Pre-Game Talk: Stanley Cup Final: New York Rangers vs. Los Angeles Kings

[Infinitum Vitae*]

If DD wasn't so cocky I wouldn't hate him.. play him like subban... he's going to be easier to gas out because subban was built better than him

 

[I Am Chariot]

Maybe the teams are a wash and it's just time for Lundqvist to live up to the hype.

 

[Cake or Death]

To be fair, Vegas sets the odds where they feel they will get the most bets on both sides, not where they think the odds of winning truly lie. The lines will move if betting favors one team or the other.

Don't disagree at all, I live here. There is about a 5% margin for both teams and in that 10% they ensure they win no matter what. If they went, say, +150 and -150 they break even on large betting pools. So you'll see like -160 +130 and they guarantee profit on one side or the other. I never disputing that. All I'm saying is the guys who make billions doing this for a living have this close and right now I am seeing NY at +135, which still more or less is them calling it a coin toss with a slight edge logically given to the home team.

 

[haohmaru]

Sutter is one smart mofo:

Steve Zipay ‏@stevezipay 10m
ICYMI, Kings coach Sutter on #NYR: "Great goaltending. Great defense. Great forwards. Great special teams... We're up against it again."

 

[beastly115]

Kings center depth will give us fits.

Just like the Pens center depth did.

And Gaborik is easily contained: just aim Kreider at his groin...

 

[BroadwayBlues]

Imagine the headlines: The King beats the Kings. So easy.

 

[haohmaru]

King of Kings FTW

 

[Lime]

The final call is going to be some variation of this "AND THERE CAN ONLY BE ONE KING. HENRIK LUNDQVIST AND THE NEW YORK RANGERS ARE THE STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS"

 

[nyr2k2]

I hope the Kings come in with the same level of arrogance as their fans. I hope they think it's going to be an easy road to victory, that the Rangers are mediocre, and that the real challenge was simply making it out of the West. I don't think Sutter would let them get that complacent, but ****, it would be nice.

 

[JCrusher*]

i think the rangers have the fresher legs so taht will help

 

[I Am Chariot]

Looking for a big series from Brian Boyle

 

[JCrusher*]

La Kings fans ae very cocky. I mean i guess they forget that their team has palyed moe games tha anyone and hey barely have 2 days to rest. I dt ace hw good they are you can tell last ngit they were getting a bit tird. lets face it as god as the hawks offense is their defense/goaltending is worse

 

[beastly115]

La Kings fans ae very cocky. I mean i guess they forget that their team has palyed moe games tha anyone and hey barely have 2 days to rest. I dt ace hw good they are you can tell last ngit they were getting a bit tird. lets face it as god as the hawks offense is their defense/goaltending is worse

Lol someone's still drunk

 

[mandiblesofdoom]

Here are some stats to illustrate just how good the team was down the stretch. One of the best records in the league in the second half, with an outstanding goal differential of +41 in the last 40 games. Perhaps even more mind-blowing, a 93.1 percent PK in the last 23 games following the all-star break. That is unreal. Your 2013-14 NYR closed the season phenomenally and deserve to be here, no doubt about it.

Final 40 Regular Season Games

TEAM | W | L | OT | PTS | GF | GA | DIF
NYR|25|11|4|54|120|79|41
LAK|21|15|4|46|96|86|10
CHI|18|14|8|44|109|105|4

Post All-Star Break

TEAM | SV% | PP | PK
NYR|.932|12.9|93.1
LAK|.923|19.7|82.9
CHI|.901|11.9|86.4

Playoffs

TEAM | GPG | GAPG | 5v5 | PP | PK | LD1 | LD2 | PM/G
NYR|2.70|2.25|1.33|13.6|85.9|.818|1.000|10.0
LAK|3.40|2.80|1.12|26.2|82.7|.750|.889|13.1
CHI|3.00|2.78|1.11|19.2|84.1|.700|.750|8.8

Good work. Naïve question - what does "5v5" mean in the last table? and "LD1" and "LD2"?

thanks

 

[Wolfy*]

Just one thing I don't like about LA, their size. They're all big as a house.

But size usually drops speed. MSL and Zucc should be all over them, making them dizzy

 

[Fletch]

The Kings are favorites...so what. So were the Pens. The Bruins were favored over the Canadiens. Kings fans have every reason to believe their team will win. Rangers fans have every reason to believe their team can win. There shouldn't be any "I told you sos". There is nothing guaranteed here. This should be a tough matchup. If the Rangers play their best hockey, they should win. If the Kings are able to play their best hockey. they should win. It's that close. Predicting an outcome is tough. I can't say if Lundqvist will have diarrhea in the second game that will affect his play, and that could be a pivotal game. These things are tough to predict. What's easy to say is what the Rangers need to do in order to win the series. Lundqvist has to play like he did during the last three games against the Pens. Boyle's line needs to shutdown like they did Crosby. The PP needs to be an advantage. Nash needs to score a big goal here and there, as do St. Louis and Richards. Someone like Zuccarello or Brassard needs to be the difference if all else is evening out. The defense needs to clear the front of the net, get to rebounds and clear the zone. All basic stuff. Bodies should be rested and prime and now they need to get back into game shape and focus.

