The Devils' run here has been unexpected but sweet. They came in as a six-seed, were taken to seven games by Florida in the first round but then found their stride in dispatching Philadelphia in five and the Rangers in six.
Now the Devils are looking for their fourth Stanley Cup since 1995, in their fifth finals appearance. It may allow Martin Brodeur to walk off into the sunset a champion.
The Kings have taken even more people by surprise. They are looking to become the first eight-seed to win it all. They have defeated the West's top three seeds to get to tonight.
It will be Brodeur and Jonathan Quick in net at the Prudential Center.
FIRST PERIOD
Marek ZIdlicky gives the puck away behind the net and the Kings send it up front for a one-timer that Brodeur makes a quick save on.
Just over five minutes, Ryan Carter steals it in the neutral zone but the Devils are called for an offside before their rush can materialize.
Quick makes a save on a shot Dainius Zubrus sends to the net, 6:04 in, and then Travis Zajac and Willie Mitchell have to be separated in front of the net.
Brodeur makes a save on Mitchell slap shot from the blue line but gets up shaking his head, wondering where the puck was.
The Kings score the first goal of the finals. They take a 1-0 lead, 9:56 in, as Jordan Nolan's pass from behind the net sets up defenseman Colin Fraser for a one-timer.
On the other end, David Clarkson waits long enough to get Quick on the ice but misses high.
Brodeur makes a save on Dustin Brown, then takes a bump from Brown that sends him to the ice and Brown to the penalty box with 7:41 remaining.
Zajac's shot from the slot is stopped by Quick and then another save on Zidlicky's shot from the point.
Off the faceoff in the Kings' zone with 2:22 remaining, Quick makes a save on Salvador's shot then Clarkson's attempt on the rebound deflected wide.
Kings kill off the penalty.
At the end of the first, Kings lead 1-0 and the teams are tied 5-5 in shots.
SECOND PERIOD
Devils break up Brown's centering pass for Anze Kopitar.
Devils still without a shot 5:30 into the period, Kings with two.
Brodeur makes a save on Justin WIlliams' fluttering shot from the blue line. Devils still without a shot eight minutes in.
Ryan Carter goes down hard to the ice and into the boards after being taken down by Jarret Stoll, which earns the Devils a power play 8:31 into the period after he takes a tripping penalty.
Kings kill off the power play.
Devils still without a shot with 8:17 remaining.
Brodeur makes save on Jeff Carter and on the rush the other way Adam Henrique's shot goes wide.
Zubrus goes to the box for holding with 6:37 remaining and the Kings go on the power play. Devils still without a shot this period.
The Devils finally get a shot on goal, with 5:30 remaining, though it was actually Parise losing control of the puck and it slid to Quick.
Quick makes a glove save on Zubrus, coming out of the box, who tries to go high but rebuffed with 4:30 left.
With two minutes to go, Parise and Quick get entangled but no call.
The Devils tie it up at 1-1 with 1:12 remaining. After Elias's centering pass after a wrap around rolls around the boards to Anton Volchenkov, the defenseman shoots, Quick makes the save, but the rebound bounces off of a King in front and in.
UPDATE: Goal has been awarded to Volchenkov. Elias with the assist.
With two periods in the books, the Devils and Kings are tied 1-1. Kings lead in shots 14-9.
THIRD PERIOD
Devisl come out more energetic this period, already with three shots on goal in the first 3:50 of the period, including a wrister from Zubrus from the left faceoff circle.
A panel of glass in the Devils' zone has to be replaced so a small break in the action, 3:50 in.
Off the faceoff, Fayne's shot from the point is blocked and the puck gets to the front of the net to Parise but Quick makes the save, Zubrus flies in but can't knock it in as it hits the post and then Parise pushes past the goal line with his hand. The officials review the play and don't rule it a goal.
Quick makes a save on Carter, 6:21 in, and covers up.
Brodeur stones Nolan on the wraparound and again as he tried to slap the puck past him, 8:21 into the period.
Midway through the period, the Devils get an odd man rush. Quick makes the initial save on Carter's slap shot and the rebound flies to the far side but Fayne can't knock it into the empty half of the net, shooting it wide.
Brodeur robs Drew Doughty with 7:30 remaining, stacking the pads to make a save on him from the slot.
Devils take a timeout with 2:02 remaining.
Brodeur makes a save on Richards' shot from straight ahead with 1:08 left.
Quick with a glove save on Clarkson's slap shot with 28.8 seconds left.
Kings and Devils tied 1-1 at the end of regulation. Kings with 22 shots, Devils with 16.
OVERTIME
This is the first Stanley Cup Finals Game 1 to head to OT since 2002, between the Hurricanes and Red Wings. Detroit, playing at home, won 3-2 just 58 seconds in.
Quick makes a save on Salvador, two minutes in.
Kovalchuk's centering pass for Ponikarovsky goes through, almost five minutes into the period.
Devils get a few chances on Quick, only one lands on net though as he saves Henrique's wraparound backhand, six minutes in.
Anze Kopitar ends it, scoring on Brodeur on a breakaway, 8:13 in. Kings take Game 1, 2-1.