2012 NHL Playoffs (LA Kings: Stanley Cup Champs)

[Devil]

Oh yes.

[kronovan]

Awesome! Man Marty was great in that game.

[gellar]

Oh yes.

COME AT ME BRO.

Also that win just saved me at least $100!

[Devil]

gells - You going to a game in Jersey?

I'm going to try and get down there for game 2. Highly unlikely with wife and 2 kids now, it ain't like before but I'm going to try!

[gellar]

I'm for sure going to game 1.  Out in Manhattan already for work that week.

[Devil]

Nice - Have fun, but not at the game.

[theohall]

And today it was announced that the NHL is looking into the actions of Phoenix for their actions after the game was over.

"After Dustin Penner's overtime goal won the Western Conference finals, Coyotes Martin Hanzal skated aggressively toward a referee, goalie Mike Smith threw his stick and Keith Yandle was quoted as saying the referees worked as teammates with the Kings."

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nhl-investigating-coyotes-post-game-163010386--nhl.html

As for Rozsival, yeah it was a hard hit.  Hard hits hurt.  Hockey is a full contact sport.  Painful yet not illegal nor does it warrant being tossed out of the NHL.

I am already looking forward to our first matchup next year.

/not sure who to root for tonight.  I think I would prefer to see New York but the Devils are pretty hot.

It's not like the Kings were Saints in this series or the series against the Blues.  I'd be curious to how that series turn out if Pietrangelo isn't boarded head first into the boards - which should have been a major and was in the Phoenix series - and had not had to miss the next game.  King should have been suspended - the same as Hanzal.  The hits are very similar yet King  - for the Kings - was not suspended.

Don't pull this crap about Phoenix Coyotes player's actions when the Kings have been playing beyond the edge for awhile now and getting away with it.

[theohall]

Go Devils!

Nice to see Bryce Salvador getting some good press on NHL.com.  Still mad the Blues traded him.

[Clanwolfer]

Ugh. Mandatory training until 7:30 on Wednesday. So I'll miss puck drop, for sure - hopefully I can get to the Rock in time for part of period 1, at least.

[leo8877]

Unofficial poll, of course

[gellar]

And today it was announced that the NHL is looking into the actions of Phoenix for their actions after the game was over.

"After Dustin Penner's overtime goal won the Western Conference finals, Coyotes Martin Hanzal skated aggressively toward a referee, goalie Mike Smith threw his stick and Keith Yandle was quoted as saying the referees worked as teammates with the Kings."

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nhl-investigating-coyotes-post-game-163010386--nhl.html

As for Rozsival, yeah it was a hard hit.  Hard hits hurt.  Hockey is a full contact sport.  Painful yet not illegal nor does it warrant being tossed out of the NHL.

I am already looking forward to our first matchup next year.

/not sure who to root for tonight.  I think I would prefer to see New York but the Devils are pretty hot.

It's not like the Kings were Saints in this series or the series against the Blues.  I'd be curious to how that series turn out if Pietrangelo isn't boarded head first into the boards - which should have been a major and was in the Phoenix series - and had not had to miss the next game.  King should have been suspended - the same as Hanzal.  The hits are very similar yet King  - for the Kings - was not suspended.

Don't pull this crap about Phoenix Coyotes player's actions when the Kings have been playing beyond the edge for awhile now and getting away with it.

VRWC

[Kagath]

I always read that in Fry's father from Futurama. "Y2K!"

[gellar]

Ugh. Mandatory training until 7:30 on Wednesday. So I'll miss puck drop, for sure - hopefully I can get to the Rock in time for part of period 1, at least.

Don't suppose you have an extra ticket I could buy?

[Devil]

Unofficial poll, of course

Love this!

Nobody who knows anything about hockey would go to ESPN for any reason.

[theohall]

And today it was announced that the NHL is looking into the actions of Phoenix for their actions after the game was over.

"After Dustin Penner's overtime goal won the Western Conference finals, Coyotes Martin Hanzal skated aggressively toward a referee, goalie Mike Smith threw his stick and Keith Yandle was quoted as saying the referees worked as teammates with the Kings."

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nhl-investigating-coyotes-post-game-163010386--nhl.html

As for Rozsival, yeah it was a hard hit.  Hard hits hurt.  Hockey is a full contact sport.  Painful yet not illegal nor does it warrant being tossed out of the NHL.

I am already looking forward to our first matchup next year.

