"Series B:" Detroit or Los Angeles?

[lmanchur.]

Who will win the Western Conference Quarter Finals between the Detroit Red Wings (2) and Los Angeles Kings (7)?

The Kings have one of the best offensive unites in the entire league, and goaltender Felix Potvin is playing amazing since coming to L.A. behind a defense which no longer contains one of the league's top defensemen in Rob Blake.

However, the Red Wings, although "old," are playing great hockey lately, and have only improved since the start of the year. This could be the Red Wings' last great run, but they said that two years, ago, too! :)

One last note.... if there were to be an "upset" in the first round where the higher seed falls to the lower seed, this would be it, so I'm giving the Kings a chance in this one... they may even win it... but that is disregarding some unforseen mistakes (and A LOT of them, at that) that the Red Wings make.

Otherwise, Detroit will win this one and move on.


(Check Sports Central (http://sports-central.org) on April 10 for my NHL Playoff Preview article, featuring my "offical" picks, and analysis of each Quarter Final series. Also featured on Sports Central during the playoffs will be a printable playoff tree, as well as live, up-to-the minute scores.)

[Wedge231]

Detroit - They have a very experienced club and they have been in the playoffs every year for a long time. The Kings still have ways to go I think.

[lmanchur.]

The Kings actually have a very good team, IMO. The only thing is, though, that in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, defense wins games, which is the only real weak point of the Kings. They have probably the hottest goalie in the NHL right now (I would say only Hasek (BUF) is hotter right now) in Felix Potvin, and when you have a goalie like that, that can bail out a weak defense, anything can happen.... especially when you have one of the best offensive units in the game.

Anyway, Detroit will probably win, but I'm just backing up my statement why this is the "upset" series in the West if there was to be one.

[budman2]

!!!!!post season potvin!!!!!!:D

[lmanchur.]

Originally posted by budman2
!!!!!post season potvin!!!!!!:D Ha ha!... that's what I'd like to see, but I doubt it will happen!

...the Kings are kind of like the Penguins -- no chance to go anywhere in the post season. However, a better comparison would be the Maple Leafs the last two seasons... GREAT offensive game... good, solid goaltending... no defense... that equals no Cup :(

...if they had Blake... I'd give the Kings a bit more of a chance, but still, if there were to be an upset in the West, this would be it... and I'd LOVE to see it because I absolutely despise the Red Wings!!!

[NickHammy]

I really dislike the red wings, but they've put together a huge run at the end of the season and they are very experienced.

[budman2]

i hate the wings too , but as far as the kings are concerned, there doing better without blake.

[lmanchur.]

Originally posted by budman2
i hate the wings too , but as far as the kings are concerned, there doing better without blake. ... I think they're doing better WITH Potvin, and not without Blake... the two moves happened at approximately the same time, so it's hard to tell if the leave of Blake, or the the coming of Potvin, made the bigger difference.

[PeterDewar]

LA battled hard to reach the playoffs but Detroit is simply too tough, Wings in a quickie. But I would love to see LA win this one, as a big Avs fan [:D]

[lmanchur.]

Ha ha!!!... well, if Colorado does win, they'll play the winner of STL/SJS, assuming edmonton or l.a. doesn't make an upset.....

Anyways, i just heard this stat: Detroit hasn't lost on home ice this calendar year (since January 1, 2001)

OWCH! -- that's SO hot, you'll burn yourself!!!

[NickHammy]

and they'll probably keep it that way for this round...

[icas]

never count out the kings... and the way Potvin's game has turned around is more than can be said about Osgood... the main question, IMO, about this series is goaltending... will "the Cat" stay hot and can Osgood return to his form that won the Wings a cup... if "The Cat" stays hot i do not think the Wings have a chance... and if you think about it in terms of back-ups the Kings really have 3 starting goaltenders...

As for the Blake deal, i think it had to deal with all the things going on with rumors and such that really hurt the kings... and also at the beginning of the season Blake turned in his Captaincy but then retook it back after talking with Murray... i think more or less the leadership from Blake wasn't there which hurt the kings and when they were able to get that off their minds they got down to business... if you notice Potvin's first couple of games with the Kings were not great... after the blake trade it seemed to me Potvin got better....

And the Kings from last year have revenge on their minds... i see LA kickin some major wings ass!

[budman2]

very interesting poem ther icas, wher is it from ? or did you come up with it yourself?:cool:

[icas]

It's "Interview With A Winner" by Donald Finkel

[lmanchur.]

As I said.... if there were to be an upset in round #1, this would be it, and I'm turning out to be right so far!!!, with LAs 3-2 win in Detroit today in Game #5...

...it was Detroit's first home loss since December 27, 2000.

Wow.... whatta run, but an even better one will be LAs win on Monday, making it 4 in a row.... I think the old legs in Detroit have FINALLY worn out! :D

[icas]

YEAHHHHHHH!!!!!! THE LAST 3 GAMES HAVE BEEN AWESOME!!!!! I need tickets for mondays game!! i seriously thought wednesday's game was over and done with but i was wrong!! the kiings are looking sharp and amazingly have finally scored on the powerplay...

GOOOOOOOOO KKKKKKIIIIINNNNNGGGGGSSSSS!!!!!!!!

[icas]

WOOHOO!!!! wiiiiiinnnnnnnnn!!! now it's time to meet blake and the av's... tickets go on sale wednesday at 7:30 am... i know what i'll be doing

[lmanchur.]

...simply an amazing comeback by the Kings!!!!!!!

...It was an astounding series!!!

[PeterDewar]

There you have it folks, a giant upset. I don't think many people picked this one. As a Avs fan, I hate DET and I'm glad to see them out, although it would've been nice to see Yzerman finish the season on the ice, but now he has time to heal.

[Wedge231]

I split even in my predictions of playoff matchups. I wasn't expecting the Red Wings to be out after the first round but its nice to see different teams advance every year.