VIDEO: Defining Moments On Rangers’, Kings’ Road To Stanley Cup Final

The New York Rangers and Los Angeles Kings will square off in a seven-game playoff series for the first time when they play Game 1 of the 2014 Stanley Cup Final on Wednesday.

Both teams traveled a long and difficult road en route to the Cup Final.

Los Angeles played 21 of a possible 21 games and needed to win three Game 7s on the road to win its third Western Conference title in team history. New York played 20 of a possible 21 games and overcame a 3-1 series deficit against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Round 2.

Check out the defining moments of the Rangers’ and Kings’ playoff runs through three rounds in the videos below.

Round 1 

Kings vs. Sharks

After forcing a Game 7 despite at one point trailing 3-0 in the series, the Kings fell behind 1-0 in the first period when Matt Irwin opened the scoring for San Jose. A little more than four minutes later, Drew Doughty evened the score with a power-play goal. LA scored the next four goals to become the fourth team in league history to overcome a 3-0 deficit and win a series.

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Rangers vs. Flyers

The Rangers held a slim 1-0 lead over the Flyers in Game 7 when Benoit Pouliot doubled his team’s advantage with a second-period goal. It ended up being the winning goal as Philadelphia later trimmed the New York lead to 2-1 with a third-period tally from Jason Akeson.

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Round 2

Kings vs. Ducks

The Kings were down 2-1 in the final minute of Game 1 in Anaheim when Marian Gaborik scored with seven seconds left in regulation to force overtime. He also scored the game-winner with 7:53 remaining in the extra period.

Rangers vs. Penguins

Martin St. Louis has played with a heavy heart this postseason. His mother, France St. Louis, passed away unexpectedly at age 63 during Round 2. With his father and sister in attendance for Game 6 on Mother’s Day, St. Louis opened the scoring at Madison Square Garden and helped New York force a Game 7.

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Round 3

Kings vs. Blackhawks

With the Kings trailing the Blackhawks 2-1 in Game 2 at the United Center, Jonathan Quick made a brilliant save to deny Blackhawks D-man Brent Seabrook on a Grade A scoring chance. If Seabrook scores, Chicago likely takes a 2-0 series lead and the chances of a Los Angeles comeback would have been slim.

Rangers vs. Canadiens

Martin St. Louis’ overtime goal in Game 4 gave the Rangers a commanding 3-1 series lead, but it was Henrik Lundqvist’s sensational blocker save that robbed Canadiens winger Thomas Vanek in Game 6 that networks will be replaying for years.