NHL Thread

[blueNDgold44]

I'm sorry to Rangers fans but like everyone said about a week ago the West was just so much better than the East this year and this just proves it. The Rangers are a great team and just cant simply hang with the Kings right now. I firmly believe that if the Hawks/Habs were in this series we would be seeing the same outcome.

 

[GO IRISH!!!]

After the respective Conference Finals:

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[IrishSteelhead]

The East isn't as far behind as some think IMO. The Kings are red fucking hot right now, and it's unfair to compare the entirety of both conferences based solely on this matchup.

If I'm making an end of the season power ranking, mine looks like:

1) KINGS (duh)
2)HAWKS (biased pick I know)
3) BRUINS (still think they were the best team this year, but their choke dropped them a few spots)
4a) RANGERS
4b) DUCKS
5) HABS

*basically I think the 6 best teams this year based on regular season combined with playoff performance are split evenly between the East and West......I'd bump the Rangers to 3 if they can suck it up and win at least 2 games in the SCF, but I cant justify it if they get swept.

 

[aubeirish]

I don't know if anybody else have been watching these games, but the Kings are not more talented than the Rangers. They are more fortunate. In fact, I don't think I have ever seen teams be as fortunate as the Hawks and the Kings. They both have really good teams and I know it's not just luck, but the luck they have been getting in these playoffs is ridiculous.

 

[GO IRISH!!!]

I don't know if anybody else have been watching these games, but the Kings are not more talented than the Rangers. They are more fortunate. In fact, I don't think I have ever seen teams be as fortunate as the Hawks and the Kings. They both have really good teams and I know it's not just luck, but the luck they have been getting in these playoffs is ridiculous.

What, specifically, are you saying is pure "luck" for the Kings? Just curious to know what you are referring to.

 

[aubeirish]

What, specifically, are you saying is pure "luck" for the Kings? Just curious to know what you are referring to.

Obviously, not pure luck. They have an awesome team(talented and resilient). Just saying that everything has been going their way so far. It just feels like destiny that they are going to win this by the way their playoffs have been going. It's kinda a way of saying this series could be easily be 2-1 NY right now. I am trying to make GkIrish feel better a little bit.

 

[gkIrish]

Obviously, not pure luck. They have an awesome team(talented and resilient). Just saying that everything has been going their way so far. It just feels like destiny that they are going to win this by the way their playoffs have been going. It's kinda a way of saying this series could be easily be 2-1 NY right now. I am trying to make GkIrish feel better a little bit.

Lol I'm in an emotional twilight zone right now so thanks for trying.

What, specifically, are you saying is pure "luck" for the Kings? Just curious to know what you are referring to.

Kings have not played like they should be up 3-0. I can't think of a fluke goal for the Rangers. Most were breakaways or came from puck movement. Seems like half the goals for the Kings were off weird deflections, bounced off two or three skates, etc. Take the Carter? goal from last night...tries to pass it bounces off a Rangers skate right back to his own stick after Henrik was already moving towards the recipient of the pass. Or the Gaborik goal where there were 3 defenders right there but the puck bounces 3 different ways before landing in front of Gabby's stick. Series should be 2-1 Kings right now based on overall play.

 

[Wild Bill]

Kings have not played like they should be up 3-0. I can't think of a fluke goal for the Rangers. Most were breakaways or came from puck movement. Seems like half the goals for the Kings were off weird deflections, bounced off two or three skates, etc. Take the Carter? goal from last night...tries to pass it bounces off a Rangers skate right back to his own stick after Henrik was already moving towards the recipient of the pass. Or the Gaborik goal where there were 3 defenders right there but the puck bounces 3 different ways before landing in front of Gabby's stick. Series should be 2-1 Kings right now based on overall play.

The Kings play smart, hustle, win puck battles and faceoffs, finish checks, put pucks on net, keep bodies in front of net, etc etc. They do the little things. They do them consistently and exceptionally well, and that's why they enjoy all the breaks.


Fuck the Kings.

 

[gkIrish]

The Kings play smart, hustle, win puck battles and faceoffs, finish checks, put pucks on net, keep bodies in front of net, etc etc. They do the little things. They do them consistently and exceptionally well, and that's why they enjoy all the breaks.


Fuck the Kings.

1. Play smart: The Kings lead in giveaways 58-36
2. Put pucks on net: Kings are only a +5 on SOG
3. Faceoffs: Kings are only +5 on faceoffs
4. Checks: Kings only +4 in hits

Don't think either team has hustled more than the other.

All I'm trying to say is that games 1 and 2 were exceptionally close games and the Rangers deserved to win at least one of them. Game 3 obviously was not so close. These Kings fans that are saying they knew this wasn't going to be a close series have clearly not watched the games.

 

[Wild Bill]

1. Play smart: The Kings lead in giveaways 58-36
2. Put pucks on net: Kings are only a +5 on SOG
3. Faceoffs: Kings are only +5 on faceoffs
4. Checks: Kings only +4 in hits

Don't think either team has hustled more than the other.

All I'm trying to say is that games 1 and 2 were exceptionally close games and the Rangers deserved to win at least one of them. Game 3 obviously was not so close. These Kings fans that are saying they knew this wasn't going to be a close series have clearly not watched the games.

Not trying to argue, I hate them just as much as you. I just don't think it has anything to do with luck. Rangers are hustling. Hope they win one and make this a series.

 

[IrishSteelhead]

Rare stock photo of Sutter smiling:

 

[gkIrish]

Not trying to argue, I hate them just as much as you. I just don't think it has anything to do with luck. Rangers are hustling. Hope they win one and make this a series.

