Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Boston Bruins
Top Two Lines
Of the four teams left in the playoffs, these two teams have the best top two forward lines. Chris Kunitz, Pascal Dupuis, Sidney Crosby, James Neal, Evgeni Malkin, and Jarome Iginla for the Pittsburgh Penguins; Milan Lucic, David Krejci, Nathan Horton, Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron, and Jaromir Jagr (possibly Tyler Seguin if he steps his game up) for the Boston Bruins. Yeah, stacked. Crosby and Dupuis are tied for the league lead in goals for this postseason. The line of Horton, Krejci, and Lucic are ranked one, two, and three respectively for plus/minus rating. All twelve of these players produce big time numbers in big time games.
While there's always a possibility that someone from the third or fourth line will step up, I believe that this series will be decided between these players. The Bruins saw first hand what happens when top lines don't step up when they rolled past the New York Rangers as the Rick Nash-Derek Stepan-Ryan Callahan line was held relatively in check. A let down from any of these lines, giving their opponents the advantage, could be costly in this series.
Bruins' Young Defense
It's actually very surprising the Bruins made it through the Rangers series so quickly with the inexperience on defense. Certainly having Zdeno Chara back there helps, but during their epic Game 7 comeback against Toronto in the first round, they lost their other experienced defenseman Dennis Seidenberg to injury. So now they were stuck with Dougie Hamilton (19 years old), Torey Krug (22), and Matt Bartkowski (24). Although Hamilton had played nearly every game in the regular season for the Bruins, Krug and Bartkowski had a combined 23 appearances for the Bruins over the past three years. They performed admirably against the Rangers, but now face much stiffer competition.
Seidenberg was able to play in the final game of the Rangers series and given the time off between that series and the upcoming Pittsburgh one, he should be at full health. That's good news for Bruins fans as Chara and Seidenberg should be able to provide decent resistance against the Penguins' big guns. That being said, it is likely that one of these young defensemen will be out there against Crosby or Malkin at some point so it will be interesting to see how they perform. They will need to keep their growing pains to a minimum if the Bruins are to win this series.
Dark Horse Difference Maker: Brandon Sutter
Sitting behind the top two lines, Sutter centers the Penguins third line and gets some power play time as well. Coming over from Carolina as part of the Jordan Staal trade, Sutter put up decent numbers in the lockout shortened season (11 goals, 8 assists), but was inconsistent. While he only has two points this post season, he certainly has the skill to get more. The Penguins power play is deadly so he should have his chance to make a difference in this series. Due to the matchups, it might be Sutter, and not the top lines, that takes advantage of the youth the Bruins have on defense.
Prediction: Penguins in five
A bit of a bold prediction here picking them in only five games, but the Penguins just don't seem to have a significant glaring weakness. The Bruins were pushed by a young Toronto team in the first round and, all things considered, probably should have lost that Game 7. Then they faced a Rangers team that was really a one man show in Henrik Lundqvist, and dispatched them in five.
The Pens beat an offensively gifted Islanders team in the first round in six, and it could be argued that they may have beat them sooner had Tomas Vokoun been in net in the first four games of that series. Then they faced a talented Senators team that was finally healthy and, by the end of the series, had Erik Karlsson, Daniel Alfredsson, and Jason Spezza all playing again. Despite this, they crushed the Sens, beating them in five games including a 7-3 Game 4 in Ottawa, and a 6-2 Game 5 to close it out.
I think the offensive firepower of the Penguins prevails, though I think every game will be close. The Bruins will take one at home, but the Pens should be able to win in five, six at most.
Chicago Blackhawks vs. Los Angeles Kings
Goalies
Contrary to the Eastern Conference Final, I believe that this series will be dictated by defense rather than offense, particularly the play of the two net minders. For the Kings, Jonathan Quick continues to be a brick wall between the pipes. Coming off a tremendous playoffs and Stanley Cup win from last year, he is arguably playing even better this year. He has a better save percentage than last year (.948) and already has as many shut outs as he did during last year's Stanley Cup run (3). He's done all this under pressure as only two of the Kings' eight wins have come by more than one goal. He's already made some spectacular saves and has stonewalled the likes of David Backes, Joe Pavelski, and Logan Couture. Add in All-Star defenseman Drew Doughty and the Hawks will find it very difficult to score goals this series.
On the other side is Corey Crawford for the Hawks. Chastised for his less than stellar play during last year's playoffs, he has certainly silenced many critics, me included, with his play during the Hawks' run this year. While his numbers aren't as good as Quick's, he has gotten the job done and came up with some huge saves in the series with Detroit, and was a significant reason why the Hawks were able to come back from 3-1. He's moving much better in net this year and isn't prone to those "soft" goals that he gave up previously in his career. Despite his progress, this is still the first year that he has made it past the first round. This is a huge series for Crawford from a perception standpoint. It's you against one of the best goalies in the league. Time to step up and prove you're worthy of fan's trust and unworthy of the critics' hate.
