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....
Showing posts with label henrik lundqvist. Show all posts
Showing posts with label henrik lundqvist. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 4, 2014
Sunday, June 1, 2014
Sunday funday
A gorgeous Sunday in the Tri-state seemingly has everyone out and about. Dear Rangers fan in Lundqvist sweater and your girlfriend in a King Henrik t-shirt. Do understand when you say things about Johnny's Red Wings t-shirt, referring not getting out of the first round, you ARE going to have your morning ruined by asking if one cup every 74 years is real satisfying. What did you expect ya goof? Johnny understands your excitement.
Been there. A lot.
So the Rangers will find out their dance partner in the Stanley Cup Final tonight, game 7 in Chicago at 8pm. Johnny will have to catch up in the third period. As nice as a game 7 sounds THIS is fighting to the death tonight at 9 so yeah, Patrick Kane can wait:
Johnny thinks Rangers fans should be cheering for Chicago, more on that after the Final matchup is set.
The ferry to NYC continues all year long at the $2.50 discounted pice so do take advantage. Paulus Hook is the place you want to catch it.
The Staten Island Expressway looked like Giligan's Island earlier today.
See ya outside!
Been there. A lot.
So the Rangers will find out their dance partner in the Stanley Cup Final tonight, game 7 in Chicago at 8pm. Johnny will have to catch up in the third period. As nice as a game 7 sounds THIS is fighting to the death tonight at 9 so yeah, Patrick Kane can wait:
Johnny thinks Rangers fans should be cheering for Chicago, more on that after the Final matchup is set.
The ferry to NYC continues all year long at the $2.50 discounted pice so do take advantage. Paulus Hook is the place you want to catch it.
The Staten Island Expressway looked like Giligan's Island earlier today.
See ya outside!
Thursday, April 17, 2014
Hockey sage Johnny tries to make sense of the Rangers vs. Flyers series
The Rangers and Flyers open an Metropolitan Division quarter-final tonight over at Madison Square Garden. The Rangers finished second in the Metropolitan Division with 96 points while the Flyers were third with 94 points. Let's get a closer look at what matters.
The Rangers surrendered only 193 goals in the regular season while the Flyers gave up 235 (which is only one more than they scored all season as well). If you can hurry up and name the Philadelphia netminder go ahead and yell out his name. Go ahead. Well there you go, that's a big difference isn't it? Everyone knows Henrik Lundqvist is tip top come playoff time and always among the regular season top stat guys. Now, the Flyers haven't had a go to shut em down goaltenders since.....since....again, advantage Rangers.
Philadelphia had a better faceoff win % at 50% this season yet the Rags were ranked #11 at 48% while Philadelphia was ranked #14. Odd that. This is a very key stat for the team with a considered weaker defense and goaltending. The Flyers have to somehow win the faceoff game. The game within the game. Who were the top 7 teams this season in faceoffs? Boston, Anaheim, Colorado, St. Louis, San Jose, Pittsburgh, and Chicago. How'd they do in the standings? Exactly. Advantage? Up for grabs.
In Johnny's humble opinion the Flyers up front are terribly talented but terribly moody. If their game is working they are worldbeaters. Trouble for them come playoff time is there are too many ways to gank up their offensive machinery. You can goad them off their game. You can play in your face hard forechecking to keep them bottled up. Most of all you play a grind it out slam bang corners game. Orange and black always makes you look bigger than you are. Advantage? We'll see won't we? If the Flyers are willing to fight the entire seven games (oops, spoiler alert) then advantage Philly. It's been quite a while since they could say that however.
The Rangers playoff forwards take an even bigger step forward with Martin St. Louis skating for the Blueshirts. He's money come playoff time. If New York can get anything out of Rick Nash who is quickly getting a reputation for playing his way onto milk cartons this time of year, it would free up not only St. Louis but Derek Stepan and Brad Richards. We like the Rangers versatility up front and that they spread the goals around. We give the NY offense the advantage over the Flyers defense.
One area we do like the Flyers in is penalty killing. The Philadelphia 6 have improved markedly since Caraig Berube took over the pk duties last year before being named head man this year. Which brings us to...
Berube has had no playoff coaching experience and we think is pretty much coach because the Flyers bungled the firing of Peter Laviolette as the season was already starting and had no other options than Berube to be truthful. Alain Vigneault has more playoff experience in big games than Berube but checkered it is given all the talent he had in Vancouver and only made the Final one time. We'll give Vigneault the nod here obviously.
