Fun Facts: The NY vs. LA Edition

Our Stanley Cup Final matchup is finally set.  It's the Rangers vs. the Kings.  It almost happened two years ago, and this year we've got it.  I would've preferred Rangers-Blackhawks for a  couple of reasons, not least of which that it would've been two Original Six teams for the second straight year (that, and it would've been the two best goal songs in hockey).  The official prediction is coming tomorrow (as if there's any doubt who I'm picking to win this series).

But first, let's revel in this unique series between New York and LA.  Unless you count the Devils-Kings Stanley Cup Final two years ago (or the Devils-Ducks series in 2003), this is the first time the two biggest cities in the U.S. are meeting in the championship series in any of the four major sports since the Yankees played the Dodgers in the 1981 World Series.  (The funny thing is the Rangers and Kings actually played in the 1981 Stanley Cup playoffs, so this isn't the first time they're meeting in the postseason.)  So, that should be enough proof right there to shut up the "They play in major markets and can just buy their teams" people.

Anyway, on to the fun facts...

• Kenny Albert's an animal.  He called all 13 games of the conference finals.  He did the West on TV, and he's also the Rangers radio guy.  So, he was going back-and-forth between New York, Montreal, LA and Chicago every night for two weeks.  That's just nuts.  (Just found out Kenny's going to do Game 1 on NBC instead of Doc Emrick, who'll miss the game due to a death in the family.)
• The Kings have played the maximum 21 games over the first three rounds of the playoffs.  They're the first team to get to the Final after playing three Game 7's in the first three rounds.  And the Rangers' 20 games over the first three rounds are the second-most in history for a Stanley Cup finalist.  They're the first two teams ever to survive Game 7's in each of the first two rounds and get to the Final.
• Speaking of Game 7, there's been seven in the 14 series that have been played.  Out of a 98 possible games over the first three rounds, 88 have been played, including 23 that went to overtime.  The only series that didn't have at least one overtime game was the Rangers-Flyers series in the first round.
• The last time the Rangers were in the Final, obviously, was 1994.  That's also the last time the NHL changed the playoff format prior to this season.
• This is another one that's obvious, but it's the first time that the two teams meeting for the Stanley Cup both played outdoor games during the season.  That's, of course, thanks to the creation of the Stadium Series.
• I read an article in the paper today about that incredible Spring of 1994, when the Garden was buzzing and Knicks and Rangers were both in the Finals.  Two teams that share an arena have never won both the NBA and NHL titles in the same season.  In fact, the last time two teams that share an arena were in both the NBA and Stanley Cup Finals in the same season, the Devils and Nets both made it in 2003.  (That's not at all relevant to this series, I just found it interesting.)
• Here's the relevant one about arena-sharers: It's the second straight season and third time in five years that both teams in the Stanley Cup Final share their arena with an NBA team (or, in the Kings' case, two NBA teams).  In the NBA, meanwhile, thanks to the Heat, it hasn't happened since Lakers-Celtics in 2010.
• Along those same lines, the Super Bowl was played in New York (yes, I know, it was technically in New Jersey) in February.  In 1993, the Super Bowl was in the Rose Bowl and the Kings ended up in the Stanley Cup Final.  That's the only other time the Super Bowl and Stanley Cup Final have been played in the same city in the same calendar year.
• The Rangers have been without a captain since trading Ryan Callahan to the Lightning at the deadline.  They're the first captain-less team to play for the Cup since the 1972-73 Blackhawks.
• The Kings, who won all three of their Game 7's on the road, overcame a 3-0 deficit against the Sharks in the first round (although I still contend that San Jose lost that series more than LA won it, but I digress).  They're the fifth team in history (and the fourth in the NHL) to win a series after trailing 3-0.  The last to do it was the 2010 Flyers, who rode their comeback over the Bruins all the way to the Final, where they lost to the Blackhawks.
• Just like two years ago, the Kings didn't have home ice in any of their three Western Conference playoff series.  But they will in the Stanley Cup Final, which is their 11th playoff series over the past three seasons.  In those 11 series, the Kings have had home ice a grand total of twice, this one and last year's second round against San Jose.  This is the third time the Kings have made the Final, and the first time they've ever had home ice advantage in any round in a year they played for the Cup.
• Both goalies were their nation's starter during the Olympics--Jonathan Quick for the United States and Henrik Lundqvist for Sweden.  This year marked the fifth time that the NHL has sent its players to the Olympics, but it's just the second time two goalies played in both the Olympics and Stanley Cup Final in the same year.  The other was the Red Wings' Dominik Hasek (Czech Republic) and the Hurricanes' Arturs Irbe (Latvia) in 2002.  (It's the first Final meeting of Olympic medalist goalies since Quick and Martin Brodeur in 2012.)
• Lastly, we'll take a look at the two cities, Media Market No. 1 and Media Market No. 2.  Teams with "New York" in their name (no Devils, no New Jersey Nets), are 3-0 in championship series/games since the Yankees lost the 2003 World Series.  Teams from LA/Anaheim are 5-1 in finals since the Ducks' Cup run in 2007, with the 2007-08 Lakers contributing the only loss.  Since 2000, the New York teams are 4-2 (6-6 counting the Devils and Nets), the LA/Anaheim teams are 8-3 in the championship round of their respective sports.