Game Thread Game #5 May 6 :Sens vs Rangers

[mrmel29]

A player who is actually in possession and control of the puck prior to entering the attacking zone and precedes the puck into the zone is not considered “off-side.”

In ice hockey, a play is offside if a player on the attacking team enters the offensive zone before the puck, unless the puck is sent or carried there by a defending player. When an offside violation occurs, a linesman will stop play.

Since puck is not sent or carried in by a defending player I still say this should have been ruled offsides. I rest my case not that it does any good at this point. I found it interesting that both the nhl post game crew despite showing all the goals and the rangers own post game show doing the same none of them even talked about or showed the offsides on the game winning goal. A total whitewash

 

[Ranger71]

They collapse around Lundqvist and wide open shots he can't glove or it's pinballing around. Need to stay further out even though normal reaction is to close in.

 

[mrmel29]

I'm pretty confident they not only win G6 but I bet it's similar to G 3-4.

I have zero confidence they can win in Ott in G7 though

I agree

 

[kool1]

hard to swallow , it ain't over, this is typical, but giving up goals under 2 minutes, whether its lundy's fault or not, will it be lundy's legacy if the rangers don't win one for him?

 

[Messiah717]

In ice hockey, a play is offside if a player on the attacking team enters the offensive zone before the puck, unless the puck is sent or carried there by a defending player. When an offside violation occurs, a linesman will stop play.

Since puck is not sent or carried in by a defending player I still say this should have been ruled offsides. I rest my case not that it does any good at this point. I found it interesting that both the nhl post game crew despite showing all the goals and the rangers own post game show doing the same none of them even talked about or showed the offsides on the game winning goal. A total whitewash

I quoted the exact rule in regards to a player with possession of the puck.

 

[mrmel29]

I quoted the exact rule in regards to a player with possession of the puck.

Thats what I did too with regards to what constitutes offsides. Ahh who knows what the hell the rule is its over now

 

[RangersFan]

I fully expect the series to go seven games. Since it was mentioned teams that win game 5 win the series 78% of the time.

Exactly. Can win still because they have led or been tied most of the series, but we have a ton of numbers against us to overcome.

 

[RangersFan]

Truthfully, luck and off sides or not don't matter much to me. We are 6-5 in the playoffs, and in 3 of our L's we let up a goal (or goals) late to tie, and then lost in OT. It is unacceptable. The game never should have gone to OT. Game 2 never should have gone to OT. We need to finish an f'ing game. We need to make one more f'ing clear. Hank needs to make one more f'ing save.

Now we are in a terrible spot against an inferior team, in a series we have led or been tied for the large majority of the time, because we simply do not f'ing finish games.

This team should be in the ECF, and when we are not Tuesday or Thursday night, we will have no one to blame but ourselves for not finishing games.

And even by saying that I do give Ottawa credit for being outplayed for a majority of the series, but continuing to battle and get pucks towards the net and will themselves to wins.

 

[Messiah717]

He now stands behind the bench but I wish this team had a Jeff Beukeboom type on defense for the end of games. Someone who isn't going to be knocked to the ice interfering with his own net minder every time the other team empties their net and has the extra attacker.

 

[Disturbed]

Yeah something is a-miss on this team. Its almost like their approach late in games they panic. Too afraid to make a mistake,etc. We have been seeing the dreaded shell for years but now its not even being confident up a goal with a minute to play and no goalie in the opposing goal. That comes from the coaching staff and organization. Too early to start talking about that stuff but this stings really bad.

I wouldn't have minded losing to the Caps (even though they suck in playoffs every year) or Pitt as those teams on paper are BETTER teams than us. Ottawa is not though. They just aren't. But you know what is the great equalizer in talent gaps? Breaks. And Ottawa has gotten a ton of them. But what can you do, at the end of the day RangerFan is right you have to finish. And the Rangers don't.

Another thing - If they don't come back Pitt will fucking destroy Ottawa. I mean destroy them. Especially if Crosby plays. I don't expect we would beat them either but that series will be ugly.

 

[Messiah717]

Crosby is playing tonight.

 

[RangersFan]

These late 6 on 5 goals clearly have become a major issue for us. And if we do come back and win games 6 & 7, this series will be one for the record books.

We'd overcome a 2-0 deficit, overcome losing game 5 in a 2-2 series, overcome multiple late game collapses, overcome two OT L's, and win game 7 on the road after the home team went 6-0 in the first 6 games of the series.

This would be an all-time epic series win if we pull it off.

 

[RangersFan]

Agree with everything you wrote Disturbed. If we won this series and lost to the Pens or Caps I truthfully wouldn't be upset. The honest ceiling for this team was the ECF due to the bracket they were in. Not that there was no shot they could beat the Pens or Caps, but those teams are better. If we lost to one in the ECF you get it and move on. But to lose to this Ottawa team that we have clearly shown to be better than is really unacceptable I believe, and a kick in the balls.

Even if they lost to Montreal I would have felt better because they were better than Ottawa also. We have no business losing this series...NONE. And that is what bothers me most.

And yes, I think Ottawa gets rolled by Pitt. That is a 4-1 series.

 

[RangersFan]

BTW...Lindberg - 2, