The Los Angeles Kings remain a win away from advancing to the Stanley Cup finals entering Game ?5 of Western Conference finals at Phoenix on Tuesday. They could become the fifth team seeded seventh or eighth to reach the finals — and likely the best. 5. 2006 Edmonton Oilers » Any No. 8 seed needs great goaltending to make it through the Stanley Cup playoffs. Dwayne Roloson gave the Oilers that but was injured in Game 1 of Stanley Cup finals. The Oilers lost in seven games to Carolina.
4. 2003 Anaheim Ducks » Anaheim used the brilliant goaltending of Jean-Sebastien Giguere to upset No. 2 Detroit and No. 1 Dallas. Then the Ducks caught a break when No.?6 Minnesota made it to the conference finals. They swept the Wild before losing to New Jersey.
3. 1999 Buffalo Sabres » One of the best goalies ever, Dominik Hasek, carried the Sabres within two wins of a title. In the finals, Buffalo lost Game 6 on a controversial overtime goal with Dallas’ Brett Hull in the crease.
2. 1994 Vancouver Canucks » The offense was led by Pavel Bure (60 goals). But it all came together in the postseason behind goalie Kirk McLean. Vancouver came back from 3-1 down vs. Calgary in the first round but ran into the New York Rangers in the Cup finals, falling in seven games.
1. 2012 Los Angeles Kings » A No. 8 seed that was two points away from winning the Pacific Division, the Kings were terrible before coach Terry Murray was fired in December. But goalie Jonathan Quick became a star, and the addition of center Jeff Carter paid huge dividends.
– Brian McNally
