Justin Williams Defines the Word Clutch
Justin Williams led the Los Angeles Kings to their second Stanley Cup title in the past three seasons on Friday night when the Kings defeated the New York Rangers 3-2 in Game 5.
Williams now has won three Stanley Cups in his career and a Conn Smythe Trophy.
Williams said he could not believe he won the Conn Smythe Trophy but his numbers show he earned it. Williams finished the playoffs with 25 points in the Kings 26 postseason games. He was one shy of Anze Kopitar his teammate, who led the NHL in postseason points.
He played strong during the Stanley Cup finals scoring seven points in the five games, which was more than any other player on either team.
In Game 1, Williams scored the winner in overtime. In Game 2, he added three assists. In the three Game 7s the Kings played during the postseason, Williams scored 2 goals and added 3 assists.
He has disproved or is in the process of disproving the theory that the word clutch does not belong in hockey. He is actually defining the word as he goes along.
In the final game, Williams opened th
e scoring for Los Angeles and that helped separate him from teammate Drew Doughty in the Conn Smythe race.
During the tight game, Williams kept pushing as he led the game in shots on goal with eight, which was double that of the most by a Rangers’ player.
With Williams on the ice in the finals, the Kings controlled 71% of the even strength show attempts, a truly remarkable percentage.
Rob Blake the current assistant GM for the Kings and a former defenseman for the team said Williams is one of the game’s all time clutch performers.
Blake said many guys play it safe, while Williams has a mentality of wanting to be the guy that wins the game or at least helps to win it.
Dean Lombardi the GM for Los Angeles has been familiar with Williams since the players’ days in junior hockey when he scored 37 goals in one season.
Lombardi was in the Philadelphia Flyers organization when Williams played for the team. Lombardi called Williams a very special human being.
It was evident this teammates feel the same way. The reaction of the players when he was awarded the Conn Smythe said everything.
Dustin Brown the captain of the Kings was asked the first thing he said to Williams following the announcement Williams had won the trophy.
After choking back emotion, Brown cold barely speak but said I love him and that is what it is all about. Going out and battling with another 20 teammates that would do anything and everything for you. Brown added that is what made the team special because we really are a team.
Williams’ parents said the text messages rolled in as soon as the team won the finals and even more so once Justin was named the Conn Smythe winner.
Despite being part of a trade twice and suffering injuries that slowed his career down during his late 20s, this is the season the hockey world gained a great appreciation for the talent Justin William possesses.
Now he hopes he can help the team winner another next season.
