Five posts: the closest calls from Kings-Rangers intense double OT
A lot of people said the Western Conference Final was the real Stanley Cup Final, but I think we can all rest easy now, knowing that it wasn't. Sure, the intensity level of that series was fitting for a finale, but the ending sure wasn't. Alec Martinez's overtime goal to beat the Blackhawks was a chintzy one, scored on a deflection. Lame goal.
Fortunately, Martinez got another shot at it in the actual Stanley Cup Final and, this time around, he stuck the landing, scoring a clean one on a rebound to give the Kings their second Stanley Cup in three years. There was no question about this one -- it's a goal we'll remember for a long time.
But it was almost someone else. Several times. Game 5's double-overtime was chock-full of almost winners, with more jumps than a horror film, and more posts than, well, this blog. Five, to be exact. Five different players hit the post before Martinez ended the game. Let's round em up:
1. Ryan McDonagh hits the post
On an early OT powerplay, the shot beats Quick cleanly... and rings off the iron. McDonagh's gonna have nightmares about this one. Here it is from the reverse angle:
It puts the "agh" in "McDonagh".
2. Tyler Toffoli hits the post
Next up: Tyler Toffoli. Think of how much more excited he'd have been on the phone with his dad if this shot had gone in. Instead, Toffoli rang it off the crossbar.
Best part of this GIF is Lundqvist, who knows he's been beaten, seizing up in terror after.
3. Jeff Carter off the post
In the opening minute of double overtime, Carter's redirection beats Henrik Lundqvist, but it jumps right into the bar.
4. Rangers hit the post on a powerplay
Dan Girardi unloads from the top of the zone. The puck appears to change direction twice -- once off a King up high, then again off a Ranger down low -- before bouncing past Quick, and hitting the post.
5. Slava Voynov, post come together to rob Rick Nash
Jonathan Quick had no chance on this shot from the perpetually snake-bitten Rick Nash. Unfortunately, Slava Voynov did, just getting enough of the puck to change its course. Instead of finding the back of the net, it finds -- you guessed it -- the iron. Watch it change course slightly as it kisses the corner.
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is the associate editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @HarrisonMooney
