Had my youngest daughter's college graduation this weekend so I saw neither Rangers game nor the first Caps game. No way the Rangers could have looked as bad as the Caps did in game 2. And I know the Rangers have been a better road team than at home this year, but I think they will still make a series out of this (just a blind hunch).
Had my youngest daughter's college graduation this weekend so I saw neither Rangers game nor the first Caps game. No way the Rangers could have looked as bad as the Caps did in game 2. And I know the Rangers have been a better road team than at home this year, but I think they will still make a series out of this (just a blind hunch).
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#NYR HC Alain Vigneault on his defensive pairings: "Right now I like the look of our pairs and I don't see myself making any changes there."
Had my youngest daughter's college graduation this weekend so I saw neither Rangers game nor the first Caps game. No way the Rangers could have looked as bad as the Caps did in game 2. And I know the Rangers have been a better road team than at home this year, but I think they will still make a series out of this (just a blind hunch).
Unfortunately, I think my Caps are done.
It's going to get so bad they just cancel game 4?
pj - For all intents and purposes. I've sat through this movie too many times before. I'd love to be wrong, but....
I mean we don't have any alternatives. I think clendening or Kampfer would be better but it's not a surprise that AV doesn't like them. It's his usage that's all wrong.
Was he asked why he went to 3 lines yesterday ? Was it Buchnevichs first period mid ice Turnover even though every vet made a bad play at some point these first two games too?
#NYR Vigneault on Skjei usage: "Mins are based on how you're playing & what you're doing for the team that night what your contribution is."
I'd rather him say "no comment" then this horseshit response to a good question. Skjei was terrific on Saturday... stopped multiple game ending chances for Ottawa by himself and scored twice, yet he played less than Holden/Staal.
During the first round, Valiquette said AV needs to start doing what other teams do and lean heavily on his best defensemen. Eric Karlsson played 37 minutes on one foot.
Did a great job closing out the lead against the Blues.
LOL @ the Habs for trading Subban and McDonagh.
Subban hurts, but the more time goes by the less McDonagh does. He just hasn't developed offensively like I thought he would. The trade was brutal, make no mistake about it, but if McDonagh turned into Chelios like I thought he could I'd feel different.
I like Skjei more than McDonagh the more I watch the Rangers.
Of the three teams down 0-2 I thought they had the best shot only because they had truly cursed puck luck in the first two (and played an all around stupid game in the opener). I still expect them to beat Edmonton and represent the west.
Brett - I'm guessing Nashville played its best defenders down the stretch, didn't have forwards throwing blind behind the back passes in our own zone, and it's goalie was stopping wrist shots from the blue line with minimal traffic in front.
Yesterday's gonna hurt for a long long time. How many two goal leads have been blown and lost in the final 3 minutes of a playoff game ever? Toronto - Boston game 7 is the other one that comes to mind recently. Any others?
that edgework, quickness, and balance was Crosby-esque. I do agree that McDavid is more exciting but that's mostly due to his insane speed with the puck. Crosby is a bit more subtle.
that edgework, quickness, and balance was Crosby-esque. I do agree that McDavid is more exciting but that's mostly due to his insane speed with the puck. Crosby is a bit more subtle.
I agree with this, last night Crosby had an assist where he back checked, laid out and blocked a shot, and swatted the puck from prone on the ice to a streaking teammate (Guentzel or Kessel - I forget) who scored on a 2 on 1. It's the little things Crosby does that amaze me almost every game. Watching him move without the puck he's the most cerebral player since Gretzky IMO. I know it's cliched but he literally does make every player on his team better when they're on the ice with him.
McDavid could surpass Crosby, he's got all the skills to do it, but IMO Crosby is the best player in the league today and I enjoy watching him, but I wouldn't argue with someone who likes to watch McDavid play more....especially a Rangers fan.
Yeah it took me some time to fully appreciate Crosby
but he just does all the little things perfectly. And it's nearly impossible to knock him off the puck, he's a great skater without having great speed, if that makes sense. And seeing the endless parade of wingers he's turned into top playoff scorers just confirmed it. Unfortunately, he's one of the greats
Did a great job closing out the lead against the Blues.
