Big Blue Huddle

Quote from: files58 on May 12, 2024, 01:21:13 PMThey should have won last night. I don't like giving any hope to any team, let alone Carolina. As I mentioned in a previous post the Canes are taking more shots straight away in the high slot. That's close to where Shaj's(never could spell his name) goal came from. That and the Canes are having a forward hang on the Ranger's side of Center ice to break up the 1-3-1. The Rangers are also giving up too much ice, and letting the Canes skate up to-through center ice too easily. Things that need to be adjusted. As far as the chippiness. Well since I don't hail from Canada or the European countries where hockey is worshipped, and don't live by the grail a little errant clear or shot that just happens to hit a Cane under the eyeshield never hurt a Ranger. How about that same errant clear off the boards happens to land in the Cane bench. Yes I don't know what the refs were looking at when Trocheck got mugged. Breszinski is a waste. Look for Chytl to re-enter the lineup unless he can't physically go. Asking him for two playoff games in a row after being off for 6 months is alot to ask. He brings speed, talent, and a scoring threat each time on the ice. They need to tighten up defensively. They hit how many posts, and just wide yesterday? Laffy was clearly the best player on the ice for both teams, and is earning his #1 status. If you think this is chippy watch Boston-Florida. One thing I would like to see is when the Rangers hopefully have the series won with a few minutes left would like to see Guentzel salted. I thought the call on Lindgren was iffy, it looked like he got the puck, and the skate which makes it ok. 

Lots of good discussion here but I continue to find myself aligning to your perspective because what you've preached since about the 10th game of the regular season, which was around the time the Blueshirts took Northwestern Canada by storm for their first ever five-game sweep of that region, these boys need to show a pair when it counts the most. By and large, they've done that for seven straight games.

No question the Canes threw their bodies in front of Igor to disrupt his vision, capitalize on rebounds and redirect pucks into the back of the net. Three box checks for them, desperate times called for desperate measures and, with the refs largely letting the play go on, they built their 1-3 lead.

But the Rangers kicked into gear and, as much as the Canes blanked their shots off the posts at the Garden, the hockey gods were getting even with the Rangers last night. Still, the boys tied it up with nearly a full period to go.

Now, we can talk about Trouba here if you'd like. Did he get banged up because he didn't look 100% out there.

I want to talk about Miller who seemed a little too passive out there when a more muscle was needed. He also turned the puck over in the Rangers' zone a few too many times for my comfort.

Foxy looks like he is playing through the knee injury right now and he's a warrior, but only able to give about 70-75%, I'd say.

Schneider had some nice looks on offense and has been more or less a steady player for them.

But Lindgren, my Lord, he is the MVP of that defense, the cornerstone, if you will. He IS a presence out there, almost like Christ standing on the troubled waters of the sea. He just puts his nose down, gets in there and breaks things up to get a Ranger counterattack going. I've seen the light on him after watching him at the Mullett in Tempe. A true-blue Ranger defensive hero. Thr call on him for tripping should never have happened. Ticky-touch at worst. The replay showed he went for the puck and the player tripped over the extended stick. Did the stick move a little in a motion that might constitute a trip ... yes, of course. However, how much force was applied to that stick with him on the ground? The way the game was called, it shouldn't have been flagged. But, it was and, in a delicious irony for the home team, they finally break their power play drought with the game winner. Great theatric drama and a guaranteed ratings boost for Monday.

Johnny Brod's debut was OK. Nothing special. He was out of sync for a while, managed to get in on some action close to Freddie, but did skate some minutes out there. Would you go back to Chytil, or Rempe? This isn't games one or two. Both teams have wear and tear on them now, and Carolina is a wounded animal that is fending off being put down. How do the Rangers plan to put themselves in the best position to win Monday AND minimize further wear and tear on their beat-up players?

Does Rempe playing Sherriff out there get it done on Monday? Does Chytil's speed and skill, despite not having his full conditioning back, prove to be the difference? Does giving Johnny Brodz another game, now that he's been indoctrinated into the series, help the cause? Or, does Laviolette have something else up his sleeve?

The answer isn't any one player. Every game in this series has been a one-goal game, win or lose.

Carolina took away the space in front of Igor and that resulted in deflected goals and rebound goals. In spite of all of that, the Rangers still almost pulled it off and had them on their heels.

