Hockey's Frozen Four
Gary Bettman and the NHL would love a New York Ranger, Los Angeles Kings Cup Final this writer believe that Martin Brodeur will have something to say about it. Finally it comes down to four teams. The defending champion Bruins were de-throned and teams like Detroit and Pittsburgh did not fulfill their potential, the last remaining teams may not be the usual suspects, but both series lack no shortage of drama.
(1) New York Rangers vs. (6) New Jersey Devils
Skinny: After winning two games 7's on home ice the Rangers are looking to reach the cup final for the first time since winning it in 1994. While the owners of Madison Square Garden would love another game 7,making it twelve home games in the first 3 rounds, their opponent may have other plans. Since last year's all-star break the Devils have been a winning machine. It certainly doesn't hurt getting the 4th overall pick last year in Adam Larsson. Last year Brodeur struggled, but with the help from his friends: Anton Volchenkov, Bryce Salvador and Andy Greene have employed a tough trap with players willing to do anything to block shots. The team split the season series three games apiece.
Ranges win if: Henrik Lundqvist is the best player on the ice. The Vezina and Hart nominee has had a tremendous season and playoffs. His team wins a lot of 2-1 games so keeping the Devils under 2 goals is a must. Brad Richards must continue to spark the offense and the power play needs to start clicking. Ryan Callahan and Marian Gaborik need to contribute with goals and the team continues to buy in on blocking shots and playing a hard hitting defense.
Devils win if: Ilya Kovalchuk stills play with a chip on his shoulder. After signing the big contract and never being able to live up to it, Kovalchuk is finally showing why he is one of the NHL’s best talents. Kovalchuk had never been able to win a playoff round before this season mostly because he played on a weak Atlanta Thrashers team. The top line with Kovy, David Clarkson and Zach Parise forms a gritty but very capable scoring 1st line. The Devils defense first approach is similar to the Rangers, but play the trap game better. To win the series the team will need to score more then 2 goals a game and Martin Brodeur has to still drink from the fountain of youth.
Prediction: Devils in 6
(3) Phoenix Coyotes vs. (8) Los Angeles Kings
Skinny: The teams split the season series at three games apiece but five of the games were without Jeff Carter in the line-up. Since the Carter addition and Darryl Sutter becoming the new coach, the Kings have been the hottest team in hockey. After knocking the 1st and 2nd seeds, the Kings are poised to take down the 3rd seed Coyotes. After taking game 1 on the road, they now boast a perfect 6-0 record in the playoffs. The Coyotes must split at home to have a chance in the series.
Coyotes win if: Mike Smith’s Cinderella story continues to have a happy ending. There is no denying the reason the Coyotes are here is because of Smith. While he can block most shots he can’t score them…..well almost. The Yotes don’t have the offense scoring depth the Kings provide but they do find ways to be productive. Antoine Vermette, Ray Whitney and Shane Doan will have to provide offense and Oliver Ekman-Larsson can’t look out of place like he did in game 1.
Kings win if: They play the way they are now. With the return of Simon Gagne the question is do you rock the boat? The team has played superb without Gagne and while he can provide secondary scoring the team has shown that all four lines can score as evidenced in the game last night. Fourth liner Dwight King potted two goals giving him four in the playoffs, to put in perspective he had five all season. Jonathan Quick is the backbone of the Kings and if he falters so will the team, if he continues to play like he is now the Kings will be a favourite to win it all.
Prediction: Kings in 6.
Monday, May 14, 2012
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Let the Games Begin
The beauty of having the NFL DRAFT in late-April is that all the major free-agent signings have been dealt with. As with every off-season it’s not clear to determine who really won and lost the off-season but with Peyton Manning and Tim Tebow changing teamsthere was no short of big stories this off-season. Here are my top five storylines:
Manning Heads to the Rockies: Let’s not beat around the bush. The biggest free-agent on the market was without a doubt the biggest storyline. With many twists and turns, the “Peyton Manning Saga”, the search for Manning’s new home finally came to a halt when Manning agreed to a 5 year 96 million dollar contract with the Denver Broncos. He joins a team with an above average offensive-line and a running game that's as good as he had since his 1st year in the league when Marshall Faulk was a member of the Colts. Time will tell how the Manning Era in Denver will go, but with the “John’s” leading the Broncos brain trust in (Elway and Fox) and a defense that’s young and fast, this could finally be the environment Manning needs to do what he does best. Manage 4 Quarters of Football.
