Kings’ victory has L.A. celebrating; parade Monday

In honor of the Kings winning the NHL championship, Los Angeles is planning a big celebration in downtown Monday.

A team parade is set for noon. It will begin at Figueroa and 5th streets and end at Staples Center.

On Friday night, crowds at Staples Center partied with few problems, police said.

When Alec Martinez found the back of the net in the second overtime, lifting the Kings to a 3-2 win and the Stanley Cup, thousands of fans erupted in jubilation.

A chant of “We got the Cup!” rose. Fireworks were set off. Crowds were surfed and mosh pits formed among those crowded into L.A. Live.

“It was awesome,” said Jonathan Arriaza, 26, of Pomona. “Both teams were tired, both were frustrated, both goalies were great. It was just awesome.”

The game kept fans on edge all night, as the Kings jumped out to a 1-0 lead before the Rangers scored twice late in the second period to take a 2-1 lead. But Ex-Ranger Marian Gaborik knotted the score in the third period, forcing overtime.

“The game was nerve-racking. We came so close to scoring so many times,” said Javier Reyes. “Now we get to see the parade.”

The victory ended a frenetic effort by the Rangers, who trailed in the series, 3-1, before Friday’s game. The New York team battled all night in their ultimately unsuccessful push to extend the series.

But the hometown crowd got what they desired. They gathered even before the game began, undeterred by the LAPD warning that those without tickets would not be allowed near the arena.

Even LAPD Chief Charlie Beck was in the cheering section.

“Only a fool would count them out,” Beck said outside the arena when the Kings trailed, 2-1. Once the game was over Beck tweeted his hope that fans would remain peaceful.

Police reported two arrests late in the first overtime after a disturbance inside of Wolfgang Puck’s restaurant. The two men were asked to leave the eatery, and one of them allegedly shoved a police officer, authorities said.

No one was seriously hurt. Police also believed a fan was struck in the head with a bottle, but later determined that injury was tied to a domestic dispute that happened away from the arena.

Meanwhile, L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti is ready to collect on his bet with New York Mayor Bill de Blasio.

“Our Kings of the ice were once considered underdogs,” Garcetti said Friday night. “But with two Stanley Cup wins in three years, they have proved they are Kings of the game.”

The mayors had bet that if the Rangers won, Garcetti would sing Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York,” on “Jimmy Kimmel Live.”

But instead, it looks as if de Blasio will be singing Randy Newman’s “I Love L.A.”

Gov. Jerry Brown tweeted out: “Congrats #LAKings -- We’ll keep our organic lightly-salted brown rice cakes, thank you.”

Instead, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo will have to make good on his bet of a “Taste of NY Gift Basket” containing Italian sausage, red velvet cupcakes and other goodies.