Game Thread: STANLEY CUP FINAL: Los Angles Kings vs. New York Rangers

[Cobiemonster]

I tend to think that Jonathan Quick will be better in the next series because I don't think it will be run and gun, although the Rangers do have speed which can help them

 

[Slimpikins]

I can only hope the Kings goal tender will have a solid series. So far he has been up and down

It is true that Quick has had a few mediocre games this postseason but when he is on his game he can match up with anyone. Also, let's not forget that Hank has been pulled twice (that I remember) so far this postseason. So it's not like either of these goalies have a leg up on each other going into this series.

Good luck Dave

 

[KennyBanyeah]

I'll break down how they match up in my opinion, outlining the edge each team has:

Forwards: LA: great depth right now. Williams and Toffoli are supporting the core of Brown, Carter, Kopitar and Carter big time. If Richards ever gets going look out. Those guys are all, with the sometimes exception of Carter, also good-to-excellent defensive forwards.

Defense: Draw: MacD and Girardi are superlative at shutting down top lines. Doughty and Voynov make the Kings more dynamic from the back end but to me the defenses in this pretty much a saw-off. Maybe a slight advantage to the Kings because of their commitment to D and their puck moving ability.

Goaltending: NYR: Lundqvist has been better this postseason than Quick. Quick is a huge wildcard though.

Coaching: LA: slight advantage to Sutter because he's been there more often and actually won it. Continuity with his team means something too. This is close to a draw too though.

Physicality: LA: This one is not really close. I see the Kings really targeting the NYR D of New York, much like the big forwards of the Ducks did to my Sens in 2007. I see the Kings forwards taking advantage of Diaz, Moore, Stralman and even McDonagh just like the Reddens and Corvos of the Sens got abused.

Special teams: Pretty even with each team having an advantage in one facet.

Overall I like the Kings to win in 5 or 6.

 

[puckhead]

 

[DragonfromTO]

It is true that Quick has had a few mediocre games this postseason but when he is on his game he can match up with anyone. Also, let's not forget that Hank has been pulled twice (that I remember) so far this postseason. So it's not like either of these goalies have a leg up on each other going into this series.

Good luck Dave

And he's had a .938 SV% across his other 18 games. Quick has had a SV% below that 18 game average in 15 of his 21 individual games so far. Hell, the same is true if you use Lundqvist's SV% including those 2 games (.928) instead.

 

[stealth]

Rangers look hungrier......AV has them in a swarm mode, they already know Gaborik (just bump him off the puck) Rangers must stay out of the box (Dorsett, Kreider, etc)

Rangers in 6

 

[awaz]

kings in 4. I think they're superior at every single position in the lineup except goaltending where they're even.

 

[sabresfaninthesouth]

Rangers look hungrier......AV has them in a swarm mode, they already know Gaborik (just bump him off the puck) Rangers must stay out of the box (Dorsett, Kreider, etc)

Rangers in 6

If it was that easy though, Gaborik wouldn't be leading the POs in goals scored. By a substantial margin.

 

[mattola]

rangers in 6

 

[forty_three]

If it was that easy though, Gaborik wouldn't be leading the POs in goals scored. By a substantial margin.

That's only part of it. They also just have to skate around Doughty, and just beat Quick cleanly. That's it.

I think the Kings will take it. They have played a lot, and they are used to travel. Plus the majority of their players have been there before. They are just a more, albeit only slightly, more cohesive unit. They have the speed of the Habs, the size of the Bruins and the Snarl of the Flyers. And everywhere you look is an unfavorable matchup for the Rangers.

Should be a good series, but the Kings start out with the edge. They just have to keep it.


Would be pretty cool to see Nash win the cup. Expedite his return. If he wins it, he will probably bring it here and hang out with it at home.

 

[mooger_35]

As crazy as it seems to me, I'm cheering for NY. Would have never predicted this possible 20 years ago.

But my hatred for LA (and Chicago) far outweigh my disdain for NY from 1994.

 

[Johnnydollaz89]

Rangers in 6.

With Lundqvist playing the way he is, and the defense playing shut-down D, it's going to be tough to beat. I'm rather confident going into this series. I'm tired of seeing all the doubt towards us.

 

[Johnnydollaz89]

Neil Best @sportswatch NBC announced Doc Emerick will miss Game 1 of Final because of a death in his family. Kenny Albert will fill in

 

[Loneranger]

Rangers in 7. I can hardly wait to hear the 2 Kings fans in this world claiming the Chicago series took a lot out of them.

 

[dash]

That guy behind the wheel looks a little like Dupster.

/Yes, I have met Dup in person.

 

[dash]

Am I crazy in thinking that if the Kings win the Stanley Cup that it pretty much punches Darryl Sutter's ticket into the Hockey Hall of Fame?

 

[sbb122]

I want to say the Rangers in 6 but i'm still waiting to hear from our resident conspiracy theorists in whose favor the NHL is going to fix the series for.

 

[awaz]

I want to say the Rangers in 6 but i'm still waiting to hear from our resident conspiracy theorists in whose favor the NHL is going to fix the series for.

well the rangers took out the pens, so I assume the NHL is in favor of the kings here

 

[dash]

Bettman has to be rubbing his hot little hands with glee over a Kings - Rangers final.

 

[jstewismybastardson]

Bettman has to be rubbing his hot little hands with glee over a Kings - Rangers final.

last night, Stanchion thought Bettman was rubbing something else with glee

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