Stanley Cup Finals: Schedule And Prediction Thread

The Stanley Cup Finals are here, and the city of Los Angeles is set to host the home opener tonight.  The New York Rangers and Los Angeles Kings are in Los Angeles to start battling for the oldest and most prestigious trophy in professional sports.

There are two party lines that I could follow here, my emotionless attachment to the series based on the fact that I don’t care one way or the other about either of these teams.  The closest thing I have to a rooting interest in these Stanley Cup Finals is the fact that the New York Rangers are from the state of New York and I am from the state of New York.

I have lived in and visited New York City, and been to games at Madison Square Garden.  I can’t say the same thing for the city of Los Angeles.

Based solely on that information – I really hope the New York Rangers win their first Stanley Cup since 1994, which is coincidentally the last time the Boys of Broadway even made the Stanley Cup Finals.

Outside of the emotionless attachment with the New York Rangers based on their proximity to me by sheer distance – giving me a rooting interest; I still think the Stanley Cup Finals will end with a Western Conference winner, despite the fact the Chicago Blackhawks were my favorites from the beginning.

While the New York Rangers are looking to end the drought, the Los Angeles Kings have plenty of guys on their roster with a bad taste in their mouth from last season when they weren’t that far off from attempting a repeat of their own, missing out on the Stanley Cup Finals because of a loss to the above mentioned Chicago Blackhawks.

Does Jonathan Quick remain in the zone, or does Henrik Lundqvist finally have what it takes to keep the throne as King in the city that never sleeps?

Who has overcome more adversity to get to the point where they can shrug off anything thrown their way?  The New York Rangers made it to the Stanley Cup Finals despite some horrible scheduling in previous rounds that had to be overcome.  The Los Angeles Kings just came from behind in a game seven against a modern dynasty that should have honestly never went seven games – as the Kings had a 3-1 series lead heading into game five.

This series is going to go the way of the game seven beast – with both teams wanting to leave it out on the ice for each and every game.  I am sure that the Los Angeles Kings win this Stanley Cup Finals series in seven games.

Stanley Cup Finals Schedule

Wednesday, June 4
8 p.m. NY Rangers at Los Angeles (Staples Center)
NBC, CBC, RDS

Saturday, June 7
7 p.m. NY Rangers at Los Angeles (Staples Center)
NBC, CBC, RDS

Monday, June 9
8 p.m. Los Angeles at NY Rangers (MSG)
NBCSN, CBC, RDS

Wednesday, June 11
8 p.m. Los Angeles at NY Rangers (MSG)
NBCSN, CBC, RDS

*Friday, June 13
8 p.m. NY Rangers at Los Angeles (Staples Center)
NBC, CBC, RDS

*Monday, June 16
8 p.m. Los Angeles at NY Rangers (MSG)
NBC, CBC, RDS

*Wednesday, June 18
8 p.m. NY Rangers at Los Angeles (Staples Center)
NBC, CBC, RDS

*-if needed