Game 1 is in the books

OK, the feeling out process is over.  Now we can have a series.

It started slow.  It played like two teams that are not that familiar with each other and have no animosity towards one another.  Watch for that to change.

The Devils finally woke up late in the 2nd and all of a sudden we had a hockey game.  That third period was some great hockey if you missed it.  I got a text from a friend of mine who said that was the best period of hockey he saw in this years playoffs.

Neither team played the way they wanted to.  Anze Kopitar admitted so much after the game when a reporter asked if they planned to have a feel out process in the first 40 minutes.  He responded with “that wasn’t the plan”.

The game went to overtime and when the Devils made one mistake, the Kings capitalized and scored.  Brilliant pass by Williams who got it right on the tape to Kopitar who was all alone in neutral ice.  He skated down and went forehand and scored.  Game 1 over and the Kings are up 1-0 in the series.  They deserved the win.

The Devils need to be better and they know that.  They lost game 1 of two previous series in these playoffs.  They were shut out 3-0 in Game 1 against the Rangers and they responded quite well to that.  They have responded in all three rounds and I expect a much better effort in Game 2.  They had just come off an emotional series against the Rangers to a team that they don’t hate.  It won’t stay like that for long.

The Kings are a big tough physical team and the Devils out hit them.  They hung with them despite not playing a good game.  18 shots against Johnathan Quick isn’t going to get the job done.  You’re going to need around 30-35 with some traffic in front of him to beat him.  Plus you need to get shots up around his head and shoulders.  He won’t let any low ones in.  Parise and Kovalchuk didn’t have very good games.  I would expect them to respond.

However I also expect a better game out of the Kings.  Both teams finally have game 1 out of the way and can get to hockey.  I think the offense, chances, goaltending and hitting should all elevate as the series goes on.

Can’t wait for Saturday night.  Let’s drop the puck.

TTS