Pre-Game Talk: nyrcar

[MrazeksVengeance]

Fixed that for you

Especially compared to CZE. Yeah, I guess.

 

[GIN ANTONIC]

Especially compared to CZE. Yeah, I guess.

Even with a vengeful Mrazek roaming the streets of Prague I would rather take my chances there.

 

[Discipline Daddy]

Not sure if this should go here or in the memes thread. I just made these:

 

[tarheelhockey]

Sorry y'all, I know we want that stat to mean shit, but that stat doesn't mean shit. It is dramatically eclipsed by our inability to even make it to the playoffs for a whole decade. I know it makes us feel better, but it ain't foolin' anybody.

Now, those Prince of Wales Cups and that Stanley Cup -- no one can take those, ever.

I’ll just put it this way: I’d rather have that record plus a decade of missing the dance, than a 30-year streak of not doing a damn thing that anyone remembers.

 

[cptjeff]

I'm good with looking at it both ways. Some teams would kill for the deep runs we've had. Even at the expense of a long ass drought. What good is making it in every year if you're never getting further than the 1st or 2nd round. Ask a team and fans like Washington all those years.

Of course, as far as that stat, our winning percentage is only good because we've been in so few times. The more you get in, the less deep runs you'll have and probably more one and ones. So of course it doesn't mean much in that way. All it means is our team has taken advantage of limited opportunities.

I'm more than willing for this team to make the playoffs every year going forward of course. I just hope it isn't somehow at the expense of the occasional deep runs we've grown accustomed to.

There are certainly teams that would be envious of a cup and a long-ass drought. All you have to do is ask Buffalo to know that a cup with a long ass drought is far preferable to no cup and a soon to be even longer ass drought.

 

[Canes]

3 Cups in the Original Six era. Even with the '94 Cup win they're still one of the least legitimate big city teams in major sports history especially considering how there wasn't even a salary cap until 2005.

f*** the RAGS.

 

[Incubajerks]

Loving that they are feeling so cocky.

 

[MrazeksVengeance]

Loving that they are feeling so cocky.

How you doing guys. I mean the country as a whole.

 

[Anthony5967]

Rangers fan here in peace. I know the narrative is extreme cockiness, but it's mostly coming from blog writers and others. For the most part, and many of the guys on the thread feel the same, is that just because you take four in the regular season doesn't mean squat. Carolina is fully healthy and will be ready to go. I expect the series to go five, for sure. Should be fun, and I'll definitely be listening to Forslund because he's simply 1A to Emrick, in my opinion.

 

[Stickpucker]

They're just giving bulletin board material for Foegelehound to TJ Oshie ol Bread boy.

Then the tears and wailing will flow.

 

[Stickpucker]

One thing not mentioned is the Rongos are butter soft. We at least have some toughness in our lineup to match the speed and skill.

 

[bleedgreen]

Rangers fan here in peace. I know the narrative is extreme cockiness, but it's mostly coming from blog writers and others. For the most part, and many of the guys on the thread feel the same, is that just because you take four in the regular season doesn't mean squat. Carolina is fully healthy and will be ready to go. I expect the series to go five, for sure. Should be fun, and I'll definitely be listening to Forslund because he's simply 1A to Emrick, in my opinion.

I know it’s sacrilege to say, but I’ve never liked Doc. I always found him distracting.

I grew up watching a lot of Ranger games with JD and Sam and to be honest they were maybe my favorite pairing other than when the Whale had Forslund and Darryl Reaugh together.

 

[Incubajerks]

How you doing guys. I mean the country as a whole.

With the openings on June 3, the situation is returning to normal, the numbers at this stage seem to be good. There is a lot of talk about politics because many people need help and the opposition always throws petrol on the fire.

 

[MrazeksVengeance]

With the openings on June 3, the situation is returning to normal, the numbers at this stage seem to be good. There is a lot of talk about politics because many people need help and the opposition always throws petrol on the fire.

There will be lot of politics involved soon enough.
Many countries used it as an opportunity to get more “supervision” and they will want to keep it.

