We are just a few days away from Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final between the New Jersey Devils and Los Angeles Kings, which means it's time to start previewing the series instead of recapping previous series'. Tomorrow I'll look at some key matchups and some things to look out for in the series while today I'll take a look at it through statistics accumulated throughout the playoffs.
Matchup - Devils (12-6) vs. Kings (12-2)
Battle of the stats
Goals for/against per game
Los Angeles - 2.93 / 1.57
New Jersey - 2.83 / 2.33
5-on-5 Goals For/Against Ratio
Los Angeles - 1.53
New Jersey - 1.62
Powerplay/Penalty Kill percentage
Los Angeles - 8.1% / 91.2%
New Jersey - 18.2% / 74.2%
Faceoff win percentage
Los Angeles - 48.2%
New Jersey - 47.5%
Leading scorers
Los Angeles:
1. Dustin Brown (7G + 9A = 16P)
2. Anze Kopitar (6G + 9A = 15P)
T-3. Mike Richards (4G + 7A = 11P)
T-3. Justin Williams (2G + 9A = 11P)
New Jersey:
1. Ilya Kovalchuk (7G + 11A = 18P)
2. Zach Parise (7G + 7A = 14P)
3. Travis Zajac (7G + 5A = 12P)
Goaltending statistics:
Jonathan Quick - 12-2, .946 save percentage, 1.54 goals against average.
Martin Brodeur - 12-6, .923 save percentage, 2.04 goals against average.
Prediction
This is the toughest series of the entire post-season for me to predict, but I'm going to go with the Devils in 7. It will be a hard fought series and the Devils will have their hands full, but in the end I think the Devils top end talent will put them over the top for a Game 7 victory. Kovalchuk is the leading scorer in the playoffs, Parise's will to win is incredible and the Devils are yet to see even close to what Patrik Elias is capable of producing offensively. If he gets going and Kovalchuk and Parise can continue to produce, I think they'll have the edge. If the Devils 4th line can continue to come up big, that's icing on the cake.
The Devils have home-ice for the first time in the playoffs, and I think it will pay off. Pete DeBoer and the Devils veteran coaching staff will be able to get the matchups they want, and in the end it could be the difference.
With all that said, the Kings are a great team, their top end players are producing, led by Captain Dustin Brown, and Jonathan Quick has been great in net, so you certainly can't rule them out. It will be an interesting series, for sure.
Series schedule
*If necessary
All times are Eastern Time.
Game One - Kings @ Devils - Wednesday @ 8:00
Game Two - Kings @ Devils - Saturday @ 8:00
Game Three - Devils @ Kings - Monday @ 8:00
Game Four - Devils @ Kings - Wednesday @ 8:00
* Game Five - Kings @ Devils - Saturday @ 8:00
* Game Six - Devils @ Kings - Monday @ 8:00
* Game Seven - Kings @ Devils - Wednesday @ 8:00
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