245 days ago, the Los Angeles Kings and New York Rangers began their quest for one of the most prestigious trophies in professional sports: Lord Stanley’s Cup. Here’s how each team made it to the championship round.

Los Angeles Kings

Regular season: 46-26-8, 3rd in Pacific Division

Playoffs: Defeated San Jose, Anaheim, & Chicago

The Kings captured the Western Conference title by winning three Game 7s, all on the road. Their leading scorer this postseason is Marian Gaborik, who arrived in Los Angeles just three months ago at the trade deadline. Los Angeles will be seeking their second Stanley Cup in three years, and return many key components from that squad, including goaltender Jonathan Quick, who won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2012 as playoff MVP. The Kings have had an up-and-down postseason so far in 2014, coming back from three games down to the Sharks, and almost throwing away a 3-1 series lead to the defending champion Blackhawks. But Alec Martinez’s game-winning overtime goal has the Kings back in the Final, looking for their second Stanley Cup triumph in franchise history.

New York Rangers

Regular season: 43-32-7, 2nd in Metropolitan Division

Playoffs: Defeated Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, & Montreal

New York has qualified for their first Final since winning the Stanley Cup in 1994. Their main on-ice performer in the postseason, Martin St. Louis, won the Stanley Cup in 2004 with Tampa Bay, and like Gaborik, switched teams at the trade deadline. The Rangers will play the first three games of this series without Daniel Carcillo, whose suspension was shortened enough that he will be eligible for Game 4. Like Los Angeles, New York has an experienced goaltender in Henrik Lundqvist, who may not have a Stanley Cup, but won a gold medal with Sweden at the 2006 Turin Olympics. The Rangers have also overcome adversity this postseason, erasing a 3-1 series deficit against Pittsburgh to win in seven games. They are seeking their fifth Stanley Cup in team history.

Fun Facts

-Los Angeles won three Game 7s on the road this postseason, but they would host Game 7 in the Cup Final.

-Kings head coach Darryl Sutter is 1-1 in Cup Finals (lost in 2004 with Calgary, won in 2012 with Los Angeles); Rangers coach Alain Vigneault is 0-1 (lost in 2011 with Vancouver).

-A Canadian team has not won the Stanley Cup in 21 years, since Montreal in 1993. The last team from Canada to make the Final was Vancouver in 2011.

Who do you think will win the Stanley Cup?