I dont want to get ahead of myself as we have another game to close out the Habs but the Kings are not a good matchup for us and they are dominating the Hawks lately. When SJ had 3 chances to close them out and didnt I knew they were going to get going. I am happy for Gaborik but I want no part of the Kings matchup wise even though LA/NY is awesome for NHL
I was/am rooting for the Hawks as I said from the start. The Kings are so deep. Look at those 4 C's. And Quick is on the level with Hank as best in the world (along with Rask). I think the Hawks are/were the "better" matchup for us, with the understanding that neither matchup is great because both teams are so good. This isn't a Boston/Montreal situation where Montreal was clearly the better matchup for us. This is a pick your poison situation, but to me I would rather have played the Hawks. Not as deep, not as big, Crawford is not Quick, and they won last year so maybe they aren't as hungry as a Kings team trying to get the cup back (maybe the Hawks would have taken us a little lightly). Tonight it was clear we wanted the Hawks to win though. Going 7 games was the main thing we wanted from the WCF. That was not a good 1st period for us. If both of these series go 5 or 6 games, looks likely at the moment, there will be a lot of days with no hockey. Then we'd head out West to play a red-hot Kings team. Would be a big challenge. But exciting to see a Hank/Quick goalie matchup. Either way tough, but I agree Dis that the Kings were the tougher matchup.
LA is lethal defensively and offensively....Chicago needs to find a way......they are being suffocated by LAK.
I'd love to see the Kings and Rangers in the Cup. Both are playing ridiculously good defense and offense. Both Teams are peaking at the right time, while both the Habs and Hawks seem to be skating on their heels, more than attacking the net. The GAA of all 4 goalies is quit impressive as well. Here's to a NY-LA Cup,....may the Hockey God's be pleased, and not jinx the inevitable...."Feats Don't Fail Us Now".....
The Kings can be as tough as any team. However, when they were down 3 games to San Jose, I thought I was seeing the Kings at their worst self destruct mode, moreso than all year.... plus L.A. wasn't so dominating during the year. Tho' the Kings have put some very impressive consecutive winning streaks in the Playoffs, they at times, seem to go from Hot to COLD. Then wake up with a new strategy and game plan. It does amaze me how resilient they have been to bounce back, when most Kings Fans were ready to stick a fork in them. Pushed around by the Hawks in the one game, they responded by dominating the neutral zone, plugging it up, then taking the Hawks to the boards, wearing the very board checking Hawks victims of their own style of game. Personally, I have no preference between the Kings or Rangers to win the Cup. (as long as one or the other does as much).... Spending half my life between both Cities, and Fans of both Teams. All I want to see is damn good Hockey at its best , being played. (well to tell the truth it would make my day to see the Rangers win another Cup, and have a great time doing it), reminiscent of 94. What a great year and Cup Victory, one of the better in recent decades, IMO. Besides, the Kings will have to adopt a whole new strategy if they even want to hang with the Rangers. I wonder out loud, if they can keep pulling rabbits out of hats, change game plans with each team, while pulling off another Cup. I kind of doubt it, tho' many fear the Kings as said here often-"the kings have a hot hand right now" and have proven even a 3 game deficit is not enough to put them away. Yet, the scores in the Hawks-King Series, may not be inductive of the games played. One glaring weakness I see of the Kings IMO, is they seem to let their guard down with a few minutes left in regulation. Making it much to easy for a comeback, or a few easy goals past Quick late in the 3rd period. The way both Quick and Lundqvist are playing this will be one tight close scoring game, I would think. Both goalies are utterly having the playoffs of their lives. <.940 GAA. Hockey doesn't get any better than this..... In the spirit of great Yankee pounding of Los Angeles in past decades, I'd love to see another NY-LA shootout....
Not bad for us that they played an extra 22 minutes last night. And the right team won to extend the series. I fully expect the Kings to win game 6, but at least they were extended a little.
If LA had won yesterday they would have been off for an entire week before Gm 1. There is such a thing as too much rest where they could easily come out flat in Gm 1 from being rusty. Winning Gm 6 would give them 4 days off, giving them a chance to be rested but not rusty in Gm 1. Schedule wise, Gm 6 is the best option for LA.
The Rangers need to win for it to matter but I hope LA and Chicago play a game seven that goes five overtimes.
Agreed Mess. We want a game 7 out there. That's always been our hope. And yes...we need to win tonight for it to matter....
Now that would be the eptiome of a GREAT Hockey Finish....for two outstanding Playoff Teams. The only 2 Teams who have shared hoisting the Cup in the last 3 years. 5 OT's, wow, begin one night and finish it off 24 hours later..... I doubt the Cup Championship Series, can rival the play of these two semi-final series. Cup Championships rarely equal the parity of play seen in some playoff series.
I expect the Kings to win Game 6 as well. Last night do or die game for the Hawks, wasn't bad, yet I expected more dominance out of Chicago. No sitting back for either team, if they want to win the series. Both will have to bring their A games, then some. Maybe bring out Floyd Mayweather as a defenseman. But then he hasn't knocked anyone out in 7 years, so scratch that. Maybe Tyson can come out and bite someones ear off....LOL....all in good fun, (not biting an ear off, only the mere thought of such)....! The Kings have not ceased to amaze me, just when I think they've been dealt a death blow, here they come storming back, with a different game plan. Yet, the Hawks can beat L.A. Tho' I'd be shocked if they did. But, it could happen....! Then again, regardless of who wins, all I want to see is good/great Hockey being played....