For files58, what did you think about that right poke Bennett gave Marchand thar the refs missed that the whole world is talking about? Not to get ahead of ourselves, but I would see Rempe as a necessary component of all games in a Panthers-Rangers semifinal. Might I suggest a possible bloodbath series between the two if the Panthers pull that $%!t with the Rangers? The now-famous bloodbath semifinal series between Colorado and Detroit in '96 where Darren McCarty of Detroit beat the living daylights out of Avs goon Claude Lemieux, for seriously injuring his teammates with a cross-check. Lemieux's face was dripping in blood, fans went nuts at the Joe Louis Arena, and the refs, seeming knowing the history in the series, only gave McCarty a double-minor for roughing. Cool! He went back out later and kicked the living $%!t out of Lemieux again, then proceeded to score the game winning goal in OT and went on into Red Wings' lore for a performance for the ages which launched the Wings to the Stanley Cup that year.

Whomever is making it out of the East this tournament will be missing a few parts, spare parts included!

Peace!

Quote from: DaveBrown74 on May 12, 2024, 12:05:28 PMI think Rempe is what he is - a borderline player who brings a lot of energy and physicality to the table. I would also suggest that it's a bit unfair to conclusively judge him as a player given he is a rookie who played basically 1/3 of the season. If we did that with LaFreniere he'd be off the team by now. Rempe's presence on the ice was felt plenty of times this year, and I don't just mean fighting.

Laf was a first overall pick who put up numbers comparable to Sidney Crosby in Juniors. Matt Rempe was a 6th round pick who put up just 22 points in 96 games in the AHL over the last two seasons. I'm not sure there's much of a reason to think there's more there than we've been getting.

As for him being a liability. We should be directing that question at Peter Laviolette who decided to give him all of 4 minutes in a game that went into double OT and none from the 3rd period on. The question around Rempe comes down to whether the energy he brings is worth it to potentially hamstring yourself late in the game.

Quote from: EDjohnst1981 on May 12, 2024, 12:44:16 PMIn game 4, yes he played around 5 mins, but his average ice time throughout the post season is 6.21. Brodzniski played 8.41 last night - you're not scrapping around finding large minutes to replace either one.

However, I do think Carolina have attempted to take more liberties without him in the line-up, there were a number of boarderline incidences last night he could he have kept in check, plus you had Vesey dropping the gloves in Game 3. I don't think that crap occurs with him in the line-up. Furthermore, he's taken 8 PIMs in the post season, again not a disproportionate amount in my view.

My final point to starting him, over Brodzniski only, is the buzz he brings to the home ice crowd - I think that's worth it.

1 PIM for every 4.5 minutes of ice time is a ton. Some of it is not his fault (the goalie interference call he got was garbage) but, again, he clearly has a reputation where he's not going to get the benefit of the doubt. It's also worth noting that Andrei Svechnikov tripped Igor Shesterkin in game 2 when Rempe was in the lineup. As I said, the idea of the deterrent is just not a thing. I'd also point out most of his fights have either been him having to defend himself after a questionable hit or him getting challenge by goons. Even if a deterrent is a thing, he has not really employed that role.

"For files58, what did you think about that right poke Bennett gave Marchand thar the refs missed that the whole world is talking about?"

So until just a few minutes ago when they showed a close up replay of Bennet's punch to Marchand's head did I know it was so egregious. When watching the game real time I thought it was a borderline high hit. He punched him, plain and simple. The league should have suspended Bennet. My on ice solution is as follows. First a little history. My worst Ranger moment(there have been too many) was Game 7 1974 against the Flyers when Schultz beat the crap out of non-fighter Dale Rolfe, and not one Ranger came to his defense. Since then I have always thought that Ranger management should teach a few of their players how to fight, and/or some Martial Art punching. In this view since the league didn't step up right now Bennet would be out for the rest of the playoffs with a swollen face eyes almost shut missing about 6-10 teeth. That ability would only be used in a defensive or necessary retaliatory manner, not as an offensive weapon. Hockey is a beautiful, talent laden sport, but it's also violent. If the league allows fighting you might as well be really good at it, just like winning face-offs. Call it a "nuclear detterent" if you will.   

Quote from: files58 on May 12, 2024, 08:55:53 PM"For files58, what did you think about that right poke Bennett gave Marchand thar the refs missed that the whole world is talking about?"

So until just a few minutes ago when they showed a close up replay of Bennet's punch to Marchand's head did I know it was so egregious. When watching the game real time I thought it was a borderline high hit. He punched him, plain and simple. The league should have suspended Bennet. My on ice solution is as follows. First a little history. My worst Ranger moment(there have been too many) was Game 7 1974 against the Flyers when Schultz beat the crap out of non-fighter Dale Rolfe, and not one Ranger came to his defense. Since then I have always thought that Ranger management should teach a few of their players how to fight, and/or some Martial Art punching. In this view since the league didn't step up right now Bennet would be out for the rest of the playoffs with a swollen face eyes almost shut missing about 6-10 teeth. That ability would only be used in a defensive or necessary retaliatory manner, not as an offensive weapon. Hockey is a beautiful, talent laden sport, but it's also violent. If the league allows fighting you might as well be really good at it, just like winning face-offs. Call it a "nuclear detterent" if you will.   

