Post-Game Talk: EC Round 1: New York Rangers (M3) vs. Pittsburgh Penguins (M2) (PIT leads 1-0)

[Petey Pucks]

Thank god it wasn't his wrist or he would be completely shot for the playoffs.

yeah you can't do much about a wrist....you can't even rotate the stick

 

[Inferno]

My prediction of a sweep has very little to do withour opponent and very much to do with us....I don't think I'd predict us beating any team in the playoffs tbh....I really do think we r the worst team in the Eastern bracket.

 

[broadwayblue]

Smart move by the Isles...everyone here would have preferred to play Florida.

That said, steal game 1 and there's no reason we can't split the next 6 with these guys.

 

[Petey Pucks]

My prediction of a sweep has very little to do withour opponent and very much to do with us....I don't think I'd predict us beating any team in the playoffs tbh....I really do think we r the worst team in the Eastern bracket.

worse than even philly?

what about detroit who not only had to get in with a bruins loss but had a negative GD for the season - 13?

 

[Machinehead]

The Panthers and Isles are debatably the worst teams in the bracket as well.

Philly's much better.

 

[aufheben]

The main board thread has us at about 80% likely to lose and I'd say that's fair.

Depends on their goaltending situation. Although they'd still be favorites even with an AHL tandem, IMO. Hagelin and Kessel are going to be flying past our defenders.

Smart move by the Isles...everyone here would have preferred to play Florida.

That said, steal game 1 and there's no reason we can't split the next 6 with these guys.

**** em. I hope the Panthers sweep them.

 

[nevesis]

 

[DudMan28]

Too much doom and gloom in here. We haven't even had our matchup set for 4 hours! Sheesh. I understand being a realist, but some of you make it seem like watching this team is a job. We're in the playoffs. Try and have some fun for once, your life would be much better.

 

[Machinehead]

Avenged Sevenfold

 

[aufheben]

Best we can hope for is Lundqvist plays lights out and the Flyers upset the Capitals.

 

[cwede]

.. been waiting for the playoffs since October, like our players

we can win if stay focused at both ends, we have a deep skilled team,
and they will have either an inexperienced goalie, or a rusty, not 100% one

But after last 2 series
(losing 3 in a row,, then just 6 goals in 5 games)
Pens will have extra motivation

(not that such a thing should exist in playoffs,
but i bet it does for Luongo ...)

 

[JESSEWENEEDTOCOOK]

Not scared of the Pens. Or the Caps for that matter. Especially if Fleury is out.

Rangers in 7.

 

[JESSEWENEEDTOCOOK]

The Panthers and Isles are debatably the worst teams in the bracket as well.

Philly's much better.

I think Philly could be at the Caps. they've been underrated all year.

 

[Thirty One]

Found this interesting

 

[Machinehead]

Found this interesting

This is the time of year possession matters.

 

[TheDirtyH]

We're not the same team we've been in years past. It's not going to matter how good Lundqvist is if we continue to roll out a pathetic penalty kill in the playoffs. Pens in 5.

That said, I hope this team pulls it together in a way I can't see coming. LGR

 

[Thirty One]

This is the time of year possession matters.

Yep. Has little-to-no impact in the off-season.

 

[aufheben]

This is the time of year possession matters.

The PDO fairy needs to pay us a visit.

 

[Bulls9220]

I feel like these guys will find that extra gear in the playoffs. And Pittsburghs gotta lose at some point right?

 

[vladmyir111]

This sucks I really wanted to spend next weekend in Miami. Oh well another exciting pens/caps match up I guess ... weeee or something.

 

[Anthony5967]

Ive got Pens in the sweep...im not sure I can see us winning more than 1 game in this series...not without McDonagh at 100% (if he plays at all).

Our defense is a disaster...they are going to rip it to shreds.

Chill man haha! I'm as anxious as the next guy. Gotta stay positive. Special teams must be large. This coach better wake up and hold guys accountable and be as sharp as the players. Defensemen gotta clear the front of the net too. Throw the body and work their defense behind the net. Is their defense that good? No it isn't . I mean Trevor Daley was handed to Pitt for a bag of chocolate pucks and he's their top paid d. This team is experienced and knows this is the last shot with this core. Put up or shut up time . This team has done a lot of talking about how they have to be sharp and better. Well time to show it. Full sixty minute games all series and we have a very good chance at taking this team. The minute Crosby has the puck take the space away. God I need this series to start now.

 

[Anthony5967]

I feel like these guys will find that extra gear in the playoffs. And Pittsburghs gotta lose at some point right?

Didn't Philly just beat them? They're red hot. The break should cool them off I hope. Crossing the fingers McD comes back before game three and this rangers team leaves us shocked ...in the good way and finds the extra gear. Eric and Rick? Need you big this series

 

[For Your Technology]

8 pm est Wednesday on USA

I'm pretty sure it'll air on MSG and USA will be blacked out to some reruns.

 

[Igor Shestyorkin]

I like this one better:

 

[Placid]

As i see it, for us it'll come down to Hank being the Hank we know he can be, and for our defense to perform WAY above their norm.

I am not worried about the offense (although they can be masters at completely "#¤%"#¤% it up for themselves), our achilles heel is our defense.. slow.. lumbering.. non physical, and quite often having the positional awareness of a senile blind man...

So yeah.. long story short, if the defense steps up, we absolutely have a shot. If they play like in the regular season, we are probably going to get trounced.