The Los Angeles Kings defeated the New York Rangers in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup 3-2 to take a 1-0 series lead.

It was a packed house at the Staples Center in Los Angeles with over 18,000 in attendance. The Rangers scored the first goal of the game when Benoit Pouliot scored against Jonathan Quick. Just two minutes later, Carl Hagelin scored a shorthanded goal giving the Rangers a 2-0 lead. But the Kings responded quickly when Jeff Carter set up Kyle Clifford for the third goal of the period.

But after leading 2-0 early on and 2-1 after the first period, the Rangers fell apart.

In the second and third periods combined, the Kings outshot the Rangers 27-12. Jonathan Quick won the Conn Smyth award as the playoff MVP back in 2012, so 12 shots in a two period span is a walk in the park for him. The Rangers would not score another goal for the remainder of the game, while the Kings scored in the second period tying the game 2-2.

With the game tied at two goals each, we headed to overtime. Unfortunately for the Rangers, it wouldn't last long. A turnover led to the Kings' game winner by Justin Williams. Williams has been clutch all postseason long for the Kings and this is his eighth goal of the playoffs. The Kings have certainly shown they have the endurance. In all three previous match-ups, the Kings have endured a grueling seven-game series with the San Jose Sharks, Anaheim Ducks, and Chicago Blackhawks.

The final shots on goal favored the Kings, 43-27.

The Kings will play Game 2 again at home at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 7, at 7:00 EDT.

If the Rangers can get out of LA with a one-one series tie, that could set up well heading back to Madison Square Garden. At that point, the Rangers are in control to take a 3-1 series lead if they defend home ice in Game 3 and Game 4. In order to do that, the Rangers are going to have to play more physical. The Rangers were outhit 45-33 and this Kings team is among the most physical in the league. More importantly, the offense is going to have to put more pressure on Quick.

Time and time again, we've seen the Kings respond well to adversity. In the first round the team came back from an 0-3 series deficit against the Sharks. Even as a No. 6 seed, they defeated the No. 1 seed Ducks in the second round and dethroned the defending Champion, Chicago Blackhawks in the Western Conference Finals. This is a team that you can never count out.

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