Physical Play
This is where I think the Hawks could be in trouble. In case you missed the Kings' series with either the St. Louis Blues or the San Jose Sharks, let me just tell you that they like to hit. A lot. Their hit totals from the past series with the Sharks were 39, 38, 34, 53, 51, 41, and 39. Ironically, their lowest hit total also came from the only game that went to overtime (Game 3). By comparison, the Red Wings only topped 30 hits twice in the Hawks entire seven game series. I'm not saying the Hawks and Wings don't have tough guys on their teams, but both teams are more finesse than physical in their approach to the game. Who wouldn't be with guys like Pavel Datsyuk, Jonathan Toews, and Patrick Kane?
It will certainly be a point of emphasis to target and hit the Hawks' star players. Their response to the Kings' physical play will be a key factor in the outcome of this series. The Kings actually caught a break due to scheduling as they have one more day of rest than the Hawks do because their seven game series with the Sharks finished on Tuesday. They certainly needed it after the first two rounds, but they should be refreshed and ready to go against the Hawks in Game 1. The Hawks will need to have their head on a swivel, lest they have another Hossa-Raffi Torres situation.
Dark Horse Difference Maker: Slava Voynov
Voynov tends to get overlooked as a defenseman because everyone thinks of Doughty immediately when they think about the Kings' defense. Heck, Voynov isn't even on the top pairing with Doughty, as that spot is occupied by Rob Scuderi. When he is out there, though, he is a difference maker. He already has seven points in 13 playoff games, which is tremendous for a second pair defenseman as only one of those points came on the power play. The more important stat for this series, however, will be his plus/minus. He will most likely be matched up against the Kane and Sharp line, and will probably see some of Toews and Hossa at some point. It will be up to Voynov to help out Quick when Doughty is not on the ice. If he can neutralize one of those lines, then the Kings will be in great shape.
Prediction: Kings in six
Uh-oh, I can already predict Hawks' fans anger as they just read that statement. When it comes right down to it, I'm picking the Kings because they actually remind me of the Red Wings (skill wise, not style of play) except a bit better in all areas, and they are unbeatable at home this post season. Literally. They haven't lost at Staples Center yet. If they take one in Chicago, which Detroit was able to do, and win all their home games, then that would equal a win in six. That's the minor point. The major point is that they are a better version of a Red Wings team that had the Hawks on the brink and pushed them to seven games.
As I mentioned before, Quick is a beast and is definitely an improvement over Jimmy Howard. Doughty is a better version of Niklas Kronwall. The Zetterberg-Datsyuk center combo might be better than the Kings' Anze Kopitar-Mike Richards center combo, but the Kings have stud wingers in Jeff Carter, Dustin Brown, and Justin Williams that Detroit didn't have. Their depth at defense is better with Voynov and potential other Dark Horse Difference Maker, Jake Muzzin. I think it is this defense that wins out as the Kings' offense scores just enough to win four games. Quick will be the MVP of this series as he leads the Kings back to the Finals for a title defense.
Matty O
Thursday, May 30, 2013
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
The Importance of a Title
The Vince Lombardi Trophy. The Stanley Cup. The Commissioner's Trophy. The Larry O'Brien Trophy. Those are the prizes awarded for the winners each year in the NFL, NHL, MLB, and NBA, respectively. This is every team and player's end goal at the start of each year. Regular season performances are great and will get you front page headlines, but the postseason is where legends are made and history is made.
There have been plenty of greats who have never won a title. Dan Marino, Barry Sanders, Charles Barkley to name a few. Their play will always be remembered and their achievements cannot be overlooked. Despite this, many people still measure a player's worth by how many titles he or she has won. When deciding who is best in a sport, a championship ring acts as the key to even get into the discussion. Below are four players who have never won a title, but definitely need to. Whether it is their skill set, hype at a young age, or trying to follow in history's footsteps, these four players need to win a title to justify their greatness. If not, they could leave everyone wondering how great they truly were.
NHL: Alexander Ovechkin (Washington Capitals, 27 years old, eighth year in the league)
Ovechkin, like the other players on this list, came into the league with a tremendous amount of hype. Stats wise, he has certainly lived up to it. He won the Rookie of the Year award in 2006, scoring 52 goals and registering 54 assists. He's topped 100 points in four out of his eight seasons. He has scored at least 32 goals in each of his eight seasons including this year's shortened 48 game schedule. He won the Art Ross Trophy for the most points scored in 2008, which earned him an MVP award. He followed that up in 2009 with a second consecutive MVP award. He was an NHL First Team All-Star from 2006-2010. He has led his team to the playoffs six times, with the Capitals earning no worse than a three seed, except for 2012 when they were a seven. That's the good news.
The bad news is that, despite his success, the Capitals have never made it out of the second round of the playoffs with Ovechkin on the team. This includes the 2010 season where they lost in the first round as a number one seed, as well as the 2011 season where they were swept in the second round as the one seed again. This isn't to say he hasn't shown up for the playoffs before. In the 2009 Cup playoffs, he scored 21 points in 14 games and finished with a ridiculous +10 rating. Recent performances, however, tell a different tale. This past series against the Rangers was especially disappointing as he scored a mere two points in the seven game series. This, after finishing the regular season on a tear and scoring the most regular season goals.
