The Los Angeles Kings, Phoenix Coyotes, New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils are the only teams left in contention to raise Lord Stanley’s Cup this season.
There have been plenty of upsets and a whole lot of drama during these 2012 NHL playoffs, but there’s likely much more to come as the conference and Stanley Cup finals move closer to their ultimate conclusion.
Red-hot goaltender Jonathan Quick has been stellar for Los Angeles this postseason and led the Kings to a Game 1 win over the Coyotes on Sunday night, to take an early 1-0 series lead. But Phoenix has shown enough determination and overcome plenty of obstacles already this postseason. They remain a dangerous contender for the crown.
The Eastern Conference Finals kick off on Monday night, as New York prepares to host Martin Brodeur and the upset-minded Devils. The 40-year-old netminder is having potentially the best postseason of his career, and with three Stanley Cup titles already on his mantlepiece, the Devils might be as frightening as anyone.
The Rangers, meanwhile, have escaped back-to-back Game 7 upsets in challenges from both Ottawa and Washington. Goalie Henrik Lundqvist has been a force, stonewalling opponents all postseason long, and he looks primed to lead New York back to the finals for the first time since 1994.
Who do you think will win this year’s Stanley Cup?
