Series Talk: Rangers/Craps (Game 1 is Sunday 4/21 @ 3pm ET)

[LaffyTaffy13]

Here. We. Go.

Click to read more...

 

[Zynbanejad]

Moved back east and moving pods are arriving today! Will have the TV set up for Sunday. Can't wait. LGR!

 

[Gordon Bombay]

It could be the “Improve your golf mental game” audiobook I’ve been listening to but I feel pretty damn good about this series and the playoffs.

 

[MrAlmost]

Moved back east and moving pods are arriving today! Will have the TV set up for Sunday. Can't wait. LGR!

Finally hung my TV on the wall in the apartment. Hoping I didn't f*** it up and it falls out. Haha

 

[Larrybiv]

It’s a minor failure if these series even goes 6, but have a bad feeling it will go 6 or 7.

Caps are one of the worst playoff teams in recent years and weren’t even trying to make the playoffs. We added 2 top 9 forwards and a bottom pairing d at the trade deadline, while they traded away the same thing.

Initially, I didn't want to play them again. (Boring and redundant for me). Now, 20/20 hindsight being a real thing, happy it wasn't Detroit, nor Philly as that would have been initiation to the PO's. What I'm trying to say is... that they're not going to get a taste, which slows them down from becoming a regular PO team and somewhat of a contender moving forward. Caps are on the outs.
5 games would be perfect. 4 is TOO quick, with too much time before next series. 6 (road) or a 7th lends itself to injury possibilities and that puck luck thing

 

[Gardner McKay]

We took the Devils lightly last season i believe.

I don't think that is remotely true. Artemi forgot how to play hockey with his buddy Patrick Kane on the team and we had an alphabet soup league goalie go on the run of a lifetime.

 

[Lindberg Cheese]

Saw Ovi play a couple of weeks ago, he can still win board battles and parks himself in front of the net more, and of course still operates from his office, however he is not an open ice threat on the rush.

 

[Zynbanejad]

Finally hung my TV on the wall in the apartment. Hoping I didn't f*** it up and it falls out. Haha

Hey as long as you hit a stud, you're fine!

 

[kovazub94]

I believe MSG has rights to all the first round games, so it should be on MSG as well.

As soon as the first round is over I’m canceling my MSG+ subscription till next season. Hopefully there will be improvements like ability to watch from the start the game if it’s already in progress but also to pause, ff or rewind. For $30 per month these features are a must (especially since these are available on other platforms like ESPN+, or MAX, etc).

 

[will1066]

It could be the “Improve your golf mental game” audiobook I’ve been listening to but I feel pretty damn good about this series and the playoffs.

 

[bhamill]

I don't think that is remotely true. Artemi forgot how to play hockey with his buddy Patrick Kane on the team and we had an alphabet soup league goalie go on the run of a lifetime.

and the powerplay became extinct after game two.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

We took the Devils lightly last season i believe.

The team or the fans? Because all I remember from the fans is how terrified they were of the Devils and their speed and how they were our worst matchup.

 

[Cmox]

Hey as long as you hit a stud, you're fine!

Admit it, you pointed the stud finder to your chest and said “found it”. Everyone has done that at least once.

 

[Cmox]

The team or the fans? Because all I remember from the fans is how terrified they were of the Devils and their speed and how they were our worst matchup.

im assuming people are just remembering when the Rangers took the lead in the series? The hubris went to max.

 

[McRanger92]

Id almost be surprised if Fil isnt in there for game one. Medically cleared and practicing in full there's no reason not to throw him in.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

im assuming people are just remembering when the Rangers took the lead in the series? The hubris went to max.

Even then I didn't think the hubris was out of proportion to having a 2-0 series lead on the road while winning both games 5-1. Are Rangers fans never supposed to celebrate wins and series leads?

Or was this a play on "cut the hubris"?

 

[trueblue30nyr]

I feel like Game 3 of that Devils series was a lot like Game 3 of the Tampa series the year before that. Losing that game in triple OT, like losing the Tampa game after being up by 2 (I think) halfway through the third, took the wind out of their sails and they never recovered.

That's the feeling I got anyway. Those heartbreak losses kill their mojo.

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

The Capitals aren't the Florida Panthers of last season.

Florida scored 72 more goals than the Caps this season, they took more shots and had better number offensively almost everywhere.

The Caps play better defense but not by very much. They cant score goals consistently. They've scored more than 2 only once in the last 11 games. They have a good PP, but hopefully that is nullified by the Rangers stingy PK.