The other thing that is pressuring Ovechkin to win a Cup is the hype. He was taken first overall in the 2004 draft, one spot ahead of Evgeni Malkin who has already won a Stanley Cup. Rather than compare Ovechkin to Malkin, however, he has been constantly been compared against Malkin's teammate Sidney Crosby. Crosby, drafted a year after Ovechkin, came into the league at the same time as Ovechkin due to the 2005 lockout. Since then, they have put up similar numbers with Crosby winning the Art Ross Trophy and MVP award in 2007, and looks to have the 2013 MVP award in his sights as well. Crosby, however, has been to two Stanley Cup Finals, winning the latter of the two against the Detroit Red Wings. Crosby's Penguins defeated the Capitals during their 2009 run in the playoffs on the way to the title. Just like RG3 will always be compared to Andrew Luck, Ovechkin and Crosby will always be tied to each other due to their high skill and when they came into the league. Ovechkin needs a title not only to equal the comparison to Crosby, but to prove that he's more than just a regular season scorer.
NFL: Tony Romo (Dallas Cowboys, 33 years old, tenth year in the league)
Romo has two things going against him. The first thing is his poor playoff performance. Similar to Ovechkin, Romo is a regular season stud. He's passed for more than 4,000 yards four times in the seven seasons that he has started. His 2009 season would probably be considered his best in terms of efficiency as he threw for 4,483 yards, 26 TDs, and only nine interceptions. Not bad for an undrafted kid out of Eastern Illinois. Once the playoffs hit, however, everything goes haywire. His most memorable flub came in a 2006 game against Seattle when he dropped the snap to hold the ball for a field goal that would have given the Cowboys the lead late in the game. He has since gone 1-3 in the playoffs and has faltered down the stretch in December as well.
The second thing going against him is the history of the team. Unlike Ovechkin, whose Capitals have only appeared in one Stanley Cup Finals, the Cowboys are a team with a history of success. They have five Super Bowl Championships, legendary coaches, legendary players, and are always in the spotlight. After Troy Aikman left, the Cowboys have been searching for a quarterback and it seemed like Romo was the answer. That's a tall order to live up to, however, as Aikman won three Super Bowls in the 90s with a Hall of Fame running back and wide receiver. There is an expectation to win in Dallas, perhaps unlike anywhere else in the NFL. I believe that if Romo were playing in Jacksonville and had the same exact things happen to him, he would get a pass. Instead, he is scrutinized every time he throws a pick or fumbles the ball or dates a different girl.
If he does manage to win just a single title, I think all things will be forgiven. His early success had people predicting multiple championships, but after everything that has happened, I think Dallas fans and Jerry Jones will be happy with one at this point. He still has a lot left in his career and just signed a juicy six year contract to keep him in Dallas. Jason Witten should still hang around and Dez Bryant has the potential to be a superstar. If he fails to win a title, then no matter what numbers he puts up, he will never be mentioned among the Aikmans and Roger Staubachs of the world.
NBA: Carmelo Anthony (New York Knicks, 28 years old, tenth year in the league)
While Anthony has yet to win a title in the NBA, he has won on other levels. He carried the Syracuse Orangemen to the 2003 NCAA title and has also won two gold medals for Team USA at the Olympics in 2008 and 2012. He is arguably one of the best pure scorers of all time and has never averaged less than 20 points per game in a season. He has made it to the postseason every year he has been in the league; seven times with Denver and three times with the New York Knicks. Despite averaging 25 points per game for his career in the playoffs, he was never able to get very far, often losing in the first round. Although the series is still 3-1, it looks like it will be another early exit for Melo again this year as the Pacers are simply pounding the Knicks right now.
The pressure for Anthony mainly has to do with the draft class he was in. As I mentioned before, athletes coming into the league at the same time will always be judged against each other. Whether or not that is fair is up for debate. What is not up for debate was how good Anthony's 2003 draft class was. Lebron James, Anthony, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh were four out of the first five picks. Due to the Big Three forming in Miami, James, Wade, and Bosh have won a title, though Wade already won one prior to that formation with Shaq. Anthony has never even been able to sniff the Finals.
This year looked like the one where he could do it. He had a veteran point guard in Jason Kidd who somehow discovered a jumper this year. J.R. Smith was shooting lights out during the season and you had the experience and girth of Tyson Chandler down low. Add in a great coach in Mike Woodson and the stage was set for a deep playoff run in Madison Square Garden. Unfortunately, it looks like those plans are being put on hold by the Indiana Pacers and the Knicks won't even get a shot at title favorites the Miami Heat. It's still not over, but the way the Pacers dominated last night made it seem like it's a matter of "when" not "if" the Knicks lose this series. Melo will no doubt go down as a great player and probably in the top five all time if you were to choose someone to win a game of one on one. Without a ring, however, his name will be lost among Lebron, D-Wade, and Bryant.
MLB: Stephen Strasburg (Washington Nationals, 24 years old, 4th year in the league)
I have to admit, it was hard thinking of someone for baseball. Every player I could think of has either won a ring, never had the hype to win one in the first place, or retired. For this one, I'll cheat a bit and go with Strasburg even though I'm aware it's unfair to him this early in his career. But here's the deal. Like all these guys, the hype factor was high, perhaps higher than Anthony, Romo, or Ovechkin. He was taken first overall by the Washington Nationals and was touted as a pitcher that would go down in the history books. And, he did. Opening day. He struck out a franchise record 14 batters on his way to a win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Unfortunately, after only 12 starts and 92 strikeouts, he tore his ulnar collateral ligament and needed Tommy John surgery.
