But he was a demon in game two. By far the best I've ever seen him play. He was playing at a high speed and hitting everything in sight.
Agreed 100%. I commented several times to the people I was watching with that I was really impressed with him, after having been decidedly unimpressed (right place at the right time for the goal notwithstanding) in game 1.
I kind of wanted to leave St.Louis right where he is
But they simply need to put more pucks in nets. Carrying the play, controlling the puck, those things are great and you'll have a better chance to win if they do them successfully, but when you're playing against a guy who is pretty much unstoppable right now, it only takes a few seconds to undo a well-played but scoreless period.
Your stars have to play like stars. Nash has to score,
The King has to be the King, Kreider has to be the Kreider we saw on Saturday every night, etc.
Ovechkin is playing like a star and carrying his team. When you only get 2 goals per game the other team's star can steal the series.I just heard Micheletti say that the Rangers have "more scoring depth". Where is it?
RE: Your stars have to play like stars. Nash has to score,
I just heard Micheletti say that the Rangers have "more scoring depth". Where is it?
We do have scoring depth - its why we made the Finals last year and why we're still alive with a Presidents Trophy this year.
Micheletti is right... but IMO its even more reason why our top guys should be scoring more. AV can afford to keep them fresher and there is less pressure on them to carry the load every night. We're all just waiting for Nash to explode - like Stamkos, how can he be so quiet year after year?? Makes no sense.
Also -- a lot of times we make the other goalie look great when really he was just OK. Game 1 Holtby (since we kept missing the freakin puck) or MAF for much of the Pens series too are examples. But game 2.... Holtby was tremendous - you have to tip your cap to the way he played. Rangers easily could have had 6 goals. (and if Hank isnt great too the game would have ended 6-4)
"but IMO its even more reason why our top guys should be scoring more. AV can afford to keep them fresher and there is less pressure on them to carry the load every night. We're all just waiting for Nash to explode - like Stamkos, how can he be so quiet year after year?? Makes no sense."
They also continue to make that one or tow extra passes. SHOOT THE PUCK! Get rebounds, score.
Scoring depth. We absolutely have it. We're all talking about how MSL looks done and even he still score 21 goals this year. Zuccarello is also a good example of depth when he's on the ice.
Nash doesn't have to be Ovechkin for the Rangers to win a Cup this year. And not for nothing but he's been our best point producer next to Brassard so far these playoffs. We'd all like to see him score a few more goals but if he continues to produce points, that's fine too.
Ovechkin is just on another level. It's unfair to expect that type of play from Nash.. he's not that type of player.
Scoring depth. We absolutely have it. We're all talking about how MSL looks done and even he still score 21 goals this year. Zuccarello is also a good example of depth when he's on the ice.
Nash doesn't have to be Ovechkin for the Rangers to win a Cup this year. And not for nothing but he's been our best point producer next to Brassard so far these playoffs. We'd all like to see him score a few more goals but if he continues to produce points, that's fine too.
Ovechkin is just on another level. It's unfair to expect that type of play from Nash.. he's not that type of player.
You're right, Nash is not Ovechkin and I don't expect to see that type of play from him, but is it unreasonable to expect Nash to score goals at 2/3 of his regular season pace? He averages .44 gpg in the regular season lifetime, just .13 gpg in the playoffs, 28% of his regular season pace. Mike Gartner was considered a playoff choker (unfairly in my opinion) and he scored at 72% of his regular season pace (.49 gpg reg season/.35 gpg playoffs)
Nash's lowest S% in the regular season is 9.8% - the only time he hasn't hit double digits. His career average is 12.5%. Yet in the post-season his average is 3.7% with a high of 7.7% with Columbus.
He's getting decent chances his post-season. I have a hard time criticizing anything than the stat sheet this year (again, unlike last year). Really frustrating.
...and 12 of the past 13 decided by one goal (and 14 of past 16) - the only that wasnt (Game 3 SCF) was the result of pucks off Quick's stick shaft while Hank had every unlucky bounce imaginable.
...and 12 of the past 13 decided by one goal (and 14 of past 16) - the only that wasnt (Game 3 SCF) was the result of pucks off Quick's stick shaft while Hank had every unlucky bounce imaginable.
It would be nice to have a little cushion for a change and not have to hang on for dear life at the end. That said, I'll take a win however they can get it.
If not all knowledgeable Ranger fans know that Nash is doing other things well and can't be judged strictly by the goal scoring. We all understand he brings other things to the table.
Like others have said, he is also our most talented goal scorer and it is not asking too much out of him to score an important goal at some point this playoffs (1 meaningless goal in 6 games). He is helping the team win in other ways, but being that we aren't scoring many goals to begin with, we NEED him to score at some point.
lines need to continue with the speed and pressure ... try to match the Kreider line against Ovi - and try to avoid having the Nash line out there with Ovi
Kreider and Miller need to finish their checks ... first period of game #2 proved that they can check and not take any penalties - and Ovechkin didn't do much when the Rangers were finishing their checks ... also helps that the two kid lines were spending most of their ice time in Washington's zone ... Nash/MSL can't Ovechkin score against them because I suspect Washington will try to match Ovechkin against the Nash line every chance they get.
