Speculation: Who’d you rather: Devils or Hurricanes?

[jerseyjinx94]

I personally think Florida beats Carolina tomorrow and NJ beats Washington so I think we’re getting Carolina. I also think there’s a decent chance Florida beats New Jersey in a 7 game series.

I know it’s a cliche, but it doesn’t really matter who the Rangers play. I don’t really prefer either team, they’re both very good. It’s wild that we’re like 5th in the league overall and have to open up on the road against one of the top 4 teams. Crazy

 

[Gardner McKay]

While the Hurricanes are the better team, we match up better against them.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

I’m conflicted between both.

On one hand, if we play the Devils we are basically getting every game as a home game. They also lack experience in the playoffs. But I fully expect them to start game 1 on fire and I don't want Igor getting lit up in game 1.

With the Canes, we have been playing them better during the season but they will have something to prove since we knocked them out last year. And they come with plenty of experience.

I guess push come to shove, i'd rather have the devils.

 

[NYRFANMANI]

Debbies, bring it on!

Idgaf about better or worse match-ups, easier or harder.

 

[Machinehead]

I can't imagine how one would have "fun" watching us play the Devils.

We're slower than eternity and I don't feel playing the fastest team in the league is going to be fun.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Part of me REALLY wants to see NJ get smacked around by either the Panthers or NYI. Those teams will not hesitate to push them around.

I'd pick them if I were confident that we'd actually try to play them tough. Seems like the Rangers only do that against teams that decide they want to try to play that way or the Penguins.

 

[TriFF51]

I think we'd have an easier time against the Canes but those games can be terribly boring. For pure entertainment value give me the Devils.

 

[will1066]

i'M NOt a SmARt MAn, JeNNy, bUt I Know WHaT ThE BeTTeR MaTCHup IS.

 

[Machinehead]

Part of me REALLY wants to see NJ get smacked around by either the Panthers or NYI. Those teams will not hesitate to push them around.

I'd pick them if I were confident that we'd actually try to play them tough. Seems like the Rangers only do that against teams that decide they want to try to play that way or the Penguins.

The last time we played the Devils, there was a scrum every whistle, and we lost anyway.

 

[I Eat Crow]

This is something I've always wondered with the Devils and is where I think we've gone wrong against them this year. Do we need to neutralize their speed or should we open it up and try to essentially make the series into a matchup of Igor vs. Vanecek?

I don't think so. If the Rangers decide to make it a track meet, they'll lose to NJ. 50/50 if Carolina.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

The last time we played the Devils, there was a scrum every whistle, and we lost anyway.

Not what I'm talking about. The post whistle stuff is mostly nonsense and gets mis-categorized as toughness.

Actually throwing a body on people, even if it has to be a tad late and toe-ing the line is what I'm talking about. Look at the way this team has played against the likes of Tampa/Pitt/Calgary - Thats what I'd be looking for.

Florida tossed them around pretty bad this year and the Isles completely stole their lunch the last time they played. There isn't direct carry over from RS to PS, but I know that those teams would continue to try to play them that way and quite honestly, it's the BEST way to neutralize a team like that because they won't be able to handle it.

Rangers are at their best when they do to0, but they don't feel the need to do it all the time.

 

[Machinehead]

Not what I'm talking about. The post whistle stuff is mostly nonsense and gets mis-categorized as toughness.

Actually throwing a body on people, even if it has to be a tad late and toe-ing the line is what I'm talking about. Look at the way this team has played against the likes of Tampa/Pitt/Calgary - Thats what I'd be looking for.

Florida tossed them around pretty bad this year and the Isles completely stole their lunch the last time they played. There isn't direct carry over from RS to PS, but I know that those teams would continue to try to play them that way and quite honestly, it's the BEST way to neutralize a team like that because they won't be able to handle it.

Rangers are at their best when they do to0, but they don't feel the need to do it all the time.

You have to catch somebody to hit them.

 

[TGWL]

I don't really want to hear it from my NJD friends should we lose. So I'm voting Hurricanes on that alone.

 

[duhmetreE]

Devils. I Do not think they are ready for this jelly.

 

[TGWL]

This is something I've always wondered with the Devils and is where I think we've gone wrong against them this year. Do we need to neutralize their speed or should we open it up and try to essentially make the series into a matchup of Igor vs. Vanecek?

You go with the former, 100% of the time. This isn't inline hockey. If your game-plan is going into a run and gun series, you're probably going home. Well, you're probably getting benched first.

