Kings, 'Hawks Game 6 buildup; Pens, Habs 'honey do' list; Snider battling cancer (Puck Headlines)
Here are your Puck Headlines: a glorious collection of news and views collected from the greatest blogosphere in sports and the few, the proud, the mainstream hockey media.
• Kings fans are all set for Game 6.
• Jonathan Toews on Game 6: “We want to stay with that mentality that we’re putting all the pressure on them and it’s going to be tough for them to close it out and win that fourth game against us. We showed how resilient of a group we are [in Game 5]. We’re going to do it again [in Game 6].” Okay, whatever you say, Captain Reverse Psychology. [Chicago Sun Times]
• The best player on the ice for the LA Kings has been Chicago's Kris Versteeg. I just blew your mind. [ESPN Chicago]
• That Brandon Saad kid was lights-out with Patrick Kane in Game 5. Good thing he was on the U.S. Olympic Team. [Blackhawk Up]
• "The Kings are scoring goals at an accelerated rate – and they’re also conceding more goals than they’re accustomed to. Los Angeles’ 3.42 goals per game is .23 goals per game more than any other playoff team. They scored in 10 consecutive periods ending with [Wednesday] night’s third period, and their power play is operating at a 25.4% clip. On the other hand, they’re allowing 2.74 goals per game. While the pace of play appears to have taken a step forward – and they’re facing a team with elite offensive firepower – the Kings’ average of 30.0 shots against per game is only a slight increase from last year’s average of 29.3 shots against per game." [LA Kings Insider]
• Helene Elliott on the chess match being played by Darryl Sutter and Joel Quenneville [LA Times]
• A statistical breakdown of the matchups that have worked for the Kings against the Blackhawks. [Jewels from the Crown]
• The assumption that a Stanley Cup Final featuring New York against Los Angeles, the two largest television markets in the US, would be a ratings boom for NBC... not so much. Chicago against New York would likely have more viewers. [Chicago Tribune]
• Nick Cotsonika on what a long strange trip it's been to the Stanley Cup Final for the New York Rangers. [Yahoo]
• The Canadiens can't spend much time licking their wounds after Thursday's Eastern Conference Final loss to the Rangers. They've got a lot of hugemongous big decisions ahead of them. [Toronto Sun]
• P.K. Subban is going to get PAID this off-season. Just for $hit$ and gigs, a look at what could have happened if he didn't sign a bridge contract after holding out in January 2013. [Dobber Hockey]
• It was announced Flyers chairman Ed Snider is battling an unspecified form of cancer. The good news is that it is non-life threatening and he should be able to continue normal activities as he undergoes chemotherapy. [Philly.com]
• Time is ticking for the yet-to-be-determined Penguins GM, and they have a long 'Honey Do' list to cover. [Tribune Review]
• The good folks over at Japers' Rink respond to The Hockey News' Adam Proteau's article pushing for Alex Ovechkin to leave the NHL and head over to the KHL for good. [Japer's Rink]
• Edmonton Oil Kings goaltender (and Penguins prospect), Tristan Jarry, makes an eight-year-old hockey fan's night after his team won the Memorial Cup. [Buzzing the Net]
• Finally, if NHL prospect Sonny Milano's hockey career doesn't work out, Benihana's would love to have him.
