playoffs – K Stats

Before I get to hockey, last night’s NLDS decisive game between the Dodgers and Nationals set a record for the longest nine-inning postseason game in history; four hours and 32 minutes.

National League Division Series

The previous record holders were the Red Sox and Yankees, in game three of the 2003 ALCS. Also of note, Dodgers’ ace Clayton Kershaw made his debut as a relief pitcher, cleaning up closer Kenley Jansen’s mess in the ninth inning. Jansen, who normally only pitches an inning, went two and a 1/3. It was Kershaw’s first appearance since throwing 110 pitches two days prior in game four, and his first career postseason save. The Phillies had a huge impact on the Dodgers’ win.

In the top of the seventh, former Phils’ All-Star catcher Carlos Ruiz knocked in a run, which broke a 1-1 tie and ended up being the game-winning hit. Ironically, Ruiz pinch hit for Chase Utley, who, in six innings, went 0-3 with a strikeout. In his last 17 postseason at-bats, Utley only has three hits. The last time Utley had a multi-hit postseason game was in game four of the 2011 Cardinals-Phillies NLDS.

Continuing the Phillies’ theme, Joe Blanton was traded from the Phillies to the Dodgers four-years ago, and last night he pitched one and a 1/3 and didn’t allow a run.

In Blanton’s last five postseason games, he’s yet to allow a run, striking out five batters in six innings. Late last year, and more so this year, Blanton switched from being a starter to a middle reliever, a role that’s worked out great for him. He was 7-2, with a 2.48 ERA, this year, averaging nine strikeouts a game.

On the opposite side, the only other player in the game from the Phillies’ 2008 World Series champion team was Washington left-fielder Jayson Werth. This year, in a combined 86 at-bats vs. both Philadelphia and Los Angeles, Werth only hit .244 (which also was his batting average for the entire year) and had four home runs. In last night’s bottom of the sixth inning, Werth was tagged out at home after first baseman Ryan Zimmerman lined a double to left.

After a promotion, Dodgers’ quality assurance coach, former infielder Juan Castro, also played for the Phillies (in 2010).

Also of note, Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully made his last National League Division series’ game call, as he’s retiring following the season.

National League Championship Series

With the win, tomorrow night the Dodgers will face off in Wrigley Field against the National League Central Division-winning Cubs. Game one’s first pitch is scheduled for 8:08, with Cubs’ ace Jon Lester set to start. The Dodgers have yet to name their game one starter, but it certainly won’t be ace Clayton Kershaw, based on the amount of pitches he’s thrown the past few days. This year vs. the Dodgers, Lester had a 0.60 ERA and a record of 1-0.

It seems likely Kershaw will start game three in Los Angeles, as he’ll be more well rested by then (game three’s next Tuesday). Tuesday will be Kershaw’s first game vs. Chicago this year, due to a herniated disc injury he suffered in late June. In eight career starts vs. the Cubs, Kershaw’s 5-3, with a 2.18 ERA and 11.4 strikeouts per game. In five career starts vs. the Dodgers, Lester’s 2-2, with a 3.06 ERA and 9.5 strikeouts per game. The two aces have never faced off against each other before.

Many expert baseball columnists are predicting Chicago to win. Besides Kershaw, even though he’s been a horrible postseason pitcher, the Dodgers’ pitching depth is weak, while Chicago will field three of the best starters in baseball (Lester, Arrieta and Hendricks). Chicago manager Joe Maddon, who made a World Series appearance in 2008, is more experienced than Dodgers’ manager Dave Roberts, who’s in his first career postseason appearance as a skipper.

Prediction

Chicago in six. With a win, Chicago would advance to their first World Series since 1945.

Flyers-Kings

The start of hockey season began two-nights ago, and tonight the Flyers begin their season inside the Staples Center at Los Angeles. Tonight, center Claude Giroux will enter his fifth season as Flyers’ captain, the first to accomplish that feat since Eric Lindros did it from 1995-2000. All time, Philadelphia’s 21-19-8 in season openers, having lost their last four.

Flyers’ backup Michal Neuvirth is slated to start in net for Philadelphia, while Kings’ Conn Smythe Trophy-winning netminder Jonathan Quick is out with a lower-body injury. This morning, he was placed on the injury-reserve list, and will be out for a significant amount of time. With that being said, backup Jeff Zatkoff, who only played 14 games last season, will get the nod.

In 178 postseason minutes last year vs. Washington, Neuvirth was spectacular, stopping 103 out of 105 shots, winning two games and posting a minuscule 0.67 goals against average. He’ll be making his fourth career start vs. Los Angeles.

The Flyers will bring aboard a couple young newcomers into the fold, with 2015 first-round pick Travis Konecny starting as the second-line left-winger. The Flyers’ 2015 seventh-overall pick, highly-touted defenseman Ivan Provorov will also make his debut and will pair up with veteran Mark Streit on the second defensive pairing.

Konecny, 19, is very competitive, leads by example, and is a great skater and puck handler. Last season with the Ontario Hockey League’s Sarnia Sting, he put up 56 points in 31 games, and was a +26. Sarnia Sting’s head coach, former NHL defenseman, is Derian Hatcher, who also played for the Flyers — from 2005-08.

Meanwhile, Provorov is very skilled on the PK, manning the power play (he’ll be inserted into the team’s second power-play unit) and he’s very intelligent; especially in reading opponent’s passes.

Last season, the Flyers were 0-1-1 vs. Los Angeles, and their last win in Los Angeles was in early December of 2014 (on December 6th). Last postseason, both teams got knocked out in the opening round, with Los Angeles losing to rival San Jose in five games and Philadelphia losing to the President’s Trophy-winning Capitals in six.

Los Angeles is one and a half point favorites, with a 5 1/2 over/under line. Tonight’s game will be the first time since 1967 (the team’s inaugural season) that the Flyers will open their season against a California team. On October 10th, 1967, the Flyers lost 5-1 to the Oakland Seals.

Without Quick in net, I see the Flyers winning tonight in a close one, and making the playoffs this year again. Kings’ first-line center Anze Kopitar is still a threat, with his elusiveness and puck handling, but the Flyers’ improving defense should be able to lighten his production. In the off-season, Los Angeles lost two-way center Milan Lucic to Edmonton.

Prediction

Flyers 4-2

Depth Chart

Their updated depth chart — with all the line combinations, defensive pairings and goalies — is listed below.

LW	C	RW
Michael Raffl	Claude Giroux	Wayne Simmonds
Travis Konecny	Sean Couturier	Jakub Voracek
Nick Cousins	Pierre-Édouard Bellemare	Dale Weise
Chris VandeVelde	Boyd Gordon	Matt Read