Tebow Mania hits the Big Apple: The 48- hour roller coaster continued for the Denver Bronco’s organization when the shipped former 1st round pick Tim Tebow to the New York Jets for a 4th and a 6th. After taking the team to an 8-8 record, winning the AFC West Division and upsetting the Steelers in the Wild-Card Round, Tebow was shipped to the Jets mere weeks after Mark Sanchez signed a contract extension. While Rex remains confident that Sanchez will start, with the way the season ended last year and if the Jets struggle out of the gates expect Tebowmania to hit the Big Apple led by Wildcat guru Tony Sparano.
Million Dollar man in Buffalo….Huh? If you read the title of this storyline and still haven’t heard the news about the Buffalo Bills then you must be living under a rock. The Bills are a team that was on the cusp of moving and several weeks into the season were 1st in the AFC East. After a second half collapse the Bills added the second biggest name on the market. Former 1st overall pick outside linebacker Mario Williams signed with the Bills and boy did he get paid.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_fbUD35lHc
Williams went to Buffalo the first day free agency opened and never left. Signing a 6 year 100 million dollar contract with the Bills. His presence alone adds to arguably the best defensive line in the AFC with Kyle Williams and sophomore Marcell Dareus. However,Williams is just apiece to the puzzle and there are still pieces missing. This was a big move by the Bills who want to return to the playoffs for the first time since 1999.
Miami Meltdown: It all started the second Free Agency opened when the Dolphins shipped Brandon Marshall to the Bears for nothing in return. It looked like it was clearing cap for Manning but he took his talents to Denver. So there was trading up for Robert Griffin the Third…BUT the Washington Redskins beat them to the punch. The Dolphins are the high school kids who ended up taking their cousin to prom, only to have her leave with someone else. The embarrassments continued when they signed David Garrard who missed all of last season because no one wanted to hire him. Coming off his first 1,000 yard rushing season Reggie Bush will have to take a major load off Matt Moore and or Ryan Tannehill. Unfortunately for Dolphins fan, this was your chance at a franchise QB and you screwed you, so YES all hope is lost. So to conclude Ryan Tannehill will be another Chad Henne. A failure.
Last but CERTAINLY not Least:
I would be remiss if I did not mention the New Orleans Saints. One of my favourite teams led by two of my favourite NFL personalities in Drew Brees and Sean Peyton. This was a forgetful off-season for the Saints, who were hit hard with a major punishment for Greg Williams and the Defense’s “Bounty-Scandal.” We all know that the reason for the scandal was that Williams and certain members of the defense would give added incentive to anyone who knocked players out of the game, but it was not the crime as much as it was the cover-up that pushed the NFL's hand. When you think at how concussions have been such a hot topic as of late and you take in to consideration the Saints have 17 unsportsmanlike penalties on defense (2nd most only to the Raiders) since 2009, the punishment fits the crime. The biggest loss will be Sean Peyton, whose play-calling will solely be missed on a team that relies on its scoring.
The NFL Off-season was again fast and quick. Players switching teams happens in all pro sports, but it seemed more often this year with some of the contracts sign, players were more concerned on getting paid then getting their name etched on the Lombardi trophy.
Hollywood has a place for Hockey
The Los Angeles Kings magical playoff run is putting hockey on the map in Hollywood
If you finish 29th in league scoring during the year and still make the playoffs, there's probably only one reason why? Goaltender Jonathan Quick finally had his breakout year and is putting the team on his back and possibly into the Cup Finals. Quick's numbers were Vezina worthy posting a 35-21-13 record with a 1.95 G.A.A. and a league best 10 Shutouts. The Kings were also part of the most 1-goal games this season winning 30 of a possible 48. There are people however, who believe that the Kings really took off on Dec.20, the day Darryl Sutter became the new coach replacing Terry Murray. When Sutter stepped in, the Kings were out of the playoff picture, but he soon realized the strengths and weaknesses of this team, and decided if they were going to be a low-scoring team that they better play good defensive hockey. Currently, up 3-0 on the St. Louis Blues in the 2nd round shows that his guidance and leadership has been nothing short of a prayer for the Kings.
