This series is turning into a joke. When game 3 was about to finish, my immediate thought was: This is a game where neither goalie has made any mistakes, and yet the score is 3-0.
How is that even possible? Quick made some good saves, but Lundqvist wasn't really tested on the other hand. All 3 goals were lucky bounces, and the only way that he would have saved those was if he had been out of position.
And then game 2 which was given to LA by the refs. It seems like LA was destined to win this cup.
In less interesting news, the Oilers have hired Craig Ramsay as a new assistant coach, with Kelly Buchberger reassigned to do damage somewhere else and Steve Smith's future uncertain. All part of Eakins' plan to create an army of scary looking bald men.
looks like Scotty Bowman was right, i'm glad i posted that interview before the Chicago series started all without mentioning corsi, fenwick or "regression to the mean".
where is that guy who wanted Team USA to play Miller ? Quick looks to me like the best goaltender in the world... i was raving over his play in the Olympics while others whined about Miller not playing.
lots of whining going on about crease-crashing in this playoffs. but, the NHL wants lots of scoring. crease crashing has been significant problem and the NHL has had a tough time dealing with for over a decade. the 1999 solution was scrapped right after Hull's game winning Stanley Cup goal.
the ultimate solution will be to either decrease the size of goalie equipment or increase the size of the net. after that they might consider going back to the 1999 solution.
if the NHL just sticks with the status quo then goal-crease crashing will go from being an art form into being a science. it'll become a set play that every team employs.
Jonathan Quick deserves the #1 individual award in hockey: the Conne Smythe.
this could be the 1st sweep since the string of sweeps in the mid-late 90s... way back in the Roy era.
the San Jose Shark haters might want to now re evaluate their polemic "analysis" of the team now that we've seen how good LA is.
the high scoring games this playoffs were a lot of fun.. i hope the NHL cracks down on crease crashing, but keeps the scoring up via other methods.(net size, goalie equipment)
It's become a common belief in the last week that "Jonathan Quick deserves the Conn Smythe" is shorthand for "I just watched the East for the previous rounds" and that these finals are the viewer's first glimpse at Quick's play these playoffs.
L.A has averaged 3.5 goals/game these playoffs. With teams that have played a minimum of 15 games, that is the 2nd most in the NHL playoffs since 1996/1997. So the Kings are scoring at incredible (i.e. historic) levels. That is why they are even in the finals.
Quick has been great in the finals, but the Kings would have been eliminated by now had his team not bailed him out repeatedly for the first 3 rounds. The Conn Smythe belongs to the player who has, night in and night out, done the most to influence his team's success. For about 3/4s of the games the Kings have played these playoffs, that hasn't been Quick.
edit: Except I need an excuse to mention Patrick Roy and Scotty Bowman so whatever.
edit2: FYIW, if the playoffs end tonight, I feel Drew Doughty deserves the award. He has been phenomenal. Him or Kopitar.
Doughty's risk-taking is made viable by Quick's great goaltending. Doughty has been really good over all.
Quick did a great job against Chicago and they have a great offense. LA took a lot of chances in that series. That doesn't really show up in the numbers you provided.
LA is scoring a lot in these playoffs because they are taking a lot of risks, especially when trailing. if you want to go down the #s road. LA went from 2.5 goals in the regular season to 3.5 goals in the playoffs... all based on a high risk offense. This makes Quick's job really tough and so he gives up goals.
Quick has been the best goalie in the world for about 3 years. I do not watch the NHL closely enough to nail down the exact date he became #1 in the world though.
Bowman rarely says much, that is why i posted his comments about this years LA Kings. He is a domain expert.
On June 12 2014 04:09 JimmyJRaynor wrote: looks like Scotty Bowman was right, i'm glad i posted that interview before the Chicago series started all without mentioning corsi, fenwick or "regression to the mean".
where is that guy who wanted Team USA to play Miller ? Quick looks to me like the best goaltender in the world... i was raving over his play in the Olympics while others whined about Miller not playing.
lots of whining going on about crease-crashing in this playoffs. but, the NHL wants lots of scoring. crease crashing has been significant problem and the NHL has had a tough time dealing with for over a decade. the 1999 solution was scrapped right after Hull's game winning Stanley Cup goal.
the ultimate solution will be to either decrease the size of goalie equipment or increase the size of the net. after that they might consider going back to the 1999 solution.
if the NHL just sticks with the status quo then goal-crease crashing will go from being an art form into being a science. it'll become a set play that every team employs.
Jonathan Quick deserves the #1 individual award in hockey: the Conne Smythe.
this could be the 1st sweep since the string of sweeps in the mid-late 90s... way back in the Roy era.
the San Jose Shark haters might want to now re evaluate their polemic "analysis" of the team now that we've seen how good LA is.
the high scoring games this playoffs were a lot of fun.. i hope the NHL cracks down on crease crashing, but keeps the scoring up via other methods.(net size, goalie equipment)
Seriously, how many times are you going to post about when someone said that Miller should be the starting goalie instead of Quick during the olympics? This is like the 7th time you've randomly brought it up.
less than the # of times "how many cups does he have" gets randomly brought up.
Cammallieri ( competition committee ) is saying on Prime Time Sports that a reduction in goalie equipment is still an ongoing discussion, but they are making no recommendation for next year. that's unfortunate. Cammallieri agrees with the panel that there is always pressure to increase scoring.
i think the most entertaining hockey is when scoring is averaging 8 or 9 goals a game, but it doesn't look that is going to happen any time soon.
On June 12 2014 07:32 JimmyJRaynor wrote: less than the # of times "how many cups does he have" gets randomly brought up.
Cammallieri ( competition committee ) is saying on Prime Time Sports that a reduction in goalie equipment is still an ongoing discussion, but they are making no recommendation for next year. that's unfortunate. Cammallieri agrees with the panel that there is always pressure to increase scoring.
i think the most entertaining hockey is when scoring is averaging 8 or 9 goals a game, but it doesn't look that is going to happen any time soon.
One day I am going to log on to TL, check this NHL thread (or future ones but sooner the better) and finally see a red hammer perma ban you. That night I am going to go to the most expensive restaurant in what ever city I am in and order a big fat steak with garlic mashed potatoes and what ever other sides that come with the meal. I will enjoy every single moment of that meal and wash it down with lots of beer. I say this because for the period you were gone this hockey thread was 1000x better off. If anyone else from this thread is near me at that given time then they too can join me.