It seems just two short years ago the Devils dispatched the heavily favored Rangers at the Prudential Center in game 6. The Rangers were favorites to make the cup final out of the east but indeed fell short. Two years and a new coach later the Rangers have returned to the Final for the first time since 1994.
So New York vs. L.A. Kings vs. Rangers. East vs. West. What's it all about Johnny?
These teams are such a mirror image of each other, strong young defense protecting a great netminder and teams that like to get the forecheck going to let their defense work through the middle. So what are the little differences that will make all the difference in the end? Let's find out.
The Kings have one of the best two-way forwards playing in Anze Kopitar. He's been nothing short of amazing and otherworldly some nights. He reminds Johnny a little of Sergei Fedorov back in his days in Detroit. Freakishly fast, able to cover a mistake, checks the opposing centers into the ground and yes, scores. Jeff Carter is only the second line center and has almost as many points as Koptiar. Add to that former Rangers castoff Marian Goborik who has finally found his comfort zone seemingly in L.A. and the Kings have a very scary couple of scoring and checking lines. The Rangers may actually be deeper up front than the Kings but to have that aspect possibly play out someone named Rick Nash is finally going to have to carry his weight offensively. The Rangers will need scoring from Nash to take the pressure off Richards and St. Louis whom the Kings will be all over. The biggest advantage of the entire series for L.A. will be their faceoff winning percentage and how they hold onto the puck. They are an elite possession team and to do that one must win faceoffs and plenty of them. The Rangers cannot cede this battle to the Kings. The Rangers HAVE to be close to 50/50 on faceoffs or they already start the play chasing the faster Kings. One thing, and it's a dicey thing to call an advantage, is the Kings have "ice assassins" in guys like Dustin Brown that are willing to not only throw an elbow or take a head shot that can turn a series, they don't much seem to care they are doing it, which is sad.
Defensively both teams sport fantastic, young, strong bluelines. The Rangers have one of the absolute breakout stars of the 2014 playoffs in Ryan McDonagh, who along with Dan Girardi have been very solid. The Rags #2 pairing of Marc Staal and Anton Stralman has been better than advertised going into the playoffs. The Kings also have a great young defensive corps led by Drew Doughty and Jake Muzzin. The Kings also have a good #2 pairing with Alec Martinez and Slava Voynow. We'd say the Kings have an ever so-slight advantage here.
Goaltending stands to be the Rangers biggest advantage IF the Rangers can stop the Kings puck possession game. They can't hang King Henrik out to dry. He's great but he's not Terry Sawchuk, not yet. Everyone talks about the Kings netminding advantage with Olympic goalie and 1012 Stanley Cup winner Jonathan Quick. As Lee Corso is fond of saying, "Not so fast my friend." The Rangers DO have a decided advantage in Lundqvist. Quick has given up 13 goals in his last 3 games. He's not been the shut 'em out goalie he was in 2012. Advantage Rangers.
Both teams have played a LOT of hockey this spring. Harry Neale, the great CBC announcer, used to say you wanted to make the Final having taken no more than 15 or 16 games to stay fresh and ready. Well the Rangers have already played two seven game series and the Kings have played the maximum 21 games to get to this point. Conditioning will matter but we don't think unless there is a major injury this will be the difference maker.
So, without going into micro-managing stats we'll say this. These teams are mirrors of one another and the one who plays their game better will win. Johnny will be cheering for the Rangers as it's an Original Six thing. That respect goes back many many decades and it's like a brother fighting for the title. That being said here's Johnny's fearless forecast:
L.A. Kings in seven games.
P.S. You are ALL going to hate Eric Cartman by the end of this series? Don't know what Johnny is talking about? You will....
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