Schedule and 2011-12 Results
Regular Season Records: New Jersey 48-28-6=102pts, Los Angeles 40-27-15=95pts
Game 1 on Wednesday, 30 May: Los Angeles wins at New Jersey, 2-goals-1 (OT)
Game 2 on Saturday, 02 June: Los Angeles wins at New Jersey, 2-goals-1 (OT)
Game 3 on Monday, 04 June: New Jersey loses at Los Angeles, 4-goals-nil
Game 4 on Wednesday, 06 June: New Jersey wins at Los Angeles, 3-goals-1
Game 5 on Saturday, 09 June: Los Angeles loses at New Jersey, 2-goals-1
Game 6 on Monday, 11 June: New Jersey loses at Los Angeles, 6-goals-1

SERIES NOTES:

After Game 6: The Los Angeles Kings hosted and defeated the New Jersey Devils 6-goals-1 for a 4-games-2 victory in MLB/NBA/NHL best-of-7 playoff series 1169 and their first NHL championship. With the series 1169 victory, the Los Angeles Kings improve their best-of-7 NHL playoff series record to 12-19 overall and 1-1 in the Finals. With the series 1169 loss, the New Jersey Devils see their best-of-7 NHL playoff series record fall to 25-18 overall and 3-2 in the Finals. The series 1169 win order for the victorious Los Angeles Kings was WWWLLW: Series 1169 thus becomes the first NHL Finals series, the tenth NHL series (all rounds), and the 19th MLB/NBA/NHL series (all rounds) to follow that win order to completion. The six goals scored by the Los Angeles Kings in series 1169 Game 6 were the most by a winning team in an NHL Finals-clinching game since 2007, when the Anaheim Ducks scored six goals against the Ottawa Senators. The 2012 NHL playoff season required 86 games – the fewest since the 2008 NHL playoff season required 85 games. The 47 game wins by road teams in the 2012 NHL playoff season are the most ever in an NHL playoff season since 1987, when the NHL went to four rounds of best-of-7 playoff series; the previous high was 46 road game victories, set in 1987.

After Game 5: The New Jersey Devils hosted and defeated the Los Angeles Kings 2-goals-1 to reduce the Kings’ lead in MLB/NBA/NHL best-of-7 playoff series 1169 to 3-games-2. When leading a best-of-7 NHL playoff series 3-games-2, the Los Angeles Kings have a series record of 5-1 (with an active five-series winning streak) and a Game 6 record of 5-1 (with an active five-Game 6 winning streak). When trailing a best-of-7 NHL playoff series 3-games-2, the New Jersey Devils have a series record of 3-5 and a Game 6 record of 5-3. The opening goal of 2012 NHL Finals Game 5, by the host New Jersey Devils at 12:45 into the first period, is the 36th latest opening goal in what became the 53rd best-of-7 NHL Finals Game 5. The loss ends the Los Angeles Kings’ NHL-record best-of-7 road playoff game winning streaks at 12 overall and 10 from the start of the 2012 NHL playoff season. In the 2012 NHL playoff season, the Kings now have a 10-1 road game record, which matches the New Jersey Devils’ road game record in the 1995 NHL playoffs. The New Jersey Devils’ road game record in the 2000 NHL playoffs was 10-2, and the 2012 Devils hope to reduce the 2012 Kings’ road game record to that.

After Game 4: In a game in which all four goals were tallied in the third period, the New Jersey Devils visited and defeated the Los Angeles Kings 3-goals-1 to reduce the MLB/NBA/NHL best-of-7 playoff series 1169 lead by the Kings to 3-games-1. When leading a best-of-7 NHL playoff series 3-games-1, the Los Angeles Kings have a 3-0 series record and a 2-1 Game 5 record. When trailing a best-of-7 NHL playoff series 3-games-1, the New Jersey Devils have a 1-8 series record (with an active five-series losing streak) and a 2-7 Game 5 record (with an active five-Game 5 losing streak). The sole New Jersey series victory in this context occurred in series 810, in which the Devils rallied to defeat the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2000 NHL Semifinals en route to that year’s NHL championship. Series 1169 Game 4 is the 21st best-of-7 NHL Finals game in which the first goal of the game occurred after the second period. Home teams had a 10-10 (.500) record in the previous 20 such games, with a four-game winning streak prior to series 1169 Game 4. The last such game was 2011 NHL Finals Game 5 (in series 1136), in which the host Vancouver Canucks tallied 4:35 into the third period and defeated the Boston Bruins one-goal-nil. In such games, the last two times that the road team scored first was 2000 NHL Finals Game 5 (with the Dallas Stars scoring 6:21 into the third overtime to beat the Devils in New Jersey, in series 812) and 1996 NHL Finals Game 4 (with the Colorado Avalanche scoring 4:31 into the third overtime to beat the Panthers in Florida, in series 712). In such games, the last time that the road team scored first in regulation was 1984 NHL Finals Game 1 (when the Edmonton Oilers scored 1:55 into the third period in New York against the Islanders, in series 433).

