Game Thread Game 4 Where The Rangers Come out playing RANGER HOCKEY

[strudwickisthebest]

The chances were there for Tampa Bay last night. Could've easily been two or three nothing in the first. Kucherov and Johnson were once again left alone in front, Killorn had two breakaways... Defense needs to tighten up.. Love how the triplet line was getting bounced all over the ice last night..

 

[strudwickisthebest]

Like I said... Only 5 players on TB are scoring against the Rangers. Their 3rd and 4 line is doing absolutely nothing.. Our whole offense is contributing. 4th line was on for the 3-1 goal last night (Nash in Sheps spot).

I think TB may have sparked this offense.. No more 2-1 sweaters

 

[mrmel29]

As for making a prediction, with all due respect I am not going to say great call Al when all he does is pick the Rangers to win every game. Looks good in game 1. Looks bad in games 2 and 3. And looks good in game 4. Al and mel and jam don't make predictions, they just pick the Rangers to win every game, and that is awesome and why I love those guys as fans so much, they are blind homers.

I try and give my honest thought on predictions, and sometimes that means I think the Rangers will lose games. People can get on me, but the Rangers have played 6 series into the TB series since the start of last seasons playoffs, and I nailed 4 series 100% correct and the 5th series I said 6 games and it took 7 games. I didn't predict the SCF because I really didn't have a great feel on that one. I said Rangers in 7 over TB in this series, and feel like that can happen still.

I have also been wrong on individual games within a series for sure, so this is no exact science. I did feel 1-1 and 2-2 this series, and that is where we sit. I also thought we'd come home 2-2 against the Caps and was wrong there. Is what it is. I have done well in these playoffs with trying to honestly predict what I think will happen.

Picking the Rangers to win every game isn't a prediction, it is being a fan and always thinking the Rangers will win. Nothing wrong with that at all, but don't confuse that with a prediction.

I wish I could be as positive and uplifting as Al and mel and jam are as fans...I am jealous...good for them for sure.

Chuck, its easy. Repeat after me…… Rangers are winning games 5 and 6 and moving on to play for the cup.

 

[jamsim67]

Not sure that is much of a question jam. Goalies are paid to make saves. ALL players trying to score have to try and beat a goalie looking to make saves. If a player gets a ton of chances and doesn't finish that isn't good. I am not even talking about MSL, just in general.

To me I want to see MSL in game 5 before I think he has his game back and is ready to go. One goal into an empty net off a great feed by Brass doesn't make me say MSL is back baby. I want to see how he plays in game 5.

We saw last night how things go when Nash and MSL get their games going, so we can use MSL for sure. I think we need Nash if we want to win a cup. I don't think we NEED MSL, but it can certainly help make things better for us. So I want MSL to be starting a streak here, I am just not ready to say okay all is good now because of one goal off a great feed.

What I meant by that is when you get to this point in the season, the goalies are usually much better. Isn't that a big reason why certain teams get this point in the season? That's not saying that MSL shouldn't have had more than the 1 goal, because I'm sure he feels the same way. Just saying that goalies give, and take away.

As for not needing MSL ... they don't need the MSL who goes behind the net and slows the game down, only to lose the puck. They need the MSL who goes to the net or skates to an open part of the ice to create a scoring situation, either by taking a shot, or passing to another open Ranger. I don't care if he scores another goal in these playoffs, but he does need to be involved in the process.

 

[jamsim67]

As for making a prediction, with all due respect I am not going to say great call Al when all he does is pick the Rangers to win every game. Looks good in game 1. Looks bad in games 2 and 3. And looks good in game 4. Al and mel and jam don't make predictions, they just pick the Rangers to win every game, and that is awesome and why I love those guys as fans so much, they are blind homers.

I try and give my honest thought on predictions, and sometimes that means I think the Rangers will lose games. People can get on me, but the Rangers have played 6 series into the TB series since the start of last seasons playoffs, and I nailed 4 series 100% correct and the 5th series I said 6 games and it took 7 games. I didn't predict the SCF because I really didn't have a great feel on that one. I said Rangers in 7 over TB in this series, and feel like that can happen still.

I have also been wrong on individual games within a series for sure, so this is no exact science. I did feel 1-1 and 2-2 this series, and that is where we sit. I also thought we'd come home 2-2 against the Caps and was wrong there. Is what it is. I have done well in these playoffs with trying to honestly predict what I think will happen.

Picking the Rangers to win every game isn't a prediction, it is being a fan and always thinking the Rangers will win. Nothing wrong with that at all, but don't confuse that with a prediction.

I wish I could be as positive and uplifting as Al and mel and jam are as fans...I am jealous...good for them for sure.