I hope the Rangers will come out and dominate and win an "easy" one that doesn't involve a 1 goal lead with less than 20 seconds and a defensive zone faceoff (which we lose every time) followed by a barrage of shots and failed clearing attempts.
But it never happens and basically every game follows the same script.
So.. I am prepared to sweat out yet another 1 goal game. Hopefully we are on the winning end of it again.
Talking rangers with some homies at the bar. Fuck that Russian double. Fuck these Fairweather cap fans. Fuck hobo holtby. And thanks for the honey jack shot, randos at the bar.
LGR motherfuckers
Now THAT's what I'm talking about ... but they have to keep it up
Agreed 100%. I commented several times to the people I was watching with that I was really impressed with him, after having been decidedly unimpressed (right place at the right time for the goal notwithstanding) in game 1.
Meet me at OG beforehand.
Ovechkin is playing like a star and carrying his team. When you only get 2 goals per game the other team's star can steal the series.I just heard Micheletti say that the Rangers have "more scoring depth". Where is it?
We do have scoring depth - its why we made the Finals last year and why we're still alive with a Presidents Trophy this year.
Micheletti is right... but IMO its even more reason why our top guys should be scoring more. AV can afford to keep them fresher and there is less pressure on them to carry the load every night. We're all just waiting for Nash to explode - like Stamkos, how can he be so quiet year after year?? Makes no sense.
Also -- a lot of times we make the other goalie look great when really he was just OK. Game 1 Holtby (since we kept missing the freakin puck) or MAF for much of the Pens series too are examples. But game 2.... Holtby was tremendous - you have to tip your cap to the way he played. Rangers easily could have had 6 goals. (and if Hank isnt great too the game would have ended 6-4)
They also continue to make that one or tow extra passes. SHOOT THE PUCK! Get rebounds, score.
Scoring depth. We absolutely have it. We're all talking about how MSL looks done and even he still score 21 goals this year. Zuccarello is also a good example of depth when he's on the ice.
Nash doesn't have to be Ovechkin for the Rangers to win a Cup this year. And not for nothing but he's been our best point producer next to Brassard so far these playoffs. We'd all like to see him score a few more goals but if he continues to produce points, that's fine too.
Ovechkin is just on another level. It's unfair to expect that type of play from Nash.. he's not that type of player.
Scoring depth. We absolutely have it. We're all talking about how MSL looks done and even he still score 21 goals this year. Zuccarello is also a good example of depth when he's on the ice.
Nash doesn't have to be Ovechkin for the Rangers to win a Cup this year. And not for nothing but he's been our best point producer next to Brassard so far these playoffs. We'd all like to see him score a few more goals but if he continues to produce points, that's fine too.
Ovechkin is just on another level. It's unfair to expect that type of play from Nash.. he's not that type of player.
You're right, Nash is not Ovechkin and I don't expect to see that type of play from him, but is it unreasonable to expect Nash to score goals at 2/3 of his regular season pace? He averages .44 gpg in the regular season lifetime, just .13 gpg in the playoffs, 28% of his regular season pace. Mike Gartner was considered a playoff choker (unfairly in my opinion) and he scored at 72% of his regular season pace (.49 gpg reg season/.35 gpg playoffs)
He's getting decent chances his post-season. I have a hard time criticizing anything than the stat sheet this year (again, unlike last year). Really frustrating.
...and 12 of the past 13 decided by one goal (and 14 of past 16) - the only that wasnt (Game 3 SCF) was the result of pucks off Quick's stick shaft while Hank had every unlucky bounce imaginable.
...and 12 of the past 13 decided by one goal (and 14 of past 16) - the only that wasnt (Game 3 SCF) was the result of pucks off Quick's stick shaft while Hank had every unlucky bounce imaginable.
It would be nice to have a little cushion for a change and not have to hang on for dear life at the end. That said, I'll take a win however they can get it.
Nash is +3 PLUS 3)
Nash is second on his team in plus minue--Brassard nd Girardi are first (+4)
I know plus minus can be misleading...but it's not that misleading..
Nash is playing well. He's killing penalties and his line is outplaying the opposition more often than not.
Like others have said, he is also our most talented goal scorer and it is not asking too much out of him to score an important goal at some point this playoffs (1 meaningless goal in 6 games). He is helping the team win in other ways, but being that we aren't scoring many goals to begin with, we NEED him to score at some point.
Clearly the very top end of his offensive game, which is scoring goals, isn't quite there right now, but he's hardly a drag.
When you factor in how responsibly he's playing within the system, it's hard to be really upset with his 5 pts in 7 games
Fuck these 7:41 games!
Kreider and Miller need to finish their checks ... first period of game #2 proved that they can check and not take any penalties - and Ovechkin didn't do much when the Rangers were finishing their checks ... also helps that the two kid lines were spending most of their ice time in Washington's zone ... Nash/MSL can't Ovechkin score against them because I suspect Washington will try to match Ovechkin against the Nash line every chance they get.
But it never happens and basically every game follows the same script.
So.. I am prepared to sweat out yet another 1 goal game. Hopefully we are on the winning end of it again.
#LGR
#RayLewis
LGR motherfuckers
Just about the same thing. He's a beast..
I guess if Ovie can keep boarding Rangers they'll let CK do some legal hitting.
Kreider has been a fucking animal so far