2012 Stanley Cup Finals Prediction

(6) New Jersey Devils vs. (8) Los Angeles Kings


Notes: Well, this playoffs has been the most unpredictable playoff yet. With the Devils facing the Los Angeles Kings it could be a series with a lot of back-end storylines. Remember in Summer 2010, Ilya Kovalchuk was choosing between the Kings and the Devils. He chose New Jersey and the Kings had to settle for Alexei Ponikarovsky, who now also plays for the Devils. Peter Harrold spent last year with the Kings organization back and forth between the NHL and the AHL in Manchester, New Hampshire. Zach Parise and Kings defenseman Matt Greene were college roommates at the University of North Dakota. And finally, there are 3 LA Kings who have huge history against the Devils and that is Mike Richards, Jeff Carter and Simon Gagne, who used to play for the division rival Philadelphia Flyers. Gagne might not be expected to play in the Final as he is still recovering from a concussion, but he is cleared for contact. So, this could be a Devils vs Old Flyers series. Now back to the two teams in the series on the ice. It will be a match-up of two very different teams that play very aggressive. The question is after being able to solve Henrik Lundqvist, can the Devils solve Jonathan Quick? This series will be very hard for the Kings, much harder than Vancouver, St. Louis and Phoenix, but I still think the Kings are more aggressive and more physical and their Penalty Kill has been lethal in the playoffs and the Devils power play is very fragile at times.

Prediction: Kings in 6.  

2012 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Round 3 Predictions

East:


(1) New York Rangers vs. (6) New Jersey Devils:


Notes: Everyone in the NY/NJ area wanted to see this epic and that is exactly what they will get. This series will only be fitting if it has an overtime ending. This series will be a battle of wills, but I have to give the edge to the Rangers in defense and goaltending. Offensively, you can give the Devils the edge due to their aggressive fore-check. You can be assured that Girardi and McDonagh will be out against the Parise line of the Devils and sometimes against Kovalchuk. But this series will most definitely come down to Lundqvist and Brodeur. The big key for the Devils will be if they can get more than a one goal lead. They have struggled against the Rangers this season in Madison Square Garden. They simply cannot afford to let Lunqvist get into their head. I just have to err on the side of defense in this series.

Prediction: Rangers in 7


West:


(3) Phoenix Coyotes vs. (8) Los Angeles Kings:


Notes: The :Los Angeles Kings have been relatively unbeaten in these playoffs knocking off the Presidents Trophy Winning Vancouver Canucks squad and then thumping the most consistent team in the NHL, the St. Louis Blues. But, who could have predicted that the Kings will meet the Coyotes for the Western Conference Crown. The Coyotes absolutely annihilated the Nashville Predators, who were picked by many to win the Stanley Cup. But as the Rangers and Devils, this will come down to the two goaltenders in Mike Smith and probably the best goaltender in the West in Jonathan Quick. I will have to go with the team of destiny and we could be looking at a coaching re-match of the 2004 Stanley Cup Finals, but with two different teams.

Prediction: Kings in 6