Category: 2012 NHL Playoffs

Los Angeles Kings defeat the New Jersey Devils in Game 6, win franchise’s first Stanley Cup

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By Kat

LA Kings win the Stanley Cup

After the Los Angeles Kings took a 3-0 lead in the Stanley Cup Finals, it seemed all but assured that California would be getting its second Stanley Cup in short order. The Devils had other ideas, staving off elimination in Games 4 and 5, which was more wins than any other opponent of Kings had mustered this postseason.
But in front of their home fans and on the strength of two goals scored an early 5-minute powerplay – Steve Bernier was called for a boarding major that left him trending on Twitter immediately following the game – the Kings capped their playoff run in the same convincing fashion as when they started it. They are the lowest-seeded team to ever win the Stanley Cup (in the current format), but their 16-4 run to the Cup ranks among the most dominant in recent memory.

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Kings and Devils set for 2012 Stanley Cup Final

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By Kat

It’ll mark the lowest seed to ever win the Stanley Cup, but the Los Angeles Kings (8th in the West) and the New Jersey Devils (6th in the East) are set to go at it for the greatest trophy in sport. It’s a contest between two similar teams: defensively-minded, hard on the forecheck and marquee names in goal. Both teams also win by committee, rolling and getting contributions from all four lines. Perhaps those similarities are leading many to think that this year’s Final to be a toss-up between the Kings and Devils, if this graphic from NHL.com has anything to say:

NHL.com makes their picks for the 2012 SCF
NHL.com writers make their picks; might as well flip a coin!
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Final Four: Predictions for Round 3 of the NHL Playoffs

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By Kat

stanley cup playoffs

If you’re a Canadian hockey fan, the idea of seeing NHL tickets for the 3rd round of the playoffs for under $50 seems like a pipe dream. But these have been no ordinary playoffs.

The postseason is the time ripe for unexpected twists and turns, and few could’ve predicted this year’s edition of the final four of the 2012 Stanley Cup playoffs. To the lament of fans hoping to see a repeat of the star-studded lineups and presence of big-market teams of last year’s playoffs, the 2012 Conference Finals seem to mark a resurgence of pre-lockout hockey. Read More

Giant Killers: Upsets dominating Round 1?

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By Kat

vancouver canucks

Readers of this blog will remember my predictions for Round One of the NHL playoffs, and are probably shaking their heads as I am with how the 2012 quarterfinals have played out thus far. Over the course of last week, teams that many pundits predicted to go deep into the playoffs now find themselves packing their lockers or staring elimination in the face. Read More

Chippiness, Stanley Cup favorites on the brink after a wild and woolly weekend

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by Kat

goon
It may have looked like it this opening round of the playoffs, but a sequel hasn’t been released yet.

The playoffs are ripe for upsets and unexpected turns in momentum, but few possibly could have predicted what transpired over the weekend as NHL games devolved into scenes taken straight out of Slapshot. A few weeks ago, Adrian of ShowTimeTickets.com reminisced about the bench-clearing brawls and rough stuff of the old days and lamented about a general lack of excitement in today’s NHL. What happened in the past few days was a probably – in this fan’s eyes – a statement of “be careful what you wish for”. Read More

NHL Playoffs Day Two: Sens outmatched at MSG, Coyotes, Bruins Sharks win in OT

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by Kat

New York Rangers (4) – Ottawa Senators (2)

ottawa senators ny rangers
(Photo: The Star)

The Ottawa Senators might be the lovable upstarts in this year’s playoffs, but a rude awakening awaited them at Madison Square Garden Thursday night. Despite the Senators dominance of the Rangers during the regular season – goalie Craig Anderson had a perfect record at MSG – there was little carryover on this night, with the Rangers leading 4-0 three minutes into the third period. While the Senators eventually managed to muster two goals on Henrik Lundqvist later in the third, it was too little too late. Rangers captain Ryan Callahan had the Garden crowd serenading his name, as he laid hard hits on Ottawa’s Jesse Winchester and Matt Gilroy late in the first period soon after scoring the game’s first goal.
It may only be Game 1, but the Senators will have to muster a much better effort Saturday night if they have any hope of staying in this series. The two teams play tomorrow at Madison Square Garden before shifting playoff hockey returns to Ottawa for Games 3 and 4. Read More