(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.
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.
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