Sport

Kings take commanding 3-0 lead in Stanley Cup final

17:38 pm on 10 June 2014

The Los Angeles Kings moved to the brink of reclaiming ice hockey's Stanley Cup after beating the New York Rangers 3-0 at Madison Square Garden to take a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven NHL finals series.

The Kings, who have done their business the hard way in their playoff run with triple game seven wins on the road and battled back after falling behind by two goals in each of their two wins at home changed the script in their visit to Broadway.

Los Angeles put themselves firmly in the driver's seat with pinpoint shooting and a spectacular performance by goaltender Jonathan Quick.

The winners converted three of their modest 15 shots on goal, while Quick saved all 32 shots from the Rangers, who failed to take advantage of six power play chances.

Now it is the Rangers who must be comeback kings if they are to win their second Cup in 20 years and third since 1940.

Only one team has ever overcome a 3-0 deficit to win the final - the Toronto Maple Leafs, who notched four successive wins to beat the Detroit Red Wings in 1942.