Todd Cordell: New Jersey Devils and Los Angeles Kings' keys to winning the Stanley Cup

Todd Cordell: New Jersey Devils and Los Angeles Kings' keys to winning the Stanley Cup
- Todd.Cordell

Thanks for the read. The next two days are going to go by too slow.........i think these teams match up really well. Special teams will be the difference.

Thanks for the read. The next two days are going to go by too slow.........i think these teams match up teally well. Special teams will be the difference.
- seven111dman

No problem. I can tell by the amount of comments that everyone is just ready to play hockey. Nobody minds a couple days off, but four full days off is too much to take, haha. It should be a very good series.

Thanks for the read. The next two days are going to go by too slow.........i think these teams match up really well. Special teams will be the difference.
- seven111dman

There's not much that's "special" about them...on either team.

Todd Cordell: New Jersey Devils and Los Angeles Kings' keys to winning the Stanley Cup
- Todd.Cordell

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tallinder cleared to play, wonder what happens

will he play any games? due to long lay off

tallinder cleared to play, wonder what happens

will he play any games? due to long lay off
- dmarsden2988

I don't think he will unless they lose a couple games in a row and/or someone is struggling.

What? Nothing about blocked shots? (fart noise).

What? Nothing about blocked shots? (fart noise).
- ElvisLemieux

mcd is the fastest skater and best defender EVER, orr stevens lidstrom dont even compare

Henrique was miked up during game six. I can't wait to hear that.

Ilya Kolvulchuk will decide who wins the series ( Either he will show his major upside or downside), I personally think he leads the team no offence to zach

Ilya Kolvulchuk will decide who wins the series ( Either he will show his major upside or downside), I personally think he leads the team no offence to zach
- pker2theend

The team follows from Parise's hustle, so I have to disagree. When you see Parise going full force, you will usually see the team follow suit. Parise is the guy that iniates our tempo and our effort level, most of the time.

Ilya Kolvulchuk will decide who wins the series ( Either he will show his major upside or downside), I personally think he leads the team no offence to zach
- pker2theend

haha, way to out yourself. Haven't watched him recently, huh?

majorly (frank)ing DOOMED

I think the bottom six will have the greatest impact on this series.

We know what to expect from the top lines, from the goalies.

Special teams will be important.

But the bottom six playing well means 3-4 lines rolling together, as opposed to 2-3.

A good forecheck by the 3rd and 4th lines can and does translate to the 1st and 2nd lines.

Being a Kings and Devils fan I'm going to disagree with Todd. L.A even strength, needs to create traffic in front of Marty and hope to get lucky bounces and screen goals. On the PP, the Kings need to hammer it home from the point using screens and hopefully 4 them double screens. Our Dev's on the other hand need to exercise a suffocating trap (which we haven't seen much of this post-season) and continue to run the type of plays that we ran against the Rags. If they can execute this, it should be an easy series for NJ.

Being a Kings and Devils fan I'm going to disagree with Todd. L.A even strength, needs to create traffic in front of Marty and hope to get lucky bounces and screen goals. On the PP, the Kings need to hammer it home from the point using screens and hopefully 4 them double screens. Our Dev's on the other hand need to exercise a suffocating trap (which we haven't seen much of this post-season) and continue to run the type of plays that we ran against the Rags. If they can execute this, it should be an easy series for NJ.
- creek

No offense, but the only thing that has come easy these playoffs has been the Kings series wins.

To say anything will come easy... I mean you're entitled to your opinion but you're basically writing off the Kings as long as the Devils play the trap?

That's about as dumb as me saying "The only thing we need to win the series is Dustin Brown to lay out all the Devils."

This is going to be our biggest test yet. Looking at their roster and the way the Kings have played they are solid in every area. We are just going to have to find a way to dictate the 5 on 5 play and try to limit the penalties. I think we have a great chance at winning this series if we get a good forecheck going and get all of our lines contributing. Right now we have all 3 of Parise, Kovalchuk and Elias on separate lines, so that could create tough match up for the Kings. We are going to need everyone to step up, especially Elias. Need more than his current pace of a point every 3rd game.

In the end I say Devils in 7.

This is going to be our biggest test yet. Looking at their roster and the way the Kings have played they are solid in every area. We are just going to have to find a way to dictate the 5 on 5 play and try to limit the penalties. I think we have a great chance at winning this series if we get a good forecheck going and get all of our lines contributing. Right now we have all 3 of Parise, Kovalchuk and Elias on separate lines, so that could create tough match up for the Kings. We are going to need everyone to step up, especially Elias. Need more than his current pace of a point every 3rd game.

In the end I say Devils in 7.
- zach parise9

This I can agree with. Forecheck for both teams will be big.

This I can agree with. Forecheck for both teams will be big.
- StayTunedMTC

I'm not quite sure how good Quick is at handling the puck, but Marty handles the puck very well. A lot of times he has stopped opposing team's forechecks, although in some instances he has been burned in these playoffs. Having him play the puck is going to be a huge advantage for us, he is like a 3rd defenseman. Probably handles the puck better than Volchenkov.

I'm not quite sure how good Quick is at handling the puck, but Marty handles the puck very well. A lot of times he has stopped opposing team's forechecks, although in some instances he has been burned in these playoffs. Having him play the puck is going to be a huge advantage for us, he is like a 3rd defenseman. Probably handles the puck better than Volchenkov.
- zach parise9

Lol. Quick... that is his worst attribute. He cannot handle the puck at all. He truly sucks. Quick probably has the best lateral movement in the game right now, one of thr best goalies down low, amazing vision even in traffic, gets beat high, and is known to give in soft goals. Best way to beat him are pucks high.I think if you look at the breakdown, most of his goals were up high. The softt ones he let in were low, but those were luck more than anything.

Lol. Quick... that is his worst attribute. He cannot handle the puck at all. He truly sucks. Quick probably has the best lateral movement in the game right now, one of thr best goalies down low, amazing vision even in traffic, gets beat high, and is known to give in soft goals. Best way to beat him are pucks high.I think if you look at the breakdown, most of his goals were up high. The softt ones he let in were low, but those were luck more than anything.
- StayTunedMTC

I've heard Quick is pretty athletic and that helps him out a ton. Definitely a top 3 or 4 goalie this year. Though in the finals for the first time in his career the experience advantage definitely goes to Marty. I'd definitely say you guys have an advantage in goal, but I don't think it is a lot.

I've heard Quick is pretty athletic and that helps him out a ton. Definitely a top 3 or 4 goalie this year. Though in the finals for the first time in his career the experience advantage definitely goes to Marty. I'd definitely say you guys have an advantage in goal, but I don't think it is a lot.
- zach parise9

Yeah, we have an advantage in goal a bit. Some of that is because our D helps Quick out, but I think at this point Quick is a bit better. The experience of Marty could make up for that though.

I really think who has the best fore/back check and which bottom six plays better has the best chance of winning.

- dmarsden2988