Big Blue Huddle

Quote from: kartanoman on May 17, 2024, 10:24:12 PMHey, I think coggs is playing with you, more than anything else, but every one of us here were ecstatic at game's end. Whether, fan for fan, we're taking tabs on who's predicting what, in the end, who really cares, anyway?

Look, we all process our lack of patience or frustration differently. That we can express it here freely, and can kid each other about it after, doesn't change the fact we all have an underlying respect for each other, if not a kinmanship.

You know, I was all riled up early on about destroying the "Paper Champions" and stirring that thing around. But, as the series went on, I grew to enjoy the fight in Carolina and their clawing their way back into the series. I came to realize this series was the best of the NHL, so far, and everyone outside the fans of both of those teams have have watched and admired the intensity the two teams brought. So, I freed myself from the emotions, as much as I could, and just sat back and appreciated the game and the skill of both teams. The game didn't disappoint and neither did our boys when it counted most.

Now, we can celebrate another milestone as the Rangers get the Panthers in the semifinals. It's an appropriate matchup and one that has been destined since the 4-3 shootout Ranger win.

So now the discussion turns to how this Rangers team is going to win four games against this Panthers team who has the speed, the shooters, the goons and an excellent goalie. This series won't be for the feint of heart! If the Rangers are truly a team of destiny, they'll find a way.

Peace!

Yes and no.  The doom and gloom of Rangers fans is just tiring.  Up 3-1, have a bad game and everyone sucks.  The GM sucks for not trading for a top-6 forward (because that worked out well last year).  Rangers fans expect them to win every game by 4+ goals, score the first two goals of every game in the first 5 minutes.  Never allow the opponent to get closer than 1 goal.  Score on every PP, kill every penatly.  Win the Corsi battle 95-5, have every zone entry result in a HDSC and a goal.  I could go on and I am only slightly exaggerating. 

Here are their results this year:  https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/NYR/2024_games.html

They literally had ONE losing streak of more than 2 games.  It was a 4-gamer that started with a SO Loss.  Aside from that, only 5 times where they had back-to-back losses and in 2 of those cases there was a SO/OT loss. 

Quote from: Rosehill Jimmy on May 17, 2024, 10:11:23 PMI still find it odd that a shot that hits the iron is not recorded as an official SOG

By rule, it is a SOG if it would have gone it the net had the goalie not touched it.  So, if the goalie does get a piece of it and the puck hits the post, it is a SOG.  If it goes straight to the post, then without the goalie it still would not have been a goal.  The discrepancy is sometimes if the official scorer thinks a shot was going wide, and the goalie gets a piece of it.  Some will rule it a SOG, some will not.

Quote from: EDjohnst1981 on May 17, 2024, 08:27:10 PMECF final starts Wednesday according to the TNT broadcast. That's a nice rest for the Rangers.

Yup.  Wed-Fri-Sun-tues-thurs-sat-mon

I think quote from Barclay Goodrow sums it up.  From The Athletic, but I am sure several other places have it as well:

"'They're a great team," said Barclay Goodrow, who finally eased the tension with a 143-foot empty-netter with 48.1 seconds left. "It's not like we go up 3-0 and they're going to roll over and quit. They're a really good team and we knew they were going to fight back. We maybe had a letdown game last game but I think throughout the season, whenever that's happened, we've rebounded and came back stronger the next game.'"

Quote from: nb587 on May 17, 2024, 07:59:47 PMIgor, and other goalies , regularly stop shots that would go wide or high.  Every goalie considers themselves lucky when a shot hits the post or a crossbar.

I see.  So, he should stop the SOG and the not SOG.  Does that mean Carolina was lucky to stretch it to 5 with the 3 posts the Rangers hit in game 4? 

Quote from: DaveBrown74 on May 17, 2024, 04:22:54 PMIf you knew this team was winning this game during the second intermission, kudos to you, but feel free to share that prediction in real time next time. Any dope can call people out with the gotchas after the fact.

Let's just say I have been very good at the reverse jinx this year.  I mention a player is playing like xxxx and then he scores.  Yesterday at end of 2nd I said, "time to work your magic." Texted my wife to ask if she wanted to go to the game on saturday.  Hit send, and I knew we were good.

On a serious note, they have been the best comeback team in the league this year and "momentum" can shift VERY quickly.  Hence why the analytics people do not believe in momentum or players being hot and cold as an indicator of a future outcome.

Quote from: nb587 on May 17, 2024, 05:48:46 PMAny Ranger fan that was confident of winning last night, after 2 periods, after the awful game in game 5, was either smoking pot or drinking something strong or an eternal optimist.  In fact, after rewatching the 3rd period, I'm of a mind that we were incredibly lucky to win.  We survived a 3rd period where the puck hitting the post, another hitting the crossbar, another point blank shot from in close that went wide and another awesome (understatement) save from Igor.  And, we scored on an iffy penalty call.  I'm guessing that the Hurricanes, whom I cant stand, are kicking themselves for having lost a winnable game last night.

Is Igor expected to stop the shots that are wide or high, on top of the ones that are on net?

Jordan Martinook and Endy Chavez will walk together forever.

Sometimes I wonder if Rangers fans have actually watched this team all season.  They won 55 games for a reason and have not had a long losing streak all season. 

Quote from: Messiah717 on May 16, 2024, 08:55:38 PMAbsolutely, this looks like the team that lost to Tampa and NJ the past two years. 

yeah.

Quote from: files58 on May 16, 2024, 08:49:42 PMCarolina wants it more. The Rangers are showing a deficiency I thought they had before the season started, the need for more speed. You all know how I feel about certain intangibles, the need to play a mean game.       

definitely.  Carolina will win the series on saturday.

Quote from: DaveBrown74 on May 16, 2024, 08:48:50 PMIt's been a slow moving car crash ever since that ridiculous late penalty in game four, leading to the game winning goal for Carolina. Been a complete disaster since then. Our guys look utterly lethargic in comparison to the opponent.

At this point (second intermission) the Hurricanes are now a favorite in this series. I know nobody wants to hear that, and I don't either, but it's a fact.

yup

Quote from: Messiah717 on May 16, 2024, 08:42:27 PMWhat a disgusting collapse this is going to be.  While there's no excuse when you're up 3-0 in a series a lot of this will rest on Drury's shoulders.  Added absolutely nothing at the deadline to help the Rangers in the playoffs.  Two guys who lack offense and are complete non factors.

uh-huh

Quote from: Gman329 on May 15, 2024, 02:13:38 PMNot crazy about Thanksgiving in Dallas.....and I suspect Mrs Gman will not be happy about that, either. 

I already told my wife we are staying home for thanksgiving.  We can invite people over, but we are staying home.

Quote from: Trench on May 14, 2024, 01:37:21 PMMakes no sense to me. Our team stinks and yet our schedule is harder than teams who are clearly better.

14 of the 17 games are pre-determined.  The other 3 are based on how you finish in your division.