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

[TeamStewie]

Don't they do 9pm est in LA because of the horrible traffic? I think the building would be empty until the 2nd period haha.

Last time the Kings were in it all the games started at 8 ET.

 

[Cake or Death]

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

 

[aufheben]

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

THose stats don't matter, they were against Eastern opponents!

 

[Fugazy]

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

West in 3.

 

[broadwayblue]

West in 3.

I'm sticking with 2.

 

[Fugazy]

I'm sticking with 2.

Yeah I guess my pick was a little too conservative.

 

[NikC]

The main board is out of control. Hawks fans are super arrogant. L.A. fans a little less so. Great thing is that one group will be bitter bystanders having to either resort to following the team that beats them tonight, or jumping ship to root for us!

 

[KingP]

3OT tonight please

 

[NikC]

a 7g wcf with 2 days rest compared to the NYR 6g ecf with 5 days rest, may be just the edge we need to get a good jump in this series..

 

[Cake or Death]

THose stats don't matter, they were against Eastern opponents!

Lol... honestly, the diminishing nonsense on the main board is funny. But I know what we did. They can say what they will about easier conference or NY having an easy path, but that does not in any way alter the reality that the Pens were 5th in goals, 10th in goals against, 1st on the PP, and 5th on the PK this season any more than it changes that Chicago beat a Minn team that was 25th in scoring, 7th in defense, 16th on the PP, and had one of the worst PKs in the league at 27th.

People can manifest whatever fits their story I reckon, but we are playing great hockey and even the Habs deserve to be given their rightful due for eliminating the team with the best record who was a recent Cup winner themselves. **** the west.

 

[broadwayblue]

a 7g wcf with 2 days rest compared to the NYR 6g ecf with 5 days rest, may be just the edge we need to get a good jump in this series..

I agree. Game 1 is huge for us. We really need that one. Sure, a split would be fine, but taking Game 2 will likely be harder...and obviously if we can strike first we have the opportunity to head back to MSG with a commanding 2-0 lead.

 

[Maximus]

a 7g wcf with 2 days rest compared to the NYR 6g ecf with 5 days rest, may be just the edge we need to get a good jump in this series..

Agreed. You guys have to admit, for the most part, everything and anything is breaking our way during this pretty phenomenal and unexpected Cup run of ours.

As far as who do I want us to face. What a great question and a question most of us thought we'd never be answering about 2 and half weeks ago. That said, I'm a big believer and always have been a big believer of I'd rather face the team that has the LESSER goaltender. You can give me 4 categories that a team has advantages over us on but if goaltending isn't one of them, that's the team I want.

So that said, despite Quick not being at his peak performance during this years playoffs especially compared to two years ago, I'm much much more afraid of him shutting down our offense and stealing a game or heaven forbid two than Crawford who no offense as he's pretty good, is far from an elite goalie in my opinion. I have much less worries about Crawford stealing a game let alone two or so. So give me the Black Hawks as the lesser of the two evils rather than the Kings and if I had a gun to my head, I'm thinking that is exactly what is going to occur as Black Hawks do what we did vs Penguins and come back from a 3-1 deficit.

Either team though, Kings or Hawks are very vulnerable to us and I truly believe we will win the Cup this year in likely 6 games. Can't wait for Wednesday.

 

[KingWantsCup]

2:20 AM... For the first time ever, I won't complain about 2 AM starts

Gotta applaud the Euro Rangers fans' dedication. You guys are awesome.

 

[BroadwayBlues]

West in 3.

I'm sticking with 2.

In 1. After the game, the Rangers will be too in "awe" to continue the series.

 

[PromNite]

I don't even know why we will bother to show up to play the team that comes out of the west. According to HF, we have already lost.

See you guys next season!

 

[Maximus]

I don't even know why we will bother to show up to play the team that comes out of the west. According to HF, we have already lost.

See you guys next season!

Funny. I truly believe we have shocked the hockey world this playoff run of ours and it's very hard for any non-Ranger to fathom either Hawks or Kings losing to us. To be honest it really doesn't bother me this lack of respect we are getting as it's kind of neat for us to keep sneaking up on teams watching their teams fan bases turn on them as we keep winning hockey games. I firmly believe it will occur beginning Wednesday again as we steal a game or two from either Hawks or Kings and their fans are going to be shaking their heads saying "what the **** is going on here"? I really am relishing this underdog status of ours and I believe for sure AV is using this "lack of respect" thing and reminding them that no one but we believe that they will win. I don't know, this is great stuff. It's going to be even better when HF Boards crashes down after we win the Cup with all the non believers coming up with all their BS excuses....:

 

[Brooklyn Rangers Fan]

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

How did you break down those last 40 game stats? I've been looking for a resource that allows you to do that forever...

