This playoffs, I don't think it's fair to criticize Panarin for the entire post season. He was good in the first two rounds; a far cry from the prior 2 years. But, in the ECF, he was non existent. He wasn't even getting shots, which was reminiscent of the last 2 years.
It wasn't just him. The whole team, but even worse for the top 2 lines, were just too passive. They had no answer for Florida's very conservative D. It's not like it was the first time they've face it. And, in 6 games they couldn't figure it out? It's not like Florida really changed things up much. The Rangers just played a terrible series, even in the games they won. As you go deeper, you can't rely solely on being opportunistic. You have to be able to generate offense on your own on 5v5. They just couldn't. They were content to pass the puck around until they turned it over.
It also didn't help that some of their better players came up very small in big moments. Zibanejad turned it over badly at the end of Game 5, forcing Wheeler to commit the penalty. Trouba was way out of position on the subsequent PP to allow the goal. Then Trouba turned the puck over in the neutral zone to set up the first goal in Game 6. Fox seemingly played hurt the entire series, which hampered them. Zib and Panarin went into shells for much of the series. Kreider as well.
I am also sick of the false Rempe fascination. Guy plays 4-6 minutes a game. He isn't impacting the game overall, outside of fluke goal. He takes stupid penalties and gets whistled for some BS. He isn't bad and can be a factor in the future. But, he wasn't a big part of their success in the regular season, so acting like he would be a savior in the post season was stupid.
If the refs called one of the penalties in the final minute of Game 4 that they should have called, maybe we have a game seven. Or of Zibanejad could score and not hit the cross bar.
This series was close. People need to stop analyzing the series like Igor isn't part of the team.
Panthers also had a pretty obvious high stick on the play that led to goal one last night when they knocked the puck down.
I can't see who could argue that. They did everything they needed to do and looked great doing it. Whereas the Rangers were just stymied - maybe 40 minutes of great hockey over 6 games.
Part of what makes hockey great is the playoffs are so grueling the better team wins. Flukes usually get washed out.
This playoffs, I don't think it's fair to criticize Panarin for the entire post season. He was good in the first two rounds; a far cry from the prior 2 years. But, in the ECF, he was non existent. He wasn't even getting shots, which was reminiscent of the last 2 years.
It wasn't just him. The whole team, but even worse for the top 2 lines, were just too passive. They had no answer for Florida's very conservative D. It's not like it was the first time they've face it. And, in 6 games they couldn't figure it out? It's not like Florida really changed things up much. The Rangers just played a terrible series, even in the games they won. As you go deeper, you can't rely solely on being opportunistic. You have to be able to generate offense on your own on 5v5. They just couldn't. They were content to pass the puck around until they turned it over.
It also didn't help that some of their better players came up very small in big moments. Zibanejad turned it over badly at the end of Game 5, forcing Wheeler to commit the penalty. Trouba was way out of position on the subsequent PP to allow the goal. Then Trouba turned the puck over in the neutral zone to set up the first goal in Game 6. Fox seemingly played hurt the entire series, which hampered them. Zib and Panarin went into shells for much of the series. Kreider as well.
I am also sick of the false Rempe fascination. Guy plays 4-6 minutes a game. He isn't impacting the game overall, outside of fluke goal. He takes stupid penalties and gets whistled for some BS. He isn't bad and can be a factor in the future. But, he wasn't a big part of their success in the regular season, so acting like he would be a savior in the post season was stupid.
I wasn't criticizing him for the whole playoffs. I specifically said this series.
If the refs called one of the penalties in the final minute of Game 4 that they should have called, maybe we have a game seven. Or of Zibanejad could score and not hit the cross bar.
This series was close. People need to stop analyzing the series like Igor isn't part of the team.
Panthers also had a pretty obvious high stick on the play that led to goal one last night when they knocked the puck down.
Oh stop. How about if they call a blatant slash on tkachuk breakaway? He has a pen shot. Maybe he scores
If they called either of the ones at the end of game 4, Panthers don't get the power play that led to the GWG. If they whistle the high stick before the first goal last night, the play turns out differently.
The Rangers didn't do their job, but neither did the refs.
It wasn't just him. The whole team, but even worse for the top 2 lines, were just too passive. They had no answer for Florida's very conservative D. It's not like it was the first time they've face it. And, in 6 games they couldn't figure it out? It's not like Florida really changed things up much. The Rangers just played a terrible series, even in the games they won. As you go deeper, you can't rely solely on being opportunistic. You have to be able to generate offense on your own on 5v5. They just couldn't. They were content to pass the puck around until they turned it over.
It also didn't help that some of their better players came up very small in big moments. Zibanejad turned it over badly at the end of Game 5, forcing Wheeler to commit the penalty. Trouba was way out of position on the subsequent PP to allow the goal. Then Trouba turned the puck over in the neutral zone to set up the first goal in Game 6. Fox seemingly played hurt the entire series, which hampered them. Zib and Panarin went into shells for much of the series. Kreider as well.
I am also sick of the false Rempe fascination. Guy plays 4-6 minutes a game. He isn't impacting the game overall, outside of fluke goal. He takes stupid penalties and gets whistled for some BS. He isn't bad and can be a factor in the future. But, he wasn't a big part of their success in the regular season, so acting like he would be a savior in the post season was stupid.
This series was close. People need to stop analyzing the series like Igor isn't part of the team.
Panthers also had a pretty obvious high stick on the play that led to goal one last night when they knocked the puck down.
Part of what makes hockey great is the playoffs are so grueling the better team wins. Flukes usually get washed out.
It wasn't just him. The whole team, but even worse for the top 2 lines, were just too passive. They had no answer for Florida's very conservative D. It's not like it was the first time they've face it. And, in 6 games they couldn't figure it out? It's not like Florida really changed things up much. The Rangers just played a terrible series, even in the games they won. As you go deeper, you can't rely solely on being opportunistic. You have to be able to generate offense on your own on 5v5. They just couldn't. They were content to pass the puck around until they turned it over.
It also didn't help that some of their better players came up very small in big moments. Zibanejad turned it over badly at the end of Game 5, forcing Wheeler to commit the penalty. Trouba was way out of position on the subsequent PP to allow the goal. Then Trouba turned the puck over in the neutral zone to set up the first goal in Game 6. Fox seemingly played hurt the entire series, which hampered them. Zib and Panarin went into shells for much of the series. Kreider as well.
I am also sick of the false Rempe fascination. Guy plays 4-6 minutes a game. He isn't impacting the game overall, outside of fluke goal. He takes stupid penalties and gets whistled for some BS. He isn't bad and can be a factor in the future. But, he wasn't a big part of their success in the regular season, so acting like he would be a savior in the post season was stupid.
I wasn't criticizing him for the whole playoffs. I specifically said this series.
This series was close. People need to stop analyzing the series like Igor isn't part of the team.
Panthers also had a pretty obvious high stick on the play that led to goal one last night when they knocked the puck down.
Oh stop. How about if they call a blatant slash on tkachuk breakaway? He has a pen shot. Maybe he scores
Stop blaming refs
The Rangers didn't do their job, but neither did the refs.