The Los Angeles Kings were crowned the 2012 Stanley Cup champions, the most coveted award in the National Hockey League. However, the title was one of the most unlikely things to happen to the team.
With only four games left in the regular season, the majority of commentators and analysts on the NHL television network dubbed the Pittsburgh Penguins of the Eastern Conference the league champions, banking on the game-winning combination of Penguins captain Sidney Crosby and forward Evgeni Malkin, a Hart Trophy candidate.
Before long, the playoffs began and commentators predictions became something of a fairy tale. First-and second-seed Vancouver Canucks and the St. Louis Blues (who eliminated the San Jose Sharks in the first round in five games) were pegged as the No.1 choices for the Western Conference champions for their fierce regular-season performances, but were quickly knocked out by the western eighth seed, The Los Angeles Kings. Even in the Eastern Conference, finalist favorites New York Rangers were ousted by the eastern underdogs, the New Jersey Devils.
Through four rounds of conference playoffs, the Kings had completely wiped out the top seeds of the league in no more than five games out of seven each round. The unlikely cup contender continuously made strides behind the leadership of head coach Darryl Sutter and Veznia Trophy candidate, captain Dustin Brown and MVP of the league, goalie Jonathan Quick.
Through a lot of physical play, the Kings went on to defeat the Eastern Conference New Jersey Devils after the Devils forced a game six after winning two in a row trailing 3-0 in the series.