When Sutter was introduced, they were just coming off an 8-2 pounding at the hands of the Detroit Red Wings. GM Dean Lombardi had seen enough. So in comes Sutter and turns the team around going 26-13-11 down the stretch and into the post-season, and if that wasn't too shabby enough they knocked off the President Trophy winners Vancouver Canucks easily in five games. The big off-season the Kings had finally started to pay-off when they brought in Jeff Carter at the deadline. Carter brought instant scoring capability and his time spent with Mike Richards gave the Kings some familiarity. With the addition of Carter the teams Centre's position was set with Kopitar, Stoll and Trever Lewis down the middle. While the Dustin's (Penner and Brown) have really hit their stride and are helping carry the team's offensive load. The team's real asset though lies on its blue line. With young guys Slava Voynov and Drew Doughty paired with gritty veterans Willie Mitchell, Rob Scudari and Matt Greene the team has a lot of heart and their ability to block shots in front of their net minder is an added bonus.
It may be a surprise to many that the Kings are having so much success, but for me it's just a good team realizing it's full potential. During the course of the season, I was up many late nights (being that I live on the east coast) watching L.A and the only thing I took notice too was their inability to score. The common mistake among hockey people, is that they think that a team's core and chemistry can be formed over a six weeks span during pre-season, however as is the case in most sports it takes a team time during the season to get in sync and endure many obstacles, to finally come out on top.
The Kings are a perfect 5-0 on the road in the playoffs and by finishing eighth they will have to continue the hot road play onto either Nashville or Phoenix. The team is just five wins away from the first Stanley Cup berth since they lost to the Montreal Canadiens in the '93 Cup Final. They also have a guy in Mike Richards who has won at every level he's played but never a Stanley Cup. Hi s leadership will continue to play a pivotal factor for the Kings. There's no question the team will live and die by the play of Jonathan Quick and as long as the Kings can hold their opponents to two goals or less this team will have a great shot at hosting lord Stanley.
If you finish 29th in league scoring during the year and still make the playoffs, there's probably only one reason why? Goaltender Jonathan Quick finally had his breakout year and is putting the team on his back and possibly into the Cup Finals. Quick's numbers were Vezina worthy posting a 35-21-13 record with a 1.95 G.A.A. and a league best 10 Shutouts. The Kings were also part of the most 1-goal games this season winning 30 of a possible 48. There are people however, who believe that the Kings really took off on Dec.20, the day Darryl Sutter became the new coach replacing Terry Murray. When Sutter stepped in, the Kings were out of the playoff picture, but he soon realized the strengths and weaknesses of this team, and decided if they were going to be a low-scoring team that they better play good defensive hockey. Currently, up 3-0 on the St. Louis Blues in the 2nd round shows that his guidance and leadership has been nothing short of a prayer for the Kings.
When Sutter was introduced, they were just coming off an 8-2 pounding at the hands of the Detroit Red Wings. GM Dean Lombardi had seen enough. So in comes Sutter and turns the team around going 26-13-11 down the stretch and into the post-season, and if that wasn't too shabby enough they knocked off the President Trophy winners Vancouver Canucks easily in five games. The big off-season the Kings had finally started to pay-off when they brought in Jeff Carter at the deadline. Carter brought instant scoring capability and his time spent with Mike Richards gave the Kings some familiarity. With the addition of Carter the teams Centre's position was set with Kopitar, Stoll and Trever Lewis down the middle. While the Dustin's (Penner and Brown) have really hit their stride and are helping carry the team's offensive load. The team's real asset though lies on its blue line. With young guys Slava Voynov and Drew Doughty paired with gritty veterans Willie Mitchell, Rob Scudari and Matt Greene the team has a lot of heart and their ability to block shots in front of their net minder is an added bonus.
It may be a surprise to many that the Kings are having so much success, but for me it's just a good team realizing it's full potential. During the course of the season, I was up many late nights (being that I live on the east coast) watching L.A and the only thing I took notice too was their inability to score. The common mistake among hockey people, is that they think that a team's core and chemistry can be formed over a six weeks span during pre-season, however as is the case in most sports it takes a team time during the season to get in sync and endure many obstacles, to finally come out on top.
The Kings are a perfect 5-0 on the road in the playoffs and by finishing eighth they will have to continue the hot road play onto either Nashville or Phoenix. The team is just five wins away from the first Stanley Cup berth since they lost to the Montreal Canadiens in the '93 Cup Final. They also have a guy in Mike Richards who has won at every level he's played but never a Stanley Cup. Hi s leadership will continue to play a pivotal factor for the Kings. There's no question the team will live and die by the play of Jonathan Quick and as long as the Kings can hold their opponents to two goals or less this team will have a great shot at hosting lord Stanley.
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