Kings Krowned

The LA Kings won their first Stanley Cup in franchise history last week, and the city went...? Well, I saw a few people celebrating. At least Jonathan Quick, the Conn Smyth winner as playoff MVP, spiced things up with an R rated speech at the celebration. He was deservedly the winner of this award and while the team in front of him played solid defense and finally was able to score some goals, he was always there should the need arise. The kings work ethic and constant effort was a deciding factor in the series as they generated more opportunities and won more battles than the Devils. New Jersey's Martin Brodeur showed he still has what it takes to lead a team but in the end he wasn't given enough support by the guys paid to put the puck in the other net as New Jersey just could not find a way to generate enough offense. The Kings look poised to be a solid team for years too with a young core of players locked up for a number of years, they have a legitimate shot at a repeat. Though in today's NHL there are no guarantees they will even make the playoffs in the ultra competitive western conference.

Dean Lombardi the GM and architect of this team took some risks in the off season bringing in guys like Simon Gagner, Mike Richards and eventually Jeff Carter before the trade deadline, but these moves proved to be key to their success and I think it's safe to say paid off. The emergence of their young defencemen like Voynov and Martinez along with their solid core of veterans back there was a huge difference throughout the playoffs. Dustin Brown, who was almost dealt at the deadline, lead this team and was determined to show what they had the ability to do. Darryl Sutter and his group now have an off season to enjoy before getting back to business but they will certainly be a threat again come October....that is if the NHL starts on time.

Habs go Back to the Future

With the hiring of Michel Therrien on Tuesday the Montreal Canadiens are going back to the future and bringing back an old head coach to try and turn around their fortunes. Therrien had a .500 record in his seasons with the Habs, one of only three men to coach them and not have a winning record, but with the lack of French speaking candidates the market is slim at best and so he's back. Now he did have success in Pittsburgh guiding them to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2008 when they lost to the Red Wings, but was replaced the next season by Dan Bylsma who lead them to a Stanley Cup victory over those same wings. Therrien is described as a no nonsense coach who demands respects and obedience from his players and can be short with the media. He is a good coach but many Habs fans are uncertain about how far he can bring this team. Mard Crawford was another strong candidate along with Bob Hartley, but Hartley signed in Calgary, catching many by surprise, and Crawford remains looking for an NHL gig. Both of these men won Stanley Cups as the coach of the Colorado Avalanche and this had many in Montreal wishing they could bring in a proven winner. In the end the Habs got their man, or at least one that speaks their language, and now have to live with it. They are a solid young team who had an off year for numerous reasons, but with the core talent that is there and a good coach like Therrien, the Habs should make a serious push for a playoff spot this year. Though in Montreal the bar is not set at simply making the playoffs.

Lidstrom Says Goodbye

Detroit Red Wings captain Nicklas Lidstrom officially retired earlier today ending his brilliant twenty year career with the only NHL team he has ever known. Lidstrom was indicative of all that is right with great people in sports, he is well spoken, thoughtful, kind and carries himself with the respect he always showed others. He was not one to lose his cool and was a consummate professional. He learned from one of the best in Steve Yzerman and has lead the way the past few years, (including captaining them to a Stanley Cup in 2008), for those young stars in the Red Wings locker room as to how to go about the game the right way. He is a first ballot Hall of Famer and will go down as one of the best defencemen to ever play the game. He was reliable in his own end and highly skilled in the other. He won 7 Norris Trophies, 4 Stanley Cups and a Conn Smyth trophy to go along with 11 All Star appearances and a gold medal with Sweden in 2006. Need I say more? Slick Nic was a great puck mover who prided himself on always getting better and was never one to be beat one on one. He was not a physical player, instead utilizing his speed, skill and vision to make even the most difficult plays seem routine. His presence on the back end was something so familiar to those in Detroit and across the league that the question now is how do you possibly go about replacing a guy like him? He noted in his retirement speech that the tank is not empty there simply isn't enough to play at the level he wants to, which is saying a lot, because at 42 years of age he is still one of the top blue liners in the NHL. Like Martin Brodeur he seemed ageless and now the burden falls to the like of Nicklas Kronwall and Jonathan Ericsson to lead the Red Wings back end. Who will replace him as Captain? Personall my guess is Henrik Zetterberg, a man not that unlike Lidstrom, perhaps a bit more fiery, but a man who lets his actions do the talking. Lidstrom leaving will certainly mean now that the Wings must look to their future and I think he was wise to do so, so early in the off season so the team has a better chance to prepare for life without him, but what else would you have expect from #5?