After Game 3: With MLB/NBA/NHL best-of-7 playoff series 1169 in Los Angeles for Games 3-4, the host Kings shut out the New Jersey Devils 4-goals-nil to take a 3-games-nil series 1169 lead. When leading a best-of-7 NHL playoff series 3-games-nil, the L.A. Kings have a 3-0 series record and a 1-2 Game 4 record (all three series have been during the 2012 NHL playoff season); when trailing a best-of-7 NHL playoff series 3-games-nil, the New Jersey Devils have a 0-2 series record but a 2-0 Game 4 record. The New Jersey Devils thus become the 306th MLB/NBA/NHL team to try to surmount a 3-games-nil deficit in a best-of-7 playoff series; four previously have succeeded. The host Kings opened the game scoring at 5:40 into the second period. In the history of best-of-7 NHL playoff series games since 1939, inclusive, twice before had the home team scored its first goal of the game at 5:40 into the second period: in series 108 Game 2, when the Red Wings did so in Detroit against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1956 NHL Semifinals; in series 638 Game 2, when the Canadiens did so in Montreal against the New York Islanders in the 1993 NHL Semifinals. Los Angeles led by two goals after two periods. The last (and thus far only) best-of-7 format NHL Finals game in which the road team surmounted a two-goal deficit after two periods for the win was series 36 Game 6, in which the New York Rangers rallied to defeat the Maple Leafs in Toronto 3-goals-2 in overtime to win the 1940 NHL Finals 4-games-2 – that game was also the first best-of-7 NHL Finals game in which the home team led by two goals after two periods. The Kings took a 3-goals-nil lead at 4:15 into the third period and a 4-goals-nil lead at 6:47 into the third period. In the history of best-of-7 NHL playoff series games from 1939 through 2011, inclusive, only once had a home team led by three goals between 4:15 and 6:46 (inclusive) into the third period but lost the game: In series 755 Game 3, the Kings in Los Angeles did so against the St. Louis Blues in the 1998 NHL Preliminary round, giving the Blues a 3-games-nil lead en route to a 4-games-nil sweep (a sweep the Kings avenged this year with their own sweep of the Blues in the 2012 NHL Quarterfinals round). In terms of best-of-7 NHL playoff series history, the Kings iced the game with their tally 6:47 into the third period to take a four-goal lead: In the history of best-of-7 NHL playoff series from 1939 through 2011, inclusive, never had a road team surmounted a four-goal deficit for a game victory 6:47 or later into a third period. If the Kings can now win Game 4 without allowing a Devil lead, series 1169 – the 591st best-of-7 NHL playoff series beginning with 1939 – will become only the 17th NHL four-game sweep in which the swept team never led in any of the four games (a WhoWins™ annihilation, as it were). A Los Angeles Game 4 victory would thereby give the Kings a 16-2 overall game record (the best NHL game record in a playoff season since the Edmonton Oilers went 16-2 in 1988) and a perfect (and perfectly unprecedented) 10-0 road game record in the 2012 NHL playoff season. But if, conversely, the New Jersey Devils manage to win Game 4, their win/site order through the first four games of series 1169 would be LLLW @ HHVV – in best-of-7 NHL Finals history, teams losing Games 1-3 and winning Game 4 with Games 1-2 at home and Games 3-4 on the road have a 1-1 series record (with the Toronto Maple Leafs winning the 1942 NHL Finals; with the Detroit Red Wings losing the 1945 NHL Finals), with both Finals series having gone the full seven games. Improbable though it may be, a Devils sweep of series 1169 Games 4-7 would reduce the Los Angeles 2012 NHL playoffs road game record to 10-2 ... one loss more than the standard-bearing 10-1 road game record of the Devils themselves in the 1995 NHL playoff season.

