they
stormed back from a 3-0 deficit in the first round to beat San Jose.
"But we know as good as anybody that 3-0 is not four. Just because
you're leading the series doesn't mean you've won anything." LAST
SECOND
A last-second goal at the end of the first period by Jeff Carter
gave the Kings a 1-0 lead, and the Western Conference champions
increased their advantage with second-period goals by defenseman
Jake Muzzin and Mike Richards. Quick was sensational at the net,
stopping all 32 of New York's shots on goal for the Kings, who can
clinch their second Cup in three years with a victory at the Garden
in Game Four on Wednesday.
The fast-paced first period was marked by swarming defense on both
sides and only nine shots on goal. New Yorks left winger Mats
Zuccarello had New York's best chance, when he swept in with just
under five minutes to go in the period to put his stick on a rebound
in the crease just to the right of Quick.
Zuccarello tried to stuff it in, but Quick lunged along the ice and
managed to get his stick on the puck to turn it away at the last
instant. The period looked set to end scoreless until one last Los
Angeles rush as the clock ticked down.
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SILENT GARDEN
Williams centered the puck across to Carter who rifled a wrist shot
past New York's Swedish goalie Henrik Lundqvist for a goal that
grazed off defenseman Dan Girardi's skate.
The Kings increased their lead to 2-0 less than five minutes into
the second period when Muzzin snapped a long-range shot from the
blue line past Lundqvist, who was screened by Carter camping out in
front of the net on a power play.
The Rangers had the man advantage three times in the second period
and on two of them mounted furious attacks that totaled seven shots
on goal but stifled each time by acrobatic saves from Quick.
With 2:46 left in the period, Mike Richards cashed in a 2-on-1 break
by snapping home a return pass from Kyle Clifford past Lundqvist to
end the scoring. The third period was played in virtual silence at
the famed midtown Manhattan arena after thunderous roars had
encouraged the Blueshirts from the opening faceoff until the Kings
had put their stamp on the game.
"Nothing's done, nothing's finished," cautioned Quick, who grew up
in nearby Hamden, Connecticut as a Rangers fan.
"We know that winning the fourth game is always the hardest."
(Reporting by Larry Fine; Editing by Julian Linden)
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