Each one of you has your own feelings about last night’s game between the Devils and the Kings. It was a tough loss for New Jersey and a triumphant win for Los Angeles. In case you feel like reading someone else’s feelings, here are mine.
I really hoped that this series would go back-and-forth for 7 games, finishing up in New Jersey. And who knows; it still might. That’s the thing about the Stanley Cup Playoffs: no lead or momentum is ever enough to declare an outcome. We’ve seen both comeback outcomes in the past two seasons (speaking from my bias as a Chicago fan) with Philly down three games to none to eventually make it to the Stanley Cup Final and with Chicago coming back three games to none in the Western Conference Semifinals against the Vancouver Canucks only to fall short a mere two minutes into a Game 7 OT. My point is that New Jersey is not done yet.
On the other hand, LA has been spectacular. I mean absolutely phenomenal. Their neutral zone play is air-tight and the forecheck is more dominant than the Chicago Police during the NATO Summit. That’s thanks to the unrelenting effort of Kopitar, Brown, Carter… Actually, all four lines on LA have been demonstrating this so naming names doesn’t do it justice until all of those guys are mentioned. Let’s not forget the defense, though, especially Drew Doughty. If you expected that man to play the way he has been this postseason, you’re a downright liar. He has wowed everyone and you can bet that the front office is gonna hang on to him as long as possible.
But the big man, Jonathon Quick, has made Martin Brodeur look like an average goalie. Not to detract from Brodi’s play or style of play; he has had one hell of a postseason (as anyone would expect). But Quick seems to have stolen a bit of Brodi’s mojo and with great success. Both men have similar goaltending styles: old-school athleticism. You’ll notice many goalies going down early and then relying on the slide to the other side of the crease to make a save; not these guys. Brodeur and Quick will come WAY out of the net mouth and take away a scoring lane but they will also avoid a slide whenever possible. Puck is on the other side of the net? No slides from these guys, an old-fashioned dive will not only do the trick but make for an incredible highlight reel. Simply put, these goalies deserve to be in the Stanley Cup Final.
My final call: I’d like to see LA win it in their own house. I hate to see New Jersey get swept, but I also think that the Stanley Cup deserves to be presented in the winning team’s venue. If the Kings eventually win it, I hope it is in either Game 4 or Game 6 so it can be at home. If New Jersey ends up taking it, well we’ll have a hell of a ride for these next four games to end in Newark.
It’s the Stanley Cup Finals, people. The only things that can’t be changed are the names on Lord Stanley’s Cup. Enjoy the ride.
Disclaimer: I am not a journalist, a journalism student, or affiliated with any writing outlet. In addition, I am a Chicago Blackhawks fan and I do my best to show no bias. Please message me if you disagree with what I say or if I have mis-written.