LOL @ the Habs for trading Subban and McDonagh.
Subban hurts, but the more time goes by the less McDonagh does. He just hasn't developed offensively like I thought he would. The trade was brutal, make no mistake about it, but if McDonagh turned into Chelios like I thought he could I'd feel different.
I like Skjei more than McDonagh the more I watch the Rangers.
I really believe the weight of wearing the C on his chest changed his approach in fact the first year he wore it he wasn't even close to the same player he was and it took some time before he was comfortable with it. That and the injuries he's suffered to his foot/ankle can't he discounted in the least. As much as I love his game, I wouldn't label him a quintessential leader/captain.
This series, plus Montreal and clearly is playing at an elite level.
Yet you assholes are questioning him? Gtfoh.
Defensively, he's elite, just not offensively, and there's nothing wrong with that. I like him. I just thought he had future perennial Norris candidate type skills as a prospect, but the offense didn't develop like I thought it would.
The trade was awesome. He's a phenomenal defender, a hell of a hockey player, but he hasn't become that top 5 in the game, perennial Norris candidate that it seems he was heading for after his first couple seasons.
It's not a critique, it's a reality. No problem with his game at all.
And yes, unfortunately, Crosby is absolutely the best hockey player of this era and it's not even close. Him and Mario both pee sitting down, but they are/were amazing hockey players.
This series, plus Montreal and clearly is playing at an elite level.
Yet you assholes are questioning him? Gtfoh.
I was merely commenting on the trajectory that pj was referring to. As I mentioned, I love his game however he's certainly not above reproach. Hell, he was on the ice for two critical goals yesterday where he allowed the forward to skate freely in front of Hank, didn't bother tying up the man up and the result was the player easily deflected the puck into the net.
McDavid is so much fun to watch because not only is he blazing fast
But he can do everything he does at top speed. His moves are unbelievably fast, and he can stop on a dime and get right back up to speed like no one I've ever seen. He's not quite at Crosby's level yet, but he isn't far away, and I think he'll have the more impressive career.
Plus, he's not a stain on humanity, so he's got that going for him.
and I'm still sick to my stomach over this game. I am nearly 100% confident that it cost us the series. Absolute disaster of a game, and literally rage inducing even 2 days later. FUCK.
FUCK FUCK FUCK
RE: McDavid is so much fun to watch because not only is he blazing fast
But he can do everything he does at top speed. His moves are unbelievably fast, and he can stop on a dime and get right back up to speed like no one I've ever seen. He's not quite at Crosby's level yet, but he isn't far away, and I think he'll have the more impressive career.
Plus, he's not a stain on humanity, so he's got that going for him.
McDavid could very well become a better player and still not have a better career in terms of "rings" and accolades. Crosby has 2 stanley cups, 2 Olympic golds, 2 world cup golds, a World Juniors gold plus all the accolades - like Conn Smythe, Ross, etc..
McDavid is so young so it could happen, but that's a steep hill to climb, and Crosby isn't done yet.
and I'm still sick to my stomach over this game. I am nearly 100% confident that it cost us the series. Absolute disaster of a game, and literally rage inducing even 2 days later. FUCK.
FUCK FUCK FUCK
Between now and tomorrow night, snap out of it. Ottawa is a pretty good team, buy the Rangers have been here before. Coming home for 2, and I expect to be going back to Ottawa all tied up.
This series could just as easily be 2-0 rangers right now, and the rangers haven't played well.
Yeah, I know, If the Queen had a peen she'd be the King and all that stuff, but this is where we buck up.
(I'm going to game 3 so I gave myself a pep talk last night to snap out of the 0-2 mental malaise)
Game 2 really took the fucking wind out of my sails.
If we can put together a strong performance tomorrow and win, I'll feel a lot better. But right now, I just feel fucking deflated.
What a kick in the balls, man.