 

[HisIceness]

I know it’s sacrilege to say, but I’ve never liked Doc. I always found him distracting.

I grew up watching a lot of Ranger games with JD and Sam and to be honest they were maybe my favorite pairing other than when the Whale had Forslund and Darryl Reaugh together.

I get why people don't like Doc but I have no problem with him. He does say some "captain obvious" stuff from time to time but there's worse announcers out there.

 

[DougieSmash]

We are better than Rangers, so there's that.

 

[Uncle Scrooge]

If you ask me, the Rangers are the best team the Canes could’ve hoped to play first.

This round is more than just about advancing to the 1st round, it's also about beating a team you're sick losing against. You can't get a more competitive mindset than that.

These team vs team trends often get shuffled around in the playoffs because you have no choice other than to face the challenge that often feels like a mental grind and unpleasant in the reg. season, and you can always bounce back the next night against a different team so it's not as crucial. Once you put your 100% focus into it and realize ”hey, we can actually beat this team” you just want to keep on pummeling them to the ground because of all the misery they caused before - and it’s fun to play them with confidence for a change.

Some matchups are tough for different reasons, but some of them are competely mental, and in my opinion this is one of those. I don’t see any reason why the Rangers should do this well against the Canes in 2020. They’re in the Canes heads and that’s it.

But when you have no other choice but to reverse that trend, and you start to get rid of hesitation, i expect the Canes to come out on top. If they win the first game, wouldn’t surprise me to see a sweep.

Canes with their full force depth hustling their butts off should mean that the softer Rangers are constantly on their heels and they have some individual guys who are going to be crying for help. Bread/Zib can’t do it all. Strome is going to struggle under big time pressure and the bottom 6 has some younger guys who can have their heads spinning, not to mention the D looks very questionable for playoff hockey.

And this is not me crapping on the Rangers, but more so giving credit to the Canes for how hard they can play and be in your face, not many teams in the league can do it with the same tenacity, when they’re really leaving everything out there.

Also does good for team morale to beat a team you struggle against en route to the actual playoffs, rather than just beating someone you expect to beat anyway.

This series reminds me of the 18-19 one against the Islanders. Isles had really started to get in a groove against the Canes, going 7-3 in L10. Then after a couple tight grinders that the Canes found a way to win, the score just started looking worse and worse for the Isles.

 

[HisIceness]

Funny thing is we've never had a "hatred" or the like with the Rangers. In fact many of their fans cheered us on when we played the Devils in the playoffs and even last year sweeping the Islanders in round 2. Even this past decade with all the struggles against them, it was always Pittsburgh and Washington this team was trying to measure up against.

But this is the territory with emerging into a playoff contender, sometimes you become enemies with someone you wouldn't expect. I mean who would have guessed the Avalanche and Red Wings would have had the rivalry they did from 1996-2003?

 

[CandyCanes]

Curious how Aho is going to play coming out of this break. He’s always been a slow starter to start the season. Hopefully he doesn’t have a slow start here, as it’s probably going to feel like a typical summer off.

 

[spockBokk]

To not bump the Last Word thread on the “Black Aces” I wonder if Bokk, Bean and Keane will be the only AHL/prospects around for a stretch run?

I suppose the roster will be set with:

Svechnikov-Aho-Necas
Dzingel-Trocheck-Teravainen
Foegele-Staal-Williams
Niederreiter-Geekie-McGinn
Martinook

There are 13 NHL quality forwards

Slavin-Hamilton
Skjei-Vatanen
Gardiner-TVR
Fleury-Edmundson

8 NHL D

Then only 1 extra forward in Bokk and 2 D very likely not to see ice in Bean and Keane. So 24 skaters, with 4 other slots to potentially fill with the proposed limit of 28 (unlimited goalies).

You’d think it might be a bit short sighted to not use all those spots with guys like Bishop, Lorentz and Forsling also available. Adding those 3 gives extra cushion for injuries as well as leaves a spot open for Pesce, if by chance he can miraculously return.

 

[MrazeksVengeance]

To not bump the Last Word thread on the “Black Aces” I wonder if Bokk, Bean and Keane will be the only AHL/prospects around for a stretch run?

