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Handshake line. Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images via LA Kings website.
The Kings-Blackhawks series in the NHL playoffs went the full seven games and into sudden death overtime tonight in Chicago. The Kings came out on top, scoring 5:47 into the overtime period to eliminate the reigning Stanley Cup champions. You may remember, the Kings began this playoff tournament down 1-3 to San Jose and facing elimination, but then won in seven games. They went seven again after trailing the Ducks, and won. Now have gone seven in the Western Conference Final. So the Kings have already won three game 7's and played 21 exhausting games. They open the Stanley Cup Final round Wednesday night at Staples Center against the Eastern champion New York Rangers.
The Kings won the Stanley Cup two years ago, for the first time in the team's history. The Blackhawks had won the year before that, and last year. The Rangers were last in the Stanley Cup Final in 1993-94.
The play between the Kings and Chicago was so intense and at such a high level that the NBC announcers were left a little in awe after the games. During this game the tweets coming from some of the sportswriters covering the match were not the usual fare.
Stanley Cup final is going to have to be phenomenal to surpass this for drama, high-end skill, emotional swings.
— Helene Elliott (@helenenothelen) June 2, 2014This is why you watch hockey. This is why we cover it and fight for coverage in the newspaper/web site.
— Helene Elliott (@helenenothelen) June 2, 2014Can't remember covering a better series...
— lisa dillman (@reallisa) June 2, 2014Can a sports event be so breathtaking that it's actually painful to watch?..Kings-Blackhawks could be it...
— Bill Plaschke (@BillPlaschke) June 2, 2014Hawks-Kings. Enough said. Holy mama.
— Pierre LeBrun (@Real_ESPNLeBrun) May 31, 2014Also this from a non-scribe:
We are the lucky ones...watching these guys go OT in a 7th game
— Phil Jackson (@PhilJackson11) June 2, 2014