It would be an epic fail if the Rangers lose this series. 3 goals is the magic number. Get 3 past Charlie and theres a good chance it will be a win.

What have you done for me lately?
Last 20 Games

NYR
15-5-0 +16
3.65 GF/GP (6th)
2.85 GA/GP (13th)
31.4% PP (1st)
88.9% PK (3rd)

WSH
10-8-2 -13
2.45 GF/GP (27th)
3.10 GA/GP (19th)
26.3% PP (6th)
73.2% PK (27th)

 

[SnowblindNYR]

I feel like Game 3 of that Devils series was a lot like Game 3 of the Tampa series the year before that. Losing that game in triple OT, like losing the Tampa game after being up by 2 (I think) halfway through the third, took the wind out of their sails and they never recovered.

That's the feeling I got anyway. Those heartbreak losses kill their mojo.

The penalty that resulted in the game tying goal in that game was BS if I remember.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

The Capitals aren't the Florida Panthers of last season.

Florida scored 72 more goals than the Caps this season, they took more shots and had better number offensively almost everywhere.

The Caps play better defense but not by very much. They cant score goals consistently. They've scored more than 2 only once in the last 11 games. They have a good PP, but hopefully that is nullified by the Rangers stingy PK.

It would be an epic fail if the Rangers lose this series. 3 goals is the magic number. Get 3 past Charlie and theres a good chance it will be a win.

What have you done for me lately?
Last 20 Games

NYR
15-5-0 +16
3.65 GF/GP (6th)
2.85 GA/GP (13th)
31.4% PP (1st)
88.9% PK (3rd)

WSH
10-8-2 -13
2.45 GF/GP (27th)
3.10 GA/GP (19th)
26.3% PP (6th)
73.2% PK (27th)

To be honest, the absolute best case scenario that I see is Penguins 2015 5 games where every game is something like 2-1, boring grind it out game that we lose years off our lives from. Of course, more likely it's going 7. Hell I even see a possibility of just plain losing. What I don't see is a series that's short and we have breathing room in games.

 

[Cmox]

Even then I didn't think the hubris was out of proportion to having a 2-0 series lead on the road while winning both games 5-1. Are Rangers fans never supposed to celebrate wins and series leads?

Or was this a play on "cut the hubris"?

It was a play on cut the hubris. But I will admit of one of those dont say “shutout” people.

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

To be honest, the absolute best case scenario that I see is Penguins 2015 5 games where every game is something like 2-1, boring grind it out game that we lose years off our lives from. Of course, more likely it's going 7. Hell I even see a possibility of just plain losing. What I don't see is a series that's short and we have breathing room in games.

I expect the games to be close.

I expect the Caps to try to impose their will physically to compensate for their offensive deficiencies. Which is why its important to get out of this series in less than 6 if possible, to reduce the wear on their bodies.

They will be clogging lanes, blocking shots, Lindgren will be stout.

I am expecting frustrating moments where the Rangers dominate play and the Caps come back and get a flukey dumb goal. Im expecting some horrible calls going the Caps way like Ottawa-esque kicked in playoff goals and blatant stick fouls going un called. Im expecting Wilson and co. to try and get away with a lot of bullshit after the whistle, including conveniently running and falling into Igor.

The Rangers just need to put their heads down, strap on the blinders and just play their game like they have all season. Play a solid systems game and go to work. If they take liberties, battle back and show a response, but dont get baited into taking dumb retaliation penalties and getting away from the game that got them here.

Scoring the first goal will be big in these games
Keeping the foot on the gas for 60 is a must.
Playing the system and drawing penalties 5on5 is a key
The special teams matchup is largely in the Rangers favor and they need to exploit that

 

[trueblue30nyr]

The penalty that resulted in the game tying goal in that game was BS if I remember.

Yeah, I think it was a double minor (?) on Trouba. Such crap.

 

[DanielBrassard]

We took the Devils lightly last season i believe.

The devils were better than the rangers last year, I don't think that's the case. I generally don't think teams take their opponents lightly, especially in a playoff series.

 

[tlk]

They are a well organized team. We have to play similarly organized hockey vs them.

 

[IDvsEGO]

They are a well organized team. We have to play similarly organized hockey vs them.

The capitals? They are not a well organized team. They’re a team that can’t do many things right so they try and slow play down as much as possible, but can’t really do it effectively.