With his 2011 season essentially thrown away, the Nationals decided to play it safe with Strasburg and limit his innings in 2012, shutting him down for the end of the regular season and playoffs. Despite earning the number one seed in the National League, the Nationals lost to the Cardinals in the NLDS 3-2. Although I know it wasn't his decision, I think he and Nationals fans the world over will always ponder what if. It's hard to tell what would have happened considering the Cardinals were a solid team and the Giants' pitching last year was scary. Still, with one more ace, it wouldn't be that shocking to me if that Nationals team went all the way.
Fortunately for Strasburg, he's still very young. He'll have plenty of time to try and have postseason success, as it seems the Nationals organization has done a fine job of getting young talent on that ball club. A player with his level of hype, however, deserves a title. Needs a title. His immediate success has been great, but as the players above have demonstrated, before you know it your career is halfway over and you still don't have that title.
Maybe this article is coming too prematurely. After all, the only player over 30 on here is Romo, but he has a spot on the roster for another six years. Maybe all four will win a title with their respective teams. Still, only one team wins a title each year. The door on a sports career closes faster than players think. Add in injury risk, coaching changes, and off the field issues, and it's not difficult to imagine any of these guys not winning a title. So whether they need to wait for a superstar teammate, leave for another team, or do it themselves, these four players need to prove they can win it all before they are considered among the greatest in their sport.
There have been plenty of greats who have never won a title. Dan Marino, Barry Sanders, Charles Barkley to name a few. Their play will always be remembered and their achievements cannot be overlooked. Despite this, many people still measure a player's worth by how many titles he or she has won. When deciding who is best in a sport, a championship ring acts as the key to even get into the discussion. Below are four players who have never won a title, but definitely need to. Whether it is their skill set, hype at a young age, or trying to follow in history's footsteps, these four players need to win a title to justify their greatness. If not, they could leave everyone wondering how great they truly were.
NHL: Alexander Ovechkin (Washington Capitals, 27 years old, eighth year in the league)
Ovechkin, like the other players on this list, came into the league with a tremendous amount of hype. Stats wise, he has certainly lived up to it. He won the Rookie of the Year award in 2006, scoring 52 goals and registering 54 assists. He's topped 100 points in four out of his eight seasons. He has scored at least 32 goals in each of his eight seasons including this year's shortened 48 game schedule. He won the Art Ross Trophy for the most points scored in 2008, which earned him an MVP award. He followed that up in 2009 with a second consecutive MVP award. He was an NHL First Team All-Star from 2006-2010. He has led his team to the playoffs six times, with the Capitals earning no worse than a three seed, except for 2012 when they were a seven. That's the good news.
The bad news is that, despite his success, the Capitals have never made it out of the second round of the playoffs with Ovechkin on the team. This includes the 2010 season where they lost in the first round as a number one seed, as well as the 2011 season where they were swept in the second round as the one seed again. This isn't to say he hasn't shown up for the playoffs before. In the 2009 Cup playoffs, he scored 21 points in 14 games and finished with a ridiculous +10 rating. Recent performances, however, tell a different tale. This past series against the Rangers was especially disappointing as he scored a mere two points in the seven game series. This, after finishing the regular season on a tear and scoring the most regular season goals.
The other thing that is pressuring Ovechkin to win a Cup is the hype. He was taken first overall in the 2004 draft, one spot ahead of Evgeni Malkin who has already won a Stanley Cup. Rather than compare Ovechkin to Malkin, however, he has been constantly been compared against Malkin's teammate Sidney Crosby. Crosby, drafted a year after Ovechkin, came into the league at the same time as Ovechkin due to the 2005 lockout. Since then, they have put up similar numbers with Crosby winning the Art Ross Trophy and MVP award in 2007, and looks to have the 2013 MVP award in his sights as well. Crosby, however, has been to two Stanley Cup Finals, winning the latter of the two against the Detroit Red Wings. Crosby's Penguins defeated the Capitals during their 2009 run in the playoffs on the way to the title. Just like RG3 will always be compared to Andrew Luck, Ovechkin and Crosby will always be tied to each other due to their high skill and when they came into the league. Ovechkin needs a title not only to equal the comparison to Crosby, but to prove that he's more than just a regular season scorer.
NFL: Tony Romo (Dallas Cowboys, 33 years old, tenth year in the league)
Romo has two things going against him. The first thing is his poor playoff performance. Similar to Ovechkin, Romo is a regular season stud. He's passed for more than 4,000 yards four times in the seven seasons that he has started. His 2009 season would probably be considered his best in terms of efficiency as he threw for 4,483 yards, 26 TDs, and only nine interceptions. Not bad for an undrafted kid out of Eastern Illinois. Once the playoffs hit, however, everything goes haywire. His most memorable flub came in a 2006 game against Seattle when he dropped the snap to hold the ball for a field goal that would have given the Cowboys the lead late in the game. He has since gone 1-3 in the playoffs and has faltered down the stretch in December as well.
