The first game of a Stanley Cup Finals series is often a weird one, so be careful when you prepare to make a betting play on the opening edition of this championship series between the New York Rangers and the Los Angeles Kings inside Staples Center.
Wednesday, June 4th – 8:00 PM ET
NHL Odds: Los Angeles -150, New York +135
Why The Rangers Can Win:
Their goalie can stand on his head and win games when not much else is going well. Henrik Lundqvist is almost certainly one of the three best goalies in the world. He made a Dominik Hasek-like save in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Montreal Canadiens, preserving a 1-0 lead and sending his team to the Cup finals. Lundqvist is going to relish this chance to be in hockey’s championship series, the first in his career. If he can play well and see pucks, the Rangers have a chance. If New York is not victimized by the puck luck that Los Angeles received in its series against the Chicago Blackhawks, especially on the series-winning goal in overtime, the Rangers could get that extra edge they need. A lot of analysts will tell you that the Stanley Cup Playoffs are really just an extended theater of events in which puck luck determines a lot of important bounces and game outcomes. If the Rangers can get the puck luck on their side, they can win this game and set the right tone for this series.
Why The Kings Can Win:
Their goaltender, Jonathan Quick, is going to feel as though he’s gained a second chance. Quick was not one of Los Angeles’ three or four best players in the Western Conference Finals against the Chicago Blackhawks. He struggled against Chicago’s depth and speed. He was lucky to get out of that series. His offense carried him and gave him a mulligan. Quick should now feel as though he can go back on the ice and correct the problems that befell him last week. Quick was slow to respond to a number of situations against the Blackhawks. That’s what speed from an opposing team can do. Against the Rangers, Martin St. Louis might offer a test in terms of quickness, but St. Louis is much older than the Blackhawks’ foremost stars. Quick should be able to gain a comfort zone against a Ranger team that needed an overtime goal from St. Louis (in Game 4) to feel somewhat reassured about its ability to beat Montreal in the East.
A lot of hockey pundits are of the belief that the Western Conference has been much, much better than the Eastern Conference all season long. Los Angeles and Chicago, by playing such a great series, seemed to validate that contention in the conference finals. The Kings might be playing with pressure, but after beating Chicago, they should be able to play with confidence and handle the pressure that comes their way.
Outlook
This is the first game between two non-conference teams since the regular season. The feeling-out process will just begin in this series, instead of working its way to completion. You’ll probably see some rust from the Rangers and some fatigue from the Kings. Generally, it’s better to trust what you think is the superior team. That should be L.A., but don’t be too shocked if Lundqvist and the Rangers steal one.
Pick: Los Angeles -150