It really sucked to know that we literally had no chance of winning that game in OT, either. Like, there was just no possible way for me to believe the Rangers were going to score again and win the game. Lo and behold...
had the better chances in OT. Nash with the wide open net, Hayes all alone in front, etc. Zibanejad missed an half open net at the end of regulation too
Game 2 against LAK with blowing a 2 goal third period lead and then losing in 2OT - but the Kings had tilted the ice most of that game and scored fairly early in the 3rd period to get within one and then tie.
Nash missing on the doorsteps in OT in game 5 of that same series, and this past one, was eerily deja vu.
Unlike the Kings series though, in this one with just 3 minutes left we had surrendered JUST 18 SHOTS ON NET through 57 minutes. We were dominating - the commentators were saying what a big win this was for us since we'd struggled all year at home, the team is more relaxed on the road, etc.
You just don't know how many more elite 8 opportunities this group is going to get. Flyers/Devils got better this weekend too.
Is what it is. Saturday's Collapse (capital "C" to jon from nj who talked in these terms for the '07 Mets) was unfortunately... historic.
I've been trying to find historic NHL playoff collapses to compare it to, and outside of Toronto's game 7 meltdown vs Boston I cant find many comps (most of the articles talk to blowing 3-0 series leads, Caps meltdowns over the years, etc. though)
I think the Canadiens were a slightly better team than Ottawa, too.
But it doesn't matter because in a 7 game series, where all of these games are so close and literally decided by mere bounces most of the time - an 0-2 hole is very tough to get out of.
It does happen. We saw this team climb out of 1-3 in 2014 vs. PIT and again in 2015 vs. WSH.. but I'm not sure if this team has the resolve. LA got out of 0-3 vs. SJ in 2014, too.
The tone and narrative certainly change quickly with a convincing NYR win tomorrow - as it is the nature of the playoffs - but this team is going to need very short memories.
What's worse about the way these 2 games went is that now, any lead late in a game is going to have the Rangers worrying whether or not they can hold it and the Senators believing they can erase it. We gave that team a LOT of confidence after these first two games. Not good when momentum and morale can play such a large role in these playoff series'.
If he plays 4 more games like he did against the Canadiens or he did in game 1, the Rangers win this series.
one game changes everything.
For whatever reason people like to talk in extremes around here, myself included at times I admit. Hank was excellent against Montreal, and his game 5 save on MaxPac's breakaway won the series.
But lets also acknowledge that 2 of the 3 games Hank has been outstanding in... we ended up losing anyway. He didn't need to be unbelievable in games 1 or 4 against Montreal, but he was solid and that was enough.
Also, Hank doesnt have to be "Habs series Hank" or even g1 Ottawa Hank... to win game 2 - he just needed to have been Steve Mason out there. We ended up giving up 5 regulation goals on 24 shots, very few of them high quality. I'll give you a bad bounce or deflection on one or two, but I'm not asking for Conn Smythe every game here as was alluded to on Saturday... he could have played a generally shitty game and we'd still have won 5-4.
game in game 2, no way around it. Anyone that says differently isn't really being fair.
I'm just saying I expect him to be more like he was consistently against MTL and how he was in game 1 against OTT and if he is the Rangers win the series.
I think the Rangers win game 1 if that replays itself more often than they lose it (though that is clearly a hypothetical).
Guess it was a bit unexpected. Nice to add a RHD. Will be 22 next season. Starting to put some pieces together on the blue line. Re-sign Smith, increase Skeji's usage, get rid of two of the three stooges, and maybe we don't need a huge Shattenkirk contract. Link - ( New Window )
RE: People seem pretty impressed by the Pionk signing
Guess it was a bit unexpected. Nice to add a RHD. Will be 22 next season. Starting to put some pieces together on the blue line. Re-sign Smith, increase Skeji's usage, get rid of two of the three stooges, and maybe we don't need a huge Shattenkirk contract. Link - ( New Window )
not a fan of small defensemen at all, but if you look at rosters of some of the world juniors teams RD seem like they're becoming more and more rare.
