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Back on our May 1st show I predicted the Los Angeles Kings to meet the New York Rangers in the Stanley Cup finals. So far I feel pretty good about it. The Kings are up 2-0 on the Phoenix Coyotes and the series will shift to LA for game 3 on Thursday, May 17th. The New Jersey Devils have just evened the Eastern Conference Finals at one a piece. That series heads to New Jersey Saturday, May 19th.

I picked the Kings because of Jonathan Quick's fast start as the playoffs began. I have also always been a fan of Anze Kopitar and the team's other centers. The Kings are the hottest team in the game right now and nothing can slow them down. They have not lost a road game throughout the playoffs and the only game they did lose came at the hands of the number one seeded Canucks in the opening round. The Kings proceeded to sweep the number two seed, St. Louis Blues. If the Kings are going to win it all this year they must get some contributions from Jeff King (had a hat trick in game two's blowout) and their captain Dustin Brown (3 points in the first two games against Phoenix). The Kings have won all season long due to their defense and goaltending. They have actually improved on both areas this postseason. 

I picked the Rangers to come out of the Eastern Conference because I felt they were the best team all year long and a goalie like Henrik Lundqvist doesn't come along very often. The Rangers have some solid offensive pieces with Marian Gaborik, Brad Richards and Ryan Callahan. I did mention the Devils prior to the start of these playoffs and how I viewed them as a sleeper team due to their great penalty kill during the regular season (Best in the NHL) but I'm sticking with the Rangers to come out of the East.

If I'm correct, the NHL will have the perfect match up of two mega markets holding a championship bout. LA and New York are arguably the two biggest media markets in all of sports and if these two teams make it to the finals, NHL's commissioner, Gary Bettman will be able to market his sport to a lot more fans. What sounds better: New York versus LA or Phoenix versus New Jersey? I thought so...


My final, set in stone, prediction: The LA Kings beat the New York Rangers in 5 games to win the Stanley Cup.



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Alex Wiesner