The second thing going against him is the history of the team. Unlike Ovechkin, whose Capitals have only appeared in one Stanley Cup Finals, the Cowboys are a team with a history of success. They have five Super Bowl Championships, legendary coaches, legendary players, and are always in the spotlight. After Troy Aikman left, the Cowboys have been searching for a quarterback and it seemed like Romo was the answer. That's a tall order to live up to, however, as Aikman won three Super Bowls in the 90s with a Hall of Fame running back and wide receiver. There is an expectation to win in Dallas, perhaps unlike anywhere else in the NFL. I believe that if Romo were playing in Jacksonville and had the same exact things happen to him, he would get a pass. Instead, he is scrutinized every time he throws a pick or fumbles the ball or dates a different girl.
If he does manage to win just a single title, I think all things will be forgiven. His early success had people predicting multiple championships, but after everything that has happened, I think Dallas fans and Jerry Jones will be happy with one at this point. He still has a lot left in his career and just signed a juicy six year contract to keep him in Dallas. Jason Witten should still hang around and Dez Bryant has the potential to be a superstar. If he fails to win a title, then no matter what numbers he puts up, he will never be mentioned among the Aikmans and Roger Staubachs of the world.
NBA: Carmelo Anthony (New York Knicks, 28 years old, tenth year in the league)
While Anthony has yet to win a title in the NBA, he has won on other levels. He carried the Syracuse Orangemen to the 2003 NCAA title and has also won two gold medals for Team USA at the Olympics in 2008 and 2012. He is arguably one of the best pure scorers of all time and has never averaged less than 20 points per game in a season. He has made it to the postseason every year he has been in the league; seven times with Denver and three times with the New York Knicks. Despite averaging 25 points per game for his career in the playoffs, he was never able to get very far, often losing in the first round. Although the series is still 3-1, it looks like it will be another early exit for Melo again this year as the Pacers are simply pounding the Knicks right now.
The pressure for Anthony mainly has to do with the draft class he was in. As I mentioned before, athletes coming into the league at the same time will always be judged against each other. Whether or not that is fair is up for debate. What is not up for debate was how good Anthony's 2003 draft class was. Lebron James, Anthony, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh were four out of the first five picks. Due to the Big Three forming in Miami, James, Wade, and Bosh have won a title, though Wade already won one prior to that formation with Shaq. Anthony has never even been able to sniff the Finals.
This year looked like the one where he could do it. He had a veteran point guard in Jason Kidd who somehow discovered a jumper this year. J.R. Smith was shooting lights out during the season and you had the experience and girth of Tyson Chandler down low. Add in a great coach in Mike Woodson and the stage was set for a deep playoff run in Madison Square Garden. Unfortunately, it looks like those plans are being put on hold by the Indiana Pacers and the Knicks won't even get a shot at title favorites the Miami Heat. It's still not over, but the way the Pacers dominated last night made it seem like it's a matter of "when" not "if" the Knicks lose this series. Melo will no doubt go down as a great player and probably in the top five all time if you were to choose someone to win a game of one on one. Without a ring, however, his name will be lost among Lebron, D-Wade, and Bryant.
MLB: Stephen Strasburg (Washington Nationals, 24 years old, 4th year in the league)
I have to admit, it was hard thinking of someone for baseball. Every player I could think of has either won a ring, never had the hype to win one in the first place, or retired. For this one, I'll cheat a bit and go with Strasburg even though I'm aware it's unfair to him this early in his career. But here's the deal. Like all these guys, the hype factor was high, perhaps higher than Anthony, Romo, or Ovechkin. He was taken first overall by the Washington Nationals and was touted as a pitcher that would go down in the history books. And, he did. Opening day. He struck out a franchise record 14 batters on his way to a win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Unfortunately, after only 12 starts and 92 strikeouts, he tore his ulnar collateral ligament and needed Tommy John surgery.
With his 2011 season essentially thrown away, the Nationals decided to play it safe with Strasburg and limit his innings in 2012, shutting him down for the end of the regular season and playoffs. Despite earning the number one seed in the National League, the Nationals lost to the Cardinals in the NLDS 3-2. Although I know it wasn't his decision, I think he and Nationals fans the world over will always ponder what if. It's hard to tell what would have happened considering the Cardinals were a solid team and the Giants' pitching last year was scary. Still, with one more ace, it wouldn't be that shocking to me if that Nationals team went all the way.
Fortunately for Strasburg, he's still very young. He'll have plenty of time to try and have postseason success, as it seems the Nationals organization has done a fine job of getting young talent on that ball club. A player with his level of hype, however, deserves a title. Needs a title. His immediate success has been great, but as the players above have demonstrated, before you know it your career is halfway over and you still don't have that title.
Maybe this article is coming too prematurely. After all, the only player over 30 on here is Romo, but he has a spot on the roster for another six years. Maybe all four will win a title with their respective teams. Still, only one team wins a title each year. The door on a sports career closes faster than players think. Add in injury risk, coaching changes, and off the field issues, and it's not difficult to imagine any of these guys not winning a title. So whether they need to wait for a superstar teammate, leave for another team, or do it themselves, these four players need to prove they can win it all before they are considered among the greatest in their sport.
