From the network that brings you the marvel that is Pierre McGuire, Rivalry Night on NBCSN.
Rivalry? Sure. Playoff intensity tonight? Leaning towards not. Isles need to start backing up the talk around understanding the task ahead of them to get to the dance. Rangers looking to stay healthy and keep skills reasonably sharp while fairly locked into WC-1. Bit of a more muted feel here today. Regardless, these games always take a life of their own, so we'll probably get some entertaining hockey.
Isles start Thomas Greiss, Blueshirts counter with Raanta (with Lundqvist expected to get 2 of the next 3 on the WC trip). For the Islanders, we see Dougie is paying attention. Seidenberg sits and is replaced by Thomas Hickey. Same forwards. Note, however, the lines at practice show a different configuration: 16-91-12, 27-72-66 (fun!), 29-18-25, and 86-53-15 are reunited. MiLB and I question the need felt to separate Lee from L1, but Ladd has been on fire; his sniper with size role is different (and not in a bad way) than Lee's netfront monolith role, so maybe these rejiggered lines provide the shot we've needed to get back in (successful) attack mode. Isles need at least 4 points out of the next three games in 4 nights (NYR, then B2B in PIT and home against BOS). I think they have to go 9-2 or 8-3-1 at worst to make it.
AV has noted all F and D will be gametime decisions. Lundqvist, Girardi, Klein, Glass, Kampfer, Pirri and Puempel were all on the ice for the NYR morning skate.
Let's Go Islanders
...and Rangers, feel free to take 'er easy if you want. You've worked hard.
Lemieux had quick hands and was a surprisingly good fighter, he had no problem also giving back what he got, but as a Rangers fan I don't expect you to be objective.
Watching Adam Graves two-hand Lemieux in the 1992 playoffs and break his hand is one of the biggest cheap shots probably in modern playoff history.
And Graves was one of my favorite players, he too had that edginess to game.
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His buddy Pepe certainly did. Maybe not as frequently as Sydnee, but Lemieux did that same slash to the ball from behind more than a few times.
Lemieux had quick hands and was a surprisingly good fighter, he had no problem also giving back what he got, but as a Rangers fan I don't expect you to be objective.
Watching Adam Graves two-hand Lemieux in the 1992 playoffs and break his hand is one of the biggest cheap shots probably in modern playoff history.
And Graves was one of my favorite players, he too had that edginess to game.
and Mario's 2 day recovery and return to action was a flat out miracle
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In comment 13403091 Greg from LI said:
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His buddy Pepe certainly did. Maybe not as frequently as Sydnee, but Lemieux did that same slash to the ball from behind more than a few times.
Lemieux had quick hands and was a surprisingly good fighter, he had no problem also giving back what he got, but as a Rangers fan I don't expect you to be objective.
Watching Adam Graves two-hand Lemieux in the 1992 playoffs and break his hand is one of the biggest cheap shots probably in modern playoff history.
And Graves was one of my favorite players, he too had that edginess to game.
and Mario's 2 day recovery and return to action was a flat out miracle
More like 2-week recovery. He missed the rest of the Rangers series, but came back against the Bruins 2 weeks later.
Do you think he was faking? Just sat out to help the charade?
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for a Rangers game sometime in the next month.
This stretch of pointless games has been brutal
it really is so bizarre. Not just because the games have been completely meaningless, even in terms of seeding... but the bitch is even if you did go on a run to improve your positioning, you almost would be rooting against it anyway.
Very strange.
Oh yeah, I've been actively rooting for OT losses and split back to backs (because we have one every week) for weeks.
Lets take a look at what the East would look like with the old playoff structure:
1. Caps 102
2. Canadiens 91
3. Pens 101
4. Blue Jackets 100
5. Rangers 94
6. Sens 88
7. Bruins 82
8. Leafs 81
In this case, the Rangers are the only team in the Metro that benefits from the playoff structure NOT being this way. Caps are gonna get the 8 anyway but Pittsburgh and Montreal would have significantly easier matchups in the first round. Columbus goes from Pitt to NYR so pretty equal there.
My point here is that even though the current structure gives us a HUGE break as the WC1, it's also made the last two months of the season completely worthless. Who wants to spend 150 dollars to sit in the 200's at the Garden for a game that means nothing?
Let's go Rangers...
Davis - have you ever met the individual in person? Can you corroborate that that was indeed his picture?
Graves got suspended because his got Mario's in the wrong spot. and it was Mario.
Just watch some clips of that game.
Pay special attention to the 2:56 mark and the chop on Leetch - ( New Window )
Graves got suspended because his got Mario's in the wrong spot. and it was Mario.
Just watch some clips of that game. Pay special attention to the 2:56 mark and the chop on Leetch - ( New Window )
I know it was prevalent, but that's my point, you have some fans (mostly Rangers fans) who say Lemieux dished out cheap shots every game and played dirty, but that's how the league was then and Lemieux being as big as he was, was able to defend himself, even though he had guys who took the bullet for him more often than not.
