Series Talk: Rangers vs. Carolina (Game 1, Sunday May 5th @ 4pm ET, ESPN)

[TominNC]

The beauty of being a fan is that i don't play the games and there is no pressure on me. I can be as arrogant and confident as i want because it doesn't really disturb my life either way. I sat through plenty of disappointing losses and seasons with all my sports teams (Yankees, Giants, Rangers) i hope for the best and that's it. Some overconfident douche like me on the internet isn't changing any outcome of anything. Some fans get wrapped up in predictions as if it means anything anyway.

I'm Mets - Rangers - Jets. I know from losing. Still confident and see no reason to downplay our chances here.

 

[McRanger92]

Wildly different opinions about this series.

I'm actually taken aback by some of the confidence in here. I like it - and I really hope those picking the Rangers in 4 or 5 are right!

Personally I think this is going to be a tough series to win. Any series here on out will be tough. The Caps were the weakest team in the tournament by far and the Rangers dispatched them as they should have in 4.

The Canes have some pieces that scare me but also have some that can be exploited. I see this going 6 or 7.

If you can't be confident now, you never can be.

 

[chosen]

Two of the top teams.

None of us has a clue how this will play out.

Injuries might end up the deciding factor.

 

[nyrallday]

Wildly different opinions about this series.

I'm actually taken aback by some of the confidence in here. I like it - and I really hope those picking the Rangers in 4 or 5 are right!

Personally I think this is going to be a tough series to win. Any series here on out will be tough. The Caps were the weakest team in the tournament by far and the Rangers dispatched them as they should have in 4.

The Canes have some pieces that scare me but also have some that can be exploited. I see this going 6 or 7.

I got Rangers in 5. I think we come in ready for Carolina with all the time off and beat the shit out of them. We know what to expect. Same as 94, sweep round 1, 5 games round 2 and round 3 is where it gets tough for us.

 

[Machinehead]

My original post wasn't directed toward you but it certainly feels like an "honest discussion" about the Rangers means we have to shit on them and I dont abide that. It's been a decade since we won our last Prez trophy and 13 years since we swept a first round series. We did both this year. Sue me for having confidence in our team. Did the Canes? Why do I have to slobber all over another team that's never won shit and dives and cries all over the ice. f*** them. We are better. We will win. If we don't, it's massive disappointment on our part and you can tell me you told me so in 2 weeks.

I don't wanna shit on anybody. Except DeAngelo so I hope he plays.

All I said yesterday, which seemed to set people off, is that I think their roster might be a hair better.

You can certainly disagree with that, but I don't think it's 1) egregious or 2) shitting on the Rangers, or 3) slobbering over the Canes.

I like to look at large samples. Over the last three years, the teams with the most wins are Boston, Colorado, Carolina, Florida, and the Rangers.

I've said it before: I don't really care about Boston at all when the chips are down, so take them out. So what's that, 2 vs 4? Or maybe 3 vs 4? Or 1 vs 2? Or 2 vs 1! Put it in any order you want.

Point is, it's 2 of the top 5 teams playing each other. I think most people would agree with that.

The only reason I brought up them being a bit better on paper, was to point out that we've shown that we handle adversity better than they do, we've won the matchup in the past, and we have a style that gives them fits, just like the Caps were kind of annoying against us even though we got it done.

There was a huge BUT there and everyone focused on before the but.

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

I got Rangers in 5. I think we come in ready for Carolina with all the time off and beat the shit out of them. We know what to expect. Same as 94, sweep round 1, 5 games round 2 and round 3 is where it gets tough for us.

I will Venmo you a six pack after game 5

 

[bl02]

They are practicing today right?

 

[nyrallday]

I'm Mets - Rangers - Jets. I know from losing. Still confident and see no reason to downplay our chances here.

My dad is a Jets fan for over 50 years so he has seen some shit. Can't say i don't get a kick out of his reactions to the typical Jets disasters though

I will Venmo you a six pack after game 5

Screenshotting this

 

[Machinehead]

And I only did "I told you so" with Tampa going out early because people were being massive bitches about playing them.

People who have confidence in the team should agree with me on that one.

 

[IDvsEGO]

Wildly different opinions about this series.

I'm actually taken aback by some of the confidence in here. I like it - and I really hope those picking the Rangers in 4 or 5 are right!

Personally I think this is going to be a tough series to win. Any series here on out will be tough. The Caps were the weakest team in the tournament by far and the Rangers dispatched them as they should have in 4.

The Canes have some pieces that scare me but also have some that can be exploited. I see this going 6 or 7.

I think the canes have one line that can compete with ours.
I think we have a better middle.
And the canes fourth is better.

The system the canes play can be shut down and anderson has a great playoff history but he’s never healthy.

 

[Captain Monglobster]

Gotta get in Freddies kitchen. He seems to get hot against us, keep him looking for the puck all series.

Oh yea Rangers in 5 with a bunch of OT games.

 

[PuckLuck3043]

I don't wanna shit on anybody. Except DeAngelo so I hope he plays.

All I said yesterday, which seemed to set people off, is that I think their roster might be a hair better.

You can certainly disagree with that, but I don't think it's 1) egregious or 2) shitting on the Rangers, or 3) slobbering over the Canes.

I like to look at large samples. Over the last three years, the teams with the most wins are Boston, Colorado, Carolina, Florida, and the Rangers.