/not sure who to root for tonight.  I think I would prefer to see New York but the Devils are pretty hot.

It's not like the Kings were Saints in this series or the series against the Blues.  I'd be curious to how that series turn out if Pietrangelo isn't boarded head first into the boards - which should have been a major and was in the Phoenix series - and had not had to miss the next game.  King should have been suspended - the same as Hanzal.  The hits are very similar yet King  - for the Kings - was not suspended.

Don't pull this crap about Phoenix Coyotes player's actions when the Kings have been playing beyond the edge for awhile now and getting away with it.

VRWC

Kings fans writing that... duh.. No bias from you either, right??   

[kronovan]

Love this!

Nobody who knows anything about hockey would go to ESPN for any reason.

It's interesting that the numbers for NHL.COM staff predictions' are almost the reverse - 10:5. From my perspective this is the hardest cup to venture a prediction for in years. The only 1 I'll make is that the series will either end early (4-5) or go the full distance. I'm thinking it favors the Kings if it ends early and the Devils if it goes 7, but I wouldn't bet on either team. Hehe...not much of a prediction.  

[Darren8r]

Love this!

Nobody who knows anything about hockey would go to ESPN for any reason.

It's interesting that the numbers for NHL.COM staff predictions' are almost the reverse - 10:5. From my perspective this is the hardest cup to venture a prediction for in years. The only 1 I'll make is that the series will either end early (4-5) or go the full distance. I'm thinking it favors the Kings if it ends early and the Devils if it goes 7, but I wouldn't bet on either team. Hehe...not much of a prediction.  

I noticed this too. I was actually surprised with the numbers being in such high favour of the Devils, everyone I talk to is always picking the Kings. I think you're right in saying if the series ends early it will be the Kings, but if it goes the distance the Devils will take it. This has been proven throughout the 2012 Playoffs for both teams. I'm personally leaning towards the Devils, but you have to give the Kings some credit. The Kings have a capable team. I think it will come down to which team gets an early series lead and which goalie stays hot.

[gellar]

Managed to get a pretty great seat for game 1 at face value (which was still expensive).  AMPED.

[Devil]

From what I can tell, this thing is a toss-up until they hit the ice.

Need to see what happens tomorrow night to form any opinion at all.

[Kagath]

I'm predicting that one of these teams will go on to win the cup and that it will take four to seven games to finish the series.

See, I can make them as good as the pros.

[gellar]

From what I can tell, this thing is a toss-up until they hit the ice.

Need to see what happens tomorrow night to form any opinion at all.

Even then I don't think we'll know.  Both of these teams are good enough to bounce back from a game 1 loss. 

[Devil]

From what I can tell, this thing is a toss-up until they hit the ice.

Need to see what happens tomorrow night to form any opinion at all.

Even then I don't think we'll know.  Both of these teams are good enough to bounce back from a game 1 loss. 

Probably right, I just assume that the trends will continue and the Kings will win game one, but might be able to tell something from how they play.

[gellar]

From what I can tell, this thing is a toss-up until they hit the ice.

Need to see what happens tomorrow night to form any opinion at all.

Even then I don't think we'll know.  Both of these teams are good enough to bounce back from a game 1 loss. 

Probably right, I just assume that the trends will continue and the Kings will win game one, but might be able to tell something from how they play.

I'm really curious to see how the Devils respond to the LA forecheck after playing against the Rangers for a series.  I think the biggest thing in all of the LA series' were that the other teams' D wilted under the pressure of four lines of gigantic dudes slamming into you repeatedly for 60 minutes.

[Devil]

Philly had some decent offense and big guys.

Rangers had all-out defense and an MVP goalie.

They've played both, but not at once. That's the key.

It's gonna be fun!

[theohall]

From what I can tell, this thing is a toss-up until they hit the ice.

Need to see what happens tomorrow night to form any opinion at all.

Even then I don't think we'll know.  Both of these teams are good enough to bounce back from a game 1 loss. 

Probably right, I just assume that the trends will continue and the Kings will win game one, but might be able to tell something from how they play.

I'm really curious to see how the Devils respond to the LA forecheck after playing against the Rangers for a series.  I think the biggest thing in all of the LA series' were that the other teams' D wilted under the pressure of four lines of gigantic dudes slamming into you repeatedly for 60 minutes.