 

[Levitate]

Oh, I agree. It's just funny to see someone actually know better than just, "goalie low, shoot high" like I see referred to all the time with Quick.

Ah, right, misread what you posted

Quick is good at not getting beat high consistently because of his aggressiveness and also when he's spending all his time crawling around on his knees in his crease his team is doing a good job making sure high shots aren't getting through to him. \

I dislike his style of play but he's effective when he's on his game.

If DD wasn't so cocky I wouldn't hate him.. play him like subban... he's going to be easier to gas out because subban was built better than him

eh, of course "cocky" players are annoying when they're not on your team, but yeah the Rangers probably had a good warm up for him by facing Subban and managing to shut him down. I don't know if it works for Doughty but if you can at least limit him some more that gives you an edge. Hopefully a guy like Kreider can get the Kings D second guessing their pinches and gaps like he did against Montreal.

 

[Zil]

Just one thing I don't like about LA, their size. They're all big as a house.

But size usually drops speed. MSL and Zucc should be all over them, making them dizzy

People talk about us being little, but we're not small on the blue line. Staal's 6'4". Moore's 6'3". McDonagh, Girardi, and Klein are 6'1". Stralman at 5'11" is the only defenseman under 6'. Diaz is 5'11", but he'll be paired with Klein and should only be playing game 1.

 

[Levitate]

The Kings are favorites...so what. So were the Pens. The Bruins were favored over the Canadiens. Kings fans have every reason to believe their team will win. Rangers fans have every reason to believe their team can win. There shouldn't be any "I told you sos". There is nothing guaranteed here. This should be a tough matchup. If the Rangers play their best hockey, they should win. If the Kings are able to play their best hockey. they should win. It's that close. Predicting an outcome is tough. I can't say if Lundqvist will have diarrhea in the second game that will affect his play, and that could be a pivotal game. These things are tough to predict. What's easy to say is what the Rangers need to do in order to win the series. Lundqvist has to play like he did during the last three games against the Pens. Boyle's line needs to shutdown like they did Crosby. The PP needs to be an advantage. Nash needs to score a big goal here and there, as do St. Louis and Richards. Someone like Zuccarello or Brassard needs to be the difference if all else is evening out. The defense needs to clear the front of the net, get to rebounds and clear the zone. All basic stuff. Bodies should be rested and prime and now they need to get back into game shape and focus.

Yup, play your best, there's literally no other time ever in your career where it's more important. Special teams could be huge, as well as staying disciplined. LA takes a lot of liberties with opposing players and often get away with it so don't retaliate, don't take dumb penalties, and make them pay when they do take penalties.

 

[CDiablo]

Worried, regular season play stats dont tell the story of the Kings. They are underachievers all season and wake up when the playoffs come. With that said any team can go hot or cold for a number of reasons.

Hank has to be Hank, the D needs to stay solid and step up. Kings dont really roll 4 lines and that can give a big advantage. Rangers in 7 so Carcillo can play and win the Conn Smythe

 

[Lime]

I still can't believe the New York Rangers are about to play for the Stanley Cup. Against LA too, taking away the sting from 2012. Let's do what New Jersey couldn't.

 

[The Gloaming]

Ranger home games on NBCSN??? NO ******

****** is blocked?

why is respect spelled in a weird way sensored?

I think it's because Habs fans whined about that last year.

But you can still spell it as "rispeck."

 

[Kokoschka]

Good work. Naïve question - what does "5v5" mean in the last table? and "LD1" and "LD2"?

thanks

means in 5v5 play, the Rangers have scored 1.33 goals for every goal their opponent scored. LD 1 and LD 2 gives you our winning percentage when we were leading after the first/second period.
Cheers!

 

[nevesis]

I'll post this again for all those who missed it:

A total mismatch. Can we hand them the cup please? We have zero chance. These teams are not close.

Oh and this...

2013-14 Regular Season Goals For:

18. New York Rangers - 214

26. Los Angeles Kings - 198

We have no chance offensively. Kings are the greatest offensive team of all time. We should forfeit.

 

[The Gloaming]

Quick has had a very pedestrian playoff season. Rangers should be able to beat him.

Hank needs to shut the door and play like he did in game 6.

Win it in 6 please.