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2013-2014 NHL playoffs thread.
- Thread starter MovingPitchers
- Start date
Nope, but the Kings magical run of stellar defense is over. As I said before, LA will need to score four or five goals to win games, and Lundqvist just won't give that many up in a single game in the next round.
Could LA win a game? They sure can. But they aren't going to score more goals than the Rangers in four games.
-Mike
Interesting analysis. The Rangers aren't the offensive equal of the Hawks, so we'll see.
I agree, the Rangers do not have the offense equal to Los Angeles, but they don't need to. Although if you get St. Louis, Nash, and Richards rolling, goals can add up.
Quick has been making great plays in the playoffs, bailing his team out again and again, but he hasn't been a shutdown goalie lately. He will need to be if the Kings want to win another SC.
The other factor I am counting on is Martin St. Louis. The loss of his mother has produced some emotion in him and his team mates. Maybe that has run out by now, maybe not.
-Mike
Quick has been making great plays in the playoffs, bailing his team out again and again, but he hasn't been a shutdown goalie lately. He will need to be if the Kings want to win another SC.
The other factor I am counting on is Martin St. Louis. The loss of his mother has produced some emotion in him and his team mates. Maybe that has run out by now, maybe not.
-Mike
That's fine. Don't forget to show up in the thread if your Kings lose.
I'll be here, win or lose with the Rangers. Now excuse me while I print some more tickets for the Rangers bandwagon.
-Mike
I missed your comment. If I had noticed, I would have agreed with you. I think emotions and momentum play key roles at this point in the NHL season.
-Mike
The two largest cities by population in the US: LA and New York. Hollywood vs. Wall Street (can't think of anything that goes with NY at the moment).
One heck of a series, this will be. The Kings proved over and over home ice doesn't really matter...I don't see the hype about it either. Yes, the crowd, yes you get 4/7 home ice games, maybe a few other things for the players, but what else?
Good game tonight and great series. Terrible officiating, especially in the second period and that icing call in third....amazing. So far, the Kings are like a heavy weight fighter, who keep's getting knocked down, just to get back up in the last round and score a knockout. A few day's rest, a few injections and a little magic sauce, and they'll be ready to take on the Rangers. Should be fun.
Congrats to the Kings - now go get them Rangers.
From a Hawks fan.
I've been a Rangers die hard fan since the 70's...and I have suffered great ridicule for the overwhelming majority of those years. 94 was twenty years ago and finally put an end to generations long futility. However, for many years the Rangers would at least progress in the playoffs or were in contention. Since 94, the team has fallen on its face.
This year from the start wasn't expected to be one where the Rangers were going anywhere close to deep into the playoffs. Then as the season progressed, it looked like another year of futility where, even if they made the playoffs, they would be bounced by Pittsburgh or Boston.
They now have, in my estimation, an even shot at winning this. I think this series could be one determined by puck bounces.
I also don't know if Lundqvist will be the deciding factor. I think depth in the 3rd and 4th lines could carry the play. If, in addition to that, the big names kick in to at least close to what you would expect from them, the Rangers could really compete well. We are going to need smart solid defense from our shut-down blue liners as well as defensive fwds.
I'm really looking forward to a good, clean series, with amazing skating and stick skills and stellar goal tending.
I just hope the referees on the ice and in HQ in Toronto don't make themselves a factor like they did in every other series the Rangers played.
This year from the start wasn't expected to be one where the Rangers were going anywhere close to deep into the playoffs. Then as the season progressed, it looked like another year of futility where, even if they made the playoffs, they would be bounced by Pittsburgh or Boston.
They now have, in my estimation, an even shot at winning this. I think this series could be one determined by puck bounces.
I also don't know if Lundqvist will be the deciding factor. I think depth in the 3rd and 4th lines could carry the play. If, in addition to that, the big names kick in to at least close to what you would expect from them, the Rangers could really compete well. We are going to need smart solid defense from our shut-down blue liners as well as defensive fwds.
I'm really looking forward to a good, clean series, with amazing skating and stick skills and stellar goal tending.
I just hope the referees on the ice and in HQ in Toronto don't make themselves a factor like they did in every other series the Rangers played.
Like you said, the Rangers have an even shot at winning this....they made it this far (you forgot to mention alignment of the stars). At this point it comes down to injuries and how much pain you can play through (something hockey players are very good at), and what's left in the tank. That and the hockey gods, angles and dangles, and which way the frozen disk decides to bounce, deflect, skip or careen through a wall of humanity. Should be fun.
The Rangers '13-'14 season reminds of the 2013 Red Sox, no one expected that they would bounce back so well after the 2012 Bobby Valentine-led disaster. Tortarella couldn't have been as bad as Valentine, but how big a difference did the coaching change made?
The more I watch hockey, the more I appreciate luck and skill - the goal last night where the deflection (luck) put it on the stick of the Kings player, but then the reaction and hands (skill) to bury it. If it was Lucic or Marchand, that puck goes off the side netting or high glass.
Finals should be interesting even though I don't have a dog in this round. Best goaltenders in the league going at it. If their (goalies') final game of the last round would be any indication, Rangers take the Cup. In 6?
I must be the only one that thinks the Rangers may only win a game or 2. Yes, they made it, but went through Philly, Pitt, and Montreal, while the Kings went through 3 of the top 7 teams in the league in the Sharks, Ducks and Hawks. The Rangers will need their offense to click, and for King Henrik to lock it down every game IMO. Mike is right, that they may have their emotion to carry them...but that won't last for 7 games. Kings in 6.