But which team, which city will have bragging rights Johnny?
Rangers in seven.
The Rangers surrendered only 193 goals in the regular season while the Flyers gave up 235 (which is only one more than they scored all season as well). If you can hurry up and name the Philadelphia netminder go ahead and yell out his name. Go ahead. Well there you go, that's a big difference isn't it? Everyone knows Henrik Lundqvist is tip top come playoff time and always among the regular season top stat guys. Now, the Flyers haven't had a go to shut em down goaltenders since.....since....again, advantage Rangers.
Philadelphia had a better faceoff win % at 50% this season yet the Rags were ranked #11 at 48% while Philadelphia was ranked #14. Odd that. This is a very key stat for the team with a considered weaker defense and goaltending. The Flyers have to somehow win the faceoff game. The game within the game. Who were the top 7 teams this season in faceoffs? Boston, Anaheim, Colorado, St. Louis, San Jose, Pittsburgh, and Chicago. How'd they do in the standings? Exactly. Advantage? Up for grabs.
In Johnny's humble opinion the Flyers up front are terribly talented but terribly moody. If their game is working they are worldbeaters. Trouble for them come playoff time is there are too many ways to gank up their offensive machinery. You can goad them off their game. You can play in your face hard forechecking to keep them bottled up. Most of all you play a grind it out slam bang corners game. Orange and black always makes you look bigger than you are. Advantage? We'll see won't we? If the Flyers are willing to fight the entire seven games (oops, spoiler alert) then advantage Philly. It's been quite a while since they could say that however.
The Rangers playoff forwards take an even bigger step forward with Martin St. Louis skating for the Blueshirts. He's money come playoff time. If New York can get anything out of Rick Nash who is quickly getting a reputation for playing his way onto milk cartons this time of year, it would free up not only St. Louis but Derek Stepan and Brad Richards. We like the Rangers versatility up front and that they spread the goals around. We give the NY offense the advantage over the Flyers defense.
One area we do like the Flyers in is penalty killing. The Philadelphia 6 have improved markedly since Caraig Berube took over the pk duties last year before being named head man this year. Which brings us to...
Berube has had no playoff coaching experience and we think is pretty much coach because the Flyers bungled the firing of Peter Laviolette as the season was already starting and had no other options than Berube to be truthful. Alain Vigneault has more playoff experience in big games than Berube but checkered it is given all the talent he had in Vancouver and only made the Final one time. We'll give Vigneault the nod here obviously.
But which team, which city will have bragging rights Johnny?
Rangers in seven.
Monday, May 14, 2012
Devils vs Rangers, Game 1 tonight!
Sure the Rangers have won 4 of the 5 playoff series between the two clubs. This, however, is a different era of Devils and Rangers team from the ones who have played before. Yes guys like Brodeur and Elias and Sykora were around for the wars but this is the Parise/Kovalchuk vs. Callahan and Lundqvist era.
Johnny is on record saying the Devils will win in six games. Here's how he arrived at that number. The only thing saving the Rangers thus far is how tight they pack their defense around Lundqvist and block shots. The question will then become can the Devils get shots to the net that simply aren't perimeter shots and shots from along the wall. In the last series, Alex Ovechkin, who can move his feet and create shots got quite a few through to Lundqvist. With Parise, Zajac, Kovalchuk and to a lesser extent Adam Henrique can all work free and create good shots. By no means will the Devils offense look as sharp and tic-tac-toe as the Philly series but they have more than enough offense.
If the Rangers can't forecheck their offense can go missing for loooong stretches. The Devils defense has been unheralded all playoffs long for their abilty to clear the zone with no drama. Having a netminder with immaculate puckhandling skills has helped them. The Fyers tried three ways from Sunday to keep the puck in corners on shoot-ins and away from Brodeur but still the Devils defense were up to the task. Which brings us to the point of WHY this series will be won by New Jersey. No team that has played game 7s in the first two rounds has won the Stanley Cup. The Rangers defense are dog tired. Their top three defensemen Marc Staal, Dan Girardi and Ryan McDonagh all have averaged over 25 minutes a game. They have played more playoff hockey than anyone else. Hard minutes. Crash bang minutes. The Devils have been hanging their hats on hard forechecking, bottling up the opposing team in center ice and letting their speed dictate play. This can and will wear the Rangers defense out slowly but surely. The Rangers defense are good, but they are also human.
