What a terrible potential final 4. I don't want the Pens, Bruins, Kings, or Hawks to win it. Looks like I gotta cheer for the ............ Wings. Terrible.
- steelydan

the quality of play will be what i focus on and it should be top notch. wonder if we'll see a goalie meltdown in PIT.

the quality of play will be what i focus on and it should be top notch. wonder if we'll see a goalie meltdown in PIT.
- isaiah520

I like that you use words like quality and top-notch alongside with a goalie meltdown in Pit.

I like that you use words like quality and top-notch alongside with a goalie meltdown in Pit.
- steelydan

I said at the start of the Playoffs it was gonna be a Flyers fans worse nightmare... Pens Kings cup.
- jak521

That would be a real interesting series. Offense against defense. I think the Kings would own the Pens physically though. I'm kinda leaning towards a Kings/Bruins final. That would be a real war.

That would be a real interesting series. Offense against defense. I think the Kings would own the Pens physically though. I'm kinda leaning towards a Kings/Bruins final. That would be a real war.
- MJL

Personally I dont think the Pens get past the Bruins. The Bruins will frustrate the Penguins and take them off their game. They will be physical and the Penguins will respond negatively.

The Kings are a machine.

I'm sorry guys but the Penguins and Kings are the definition of "gotta be lucky to be good".

The Kings are the Directors of the Department of Luck while the Penguins are Associate Directors.


- Giroux_Is_God

Good! Use your aggressive feelings. Let the hate flow through you.

Good! Use your aggressive feelings. Let the hate flow through you.
- johndewar

Use your weapon, strike me down with all of your hatred!

Good! Use your aggressive feelings. Let the hate flow through you.
- johndewar

AVADA KEDAVRA!

Personally I dont think the Pens get past the Bruins. The Bruins will frustrate the Penguins and take them off their game. They will be physical and the Penguins will respond negatively.

The Kings are a machine.
- MBFlyerfan

Exactly how I see it. Isn't it impressive to watch every player on a team play the same way. To react the same way to situations. Watch their forwards do a tight re group to be in position to defend a breakout. And to cut off a puck carrier in the neutral zone. And then their breakout game is perfection. Not just constant rims around the wall, putting the puck into puck battles. They use the whole ice, including the middle to make sharp, accurate passes. The more I watch other teams play, the more doubt I have concerning Laviolette and his system of play.

Exactly how I see it. Isn't it impressive to watch every player on a team play the same way. To react the same way to situations. Watch their forwards do a tight re group to be in position to defend a breakout. And to cut off a puck carrier in the neutral zone. And then their breakout game is perfection. Not just constant rims around the wall, putting the puck into puck battles. They use the whole ice, including the middle to make sharp, accurate passes. The more I watch other teams play, the more doubt I have concerning Laviolette and his system of play.
- MJL

It's also helpful to have defenders who can carry the puck out of the defensive zone with ease, or make those perfect tape-to-tape passes to their forwards.

It's nice to have forwards (or even defensemen) who can carry the puck through the neutral zone and into the offensive zone without having to chip-and-chase every time.

It's also helpful to have defenders who can carry the puck out of the defensive zone with ease, or make those perfect tape-to-tape passes to their forwards.

It's nice to have forwards (or even defensemen) who can carry the puck through the neutral zone and into the offensive zone without having to chip-and-chase every time.
- bradleyc4

You'd like to keep possession whenever possible. But the Kings rarely fail to get the puck deep when the play calls for it on a dump in. And they are always on the right side of the puck. Ideally, you don't want your defenseman as a whole skating the puck out. You use that when it's the only play. A quick pass to the forwards, and moving up ice as a 5 man unit is most ideal. With defenseman coming late when warranted. Exceptions are for offensively gifted defenseman such as Doughty, Karlsson, and Subban. You don't want to put a leash on their creativity. That can be effective. But you want defenseman rushes kept to a minimum.

You'd like to keep possession whenever possible. But the Kings rarely fail to get the puck deep when the play calls for it on a dump in. And they are always on the right side of the puck. Ideally, you don't want your defenseman as a whole skating the puck out. You use that when it's the only play. A quick pass to the forwards, and moving up ice as a 5 man unit is most ideal. With defenseman coming late when warranted. Exceptions are for offensively gifted defenseman such as Doughty, Karlsson, and Subban. You don't want to put a leash on their creativity. That can be effective. But you want defenseman rushes kept to a minimum.
- MJL

Obviously. But it's just such a nice weapon to deploy sometimes/when the play is there. Just having someone with that ability. 25-27 other organizations would also like to have that.

You'd like to keep possession whenever possible. But the Kings rarely fail to get the puck deep when the play calls for it on a dump in. And they are always on the right side of the puck. Ideally, you don't want your defenseman as a whole skating the puck out. You use that when it's the only play. A quick pass to the forwards, and moving up ice as a 5 man unit is most ideal. With defenseman coming late when warranted. Exceptions are for offensively gifted defenseman such as Doughty, Karlsson, and Subban. You don't want to put a leash on their creativity. That can be effective. But you want defenseman rushes kept to a minimum.
- MJL

Kings are perfectly built for the playoffs. Its unreal.

Enough with all this Kings' hatred going around here.. Say what you will about Carter, but im still a huge fan of Richards. Can't we all just get along and agree what would be most important is the Penguins losing?

