Big Blue Huddle

I really like this guy

https://x.com/TalkinGiants/status/1789009279107670457

Quote from: Giant Jim on Today at 02:53:10 PMTeam leaders are focused. Panarin is on a mission, Trocheck is right there with him. The coaches (or other players) lit a fire to Lafrenière.

I don't think so. But he worked very hard on his skating and other stuff. Plus he had the belief of the coach - he's not had that before.

Quote from: coggs on Today at 07:53:08 AMA "rangers fan during the play-offs only fan because it gives him an excuse to go out during the week" co-worker asked me what is this year that is different.  I have said for months, it is Laviolette, Peca, and Housley.

Team leaders are focused. Panarin is on a mission, Trocheck is right there with him. The coaches (or other players) lit a fire to Lafrenière. Didn't he get benched during the pre-season? They all still haven't forgotten what happened with the Devils last year. And yes, the coaching staff has corrected the ship when it started to run off course. But that bad taste from the Devils has been there since the first day and is still lingering. We'll hear that from them again after they win the cup next month.

I also think the Rangers have been royally disrespected throughout the post season. The Atheltic, who I liked reading, gave them a 34% of winning the series - are you kidding me?

Sky Bet in England had them as 5th favs, priced at 8.50 in decimals (now down to 4.0). And now the favs, owing to the series score.

I'm sure this doesn't go unnoticed to this group (not the England market but the general disrespect).

Quote from: T200 on Today at 12:00:54 PMHe lost more than just Wink!   

That has to be the corniest thing I've ever read here, but I'm still laughing.

Quote from: AZGiantFan on Today at 01:23:18 PMI hope there was no betting in that weight loss competition.

We'll find out when we see the iced-out necklace!     

Meanwhile, the NFL's deal with Caesar's, DraftKings, and FanDuel are still intact.     

The one thing nobody here is doing is taking Carolina for granted. Now, with that having been said, it is fact that the Rangers have the stranglehold on them and must continue to focus on playing THEIR brand of hockey which has yielded their 55 regular season wins, a President's Trophy, a big broom-sweep of their first round playoff divisional nemeis in the Nation's Capital and, here we are, on the throes of having the opportunity to do the same to a heated divisional rival AND, as if it hasn't been mentioned enough, our bestest of friends in Vegas at Bet MGM Sportsbook have anointed them as the champions before the season's first puck drop. "Paper Champions" they have been, to date, and Brind'Amour must come up with a new formula quickly before the bizarre occurrence of the Rangers going 8-0 in this post-season while Carolina would have been swept in their last two playoff matchups (NOTE: lest we forget what Florida did to them in the Eastern Conference Finals last year).

But it is very true that this entire series can turn on a dime if the Canes can break the code that debunks their poor special teams' play as well as Igor's apparent invincibility.

But Laviolette is in the driver's seat right now and is playing his cards masterfully. The Chytil for Rempe switch ultimately paid off last night with the extra attacker adding more pressure on their defense and young goalie. Will Lavs stick to this formula or switch it around and bring back the big kid in case things get out of hand tomorrow night? We hinted, during Game Four of the Washington series that it might have but, alas, it really did not. So, I venture to guess that Chytil will stay in the lineup, for now.

I could not stop laughing when I started hearing "Let's Go Rangers" and "I-gor" chants competing with "Let's Go Canes." Let's face facts. This country IS Rangers' Nation. I witnessed it with my own eyes here in Phoenix when they came to town. Sam and Joe have commented on every road trip that Ranger fans have represented the team well on the road. Laviolette and the entire team have taken note of that and I have no doubt it gives them all a great sense of pride. In truth, it gives us Rangers fans nationwide great pride to take over an opponent's building. The looks on the home team's fans are absolutely priceless!

Next game up; can the Rangers pull off what many believe would have been unthinkable at the start of this series?

Stay tuned!

Peace!

It was dumb. Nothing more, nothing less. Let's hope he learns from it.