Big Blue Huddle

Quote from: Gmo11 on Today at 10:01:42 AMI do think last night Carolina was better.  Though the teams are mostly pretty equal on paper.  The Hurricanes played as though their lives were on the line last night and turned in maybe their best game of the playoffs only to have Igor shove it right back in their faces with a masterful performance. 

They said that teams that go up 2-0 win 85% of the time so Carolina really played as though it was a do or die game for them even if they still have a great chance to go home and tie this thing back up at 2. 

Rangers are now in position to where they have two games to get one.  If they can split the next two games in Carolina I think they're moving on.  I don't think the Hurricanes can beat Shesty 3 straight times when he's playing at this level. Hell they may not be able to beat him once. 

I will give you they were more desparate, better puck handlers going into the Rangers' zone, passing in the Rangers' zone to set up shots on goal. When they were up 3-2, and Emily Kaplan was interviewing Laviolette, the head coach mentioned the Rangers needed some "pep in their step." Not a minute after he said that, the Rangers went on full burners and literally put the Canes on their heels and bombarded Freddie, drawing a penalty not long after, and the game-tying goal by Kreider after that. For the Rangers to absorb all that the Canes threw at them, then put on the Superman capes and literally blow the same Canes off the ice with a power play they cannot stop when the Rangers make their minds up they won't be denied. Top that with a hot goalie, it beats "better paper champions" and that's not taking anything away from a very, very good Carolina team that, in any other division, would likely blow through to Round Three without breaking a sweat.

The series is far from over, and Carolina can get back into this one with two home wins and put the pressure back on the Rangers' shoulders. But they have to do three things that run counter to what they've done all season:

1. Convert on their power play (0 for 10 in this series to date)
2. Dominate on their penalty kill (given up four goals in nine penalty kill attempts this series to date)
3. Excellent goaltending averaging three or less in the playoffs (given up eight goals in two games, avg. of four per game, to date)
4. Taking stupid, undisciplined penalties which lead to #2 above.

The Rangers are literally assassinating them in all four categories. They are literally the difference between the two teams and, if Carolina cannot solve these problems, they will be in a lot of trouble after Thursday. That's not the make-up of a better team; that's a better team ON PAPER!!! As in PAPER CHAMPION!!!

They have their home-town fans, parochial crowd which their box office locked out Ranger fans from out of town to ensure they couldn't get tickets and preserve the home-ice advantage. If they are better, they will have their home ice and fans behind them to demonstrate that they are. But somewhere, in the back of their minds, the thought that the last time the Rangers came to town, Igor and the Blueshirts left with a 1-0 shutout victory.

For the record, I don't see the Rangers sweeping this series. Even if they find a way to pull off a win tomorrow, I still think it will go five minimum, six realistically, seven possibly. To your point, Carolina is too good to go down in straight sets and Game Three may very well end up being a throw-away for the Rangers. I hope not, but let's see how it goes.

Peace!

I have to admit, I had no clue what the connection was well into having a bunch of the words. I knew that digits were numbers obviously, but "kinds of numbers" were not a category that crossed my mind until I had a bunch of them. They got me good today. Pretty clever.


Strands #66
"Can you digit?"
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Quote from: DaveBrown74 on Today at 05:33:06 PMI respectfully beg to differ. Last August there were people on this board arguing that the Giants were going to be "something special this year." I don't think any of those folks, or even a number who were less emphatic but still cautiously optimistic, would have told you last August that the Giant would go 0-5 in those five games.

I think for many of us, the 1st game was a slap back to reality.  It would have been one thing to lose,  but to look completely outclassed was a different story. 

Quote from: DaveBrown74 on Today at 06:17:48 PMI tend to agree. If I'm a betting man, I'd probably give him a moderate edge to be our practice squad QB this year over Tommy D.

Do I think he'll ever see the field this year in a real game if at least one of Jones or Luck is healthy? Nope.

The Luck/Lock predictive text has gotten the better of me multiple times already lol

Quote from: MightyGiants on Today at 08:04:47 AMHe lit it up in the CFL.  He's a bit short at 6' 1", but I think Tommy Cutlets has some serious competition for QB 3.  The Giants claimed Rourke on waivers.   The Pats got him by claiming him on waivers (when the Jags waived him), and they beat out the Texans, who also put a claim in on him.  I think there could be something more than just a camp body in him.

I tend to agree. If I'm a betting man, I'd probably give him a moderate edge to be our practice squad QB this year over Tommy D.

Do I think he'll ever see the field this year in a real game if at least one of Jones or Luck is healthy? Nope.

Quote from: DaveBrown74 on Today at 05:33:06 PMI respectfully beg to differ. Last August there were people on this board arguing that the Giants were going to be "something special this year." I don't think any of those folks, or even a number who were less emphatic but still cautiously optimistic, would have told you last August that the Giant would go 0-5 in those five games.

Selective amnesia. Remember how great Jones and Waller looked in the five minutes they played in the pre season?

Connections
Puzzle #332
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I'd be remiss to leave out another broken glass gargler...perhaps the grittiest voice of all the growler singers...Kim Carnes and "Bette Davis Eyes"

Quote from: todge on Today at 01:36:46 PMJones faced the early part of the schedule. Their losses were to: Cowboys, 49ers, Seattle, Dolphins and the Bills. Everyone knew the Giants weren't winning those games.

I respectfully beg to differ. Last August there were people on this board arguing that the Giants were going to be "something special this year." I don't think any of those folks, or even a number who were less emphatic but still cautiously optimistic, would have told you last August that the Giant would go 0-5 in those five games.

I remember how our best weapons was punter Dave Jennings and the D in the 70s.

You talk about godawful offenses, those mid 70s teams were as bad as you could get. Terrific players Brad Van Pelt and Brian Kelley never got the success they deserved.