Jesus Christ Dan Girardi, with turnovers like that who needs cronuts?
Time for Jersey City, After Dark
Wednesday, June 4, 2014
The quintessential Stanley Cup Final preview; Rangers vs Kings!
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....
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....
Tuesday, June 3, 2014
Late night open thread
If your birthday is today (June 3) you share it with actor Tony Curtis who was born in 1925.
Time for Jersey City, After Dark
Time for Jersey City, After Dark
Good on us: Jersey City ranked #8 in the nation as a LGBT-friendly city
Jersey City has been named the #8 LGBT-friendly city in America by Nerdwallet. New York City nor Philadelphia made the list.
Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop was quick to praise the poll:
“We are excited to have such a diverse community in Jersey City that is recognized nationally. As we prepare to celebrate LGBT Pride Month, it is a great honor to see Jersey City ranked alongside such large cities as San Francisco, Seattle and Chicago.”
So just what is it that helped Cool City rank so highly? A very low percentage of hate crimes against the LGBT community and a perfect equality score. So good on us Jersey City. A #8 ranking is a good place to start, it might even get us into a LGBT bowl game but we can always do better. Let's see that we do. Hopefully NYC and Philly can learn from Jersey City's example.
Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop was quick to praise the poll:
“We are excited to have such a diverse community in Jersey City that is recognized nationally. As we prepare to celebrate LGBT Pride Month, it is a great honor to see Jersey City ranked alongside such large cities as San Francisco, Seattle and Chicago.”
So just what is it that helped Cool City rank so highly? A very low percentage of hate crimes against the LGBT community and a perfect equality score. So good on us Jersey City. A #8 ranking is a good place to start, it might even get us into a LGBT bowl game but we can always do better. Let's see that we do. Hopefully NYC and Philly can learn from Jersey City's example.
Where do you get your coffee fix Jersey City?
Because according to the Village Voice, Jersey City has some pretty darned good coffee houses around town.
The Village Voice decided to leave dreary old Manhattan and come to the good side of the Hudson River in search of great coffee houses. They listed the "Top Ten Coffee Shops in Jersey City and Hoboken." The ones they listed in Jersey City?
9) WORD Bookstore, 123 Newark Avenue, Jersey City
8) Tea NJ, 262 Newark Avenue, Jersey City
7) Sam AM, 112 Morris Street, Jersey City
5) The Warehouse Cafe, 140 Bay Street, Jersey City
2) Dames Coffee Espresso Bar, 581 Jersey Avenue, Jersey City
1) modcup coffee, 479 Palisade Avenue, Jersey City
Mea culpa, Johnny is enjoying a cup of joe this morning from the Warehouse Cafe and that great Intelligentsia coffee they serve. He's also been to four coffee shops on this very list. Now he's going to try the other two.
Make sure to check out the article as they have great little factoids about each place and you can also find out where those top coffee houses in Hoboken are. Coffee, the true vitamin C.
The Village Voice decided to leave dreary old Manhattan and come to the good side of the Hudson River in search of great coffee houses. They listed the "Top Ten Coffee Shops in Jersey City and Hoboken." The ones they listed in Jersey City?
9) WORD Bookstore, 123 Newark Avenue, Jersey City
8) Tea NJ, 262 Newark Avenue, Jersey City
7) Sam AM, 112 Morris Street, Jersey City
5) The Warehouse Cafe, 140 Bay Street, Jersey City
2) Dames Coffee Espresso Bar, 581 Jersey Avenue, Jersey City
1) modcup coffee, 479 Palisade Avenue, Jersey City
Mea culpa, Johnny is enjoying a cup of joe this morning from the Warehouse Cafe and that great Intelligentsia coffee they serve. He's also been to four coffee shops on this very list. Now he's going to try the other two.
Make sure to check out the article as they have great little factoids about each place and you can also find out where those top coffee houses in Hoboken are. Coffee, the true vitamin C.
Late night open thread
Johnny's kind of guy:
On April 1, 1974, Oliver Bickar climbed into Mt. Edgecumbe in Alaska, a volcano that had been dormant for around 9,000 years, and made it look like it was coming back to life. After four years of planning, Bickar doused 100 tires in cooking oil and lit them on fire inside Mt. Edgecumbe. He also spray painted "April Fool" in 50 foot letters around the rim.
Time for Jersey City, After Dark
On April 1, 1974, Oliver Bickar climbed into Mt. Edgecumbe in Alaska, a volcano that had been dormant for around 9,000 years, and made it look like it was coming back to life. After four years of planning, Bickar doused 100 tires in cooking oil and lit them on fire inside Mt. Edgecumbe. He also spray painted "April Fool" in 50 foot letters around the rim.
Time for Jersey City, After Dark
Monday, June 2, 2014
Somebody is just throwing away the 1990's
Just look at this. Someone has just decided to cut all ties with the 1990's. Dumping them like common trash next to a bin downtown. Like the garbage truck can hold the entire 90's. What memories, the 90's in Bondi Blue...
Late night open thread
What a nice night for an evening.
-- Steven Wright
Time for Jersey City, After Dark
-- Steven Wright
Time for Jersey City, After Dark
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!
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