Skip to main content

NHL’s Eastern Conference finals 5 things to watch

By WTOP Staff

LARRY LAGE
AP Hockey Writer

The Montreal Canadiens and New York Rangers are two of the NHL’s storied franchises.

For two decades, their stories have not included a Stanley Cup.

That might change this year for one of the Original Six franchises.

Montreal will meet New York in the Eastern Conference finals — after splitting their previous 14 matchups in the playoffs — and the winner will give have a chance to end a championship drought.

Here are five things to watch when Montreal hosts the Rangers on Saturday in Game 1:

DROUGHT DETAILS: The Canadiens have more Stanley Cup banners than any other team, but they’re collecting dust in the rafters. Montreal defenseman P.K. Subban was 4 in 1993, the last time Montreal won an NHL championship. Since then, the Canadiens have played in the conference finals only once and lasted just five games in 2010 against Philadelphia. The Rangers have reached the league’s final four for the third time since hoisting the Cup in 1994. Montreal and New York are facing each other in the conference finals for the first time in 28 years, a series the Canadiens won in five games before going on to win the Stanley Cup.

BETWEEN THE PIPES: Like pitching in baseball or quarterback play in football, goaltending is usually the pivotal position in hockey. Both teams have great players in net, and they’ll be at opposite ends of a rink in pressure-packed situations for a second time this year. Montreal’s Carey Price closed the Sochi Olympics with two straight shutouts to help Canada win gold, including the Olympic final against Rangers and Swedish star goalie Henrik Lundqvist. If the series extends to a Game 7, both netminders have quite a track record of success. Lundqvist is the first goalie to win five Game 7s in a row and he has given up less than one goal on average in those games. Price is 2-1 with a shutout in Game 7s, and he is 5-0 in elimination games — allowing a total of two goals — this year for Canada and the Canadiens.

SPECIAL TEAMS: Montreal has scored 10 goals with an extra skater to trail only the Anaheim Ducks in production on power plays in the postseason. The Rangers have scored on just 11 percent of their power plays to rank among the worst this postseason. Both teams have generally stayed out of the penalty box with Montreal ranking No. 1 and New York tied for No. 2 in fewest penalty minutes per game. In penalty-kill percentage, the Rangers rank in the middle of the pack among teams this postseason while the Canadiens have been slightly worse.

PAYING DIVIDENDS: The Rangers have always made major moves to add talent. For a change, they have been paying off this postseason. Brad Richards, who was signed to a $60 million, nine-year deal in 2011, has a team-high nine points in the playoffs. Benoit Pouliot, signed a one-year contract last summer, and Martin St. Louis, acquired in a bold trade just before the deadline this year, both have eight points this postseason.

SUBBAN SHINES: Subban has become a breakout star, leading Montreal with 12 postseason points. The bright lights of the conference finals and big stage in New York probably will not affect the fun-loving player. The reigning Norris Trophy winner makes it tough for opponents at the other end because of his size (6 feet, 217 pounds) and ability to skate with most forwards.

___

Follow Larry Lage on Twitter: http://twitter.com/larrylage

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote