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NHL Playoffs 2016: 5 reasons Los Angeles Kings can win Stanley Cup

By Dave Stevenson

Jun 13, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; The Los Angeles Kings mascot Bailey hoists the Stanley Cup after defeating the New York Rangers in second overtime during game five of the 2014 Stanley Cup Final at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 13, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; The Los Angeles Kings mascot Bailey hoists the Stanley Cup after defeating the New York Rangers in second overtime during game five of the 2014 Stanley Cup Final at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Jonathan Quick

A huge reason that the Kings have won two Stanley Cups since 2011 has been the outstanding play of goaltender Jonathan Quick in the postseason. He isn’t the best goalie in the regular season, but it’s hard to argue with his playoff resume. Quick has a .916 save percentage in the regular season. Over 76 playoff games (a little more than a full season when one considers that goalies don’t play every game in the regular season), he has a .923 save percentage.

Quick is a big game goalie. When the pressure is the highest, that’s when Jonathan Quick plays his best hockey. He had a .946 save percentage during the 2011-2012 Stanley Cup run. While his .911 save percentage during the 2013-2014 Stanley Cup run looks bad on paper, he was much better after the first round series against the Sharks. Quick allowed 17 goals in the first three games of that series and allowed 52 goals in the next 23 games of the playoffs.

He has been especially excellent during elimination games. During the 2013-2014 playoffs, the Kings faced seven elimination games. Quick allowed just 12 goals in those seven elimination games (and four of those were in the epic game seven of the Western Conference Finals). Jonathan Quick in net is why Los Angeles will always have a great chance of winning the Stanley Cup.

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