The Stanley Cup Finals are set, and it will pit the two teams from the two largest television markets in America, as the New York Rangers will take on the Los Angeles Kings. It has been a long journey for both teams, with the Kings playing the maximum of 21 games to get here and the Rangers needing 20 to get to this point. Goaltending is a major strength for both teams as Henrik Lundqvist and Jonathan Quick are perennial Vezina Trophy candidates that have some for of championship in their resumes, with Lundqivst winning a gold medal in 2006 and Quick winning the Stanley Cup in 2012. Defensively, the teams are fairly even, as the Rangers are a better than the sum of the parts unit that doesn't have a true puck mover. The Kings have that puck mover in Drew Doughty, but like the Rangers, the unit is largely a cast of players that do better as a unit than individually. For the talent assembled up front, it's rather surprising that both the Kings and Rangers are inconsistent when it comes to scoring. Marian Gaborik has come up big for the Kings, and certainly, the likes of Anze Kopitar and Jeff Carter will need to step up their game. A player to watch here is Tyler Toffoli, who scored a lot in junior and the AHL, and figures to be a big part of the team's future. The Rangers are in a similar situation, with Martin St. Louis playing closer to his 2004 form. Brad Richards has had a better year after a dismal 2013, but Rick Nash still hasn't played to expectations. Unlikely sources for goals have emerged for the Rangers, and they will need to do so if they want to walk away with the Stanley Cup.
Prediction: The series will go either six or seven games, and while it isn't wise to count out the Rangers, it also isn't wise to count out the Kings, either. However, the Kings have been here before, and I think that will be enough of a difference for me to say the Kings will take it in seven.
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