I suppose the roster will be set with:

Svechnikov-Aho-Necas
Dzingel-Trocheck-Teravainen
Foegele-Staal-Williams
Niederreiter-Geekie-McGinn
Martinook

There are 13 NHL quality forwards

Slavin-Hamilton
Skjei-Vatanen
Gardiner-TVR
Fleury-Edmundson

8 NHL D

Then only 1 extra forward in Bokk and 2 D very likely not to see ice in Bean and Keane. So 24 skaters, with 4 other slots to potentially fill with the proposed limit of 28 (unlimited goalies).

You’d think it might be a bit short sighted to not use all those spots with guys like Bishop, Lorentz and Forsling also available. Adding those 3 gives extra cushion for injuries as well as leaves a spot open for Pesce, if by chance he can miraculously return.

Pesce back for finals, Kappa.

Not that I'd mind.

Also, I would definitely play Fleury over TVR.

 

[spockBokk]

Pesce back for finals, Kappa.

Not that I'd mind.

Also, I would definitely play Fleury over TVR.

I'd prefer Fleury over TVR too, but who we kiddin...he's not going to see the ice with RBA at the helm with healthy vets like Edmundson/TVR/Skjei in front of him. Maybe he gets a node over Gardiner, but I doubt it.

I could be very wrong, but I think Vatanen will play a much bigger role in the restart than maybe he would have otherwise as the 2nd pair RD.

I have a bit of a concern that RBA will not want to carry the full compliment of 28 on their restart rosters due his disdain for having guys around that aren't playing. I hope he gets over that as this is nothing like normal where you'd have a minor league roster full of in shape players from which to pluck players as injury replacements. Injuries are bound to happen and I think it would be prudent to keep all options open.

 

[MrazeksVengeance]

I'd prefer Fleury over TVR too, but who we kiddin...he's not going to see the ice with RBA at the helm with healthy vets like Edmundson/TVR/Skjei in front of him. Maybe he gets a node over Gardiner, but I doubt it.

I could be very wrong, but I think Vatanen will play a much bigger role in the restart than maybe he would have otherwise as the 2nd pair RD.

I have a bit of a concern that RBA will not want to carry the full compliment of 28 on their restart rosters due his disdain for having guys around that aren't playing. I hope he gets over that as this is nothing like normal where you'd have a minor league roster full of in shape players from which to pluck players as injury replacements. Injuries are bound to happen and I think it would be prudent to keep all options open.

Fair point. I am genuinely curious how it turns out.

 

[Chrispy]

I'd prefer Fleury over TVR too, but who we kiddin...he's not going to see the ice with RBA at the helm with healthy vets like Edmundson/TVR/Skjei in front of him. Maybe he gets a node over Gardiner, but I doubt it.

I could be very wrong, but I think Vatanen will play a much bigger role in the restart than maybe he would have otherwise as the 2nd pair RD.

I have a bit of a concern that RBA will not want to carry the full compliment of 28 on their restart rosters due his disdain for having guys around that aren't playing. I hope he gets over that as this is nothing like normal where you'd have a minor league roster full of in shape players from which to pluck players as injury replacements. Injuries are bound to happen and I think it would be prudent to keep all options open.

I think RBA has a legitimate concern about keeping players around, especially young players, when they could be playing in Charlotte.

That's not the case this time. The options are having a prospect skate with the team and sit in the hotel (MAYBE press box, but doubtful) or sit at home and try to find a place to skate.

 

[TheReelChuckFletcher]

The best thing about the July start date: Pesce will be back. All of a sudden, our right side shifts from a weakness to fully jacked. All that I can hope for is that the break was good for Hamilton's leg, Vatanen's finger, and Gardiner's back. A fully healthy and productive Gardiner is just about the best possible partner for Pesce, IMO.

Slavin-Hamilton
Gardiner-Pesce
Skjei-Vatanen

If Gardiner craps the bed in the first game, then put Skjei with Pesce and one of Eddy or Fleury with Vatanen.