^This
The Capitals were playing for their lives even though the media wants to focus on the Rangers just tying the series.
Do people think Trotz is a big dummy? He knew a game 7 return to MSG was bad news.
The Rangers weren't playing crappy or just sitting back. The Capitals were playing to survive.
And they still lost with a gift from Dear Bettman.
LGR!
They definitely fear it a bit, sure. And we do have some momentum on our side. But as pumped as we are, we've gotta realize that this caps team, with their backs against the wall, is going to be very dangerous. They won't stop. None of the talk or momentum or which rink it's at will matter. It is simply one game that's going to be one hell of a battle and test and we're simply going to have to be the better team, and earn it. We've got to bring our A game and we've got to get these dumb friggin unforced turnovers under control. That would actually be my #1 priority if I was to give the team a message. Stop the gifts.
But we have to win. We just must. We can't let them get away with that ******** big man talk. But we've got to show them why they can't get away with it. No fear. No holding back. Take it straight to them and never let them get a flow to their game. And most definitely, definitely hold that mother ****er off the board.
Between him and trotz I've never wanted to beat a team more. Seriously. I want to send them packing so bad; with the stench of failure trailing behind them. Up 3-1 and blowing it + not putting their 'money' where there mouth is. Utter failure. We must have that be their fate. I refuse to accept his arms up in the air and them all hugging and jumping all excited and then talk after the game about how much a leader he is and blah blah ****ing blah. **** that. No way.
So we'll need the garden rocking. And I mean motha ****in rocking. But the boys need to be laser focused too. I know Hank will be. But this caps team is so aggressive and cycle so well and Ovi has such a good shot sometimes that we all know that even Hank in superhuman mode might have 1 or 2 get by him no matter what he does; that's, if we let them establish that forecheck.
We need 4 or 5 to win this. We need the defensive turnovers to stop. They will, and I mean they absolutely ****ing will, capitalize on them. G is gonna have to be a superhero. He has to shut Ovi down. Kreider will need to be a beast for at least 60. Klein is going to have to play his best game yet and Yandle needs to let the rest of the series go, think nothing else other than how good he can be and then needs to play with confidence and make the right pass at the right time. They need to make perfect reads on when to pinch but need to also not have fear to do so. They need to be decisive in their decisions without delay.
Take it to this ****ing team. Show them why we're the Presidents Trophy winning record breaking game 7 owning motha ****in Rangers. Shut them the **** up, shut them the **** down, do it for 60, then proceed to rush Henrik and jump excitedly. Then, we all will feel the 'Playoff Spirit' re-enter into our beings... Maybe not for all of us, but definitely most of us.
And it was a spirit that was all but sucked out of us, that made our dream 'this can really be it!' season dissipate and left us numb, and empty, and cynical. A void that made all the other games less fun; because it seemed it was no longer about which team we want to face or not face, or evaluating how we'd fare against them, but instead was hard to even care because we knew how much a risk there was that the 3rd round didn't include us anyway. But if we win, the slate is clean. We will be one of four, and the dream will remain alive. We will have come back from being down 3-1 for the second year straight, and before long this miserable series will fade into the background, seeming as much as months ago as the Pens series now does. We will have moved on, and anything can happen. Players can find their grooves, their confidence. The team can solidify even further, closer than ever, more focused than ever. Hank can become even more godlike, focused like a laser beam.
But first is Wednesday. It will not be easy. There is no momentum for this game. The fans will only matter so much. The caps have confidence and focus that is hard to break and they most definitely will be ready for this game; this battle. They will potentially play their best game Wednesday, and we need to be ready too. And we will be. But we will lose years off our lives before it's over. Because they're not gonna stop if they're down, and as the minutes tick off we will see their fury in their game grow. We need to stay calm, make the right decisions, and play with no fear. We do not want this game going to OT. If it goes to OT we lose. I've seen the vision. We must win outright.
But we can. There's no reason we can't. We're the better team and we've got more heart. What they bring we must bring better. Test Holtby throughout and for gods sake keep traffic in front. I think my count is up to 13 'sure goals' we would've had if a player had only been close enough in the crease for the rebound. Get there. Battle to stay there. Make his life miserable.
We cannot let them rule this game. We cannot let them at any point feel like they're dominating. We need to stifle them and frustrate them. Then we need to shake their filthy downtrodden loser ****in hands. Because **** Ovi. And **** Trots. **** their guarantee and threats of harm and intimidation. Keep the 2nd round as their celing. Make them go home embarrassed and disgraced. We are the good guys in this story. And this movie is about to have a happy ****in ending.
Wednesday, you cannot, cannot possibly, get here soon enough. Rest up boys, hone your focus, and make us proud. All of you.
Thank you all for (not quite really) reading this long ass babble, but yeah, I feel a bit better now.
LET'S GO RANGERS!!!