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

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I know I'm in the minority, but I think Doc is the best in the game.

JD was a horror show his last few years here. He was too close to the players and some he would never criticize, especially Messier. Mess once made a backpassto no one that led to a breakaway goal. JD had nothing to say.

I moved in August of 94'. I never got the MSG feed down here. I only watched JD when he was doing national games or in a bar setting where obviously no sound was played. So I can't critique JD like you can. I just loved listening to him, he always sounded prepared and to me never ever spoke out of his rectum like many of the CC's are wont to do nowadays.

I just can't stand Emrick, it has nothing to do with his biases or perceived biases, he just gives me a headache. Knifing, waffle board blah blah blah it's finger nails on the blackboard to me.
 
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Albert in for Emrick in game 1 is awesome. Wish we could just get John Forslund for the series entirety, though. He's the best IMO.
 
I actually think the Rangers play better when they lose more faceoffs than they win. This might sound sarcastic, but it isn't.

Nah, sarcastic would have been if you quoted the Big Lebowski or something. lol " That's like your opinion man" hahahaha

The only problem I have with your reply is it's difficult to quantify. But hey I will run with it, it doesn't make the Kings faceoff abilities sound as daunting.
 
The goaltending in this series is going to be so unbelievably huge.

Why?

Just some numbers.

Shots Per Game
Los Angeles: 30.7
New York: 29.4

Shots Allowed Per Game
Los Angeles: 30.3
New York: 28.0

Save Percentages:
Jonathan Quick: .906
Henrik Lundqvist: .928

Based on those rudimentary stats, it would appear the Rangers may end up with More shots per game this series than before. And the Kings may end up with fewer than before, by the teams relative differentials there.

So let's do some simple averages here.

Without factoring in the quality of opponent prior to this series and all that a simple Shots For + Opponents Shots Allowed/2 gets you these rough numbers.

Los Angeles: 29.35
New York: 29.85

Basically, both teams getting between 29 and 30 shots a game with the Rangers getting a few more over the course of the series.

Then factor in the goalies save percentages.

Los Angeles...29.35 Shots per game X HL's (1-.928)= 2.11 Goals Per Game

New York...29.85 X JQs (1-.906)= 2.8 Goals Per Game

The numbers actually show the Rangers with the better expected offensive output.

of course I dont weigh any of these numbers with the quality of opposition faced prior to facing each other.


but in terms of rudimentary numbers, at the very least it shows this series is a HELL of a lot closer than the mainstream media wants to make it out to be....or at least it *should* be closer.

Without quality of opponent, it's hard to assign any real value. Even if you could, every series has its own unique personality.
 
Without quality of opponent, it's hard to assign any real value. Even if you could, every series has its own unique personality.

Well said.

Reminds me of how I saw so many "last 40 games" comparisons between the Rangers and Kings/Blackhawks. Would've helped if their strength of scheduled were somehow incorporated as well because the only thing I know is the Rangers played some punching bags during that time.
 
Rangers in 4.

They are just the hungrier team, more veterans without the taste of winning it. LAK has already played 3 games 7s and they've been running 3 lines as of late.

Defenders like Regehr, Mitchell, Greene won't be able to hand MSL and Zucc specifically.

Rangers will win the cup. LGR.

Kings fan here, glad you are confident, i see this upcoming series going 7 games, and you know .....
 
As far as systems go, for me the biggest thing the Rangers have to continue to do (off of Game 6 at least) is manage the puck. AV talks about this all the time. They need to continue to keep their defensive gaps tight, box out the Kings around the net and force the play up front (both the forwards and D), but to me puck possession and making a play with the puck is going to be huge in this series.

They need to limit the giveaways because when they turn over the puck they lose (the Kings have had issues of their own with giveaways). When they giveaway the puck its usually on a change or when they get pressured in the neutral zone. They have to eliminate any unforced defensive zone giveaways (paging Mr. Richards).

So supporting one another in all zones, curling back and resetting a breakout, and going back to the D with a pass instead of giving it away is very important. They did a great job of this in Game 6 and throughout the playoffs when they've won. Dumping it in without a forecheck during a line change is a giveaway to me. Dumping it in at anytime on a 4 on 4 is a giveaway. When the Rangers hold onto a puck and make a play and use their teammates to attack or reset, they hold the momentum in the game.
 
Don't love the way we matchup against LA but there are no easy opponents in the SCF.

The Rangers can wear LA down with speed and in watching CHI/LA the Kings look tired.

We have a good chance to get the first game and then we'll go from there. I think this is a winnable series.
 
Don't love the way we matchup against LA but there are no easy opponents in the SCF.

