n Game 3. That doesn't mean Tallinder isn't champing at the bit to get back in the lineup."It's his call," Tallinder said. "The only words we've spoken is,Zach Parise Authentic Jersey, 'Be ready, anything can happen and I'm comfortable putting you in there.' That's what he said. That's all I can comment."Perhaps if the Devils fall into a 3-0 hole, changes will happen. But for now, DeBoer seems to believe he has the group that can win four of the next five games.Follow Dave Lozo on Twitter: @DaveLozo
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. - The seed was planted in Drew Doughty's mind long before he got this close to the summit.As a kid who grew up worshipping the Los Angeles Kings, the slick defenceman always envisioned himself helping lead the organization to a Stanley Cup. In fact,Mark Messier Authentic Jersey, general manager Dean Lombardi made it clear that was part of his expectation when he selected Doughty second overall in 2008."Before I was even drafted I had a ton of meetings with the L.A. Kings staff," Doughty recalled Sunday at the Kings practice facility. "Every single one of those meetings, Dean always brought it up to me: `Are you going to be that guy to help us win that first Stanley Cup in franchise history?'"My answer was always 'Yes."'The Kings are oh-so-close to making it a reality.With a pair of 2-1 overtime victories over the New Jersey Devils to open the championship series, Los Angeles flew back across the continent with an opportunity to wrap it up at Staples Center. This is bordering on fantasyland stuff for Doughty, who grew up in London,Martin Brodeur Authentic Jersey, Ont., as a Kings fanatic and owned small black-and-silver replica sweaters bearing the names "Gretzky" and "Hrudey."Those two men were key players in the Kings only other previous trip to the Stanley Cup final, which ended with a five-game loss to Montreal in 1993.The current group has gone further than any team in the franchise's 44-year history, having won 14 games this post-season. Doughty's contributions have been impossible to ignore throughout the playoffs and he's taken it to another level at the most important time �� logging a team-high 32 minutes of ice time in Game 2 and scoring a highlight-reel goal to boot."I'm having a lot of fun right now," said Doughty. "This is the biggest time of the year. I know in order for our team to be successful, I've got to be the best defenceman on the ice every night."Even though I put that pressure on myself, I'm having fun. I think that's when I'm at my best."Of course, this has been anything but a fairytale season. A contract dispute kept Doughty out of training camp �� the US$56-million, eight-year deal he eventually signed made him the NHL's third highest-paid defenceman �� and some predictable early-season struggles were compounded by a shoulder injury.But the 2010 Canadian Olympian eventually regained the form that made him a Norris Trophy finalist in his second NHL season and credits coach Darryl Sutter, who replaced Terry Murray in December, for helping get him back on track.The Kings are thankful he did."He's unique," teammate Mike Richards said of Doughty. "