Los Angeles Kings defenseman Alec Martinez scored the Stanley Cup winning goal at the 14:43 mark of double overtime. It was the second consecutive series clinching overtime goal of this years playoffs. His first was in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals when his goal clinched the series over the Chicago Blackhawks.
Kings coach, Darryl Sutter said that Martinez’s knack for scoring overtime winning goals reminded him of Martin Gelinas. Gelinas scored two game winning overtime goals for the Calgary Flames in the 2004 Cup run that was coached by Sutter.
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Martinez describes his feeling after the winning goal, “I blacked out,” Martinez said after Game 5. “I don’t really remember. I think I threw my gear. I don’t know. I just remember everyone coming at me and I couldn’t breathe.”
The game winning goal was an amazing play by the Kings. “It was just a loose puck in our own end,” Martinez said. “I just wanted to get it up into the forwards’ hands, let them do their thing. I’m not sure who was the net drive, but Toffoli made a great play shooting far pad. I was just fortunate for it to come on my stick and able to put it in, but it was a great play by them. Something like that happens so fast, you just try to get a stick on it and get it on net.”
Scoring the Stanley Cup Game winning goal is something that every kid dreams off. Martinez made his dream come true. “I was just at the right place at the right time,” Martinez said. “Toffoli made a great play shooting far pad, and I was able to put it in. It’s not about me or the goal. It’s about the L.A. Kings and the guys in that room. We did something special. We knew we were a good team. Now we know we’re a great team.”
Martinez has a bright NHL future ahead of him, but scoring this goal to win the Stanley Cup will go down as his career highlight.
Brad Burud the owner/editor of the Inside Edge Hockey News. I am a huge fan of hockey, from youth hockey, to junior hockey, and of course professional hockey. I have played, coached, worked as statistician, and watched hockey all of my life. Hockey is not just a game, it is a lifestyle and family. The game of hockey is great! It can bring you nights of great enjoyment. It also brings nights where you feel like your team will never win. I am proud to be a journalist for the greatest game in the world. I have a degree in Business Administration, Psychology from Minot State University. I also have a Hockey General Manager and Scouting, and Sports Communications/Journalism degree from Sports Management Worldwide. I am also a member of the Sports Executives Association. Most of all I am a fan. Hockey is a huge part of my life and my families life.