The Rangers can wear LA down with speed and in watching CHI/LA the Kings look tired.

We have a good chance to get the first game and then we'll go from there. I think this is a winnable series.

everytime the Hawks put fast guys out there, they ate the kings alive. everytime the hawks had slower guys out there the kings ate them alive.

key to this series is keeping your feet moving.
 
Well said.

Reminds me of how I saw so many "last 40 games" comparisons between the Rangers and Kings/Blackhawks. Would've helped if their strength of scheduled were somehow incorporated as well because the only thing I know is the Rangers played some punching bags during that time.

That may be true but you can not deny the Rangers were an infinitely improved team.
 
As far as systems go, for me the biggest thing the Rangers have to continue to do (off of Game 6 at least) is manage the puck. AV talks about this all the time. They need to continue to keep their defensive gaps tight, box out the Kings around the net and force the play up front (both the forwards and D), but to me puck possession and making a play with the puck is going to be huge in this series.

They need to limit the giveaways because when they turn over the puck they lose (the Kings have had issues of their own with giveaways). When they giveaway the puck its usually on a change or when they get pressured in the neutral zone. They have to eliminate any unforced defensive zone giveaways (paging Mr. Richards).

So supporting one another in all zones, curling back and resetting a breakout, and going back to the D with a pass instead of giving it away is very important. They did a great job of this in Game 6 and throughout the playoffs when they've won. Dumping it in without a forecheck during a line change is a giveaway to me. Dumping it in at anytime on a 4 on 4 is a giveaway. When the Rangers hold onto a puck and make a play and use their teammates to attack or reset, they hold the momentum in the game.

I believe you had a similar post prior to game 6 against Montreal and I agreed with it then and now. Puck support and gap control (especially against Kopitar and Gabs) will help the Rangers win. They will also need to play tough in front of their net (Girardi/Klein) and along the boards.

Of course scoring when they get the opportunities will help as well...;)
 
I agree with you, Miamipuck...

Not an Emrick fan. To be honest, I think it's just a preference kind of thing. What people love about him, I believe, is his vast dictionary and ability for him to call the game and be very descriptive and not be so boring. He speaks great. He keeps going. He gets excited at the right times. He is very knowledgeable. I just don't like listening to him and hearing careening, etc. Just a preference. As for JD - I also liked him, but he wasn't going to say a heck of a lot of bad about many players. He knew the players better than any other out there. He was in the mix. He knew the game better than the other commentators, and becoming GM shows that hockey knowledge was somewhat recognized. I can see how he'd give the occasional pass to certain players, but at least it wasn't Chico who gave a pass to all Devils. JD was mostly fair and was critical when he should be. Chosen is right though, especially towards the end. Overall, I still miss him.
 
LAK will be more used to the cross-country travel after this last round. I'm hoping it's not an issue for the Rangers.

LA should also be more worn down by cross country travel although they like us, had it pretty easy in the first two rounds unless you are considering LA traffic which is never easy. Flight does strange things to your muscles and recovery.
 
Kings have played 100 more minutes than the Rangers. ECF went to 6 games, but the Rangers carried the play for the majority of that series, and it wasn't very physically taxing besides the cheap shots.
 
Hello fellow Rangers fans I have been a lurker in this forum for a lifetime, and I believe this is only my second post. But due to the nature of this unbelievable run, I though I would post this I have been a Rangers Fan my whole life, I was 13 in 94' so I actually got to enjoy them winning the cup. We are definitely the underdogs in this series which I think is a good thing all the pressure is on The Kings. If I am AV this is the clip I show the team before game 1 ..GO RANGERS !!!!

http://youtu.be/YifywxFJgCc
 
I love the mainboard posts.

"Rangers still aren't a contender" and "Rangers got lucky to beat Montreal"
 
Hello fellow Rangers fans I have been a lurker in this forum for a lifetime, and I believe this is only my second post. But due to the nature of this unbelievable run, I though I would post this I have been a Rangers Fan my whole life, I was 13 in 94' so I actually got to enjoy them winning the cup. We are definitely the underdogs in this series which I think is a good thing all the pressure is on The Kings. If I am AV this is the clip I show the team before game 1 ..GO RANGERS !!!!

http://youtu.be/YifywxFJgCc

Rocky sounds like Sutter.
 
I am a canucks fan and I really like AV as a person and coach. I don't know enough about the details of hockey to evaluate whether firing him was a good idea or not, but I do know that he really deserves a cup.

I hope your team can win
 
Andrew Gross @AGrossRecord · 12h
Heard there were earthquakes in LA today.

The Rangers...
they-are-coming.gif
 
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