NHL Thread

[Irishnuke]

Great series. It's crazy how many leads the Hawks blew this series.

 

[STLDomer]

Thank you Kings for eliminating the Hawks. Now u can go back to being my 2nd least favorite team. Go Rangers!

 

[gkIrish]

Can't even remember the last time that happened in the finals in any sport ...Yankees dodgers in the 70s??

I had the right teams, wrong decade. 1981

 

[Irishnuke]

Just as Ash Wednesday is "find out your friend is catholic day," today will be "find out your friend is a Kings fan day" here in SoCal.

 

[blueNDgold44]

Hawks were outplayed every game this series but had the star power to steal the 3 games they won. Good news is we saw the presence of a future star in Saad mature immensely in this Kings series. Change out a couple forwards for some youth and this team will be right back next season.

 

[gkIrish]

Rangers in 7.

Any Kings fans want to do an avatar bet?

 

[GO IRISH!!!]

Hey Hawks - great fucking series! Just a great series to watch for the fans. Holy cow! Took years off my life!

Can't wait to be at Staples on Wednesday! Second Cup Finals in three years! Been a Kings fan since '76 and been through some tough times. Moments like this are really special.

 

[GO IRISH!!!]

Just as Ash Wednesday is "find out your friend is catholic day," today will be "find out your friend is a Kings fan day" here in SoCal.

Not for those of us that represent 24/7 365. Even here in the OC in Duck territory. I fly my colors proud. Even before the 2012 Cup, I was a Kings fan through and through. My neighbors KNOW I am a Kings fan without a doubt!

 

[KPENN]

Rangers in 7.

Any Kings fans want to do an avatar bet?

I say Rangers is 6. Lundqvist isn't Niemi, Ducks goalie carousel or Crawford.

 

[Wild Bill]

I say Rangers is 6. Lundqvist isn't Niemi, Ducks goalie carousel or Crawford.

Yeah, Niemi and Crawford actually have rings.

 

[KPENN]

Yeah, Niemi and Crawford actually have rings.

Lol. Please.

 

[JDub713]

Go Kings Go! Yeah baby, on to the cup!!!

 

[Crazy Balki]

Hawks were outplayed every game this series but had the star power to steal the 3 games they won. Good news is we saw the presence of a future star in Saad mature immensely in this Kings series. Change out a couple forwards for some youth and this team will be right back next season.

Not having Shaw for the first half of this series really hurt. He was a huge reason for the Hawks getting back into this series.

 

[Crazy Balki]

I'm pulling for the Rangers in this one. 20 years since their last cup. Damn, this one really sucks. We went from forming a dynasty, to the Kings one step away from being the team of the decade. Hawks won 2 cups in 4 season, but they are just a series away from winning 2 cups in 3.

 

[yankeehater]

Amazing series! This is why the hockey playoffs are the best. Did not think the Kings had a shot tonight especially after going down two early. Heck, I thought the season was over after they lost the first three games to start the playoffs.

GO KINGS GO!

 

[yankeehater]

I need to find tickets for Wednesday.

 

[calvegas04]

Anyone have a ticket hook up for Wednesday? I'll be in socal. I see the kings winning it in 5 or 6

 

[GO IRISH!!!]

So, now that it has had a chance to sink in a bit, still kind of seems like a dream. What a great series. I don't care if you aren't a hockey fan, a casual hockey fan, or a fan of another team, this was an amazing series to watch. Both teams left it on the ice. It was just a war for all seven games. If you had told me two weeks ago that the Kings would give up 23 goals to the Hawks and still win the series, I would have thought you were nuts.

Now bring on the Rain-juhs! GO KINGS GO!!!!

 

[ND NYC]

Lets Go Rangers!

 

[Emcee77]

What a great series. I don't care if you aren't a hockey fan, a casual hockey fan, or a fan of another team, this was an amazing series to watch. Both teams left it on the ice. It was just a war for all seven games.

Agreed on that. Great, great series to watch. I'm more sad that it's over than I am that the Hawks lost. Loved the way the Hawks scrapped to get back into the series even though the Kings' offense was really clicking.

Hope the Finals are as good. I'll definitely be rooting for the Rangers. ;0)

 

[Emcee77]

Hawks were outplayed every game this series but had the star power to steal the 3 games they won. Good news is we saw the presence of a future star in Saad mature immensely in this Kings series. Change out a couple forwards for some youth and this team will be right back next season.

I was thinking the same thing. I maintain that a big difference between the 2013 postseason Hawks and the 2014 postseason Hawks was last year's great 4th line of Bolland, Frolik and Kruger. Nobody really stepped up into their role this year, and Handzus fell off a bit (really, he was probably playing above his true ability in 2013), so we basically went with 9 forwards. I mean, the Kings didn't use their bottom 3 forwards much last night either, so I don't want to overstate the point, but still, you'd love to have some 4th line guys who can make a real contribution.

Priority #1 has to be finding another true center capable of scoring points and being defensively responsible. Brandon Pirri was not the answer, so I'm hopeful that Teravainen is. He looked great when he got some time late last season. Peter Regin showed flashes, too; maybe he becomes a regular. Then we need a couple wingers who can produce a bit more than Bollig and Versteeg were able to. I like Bollig's toughness and Versteeg's stickhandling skill but neither guy was really fitting the bill this postseason .

Leddy is only going to continue to get better and carry more of the load for the older defensemen, and Rundblad is apparently being groomed, and the older guys still look in good form, so we should be good on D.

Anyway, those are details. The core of the team is looking strong, it was a great season and I look forward to seeing what Bowman does. But in the meantime, on to the Finals.

 

[aubeirish]

I'm going to make a wild guess here. Kings in 7. Seems to be trending for them.

 

[gkIrish]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Let’s Go <a href="https://twitter.com/NYRangers">@NYRangers</a>! <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23WewanttheCup&src=hash">#WewanttheCup</a>! <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23nyrcupfinal&src=hash">#nyrcupfinal</a> Go New York! 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 <a href="http://t.co/1ibPUY6vU3">pic.twitter.com/1ibPUY6vU3</a></p>— Anne V (@AnneV) <a href="https://twitter.com/AnneV/statuses/474215448805130240">June 4, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[ACamp1900]

She looks like she took one to many pucks to the face....


Anyway, I see only two ways the Rangers win this...

1.) The Kings just have nothing left after Chicago

2.) King Henry goes Stonewall Jackson and wins the thing himself

I got the Kings in five, I really think they are a much better and deeper team... they've also been here before (This is more respect for LA than it is a knock on NY for you Rangers fans, they have a real good team too obviously).

 

[gkIrish]

I think the Rangers need game 1 pretty bad. Don't see them winning all 3 home games. My game-by-game prediction is:

Rangers
Kings
Kings
Rangers
Kings
Rangers
Rangers

 

[Wild Bill]

Kings in 7. PP and PK will be the difference.

 

[ACamp1900]

That was the most insane minute of jockey I may have ever seen....

 

[Fbolt]

I say the Hawks win it all in '14. Back to back Cups suckas!

 

[IrishSteelhead]

Great game so far.

 

[IrishSteelhead]

Fbolt,

That is all.....