Bow Down to the Kings: Los Angeles pushes New York Rangers to Brink of Elimination

As the time approaches for Game 4 at Madison Square Garden, there is a clock ready to strike midnight. That is because the miracle playoff run of the New York Rangers could very well end with a loss tonight.

The Los Angeles Kings and New York Rangers had a fast-paced contest during Game 1 and Game 2 in the Staples Center. The series opened with a 3-2 overtime victory for Los Angeles Kings, which was competitive. The Rangers held a 2-0 lead that was erased by the strong effort of the L.A. Kings.  Kyle Clifford and Drew Doughty lit the lamp to force the overtime. In the extra time, Justin Williams won the game for his team.

Game 2 was back at the Staples Center. It had a flurry of 4 goals for each team that was resolved in double overtime.  Once again, the Rangers gained the 2-0 lead. In the first period, Ryan McDonaugh and Mats Zuccarello bombarded Jonathan Quick with sneaky shots that surprised the Kings goaltender. As soon as the lead was created, it started to disappear in the second period: Jared Stoll’s pass from Justin Williams put the Kings within one. That scoring gap would widen to two when New York’s Martin St. Louis would score a powerplay goal. Los Angeles came back to make the game 3-2 off a Willie Mitchell shot from the point; however, Derik Brassard would avenge that goal with one of his own 4 seconds later. By the third, it took a questionable non-call to change the momentum of the game: Dwight King scored on what appeared to be a goalie interference penalty. When it was obvious the goal would not be reviewed, the tally put the game within reach for the Kings.  The Rangers now relied on defending their net, a strategy that would lead to Gaborik tying the game at 4. The tense 4-4 game went into double overtime and Dustin Brown helped deflect a Willie Mitchell shot past Henrik Lundqvist for the 5-4 win for Los Angeles.  

Back in New York, the Kings brought a 2-0 series lead to Madison Square Garden. The hometown crowd seemed to be out of it the entire game. So did the New York Rangers as a matter of fact. Los Angeles was able to utilize their speed effectively without much resistance. The 3 goals scored that night came from veteran Kings players Jeff Carter and Mike Richards as well as defenseman Jake Muzzin. Kings Goalie Jonathan Quick was able to stop the Rangers’ attempts to get into the game. Netminder Henrik Lundqvist of New York could only watch as the three goals passed by him. As the clock ticked down to end the game, the Los Angeles Kings boasted a 3-0 shutout victory and a 3-0 series lead.

Tonight, Game 4 awaits New York and Los Angeles. Madison Square Garden will play host to the richest prize in National Hockey League History as the Stanley Cup will be wheeled into the building. The only question that remains is this: Will Lord Stanley re-crown the Los Angeles Kings that night or will the New York Rangers fight back to play another day?

Stanley Cup Finals Begin: Observations from Game 1

The Staple Center hosted the first game in this series. John Moore of New York was serving the last game of his 2-game suspension from the prior round; Raphael Diaz assumed his spot in the line-up. Daniel Carcillo-another suspension-got word he would be available for Game 4 due to a reduction of his punishment to 6 games(down from 10).  Other roster changes came in the back-up goalie role as journeyman David LeNeveu would replace an injured Cam Talbot.

As for the game, it was as close as many had predicted. The speed of the forwards was on display as each side glided down the ice set on getting the first goal in the series. In the first period, New York would get on the board with two goals in the span of 2:42. Benoit Pouliot scored on a breakaway chance and Carl Hagelin got his goal when his shot rebounded off Slava Voynov’s skate and past netminder Jonathan Quick. The Kings would come within one before the end of the period when Jeff Carter set up Kyle Clifford for a side angle shot that sneaked past Henrik Lundqvist.

The second and third period belonged to the Los Angeles Kings. Defenseman Drew Doughty tied the game at 2 early on in the second. Former Marian Gaborik would attempt to get his 13^th goal of the playoffs only to be stopped by New York goalie Lundqvist.  As for the Rangers, they found themselves in the penalty box far too often to get back into this game. If that wasn’t enough, the early burst of speed they started the game with wore them down as the contest continued.

