The 8th-seeded ’88-’89 Kings upset the top-seeded ’13-’14 Kings in five games, who were also the reigning representatives. (via youtube.com)

Two goals in the third period from Wayne Gretzky, which completed his hat trick, led the 8th-seeded ’88-’89 Kings to a 5-2 win in Game 1. Goaltender Kelly Hrudey stopped 56 of 58 shots against in the win and he would continue to be very busy all series long. The ’88-’89 Kings took a 2-0 series lead after a 6-3 win in Game 2 after scoring four times in the first period. Gretzky scored one and added three assists for a four-point night to lead the offense while Hrudey made 41 saves. Gretzky then registered his second hat trick of the series in Game 3 as the ’88-’89 Kings won 5-2. Hrudey posted 50 saves while Luc Robitaille and Bernie Nicholls both posted multi-point games. The top-seeded ’13-’14 Kings and the reigning representatives avoided the sweep with a 4-2 win in Game 4. The game was tied 2-2 after two periods, but Marian Gaborik made it 3-2 late in the third before the top seed added an empty-netter. In the loss, Hrudey still made 55 saves. Remarkable. Then, in Game 5, John Tonelli began the scoring just over a minute into the game for the ’88-’89 Kings and then finished it with a goal in the middle of the third to seal a 4-2 win. With that, there will be a new representative for the Los Angeles Kings in the 2015 Ultimate NHL Playoff.

GAME 1:

GAME SUMMARY:  ’88-’89 LAK – 5   ’13-’14 LAK – 2   (1-0   ’88-’89 LAK)

STARS OF THE GAME:

1st Star: C – Wayne Gretzky (’88-’89 LAK) – 3 G   0 A   3 P   +3   6 S

2nd Star: G – Kelly Hrudey (’88-’89 LAK) – W   2.00 GAA   .966 SV% (56 SV’s)

3rd Star: RW – Dave Taylor (’88-’89 LAK) – 0 G   2 A   2 P   +3   2 S

GAME 2:

GAME SUMMARY:  ’88-’89 LAK – 6   ’13-’14 LAK – 3   (2-0   ’88-’89 LAK)

STARS OF THE GAME:

1st Star: C – Wayne Gretzky (’88-’89 LAK) – 1 G   3 A   4 P   +2   7 S

2nd Star: LW – Luc Robitaille (’88-’89 LAK) – 2 G   1 A   3 P   +2   2 S

3rd Star: D – Dale DeGray (’88-’89 LAK) – 1 G   2 A   3 P   +2   1 S

GAME 3:

GAME SUMMARY:  ’88-’89 LAK – 5   ’13-’14 LAK – 2   (3-0   ’88-’89 LAK)

STARS OF THE GAME:

1st Star: C – Wayne Gretzky (’88-’89 LAK) – 3 G   0 A   3 P   +2   6 S

2nd Star: G – Kelly Hrudey (’88-’89 LAK) – W   2.00 GAA   .962 SV% (50 SV’s)

3rd Star: LW – Luc Robitaille (’88-’89 LAK) – 1 G   1 A   2 P   +3   3 S   2 PIM

GAME 4:

GAME SUMMARY:  ’13-’14 LAK – 4   ’88-’89 LAK – 2   (3-1   ’88-’89 LAK)

STARS OF THE GAME:

1st Star: D – Drew Doughty (’13-’14 LAK) – 1 G   2 A   3 P   +2   11 S

2nd Star: G – Kelly Hrudey (’88-’89 LAK) – L   3.00 GAA   .948 SV% (55 SV’s)

3rd Star: C – Mike Richards (LOL) (’13-’14 LAK) – 1 G   1 A   2 P   +2   5 S

GAME 5:

GAME SUMMARY:  ’88-’89 LAK – 4   ’13-’14 LAK – 2   (4-1   ’88-’89 LAK)

STARS OF THE GAME:

1st Star: LW – John Tonelli (’88-’89 LAK) – 2 G   1 A   3 P   +3   3 S   2 PIM

2nd Star: G – Kelly Hrudey (’88-’89 LAK) – W   2.00 GAA   .963 SV% (52 SV’s)

3rd Star: C – Bernie Nicholls (’88-’89 LAK) – 0 G   2 A   2 P   +3   10 S   2 PIM

Up next in the 4-5 matchup between the ’12-’13 Kings and the ’00-’01 Kings!