2014 Stanley Cup Finals LA Kings vs. New York Rangers

Not to brag, but I had picked the Kings to go to the up finals...I did pick them facing the Penguins and I was a game away from that happening. Deep down I did think the Kings would've won the series if it was against the Penguins but I had to made that pick from my heart.

The Kings are a heavy favorite to win the cup against the Rangers in this series, I thought it would be 5 games max, many hockey pundits thought less. After a 3-0 win last night, it looks like the Kings will eventually take the series, in a sweep if they win tomorrow night. What is surprising though is how the Kings came to be up in this series 3 games to 0. You could argue the Rangers were the better team in the 1st 2 games but did not get the bounces both in puck luck and ref luck. In game 3 Jonathan Quick answered his critics about his level of play in the previous games and was lights out, if he plays at that level for game 4 the Kings will sweep, if not I say the Kings will win at home in 5.

I did a one sheet of the two goalies in the series Jonathan Quick of the Los Angeles Kings and Henrik Lundqvist of the New York Rangers. Then broke it down to the singles of each goalie for their team, both are all digital drawings.

Jonathan Quick

Henrik Lundqvist

NHL Western Conference finals: Chicago Blackhawks vs. LA Kings Mad Men Style art

My NHL bracket challenge of the Western conference was wrong for round 2 in both series but I picked the eventual winners and is now correct for round 3, I predicted that the Kings would win the series against the Blackhawks. After 2 games in this series it looks like they could, after the Kings had a strong 3rd period in game 2 for a 6-2 win. If Quick can stay at the top of his game for the series and not falter for a few games like he did in the previous series I think they will.

As mentioned in yesterdays post, here are the Western Conference finalist in Mad Men art form.

NHL Eastern Conference finals: Montreal Canadiens vs. New York Rangers Mad Men Style art

Well my bracket was ruined for the 2nd round, I had the Bruins and Penguins for the Eastern finals. The Rangers currently have a 2-0 series lead on the Canadiens and it's not looking much better for them with Carey Price going down in game 1 and subsequently out for the rest of the series. Price is no doubt a huge part of this Canadiens team and changes this series significantly in favor for the Rangers in quality of goaltending. Unless the Rangers just try to coast for the rest of the series it looks like they will be moving onto the cup finals.

I recently got into Mad Men, I started last season and I recently caught up with the series via Netflix. With the mid series finalie this week I was inspired to create Mad Men like graphics for the four conference final teams. I'll be posting the Western Teams tomorrow.

Here are the Montral Canadiens and New york Rangers in Mad Men Style art.

2014 Playoffs Colorado Avalanche vs Minnesota Wild

This is the last one my round 1 posts, and like just about every other series this is a good one, with 3 overtime games and a bunch of last minute goals. I picked Colorado in 6 games just because I like to watch this team play so much, I would love it if they made it to the western finals at least. Colorado looks to close out Minnesota tonight in game 6. This has been such a close and momentum driving series it could easily go back to Colorado for game 7.

Here are two digital drawings of Colorado Avalanche goalie Semyon Varlamov and Minnesota wild Alternate captain Zach Parise.

Semyon Varlamov

Zach Parise

2014 Playoffs Anaheim Ducks vs Dallas Stars

This has been another great series to watch, Dallas is giving Anaheim all they can handle in the series. Up into tonight's game 6 every home team has won the game so odds are good it will head back to Anaheim for game 7. I picked Dallas in the series in 7, I thought Dallas had a grit to take it to the Ducks and frustrate them and that's what has been happening although I did expect Kari Lehtonen to play a little better in the series, while he did have some great games typically when they one, in the losses, he left me wanting him to be better.

Here are my digital drawings of Anaheim Ducks Captain Ryan Getzlaf and Dallas Stars goalie Kari Lehtonen.

Ryan Getzlaf

Kari Lehtonen

2014 Playoffs Boston Bruins vs Detroit Redwings

This has been a what you call "defensive" series with very little goals scored, it looks like Boston will end up taking the series currently holding a 3 games to 1 lead with game 5 today in Boston, it doesn't help the wings that their #1 goalie Jimmy Howard will be out now. I picked Boston in 6, I thought if anyone could take out Boston in the east it could be Detroit, I also think it could be Montreal in round 2.

Here is a ink and digital drawing of Boston Bruins goalienTuukka Rask and a pencil drawing of Detroit Redwings goalie Jimmy Howard.

Tuukka Rask

Jimmy Howard

2014 Playoffs New York Rangers vs Philadelphia Flyers

This is probably the 1 series this playoff I have paid attention to the least. It does seem like an exciting series, both teams are playing hard and I loved Carcillo's goal and subsequent fan reaction to the goal in game 3. I picked the Rangers in 6 games and it could still happen but the way it's going so far and with Steve Mason back in goal for the Flyers it could go 7, I still like the Rangers.

Here are to of my digital drawings of New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist and Philadelphia Flyers Captain Claude Giroux.

Henrik Lundqvist

Claude Giroux