RETURN OF THE RANGERS

The New York Rangers celebrate their return to the Stanley Cup Finals.

The New York Rangers are back in the Stanley Cup Finals and King Henrik reigns supreme.

Down 3-1 in the series, desperation prevailed in Game 5 as the Montreal Canadiens staved off elimination to live another game. In that next game they weren't so lucky. Although Henrik Lundqvist only had to make 18 saves, of which one was a spectacular blocker save, in Game 6, he was stellar when his team needed him to be. Dominic Moore score the lone goal and the Rangers played a near perfect game defensively to advance to their first Stanley Cup Finals after winning it twenty years ago. Also noteworthy, this was their first series win in less than seven games since 2008.

Most people probably assumed the Habs stood little chance against the Rangers after losing Carey Price to a knee injury in Game 1, but rookie goalie, Dustin Tokarski, surprised them all as he really gave Lundqvist a run for his money. Tokarski was great and he gave his team a chance to win in every game. In the end though, it wasn't enough. The Canadiens defensive play from the first two series was nowhere to be found against New York and too many of the forwards underachieved. When you face the best goalie in the playoffs at the moment, that simply won't do.

So what chances do the New York Rangers have in the finals, either against Chicago or Los Angeles? I would say, based on what they have achieved so far, they have a very good chance. Having Lundqvist in the net is reason enough to think they can beat any of those powerhouses from the west.

RANGERS LOOKING TO CLOSE

The New York Rangers celebrate the OT win in Game 7 against 

the New Jersey Devils in 1994.

It has been exactly twenty years since Stephane Matteau scored his game-winner in OT against the New Jersey Devils in Game 7 of the 1994 Conference Final. Tonight the New York Rangers will try to repeat that effort in Game 5 against the Montreal Canadiens.

The Rangers have made life very difficult for the Habs so far. They have scored first in most of the games and made Montreal chase the game throughout the series. Even though Dustin Tokarski is not to blame for any of the losses, he has been pretty solid, he has still been outplayed by Henrik Lundqvist, who has been nothing short of spectacular. The Rangers are also firing on all cylinders offensively now that Rich Nash seems to have regained his scoring touch.

The Habs, on the other hand, are desperately looking for more contribution from, first and foremost, Max Pacioretty who has only 9 points so far in the playoffs. Getting points from the slumbering Thomas Vanek would also be welcomed by the desperate Canadiens. There isn't much that would indicate this season will continue for Montreal past Game 5. Other than just desperation that is. Being on the brink of elimination makes for a dangerous team and the Rangers are well aware of this, having come back from being down 3-1 against the Penguins. They know how tough it is to get that elusive forth win.

I think we will see a faster and more urgent Montreal team. But I also think it won't be enough. Henrik Lundqvist will once again give his team a chance to win and I think they will take it.

MR CLUTCH

Daniel Briere shows what a clutch player he still is.

He was a healthy scratch for Montreal in Game 5 against the Pittsburgh Penguins, and I did voice my opinion as I thought that was a more stupid than bold move from coach Michel Therrien. In Game 7, Daniel Briere showed why he is considered one of the best players in the NHL come the playoffs. With a goal and a helper he made sure the Montreal Canadiens could clinch the second round series against their arch rivals, the Boston Bruins.

The big bad Bruins had problems solving a fast, skilled and organized Montreal from Game 1, and over a series of seven games, their undisciplined game became their undoing. Coach Claude Julien talked about "all the crap" they had to deal with, but as I see it most of this crap came from the Bruins themselves. The Habs played a focused game and never gave in to Boston's efforts to put them off balance. In the end, the Bruins' own game got away from them and so did the series.

ALL HAIL THE KING

This post comes a little late, but still.. King Henrik of Manhattan proved me wrong. He was not about to go down in five. Instead he showed us how great he is under pressure and what a clutch goalie he is when it matters the most. He carried his team for the remaining three games against Pittsburgh and he was spectacular in Game 7.

Lundqvist earns his fifth straight Game 7 win. 