One advantage Johnny sees right now for the Blueshirts is scoring from the defense. The Devils will have to stay out of the box (or in this series take someone with them) and the forwards MUST KNOW when guys like Del Zotto are jumping into the play. One goal in these games can make the difference, lose your guy for a second and it could be disastrous.
Netminding, the Living Legend vs The King. Marty Brodeur has had a very quiet yet very solid playoffs. His 2.05 GAA isn't Lundqvist's 1.68 but it's in the ballpark. It's within a one shot total. Right now Johnny would have to concede that yeah, if given the choice he'd take Lundqvist but that's it. It doesn't mean Brodeur can't or won't win the series, he most likely will. As mentioned above Brodeur for his age gives the Devils something Lundqvist can't help on shoot ins and play the role of a third defenseman with the puck. Both have their plusses, but it would stand to reason the longer this series goes the less help Lundqvist will be getting from his defense corp as they chase the Devils around with their speed advantage.
Speed, frontline offense, aggressive forechecking and an underrated defense are going to lead the Devils to the Stanley Cup Final in SIX games.
Tonight the Rags may well start out like a house afire, they just got done with another emotional series and it may give them some bounce in the first period. This in fact is a game the Rangers may in fact win. The Devils have been off a few days and the old rule of thumb around hockey is one day away from the rink the players notice, two days away the coaches notice sand three days away the fans notice. In whipping Philadelphia in five games the Devils haven't been playing for their lives. Johnny is confident however the Rangers surge will hit a wall. the Rangers as a team will then slowly hit the wall and in a week and a half the Devils Army can go loot Madison Square Garden for scrap.
Johnny is on record saying the Devils will win in six games. Here's how he arrived at that number. The only thing saving the Rangers thus far is how tight they pack their defense around Lundqvist and block shots. The question will then become can the Devils get shots to the net that simply aren't perimeter shots and shots from along the wall. In the last series, Alex Ovechkin, who can move his feet and create shots got quite a few through to Lundqvist. With Parise, Zajac, Kovalchuk and to a lesser extent Adam Henrique can all work free and create good shots. By no means will the Devils offense look as sharp and tic-tac-toe as the Philly series but they have more than enough offense.
If the Rangers can't forecheck their offense can go missing for loooong stretches. The Devils defense has been unheralded all playoffs long for their abilty to clear the zone with no drama. Having a netminder with immaculate puckhandling skills has helped them. The Fyers tried three ways from Sunday to keep the puck in corners on shoot-ins and away from Brodeur but still the Devils defense were up to the task. Which brings us to the point of WHY this series will be won by New Jersey. No team that has played game 7s in the first two rounds has won the Stanley Cup. The Rangers defense are dog tired. Their top three defensemen Marc Staal, Dan Girardi and Ryan McDonagh all have averaged over 25 minutes a game. They have played more playoff hockey than anyone else. Hard minutes. Crash bang minutes. The Devils have been hanging their hats on hard forechecking, bottling up the opposing team in center ice and letting their speed dictate play. This can and will wear the Rangers defense out slowly but surely. The Rangers defense are good, but they are also human.
One advantage Johnny sees right now for the Blueshirts is scoring from the defense. The Devils will have to stay out of the box (or in this series take someone with them) and the forwards MUST KNOW when guys like Del Zotto are jumping into the play. One goal in these games can make the difference, lose your guy for a second and it could be disastrous.
Netminding, the Living Legend vs The King. Marty Brodeur has had a very quiet yet very solid playoffs. His 2.05 GAA isn't Lundqvist's 1.68 but it's in the ballpark. It's within a one shot total. Right now Johnny would have to concede that yeah, if given the choice he'd take Lundqvist but that's it. It doesn't mean Brodeur can't or won't win the series, he most likely will. As mentioned above Brodeur for his age gives the Devils something Lundqvist can't help on shoot ins and play the role of a third defenseman with the puck. Both have their plusses, but it would stand to reason the longer this series goes the less help Lundqvist will be getting from his defense corp as they chase the Devils around with their speed advantage.