After Game 2: Scoring the game-winning goal 13:42 into the first overtime period, the Los Angeles Kings visited and defeated the New Jersey Devils 2-goals-1 to take a 2-games-nil lead in MLB/NBA/NHL best-of-7 playoff series 1169. When leading a best-of-7 NHL playoff series 2-games-nil, the Los Angeles Kings have a 3-1 series record and a 3-1 Game 3 record. When trailing a best-of-7 NHL playoff series 2-games-nil, the New Jersey Devils have a 1-5 series record and a 4-2 Game 3 record. The sole New Jersey series win in the wake of a 2-games-nil best-of-7 NHL playoff series deficit was series 660, in the 1994 NHL Quarterfinals against the Boston Bruins. The Los Angeles Kings took a 2-games-nil series lead in their very first best-of-7 NHL playoff series – series 190, in the 1968 NHL Quarterfinals against the old Minnesota North Stars (Minnesota won the series in seven games). In their next 26 best-of-7 NHL playoff series, the Kings either trailed 2-games-nil or were tied 1-game-all after the first two games of the series – not once did they lead 2-games-nil. Then, in their 28th through 30th best-of-7 NHL playoff series (in the 2012 NHL Preliminary, Quarterfinals, and Semifinals rounds), the Kings took 2-games-nil leads in each, and won all three series. The series 1169 Game 2 victory improves the Kings’ road game record to 10-0 in the 2012 NHL playoffs and their best-of-7 road game winning streak to 12 overall (dating back to the 2011 NHL Preliminary round). The ten road game wins in the 2012 NHL playoffs by Los Angeles ties the New Jersey Devils (10-1 best-of-7 road game record in the 1995 NHL playoffs; 10-2 best-of-7 road game record in the 2000 NHL playoffs) and the Calgary Flames (10-4 best-of-7 road game record in the 2004 NHL playoffs) for most best-of-7 format road game wins in a single NHL playoff season. The current best-of-7 format 12-road-game winning streak by the Los Angeles Kings is the longest such winning streak in best-of-7 NHL history – longer than the previous best-of-7 format longest of eight straight (set in 1950 by the Toronto Maple Leafs [series 68 Games 3-4 in the 1948 NHL Finals, series 73 Games 1-2 and 5 in the 1949 NHL Semifinals, series 74 Games 1-2 in the 1949 NHL Finals, and series 77 Game 1 in the 1950 NHL Semifinals] and tied in 1978 by the Montreal Canadiens [series 326 Games 4 and 6 in the 1977 NHL Semifinals, series 328 Games 3-4 in the 1977 NHL Finals, series 337 Games 3-4 in the 1978 NHL Quarterfinals, and series 341 Games 3-4 in the 1978 NHL Semifinals], in 1987 by the Edmonton Oilers [series 462 Games 4 and 6 in the 1986 NHL Quarterfinals, series 482 Games 3-4 in the 1987 NHL Preliminary round, series 487 Games 3-4 in the 1987 NHL Quarterfinals, and series 489 Games 3-4 in the 1987 NHL Semifinals], and in 1997 by the New Jersey Devils [series 682 Games 2 and 5 in the 1995 NHL Quarterfinals, series 685 Games 1-2 and 5 in the 1995 NHL Semifinals, series 687 Games 1-2 in the 1995 NHL Finals, and series 723 Game 1 in the 1997 NHL Preliminary round]). With the series 1169 Game 2 win by the visiting Los Angeles Kings, road teams have now won 46 games in the 2012 NHL playoff season: The 2012 NHL playoff season thus ties the 1987 NHL playoff season for most road game victories (46) in a single playoff season, and, barring a four-game L.A. sweep, will break this record. The game-winning percentage by home teams in the 2012 NHL playoffs – 0.4390 through series 1169 Game 2 – is the fifth-lowest among best-of-7 format NHL playoff seasons (behind only 0.250 in the 1951 NHL playoff season, 0.375 in the 1966 NHL playoff season, 0.400 in the 1945 NHL playoff season, and 0.4375 in the 1954 NHL playoff season). Series 1169 Game 2 is the 25th overtime game in the 2012 NHL playoffs; only the 1993 NHL playoff season (28 overtime games) and the 2001 NHL playoff season (26) featured more best-of-7 format overtime games.

After Game 1: Scoring the game-winning goal 8:13 into the first overtime period, the Los Angeles Kings visited and defeated the New Jersey Devils 2-goals-1 to take a 1-game-nil lead in MLB/NBA/NHL best-of-7 playoff series 1169. When leading a best-of-7 NHL playoff series 1-game-nil, the Los Angeles Kings have a 6-5 series record and a 4-7 Game 2 record. When trailing a best-of-7 NHL playoff series 1-game-nil, the New Jersey Devils have a 10-12 series record and a 16-6 Game 2 record. In Game 1 of the 1990 NHL Finals, the visiting Edmonton Oilers scored the opening goal of the 1990 NHL Finals in Boston against the Bruins at 9:46 into the opening period (just 10 seconds before the visiting Los Angeles Kings opened the scoring in the 2012 NHL Finals). New Jersey tied 2012 NHL Finals Game 1 at 18:48 into the second period, and in so doing scored the seventh-latest first home team goal in a best-of-7 NHL Finals Game 1. The winning goal in Game 1 by Los Angeles, at 8:13 into the first overtime period, is the ninth-latest overtime goal in best-of-7 NHL Finals Game 1 history.

Pre-series assessment: In the 2011-12 NHL regular season, the New Jersey Devils finished seven points ahead of the Los Angeles Kings. From 1939 through the 2012 NHL Semifinals round, when NHL teams led their best-of-7 playoff series opponents by seven regular-season points, they have posted a 16-8 (.667) best-of-7 series record in those series against those opponents. MLB/NBA/NHL best-of-7 playoff series 1169 is the 31st best-of-7 playoff series for Los Angeles, and the 43rd for New Jersey. In best-of-7 NHL playoff series, Los Angeles has an 11-19 series record, a 0-1 Finals-round series record, and an 11-19 Game 1 record, while New Jersey has a 25-17 series record, a 3-1 Finals-round series record, and a 20-22 Game 1 record. Series 1169 is the first best-of-7 NHL playoff series meeting between Los Angeles and New Jersey.