Stanley Cup Playoffs Continue
Not much new this week on the Dallas Stars front…again. That’s what happens though when the NHL playoffs go and you’re not in them. Still, the Dallas Stars should be looking to get a new head coach here fairly soon, unless they have their eyes on an assistant on one of the four teams still remaining in the NHL playoffs. Oh, half season tickets are on sales now. Info can be found here.
May 13, 2013; Boston, MA USA; A view of the Stanley Cup Playoff logo on the ice before game seven of the first round of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Still, there is new hockey though to talk about. The conference finals are in full swing and two teams look superb-the Chicago Blackhawks and Boston Bruins. Isn’t it interesting that teams that faced significant challenges (Boston trailing 4-1 in the third period against Toronto in game 7 and the Blackhawks coming back from a 3-1 series deficit against Detroit) really seem to have all of the mojo in the playoffs at this point?
Chicago got by the Los Angeles Kings 2-1 in game one Saturday night in the western conference finals only to kick the door in in game two, destroying the Kings 4-2. Chicago scored the first four goals of the game. Goalie Jonathan Quick was particularly awful in game two. He needs to be the best player on the ice for the Kings if they want to win this series and he needs to play even better than he has in the postseason thus far. The Blackhawks have a lot of depth and they are very good. We’ve known this since the beginning of the season. Having said all that, expect the Kings to bounce back on their home ice for game three. They need to win games three and four in order to have any chance of winning this series. Thought the Kings would win this series going in. They still could, but these next two games at home are paramount to them having any chance of winning the series against a superior team like the Blackhawks.
In the eastern conference, the Boston Bruins fresh off their 4-1 series butt-whooping over the New York Rangers dominated the Pittsburgh Penguins (coming off their own 4-1 series win over the Ottawa Senators) with a 3-0 win. David Krejci scored two goals for the Bruins. Pittsburgh may start to think about throwing Marc Andre-Fleury back in net if Tomas Vokoun doesn’t start playing better, but Fleury’s mindset can’t be all right. Perhaps the Penguins just need more focus and less of Sidney Crosby trying to stare down Zdeno Chara as if he would stand a chance against him in a fight. Nope. None. Zip. Nada. Maybe Crosby was trying to send a message and/or get his teammates fired up and ready for game two. They better bring a lot of focus and heart tonight (Monday night) or the Bruins will take care of this series in fairly short order.
Jun 1, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Boston Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask (40) makes a save as Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) looks for a rebound and defenseman Zdeno Chara (33) and left wing Daniel Paille (20) defend during the first period in game one of the Eastern Conference finals of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the CONSOL Energy Center. The Boston Bruins won 3-0. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 1, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Boston Bruins defensemen Dennis Seidenberg (44) and Zdeno Chara (33) battle in front of the net with Pittsburgh Penguins left wing Brenden Morrow (10) and center Sidney Crosby (87) during the first period in game one of the Eastern Conference finals of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the CONSOL Energy Center. The Pittsburgh Penguins won 3-0. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
As of Monday night, the western conference game schedule is as follows…
Chicago leads series 2-0
(Game 3) Chicago Blackhawks @ Los Angeles Kings Tuesday June 4th 9 PM ET NBCSN
(Game 4) Chicago Blackhawks @ Los Angeles Kings Thursday, June 6th 9 PM ET NBCSN
**(Game 5) Los Angeles Kings @ Chicago Blackhawks Saturday June 8th 8 PM ET NBCSN
**(Game 6) Chicago Blackhawks @ Los Angeles Kings Monday, June 10th 9 PM ET NBCSN
**(Game 7) Los Angeles Kings @ Chicago Blackhawks Wednesday June 12th TBD
**= if necessary
As of Monday night, the eastern conference game schedule is as follows…
Boston leads series 1-0
(Game 2) Boston Bruins at Pittsburgh Penguins Monday, June 3rd 8 PM ET NBCSN
(Game 3) Pittsburgh Penguins @ Boston Bruins Wednesday, June 5th 8 PM ET NBCSN
(Game 4) Pittsburgh Penguins @ Boston Bruins Friday, June 7th 8 PM ET NBCSN
**(Game 5) Boston Bruins @ Pittsburgh Penguins Sunday, June 9th 8 PM ET NBCSN
**(Game 6) Pittsburgh Penguins @ Boston Bruins Tuesday, June 11th TBA
**(Game 7) Boston Bruins @ Pittsburgh Penguins Wednesday June 12th TBA
**= if necessary
We’re getting down there to seeing who will lift Lord Stanley’s Cup. It’s getting good. Keeping enjoy the great hockey action everyone. Whoever wins the cup, they’ll know that destiny was truly written in the stars.