2014 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs
Stanley Cup Final – Game #2
New York Rangers at Los Angeles Kings
Kings Lead Best of Seven Series 1-0
Saturday, June 7, 2014, 7:05 Eastern, TV: NBC
Staples Center – Los Angeles, California
Opening Line: Los Angeles -155 / New York +135
Current Line: Los Angeles -155 / New York +135
Opening Total: under 5 -110 / over 5 -110
Current Total: under 5 -125 / over 5 +105
The New York Rangers took a quick 2-0 lead against the Los Angeles Kings in the first period of the Stanley Cup Final Wednesday night. The Kings had just played their third game seven in the playoffs in Chicago against the Blackhawks Sunday night and it was golden opportunity for the Rangers to steal game one against a tired opponent. The Rangers had wrapped up their series against the Montreal Canadiens almost a week earlier last Thursday.
Still, as the Kings have done all throughout the playoffs, the resilient Kings came back with 3 unanswered goals including the game winner in overtime to take game one. Now the teams meet for game two Saturday night in LA before they fly to New York for game game three Monday night.
Benoit Pouliot scored for New York 13 minutes into the game on an unassisted goal. About a minute and a half later, Carl Hagelin scored a shorthanded goal assisted by Brian Boyle and Ryan McDonagh to make it 2-0 Rangers. The Kings scored an important goal from Kyle Clifford assisted by Jeff Carter with just over 2 minutes to go in the first to get back into the game. Drew Doughty tied it up for the Kings six minutes into the second assisted by Justin Williams and Clifford. In the third period the Kings outshot the Rangers 20-3, but neither team scored before the end of regulation. Williams, who has developed into one of the most clutch players in hockey, scored the game winner for the Kings four minutes into overtime.
LA had 43 shots to 27 for New York. The two teams were a combined 0 for 7 on the power play. The Kings won 29 face-offs to 28 for the Rangers.
New York is coached by Alain Vigneault. The Rangers are 57-40-3-3 this season and the total was 30-41-11 during the regular season. Los Angeles is coached by Darryl Sutter. The Kings are 59-37-2-6 this season and the total was 22-41-19 during the regular season.
In the playoffs, New York is outscoring teams 2.67-2.29. The Rangers are outshooting teams 29.2-28.7 in the playoffs. New York is 11 for 84 on the power play during the playoffs (13.1%). New York has allowed three short handed goals and scored two. The Rangers are at 86.8% on the penalty kill and have allowed 9 power play goals. New York is 47.5% on face-offs.
New York goalie Henrik Lundqvist has a 2.07 goals against average in the playoffs with a save percentage of .928. He has allowed 42 goals and faced 586 shots. Lundqvist has an 12-8 record in the playoffs with one shutout. Back-up goalie Cam Talbot has a 2.59 GAA with a save percentage of .846. He has allowed 2 goals in 13 shots faced in two games in the playoffs. He is questionable for undisclosed reasons for game two and missed game. New York called up David LeNeveu from the minors as the back-up goalie.
Defenseman Ryan McDonagh has 14 points with 11 assists. Right wing Martin St. Louis has 13 points with 6 goals and 7 assists. Center Derek Stepan has 13 points with 8 assists. He suffered a broken jaw in the Montreal series but only missed one game. Right wing Mats Zuccarello has 11 points with 7 assists. Center Brad Richards has 5 goals and 6 assists. Left wing Carl Hagelin has 11 points with 7 goals. LW Rick Nash has 10 points with 7 assists. Left wing Chris Kreider has 10 points with 6 assists. Center Derick Brassard has 9 points with 5 goals in the playoffs. Left wing Benoit Pouilot has 9 points with 5 assists. LW Daniel Carcillo is suspended until at least game four after elbowing an official in the Montreal series. Defenseman John Moore returns for game two after serving a two game suspension.
Los Angeles is outscoring teams 3.46-2.82 in the playoffs. The Kings are averaging 31.3 shots per game and opponents average 30.1 per game. The Kings are 17 for 71 on the power play (23.9%) in the playoffs. They have allowed two shorthanded goals. LA is 81.9% on the penalty kill and has allowed 15 power play goals. The Kings have won 52.8% of face-offs in the postseason.
Kings’ goalie Jonathan Quick has a goals against average of 2.81 in the playoffs with a save percentage of .907. He has allowed 61 goals in 655 shots faced with one shutout. Quick is 13-9 in the playoffs so far. Martin Jones is the back-up if something happens to Quick.
LA Center Anze Kopitar leads all scorers in the playoffs with 24 points including 19 assists. Center Jeff Carter has 9 goals and 14 assists for 23 points. Right wing Marian Gaborik has 19 points and leads the playoffs in goals with 12. Right wing Justin Williams (8 goals, 12 assists) has 20 points. Defenseman Drew Doughty has 17 points with 12 assists. Center Tyler Toffoli has 13 points with 7 goals. Left Wing Tanner Pearson has 12 points with 8 assists. Defenseman Jake Muzzin has 11 points with 5 goals. Defenseman Robyn Regehr is out indefinitely with a knee injury.
New York is 20-7 after the opponent allows 2 goals or less in the previous series, 803 after scoring 2 goals or less in the previous game, 7-3 overall, against teams with winning records and in Saturday games. The under is 2-0-2 overall in this series and 4-0-3 in Los Angeles between the teams.
Los Angeles is 7-0 against Metropolitan Division teams, 6-0 against Eastern Conference teams, 4-1 on two days rest, 21-7 after a win, 5-2 against teams with winning records, overall and in Stanley Cup Final games, 15-7 when the opponent scores 2 goals or less in the previous game, 55-26 at home, and 33-16 against teams with winning road records. The home team is 5-2 in this series recently.
Lundqvist was amazing in game one, especially in the third period when he made all 20 saves. He kept the Rangers in the game. He will probably have to play at least that well in game two since the Kings should be fresher after a couple of days off at home. I think the Kings win game two to take a 2-0 series lead going to New York.
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