Not all of those hits were legal - losing Pietrangelo for a game and only getting minor penalty which should have been a major (thanks to Steven Walkom) letting King get away with it.  Kings won't get those breaks any more since that official has been removed from the rest of the playoffs.

But go ahead and brag about how big they are and whatever knowing King and Brown have been playing beyond the edge and getting away with it.

Kings still have not faced the Devils forecheck and it causes defenseman to screw up because of how fast the Devils are at executing that forecheck.  It also stops the big guys from getting the big hits, because they get stuck in the defensive zone.   It's not like the Flyers were a small team that does not hit.  But believe what you want.

[kronovan]

AHL and Memorial Cup update

Looks like 2 Canadian teams facing off in the AHL's Calder Cup wasn't meant to be, as the Norfolk Admirals soundly defeated the St. Johns Ice Caps. So the Cup final looks like this:

Toronto Marlies (Leaf's affiliate) Vs Norfolk Admirals (Lightning's affiliate)

I was predicting the WHL's Edmonton Oil Kings would be the front runners for the Memorial Cup, but it looks like they ran out of steam and took some very lopsided thrashings. The surprise champ was the Quebec Major Junior Hockey Leagues's Shawinigan Cataractes who defeated the favored Ontario Hockey League's London Knights. The Knights are the team Dale Hunter left to coach the Capitols and the team he's since left the Caps to return to. Hey you can't blame him; that teams is a family business. The cup final was a great, defensively tight and hard fought game, that took an overtime goal to decide.

[gellar]

From what I can tell, this thing is a toss-up until they hit the ice.

Need to see what happens tomorrow night to form any opinion at all.

Even then I don't think we'll know.  Both of these teams are good enough to bounce back from a game 1 loss. 

Probably right, I just assume that the trends will continue and the Kings will win game one, but might be able to tell something from how they play.

I'm really curious to see how the Devils respond to the LA forecheck after playing against the Rangers for a series.  I think the biggest thing in all of the LA series' were that the other teams' D wilted under the pressure of four lines of gigantic dudes slamming into you repeatedly for 60 minutes.

Not all of those hits were legal - losing Pietrangelo for a game and only getting minor penalty which should have been a major (thanks to Steven Walkom) letting King get away with it.  Kings won't get those breaks any more since that official has been removed from the rest of the playoffs.

But go ahead and brag about how big they are and whatever knowing King and Brown have been playing beyond the edge and getting away with it.

Kings still have not faced the Devils forecheck and it causes defenseman to screw up because of how fast the Devils are at executing that forecheck.  It also stops the big guys from getting the big hits, because they get stuck in the defensive zone.   It's not like the Flyers were a small team that does not hit.  But believe what you want.

LOL

It is now the VLAKC. Sorry VRWC, you've become second fiddle.




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[walTer]

Kings in 6.

[Koz]

It should be a good series though the chances of me getting to watch a whole game are about .01%.

Despite the icky feeling I will be rooting for the Devils. Cheering for anything from California goes well beyond icky.

[gellar]

anything from California goes well beyond icky.

AWWWWWW YEAH.

I'm about to leave to grab a train to the stadium.  If I die, I'll be the guy in the yellow Kings hat.

[leo8877]

anything from California goes well beyond icky.

AWWWWWW YEAH.

I'm about to leave to grab a train to the stadium.  If I die, I'll be the guy in the yellow Kings hat.

Bright purple jersey?

[gellar]

anything from California goes well beyond icky.

AWWWWWW YEAH.

I'm about to leave to grab a train to the stadium.  If I die, I'll be the guy in the yellow Kings hat.

Bright purple jersey?

Still don't own one of those, oddly enough.

[gellar]

Oh hey.


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[Devil]

Nice!

Quick doesn't look so hot now, does he? Hasn't even made a save in the second period yet!

[leo8877]

Devils miss open nets he doesn't have to!

Edit: or not.

gellar how are the NJ fans?

[gellar]

I'm in a pretty fancy section, but so far everyone has been pretty cool. The arena is not nearly as loud as I was expecting though. No joke, Staples Center is noticeably louder.


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[kronovan]

What the Hell is it with these New York area rinks always falling apart.    Oh, and nice rally back by the Devils in the late 2nd. Before that I was thinking they should just skate off and concede the game to the Kings. 

[kronovan]

Nice goal by Kopitar.

[Devil]

Feeling good after that one.

Could have even won.

Must win on Sat. though.

[leo8877]

Money well spent to see your team win a Stanley Cup game.