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
NHL Playoffs: Second Round Preview
Boston Bruins vs. New York Rangers
Why the Bruins could win: Their top two lines
While the Bruins lack depth at the offensive and defensive end, their top two lines are stacked with talent, especially upfront. David Krejci and Nathan Horton seemed to finally wake up in the first round after having a sub par regular season. Krejci led all NHL players in the first round with 13 points, while the sharpshooting Horton netted four goals. If these two can play like this, the way they're expected to, then Boston will be a very dangerous team. Milan Lucic, the other winger on this first line, always provides a big body up front and will be needed to cause havoc in front of Henrik Lundqvist. Their second line boasts an equally impressive threesome with Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron, and Tyler Seguin. Marchand, otherwise known as the "little ball of hate," is a pesky competitor who led the Bruins in points and goals during the regular season. Bergeron, while only putting up four points in the first round, came up big in Game 7 with two goals and an assist including the overtime game winner. Seguin struggled in the first round, registering a mere one point. He did finish second on the team with 29 shots and, given his ability, should find the back of the net more often if he keeps it up.
Why the Rangers could win: Rick Nash
After spending years being a one man show in Columbus, Nash finally got the opportunity to play for a true contender as he joined the Rangers at the start of this year. He was everything the Rangers wanted in the regular season, playing at almost a point per game pace, finishing with 42 in 44 games. Unfortunately, the knock against Nash is his lack of playoff experience and performance in the playoffs. Columbus only managed to reach the playoffs one time while Nash was there and, despite being "the man" in Columbus, he finished with three points, and a minus four in four games. This first round series against the Capitals did nothing to silence critics. Despite averaging nearly 20 minutes in ice time, Nash managed only two points in seven games with no goals. Nash's skill level is unquestioned, and when he's on, he's one of the best players in the league. He's a big body with speed, stick handles, and the ability to score. If he can get going, the Rangers could start putting up goals in bunches, instead of having to rely on Lundqvist to save the day every game.
Prediction: Bruins in seven
Close call between these two teams, but I think the Bruins' top heavy talent wins out. This will be a hard fought and exciting series. Despite my prediction, I still think everything hinges on Nash's play. If he plays up to his ability, the Rangers could win this thing in six or less. If he only plays average, the Bruins got it.
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Ottawa Senators
Why the Penguins could win: Offense
The offensive firepower on this team is truly ridiculous. Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin are the two household names on this team, yet it was Pascal Dupuis who led the team in goals in the first round. I thought their acquisition of Jarome Iginla from Calgary was a phenomenal pick up, and he answered the bell in the first round, finishing tied for second on the team with nine points. This team lives by the phrase the best defense is a good offense. As long as they can score in bunches, they could care less who is in goal. The duo of Crosby and Malkin alone is enough to strike fear in the heart of any opponent. Add in the likes of James Neal, Chris Kunitz, and Kris Letang, and you have an offensive juggernaut that will be difficult for anyone to stop.
Why the Senators could win: Goal tending
This doesn't just mean the Senators' goal tending, but the Penguins' as well. Those that followed the Pens-Islanders first round series know all too well about the Penguins issue with their goalies. Marc Andre Fleury, Pittsburgh's starting goalie, struggled in the opening round finishing with a 3.4 goals against average and splitting his four starts going 2-2. The nail in the coffin was a Casey Cizikas goal late in Game 4, sealing a 6-4 victory for the Isles. It was a soft goal to let up, as Fleury looked out of position and frustrated on the bench once he was pulled for the extra skater. Now the Pens must put their faith in backup Tomas Vokoun, who played fantastic in the final two games of the first round, resulting in a series win. Despite his strong play so far, if Vokoun struggles, then what? It could be a dangerous situation developing in Pittsburgh
On the flip side, the Sens' Craig Anderson had a great first round. He held a potent Montreal attack to nine total goals in five games. Although Pittsburgh will bring more offensive firepower than the Canadiens, it is a good sign that Anderson played solid after missing a significant portion of the regular season with an injury. Add in injury buddy Erik Karlsson and you have a formidable pair to stop, or at least slow down, the Pittsburgh attack.
Prediction: Penguins in five
Despite having a stronger defense and goalie than the Islanders, the Senators also have a lesser offense. There is no John Tavares-like player on the Sens that can take over a game by himself. I think the offense will keep clicking for the Pens and they win this series with time to rest, although the games themselves will be close.
Chicago Blackhawks vs. Detroit Red Wings
Why the Hawks could win: Depth
The Hawks' depth can be summed up just by looking at their opening round with Minnesota. Despite Jonathon Toews and Patrick Kane finishing with a combined zero goals in the first round, they still dispatched the Wild in five games. Instead, they got goals from the likes of Andrew Shaw, Marcus Kruger, and Johnny Oduya. Even when their top lines aren't producing, they still are getting contributions from their third and fourth ones. While this help is nice, the Hawks will certainly need their stars to step up in this round and beyond if they want to hoist the cup. Fortunately, the Wings lack the kind of production that the Hawks are able to get at the back end. If the Hawks can neutralize the line(s) that Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterburg are on, it will give them a significant advantage in the series.