When the Rangers fell behind 3-1 against the Caps, I just felt there was to much history between the two teams for the series to end before a game 7. I also said that for the Rangers to win, they had to get physical and go the net. Playoff Hockey Baby

Oh, and Al and Mel said the same thing ... We are all Guru's

 

[chuckd3534]

If MSL doesn't score much I do believe the Rangers can win the cup still. If Nash doesn't score much I don't believe we will win the cup. That is the difference to me. Let me see how MSL looks tomorrow night before I make a call either way on him being back on his game or not.

As for this series, I think it will go 7. Thought that from the start. We'll see how the next couple of games go, but my guess would be game 7 coming up. We'll see...

 

[jamsim67]

If MSL doesn't score much I do believe the Rangers can win the cup still. If Nash doesn't score much I don't believe we will win the cup. That is the difference to me. Let me see how MSL looks tomorrow night before I make a call either way on him being back on his game or not.

As for this series, I think it will go 7. Thought that from the start. We'll see how the next couple of games go, but my guess would be game 7 coming up. We'll see...

Have to hold serve at the Garden. And that means the defense needs to stop allowing wide open opportunities right in front of Hank. They need to check, and check some more to slow the Tampa offense down. Frustration should be the word of the night for the Tampa offense, as they are not allowed to skate freely to wherever they choose in the offensive zone.

 

[chuckd3534]

I tend to agree with you. I don't think it would be good for us to have to play an elmination game in their building. I thought last night was a virtual much win. I think game 5 is almost on the same level because I don't want to play in TB needing to win game 6 to survive.

Obviously goes without saying, but game 5 is huge when a series is tied 2-2...78% of the time the winner if game 5 wins the series when tied 2-2.

 

[jamsim67]

On paper, I think the Rangers are better. It's time for them to prove it. Tampa will come out skating and hitting, the Rangers need to say "no, not in our house" and put them away. I don't want to see a game where the Rangers allow the opposition to stay in the game. They need to take the game to them, and put them away early. No more sitting on the edge of seats, while the Rangers try and hang on for the final 20. When they have opportunities, they have to bury them.

 

[strudwickisthebest]

They also need to stop making stupid passes to the point giving TB odd man rushes.. We have seen a ton of that the first 4 games

 

[BigDaddyAl1973]

Say what you want about being a Homer... This Homer doesn't bail ship.. This Homer reminded doom and groomers of past success against Washington but hey all I do is say we will win. Sorry that I have a passion for this team and that I truly feel they are the best complete team (you know that presidents trophy kinda backs my theory that this team can play and possibly win each game their in.) Outside of game 2 collapse each game the rangers have played they could of or should have won. So this Homer will stand pat and feel they will win. Btw... P8cking a series going seven... Wow that is exciting and predictable...

 

[strudwickisthebest]

That's right

 

[kreidertime]

Take your mister positive outlook Al and stick it. How did it work out vs. LA in the finals? For every one of your positive predictions there are twice as many negative results. The team hasn't won a f'n cup since 1994. A true Rangers fan is always pessimistic because the history of this organization is that it rarely wins a championship.

 

[BigDaddyAl1973]

Take your mister positive outlook Al and stick it. How did it work out vs. LA in the finals? For every one of your positive predictions there are twice as many negative results. The team hasn't won a f'n cup since 1994. A true Rangers fan is always pessimistic because the history of this organization is that it rarely wins a championship.

How's the draft working out? You want. To talk about records? How many trade predictions or prospects predictions (which aren't really yours since u never watch any games they play) work out?

 

[chuckd3534]

I think you missed the point again Al. You pick the Rangers to win every single game, that's what you do...awesome. What does that have to do with bailing on them? How is picking a 7 game series predictable and easy if it ends in 7. Did I pick 7 when we beat Montreal...nope...I picked 6...ended in 6. Did I pick 7 when we beat the Pens this season...nope...I picked 5...ended in 5.

I am not trying to exciting I am trying to be honest and right. And in 4 of our 5 series prior to TB I have been 100% right in games, so something is working, and the 5th one I said 6 and we won in 7. So just you saying that is predictable kind of proves my point Al. You don't make predictions, you simply say Rangers will win every game, and that is awesome. Again I really mean that, but don't call that a prediction man.

You are making this more than what my point was. My point was simply you, and mel, and jam are homers and pick the Rangers to win every game. You don't make predictions, you just say Rangers will win, which is awesome. That is not a knock at all. The NYR could be down 99-0 and you'd say not over yet. That is how you operate. And that is great. But don't say see I told you if the Rangers win a game, because you are not making a prediction, you are saying the Rangers will win.

