I have made one of these for each of the 3 series'. I feel like the observations and assumptions of playing style and match ups has been fairly spot on for the last 3 series' and I'm going to make one of these again for the Kings.
If the Hawks come back i'll re-do this for how we stack up against them, but I think the Kings take care of business tonight.
Offense: There are some key differences between these offenses that need to be established. These teams are not the same, although i've seen a lot of "the Kings are the Rangers with a better D". There is 1 common denominator between the two offenses and that is balance. Both teams can roll out 4 lines regularly without fearing disaster. But the similarities end there. The Rangers have a faster offense. LA has speed but no where near that of the Rangers'. However, LA has something that the Rangers lack (besides the obvious size which may or may not be an advantage). The Kings' offense is efficient and opportunistic while the Rangers are inefficient and unlucky. Kings resemble the Penguins in the regard that if they get a prime opportunity, more often than not, they'll bury it. The way that it will shake down is that the Rangers offense will create their opportunities by stretch passes and the Kings will create their opportunities by sending bodies to the net or capitalizing on Ranger mistakes. I'd give the offensive advantage to the Kings because they capitalize more often than we can.
Defense: The Kings are bigger but they are slower. The Rangers are faster but they are smaller. Kings have Doughty but I think he can be contained much in the same manner that Subban was contained for the last 6 games. After that we have a clear advantage over their defense. They play a similar defensive style to the Canadiens and Flyers where they clog up the passing lanes with their sticks. The Rangers found ways to beat both teams that played in this manner. The faster defense that we have will be able to mitigate the LA attack more than the Blackhawks have been able to. And for them, they will have to beat us with their secondary lines, on 5v5 hockey. I give the defensive advantage to the Rangers.
Goalies: It's even. A wash.
Coaches: Slight advantage to Sutter. Although I do believe that AV will be the hungrier of the two coaches. He'll likely have a score to settle from 2 years ago when LA embarrassed Vancouver in the first round.
Special Teams: The LA power play is better than our power play, but our penalty kill is better than their penalty kill. I'd say this is a wash, too... but I'm going to give this advantage to the Rangers, simply because normally, they will be the more disciplined team and likely take less penalties. I don't see the Kings getting under their skin like the Flyers and the Habs did. The special teams advantage over the series should go to the Rangers.
Playing style: The Kings take away the neutral zone and force teams to play dump and chase. The Rangers like to play a transitional style of hockey where they move through the neutral zone with short leading passes. Problem for the Kings is that the Rangers are also comfortable playing dump and chase. They excel at it, as we saw last night. They are a possession team and their speed allows them to take control of the puck in a dump and chase situation. They can move the puck well when they possess it. Rangers played their best game last night playing dump and chase hockey. However, the Kings are just an average team on 5 v 5 hockey. They have been scoring a lot of their goals on power play situations against the Hawks. The Rangers are the better 5 v 5 teams, but the less potent power play team. Stay out of the box and the games will be more manageable for the Rangers.
Overall analysis: It will be an even series. Both teams match up poorly against the other. The Kings will try to use their size, the Rangers will try and use their speed. The goalies are evenly matched and can both steal a game or two for their respective teams. The Rangers offense will give LA's defense fits while LA's defensive style will force Rangers into turnovers and their offense will capitalize on those mistakes. Staying out of the box will make winning easier/more realistic for the Rangers. Being penalized more often will clearly have negative repercussions.
Should be a fun 6/7 game series.