 

[Captain Lindy]

These two teams are beating the hell out of each other. This game will be over at 11pm tonight. If LA wins they have to fly home. SCF starts on Wednesday with media day on Tuesday. Hopefully this game goes multiple overtimes. How much practice and film time will either have to prep for the Rangers?

The Rangers have a real opportunity to go into Chicago or LA and steal game one.

I wouldn't call it "stealing a game" when Rangers are one of, if not THE best road team in the league.

 

[Captain Lindy]

Funny. I truly believe we have shocked the hockey world this playoff run of ours and it's very hard for any non-Ranger to fathom either Hawks or Kings losing to us. To be honest it really doesn't bother me this lack of respect we are getting as it's kind of neat for us to keep sneaking up on teams watching their teams fan bases turn on them as we keep winning hockey games. I firmly believe it will occur beginning Wednesday again as we steal a game or two from either Hawks or Kings and their fans are going to be shaking their heads saying "what the **** is going on here"? I really am relishing this underdog status of ours and I believe for sure AV is using this "lack of respect" thing and reminding them that no one but we believe that they will win. I don't know, this is great stuff. It's going to be even better when HF Boards crashes down after we win the Cup with all the non believers coming up with all their BS excuses....:

Right. I'm reading all over other boards how every single opponent of ours throughout these playoffs didn't show up. Just a wild coincidence, isn't it? LOL

 

[Potvin still sux]

All playoffs I was hoping that we play Chicago only because of Crawford and their defense is not as strong. Now I am waffling a bit. I think LA is slower and they are definitely reeling a bit. Also they have played the max amount of games. Their biggest asset is the same position where we usually carry the biggest advantage, which is between the pipes.

I say drop the puck. Anything can happen. We are here for a reason. Either team we play brings challenges, but we bring challenges too. The team that plays the best in 4 games are the champs.

I vote to play the team that wins tonight. We can't control who we play, and a coach once told me to be careful for what we wish for.

Let's do this.

 

[Cake or Death]

How did you break down those last 40 game stats? I've been looking for a resource that allows you to do that forever...

I've been searching too, but can't find anything. But I'm kind of a stat ***** and I wanted to get a real feel of how our second half looked, so I compiled them by hand, game by game.

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

All playoffs I was hoping that we play Chicago only because of Crawford and their defense is not as strong. Now I am waffling a bit. I think LA is slower and they are definitely reeling a bit. Also they have played the max amount of games. Their biggest asset is the same position where we usually carry the biggest advantage, which is between the pipes.

I say drop the puck. Anything can happen. We are here for a reason. Either team we play brings challenges, but we bring challenges too. The team that plays the best in 4 games are the champs.

I vote to play the team that wins tonight. We can't control who we play, and a coach once told me to be careful for what we wish for.

Let's do this.

Ill be rooting for Chicago. I think LA is deeper and has a better goaltender. Ill take my chances with the Rangers shutting down Kane

 

[Thirty One]

How did you break down those last 40 game stats? I've been looking for a resource that allows you to do that forever...

It's easy on Extra Skater.

 

[RangerBoy]

Look at the save % of Quick and Crawford in the WCF series

USA Today made their predictions for game 7

Patrick Kane is an explosive scorer, the kind that can carry a team, and him finding his game – two goals, seven points over last three contests – is bad news for the Kings. The goalie battle has not been as lopsided as expected: Crawford (.884 save percentage) and Quick (.886) have been equally bad in this series, so that is a toss-up. It sounds lazy to use “momentum” as a factor here, but the Blackhawks have it now. They’ve won two in a row to tie this series and are at home, where they are 8-1 in the postseason and 27-7-7 in the regular season. Chicago advances to the Stanley Cup Final with a 3-2 win.

http://ftw.usatoday.com/2014/06/game-7-predictions-nhl-blackhawks-kings

If the victor of game 7 sees their goalie post a save % of under .900 against Lundqvist,that series won't be a long series. Quick and Crawford have taken turns playing bad hockey.

The Kings had a 3 game losing streak in the first and second rounds. Lost the first 3 games to SJ. Lost games 3,4 and 5 against Anaheim. They are on a two game losing streak now.

 

[Potvin still sux]

I forgot how good Chicago is at home these playoffs