NEW YORK — With the 2014 Stanley Cup Finals set to get underway Wednesday when the New York Rangers head out to Southern California to take on the Los Angeles Kings, it’ll be the Blueshirt’s first trip to the Final since 1994. For the Kings, it’s their second Stanley Cup Final in the last three seasons.
How They Got Here:
After firing head coach John Tortorella after the abbreviated 2012-13 season, the Rangers entered this season under new head coach Alain Vigneault. After an up and down regular season, the Rangers drew the Philadelphia Flyers in the first round, and disposed of their division rivals in seven games. In the Eastern Conference semifinals, the Rangers defeated the long-time nemesis Pittsburgh Penguins, who the Rangers came back from a 3-1 series deficit to eliminate them in seven games.
In the Eastern Conference Finals, the Rangers jumped out to a 2-0 series lead against the Montreal Canadiens. Despite solid play from Canadiens goaltender Dustin Tokarski, who replaced starter Carey Price following an injury to Price in Game 2, the Rangers held off the Canadiens to win the series in 6 games and advance to the Stanley Cup Final.
The Los Angeles Kings drew a familiar foe in the first round in the San Jose Sharks and began their postseason by making history. After the Sharks jumped out to a commanding 3-0 series lead, the Kings battled back to win the next four games and became just the fourth team in NHL history to win a series after trailing 3-0. In the Conference semifinals, the Kings met their crosstown rival Anaheim Ducks in the first-ever playoff series between the two teams.
After the Ducks jumped out to a 3-2 series lead, the Kings came back to win the series in 7 games.
The Western Conference Final was a rematch of last season’s Western Conference Final as the Kings took on the Chicago Blackhawks. After squandering two opportunities to end the series, the Kings stunned the Blackhawks in overtime of Game 7 to advance to the Stanley Cup Final, and, in the process, became the first team to win three Game 7’s en route to the Stanley Cup Final.
Why The Kings Will Win:
Resilient is an understatement when describing the Kings in the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs. They came back from a 3-0 deficit and continued to fight when their backs were against the wall. The Kings have played 21 games this postseason, which is five games shy of the record, 26 games, held by the Philadelphia Flyers in 1987 and the Calgary Flames in 2004 (The record for a Stanley Cup Winning team is 25 games).
Because of the amount of games played, fatigue could very well be a factor for the Kings. So their endurance will play a big part in this series.
This series likely won’t be as physical as the Conference Finals against the Blackhawks. Not to mention, the Rangers are more about speed than physicality. That toughness that got the Kings past the Blackhawks and into the Stanley Cup Final will help them to their second Stanley Cup in three years.
Why the Rangers Will Win:
As the playoffs progressed, the Rangers proved more and more that they are not there by accident. A part of that success is how, even in Vigneault’s offensive-minded system, the Rangers have remained a strong defensive team. The key to their defense has been the emergence of Ryan McDonagh into one of the league’s top defensemen.
Another key part of the Rangers’ success has been a result of goaltender Henrik Lundqvist. While LA’s Jonathan Quick has not been exceptional this postseason, Lundqvist has been exceptional. Lundqvist has the edge over Quick heading into the Stanley Cup Final and that could very well prove to be a difference maker.
The Verdict:
The two teams split their season series 1-1, with each team winning in the other’s arena. Both teams have played a lot of games thus far, and this series has the makings of another long one. The Kings have the resilience and experience, while the Rangers have two players, in McDonagh and Lundqvist, who can each single-handedly swing a series the way of the Rangers.
The Rangers will be tested like they have never been before by the Kings, but they will be up to it.
Rangers in 6
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