I was at the Caps Pens playoff game in 1996 or 1997 I forget the year (4 OT game the Pens won, Nedved?) and Lemieux was ejected in the first period for putting an ass-whooping on Todd Krygier like I'd only seen one other time in playoff hockey - Cam Neely dragging Claude Lemieux all over the Boston Garden ice after Neely took a stick to the face while Lemieux turtled the whole time.
Some say they've come too far, some of the ticky tack crap they call is awful, but back then it was the wild wild west.
I get how rivalries are, and I don't expect any different than the responses on here, so don't think I care that much, I just like hockey so much I'll come on here and fight the Crosby battle.
So flame away.
But I seriously do love watching him play. I don't know I've seen someone as good without the puck as Crosby since Gretzky.
and right now hockey has so much young talent it's like a youth movement.
McDavid
Laine
Matthews
Tarasenko
Pastrnak
Werenski
Marner
Forsberg
and more...
just the other day I was reminded that the Capitals traded Filip Forsberg to the Predators for a bag of pucks.
Just be thankful for that or the Capitals could be on the verge of a dynasty.
...with some sort of critique of his game.
He's a Canadian world class generational talent, who's taken a well below market deal to live in fucking Pittsburgh of all places, that never should have gone to Pittsburgh to begin with (no reason to re-hash how Pittsburgh got two number 1 overall picks because of a strike)... and every other team in the league would love to have him on theres.
Obviously.
So I'm just not sure what you're trying to convey here.
Anyway I was really just talking to the Islanders fans. You know people who understand hockey.
but I also admit I enjoy the discussion, so unless i get kicked off Islanders threads I'll watch the game tonight and comment as an unbiased observer.
I can tell already the way the thread will go.
Rangers go down a goal, incessant complaining about the refs:
"oh, I guess it's ok for those cunt bags to hit our goalie"
"I guess the refs stopped calling interference"
"how was that not icing"
"too many men is ok for the fish sticks?"
"It's ok for Tavares to score, he'll be a Ranger in 2018"
then Hayes scores a tap in goal on a ridiculous set up from Miller.
"purple haze with the goal"
"FU PJ, you don't know shit, Hayes is awesome"
"great job boys, time to curb stomp these fuckers"
Then there will be some gratuitous Girardi slamming even though he's not in the lineup.
I hope Glass plays because then the lineup conversations get even better.
After the game when the Rangers win there is a creepy ritual where they tell each how great they did.
"nice job B as usual, great work stufftherun, way to go MAB you really brought it today, you too bigbluehoya and Carl, and thank you for not starting the thread Anakim, you suck we can't win when you start the threads. and Fuck you Hudson"
Good job PJ.
But i took that body of work as someone skerred to face the NYR in the first round.
Actually think G might be slightly better than #22, when you account for blocks and quality of players they match up against (of course, AV is wrong to put Girardi on other teams best, but he does)
Should be able to find one here right around time of puck drop
Link - ( New Window )
I like the "how is that icing?" reference for some reason lol
It better be. That's how I plan on watching it tonight via roku.
Good job PJ.
But i took that body of work as someone skerred to face the NYR in the first round.
Well the Rangers are clearly a better team, and they thrive on the road this year, so I'd definitely rather not play them as the #2 seed, as opposed to say the Bruins or Maple Leafs.
But not scared. I'm only scared of two things, rats (mice don't bother me snakes don't bother me, but rats, GTFO) and having to take a shit while I'm on a plane.
It's fucked up. When the game began, it stayed at 20:00 so they changed it to the analog.
Two things can be true at the same time - he can be an alltime great AND a massive cunt as well.
Two things can be true at the same time - he can be an alltime great AND a massive cunt as well.
I don't care if you like Crosby or not, think he's a cunt or not, or have any other opinion of him.
I have my own opinions, and I'm not shy about sharing them (on certain topics), and I accept that people have different opinions.
And on this site, on this topic, I'm definitely in the minority, and many even outside Rangers fans, share the same opinion, but I don't care.
arguing with no one. Simply stating my opinion that I don't find him anymore to be a serial diver or whine after every single hit, I notice a more mature aspect to his game, and I think his teammates acknowledge it, last night's nut shot not withstanding.
Glass is perfect for these last 10 games
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Literally everyone here agrees he's a fantastic player, one of the greatest ever. You're arguing with nobody there
arguing with no one. Simply stating my opinion that I don't find him anymore to be a serial diver or whine after every single hit, I notice a more mature aspect to his game, and I think his teammates acknowledge it, last night's nut shot not withstanding.
I'm confused. Why the 5 paragraph defense of Crosby being talented at hockey then if you're only point is that he's not a dirty player? Are you paid by the word?
The Joey nickels analogy makes sense. I look forward to a playoff series with you in 3 weeks but even if we win (I doubt we will - Carey price owns us) I'm sure we can look forward to you in later rounds pointing out all the officiating benefits we get.
I actually think they had 5 great looks or so. The Tavares penalties hurt and Nash had a great individual play compounded by poor play by (hickey?) and one greiss should have had. (But Nash was so overdue)
Not sure why Weight didn't think those were penalties on Tavares but I thought his blunt assessment / exacerbation of tonight's game to date was refreshing to hear