 

[Fitzy]

I'd rather beat the Devils and I'd rather lose to Carolina, so this is contextual

 

[duhmetreE]

You have to catch somebody to hit them.

You don't have to catch anyone. Timing is Trouba's forte. Hitting on the forecheck and on the boards even if the puck is gone what is needed. They start shying away and rushing.

Our defense always backs up giving opposing forwards space. That lures them in to a sense of security... Jack Hughes expecting our defenders to be backing up, the bad garden ice has him fumble the puck... he looks down at the puck coming over the red line.... BLAP. Trouba Train Trou Trou

The crying on the main boards would be marvelous.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

You have to catch somebody to hit them.

isles are probably slower than the Rangers are.

They had no trouble.

 

[Machinehead]

You don't have to catch anyone. Timing is Trouba's forte. Hitting on the forecheck and on the boards even if the puck is gone what is needed. They start shying away and rushing.

Our defense always backs up giving opposing forwards space. That lures them in to a sense of security... Jack Hughes expecting our defenders to be backing up, the bad garden ice has him fumble the puck... he looks down at the puck coming over the red line.... BLAP. Trouba Train Trou Trou

The crying on the main boards would be marvelous.

Trouba has tried to line them up before and missed. He can't catch up with their top forwards.

isles are probably slower than the Rangers are.

They had no trouble.

The Islanders play slow and force the game to slow down enough for them to be effective.

The Rangers don't know they're slow and try to play fast.

That's why the Rangers only play in the mud with other teams that want to do that.

 

[Glen Sathers Cigar]

It feels like bad juju to have a poll like this and really have a strong opinion one way or the other. Both the Devils and Hurricanes are really good teams. I just think we matchup better with Carolina. We really have a hard time matching up with the Devils' speed and as some point out, the playoffs are a different beast but that requires the team playing them to be able to slow them down and I'm extremely unconfident that we can slow the Devils down. They're just such a bad matchup for us with their elite rush offense and our almost worst in the league rush defense. We can make up for it against the average team but against a team as good on the rush as the Devils are, I'm not very confident.

I think we'll have to beat both the Devils and Carolina if we want to go deep this year but I think I'd rather see Florida or the Islanders take a stab at the Devils first and maybe after a round they're a little beaten up and that could change the matchup. We could also very easily lose to Carolina too so I honestly don't even like talking about this.

 

[Larrybiv]

Carolina, but I think they are going to have to go through Jersey in round two anyways, so guess it depends if you think Florida or the Islanders can cause some trouble for NJ, or is it better getting NJ first if you are going to have to play them either way?

Glad it’s not Pitt getting the top WC, NJ or Carolina would have destroyed them.

That was my thinking and why I chose NJ. More exciting, given we hate them and they, us. Better for fans and the league.
Should we NOT play them, and they advance......now when we play them they would have a little taste as to what the PO's are all about.
Rather knock them out quickly and painfully.
Trust me, the Panthers are going to do damage.....unless they dont make it somehow. Panthers/Canes is a very good rivalry given the proximity and playing in same division for years. LGR's regardless of who we play.

 

[duhmetreE]

Trouba has tried to line them up before and missed. He can't catch up with their top forwards.

Trouba has lined up MacKinnon before... it's not an issue.

 

[Machinehead]

Trouba has lined up MacKinnon before... it's not an issue.

Ok, and if Trouba lands one big hit, that makes their speed not an issue?

 

[Larrybiv]

Not what I'm talking about. The post whistle stuff is mostly nonsense and gets mis-categorized as toughness.

Actually throwing a body on people, even if it has to be a tad late and toe-ing the line is what I'm talking about. Look at the way this team has played against the likes of Tampa/Pitt/Calgary - Thats what I'd be looking for.

Florida tossed them around pretty bad this year and the Isles completely stole their lunch the last time they played. There isn't direct carry over from RS to PS, but I know that those teams would continue to try to play them that way and quite honestly, it's the BEST way to neutralize a team like that because they won't be able to handle it.

Rangers are at their best when they do to0, but they don't feel the need to do it all the time.

You know damned well the PO's are a different animal and the Rangers do too. The Rangers will VERY aggressive and force their will on a very "speedy but light" Devils team. Gonna mess them up.

 

[Do you want ants]

You have to catch somebody to hit them.

While I agree with this. That last game they peeled off or let up when they had multiple chances to hit their guys and finish checks. Not sure if it was self preservation or just a lack of hate like with the Pens and Tampa.