Henrik Lundqvist and the NY Rangers are in a bad place mentally. They are now faced with the reality that in order to win the Stanley Cup, they will have to beat Jonathon Quick four our of five games. I don't see it happening.
On Saturday night, the Kings performed larceny on the Rangers by stealing away the two-goal lead that the Blueshirts had created in the first 40 minutes of the game. If the Kings were to mount a comeback in Game 2, they would have to make adjustments and find a solution.
At that point, it was The Kings against Lundqvist. He was out numbered. He lost the battle. Lost his cool. Then, lost Game 2.
Kings' cement mixer Dwight King accidentally on purpose introduced himself to The King at 1:58 of the third period. Sayonara two-goal lead.
"I'm extremely disappointed on that call, or non-call," Lundqvist said. "They got to be consistent with that rule."
On the play in question, King was posted up in the low post inside the blue paint. King and Ryan McDonagh grappled for position as Kings D-man Matt Greene let fly a shot from his point position. King got a piece of the shot and it eluded Lundqvist. It was impossible for The King to set himself and make the save with the 6'4" 220 pound King paralyzing his legs.
After the goal, Lundqvist lobbied referee Dan O'Halloran for a whistle on King's contact. He didn't get the call that he was looking for. Lundqvist's argument was based on a previous play when Rangers forward Benoit Pouliot was called for interfering with Jonathon Quick in the second period. The King's complaints fell on deaf ears. Lundqvist was in such a bad place mentally after the King goal that he tracked down O'Halloran to voice his displeasure during a TV stoppage. Rather than re-group and re-focus mentally and uphold his 4-3 lead, Lundqvist, allowed the King goal to corrupt his thoughts and his overall game. Then, Marian Gaborik scored the game-tying goal .
Kings captain Dustin Brown ended Game 2 in when he deflected a Willie Mitchell shot past The King in double OT.
After the 5-4 double OT loss, the crestfallen Lundqvist lamented the non-call and the injustice of it all.
Thanks, Rangers
I respect Lundqvist for venting his spleen and calling out O'Halloran for the inconsistency of the officiating. However, he's got to check himself. Calling out the refs after Game 2 is not a wise move. The best player has to present himself in a stoic and confident posture. That's leadership. Even if he's dying on the inside, he should have presented a brave face to his battalion mates. Lundqvist has bigger fish to fry right now than carping and bitching about officiating.
Lundqvist now has to figure out a way to defeat the Kings 4 out of the next 5 games.
I can't see it happening.
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Paul Stastny isn't in any hurry to sign a new deal with the Colorado Avalanche. Stastny and his agent Matt Keator are in the driver's seat in their upcoming negotiations with Patrick Roy, Joe Sakic, and Greg Sherman. Adrian Dater of the Denver Post reports that the 28 year old power center will wait it out before he agrees to a new deal top stay and play in Denver. Maybe he stays. Maybe he leaves as a UFA.
This situation is worth watching.
In March, the Avalanche were intent on inkling Stastny to a contract extension, however, the center and his agent opted to play the waiting game. The thin UFA center market will help to drive up his value. In 2013-14, Stastny scored a career high 25 goals. In seven playoff games, he added another 5 goals and 5 assists. Stastny's 60 points ranked him fifth on the Avs in scoring behind Matt Duchene'(70 points), Landeskog (65), O'Reilly (64 points), MacKinnon (63 points)
Stastny picked the right time to a score a career high 25 goals. He's in a contract year. His five-year, $33 million contract is now expired.
The big question now is how does Stastny fit into the Avs' plans moving forward?
The Avs have four skilled, dynamic centers right now with Matt Duchene, Nathan MacKinnon, and Ryan O’Reilly maximizing their true 200 by 85 foot potential. MacKinnon's rookie season coming out party underscores the need for Patrick Roy to give him more ice time. The kid is a phenomenal talent. Ryan O'Reilly took one for the team and played the wing in 2013-14, however, he's a natural center and is most comfortable at the pivot. How does Roy sell ROR on another season at the wing? The Avalanche cannot justify re-signing Stastny to a 7 year, $7 million per season contract extension and play him as a fourth line center.
Look for several teams to drive a hard bargain for Stastny on July 1. Among them will be Anaheim, Vancouver, Buffalo, Toronto, and St. Louis.
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Are the Boston Bruins about to make some serious roster changes in the summer?
That's what Joe Haggerty of CSN New England is saying.
Hockey sources have indicated to CSNNE.com that the Bruins are going to be very active in the trade market leading up to the July free agency period, despite public assertions by Peter Chiarelli and Cam Neely that the roster only needs some “tweaks.…Players such as Brad Marchand ($4.5 million cap hit) and/or Johnny Boychuk ($3.66 million cap hit) could be moved, based on a combination of salary cap hardship for Boston, and considerably high value on the trade market. The Bruins have roughly $9 million to sign Reilly Smith, Torey Krug, Matt Bartkowski, Shawn Thornton, Jarome Iginla – or a suitable replacement right wing for the B’s top line with David Krejci and Milan Lucic -- and a backup goaltender. That isn’t nearly enough cap space for more than 25 percent of the NHL roster.
Perhaps the Buffalo Sabres would be interested in trading D Christian Ehrhoff for pesky forward Bard Marchand.
Don't scoff at the idea.
The Sabres could definitely use some more bite, skill and sandpaper in the in top six. Marchand fits that bill to a tee. Are Bruins management growing weary of Marchand's on-ice antics and beaking of opponents?
Last summer, Peter Chiarelli wasted little time trading budding star Tyler Seguin to Dallas.
Three weeks ago, after the Game 7 loss to hated rival Montreal, Marchand was open and honest when he admitted that he lost his "focus" against the Canadiens.
You'll recall that Sabres bench boss Ted Nolan coached Marchand in Juniors at Moncton. The two men have a very solid relationship away from the rink. The Bruins' D corps was exposed in the seven game war against Montreal. The loss of veteran D Dennis Seidenberg was conspicuous as the young Bruins D were often times out-muscled and out-hustled to loose pucks in the epic Montreal series. Zdeno Chara has lost a step or two and at 38 years of age he is on the back nine of his career. Adding a smart puck mover like Ehrhoff would benefit Seidenberg and the overall group.
Ehrhoff and Seidenberg are great friends from having played together for Team Germany in international hockey over the years.
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In May, Florida Panthers GM Dale Tallon fessed up said that he is interested in trading his #1 pick in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. The Calgary Flames are one such team who have inquired with Tallon about his top pick in the draft.
Calgary are currenty slotted to select fourth overall in the first round. The Buffalo Sabres are due to pick second and the Edmonton Oilers are slated to select third overall.
Flames GM Brad Treliving told NHL.com that he is doing his diligence regarding the upcoming entry draft.
"Now is the time that all of those conversations are happening," Treliving said. "We're going to keep pounding away and try to get a sense of what other teams are thinking. For the most part, teams have gotten through their meetings. They've done their preparation for the draft. The talk between managers is increasing. We'll see where it goes."
Treliving's eye's may be bigger than his stomach regarding a trade for the first overall pick in the 2014 entry draft. What assets does he have to trade, other than the fourth overall pick? He won't be trading young studs Sean Monahan, nor Johnny Gaudreau.
"We'll see. You're managing it all the time. Is it realistic? I don't know," he said. "We're going to explore everything and if there is something that we feel makes sense, we'll do it. If not, we won't."
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