Tag: New York Rangers

Let’s Talk a Little Hockey

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As many know, the NHL season was cut in half this season due to problems with a collective bargaining agreement, or CBA. It’s funny how in the past 2-3 years, labor issues have been a serious problem in professional sports across the board. The NBA and NHL lost games while the NFL lost certain preseason workouts. All three were greatly affected. However, this 48 game season of hockey (a full season has 82 games) has been nothing short of exciting yet confusing.

I’m a big New Jersey Devils fan. They lost in the Stanley Cup finals last year to the Los Angeles Kings, but I wasn’t torn up about it. I was excited to even get to the finals and win the Eastern Conference. That was way more than I was expecting last season, but it elevated my expectations for this season.

We aren’t the best team in hockey. But, we play very well. At least we can say we are better off than Columbus.

Regardless, the playoffs are fast approaching as there are about 10 games left for most teams in the regular season.

The NHL is ranked on a point system. A team is given 2 standing points for a win, 0 for a loss, and 1 for a loss in overtime or a shootout. In each conference, there are 3 divisions. This is the last year we will see this, as next year the league is realigning into four conferences. Anyway, there are three divisions in each conference, and the division leader in each makes the playoffs as the first, second or third seed. In order to finish off the playoff bracket, the next 5 teams in point standings are added to the bunch. 8 teams from each conference go to the playoffs, making a total of 16 teams.

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Stanley CUP!!!!! I WAS RIGHT!!!!

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Well, I called it. My team, the New Jersey Devils have taken down the New York Rangers and have secured their spot in the Stanley Cup Finals against the Los Angeles Kings. This has supreme potential to be one of the most exciting and nail-biting series in the history of the NHL. I’m gonna tell you why.

1. The Goalies-Martin Brodeur and Jonathan Quick are going to square off against each other, which usually isn’t a marquee matchup. Well, I’ll rephrase that. It will always be marquee. However, during the season, this wasn’t a matchup that was always seen. The Devils and Kings rarely play each other. These two teams are fairly unknown to each other.

2. The Defense-Offense mismatch-The Devils have flashed some brutal offense this postseason. They’ve been firing on all cylinders and have kept defenses on their toes. Personally, I believe the Devils could have easily exploited Henrik Lundqvist and the Rangers had they not been such superior shot blockers. However, the Kings’ defense is no easier. While they are not supreme shot blockers, they are fundamentally gifted. Players like Drew Doughty lead the defensive unit of the Kings. This will be a showdown.

3. Sheer Power-Both teams can hit. That’s no secret. Both powerplay units are above average, as are each team’s penalty kill units. The teams should still try to keep the hits under control.

This is going to be an astounding matchup. I predicted this matchup before the second round. I can’t wait to watch these games. It’s going to be something special.

NHL Playoffs-Lots of Drama in the Final Four

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Well, when I say drama, I mean in the Eastern Conference. The Los Angeles Kings have looked like an unstoppable force in these playoffs, knocking off the favored Vancouver Canucks and St. Louis Blues. Now, they are two wins away from a Stanley Cup birth.

The only question is, who will the Kings (probably) compete against in the Finals?

Well, let me say this, I am very biased in the Eastern Conference Finals. My favorite team is the New Jersey Devils and they are fighting against the New York Rangers, who are a sworn rival. Do I think the Devils are going to win the series? Yes, but not just because that’s my team.

The New York Rangers faced the number 8 seed Ottawa Senators in the first round and it took them 7 games to finish them off. Next, the Rangers went into 7 games with the Washington Capitals. The Devils, on the other hand, went 7 games (including an incredible double overtime game 7 against the Florida Panthers in the first round) and 5 games against the Philadelphia Flyers, who were HEAVILY favored.

The Devils have a stellar offensive attack, an average defensive unit and the greatest goalie to ever step on the ice.

The Rangers have a decent offense, a nearly perfect defense and the best goalie of the current day (The Devils’ goalie, Martin Brodeur, is 40 freakin’ years old, yet still a top tier goalie but Henrik Lundqvist is insanely talented and is far younger).

This series could go either way. But, if I had to throw down a prediction I’d say Devils in 7 games. And that would take them to the Stanley Cup Finals.

So, if my predictions are correct, the Los Angeles Kings would face the New Jersey Devils in the Finals. Winner take all. Current conference finals show the Kings leading their series 2-0 and the Devils and Rangers tied at 1-1. This is gonna get very exciting.

You can't see it, but the puck is on the other side of the goalie, Henrik Lundqvist, in the net.