Series Talk: New York Rangers vs New Jersey Devils (Rangers 1-0)

[EdJovanovski]

Confirmed

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[Jackson Ranger]

Puck management is the key to this series. They need to move the puck with a purpose and control it. Cannot turn the puck over in the neutral zone or near the blue line.

The Rangers have one of the deepest forward groups in the league. We literally have 9 top 6 F and 2 more top 9 F. Our 4th line is one of the best in the league.

The Devils thrive off the transition game but their D are small and speedy, gotta get the puck in on them and establish a physical presence offensively. That extra half second of delay they make could be the difference in the series.

I’m fairly confident going into this series. I think the Devils are in for a rude awakening but who knows maybe they’ll be ready to go. Either way it should be another roller coaster

The Devils D isn't small. Bahl, Graves and Hamilton are all 6'5" or 6'6" and at least 220 lbs. Siegenthaler, Smith, Severson and Hughes are all 6'2" and all over 200 lbs except for Hughes at 184 (probably lighter). Marino is 6'1" 181. Fox and Lindgren are 6'0" or smaller. The rest of the Rangers D are 6'3" or bigger. I would say the Rangers have a smaller D with Mikkola and Miller around 6'5" but only in the 210 lb. range.

 

[romba]

I don't think Troubz will have a huge hit until later in the series, which is not a bad thing. If the Devils are playing conservatively through the NZ to avoid a hit that's a win.

 

[IDvsEGO]

The Devils D isn't small. Bahl, Graves and Hamilton are all 6'5" or 6'6" and at least 220 lbs. Siegenthaler, Smith, Severson and Hughes are all 6'2" and all over 200 lbs except for Hughes at 184 (probably lighter). Marino is 6'1" 181. Fox and Lindgren are 6'0" or smaller. The rest of the Rangers D are 6'3" or bigger. I would say the Rangers have a smaller D with Mikkola and Miller around 6'5" but only in the 210 lb. range.

Hamilton is 6'5 who plays like he's 5'10 to avoid hits. The devils D isnt small but aside from graves there is no one there who can truly take a hit, or lay a hit.
The devils biggest weakness has been clearing the defensive zone under pressure, because their D is just not good at handling pressure. Thats what people mean by "small".

 

[Machinehead]

I really hope we win because this place is going to be insufferable otherwise.

We're already setting ourselves up with the idea that we're just gonna bully this "small team of children who are afraid of the playoffs."

When that doesn't happen, "we're too soft" we be the reason we lost all summer and not because our D corps sucks, or we basically don't have any permanent top 9 RW's except Kakko, or we're slower than f***ing eternity, or anything else relevant.

 

[Riche16]

I'll be at Monday's game for my (& my wife's) 1st NYR playoff game at MSG

We can't wait! LGR

 

[duhmetreE]

I really hope we win because this place is going to be insufferable otherwise.

We're already setting ourselves up with the idea that we're just gonna bully this "small team of children who are afraid of the playoffs."

When that doesn't happen, "we're too soft" we be the reason we lost all summer and not because our D corps sucks, or we basically don't have any permanent top 9 RW's except Kakko, or we're slower than f***ing eternity, or anything else relevant.

If we lose this series it will be 99.9% because of coaching, or the lack there of.

 

[MyLoveIsBlue]

 

[Larrybiv]

Who is that? Is that you Jovo? This gives me an idea.

 

[duhmetreE]

I don't know if this is copium but I think Panarin redeems himself from last Playoffs

 

[Machinehead]

If we lose this series it will be 99.9% because of coaching, or the lack there of.

That I could get on board with depending on what happens.

I could 100% see Gallant hard matching Miller-Trouba against their big guns instead of the best defensive pair in the world.

 

[Fitzy]

I don't know if this is copium but I think Panarin redeems himself from last Playoffs

NJD is a better opponent for Panarin than the more physical shutdown teams, do you may be on to something.

Our third pairing on the other hand- this isn't a great matchup

 

[Machinehead]

Panarin was just bad last year (and hurt imo) and it wasn't necessarily a playoff thing.

He just had a fantastic regular season.

 

[Bacon Artemi Bravo]

Panarin was just bad last year (and hurt imo) and it wasn't necessarily a playoff thing.

He just had a fantastic regular season.

Im not sure how he stacks up against some of the other eastern conference monsters like Tampa or Boston, but the Devils I believe are a fine matchup for him.

 

[haohmaru]

If we lose this series it will be 99.9% because of coaching, or the lack there of.

Nah, if we lose this series it's because we panic with the puck and/or make dopey east-west passes when the ice is even smaller.

