Tampa imploded in game 6 then trapped the hell out of us in game 7. Don't act like there was a peewee team on the other end of the ice.
Tampa is a great team and I knew we needed the tenaciousness that we had in third period of game 6. The Rangers pressed Tampa in game 6, they out worked their defenseman and made Bishop useless. The Rangers made them implode by playing aggressively in the defensive zone.
I didn't expect 3 periods of balls to the wall from the Rangers in game 7, but I was very disappointed by an overly conservative gameplan that wasn't engaged enough to beat the trap.
I will continue to ask until you answer.
Why didn't the team put forth enough of an effort?
Did they not care?
Why are you afraid to address the questions?
You can insult me again or explain yourself.
You're doing a fair share of insulting yourself.
The general consensus was around here and among Ranger fans, were we never know what team was going to show up on any given night.
I don't know why this team was shut out for 6 periods at home. Why can't they perform on home ice? That's the sign of mentally fragile psyche if you ask me. I think many Rangers aren't strong mentally, I don't think they have enough "gamers" on this team.
I understand about injuries affecting aspects of the game, however they won game 6 decidedly on the strong play of their forwards going after the Tampa defense.
I may not have the brilliant insight that you and others have been blessed with, but I've been watching hockey for over 20 years and I saw the Rangers playing an overly conservative game 7. They looked like they choked. I didn't see effort demonstrated in a hard forecheck, traffic in front, shots from the point, winning puck battles... That's how I determine if a team really wants it. These are the things I look for as a hockey fan.
Don't give me this BS that i'm a fan that thinks his team can win any game because I believe in them. These were two evenly matched teams in a game 7, with one period in front of them. I'm not saying the Rangers would have won game 7, but I didn't see the Rangers doing any of the things that made them successful in previous games.
You and others say it was injuries that contributed to this. Ok, but they managed to put forth a winning effort in game 6 after getting shut out previously at home, despite the injuries. How? Many, if not all of the forwards were still intact... I thought they played a garbage game. I didn't see a team that wanted to go the SCF.