The New Jersey Devils bid to win the 2012 NHL Stanley Cup ended in defeat Monday at the hands of the Los Angeles Kings. Here is some of the reaction to the defeat, including Steve Bernier's thoughts on the game-changing five-minute major penalty he took.
2012 Stanley Cup finals -- New Jersey Devils' Steve Bernier must live with infamous hit - ESPN New York
The New Jersey Devils will board a cross-country flight back to Newark, battling the bitter pangs of defeat, but no player will quite understand the devastating effects of the team's season-ending 6-1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings like fourth-line forward Steve Bernier.
Bernier couldn't even bear to watch his team try to climb out of a three-goal hole after the was ejected from Game 6 of the Stanley Cup finals for a hit that will be remembered in team history as one of the costliest ever.
After showering and dressing in an empty locker room, Bernier was left to distinguish the team's ever-growing deficit with each deafening cheer that erupted as the Kings capitalized on L.A.'s five-minute power-play with three goals.
"I didn't watch it. I stayed here, tried to listen to the crowd, but it was very hard, for sure," Bernier said. "I wish I could take that play back."
Devils disappointed in falling short in Finals, but proud of how far they came this season
It was a disappointing, anticlimactic end to what otherwise was a dream season for the Devils.
They went from a team that was tied for the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference at the all-star break to within two wins of the Stanley Cup. In the end, though, falling in the 3-0 series hole against the Kings in the Finals proved to be too much to overcome.
Devils disappointed, but proud - New Jersey Devils - News
As any locker room would be after coming so close to the ultimate prize, the Devils were downtrodden and frustrated after their 6-1 loss to the Kings in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final.
After falling into a 3-0 series hole, the Devils fought back to do what no team had done to the Kings throughout the postseason -- beat them twice in a series. It turned out that early hole was too much to overcome, but looking at the big picture, the Devils saw a silver lining in their season.
"We have to be really proud of what we accomplished," Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur said. "Not just in this series, but in the whole playoffs, the whole year. We took down two of our biggest rivals, with the Flyers and Rangers. We made this a series after losing the first three games. It's definitely disappointing not to go all the way, but it's definitely a great season for the Devils.
Mark in the Morning: Enduring legacy of Devils' Stanley Cup run is effect it had on fans, Newark | NJ.com
My most enduring image of the Devils' run in these Stanley Cup playoffs will not be Steve Bernier crunching Rob Scuderi on the boards, or the glazed look in Martin Brodeur's eyes as the L.A. Kings put a three-goal punctuation mark on their championship season last night after Bernier's penalty.
It will not be one black-shirted King after another, hoisting and kissing the trophy, long after our beaten team left the ice.
What I'll remember most is the street celebration at the corner of Edison Place and Mulberry Street in Newark, minutes after Adam Henrique poked in the overtime goal that gave the Devils the East banner and abruptly ended the season of the New York Rangers.