Why the Red Wings could win: Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg
It will be interesting to see how coach Mike Babcock deploys these two superstars. For most of the first round series against the Ducks, he had them paired on the same line. In game 7, however, he split them up which resulted in a goal and an assist for Zetterberg in a 3-2 Wings win. On paper, the Wings look outmatched in this series, but the same could have been said when they faced the Ducks in the opening round. Zetterburg and Datsyuk carried the team on their respective backs finishing one-two on the team for points scored in the first round. The challenge will be even stiffer against the Blackhawks, but with two highly skilled players and Jimmy Howard playing arguably the best hockey of his career, the Wings have a shot to make this a series.
Prediction: Hawks in six
They say that you can throw out the records when rivals meet and this series is no different. This will be the last time they meet as divisional foes, so you can bet the crowds will be rocking and passions will be running high. The tipping point for this series will be the goalies. Both are playing well, despite being criticized for their play in the past. If Howard begins to struggle, this series could turn into a sweep. If Corey Crawford plays like he did against Phoenix last year, the Hawks could succumb to the Presidents' Trophy curse.
Los Angeles Kings vs. San Jose Sharks
Why the Kings could win: Jonathan Quick
Quick, who had his coming out party last year, stood tall in the first round and finished with a 1.58 goals against average including a Game 3 1-0 shutout. This was done against a very talented St. Louis Blues team. San Jose benefited from the revolving door that is the Vancouver Canuck goalie position, as neither Roberto Luongo or Cory Schneider could establish their presence in net. Quick gives the Kings a consistent anchor on defense behind Drew Doughty. The Sharks will find the Kings much tougher to score on than their porous round one opponent.
Why the Sharks could win: Matchups
The Sharks, similar to the Bruins, have top heavy talent. Unlike the Bruins, the Sharks tend to spread their talent out with their three star centers, Joe Thorton, Logan Couture, and Joe Pavelski, all on different lines. This can create match up nightmares against other team's defensemen. It will be interesting to see who Drew Doughty is matched up against. Normally, he takes the first line no questions asked, but that will be difficult to determine with three potent lines. The Kings have seen Jake Muzzin and Slava Voynov perform well at times this season, and they will need them to step up in this series to contain this Shark attack.
Prediction: Sharks in seven
I'll go with the upset here given the star power of the Sharks as well as the rest they got. They swept away Vancouver in the first round, while the Kings were engaged in an extremely physical series with the Blues. I think those effects will start to show from Game 5 on. If Quick stands on his head, the Kings could win, but I think the Sharks' offensive balance wins out.
Matty O
Why the Bruins could win: Their top two lines
While the Bruins lack depth at the offensive and defensive end, their top two lines are stacked with talent, especially upfront. David Krejci and Nathan Horton seemed to finally wake up in the first round after having a sub par regular season. Krejci led all NHL players in the first round with 13 points, while the sharpshooting Horton netted four goals. If these two can play like this, the way they're expected to, then Boston will be a very dangerous team. Milan Lucic, the other winger on this first line, always provides a big body up front and will be needed to cause havoc in front of Henrik Lundqvist. Their second line boasts an equally impressive threesome with Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron, and Tyler Seguin. Marchand, otherwise known as the "little ball of hate," is a pesky competitor who led the Bruins in points and goals during the regular season. Bergeron, while only putting up four points in the first round, came up big in Game 7 with two goals and an assist including the overtime game winner. Seguin struggled in the first round, registering a mere one point. He did finish second on the team with 29 shots and, given his ability, should find the back of the net more often if he keeps it up.
Why the Rangers could win: Rick Nash
After spending years being a one man show in Columbus, Nash finally got the opportunity to play for a true contender as he joined the Rangers at the start of this year. He was everything the Rangers wanted in the regular season, playing at almost a point per game pace, finishing with 42 in 44 games. Unfortunately, the knock against Nash is his lack of playoff experience and performance in the playoffs. Columbus only managed to reach the playoffs one time while Nash was there and, despite being "the man" in Columbus, he finished with three points, and a minus four in four games. This first round series against the Capitals did nothing to silence critics. Despite averaging nearly 20 minutes in ice time, Nash managed only two points in seven games with no goals. Nash's skill level is unquestioned, and when he's on, he's one of the best players in the league. He's a big body with speed, stick handles, and the ability to score. If he can get going, the Rangers could start putting up goals in bunches, instead of having to rely on Lundqvist to save the day every game.
Prediction: Bruins in seven
Close call between these two teams, but I think the Bruins' top heavy talent wins out. This will be a hard fought and exciting series. Despite my prediction, I still think everything hinges on Nash's play. If he plays up to his ability, the Rangers could win this thing in six or less. If he only plays average, the Bruins got it.
