2014 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs (predictions and discussions)

http://www.thescore.com/nhl/news/504606

Big trouble at the World Championships: Ovie took a major knee to knee check from a German (at least five-game suspensionworthy here) and is carted off. This looks BAD.

 

Not been a great year for the Great 8.

 

Carey Price out for the series according to Michel Therien.

If his season ends like this...

 

Had picked NY to win the series, but even moreso now. Price has been making that team look better than the rest of the roster.

 

Fortunately, MRI results indicate no ligament tears.

I didn't see its win against Finland, but did watch the United States against Latvia and Kazakhstan. Team USA's performance on defense against Latvia was "lousy." Peter Laviolette's word not mine, though I thought the same. Tim Thomas was shaky against the Latvians but he was better against Kazakhstan. IIRC, the United States plays Germany in the middle of the night tonight.

Interestingly, France has advanced to the quarterfinals. The French upset Canada at the beginning of the tournament.

In other news, the St. Louis Blues have agreed to a three-year contract with Brian Elliott. Ryan, we hardly knew ya.

 

Clean hip check that ended badly for Ovechkin, so naturally the guy who hit him has been suspended. Bullshit ruling.

 

Losing Price seems to have completely deflated the Canadiens and their fans. This series has the look of a sweep by the Rangers.

 

It would seem that way but I was the one who posted here Los Angeles was "done" after losing three straight to San Jose.

I actually thought Montreal's compete level was good in Game 2. Some dude in the Rangers' net made 40 saves.

 

I figure Montreal will win one of the games in New York, but the Rangers will win the series in either 5 or 6. Lundqvist has been playing amazing. Didn't think Montreal played badly on Monday, just couldn't get more than one past King Henrik.

 

Lundqvist has been stellar so far. Two bad bounce goals.

The fact Nash is picking it up now really might be the death knell for the Canadiens. That and the Rangers' power play is finally scoring again.

 

Montreal came out like a ball of fire on Monday night. Lundqvist had a lot to do with putting it out.

But I think McDonagh's lucky deflection goal did most of the damage. Montreal gets the lead and they've been attacking all night and then it's tied all of a sudden, something like 1 minute later or less.

 

I'm not questioning Montreal's effort; it was there, but mentally they just aren't quite in it. A big factor Monday were some badly-timed penalties that were just mental breakdowns. They'd get a power play and halfway into it, they'd take a silly foul. Stuff like that.