Los Angeles’ long-suffering Kings made a historic Stanley Cup run in 2012 which ended with the team’s first championship. After 45 years without a Cup, the Kings defeated the New Jersey Devils with a 6-1 victory in Game 6 of the 2012 Finals. It was the most lopsided Game 6 victory since the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Minnesota North Stars 8–0 in 1991.
In the first period of Game 6, Los Angeles scored three times during a five-minute power play thanks to a major boarding penalty by New Jersey’s Steve Bernier on Los Angeles’ Rob Scuderi. The Kings maintained their lead throughout the rest of the game.
Many agree that the team’s goaltender, Jonathan Quick, was one of the team heroes throughout the playoffs. He went 16-4 with a 1.41 goals-against average and .946 save percentage. Quick was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.
Previously, the Kings beat the top-seeded Vancouver Canucks in five games during the opening round, they beat the St. Louis Blues (No. 2 seed) and surprised fans by sweeping the Phoenix Coyotes in five playoff games to win the West.
This was the King’s first Finals appearance since 1993. With their historic win, the Kings became the first no. 8 seed to win the Stanley Cup. The victory ended the team’s 45-year wait for a championship, the longest in NHL history. Two years later, the Kings would win a second Stanley Cup in 2014 against the New York Rangers.