Yeah a few guys have broke the mold lately. As long as they can skate and move the puck, size is becoming less and less important. Jared Spurgeon on Minnesota comes to mind. Hopefully we got us one of those Spurgeon - ( New Window )
Yeah a few guys have broke the mold lately. As long as they can skate and move the puck, size is becoming less and less important. Jared Spurgeon on Minnesota comes to mind. Hopefully we got us one of those Spurgeon - ( New Window )
And the Bruins love Torey Krug (though he's very one dimensional), I'm just saying my personal preference is for bigger, longer reach, defensemen.
You can tell from Vigneault's coaching decisions during the game and his comments after the game that he still doesn't get it. Smith and Skjei get buried for no good reason again. The useless Nick fucking Holden played eight more minutes than the vastly superior Smith. In an 82 minute game, Buchnevich and Lindberg played 5 minutes and change. Lindberg, who was one of their very best forwards in the Habs series!!
You know he's dying to stick Glass back in the lineup.
Enjoy Brooklyn or the Panthers, Kovy (TB won't have the cap)
Slava Malamud @SlavaMalamud
Kovalchuk would likely prefer to stay in NYC or wind up in Florida. Wife and 4 kids are a major factor. It will be sign-and-trade, though.
Had my youngest daughter's college graduation this weekend so I saw neither Rangers game nor the first Caps game. No way the Rangers could have looked as bad as the Caps did in game 2. And I know the Rangers have been a better road team than at home this year, but I think they will still make a series out of this (just a blind hunch).
Unfortunately, I think my Caps are done.
Had my youngest daughter's college graduation this weekend so I saw neither Rangers game nor the first Caps game. No way the Rangers could have looked as bad as the Caps did in game 2. And I know the Rangers have been a better road team than at home this year, but I think they will still make a series out of this (just a blind hunch).
Unfortunately, I think my Caps are done.
It's going to get so bad they just cancel game 4?
@HartnettHockey
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#NYR HC Alain Vigneault on his defensive pairings: "Right now I like the look of our pairs and I don't see myself making any changes there."
I... I just don't know what to say.
Quote:
... will the series against the Caps in 3 games.
Had my youngest daughter's college graduation this weekend so I saw neither Rangers game nor the first Caps game. No way the Rangers could have looked as bad as the Caps did in game 2. And I know the Rangers have been a better road team than at home this year, but I think they will still make a series out of this (just a blind hunch).
Unfortunately, I think my Caps are done.
It's going to get so bad they just cancel game 4?
pj - For all intents and purposes. I've sat through this movie too many times before. I'd love to be wrong, but....
Was he asked why he went to 3 lines yesterday ? Was it Buchnevichs first period mid ice Turnover even though every vet made a bad play at some point these first two games too?
I'm guessing we'll see glass Tuesday
AVs 'accountability' and his statistics discussions make me roll my eyes these days. He's so full of shit. At least Torts was an asshole to your face.
Kovalchuk Wants Sign-And-Trade To NYC Or Florida
I'd rather him say "no comment" then this horseshit response to a good question. Skjei was terrific on Saturday... stopped multiple game ending chances for Ottawa by himself and scored twice, yet he played less than Holden/Staal.
During the first round, Valiquette said AV needs to start doing what other teams do and lean heavily on his best defensemen. Eric Karlsson played 37 minutes on one foot.
Sorry gid. But you don't get a say when you only showed up during the playoffs. No sir.
Now there's a load of bull -- I have a say
: P
LOL @ the Habs for trading Subban and McDonagh.
LOL @ the Habs for trading Subban and McDonagh.
Subban hurts, but the more time goes by the less McDonagh does. He just hasn't developed offensively like I thought he would. The trade was brutal, make no mistake about it, but if McDonagh turned into Chelios like I thought he could I'd feel different.
I like Skjei more than McDonagh the more I watch the Rangers.
Of the three teams down 0-2 I thought they had the best shot only because they had truly cursed puck luck in the first two (and played an all around stupid game in the opener). I still expect them to beat Edmonton and represent the west.
