Stanley Cup Final Recap

Stanley Cup Final

New Jersey Devils - 2 @ Arizona Coyotes - 1

• New Jersey wins series 4-2

The New Jersey Devils have won the 2021-22 RHL Stanley Cup. 

The Arizona Coyotes managed to put a little scare in the Devils by taking Games 3 and 4 at home to tie the series after New Jersey jumped out to a 2-0 lead. Incredibly, it was the first time New Jersey lost back-to-back games since games 56 & 57 of the regular season to Philadelphia and Carolina. However, they never wavered and were nearly flawless over the next two games, including the 2-0 series clinching win. 

Now for those who like a bit of trivia, when the question of who scored the goal that won New Jersey the Stanley Cup pops up we'll all know that it was.....Rasmus Asplund? Yes, Rasmus Asplund who clearly saved his best for last as he went the previous 21 games without registering a point.  13 minutes into the first period, in his team's biggest game of the year, he scored the only goal that mattered and the biggest one of his life. 

Aleksander Barkov added an insurance marker for his 8th in the second period.

With the shutout, his third of the postseason, Jacob Markstrom cemented himself as the odds on favourtie to win the Conn Smythe. In 22 games his 1.72 GAA and .935 SP% rank up there with some of the best marks in hockey history. 

Unsurprisingly, Arizona's Jamie Oleksiak took a penalty. A double-minor for slashing to push his total to 39. Oleksiak gonna be Oleksiak. 

THREE STARS

Jacob Markstrom (NJD): 25 saves, shutout
Rasmus Asplund (NJD): 1 goal (GWG), +1, 3 shots, 7:59 TOI
Travis Sanheim (ARI): 2 hits, 1 blocked shot, 5 takeaways, 26:00 TOI