With all the playoff success the Rangers have had the past 10 years or so (one Stanley Cup appearance, two Eastern Conference finals appearances, etc.)...the playoff series they have won have typically always been hard fought series that went 7 games. Then the team gets worn down as they advance and they eventually lose a series and can never win a cup. They need to keep the pedal to the metal here and end this series early. Advance to next round without the team taking a beating.
Rangers have gone to a level I did not think they had.
There were several things that most observers agreed had to go right for the Rangers to make a run…finding right line combos after trades, Kane finding his A game, Lindgren coming back healthy, guys like Miller and Trouba being smart with the puck, Igor becoming all world again after an uneven season.
Small sample size, but through 2 games every one of those things is happening
they were so dominant first two games, there is no reason the shouldn't win both games at home. So of course, they will lose both and be behind the eight ball again!
It wasn't that long ago they were up 2-0 on Tampa and I had dreams of Cup final games. Then it all came crashing down.
The thing I found encouraging was that in the first game the Rangers out hit the Devils. It seemed that the Devils in the second game came out to play a more physical game and the Rangers were ready for it.
as the closing minutes of game 2 were ticking away I distinctly remember being very very nervous because Tampa really applied some serious pressure and the rangers really hung on for dear life. If game two allowed for 3-4 more minutes the rangers lose that game. Time simply ran out. It took Tampa 2 games to get their sea legs and crack the rangers code.
Game 2 this series saw the rangers dominate the devils even more than game 1. I see no comparison to last year against Tampa. Apples and oranges.
It wasn't that long ago they were up 2-0 on Tampa and I had dreams of Cup final games. Then it all came crashing down.
The thing I found encouraging was that in the first game the Rangers out hit the Devils. It seemed that the Devils in the second game came out to play a more physical game and the Rangers were ready for it.
good point, although I think fatigue factored into that series loss last year. After going a full 7 in rounds 1 and 2, they were pretty gassed against a good and rested Tampa team
Which is why taking advantage of the chance to beat the Devils in 4 or 5 would be huge
You start one. The game is at 8 pm. Start it at around 7 pm. Let's use this to gloat over the soon to be departed Devils and the fishsticks.
Exactly!
No no, you start it
There were several things that most observers agreed had to go right for the Rangers to make a run…finding right line combos after trades, Kane finding his A game, Lindgren coming back healthy, guys like Miller and Trouba being smart with the puck, Igor becoming all world again after an uneven season.
Small sample size, but through 2 games every one of those things is happening
The thing I found encouraging was that in the first game the Rangers out hit the Devils. It seemed that the Devils in the second game came out to play a more physical game and the Rangers were ready for it.
Game 2 this series saw the rangers dominate the devils even more than game 1. I see no comparison to last year against Tampa. Apples and oranges.
The thing I found encouraging was that in the first game the Rangers out hit the Devils. It seemed that the Devils in the second game came out to play a more physical game and the Rangers were ready for it.
good point, although I think fatigue factored into that series loss last year. After going a full 7 in rounds 1 and 2, they were pretty gassed against a good and rested Tampa team
Which is why taking advantage of the chance to beat the Devils in 4 or 5 would be huge
It reminds me of when Rangers had Gretzky and Messier. They were lifeless in regular season.
But the two Hall of Famers turned back the clock. Kane and Tarasenko doing the same thing.
And just like it was a huge privilege to see Gretzky in Rangers blue, ditto for Kane and Tarasenko.
Shit. Backups and guys playing their first NHL game give the Rangers fits.
Quote:
Great. A backup. Lovely. PTSD…
Shit. Backups and guys playing their first NHL game give the Rangers fits.
Schmid's played this season, but yeah, obviously it's his first playoff game.