goucheEven though the Los Angeles Kings have a great road record, Jarret Stoll, says the stats matter naught. The focus is on winning game two. Games three and four are … at home … and it will be encouraging to hear the support of the home fans, but the name of the game is … WIN! The opening game was not particularly exciting as much time was spent scrimmaging behind the nets. Both teams had trouble clearing the puck from their end. The end of the second saw the game tied 1-1 and there was no scoring in the third … althoughe the New Jersey Devils’ fans thought they had the go ahead early in the third. It was ruled that the puck went in off Zach Parise’s hand. Somehow … in overtime … Anze Kopitar was left alone in the middle of the rink and on a break away put a wrist shot in, for the win. These gutsy eighth placers have managed to stun the hockey world and come out smelling like roses. One cannot help but wish them luck for the rest of the series.
Will Quick Be “As Quick As The Devil”s by Momma Gouche
The Los Angeles Kings … so far … made short work of their opponents in the race for The Stanley Cup. Now … with the aid of Jonathan Quick … will they continue their amazing success and capture the elusive trophy that they have not as yet won. They last played in the final in 1993 and lost to the Montreal Canadiens. Wednesday night they meet the New Jersey Devils, at home. Will that game set the tone for what the outcome might be? The Kings have stunned the hockey world … to this point … and maybe it is fitting that they go all the way. I doubt that many hockey fans would have picked them to be in the final. The Gouche and I are picking them in six.
Who’s Got The Puck? by Momma Gouche
By the end of the first period Friday night it looked like the New Jersey Devils had the game well in hand. The period ended 2-0 in their favor. But the New York Rangers were not ready to concede the series and came out full force in the second. They outshot the Devils 13-7 and garnered 2 goals, to tie the game 2-2. The third period was a scramble, with the puck changing hands several times, but no real serious threats. It was a disappointing period, as one would have thought that a team facing elimination would have put up a more aggressively organized offense. Even coach John Tortorella didn’t appear overly anxious … from my point of view. A TRIP TO THE CUP was on the line! But the third period ended scoreless. It took, a previously injured, Adam Henrique only 1:03 seconds, in overtime, to lead his teammates to a berth in The Stanley Cup playoff. One would have expected a more exciting finale to this prestigious event. Momma Gouche is thinking this could be the year for the Kings to be Crowned!
Gionta Stands Tall by Momma Gouche
Stephen Gionta is probably the shortest player on the New Jersey Devils, but he came up big with the first goal, and an assist on the winning goal, on Wednesday night against the New York Rangers. The New Jersey Devils came close to completely blowing a 3-0 lead. The Rangers got 3 unanswered goals in the second and third period and the outcome looked dicey, until Ryan Carter came up with the winner at 15:36 of the third. An empty net goal by Zach Parise clinched the win. Parise said “It wasn’t our best game, but we snuck out here with a win. That’s all that matters”. The Devils are going to have to settle in a little more defensively, if they are going to end the series on Friday night, and head for The Cup.
Kings Get Another Kick At The Cat by Momma Gouche
After a nineteen year drought the Las Angeles Kings will get another chance to capture The Stanley Cup. In 1993 they lost to the Montreal Canadiens. The Phoenix Coyotes faced an uphill battle on Tuesday night and they almost took the first step. They played well enough to win, but the short handed goal in the first period took some of the wind out of their sails. Mike Smith turned aside the 50th shot in overtime, but could not get the rebound that Dustin Penner shot into the top of the net. Should the Los Angeles Kings manage to capture The Cup it will be the first time in franchise history. Even though my leaning was toward the New Jersey Devils, it would be nice to see the Kings final take a step into history.
A Devil Of A Game by Momma Gouche
The New York Rangers took eleven penalties (even to taking a swipe at Martin Brodeur) in trying to knock the New Jerseys Devils out of the game on Monday. However the Devils were determined and got the only 2 goals of the first two periods. Brodeur was out maneuvered by Rangers’ Ruslan Fedotenko in the third, but redeemed himself by assisting on Zach Parises’ second goal of the game. If the Devils can keep up the momentum, that afforded them a 4-1 win in game four, they are going to be tough to beat. Now if Shane Doan and company can just keep up the excellent performance of Sunday afternoon, they may just stop the unbelievable serge of the Los Angeles King’s. Three straight wins is a tough order, but apparently it has been done.
Doan Done Did It by Momma Gouche
Shane Doan admitted that he, among others, had to play better offensively and … do it he did! In the first period, fraught with some pretty serious penalties, Shane picked up his first goal on a powerplay at 14.19. He was creditd with a second goal; which prove to be the final, at 11:10 of the second. Apparentll Doan’s shot was defected off of Los Angeles Kings’ defenseman, Rob Scuderi. In the third the Kings were in the Coyotes end for most of the period, but good defense and the excellent play of Mike Smith, kept the Kings at bay. Smith warded off 13 shots in the third and 36 in the game. Doan had not scored in 5 games, but he got the winner that keeps the Phoenix Coyotes in the running. NOW … it’ back to Phoenix territory and if they play as well defensively, in killing off penalties, they maybe just have a chance at pulling off … the almost impossible.
The “King” Rousts The Devils by Momma Gouche
Even though the New Jersey Devils outshot and outplayed the New York Rangers in the first two periods, Saturday afternoon, they were not able to break down the ballasted of the “King of Goalies”, Henrik Lindqvist. New Jersey had 6 powerplay chances, while the New York only had two.The Rangers took over the third period and came up with a powerplay goal, a tip in, and an empty net … to blank the Devis 3-0. New Jersey played a very offense game, but they will have to find a way to get past Henrik, if they hope to stay in the series. No doubt Lindqvist should be first in line for the Vezina Hart trophy after thirty six saves on Saturday.
Kings Could Ace It by Momma Gouche
There was a lot of maneuvering and 19 shot on goal in Thursday night’s game between the trailing Phoenix Coyotes and the Los Angeles “Kings of the playoffs”, but neither team managed to get past Jonathon Quick or Mike Smith in the first period. Daymond Langkow put a quick wrist shot past Quick at 1;03 of the second, but that was answered two minutes later by Anze Kopitor. The frustrated Phoenix players took 6 mindless penalties; which sapped them for any good offensive play.They only had 8 shots in the last two periods. The Kings took over in the third period and … ironically It was King (Dwight) who got the winning goal. Los Angeles has eight straight wins and Dustin Brown has posted 10 points in 7 games. Regardless of who finally wins The Stanley Cup, The Los Angeles Kings will be The Talk Of The 2012 Playoffs.
The Devils Due by Momma Gouche
Even though Martin Brodeur scored on himself in the second period, to give the New York Rangers a 2-1 lead, he didn’t let the incident affect the rest of his play. His teammates supported him with 2 more goals and he thrust off the other 25 shots. The Rangers came on strong in the latter part of the third period, but the New Jersey Devils held them off and finished with a 3-2 win. Now back to home ice for two, with the series tied 1-1. I am up against my son who believes the Rangers will take the series but I stand behind my devilishly good team!
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