Top Line: No lead? No problem for L.A. Kings; Will Ferrell trolls NYC; more links

Author:
amuir29
Publish date:
Jun 8, 2014

Jonathan Quick (32) and Alec Martinez helped the Kings complete another comeback in Game 2. (Robert Beck/SI)

An annotated guide to this morning's must-read hockey stories:

• The Los Angeles Kings are like some rare species of skating, shooting cockroaches. Smack them, spray them, try to crush them against the wall, and they just slither away. Maybe not the way a hockey team wants to be thought of, but the Kings have embraced the nickname.

• Somehow, the Los Angeles Kings are up 2-0 in the Stanley Cup Final despite not holding a lead for one second during those two games. Go back to Game 7 of the Chicago series and that's three straight wins without a moment of lead time.

• Ryan McDonagh was an absolute beast for the Rangers through the first 40 minutes...and then it all fell apart for him.

• Henrik Lundqvist was fuming when goaltender interference wasn't called on the play that led to Dwight King's third-period marker. From this seat, he had every right to be angry...but that's not what cost the Rangers the game. They still had a 4-3 lead at that point and had plenty of opportunities to finish the Kings off, including a pair for Chris Kreider in OT. They didn't get the job done and have no one to blame but themselves for being in this spot.

• Since there seems to be a lot of confusion about what does, and doesn't, constitute goaltender interference here is the applicable section in the NHL's rulebook. And no, it is not subject to video review.

• The Rangers gave the A-game that Alain Vigneault demanded in Game 2 and it wasn't quite enough. So now what?

• Damien Cox writes that this rollicking, unpredictable Final is NHL hockey at its best. If it was this good every night, we wouldn't know what to do with ourselves.

• Here's Will Ferrell trolling Rangers fans in midtown Manhattan. Genius.

• You never know when Elliotte Friedman will have 30 thoughts pop into his head. His latest compilation popped up last night, with his takes on possible trades involving Joe Thornton, Ryan Kesler and a wild notion about what could happen with the first-overall pick in the draft. Great, thoughtful stuff, as always.

• Are the Red Wings looking to poach this player off Boston's roster?

• The coaching search for the Carolina Hurricanes is about to enter its second month, and that's just fine by new GM Ron Francis. The team has interviewed several candidates but is thought to be holding out to talk to at least one who is currently busy helping his team in the Stanley Cup Final.

• He might not want to wait around too long. His former boss Jim Rutherford is said eying some of the same candidates for the open job in Pittsburgh.

• Changes in the market mean free agency isn't the candy store it used to be for NHL GMs looking to sweeten up their teams.

• And finally, this from the World Inline Hockey Championship, where Team Great Britain's coach couldn't make the post-game interview...so he sent his 13-year-old son in his place. Stick through player interview for the gold:

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_tEB4Z_wQU]