After Game 4 I thought the New York Rangers were done. The Penguins really looked like they were in control of the series after having won three straight since losing Game 1. I still don't think I was way off doubting the Blueshirts after what really was a poor performance through those three losses. But this is what is so great about hockey. Anything can happen and momentum is hard to predict. It can shift from game to game or, as in this series, in sets of three games. What is clear is that while the Rangers seemed to rally together and lift their game to a higher level while the Pittsburgh Penguins fell apart completely. And, although Sidney Crosby stated after Game 7 that he was healthy, something clearly wasn't right with the Pittsburgh star player. Except for a game or two, he was a non factor in this series.

So what will happen in Pittsburgh? Was this Dan Bylsma's last game as a Penguins coach? Likely, yes. Crosby's leadership has been questioned. Will that have further consequences? We'll see.

NO DANNY BOY

When the Montreal Canadiens take on the Boston Bruins tonight, they will do so without Daniel Briere. He is a healthy scratch for the Habs as coach Michel Therrien favors Brandon Prust in Game 5. Briere has one goal and three assists in eight games so far in the playoffs while playing on the forth line. The fact is that Daniel Briere is as good a clutch player as they come and I think Therrien has wasted his clutch abilities putting him on the forth line against Boston. 113 points in 116 playoff games speaks volumes. If Game 5 goes to Boston, I'm pretty sure he will be back in the lineup for Game 6 in Montreal.

RANGERS DONE?

I really try never to say it's over until it's over, and in the Stanley Cup playoffs that is almost a given. However, in the case of the New York Rangers, and the way they are playing against the Pittsburgh penguins right now, I am ready to say they are done. Down 3-1 in the series, they show no signs that they are about to turn this around.

TSN panelist, Mike Johnson, stated earlier this season that, "No player has ever gone to The New York Rangers and become a better player or even remained as good." This is painfully true when one looks at Martin St. Louis. Even though Rick Nash has been pretty awful so far in the post season, Marty hasn't been much better. If the Rangers are to have any chance in this series, they both have to find their game real soon.

Prediction: Penguins in 6

Henrik Lundqvist looks on as Chris Kunitz celebrates his 4-2 goal.

HABS COLLAPSE

The Boston Bruins completed a third period comeback in Game 2 to beat the Montreal Canadiens 5-3. Down 3-2 late in the third frame, the Bruins once again got goals from their youngsters, Dougie Hamilton and Reilly Smith to turn it around to even the series at 1-1. Considering the way the Habs defense collapsed I would file it under lucky escapes. As the series continues in Montreal I am sure the Canadiens will be quite content with splitting the two first games in Boston. My prediction for this series is Montreal. This may go against most predictions but there is something about this team that makes me think they can actually go all the way. One thing they will definitely take away from this one is that they can't sit back and relax for a second. The Bruins are way to good to be given chances like that late in a game. The Habs have to play a full 60 minutes to have a chance to get past Boston.

On a second note; I'm not a fan of Milan Lucic's empty net goal celebration. Empty net goals are almost always fairly effortless and to celebrate it the way he did is just classless.

Prediction: Montreal in 6 games.

GAME 7 PREDICTIONS

The first round of the 2014 playoffs ends with quite a bang. Three Game 7 and here are my predictions. 

San Jose were up 3-0 but were unable to put away the LA Kings, who suddenly found new life and now has pushed the series to a 3-3 tie. I'm not a big believer in history's impact, but the Sharks do have a way of choking in the playoffs. LA clearly has the momentum and are rolling after their poor start so I'm going with the Kings here. 

New York vs Philadelphia is a tough one. The Rangers have won their last three Game 7 but the Flyers are a typical comeback team. Wayne Simmons was great in Game 6 while most of the Rangers were not. I think this one comes down to which of the two goalies can steal the game, Mason or Lundquist. I'm going with King Henrik and his Blueshirts. 

The Colorado Avalanche will host Minnestota in a series which has seen only home wins. The Avs, and especially Nathan McKinnon, have been spectacular at home and I have a feeling they will be again. My guess is this Avalanche will roll to at least the next round.