Great feedback, thank you!

On the martial arts, we know that professionals in various sports train in different martial arts disciplines for better body balance, self-defense techniques and inner confidence.

Players like Bennett should have a price tag on their head because their world centers on do whatever you have to for the win. You have to be ready to counter as soon as they play that hand. That shootout win at the Garden against Florida was encouraging because the Rangers took it to them and stayed on top of them. With Florida now up 3-1 on Boston, it's looking like that's the next obstacle.

We'll see if the Rangers tighten up the D for Game Five.

Peace!

"Players like Bennett should have a price tag on their head because their world centers on do whatever you have to for the win."

The bolded is what the Cup playoffs are all about. It's a war of wills, combined with the necessary talent level. That's what makes the playoffs so compelling. Bennet took it to a limit. Ok, in return he needs to be chopped down like an old oak. The McAvoy hit in the opening minute was nice, but since the league sat on their pucks the Bruins should have found a way within the game framework to take him out. It's one thing to do what he did to a 3rd or 4th liner, but Marchand. The heart of the Bruins, and no nuclear reply. Really from the Bruins. Where's Terry O'Reilly when you need him. The only reply is a wipeout. Not doing so gives Florida a huge emotional edge. Hence the Bruins are down 3-1. I've been watching Bobrovski throuhout the two rounds. He's been really good, but is starting to show a crack here and there. Besides who would you rather face should the Rangers advance him or Swayman.
Look for the Canes to accidentally on purpose take a run or two at Igor. The Rangers tonight have to play their best game of the playoffs so far.

 

Let's end this f***ing series tonight. Enough! I really don't need the stress of a potential collapse in a series that we led 3-0 in. God help this franchise if that ever happened.

Just get it done. Tonight. I don't even want to entertain these thoughts.

What an absolute loser effort tonight with a chance to end the series at home. 

Just brutal.

Complete disgrace. I am beyond disappointed with the veteran leaders of this team. Panarin was his usual playoff self: nowhere. Zibanejad nothing. Kreider nothing. Just a dog-sht performance in the absolute biggest of spots.

They looked like they did in the NJ series last year and the Tampa series the year before. 

Quote from: Messiah717 on May 13, 2024, 10:02:13 PMThey looked like they did in the NJ series last year and the Tampa series the year before. 

Yup. Those were 2-0 and this was 3-0 but you're right, it's the exact same pattern. Start the series off well, and then fold like an accordion.

I feel like if we're going to win this series it needs to be the next game. I don't see us winning game 7 if we go into that game having lost three in a row. Carolina will have a stranglehold on us mentally if that happens, and our vets are not clutch, winning players. It needs to happen in the next game or I don't see it happening.

I'm telling you right now: if the Rangers lose this series after being up 3-0 it will be an embarrassment of beyond epic proportions, the stench of which will carry over into future seasons. They will be the laughingstock of the rest of the league if they do that.

It's just shocking that they came out and played like this with a chance to close it out at home. 

The third period came, the Canes showed up to play, a bunch of individuals dressed as Rangers took the ice but certainly didn't look like hockey players.

What a departure from what we've seen in the playoffs thus far.

The Canes are back in this thing. Back to Raleigh everyone goes for Wednesday. Well, to their credit, at least they are trying to shrug the paper part of the champion moniker they've been bestowed.

Peace.

That third period was probably the worst period of hockey they've played all year. Just completely outplayed top to bottom. Carolina was everywhere and it's clear the Rangers got very panicky at times just kind of flinging pucks all over the place. Fox looks like he's very clearly not at 100% which is hugely problematic.

Hopefully they come out tomorrow looking more like the team from game 4 and can finally put this series away.

Quote from: jgrangers2 on May 14, 2024, 09:41:35 AMThat third period was probably the worst period of hockey they've played all year. Just completely outplayed top to bottom. Carolina was everywhere and it's clear the Rangers got very panicky at times just kind of flinging pucks all over the place. Fox looks like he's very clearly not at 100% which is hugely problematic.

Hopefully they come out tomorrow looking more like the team from game 4 and can finally put this series away.

Fox is absolutely playing hurt which is why taking care of business in Game 4 or 5 was so damn important.  What a time to play the worst period of hockey in a calendar year.  Good GOD were they bad.  The only guy that looked even remotely interested in playing hockey last night was Laffy as far as I could tell.  That Lingren penalty at the end of Game 4 could end up going down as one of the darkest moments in this franchise's history because after fighting all the way back I believe they win that game if it goes to OT and now I'm fairly certain they're gonna get blown out of Game 6 and need a miracle Game 7 in order to save face.