NHL fans have witnessed two games where the New York Rangers have jumped out to an early lead only to see that advantage dissipate in the final period. As a result, the Los Angeles Kings hold a 2-0 advantage while not leading a second of regulation in the series.
With Game 3 getting underway on Tuesday night, the Rangers have a chance to regain some momentum after falling behind. But following two monumental collapses on the road, New York needs to win both games on home ice to avoid allowing the Kings to potentially take the series in Game 5 at home.
Before the third matchup officially gets underway, let's take a look at the players that will need to lead the way during the rest of the series.
Justin Williams, RW, Los Angeles Kings
During his career, Justin Williams has never been the star of a team. Whether he was with the Philadelphia Flyers, Carolina Hurricanes or the Kings, the 32-year-old has always been a great role player on good teams.
Now, with the Kings needing a player to step up, Williams has done just that during the postseason. Greg Wyshynski of Yahoo Sports points out just how special Williams' series has been:
Williams has 23 points in 23 games. He doesn’t lead the Kings in goals or points for the postseason, but it’s clear he’s their biggest impact offensive player at this point. He has 12 points in his last eight games, including three assists in Game 2. He’s also a plus-13. As of right now, he’s the MVP.
Scoring a game-winning goal in overtime in the opener might have been a huge moment for most players, but Williams has made a career out of coming up big in those situations.
Mark Armstrong of WTVD in Raleigh, who covered Williams with the Hurricanes, provides his thoughts on the...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Kings