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Ottawa Senators
Why the Penguins could win: Offense
The offensive firepower on this team is truly ridiculous. Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin are the two household names on this team, yet it was Pascal Dupuis who led the team in goals in the first round. I thought their acquisition of Jarome Iginla from Calgary was a phenomenal pick up, and he answered the bell in the first round, finishing tied for second on the team with nine points. This team lives by the phrase the best defense is a good offense. As long as they can score in bunches, they could care less who is in goal. The duo of Crosby and Malkin alone is enough to strike fear in the heart of any opponent. Add in the likes of James Neal, Chris Kunitz, and Kris Letang, and you have an offensive juggernaut that will be difficult for anyone to stop.
Why the Senators could win: Goal tending
This doesn't just mean the Senators' goal tending, but the Penguins' as well. Those that followed the Pens-Islanders first round series know all too well about the Penguins issue with their goalies. Marc Andre Fleury, Pittsburgh's starting goalie, struggled in the opening round finishing with a 3.4 goals against average and splitting his four starts going 2-2. The nail in the coffin was a Casey Cizikas goal late in Game 4, sealing a 6-4 victory for the Isles. It was a soft goal to let up, as Fleury looked out of position and frustrated on the bench once he was pulled for the extra skater. Now the Pens must put their faith in backup Tomas Vokoun, who played fantastic in the final two games of the first round, resulting in a series win. Despite his strong play so far, if Vokoun struggles, then what? It could be a dangerous situation developing in Pittsburgh
On the flip side, the Sens' Craig Anderson had a great first round. He held a potent Montreal attack to nine total goals in five games. Although Pittsburgh will bring more offensive firepower than the Canadiens, it is a good sign that Anderson played solid after missing a significant portion of the regular season with an injury. Add in injury buddy Erik Karlsson and you have a formidable pair to stop, or at least slow down, the Pittsburgh attack.
Prediction: Penguins in five
Despite having a stronger defense and goalie than the Islanders, the Senators also have a lesser offense. There is no John Tavares-like player on the Sens that can take over a game by himself. I think the offense will keep clicking for the Pens and they win this series with time to rest, although the games themselves will be close.
Chicago Blackhawks vs. Detroit Red Wings
Why the Hawks could win: Depth
The Hawks' depth can be summed up just by looking at their opening round with Minnesota. Despite Jonathon Toews and Patrick Kane finishing with a combined zero goals in the first round, they still dispatched the Wild in five games. Instead, they got goals from the likes of Andrew Shaw, Marcus Kruger, and Johnny Oduya. Even when their top lines aren't producing, they still are getting contributions from their third and fourth ones. While this help is nice, the Hawks will certainly need their stars to step up in this round and beyond if they want to hoist the cup. Fortunately, the Wings lack the kind of production that the Hawks are able to get at the back end. If the Hawks can neutralize the line(s) that Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterburg are on, it will give them a significant advantage in the series.
Why the Red Wings could win: Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg
It will be interesting to see how coach Mike Babcock deploys these two superstars. For most of the first round series against the Ducks, he had them paired on the same line. In game 7, however, he split them up which resulted in a goal and an assist for Zetterberg in a 3-2 Wings win. On paper, the Wings look outmatched in this series, but the same could have been said when they faced the Ducks in the opening round. Zetterburg and Datsyuk carried the team on their respective backs finishing one-two on the team for points scored in the first round. The challenge will be even stiffer against the Blackhawks, but with two highly skilled players and Jimmy Howard playing arguably the best hockey of his career, the Wings have a shot to make this a series.
Prediction: Hawks in six
They say that you can throw out the records when rivals meet and this series is no different. This will be the last time they meet as divisional foes, so you can bet the crowds will be rocking and passions will be running high. The tipping point for this series will be the goalies. Both are playing well, despite being criticized for their play in the past. If Howard begins to struggle, this series could turn into a sweep. If Corey Crawford plays like he did against Phoenix last year, the Hawks could succumb to the Presidents' Trophy curse.
Los Angeles Kings vs. San Jose Sharks
Why the Kings could win: Jonathan Quick
Quick, who had his coming out party last year, stood tall in the first round and finished with a 1.58 goals against average including a Game 3 1-0 shutout. This was done against a very talented St. Louis Blues team. San Jose benefited from the revolving door that is the Vancouver Canuck goalie position, as neither Roberto Luongo or Cory Schneider could establish their presence in net. Quick gives the Kings a consistent anchor on defense behind Drew Doughty. The Sharks will find the Kings much tougher to score on than their porous round one opponent.
Why the Sharks could win: Matchups
The Sharks, similar to the Bruins, have top heavy talent. Unlike the Bruins, the Sharks tend to spread their talent out with their three star centers, Joe Thorton, Logan Couture, and Joe Pavelski, all on different lines. This can create match up nightmares against other team's defensemen. It will be interesting to see who Drew Doughty is matched up against. Normally, he takes the first line no questions asked, but that will be difficult to determine with three potent lines. The Kings have seen Jake Muzzin and Slava Voynov perform well at times this season, and they will need them to step up in this series to contain this Shark attack.
Prediction: Sharks in seven
I'll go with the upset here given the star power of the Sharks as well as the rest they got. They swept away Vancouver in the first round, while the Kings were engaged in an extremely physical series with the Blues. I think those effects will start to show from Game 5 on. If Quick stands on his head, the Kings could win, but I think the Sharks' offensive balance wins out.
Matty O
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