Los Angeles Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick (32) at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia on Sunday night for game five of the Western Conference Quarterfinals against the Vancouver Canucks. Kathleen Hinkel/Icon SMI CAG/Kathleen Hinkel/Icon SMI/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: iconphotosthree219809
The difference in the NHL playoffs often comes down to the goaltender – and this year’s final four are on top of their game racking up the first eight of the 16 wins needed to add their name to the greats on the Stanly Cup. In the conference final each team will face a familiar foe as the New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils see a lot of each other in the Atlantic Division. In the west, Pacific Division rivals Phoenix Coyotes and Los Angeles Kings will butt heads for a berth in the Stanley Cup Final.
Western Conference Finals
The LA Kings fought up to the last week just to make the playoffs and once they clinched they lost two games to San Jose to fall to the eighth seed in the west and were matched up against the NHL’s top team the Vancouver Canucks. The Kings did not cower and took the first two games in Vancouver and then sent fans into a fury by sending a “You’re welcome” tweet the rest of Canada. The Canucks, though, had no response losing the series in five.
In round two, the NHL reseeds the bracket so the Kings got matched up with the No. 2 seed St. Louis blues who they promptly swept in four. The wins improved their road record to an impressive 5-0 with a home record of 3-1. The Kings also entered the third round having played the least amount of games.
Los Angeles Kings right wing Dustin Brown (23) celebrates after scoring an open net goal against the St. Louis Blues in the third period of Game 4 of the NHL Western Conference Semifinals at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California on May 6, 2012. The Kings won 3-1. LORI SHEPLER/UPI/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: upiphotostwo156596
Los Angeles Kings forward Dwight King (74) during the NHL Western Conference Semifinals Game 3 between the St. Louis Blues and the Los Angeles Kings at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA. Ric Tapia/Icon SMI 269/Ric Tapia/Icon SMI/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: iconphotosthree226730
Phoenix, which averages high temperatures of 85, 95, and 104 during the NHL playoff months of April, May, and June, doesn’t get any respect from most other hockey cities but the Coyotes finished atop the Pacific Division earning them the third seed and home ice for the first time in franchise history.
They took advantage of the home ice knocking off the 2010 Champion Chicago Blackhawks in a series that went to overtime in the first five out of six games. They then took on Nashville where goaltender Mike Smith bested Vezina (best goaltender) finalist Pekka Rinne. Smith will have to do the same against another Vezina finalist in Jonathan Quick if he wants to see the Stanley Cup finals come to Phoenix.
For those people of Phoenix that don’t know hockey but are jumping on the bandwagon for the Kings series and beyond they can learn from Coyotes fourth liner and NHL’s top Tweeter Paul Bissonnette and his Hockey 101 lesson.
Phoenix Coyotes Coach Dave Tippet reacts after a 2-1 victory over the Nashville Predators during to game 5 of the NHL Western Conference Semifinals at Jobing.com Arena in Glendale, AZ. Chris Pondy/Icon SMI CDL/Chris Pondy/Icon SMI/Newscom. Find it on Newcom.com: iconphotosthree230681
Phoenix Coyotes goalie Mike Smith celebrates the winning goal by teammate Ray Whitney (not seen) in overtime during Game 1 of the NHL Western Conference semi-final hockey playoffs against the Nashville Predators in Glendale, Arizona, April 27, 2012. DARRYL WEBB/REUTERS/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: rtrlfive208634
Phoenix Coyotes defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson (23) is shown prior to Game Four of the Stanley Cup Western Conference Semi-finals between the Nashville Predators and the Phoenix Coyotes, held at Bridgestone Arena in downtown Nashville, Tennessee. Danny Murphy/Icon SMI 160/Danny Murphy/Icon SMI/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: iconphotosthree225445
Eastern Conference Finals
The New Jersey Devils have 56 less years of history than their Original Six rival New York Rangers, but since setting up shop 13 miles from the Rangers, the Devils have already won the Cup three times and are one away from tying the Rangers with Four.
New Jersey finished fourth in the Atlantic – the toughest division in the NHL this year – and started the playoff run in Florida where they were pushed to a seventh game by the Panthers. In round two they were back in old form against the Philadelphia Flyers and the 40-year-old Martin Brodeur handed the Flyers their first four game losing streak of the season eliminating them in 5 allowing the Devils some rest.
The Devils will need all the rest they got because the game on March 19 is any indication the Rangers series will be hard fought and action packed.
Florida Panthers defenseman Mike Weaver (43) and New Jersey Devils right wing David Clarkson (23) battle along the boards during the first period in a game between the Florida Panthers and the New Jersey Devils at BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Florida. JC Salas/Icon SMI CCU/JC Salas/Icon SMI/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: iconphotosthree221103
New Jersey Devils goalie Martin Brodeur skates on the ice over the image of the Stanley Cup in the third period against the Philadelphia Flyers in game 4 in the semi-finals of the Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey on May 6, 2012. The Devils defeated the Flyers 4-2 and lead the series 3-1. John Angelillo/UPI/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: upiphotostwo156663
New Jersey Devils right wing David Clarkson (23) celebrates his goal with left wing Zach Parise (9) while hanging on the net during the NHL Eastern Conference Simi-finals Game 2 between the New Jersey Devils and Philadelphia Flyers at Well Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The New Jersey Devils beat the Philadelphia Flyers, 4-1, tying the series at 1-1. Chris Szagola/Cal Sport Media/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: csmphoto600067
The Rangers come into the series having had played the most games of any team left as they were pushed to seven games by Ottawa in the first round and Washington in the second. Goaltender Henrik Lundqvist has come up big in both of the game sevens making sure his team would advance and he will have to be sharp again as the goals will be hard to come by against New Jersey.
Reporters have to be just as frustrated as goal scorers as a coach John Tortorella answer is probably harder to come by then a goal. Tortorella’s press conferences have been so bad that they have now gotten a DJ Steve Porter remix which is so much better.
For more Pictures form the NHL playoffs check out Newscom.
New York Rangers center Brian Boyle (22) gets pushed into the glass by a team mate prior to game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semi Finals against the Washington Capitals at Madison Square Garden in Manhattan, New York . The New York Rangers defeat the Washington Capitals 2-1. Kostas Lymperopoulos/Cal Sport Media/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: csmphoto601783
New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist (30) stretches during warmups for game 7 of the NHL Eastern Conference Semi-finals between the Washington Capitals and New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden in New York, N.Y. Will Schneekloth/Icon SMI CEU/Will Schneekloth/Icon SMI/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: iconphotosthree230881
New York Rangers head coach John Tortorella talks to Rangers Artem Anisimov during period 1 of game 4 of the NHL Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Washington Captitals at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. on May 5, 2012. KEVIN DIETSCH/UPI/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: upiphotostwo156295
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Tags: LA Kings, Los Angeles, New Jersey, New Jersey Devils, new york, NHL, NY Ranges, Phoenix, Stanley Cup