Enough with all this Kings' hatred going around here.. Say what you will about Carter, but im still a huge fan of Richards. Can't we all just get along and agree what would be most important is the Penguins losing?
- Trainfellow

i agree with all of this

(except i still don't want the kings to win again)

Kings are perfectly built for the playoffs. Its unreal.
- jak521

I wouldn't say perfectly. They are a hell of a team, and Quick is money in the playoffs. They aren't without weakness though. Secondary scoring is an issue for them. They have scored 2 goals or less in 9 of 13 playoff games thus far.

If they meet the Hawks, and the winner of the Bos/Pitt series in the SCF I don't think they will win many 1-0, 2-1 games. They will have to score some goals.

I wouldn't say perfectly. They are a hell of a team, and Quick is money in the playoffs. They aren't without weakness though. Secondary scoring is an issue with them. They have scored 2 goals or less in 9 of 13 playoff games thus far.

If they meet the Hawks, and the winner of the Bos/Pitt series in the SCF I don't think they will win many 1-0, 2-1 games. They will have to score some goals.
- PLindbergh31

hmmm...no scoring, yet here they are in the WCF. again. but king pads is better. right? riiiiiiiight?

Obviously. But it's just such a nice weapon to deploy sometimes/when the play is there. Just having someone with that ability. 25-27 other organizations would also like to have that.
- bradleyc4

I agree. Absolutely is. Coburn has the wheels to do it, but the decision making has to be there.

I wouldn't say perfectly. They are a hell of a team, and Quick is money in the playoffs. They aren't without weakness though. Secondary scoring is an issue for them. They have scored 2 goals or less in 9 of 13 playoff games thus far.

If they meet the Hawks, and the winner of the Bos/Pitt series in the SCF I don't think they will win many 1-0, 2-1 games. They will have to score some goals.
- PLindbergh31

I agree. That's why I think either the Hawks or Boston can beat them. I think LA would crush the Pens physically, and would be able to score on them. Some of LA's forwards need to pick it up offensively.

You'd like to keep possession whenever possible. But the Kings rarely fail to get the puck deep when the play calls for it on a dump in. And they are always on the right side of the puck. Ideally, you don't want your defenseman as a whole skating the puck out. You use that when it's the only play. A quick pass to the forwards, and moving up ice as a 5 man unit is most ideal. With defenseman coming late when warranted. Exceptions are for offensively gifted defenseman such as Doughty, Karlsson, and Subban. You don't want to put a leash on their creativity. That can be effective. But you want defenseman rushes kept to a minimum.
- MJL

I cant count how many times I have watched the Kings, any player, skate in to trouble and make a safe play to get the puck deep, or at least out of trouble so they can regroup.

Ive become so used to watching the Flyers pass up a safe play or make a bad decision and get themselves in trouble. They make an ill advised pass, or try to carry it around the trouble or through the trouble, end up losing the puck, and are out of position to regroup.

One can only assume, when watching it happen over and over (x infinity) again that this is the way Laviolette wants them to play. High risk, high reward.

The Kings still play an aggressive fore check, but seemed to be coached to KNOW when NOT to be aggressive.

You are correct when you say they are a JOY to watch.

hmmm...no scoring, yet here they are in the WCF. again. but king pads is better. right? riiiiiiiight?
- hammarby31

Not in the playoffs he's not. Factor in age and it's a no brainer which goaltender a franchise would rather have. Lundqvist is very good don't get me wrong, but he is 30-37 career in the playoffs. Goal support or not, he's got to be criticized for that.

I agree. That's why I think either the Hawks or Boston can beat them. I think LA would crush the Pens physically, and would be able to score on them. Some of LA's forwards need to pick it up offensively.
- MJL

If the Hawks win tonight, which isn't a slam dunk, can never count out the winged wheel. They are the best franchise in sports in my opinion. All 3 series remaining are absolutely must watch.

If the Blackhawks win tonight, you have a final 4 of the last 4 Cup winning teams, which is insane. I will root for the Penguins, since they have the longest current drought.

The Kings still play an aggressive fore check, but seemed to be coached to KNOW when NOT to be aggressive.

You are correct when you say they are a JOY to watch.
- MBFlyerfan

This is the key phrase. And is one of the biggest flaws in how the Flyers play. They have little chance to get on the puck, but 2 forwards go in hard deep in the O zone after the puck. One quick pass beats them both easily. When it happens over and over, team wide. It's what the Coach wants them to do. The Kings players will recognize that, regroup, and pressure the puck high in the zone, or in the neutral zone. Watch them play and see how many forwards are ahead of the puck on the defensive side. Versus the Flyers who are always trailing the play on the offensive side of the puck, trying to get back to defend. I really hope Laviolette is watching the Kings play.

hmmm...no scoring, yet here they are in the WCF. again. but king pads is better. right? riiiiiiiight?
- hammarby31

rangers PP in the playoffs: 9.1%
rangers PK in the playoffs: 75%

not going to get too far with those special teams #'s

Not in the playoffs he's not. Factor in age and it's a no brainer which goaltender a franchise would rather have. Lundqvist is very good don't get me wrong, but he is 30-37 career in the playoffs. Goal support or not, he's got to be criticized for that.
- PLindbergh31

Quoting a goalie's win/loss record in the playoffs is a stellar way to judge a player.