News from Dagens-Hockey.se

ECF Game Three: Rangers at Devils

Sat, 19 May 2012 18:40:07 +0200

Series: Series tied 1-1 NYR Leading Scorer: Brad Richards (6-6-12) NJD Leading Scorer: Ilya Kovalchuk (6-7-13) NYR Goaltender: Henrik Lundqvist (16 GS, 1.66 GAA, .940 SV%) NJD Goaltender: Martin Brodeur (14 GS, 2.05 GAA, .920 SV%) Rangers Lines: Carl Hagelin-Brad Richards-Marian Gaborik Chris Kreider-Derek Stepan-Ryan Callahan Artem Anisimov-Brian Boyle-Mike Rupp Ruslan Fedotenko-John Mitchell-Brandon Prust Ryan McDonagh-Dan Girardi Marc Staal-Anton Stralman [...]

W2W4: Rangers vs. Devils

Sat, 19 May 2012 18:15:05 +0200

At a glance: After the Rangers and Devils split the first two games at Madison Square Garden, the series heads to Newark for Game 3 on Saturday. The D...

Note: Today?s TV and OT Situation

Sat, 19 May 2012 17:55:06 +0200

Reminder: If necessary, NBC covers 2OTs of NYR-NJD. Anything more & rest of country shifts to CNBC, while NY-area stays w/NBC. — Sean Leahy (@Sean_Leahy) May 19, 2012

Watch: Today?s Pump Up Video

Sat, 19 May 2012 17:55:06 +0200

Open Post- New Jersey Devils vs New York Rangers, Game 3 ECF

Sat, 19 May 2012 17:50:06 +0200

The puck drops just after 1:00pm on NBC, CBC and RDS. Instead of giving you the normal pre-game talk, let?s go back to 1994, Game 3, Rangers/Devils.

Stanley Cup Playoffs 2012L Red-Hot LA Kings Will Roll to the Title

Sat, 19 May 2012 17:20:06 +0200

The Los Angeles Kings have the necessary momentum and team make-up to be the first No. 8 seed to win a Stanley Cup title.

They have absolutely steamrolled through this year's playoffs, compiling an 11-1 record while seemingly unaware of their underdog status.

After a 2-1 Game 3 win in Phoenix , they're a game away from reaching the Cup final, where they figure to wait for the winner of an Eastern Conference Final that has the looks of a six- or seven-game series.

In the NHL, dominant regular-season clubs aren't locks for anything in the postseason. An increase in physical play and the potential of many fortuitous bounces give lower seeds a legitimate chance.

"Getting hot" at the right time can make teams with records that flirted with .500 more intimidating than a Presidents' Trophy winner.

That's precisely what's happened with the Kings over the last month.

Their assortment of talent has come together at the perfect time and made them unstoppable, much like what happened with the New York Giants in the NFL.

The Giants' talent was there all along, and everything clicked when it needed to. They rode a hot end to the regular season to a 9-7 record and a Super Bowl title.

Look at the Kings' roster—it's lined with stars, the right number of role players and a top-notch goaltender.

They're not a group of massive overachievers who have won on luck alone this spring.

Dustin Brown's an elite right winger, even if most of the East Coast isn't fully aware of his play-making abilities. Anze Kopitar dazzles with nifty puck-handling and snipes with a booming shot. Jeff Carter and Mike Richards are wily veterans who have experienced the rigors of the bruising Eastern Conference playoffs.

Guys like Jarret Stoll and Dustin Penner have vital playoff experience.

Drew Doughty was a member of the gold medal-winning Canadian national team at the 2012 Winter Olympics.

Jonathan Quick is an up-and-coming stalwart in net.

This is not to say the New York Rangers or New Jersey Devils aren't talented and veteran-laden—they are.

But have they been as steady this postseason? Will they be as fresh when one of them reaches the Cup finals?

No.

The Kings have an abundance of skilled players, are oozing with confidence and have made the 2012 playoffs look relatively easy.

They've been on a historic run this point, and in a few weeks, will cap off everything by hoisting the Cup.

Follow @ChrisTrapasso

Read more NHL news on BleacherReport.com

Zach Parise?s father clarifies traitorous comments about his son fitting with Rangers

Sat, 19 May 2012 17:10:04 +0200

While the New Jersey Devils' series against the New York Rangers has had its media-driven controversies ? please recall the "Marty Brodeur wants the Devils to maim Rangers shot blockers" tale ? that the father of a Devils star play would play free-agent matchmaker with their archrivals was an irresistible story.

On Friday, Newsday published a piece in which J.P. Parise, father of New Jersey Devils captain and summer free-agent Zach Parise, said his son would "fit right in" with the rival Rangers, thanks in part to a relationship with Coach John Tortorella forged at the 2010 Winter Games.

Later that day, he clarified his comments, lest any Devils fan believe he was indicating interest from their captain in joining the Rangers this summer. From Fire & Ice:

"I have to say I was extremely disappointed in how my comments were portrayed in today's newspaper article," J.P. Parise said. "I would never speak for Zach under any circumstance. He has not talked to me about anything other than the playoffs and we have not discussed anything but the playoffs and that is 100 percent where his focus is right now and I have absolutely no intentions to distract and get things away from his focus right now."

So there you go. Case closed. Well, save for the fact that Parise is tight with Torts. And the Rangers will have some cap space next summer. And Glen Sather hasn't shied away from signing Devils free agents before.

Same lineup for Devils today in Game 3 against Rangers

Sat, 19 May 2012 17:00:06 +0200

Devils coach Pete DeBoer said he will go with the same lineup as Game 2 for this afternoon?s Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Rangers at Prudential Center. That means rookie defenseman Adam Larsson, left wing Eric Boulton, center Tim Sestito and right wing Cam Janssen will again be the healthy scratches. Martin Brodeur will start in net again against Henrik Lundqvist for the Rangers.

Qui prendra le contrôle?

Sat, 19 May 2012 16:55:05 +0200

Parole de Marian Gaborik, il a eu sa leçon. Semoncé par son entraîneur mercredi soir, l'attaquant des Rangers de New York est déterminé à permettre aux siens de prendre les devants 2-1 dans leur série face aux Devils du New Jersey, dès 13h sur les ondes de RDS.... Suite

Liveblog: Rangers at Devils Game 3

Sat, 19 May 2012 16:55:05 +0200

This is turning into an interesting series. Unlike the Western Conference final, which is an exercise in the divine right of Kings. Having earned a plit in Manhattan, the Devils return to Newark with the chance to go one up in the series. It is a sunny and warm Saturday in Montreal, but dedicated hockey fans will be indoors for the absurdly scheduled game.