Brett - I'm guessing Nashville played its best defenders down the stretch, didn't have forwards throwing blind behind the back passes in our own zone, and it's goalie was stopping wrist shots from the blue line with minimal traffic in front.
Yesterday's gonna hurt for a long long time. How many two goal leads have been blown and lost in the final 3 minutes of a playoff game ever? Toronto - Boston game 7 is the other one that comes to mind recently. Any others?
The Oilers jerseys are ugly as hell.
The Oilers jerseys are ugly as hell.
He's definitely faster and speed is exciting to watch, but after watching that McDavid goal I thought it was a lot like a Crosby goal.
Talbot with the softy, fun game, wide open, with some hitting. Crowd there is nuts.
McDavid is special though
I agree with this, last night Crosby had an assist where he back checked, laid out and blocked a shot, and swatted the puck from prone on the ice to a streaking teammate (Guentzel or Kessel - I forget) who scored on a 2 on 1. It's the little things Crosby does that amaze me almost every game. Watching him move without the puck he's the most cerebral player since Gretzky IMO. I know it's cliched but he literally does make every player on his team better when they're on the ice with him.
McDavid could surpass Crosby, he's got all the skills to do it, but IMO Crosby is the best player in the league today and I enjoy watching him, but I wouldn't argue with someone who likes to watch McDavid play more....especially a Rangers fan.
Quote:
Did a great job closing out the lead against the Blues.
LOL @ the Habs for trading Subban and McDonagh.
Subban hurts, but the more time goes by the less McDonagh does. He just hasn't developed offensively like I thought he would. The trade was brutal, make no mistake about it, but if McDonagh turned into Chelios like I thought he could I'd feel different.
I like Skjei more than McDonagh the more I watch the Rangers.
I really believe the weight of wearing the C on his chest changed his approach in fact the first year he wore it he wasn't even close to the same player he was and it took some time before he was comfortable with it. That and the injuries he's suffered to his foot/ankle can't he discounted in the least. As much as I love his game, I wouldn't label him a quintessential leader/captain.
Yet you assholes are questioning him? Gtfoh.
Yet you assholes are questioning him? Gtfoh.
Defensively, he's elite, just not offensively, and there's nothing wrong with that. I like him. I just thought he had future perennial Norris candidate type skills as a prospect, but the offense didn't develop like I thought it would.
not a criticism really.
It's not a critique, it's a reality. No problem with his game at all.
And yes, unfortunately, Crosby is absolutely the best hockey player of this era and it's not even close. Him and Mario both pee sitting down, but they are/were amazing hockey players.
Yet you assholes are questioning him? Gtfoh.
I was merely commenting on the trajectory that pj was referring to. As I mentioned, I love his game however he's certainly not above reproach. Hell, he was on the ice for two critical goals yesterday where he allowed the forward to skate freely in front of Hank, didn't bother tying up the man up and the result was the player easily deflected the puck into the net.
Plus, he's not a stain on humanity, so he's got that going for him.
FUCK FUCK FUCK
Plus, he's not a stain on humanity, so he's got that going for him.
McDavid could very well become a better player and still not have a better career in terms of "rings" and accolades. Crosby has 2 stanley cups, 2 Olympic golds, 2 world cup golds, a World Juniors gold plus all the accolades - like Conn Smythe, Ross, etc..
McDavid is so young so it could happen, but that's a steep hill to climb, and Crosby isn't done yet.
FUCK FUCK FUCK
Between now and tomorrow night, snap out of it. Ottawa is a pretty good team, buy the Rangers have been here before. Coming home for 2, and I expect to be going back to Ottawa all tied up.
This series could just as easily be 2-0 rangers right now, and the rangers haven't played well.
Yeah, I know, If the Queen had a peen she'd be the King and all that stuff, but this is where we buck up.
(I'm going to game 3 so I gave myself a pep talk last night to snap out of the 0-2 mental malaise)
If we can put together a strong performance tomorrow and win, I'll feel a lot better. But right now, I just feel fucking deflated.