Thanks to great saves in the last minute of the third, the game was sent to overtime. The Kings came into this extra session determined. Justin Williams would send the puck sailing over Henrik Lundqvist’s blocker to give his team the victory 4:36 into overtime. Final Score: 3-2 Los Angeles

Game 2 is tonight from Los Angeles starting at 7pm Eastern Time on NBC. 

Coast to Coast: 2014 National Hockey League Stanley Cup Finals Preview

It’s time for the Stanley Cup Finals! Representing the Eastern Conference, the New York Rangers bested the Montreal Canadiens to earn their ticket to this round. In the Western Conference, the Los Angeles Kings took the Chicago Blackhawks to 7 games in their conference final to arrive at this point.

There are many ways to assess this match-up. I will look at some of the reasons why this will be an amazing series to watch:

Goaltending: New York’s Henrik Lundqvist comes into this stage of the playoffs with a team record for playoff wins (42) and an impressive amount of post-season shut-outs (9). He is the force that keeps the Rangers in the game. After a loss, he places the burden on himself and rebounds from the following contest with stellar numbers.

Los Angeles’ Jonathan Quick is just as good as Henrik. A one-time Stanley Cup champion goaltender, Quick is a worthy competitor on the other side of the ice. It should be worth mentioning that he withstood the offensive force of the Chicago Blackhawks and stood tall at series’ end.

Advantage:  Even- Fans can expect close games and overtimes throughout this series with these two in net.

Growing up Teammates:  Both the New York Rangers and the Los Angeles Kings benefit from having a youthful team that matured within the American Hockey League, which is the main team’s farm system. The Western Conference Champions-the Kings- can say the following were a part of their Manchester Monarchs affiliate: Forwards-Dwight King, Trevor Lewis, Jordan Nolan, Tyler Toffoli; Defensemen-Alec Martinez, Jake Muzzin, Slava Voynov; Goaltender: Martin Jones

For the Eastern Conference champions, the Rangers have plenty of players in their system that called the XL Center in Hartford their training ground. The following have been teammates on the Hartford Wolfpack/Connecticut Whale: Forwards-Carl Hagelin, Chris Kreider, Oscar Lindberg, J.T. Miller, Mats Zuccarello; Goatender: Cam Talbot.

Advantage: Los Angeles- The youth movement on that team formed early on and forged a strong bond

Team-Swap-NHL Edition: The drive to prove that the team that traded you was wrong to do so is stronger when the Stanley Cup is on the line.  Marian Gaborik of the Los Angeles Kings has to prove his injury-prone ways and lack of offensive contribution while in New York are behind him. He came to L.A. via Columbus and those players the Rangers got in exchange- John Moore, Derek Dorsett, Derik Brassard - have been the key to New York’s playoff run. Much like those players, Gaborik has been a spark for the Kings in this post-season as he has at least 8 goals (including a game winning goal May 3^rd, 2014 against Anaheim), and 4 assists in his playoff run.

Brian Boyle of the New York Rangers does not have a real reason to hold a grudge toward his former team, the Kings. Sent to New York for L.A.’s 3^rd Round 2010 draft pick in 2009, he has had to earn his spot on a competitive Rangers roster. His scoring stats are not as prolific as Marian Gaborik’s, but his ability to set up plays makes him a valuable member of the Broadway Blueshirts. His attitude can set a pace for the game.

Advantage: Even-Both Gaborik and Boyle can tilt the balance of a game into their team’s favor

Players to Watch: Los Angeles Kings: Defensemen Drew Doughty and Jake Muzzin; Forwards Tyler Toffoli, and Marian Gaborik

New York Rangers: Defenseman Ryan McDonaugh; Forwards Carl Hagelin, Martin St. Louis, and Mats Zuccarello

Finals commence Wednesday. The contest is pretty even when you consider the factors of youth, speed, and goaltending. It should be entertaining to see who will win this match-up: a team called the Kings or the team that stands by “King” Henrik Lundqvist?

Sources include: www.nhl.com