It took seven games, but we finally know our matchups for the Conference Finals.
After going seven games in each of their series, the New York Rangers will travel to Montreal to face the host Canadiens. While out west, the Chicago Blackhawks have had a few days rest, as the Los Angeles Kings went seven games with their series against the Ducks.
The Stanley Cup Playoffs continue this afternoon at 1 p.m. EST (NBC/CBC) in Montreal for game one, between the Canadiens and Rangers.
The Bell Centre will be rocking Saturday afternoon for this meeting of original six teams. It’s their first meeting in the playoffs in 18 years. The key to this series will be goaltending.
Both Carey Price and Henrik Lundqvist have proven to be serious candidates for the Conn Smythe Trophy. Ludqvist boasts an outstanding 1.99 goals against average, while Price is not far behind at 2.15. It’s safe to say goals may be kept to a minimum this series. The Rangers have the best team goals-against average (2.14) in the playoffs, but will be facing the top offense in the Canadiens, who are averaging 3.27 goals in their 11 games. Both goalies have proven they can go the distance in a seven game series, but can Lundqvist go three in a row?
An offensive attack could help answer that question. As long as New York can score on Price you can’t write the Rangers off in any game. But scoring on Price is no easy task. Price stopped 55 of 56 shots (.982 save percentage) in the final two games against the Bruins. He’s playing hot and being at home should certainly help.
Thomas Vanek, P.K. Subban, Brandon Gallagher, and company will get their points. It’ll be up to Brad Richards, Martin St. Louis, and Mats Zuccarello to get more.
Series Prediction – Rangers in 7
I think Lundqvist is playing the best hockey of his career. With that being said, I think Rick Nash comes out of the woodwork and finally contributes on offense. It’ll be a long series, and one that will leave the Eastern Conference on fumes going into the Stanley Cup Finals.
Not to be done outdone out west. The matchup between the Los Angeles Kings and Chicago Blackhawks will be another great goaltender series.
Corey Crawford leads all goalies with his 1.99 GAA, Jonathan Quick is a little further behind at 2.72 GAA, which scares me. Chicago is loaded on offense with Jonthan Toews, Patrick Kane/Sharp, Marian Hossa and a few others that know how to get the puck in the net. The big question this series is whether the Kings can score enough to keep Quick in the game.
In his one start this season against the Blackhawks, Quick gave up 5 goals on 30 shots in his loss. The Kings were no better only scoring four goals in their three regular season games. Anze Kopitar and Marian Gaborik will need to score and score often if they want a chance in this series, as winning in the United Center is no easy task.
Series Prediction – Blackhawks in 6
Chicago is just too powerful on offense this year, and there’s no reason for them to let up now. As long as Crawford doesn’t have a breakdown in net, the Blackhawks should be able to take this series and be healthy for the Stanley Cup Finals.
A little pump up music for some afternoon hockey.
photo credit: getty images gifs: sohockeyeh