LA Kings v New Jersey Devils: the road to the Stanley Cup 2012 finals - in pictures

The Vancouver Canucks came with high hopes as the Presidents' Cup winners and last year's Stanley Cup finalists. They were swiftly dispatched by an eighth-seeded LA Kings side that few had seen coming Photograph: Danny Moloshock/Reuters Photograph: DANNY MOLOSHOK/REUTERS The first round of the playoffs was marked by some brutal hits, fights and then more fights . Here Chicago Blackhawks' Marian Hossa is checked by Phoenix Coyotes' Raffi Torres. Hossa was taken from the ice on stretcher. The Coyotes won the series Photograph: Jim Young/Reuters An extraordinary series between fierce rivals the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Philadelphia Flyers saw see-saw tussles, goals galore and even a fight between star players Sidney Crosby and Claude Giroux. The Flyers won the series 4-1 Photograph: Tim Shaffer/Reuters The Boston Bruins, the Stanley Cup holders, battled through seven games against the Washington Capitals and superstar Alex Ovechkin before being dumped out of the playoffs Photograph: Jessica Rinaldi/Reuters More than just hockey, the New York Rangers versus the Washington Capitals became a series for political bragging rights as Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird made a wager which would involve the loser wearing the other's jersey. The former First Lady won that one - in seven Photograph: J Scott Applewhite/AP Photograph: J. Scott Applewhite/AP The politicians may have been enjoying some gentle banter, but on the ice the early stages of the Ottawa Senators vs. New York Rangers series were brutal. It took the Rangers seven games to advance too Photograph: Ray Stubblebine/Reuters New Jersey Devils' Ilya Kovalchuk scores against Florida Panthers goalie Scott Clemmensen in what turned into an unexpectedly epic series Photograph: Ray Stubblebine/Reuters New Jersey goalie Martin Brodeur can finally smile after the Devils defeated the Florida Panthers in double overtime in Game 7 Photograph: Rhona Wise/Reuters The St. Louis Blues gave their fans high hopes with a smooth series victory over the San Jose Sharks. Here Vladimir Sobotka goes flying into the goal over Sharks goalie Antti Niemi. The Blues were to meet stiffer opposition in the next round though... Photograph: Jeff Roberson/AP The Los Angeles Kings swept aside the St. Louis Blues 4-0 in the conference semi-finals. And goalie Jonathan Quick – here stopping a shot by Alex Pietrangelo – was a key factor Photograph: Mark J Terrill/AP Photograph: Mark J. Terrill/AP After their heated battle with the Penguins, the Philadelphia Flyers found the New Jersey Devils too hot to handle Photograph: Matt Slocum/AP Where were they during the regular season? Phoenix Coyotes fans cheer on their team as they head to the Western Conference finals with victory against the Nashville Predators Photograph: Darryl Webb/Reuters New York's Brad Richards celebrates Michael del Zotto's third-period goal past Washington's goalie Braden Holtby and the Rangers finally dispose of the Capitals in another Game 7 Photograph: Kathy Willens/AP The LA Kings are going to the Stanley Cup finals! The team celebrates overtime victory over the Coyotes in game five Photograph: Todd Korol/Reuters The Devils and the Rangers fought a feisty eastern conference finals packed with drama, goals and fracas before the Devils finally took the series. Here Mike Rupp of the NY Rangers and New Jersey's Anton Volchenkov square up as Marty Brodeur looks on Photograph: Ray Stubblebine/Reuters