I've said it before: I don't really care about Boston at all when the chips are down, so take them out. So what's that, 2 vs 4? Or maybe 3 vs 4? Or 1 vs 2? Or 2 vs 1! Put it in any order you want.

Point is, it's 2 of the top 5 teams playing each other. I think most people would agree with that.

The only reason I brought up them being a bit better on paper, was to point out that we've shown that we handle adversity better than they do, we've won the matchup in the past, and we have a style that gives them fits, just like the Caps were kind of annoying against us even though we got it done.

There was a huge BUT there and everyone focused on before the but.

He got slashed in the hand and he was getting xrays last night. Im not sure of the results.

 

[bhamill]

I would say Mika is wide awake. Leading the team with 7 points on 4 games.

Yeah, I mean 4 games is a small sample size is all. He looks 100% better though.

 

[McRanger92]

I don't wanna shit on anybody. Except DeAngelo so I hope he plays.

All I said yesterday, which seemed to set people off, is that I think their roster might be a hair better.

You can certainly disagree with that, but I don't think it's 1) egregious or 2) shitting on the Rangers, or 3) slobbering over the Canes.

I like to look at large samples. Over the last three years, the teams with the most wins are Boston, Colorado, Carolina, Florida, and the Rangers.

I've said it before: I don't really care about Boston at all when the chips are down, so take them out. So what's that, 2 vs 4? Or maybe 3 vs 4? Or 1 vs 2? Or 2 vs 1! Put it in any order you want.

Point is, it's 2 of the top 5 teams playing each other. I think most people would agree with that.

The only reason I brought up them being a bit better on paper, was to point out that we've shown that we handle adversity better than they do, we've won the matchup in the past, and we have a style that gives them fits, just like the Caps were kind of annoying against us even though we got it done.

There was a huge BUT there and everyone focused on before the but.

Again anything I said was not directed at you, but I understand fans frustration when it seems like we are constantly being told that our eyes are lying to us. For the last 3 years (3 100+ point seasons coming out of a rebuild that was a resounding success by every measure), so it's not a new thing. There is a middle ground between being realistic about a series and also going out of the way to say fans being positive and confident are "unprepared" for the next round. Its not the first rodeo for anyone here. The series isnt over if we lose Game 1.

He got slashed in the hand and he was getting xrays last night. Im not sure of the results.

Canes praying the x-rays are positive

 

[McRanger92]

And I only did "I told you so" with Tampa going out early because people were being massive bitches about playing them.

People who have confidence in the team should agree with me on that one.

I had Lightning PTSD

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

My dad is a Jets fan for over 50 years so he has seen some shit. Can't say i don't get a kick out of his reactions to the typical Jets disasters though


Screenshotting this

Hold me to it. I will gladly pay for it to be come true

 

[Cuckoo4Kakko]

Fox not at practice. Maintenance.

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

Any idea when Game 1 will be?

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Gotta get in Freddies kitchen. He seems to get hot against us, keep him looking for the puck all series.

Oh yea Rangers in 5 with a bunch of OT games.

9-6-3 with a .904 sv% for his career. So basically .500 and well below his career .916.

I mean it doesn't really matter as I've seen this team light the f*** out of elite goalies and also generate nothing and build the legend of goalies who are not going to have significant NHL careers (Schmid) but if you want to lean on history, the Rangers haven't had a ton of trouble getting puck by him.

 

[JCProdigy]

There was a huge BUT there and everyone focused on before the but.

and then there's those of us who always focus on the huge BUT....

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Any idea when Game 1 will be?

Nothing definitive but



Sunday afternoon would be by guess. This would suck as I would end up missing most if not all of this game.

 

[PuckLuck3043]

Again anything I said was not directed at you, but I understand fans frustration when it seems like we are constantly being told that our eyes are lying to us. For the last 3 years (3 100+ point seasons coming out of a rebuild that was a resounding success by every measure), so it's not a new thing. There is a middle ground between being realistic about a series and also going out of the way to say fans being positive and confident are "unprepared" for the next round. Its not the first rodeo for anyone here. The series isnt over if we lose Game 1.

For the usual suspects it will be. They will be on the ledge.

 

[Cuckoo4Kakko]

For the usual suspects it will be. They will be on the ledge.

The usual suspects will be on the ledge at the first intermission up 3-0 if the expected goals is slightly favoring the Canes.

 

[Machinehead]

Again anything I said was not directed at you, but I understand fans frustration when it seems like we are constantly being told that our eyes are lying to us. For the last 3 years (3 100+ point seasons coming out of a rebuild that was a resounding success by every measure), so it's not a new thing. There is a middle ground between being realistic about a series and also going out of the way to say fans being positive and confident are "unprepared" for the next round. Its not the first rodeo for anyone here. The series isnt over if we lose Game 1.

Likewise, that wasn't particularly directed at anyone.

There are definitely people here who will be trading the team after game 1. Hell, we could win game 1 and it'll happen.

People said "I just want a short series" and then we won a couple and it was "now I expect a sweep" and then we actually did it and it turns into "yeah but we didn't play that good."

It's not so much positive people, it's people who put expectations in outer space and then will 180 and be insufferable when it doesn't happen.

I don't see it as a referendum on the team if they lose a close series to an excellent team. Maybe it's a referendum on Panarin if that ends up being the reason. We'll cross that bridge if/when we get to it.

 

[Kravtsov420]

I don’t mean to get political, but f*** these guys