2014 NHL Playoff Race

[Ivytalk]

Can't anyone here beat the fookin' Rangers? If they win the Cup, JoltinJoe is going to be more insufferable than ever.

[bandl]

Can't anyone here beat the fookin' Rangers? If they win the Cup, JoltinJoe is going to be more insufferable than ever.

That's like dividing by zero, just not possible

[Grizalltheway]

Can't anyone here beat the fookin' Rangers? If they win the Cup, JoltinJoe is going to be more insufferable than ever.

I don't think they'll beat either team from the west. Just my unbiased .

[tribe_pride]

The King is playing too good right now for the Canadiens. Between that and Price being out, Montreal will not win the series. They may get a game, possibly 2 but he is on fire and they won't lose the series.

The Western team will be better than the Rangers assuming they make it but the difference, if the Rangers win, would have to be in the goaltending. Henrik, in the last 5 games, has a 1.2 GAA and a .964 save percentage and the only game where he gave up more than one goal (gave up 2) was in garbage time when his team stopped playing up 7-1 with only a few minutes remaining in Game 1. If he keeps playing this way, the Rangers have a chance.

Another thing that may help is that Nash has finally decided to score. He has scored now in 2 straight. If he can keep it up they will have a chance. Don't want to always count on the 3rd line which has been very good this playoffs. Finally, can't count out the unity of the Rangers after MSL's mom died just before Mother's Day They have not lost since.

[tribe_pride]

LA with 5 in the 3rd to win 6-2 over the Hawks after the Hawks took a 2-0 lead in the 2nd.

Rangers (or Canadiens) want to see this going to a hard fought 7 games so having the series tied at 1 is helpful for them

[Ivytalk]

If it turns out to be a NY-LA final, I'll watch HIstory Channel (or AHC, as it's now known).

[Grizalltheway]

If it turns out to be a NY-LA final, I'll watch HIstory Channel (or AHC, as it's now known).

I don't like either team, but there's nothing wrong with a good goaltending duel.

[tribe_pride]

Canadiens being very chippy/dirty. Rangers using their speed to get up 1-0 after 1.

[Ivytalk]

Canadiens being very chippy/dirty. Rangers using their speed to get up 1-0 after 1.

Canadiens are going to slash and butt-end that thug Kreider all night.

[tribe_pride]

Canadiens being very chippy/dirty. Rangers using their speed to get up 1-0 after 1.

Canadiens are going to slash and butt-end that thug Kreider all night.

Prust already took Stepan out of the game for about 5-10 minutes with an extremely late hit (suspendable?), Subban slew footed a Ranger in front of the Ref, and they had too many men on the ice for 5-7 seconds. 0 penalties on any of those. 1-1 with about 13 to go in the 2nd.

2 power plays so far for the Canadiens versus none for the Rangers.

Nothing big against Kreider this game. Think they tried something last game.

[tribe_pride]

Rangers win today in OT 3-2 after losing in OT on Thursday to go up 3-1. Rangers need to win 1 of next 3 and Habs need to win 3 straight to move to Stanley Cup finals. Rangers have been faster than the Habs. As long as they can stay disciplined and not take stupid penalties, they should be able to win the next one.

In the West, the Kings won yesterday to make it 2-1.

[TheDancinMonarch]

The LA Kings fans should have broken out their own version of "Chelsea Dagger" with every goal last night.

[tribe_pride]

Here is what I found for the Kings. Not sure if every team has their own song. I know the Rangers have one as well though it sounds better after a goal is scored than on the bleacherreport page (page 3 of the link below)

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1311 ... ngs/page/5" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[tribe_pride]

Rangers come back strong to take the series after a horrible Game 5.

Stanley Cup Finals - Rangers vs. ???

Rangers get 6 days rest which is nice because they have played 20 games in 42 days in the playoffs already. Chi will need to play 19 to get there while LA could get there in either 20 or 21 games.

[TheDancinMonarch]

It certainly appears that both of those western teams are better than the Rangers, or any other of the already defeated eastern teams. I see a repeat Cup for the Blackhawks.

[Grizalltheway]

Game 7 between LA and Chicago tied at 3 halfway through the 2nd. Pretty entertaining so far.

[tribe_pride]

Definitely exciting game.

Note that the Rangers swept the season series against Chicago and split with LA. Not saying they will beat whoever they face but they are playing well now with only a couple of exceptions. The Rangers started the year poorly (2-6 in their first 8) but played better as the year went on. If Lundqvist can play well and the team plays like Game 6 against the Canadiens, the Rangers will have a shot but they need to play well. And neither Quick nor Crawford are playing great in goal. Rangers will be underdogs against either team though.

[bonarae]

It's the Rangers and the Kings for the Stanley Cup.

[bandl]

It's the Rangers and the Kings for the Stanley Cup.

[TheDancinMonarch]

Game 7 between LA and Chicago tied at 3 halfway through the 2nd. Pretty entertaining so far.

Not just the game. It was a great series and a great advertisement for hockey. Great end to end action without any of the chippyness that sometimes mars hockey.

[89Hen]

That was a great game last night, but I'm starting to not like these June finishes. They're losing even avid hockey fans IMO. Need to find a way to wrap this thing up in May.

[tribe_pride]

That was a great game last night, but I'm starting to not like these June finishes. They're losing even avid hockey fans IMO. Need to find a way to wrap this thing up in May.

Yeah. I am a Ranger fan so am enjoying this run but the playoffs are so long and the guys playing this and next week will get less than 3 months off before starting their next preseason in September. That's a lot of hockey which is why many don't start watching until the playoffs. Only way to finish earlier is to shorten the season or playoffs (which started April 16) and that will never happen for $$ reasons. You have some but it's rare to have 2 days between games though the Finals will do it between Wednesday and Saturday games to avoid the Friday game

To be fair though, since about 1993, they have always finished in June. The 94 Cup finished on June 14 and 1995 finished on June 24 in a 4 game series. the 95 went that late though because it was the lockout season until mid to late January.

[TheDancinMonarch]

There is an article in our paper, The Virginian-Pilot, from Bloomberg News. It details ticket prices. The cheapest ticket for game #1 in L.A. is $495. The average price paid for a resale ticket for game #3 in N.Y. is $1,626. Makes my cable bill look pretty good in comparison. And the concessions are cheaper in my home too!

[tribe_pride]

And I can now breathe. Great playing by Lundqvist and on to LA and Game 5.