Alec Martinez scored at 5:47 of overtime, and the Los Angeles Kings beat the Chicago Blackhawks 5-4 in Game 7 of the Western Conference final Sunday night.
Martinez's shot went off Blackhawks defenceman Nick Leddy and over goalie Corey Crawford, stunning the sellout crowd at the United Center and leading to a wild on-ice celebration for Los Angeles. Leddy was disconsolate as the Kings gathered in a big huddle along the boards.
The Kings will now face the New York Rangers in the Stanley Cup final. Game 1 begins in Los Angeles on Wednesday, with Hockey Night in Canada coverage on CBC-TV and CBCSports.ca at 7:30 p.m. ET.
The Kings have now passed three straight seven-game tests en route to the final series. Los Angeles improved to 7-0 in elimination games with its third Game 7 win on the road this post-season.
Justin Williams and Tyler Toffoli each had a goal and an assist for the Kings, who once held a 3-1 lead in the series, only to have the defending champion Blackhawks come back to force Game 7. Marian Gaborik had the tying score midway through the third period.
Patrick Sharp scored two goals for the Blackhawks, who blew a 2-0 lead on home ice Sunday. Brandon Saad had a goal and an assist, and Patrick Kane had two more assists.
Los Angeles can win the championship for the second time in three seasons, while New York is looking for their first Cup win since the 1994 championship season.
The Kings and Rangers have met just twice in the playoffs, and not since 1981.
Chicago was looking to become the first team in 16 years to win consecutive Stanley Cups.
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