The cup finals tend to feature some pretty mediocre hockey considering the injuries ice conditions etc. however at this point it's only about playing better than the other team.
Three's rumours that Brown is hurt as well that;s why he's not been as effective. You don't realize how long these guys have been playing at such a high level...close to 2 months. Incredible.
The 1942 Leafs won the cup final after being down 0-3. Just sayin' From what I've watched, neither team dominated, but the Devils have been snakebit in OT twice. If they lose in similar fashion to go down 0-3 they could conceivably get a couple wins the same way LA has and make a real series of this, but the odds are stacked against them.
Some folks are saying that the Kings have been really bad and that Quick has essentially bailed them out. If that's the case, what does that say about the Devils? Even the most unbeatable goalies are beatable sometimes. Look at Giguere's run with Anaheim in 2003, and Kiprusoff's run in 2004. Those series were taken to 7 games, and the goalkeeping was what kept them there, but the whole team eventually just couldn't win. The Devils look worse (if not worse, then snakebitten) than the Kings right now, so if the Kings are poor in the Finals, then the Devils are atrocious.
I don't think the Kings have been bad at all. They're playing a hard forecheck game, and a bend but don't break defensive style. What I've seen is stretches of dominating play from the Kings followed by some defensive lapses of sorts that Quick bails them out on. Neither team is matching lines, so we're not seeing the usual coaches chess match, and what it makes for is some flowing hockey that's punctuated by some tight checking. Both Brodeur and Quick have been very good, and that allows their teams the confidence to play their game.
this series has brought the worst performances by the kings all playoffs and yet they have found a way to steal two games. i thought game 1 was very even, but game 2 we (kings) were outplayed. that said, that way to finding victory even when your not playing your best is the mark of a champion. i keep reading that the devils have to start playing betteer, but i would not be surprised at all if the kings step it up to their pre-finals form as well.
all you zombies need to put your glasses on. both teams are playing excellent defense. the Kings penalty killing is demonic. they pressure the puck so well that the Devils have had very few good chances. Quick is a goalie with a very difficult style to deal with. he cuts down angles better than anyone i've seen since Hasek. he's out of the crease almost all the time so shooting high should be the strategy, but there's hardly any room if the forward gets in too tight. this is not to say that the Kings are playing well offensively, because they aren't, but NJ is a strong defensive team and Brodeur has played very well. we expected a tight defensive battle from the onset. you can say that the Kings stole the first two games, but that wouldn't be the line if they were played at the Staples Center. it's only becuz they won two on the road that people are saying that. but they've won every game they have played on the road, so what else is new?
And remember, LA hockey fans...you don't win anything other than a useless silver bowl for going 15-6 in the postseason. Cue the checklist! Cleaning Solutions? Check. Dusters? Check. Brooms? Check. Towels? Check. Dustbins? Check. More cleaning solutions? Check. One large trash can full o' whoop-arse? Check. Now you have all the ingredients necessary to conduct a sweep. Take note, folks! Good luck!
well, well. the Kings seem to be able to score a goal or two at home. if they can just manage to score a couple more Wednesday, i think they might have a chance to beat New Jersey, but we all know that the Devils will try to make a street fight out of it.
this game was so dominant, so punishing, so demoralizing, i think the devils are gonna have a very tough time avoiding the sweep. coming in i was thinking a close kings win, and then a NJ win game 4, but after this game i don't how they can come back.
i watched some of the post-game interviews and Kopi and Justin Williams said that the game was won by the special teams. Stoll, Mitchell and Green handling the 5 on 3 plus the PP goals by Carter and Williams cooked the Devils. NJ beefed the first goal by Martinez, but Brodeur didn't have control of the puck, not long enough to get a whistle. the Kings might have to get on a plane on Thursday, but it looks pretty good for them right now.
it still hasn't been brodeur's fault, he's been magnificent and everyone would be raving about his play if he wasn't across from quick. i agree special teams made the game, our penalty kill is surreal, especially getting out of the 5 on 3 like you said, but that coupled with a power play that finally showed signs of life, i just can't see NJ even winning one anymore. after the first goal the kings started playing like they have all playoffs, and new jersey just hasn't gotten into that groove and i don't know if they will have the chance anymore.
oh well, can't win em all, but were pretty close no complaints about how we played. first goal was kinda fluky 2nd a moment of brilliance. although i don't think the penalty that resulted in our pp goal was as bad as the announcers wanted to make it out to be, it was clearly late, glad we didn't win and give them an excuse. im still fully confident we'll come through, the only thing is if quick lost confidence
15-6 sugar bowl hockey from the Kings? Yuck! They should be ashamed of themselves for not getting the job done tonight. Smarten up on Saturday, LA. A run-of-the-mill major junior team can pull this off.
Alright listen. I've tolerated enough of your base posts but the lack of respect for Lord Stanley's cup is too much. Elevate your game or leave this forum.
i think i'm going to create a new thread entitled "Hachiko's 2012 NHL Playoffs Thread". feel free to endorse this action.
trolling duck fans pretending to be kings fans deserve less... especially when they have zero hockey knowledge and a "disrespect" for the greatest prize in sports...
i was a bandwagon Ducks fan in 2003 having been a Kings fan from the early '80s. but i started watching hockey on TV in Chicago in the mid '50s. the first Stanley Cup Finals i remember was in 1961 when the Blackhawks beat the Wings.
i might be crazy, but game 5 the pressure is still all on NJD, its not a must win for La. game 6 would be tho. what do you guys think about reintegrating gagne?