Yea sorry wasn't trying to argue with you either. Just posting the stats to make my position clearer.

 

[GO IRISH!!!]

Lol I'm in an emotional twilight zone right now so thanks for trying.



Kings have not played like they should be up 3-0. I can't think of a fluke goal for the Rangers. Most were breakaways or came from puck movement. Seems like half the goals for the Kings were off weird deflections, bounced off two or three skates, etc. Take the Richards goal from last night...tries to pass it bounces off a Rangers skate right back to his own stick after Henrik was already moving towards the recipient of the pass. Or the Gaborik goal where there were 3 defenders right there but the puck bounces 3 different ways before landing in front of Gabby's stick. Series should be 2-1 Kings right now based on overall play.

Okay, so you site two examples of odd puck bounces. I can site plenty of other goals (Doughty's sick move in game 1 for instance) where it was just a great play. The Kings had plenty of bounces go against them throughout the playoffs. Plenty of weird puck bounces in the Chicago series that the Kings were able to overcome.

Rangers had three two goal leads in games 1 and 2. You gotta be able to overcome bad puck bounces, bad calls, and any other bad luck to close teams out. Some of the blame needs to go to the Rangers and not just the Kings' luck.

I agree it could be a 2-1 Kings series lead or even the Kings could be down 2-1. That is why the NHL playoffs are so much better than the NBA - it is the unpredictability.

 

[GO IRISH!!!]

1. Play smart: The Kings lead in giveaways 58-36
2. Put pucks on net: Kings are only a +5 on SOG
3. Faceoffs: Kings are only +5 on faceoffs
4. Checks: Kings only +4 in hits

Don't think either team has hustled more than the other.

All I'm trying to say is that games 1 and 2 were exceptionally close games and the Rangers deserved to win at least one of them. Game 3 obviously was not so close. These Kings fans that are saying they knew this wasn't going to be a close series have clearly not watched the games.

I know this may not be directed at me, but I don't know which Kings' fans you surveyed, but the consensus of predictions that I have seen among Kings' fans was the series would go 6 or 7 games. I guess some picked 5 games, but that was rare. I had the Kings' in 6 and that still may happen. I don't think my heart (or my liver) can take another game 7 this playoff year!

 

[gkIrish]

I know this may not be directed at me, but I don't know which Kings' fans you surveyed, but the consensus of predictions that I have seen among Kings' fans was the series would go 6 or 7 games. I guess some picked 5 games, but that was rare. I had the Kings' in 6 and that still may happen. I don't think my heart (or my liver) can take another game 7 this playoff year!

I'm sorry to Rangers fans but like everyone said about a week ago the West was just so much better than the East this year and this just proves it. The Rangers are a great team and just cant simply hang with the Kings right now. I firmly believe that if the Hawks/Habs were in this series we would be seeing the same outcome.

bueNDgold44 isn't a Kings fan but these are the comments I'm talking about. I know you are level-headed.

 

[GO IRISH!!!]

bueNDgold44 isn't a Kings fan but these are the comments I'm talking about. I know you are level-headed.

I guess I just read that quote a little differently. I think blueNDgold44 is right. The Western Conference has been much better than the East. I didn't read it as a knock on the Rangers or saying it was going to be a short series.

 

[STLDomer]

Spezza wants out. Sens asking for a 1st and a top prospect.

He's one of a few backup plans for the Blues if they can't get Stasny.

 

[#1rish]

1st and a top prospect is a lot for a guy who's going to be a UFA next season. No way a team gives them that.

 

[ACamp1900]

How old is Spez?? That seems like a pretty high price tag all things considered

 

[aubeirish]

That asking price is high, and no one will pay that. He will likely go for a lower pick and a prospect.

 

[JDub713]

While the subject of the thread seems to be on luck, I'd like to remind the Rangers fans how lucky they are to be up here in game 4. Carter whiffing on a puck resting on the goal line. Gaborik ringing one off the cross bar that Lundqvisk didn't find, and Carter was slashed on his breakaway attempt that should've been a penalty shot. I will maintain that a good team makes its own luck, but the Kings aren't 3 games up in the Stanley Cup Finals due to luck alone. They're the best hockey team in the league.

 

[ACamp1900]

Agreed on the last point, Chi v LA was a matchup of the leagues two best teams

 

[IrishSteelhead]

What's up with a SCF game, much less a CLOSE OUT GAME, being relegated to a bastard NBC channel tonight? It's not like the Hurricanes and Predators are in it.

 

[Emcee77]

Are you kidding me with that. The puck stopped dead on the goal line. Unbelievable.

 

[IrishSteelhead]

Shots: LA 41 NY 19. Henrik showed out tonight.

 

[calvegas04]

Kings win in front of their home crowd... good win tonight rangers

 

[gkIrish]

Kings better close out in Game 5 or this is going 7.

 

[calvegas04]

Kings better close out in Game 5 or this is going 7.

Kings in 5 or 6 this isn't going 7... The hockey gods were flavoring the Rangers tonight for some reason

 

[STLDomer]

Are you kidding me with that. The puck stopped dead on the goal line. Unbelievable.

Henrik built a "snow fort" on the goal line

 

[ThePiombino]

Kings in 5 or 6 this isn't going 7... The hockey gods were flavoring the Rangers tonight for some reason

Right, because the Kings didn't have more than their share of puck luck over first three games... If they don't win in 5, this goes 7. And God help them if the Rangers ever find any offense in the third period..