What a kick in the balls, man.
It really sucked to know that we literally had no chance of winning that game in OT, either. Like, there was just no possible way for me to believe the Rangers were going to score again and win the game. Lo and behold...
Just a really shitty way to lose
Game 2 against LAK with blowing a 2 goal third period lead and then losing in 2OT - but the Kings had tilted the ice most of that game and scored fairly early in the 3rd period to get within one and then tie.
Nash missing on the doorsteps in OT in game 5 of that same series, and this past one, was eerily deja vu.
Unlike the Kings series though, in this one with just 3 minutes left we had surrendered JUST 18 SHOTS ON NET through 57 minutes. We were dominating - the commentators were saying what a big win this was for us since we'd struggled all year at home, the team is more relaxed on the road, etc.
You just don't know how many more elite 8 opportunities this group is going to get. Flyers/Devils got better this weekend too.
Is what it is. Saturday's Collapse (capital "C" to jon from nj who talked in these terms for the '07 Mets) was unfortunately... historic.
I've been trying to find historic NHL playoff collapses to compare it to, and outside of Toronto's game 7 meltdown vs Boston I cant find many comps (most of the articles talk to blowing 3-0 series leads, Caps meltdowns over the years, etc. though)
Depressing to say the least.
I think the Rangers actually were motivated by the Canadiens physical play and it forced them to be more careful.
But the story of the Canadiens series was Hank.
If he plays 4 more games like he did against the Canadiens or he did in game 1, the Rangers win this series.
one game changes everything.
I do think this is a must win tomorrow night and I do think the Rangers win it.
But it doesn't matter because in a 7 game series, where all of these games are so close and literally decided by mere bounces most of the time - an 0-2 hole is very tough to get out of.
It does happen. We saw this team climb out of 1-3 in 2014 vs. PIT and again in 2015 vs. WSH.. but I'm not sure if this team has the resolve. LA got out of 0-3 vs. SJ in 2014, too.
The tone and narrative certainly change quickly with a convincing NYR win tomorrow - as it is the nature of the playoffs - but this team is going to need very short memories.
What's worse about the way these 2 games went is that now, any lead late in a game is going to have the Rangers worrying whether or not they can hold it and the Senators believing they can erase it. We gave that team a LOT of confidence after these first two games. Not good when momentum and morale can play such a large role in these playoff series'.
But the story of the Canadiens series was Hank.
If he plays 4 more games like he did against the Canadiens or he did in game 1, the Rangers win this series.
one game changes everything.
For whatever reason people like to talk in extremes around here, myself included at times I admit. Hank was excellent against Montreal, and his game 5 save on MaxPac's breakaway won the series.
But lets also acknowledge that 2 of the 3 games Hank has been outstanding in... we ended up losing anyway. He didn't need to be unbelievable in games 1 or 4 against Montreal, but he was solid and that was enough.
Also, Hank doesnt have to be "Habs series Hank" or even g1 Ottawa Hank... to win game 2 - he just needed to have been Steve Mason out there. We ended up giving up 5 regulation goals on 24 shots, very few of them high quality. I'll give you a bad bounce or deflection on one or two, but I'm not asking for Conn Smythe every game here as was alluded to on Saturday... he could have played a generally shitty game and we'd still have won 5-4.
I'm just saying I expect him to be more like he was consistently against MTL and how he was in game 1 against OTT and if he is the Rangers win the series.
I think the Rangers win game 1 if that replays itself more often than they lose it (though that is clearly a hypothetical).
Link - ( New Window )
not a fan of small defensemen at all, but if you look at rosters of some of the world juniors teams RD seem like they're becoming more and more rare.
Spurgeon - ( New Window )
And the Bruins love Torey Krug (though he's very one dimensional), I'm just saying my personal preference is for bigger, longer reach, defensemen.
You know he's dying to stick Glass back in the lineup.
Kovalchuk would likely prefer to stay in NYC or wind up in Florida. Wife and 4 kids are a major factor. It will be sign-and-trade, though.