I know the overall theme on this board is one poster is knocking another, or let's go to battle and defend ourselves, but you are off base here...this is NOT that. I like that you guys are positive, I think it is great. I am not challenging you at all, I said I was jealous. All I am saying is you guys don't predict games/series, you just pick the Rangers to win every single game, which again is awesome stuff.

And I don't bail either, but I do try and honestly pick the games/series, and if that means I think the Rangers will lose, or be 1-1 or 2-2, or win in 7 I will say it. Sometimes I will be wrong and sometimes I will be right, how predictions work. What you are doing is not a prediction, it is simpy saying the Rangers will win every game, which is awesome and makes you and mel and jam very positive fans, and great for you. That's the truth.

 

[kreidertime]

Will I go in thinking they can win. Yep. Will I expect the worst. Yep. Basically almost 40 years of the worst with one moment that wasn't. Welcome to being a Rangers fan. Sure would feel better if Zucc were playing.

 

[chuckd3534]

Come on now dump, to be fair you have turned into an over the top negative fan these days. You bail on this team early in every season. You throw up trade this guy and trade that guy posts in the middle of series. You don't even watch the games anymore, as you said yourself, so you have turned as we have gotten better.

That's what's funny to me, as we have gotten better as a team you have gotten more negative. You used to defend Sather when we were awful from 97 to 2012, and now since 2012 we have awesome playoff results and you get on Sather. You are more negative now that we are good. I know as you and I used to have good "discussions" for years about this stuff....

I don't say any of this in a bad way, you be you, but it is true. Weird to me why you have gone down this road the past few seasons, but you have. Enjoy the ride. One team wins the cup every season...that is all. So odds are VERY VERY strong you won't win the cup, but the ride is a lot of fun as well, so enjoy it. 3 of 4 years to the ECF at least is great. Now we need to finish it off and win a cup.

Are we going to win the cup this season...I truly don't know. I think we can, but I also know we can lose to TB still, so we have to watch it play out. 4 very good teams are left, and any team can win the cup now. Enjoy the ride is my opinion. IF we don't win the cup we'll have plenty of time to talk about trade this guy or trade that guy. So smile a little and enjoy some fun hockey the next 2 or 3 games, and hopefully we get by TB and have 6 or 7 more games in the SCF.

 

[mrmel29]

Come on you guys we're all ranger fans here (I think). This thread is now the homers (which I guess I am a proud member of) and the predictors. Who cares? I'd like to see the rangers win every series in 4 but if they win in 5,6 or 7 I am just as happy as long as we win. We have a special group in this team that is YOUNG and will be good for awhile with some good goalie prospects it looks like when Hank is finally ready to give it up. We have a coach who knows what he's doing and is a refreshing breath of fresh air from our previous coach crazy who you had to cringe on every one of his post game interviews and cost us a cap series when his emotions got the better of him. I'm with Al and jam in that I always expect the rangers to win because they have the team and talent to do so. I'm also with dump in that I love looking at the future ranger prospects getting ready to make their mark down the line on the big club.
Sincerely,
Official member of the Mel, Al and Jam homer club. ROTFLMAO.

 

[chuckd3534]

Well said mel. A win is a win and all that matters. Also why I say this isn't about calling anyone out or challenging anyone. I love the outlook you 3 guys have, I think it is great. Nothing wrong with being positive in life in general that's for sure.

Big game tonight. We cannot afford an L, so get it done and come out on fire back at MSG. Finishing our chances early will be a key.

 

[Ranger71]

Hey at least they're not down 3-1 which is 50% of their series so we know at least they'll be a game 6. But are they out of their comfort zone? Can they handle the pressure of being tied?lol

 

[kreidertime]

This team has won a lot of playoff games the past few years. So, as hard as it is to get back to the finals in consecutive years, I can't count them out. However, something always seems to go wrong. Perhaps Nash coming alive will end the last 20 years of misery.

 

[strudwickisthebest]

I know... If they reach the finals and lose then what? Next year will be a burn-out like the Kings season

 

[Disturbed]

Just try to enjoy the ride guys even though it can be super frustrating at times. The last 3 years we have seen this team win a lot of playoff games. And they are still alive this is anyone's series.

The team has issues sometimes but they know how to win playoff games and are 6 wins from the cup. Let's hold off on offseason trades until the offseason starts.

 

[BigDaddyAl1973]

Bottom line I dont make predictions when I think they will lose. There wasn't a series this year or last or the year before I didnt feel comfortable that the rangers could or would win. So when I say rangers will win... Its because I think they are the better team, period.