Stanely Cup Showdown

So the first 28 are down and two remain. The Stanley Cup Final gets underway tonight in Newark as the New Jersey Devils host the LA Kings. Martin Brodeur is making his fifth appearance in the finals and experience, at least in net, is certainly in his favor, but the way Jonathan Quick has played I would never say he will wilt under the pressure. The fact is I don`t expect goaltending will be the difference as I think both will give their team a chance to win. I think it comes down to the guys in front of them and I think LA has they edge as they have a lot of depth both up front and in the back end and play a very structured system. This is not to say New Jersey lacks these qualities but I think LA has the edge. Whatever the out come I think we are in for a hard fought series but I`m saying LA in 6.

How the West(ern) Conference was won...

The LA Kings defeated the Phoenix Coyotes in overtime last night the win the Clarence Campbell bowl and the NHL's Western conference. As pointed out by Dustin Brown they are in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, not the Campbell Bowl playoffs, explaining why he didn't touch it. Brown himself was the center of much controversy towards the end of the game as he laid our Michael Roszival at the blueline on an offside call. Roszival was injured on the play and Brown wasn't penalized. The hit was a tough one but I don't believe there should have been a call as Brown didn't intentionally throw his knee way out and the wistle was a split second before so he has no time to hold up. Roszvial's injury, which is unfortunate, ultimately set off the Coyotes, especially captain Shane Doan was seemed apoplectic on the ice and in his post game interviews, especially as the next shift Dunstin Penner ended the Coyotes season by popping home a rebound. Penner has had his struggles but has been big for the Kings thus far in the playoffs. The Kings run has been fueled by solid overall team play starting with Jonathan Quick in nets and going from there. They have a solid blueline with a mix of veterans and young guns, like Doughty and Voynov. Their forwards are a highly skilled group and very physical and while many underpreformed during the regular season they have stepped it up for the playoffs.

The Coyotes seemed to run out of steam and Mike Smith had no more tricks up his sleeve. To be honest it would seem odd to have a bankrupt team in the Stanly Cup Finals. I mean, this is a franchise that shouldn't even be where it is and to have it in the marque event would be uncomfortable for the league to explain. I mean, would they even have to bother with a Stanley Cup parade had they won? Anyway, Dave Tippet did a tremendous job with his team and they were certainly a tough out but LA just seems to be on a roll and will have a week off to recuperate before facing either the Devils or Rangers in the finals.

As per my previous theory, the league offices no doubt want the Rangers in the big dance, but time, and a guy by the name of Brodeur, will tell.    

The Puck Stops Here

So the third round of the NHL playoffs is under way and if anyone every questioned the value of goaltending this time of year, this is a prime example. Jonathan Quick of the LA Kings, Phoenix's Mike Smith, the Rangers Henrik Lundqvist and even the Devils Martin Brodeur have all played exceptional in these playoffs and have carried their teams thus far, especially the former three. There have been othere stand out performances too from the likes of Braydon Holtby in Washington who almost knocked off King Henrik and the Rangers. This is when every inch of ice in contested and traffic in front of the net looks like rush hour in Toronto.

It's one of the most demanding roles in sports and has such a disproportionate impact on the game because of it's nature. They give their team a much needed mental boost at times as well as the confidence to know if they make a mistake he's go their back. It's safe to say these series may well be won and lost by the men in goal and in the respect who do you give the edge too?

Quick has had limited experience in big games but has been cool calm and collected, and his team is play as well in front of him as they have all season.

Smith singlehandedly seemed to knock out Chicago and Nashville and if LA can't find an answer for him they may suffer the same fate. He moves well for a big guy and handles the puck extremely well.

Lundqvist has proven himself before in the regular season and on the big stage of the Olympics but has had limited success in the playoffs. However, he seems a man possessed and with two big game 7 wins already I wouldn't want to face him when it matters most.

Martin Brodeur is the old legend who has had an impressive career, maybe the best ever, and had many doubting him coming into the playoffs. However shaking off a few shaky performances in round one he stepped up and is giving his team a chance to win every game.

Whoever hoists Lord Stanley's mug in June will certainly be able to thank the man between the pipes.

NHL Playoff Update

So the Devils get their due, or more rightly a present from Flyers goalie Ilya Bryzgalov, and are off to the Eastern Conference final to face the winner of the Rangers Caps series. They pay game 6 tonight in Washington and it will be interesting to see how the Caps respond after losing they way they did in Game 5. Even though they were out played they had themselves positioned to win but a Joel Ward double minor proved costly and the rest as they say is history. The Caps have proven resilient but the Rangers have too and it will be tough to beat Lundqvist twice in a row.

In the wild west, well, not sure anyone saw this coming. Phoenix vs LA in the final? This seems to the be ultimate proof that goaltending wins championships as both Mike Smith and Jonathan Quick have been unbelievable in leading their teams through the first two rounds. Time will tell but it won't be a stretch to say that the NHL would love a New York LA Final. Not saying, just, saying...