The Fifth Liners

"The LA Kings offence ranked 26th overall at the end of the regular season. How did the team turn it around to become the highest scoring in the playoffs so far?" Very interesting question here, because LA this season has been one of the real surprise packages in playoff time. So far they hold a 1-0 series win in the final over the Rangers and you would have to back them to go all the way after the impressive form they have displayed. During regular season there was nothing really special about this team. After being 3-0 down in the series against San Jose, many assumed they were done for- but their fight back was a joy to behold and this team has pulled together and the best time and their spirit has soared as a result!  If you cast your mind back to their first Stanley Cup win back in 2012, it was a similar story to this one. That season the Kings just sneaked into 8th place by having fewer losses than Calgary, here no one game them a fighting chance. But multiple up...

So far in this Western Conference Final, LA Kings players such as Anze Kopitar, Marion Gaborik and Jeff Carter have been gaining deserved plaudits for their excellent work. But there is one man who seems to be missing off that list and that is defenseman Jake Muzzin because so far this play-offs, the 25 year old from Woodstock, Ontario has come alive. Only drafted 141st overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2007, but signing a three year entry level contract with LA, Muzzin spent much of his time playing for their minor league affiliate the Manchester Monarchs in the AHL, but last season he was called to full duty for the Kings and impressed many as a result with some excellent displays. This season however has been no exception with Muzzin putting up 24 points in regular season alone and has become one of their key men in the play-offs and so far has chalked up 11 points, and this accurately reflects his superb work rate and he has caused numerous headaches for the defending cha...

So far the Columbus Blue Jacket s v Pittsburgh Penguins playoff series to proving to be a titantic back and forth affair where to everyone's utter shock, the series stands at 2-2 with over 28 goals scored and all four games have been fighting 4-3 wins for each side. Firstly, it is great to see a struggling side like Columbus make it this far, particularly after my experts dismissed their chances after their strongest link Rick Nash departed for the New York Rangers in 2012. They are not a flashy side and haven't play the most thrilling hockey in the NHL this season, but flair isn't always the key ingredient to a good side- so just what makes this time so effective? The Jackets only just snuck into the playoffs via the Wild Card slot for 7th overall in the East, but after their hard slog, they certainly earned their place. Ryan Johansen has stepped up this season for the Jackets and has bagged an incredible 33 goals in regular season alone which astoundingly has seen h...

Ever since 1994 when the New York Rangers beat the Vancouver Canucks over seven games to claim their first Stanley cup since 1940- glory has now been absent from the Big Apple ever since! The big question now is which team in this fine city has better shot at victory in the coming seasons as the Rangers are continually expected to push for it but their counterparts the New York Islanders have been dismissed as underdogs in previous seasons despite having more cup wins than their rivals. This question will require some big considerations as as always... Lets go to war! New York Rangers  This team is still held in high regard by many people and the Rangers are among the highest spending teams in the league. But money doesnt always guarantee success and for the Rangers this has been painfully true in recent seasons. Take for example last year when Rick Nash finally joined the team and alongside big scoring Marion Gaborik and Brad Richards, many expected this line to be the one t...

Columbus has had an up and down journey this season and have perhaps been best noted for the well documented off season activity concerning former Captain Rick Nash who was traded to the New York Rangers for seven other players. But how have the Blue Jackets coped in the absence of such an important player to their franchise? Surprisingly the Blue Jacket have surprised many this season and despite an obvious lack of goals, they are currently hanging onto 8th place in the Western Conference above Dallas Stars and Detroit Red Wings (Sorry Mike!) and they have been aided by the excellent goal tending of Sergei Bobrovsky who has contributed 12 wins and three shutouts and the scoring form of 38 year old veteran Vaclav Prospal has also been an important factor and his 21 points so far has kept them above water. Many people simply disregard this team as Ranger's cast off team and while players such as Brandon Dubinsky and Artem Anisimov have yet to come alive, Columbus has however sec...

Trade day continues and Pittsburgh have traded Jussi Jokinen with the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for a conditional draft pick.  Helmets spoil his hair.  Marian Gaborik has moved from the New York Rangers to the Columbus Blue Jackets. This now means that Columbus have a chance to score some goals. Something that's currently lacking. The Rangers pick up Derick Brassard, Derek Dorsett and John Moore in exchange.  9/10 for synchronised skating.