2013-2014 NHL playoffs thread.

[buldog5151bass]

Great goaltending, great game.

Jazz, I could say that by asking me to stop posting the goals, you interrupted the Rangers' momentum, thus altering the outcome of the game. That, of course, would be silly.

I can only hope it goes 7 with OT in each game.

 

[ColonelZulu]

Well, Mike, you said the Kings would need for our more goals against Lundqvist to win a game. They scored 3 and won. Hm.
Maybe Lundqvist was off his game?
He wasn't ready?
Defense sucked?
Rangers were bad at changing lines?
What the hell were they doing giving that away to Justin Williams?
Flukey shot?
Lucky bounce?
Lucky in general?

I can think of endless excuses people use after their team loses; this goes for us Kings fans too. We bashed on Quick in Games 1 and 2 in the quarterfinals (well I bashed the whole team for lackluster plays) but suddenly we praise him for getting us to where we are now.

Oh don't worry: I think we'll see plenty of bashing against the Kings too. It's going to be an insane finals, for sure.

What a silly premise...

An LA fan presuming to make "excuses" for the Rangers losing in OT on behalf of the Rangers' fanbase...then imply that the Rangers' fans are making excuses?!?!?!

That's just silly.

No excuses. It was a good, hard-fought game. You could tell it was two teams trying to feel each other out. Rangers speed was unexpected by the Kings at first...but they adjusted well. Rangers looked much slower and sloppy by the end of the game. Partially due to emptying the tanks too early and partially due to the Kings figuring out how to negate their strengths.

It could be a chess match series. Let's see what kind of adjustments the coaches make.

But nobody is making excuses. That's ridiculous.

 

[ColonelZulu]

And, somebody, please, WAKE UP NASH!

 

[chuck norriss]

And, somebody, please, WAKE UP NASH!

Yeah I hear a lot about this guy but never get to see him play I want to see him full throttle.
Exciting 3d period.
Let's go KINGS! Come on boys! ATTAAAAAACK

 

[MJ5150]

Well darn, that didn't work out quite as I expected. I talked to Lundqvist and Nash after the game over the phone and let them know how they embarrassed me on TalkBass. They felt bad and said they'd try harder Saturday.

-Mike

 

[Darth Handsome]

Well darn, that didn't work out quite as I expected. I talked to Lundqvist and Nash after the game over the phone and let them know how they embarrassed me on TalkBass. They felt bad and said they'd try harder Saturday.

-Mike

Fine them. Or they won't learn.

 

[BassIsBoss]

That was a great game. Good goaltending at both ends and general mayhem in between. Some nasty stick work by the Rangers and general dislike being shown.....by the end of period 1 in game 2, that could escalate to all out hatred. Gotta love the Cup finals.

 

[MJ5150]

Will Dan Boyle sign with the Islanders now that the Islanders have negotiations rights with him?
Invalid Link Removed

-Mike

 

[marcray]

Not a bad game, Rangers got away from the way they are supposed to play, but the guys said the right things in locker room so we wait to see if there's a bounce back. I don't buy into momentum and all that crap, you have to win 4 games, it doesn't matter which ones. One thing is obvious, you can't make mistakes like the Rangers made against a team with offense like the Kings. Make correct decisions clearing the puck. Very simple.

 

[chuck norriss]

Likewise the last series--LA/CHI--was contingent on who made fewer mistakes. I think.

 

[MJ5150]

The Pens found a GM, from the nursing home: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]. This is the same guy who gave up Sutter/Doumolin/Pouliot for Jordan Staal. My knee jerk reaction is boooooo! Mario has hired a yes man. We'll see if I'm wrong.

-Mike

 

[Selta]

That is confusing on multiple levels. I don't see anything positive from it, but I'll hold reservation on my thoughts for now.

 

[Selta]

Well, that's some change. In addition to Rutherford...

Jason Botterill has been promoted to Associate GM. Bill Guerin and Tom Fitzgerald will serve as the Pens Assistant GMs. Full story →Link Removed

Dan Bylsma has been relieved of his duties as Head Coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Additional information → http://pens.pe/1pMibrh

 

[chuck norriss]

The Pens found a GM, from the nursing home: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]. This is the same guy who gave up Sutter/Doumolin/Pouliot for Jordan Staal. My knee jerk reaction is boooooo! Mario has hired a yes man. We'll see if I'm wrong.

-Mike

They need to find a way to get more out of Malkin. 23 g's this year--he's got more than that in him.

 

[Darth Handsome]

They need to find a way to get more out of Malkin. 23 g's this year--he's got more than that in him.

I'm with you on that. That SOB is uncheckable when he wants to be.

 

[chuck norriss]

Not a bad game, Rangers got away from the way they are supposed to play, but the guys said the right things in locker room so we wait to see if there's a bounce back. I don't buy into momentum and all that crap, you have to win 4 games, it doesn't matter which ones. One thing is obvious, you can't make mistakes like the Rangers made against a team with offense like the Kings. Make correct decisions clearing the puck. Very simple.

not a bad game? that was a great game! lots of fireworks! + Justin Williams OT winner! are you not entertained?!

 

[Lazarus.Bird]

Agree Malkin needs to take a greater shoot first mentality, but I'm not going to yell at the guy for putting up 72 points in 60 games this year, which he played a lot of hurt.

Initial reaction to Rutherford was negative, but now I'm pretty content with it. He'll likely only be around for a couple of years, just to groom Botterill into the full time GM, which I really like the idea of. Also love the promotions for Fitzgerald and Guerin to assistant GM, especially Guerin. Basically guarantees he'll be involved with the Penguins for awhile now.

I expect Rutherford to be the GM for maybe 2-3 years and then Botterill will take over. Overall I'm pretty happy with how this all panned out in the end. Now to hire a coach...

 

[MJ5150]

...Guerin to assistant GM, especially Guerin. Basically guarantees he'll be involved with the Penguins for awhile now....

Yep, I dig this move too. As for Malkin, I don't have any major issues with him.

-Mike

 

[MovingPitchers]

Game 2. Full of controversy. That third goal was iffy...I thought it was goalie interference but I saw the reply and the Rangers D-man was clearly pushing King into Lundqvist. Call me wrong and a ref-suck-up but that's in da rulezzzzzzzz.....

"If an attacking player has been pushed, shoved, or fouled by a defending player so as to cause him to come into contact with the goalkeeper, such contact will not be deemed contact initiated by the attacking player for purposes of this rule, provided the attacking player has made a reasonable effort to avoid such contact." Source: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[Fiset]

The Kings third goal has been a media and fan talking point but it doesn't really do much to justify all the blown chances the Rangers had to win game 2. Brad Richards on the doorstep, Kreider breakaway (and also hitting the post on a different chance), the OT powerplays (both of which were iffy - Nash clearly took a dive and take a look at the replay of the Carter hit on Lundqvist and tell me Hank didn't embellish the crap outta that one). Then, of course, there are the other 4 goals the Kings scored, a couple of which were the direct result of horrid Ranger turnovers. But people will still look at the Kings third goal and say "the refs cost us the game." Bad calls, non-calls, missed calls, etc. are all part of of a series. The best teams shrug that stuff off and push forward. The Rangers had a ton of chances to win this game and couldn't get it done.