Speed, frontline offense, aggressive forechecking and an underrated defense are going to lead the Devils to the Stanley Cup Final in SIX games.
Tonight the Rags may well start out like a house afire, they just got done with another emotional series and it may give them some bounce in the first period. This in fact is a game the Rangers may in fact win. The Devils have been off a few days and the old rule of thumb around hockey is one day away from the rink the players notice, two days away the coaches notice sand three days away the fans notice. In whipping Philadelphia in five games the Devils haven't been playing for their lives. Johnny is confident however the Rangers surge will hit a wall. the Rangers as a team will then slowly hit the wall and in a week and a half the Devils Army can go loot Madison Square Garden for scrap.
Thursday, April 5, 2012
It's the Jersey Devil vs the Nain Rouge tonight
Two legends collide tonight at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit as the Jersey Devil takes on the Nain Rouge. While the legend of the Jersey Devil is well known to many perhaps Detroit's own ghastly legend, the Nain Rouge, isn't. Have a read on the Nain Rouge, or Red Devil of Detroit if you prefer, while you contemplate the actual New Jersey Devils taking on the actual Detroit Red Wings.
The #6 seed in the east takes on the #4 seed in the west tonight at the Joe. Would it be the worst thing for the Devils to you know, whoops lose a game and finish 6th with a much better chance against Florida than Malkin, Crosby, and the Penguins? No way. In fact it would benefit them. Rest assured the Devils who are on a 4 game winning streak want to continue their sharp play heading into next week's tournament. To wind up in 5th place however the Devils need only to lose one or have the Flyers win once to make this last paragraph moot. David Clarkson should play tonight though no word on who is replacing oft-injured rookie Jacob Josefson. Late last evening Stephen Gionta was ruled out from the trip to Detroit.
The Red Wings may well show a greater sense of urgency as they are in the #4 slot and trying to keep it, currently one point ahead of Nashville with both having two games left. The Red Wings played last night in St. Louis beating the homestanding Blues 3-2 in a shootout. The bad news for Devils fans in that injured players like Nick Lidstrom, Pavel Datsyuk and the Mule, Johan Franzen appear to now be in much better form then a few days ago.
You all know Johnny's a Red Wings fan but tries to give the Devils love when deserved and give them a fair shake. Detroit played last night on the road in a very labor intensive game. If they can keep it close for a couple periods the Devils could sneak out with a point or two. If New Jersey were to give up a couple early goals our guess is that contentment with the #6 seed may set in and the Wings could win big. Either way Johnny will still be at the Rock Saturday cheering on the Devils in what will most likely be a tame nobody get hurt kind of affair.
Oh, and C'mon Buffalo, we'd love to see a Henrik Lundqist vs. Ryan Miller first round matchup.
The #6 seed in the east takes on the #4 seed in the west tonight at the Joe. Would it be the worst thing for the Devils to you know, whoops lose a game and finish 6th with a much better chance against Florida than Malkin, Crosby, and the Penguins? No way. In fact it would benefit them. Rest assured the Devils who are on a 4 game winning streak want to continue their sharp play heading into next week's tournament. To wind up in 5th place however the Devils need only to lose one or have the Flyers win once to make this last paragraph moot. David Clarkson should play tonight though no word on who is replacing oft-injured rookie Jacob Josefson. Late last evening Stephen Gionta was ruled out from the trip to Detroit.
The Red Wings may well show a greater sense of urgency as they are in the #4 slot and trying to keep it, currently one point ahead of Nashville with both having two games left. The Red Wings played last night in St. Louis beating the homestanding Blues 3-2 in a shootout. The bad news for Devils fans in that injured players like Nick Lidstrom, Pavel Datsyuk and the Mule, Johan Franzen appear to now be in much better form then a few days ago.
You all know Johnny's a Red Wings fan but tries to give the Devils love when deserved and give them a fair shake. Detroit played last night on the road in a very labor intensive game. If they can keep it close for a couple periods the Devils could sneak out with a point or two. If New Jersey were to give up a couple early goals our guess is that contentment with the #6 seed may set in and the Wings could win big. Either way Johnny will still be at the Rock Saturday cheering on the Devils in what will most likely be a tame nobody get hurt kind of affair.
Oh, and C'mon Buffalo, we'd love to see a Henrik Lundqist vs. Ryan Miller first round matchup.
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