Carl Hagelin (Michigan) scored a shorthanded goal, and Brian Boyle (Boston College) and Ryan McDonagh (Wisconsin) both registered assists on the evening—but the New York Rangers fell to the host Los Angeles Kings, 3-2, in overtime in Game 1 of the 2014 Stanley Cup Final on Wednesday night at the Staples Center.
The Rangers, who won the Eastern Conference for the first time in 20 years, had a 2-0 lead in the first period, with Hagelin scoring the second goal as New York was killing a holding penalty to Mats Zuccarello. The Western Conference champion Kings, as they have all playoffs, however, rallied to tie the game by the middle of the second stanza.
Hagelin had another breakaway in the final minute of regulation, but was stopped by Kings netminder Jonathan Quick (UMass), who finished with 25 stops. Quick had also earlier made a glove save on Martin St. Louis (Vermont) on a shot from the left circle.
The contest ended less than five minutes into the extra session when Justin Williams beat Henrik Lundqvist (40 saves) to the short side from the slot, after New York couldn't clear the puck out of its zone. The two teams went a combined 0-for-7 on the power play. Hagelin and LA's Willie Mitchell (Clarkson) each had a game-high five shots on goal, as did the Kings' Slava Voynov.
Game 2 is slated for Saturday night at 7 p.m. ET in California, before the NHL's championship series shifts to Manhattan on Monday.
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