Doc Emrick to Return to Broadcast Booth in Game Two

Those that watch game one of the Stanley Cup Final Wednesday night may have heard something unusual, the voice of Kenny Albert on the call for NBC instead of Doc Emrick.

BRUCE BENNETT/GETTY IMAGES

BRUCE BENNETT/GETTY IMAGES

Emrick had his father-in law pass away and was tending to that matter. Many know Emrick for his artistic ways to describe puck movement and it was missed by the many that posted on social media about his absence.

Emrick had called every game of the Stanley Cup Final since 2005, when NBC acquired the rights to the NHL's end series.

NESN reported that Emrick is expected to return to the broadcast booth for game two in Los Angeles Saturday. The Los Angeles Kings took a 1-0 lead in the series over the New York Rangers with a 3-2 overtime win Wednesday night.

Kings Take Game One of Final From Rangers in OT

The Los Angeles Kings managed to overcome a 2-0 deficit to win game one of the Stanley Cup Final 3-2 over the New York Rangers Wednesday.

 Jeff Gross/Getty Images

 Jeff Gross/Getty Images

The goals came fast and furious at the end of the first period with the Rangers finding the back of the net twice in a 1:45 span between the 13th and 15th minutes of the period. The Kings would go into the first intermission down just one though curtesy of Kyle Clifford's first goal since December.

The goal was set up by Darryl Sutter, who made some big changes to his lines when the team fell down 2-0. Sutter put Jeff Carter on the fourth line and it helped lead to the Clifford goal.

Drew Doughty would tie the game at two-all in the middle of the second period with Clifford and Justin Williams being in on the assist. The goaltending would crank up from there, not allowing another goal until overtime.

Henrik Lundqvist kept the Rangers in the game by stopping 20 shots in the third period. The Kings had the most shots of any team in a Stanley Cup Final game in 16 years, yet did not have a goal to show for it. The Rangers were only able to muster three shots in the third period, but caused for a crazy sequence in the final minute of regulation.

Carl Hagelin had a breakaway chance for the Rangers in the final minute of regulation, but was denied by Jonathan Quick, who made 25 saves in the game. Just seconds later, Carter was able to break free of the defense for a one-on-one chance to win the game, but Lundqvist denied his wrap-around chance to send the game to overtime.

In the bonus session, Justin Williams was able to beat Lundqvist for the game-winning goal. Williams also assisted on the goal in game seven against the Chicago Blackhawks in overtime to get the Kings in this series.

The Kings lead the series 1-0 going into Saturday's game two on Saturday in Los Angeles.

Kings vs Rangers: Stanley Cup Final Preview

In the way all the analysts drew it up, two teams that did not have a home ice in the first round of the playoffs are set to do battle for the Stanley Cup.

Getty Images

Getty Images

While at one time Wayne Gretzky called both the New York Rangers and the Los Angeles Kings home, that is about the only similarity these two teams have in common. The Kings are a team that want to win with offense while the Rangers hand their hat on defense.

Both teams have to of the top five goals in the game with Henrik Lundqvist in net for the Rangers and Jonathan Quick in goal for the Kings. Both had their share of struggles to reach this point with the Rangers pulling Lundqvist in game five of their series against the Canadians while Quick allowed 13 goals the final three games of the Blackhawks series.

The Kings do not have seen Marian Gaborik take over this postseason with a league-high 12 playoff goals. He had just 11 goals during the 41 regular season games he played.

The Kings also have Anze Kopitar and Jeff Carter, who are one and two in the NHL in postseason points with 24 and 22 respectively. Add into the equation guys like Drew Doughty and Justin Williams and you get a team that has averaged 3.47 points per game this postseason.

While the Rangers are averaging 2.65 points per game, they are allowing just 2.15 goals per game compared to the Kings' 3 goals per game. Henrik Lundqvist has been consistent other than a bad game five against the Montreal Canadians.

The Rangers are built around not allowing clean shots on goal. Guys like Brad Richards and Ryan McDonagh are not afraid to sacrifice their body to ensure the puck does not come close to the net. The Rangers also have some hidden offense that could come out.

The Rangers have reached this point despite Rick Nash scoring three goals this entire postseason. What's good news for the Rangers is all three goals came in their most recent series against the Canadians.

The leading offensive man for the Rangers had been trade deadline acquisition Martin St. Louis. He has had some help from Chris Hagelin, who has six goals this postseason, just like St. Louis.

The entire NHL postseason has been filled with seven game series and overtime and it will continue in the finals. The Kings offense will guide them to victory in seven games after over half the games are sent to overtime.

Blackhawks Force Game Seven After High Scoring Third Period

The Chicago Blackhawks knocked off the Los Angeles Kings 4-3 Friday night to force a series-deciding game seven in Chicago.

Mike DiNovo/USA Today

Mike DiNovo/USA Today

The game started a bit slow as the Kings' Dwight King scored the only goal of the first period. The Blackhawks would answer with two goals of their own in the first three minutes of the second period to take a 2-1 advantage into the third period.

Drew Doughty broke the scoreless spell for the Kings to tie the game and was followed by an Alec Martinez goal to give the Kings a 3-2 lead.

This game proved to be one of runs as the Blackhawks netted two goals in the final 8:30 of the game for the win. Duncan Keith found the back of the net for his fourth of the postseason and was followed by Patrick Kane's eighth of the playoffs.

Both goalies did not have great defense in front of them on this night and their stat lines showed it. Jonathan Quick let in four goals on 25 shots for the Kings while the Blackhawks saw Corey Crawford save 26 of 29 shots faced.

Sunday's game seven will decide who earns the right to play the New York Rangers for Lord Stanley's Cup.

The Rangers Are Going to the Stanley Cup Finals

The New York Rangers are going to their first Stanley Cup Final since 1994 thanks to a 1-0 win over the Montreal Canadians Thursday night.

Scott LevyGetty Images

Scott LevyGetty Images

Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist was pulled in game four after allowing four goals on 19 shots, but redeemed himself in game six. He stopped all 18 shots that came his way including some dramatics. He stopped a shot on a play that he was laying on the ice without a stick and another which he used his head.

His counterpart also had a masterful showing. Dustin Tokarski stopped 31 of the 32 shots that he saw. He had to fill in this series for the injured Carey Price after game one and may have played his way into a starting role with another team.

Tokarski helped lead the Canadians to two wins in the series while stopping .916 percent of on-goal shots. Dominic Moore scored the lone goal on him in the second period of game six.

The Rangers will face the winner of the Chicago Blackhawks and Los Angeles Kings series. The two teams are the most recent Stanley Cup Champions.