We have to hope that our talent decides that it needs to rely on hard work to win in the post season. After last year, that's on them. They know what needs to be done.

 

[Larrybiv]

NJ play fast in the regular season but the playoffs is a different story.
Similar to how Carolina is a great regular season team but not so dominant in the playoffs, I think the Devils will look a little more human come Tuesday.

They're bound to be a lot less "foot loose and fancy free", because of what's on the line. Too much at stake to be heading up ice at every opportunity.
They'll be holding their sticks a little tighter and hopefully looking down at the puck. (good luck with that, if you do)
I know it's a cliche but, I think its imperative we score the 1st goal in the series. If we DON"T it's not the end of the world but for sure, we don't need to be down right away, when an unfortunate penalty, is just a stones throw away, then could be down 2 and spiraling. I know that sounds defeatest, but you know what I mean.
We'll be fine, have every confidence in that. Just don't wanna be up against it, right from the start.

 

[EdJovanovski]

Who is that? Is that you Jovo? This gives me an idea.

Not sure if serious but that’s Patrick Kane lmao

 

[Machinehead]

Kane looks good for age 57

 

[IDvsEGO]

They're bound to be a lot less "foot loose and fancy free", because of what's on the line. Too much at stake to be heading up ice at every opportunity.
They'll be holding their sticks a little tighter and hopefully looking down at the puck. (good luck with that, if you do)
I know it's a cliche but, I think its imperative we score the 1st goal in the series. If we DON"T it's not the end of the world but for sure, we don't need to be down right away, when an unfortunate penalty, is just a stones throw away, then could be down 2 and spiraling. I know that sounds defeatest, but you know what I mean.
We'll be fine, have every confidence in that. Just don't wanna be up against it, right from the start.

The metrics show the thing the devils struggle with the most is getting out of their own end. In the playoffs thats going to be significantly more difficult with heavier hits, and solid pressure. Having defensemen who don't take hits well is going to be an issue for them. The devils also don't use size and physicality to trap other teams in their zone. They use speed. That doesn't help as much in the playoffs.

 

[DanielBrassard]

I agree with the sentiment about Panarin, I think he's going to have a much better playoff run this year. And his line is going to be the key line I think. Zibanejad's line has a habit of getting outplayed when they are up against other top lines, we are going to need the Panarin line to tilt the ice in their favor.

 

[mandiblesofdoom]

Hamilton is 6'5 who plays like he's 5'10 to avoid hits. The devils D isnt small but aside from graves there is no one there who can truly take a hit, or lay a hit.
The devils biggest weakness has been clearing the defensive zone under pressure, because their D is just not good at handling pressure. Thats what people mean by "small".

interesting definition of "small."

I really hope we win because this place is going to be insufferable otherwise.

We're already setting ourselves up with the idea that we're just gonna bully this "small team of children who are afraid of the playoffs."

When that doesn't happen, "we're too soft" we be the reason we lost all summer and not because our D corps sucks, or we basically don't have any permanent top 9 RW's except Kakko, or we're slower than f***ing eternity, or anything else relevant.

Was there ever any other way?

"Toughness" is always the solution to the Rangers' ills.

 

[haohmaru]

Was there ever any other way?

"Toughness" is always the solution to the Rangers' ills.

"Toughness" is a factor every playoff year. It just is.

 

[mandiblesofdoom]

"Toughness" is a factor every playoff year. It just is.

A factor, yes.

 

[Raspewtin]

The Devils D isn't small. Bahl, Graves and Hamilton are all 6'5" or 6'6" and at least 220 lbs. Siegenthaler, Smith, Severson and Hughes are all 6'2" and all over 200 lbs except for Hughes at 184 (probably lighter). Marino is 6'1" 181. Fox and Lindgren are 6'0" or smaller. The rest of the Rangers D are 6'3" or bigger. I would say the Rangers have a smaller D with Mikkola and Miller around 6'5" but only in the 210 lb. range.

Yeah this narrative is so strange. Now if you want to say the Rangers have the more imposing and physical D, sure I buy that. But it's just a fact that the Devils D are bigger lol

 

[Clark Kellogg]

The Ultimate 2023 New York Rangers Playoff Pump Piece:

 

[Machinehead]

Yeah this narrative is so strange. Now if you want to say the Rangers have the more imposing and physical D, sure I buy that. But it's just a fact that the Devils D are bigger lol

The 2010-11 Bruins were one of the smallest teams in the league.

People just decide who they want to be big/small and everyone just rolls with it.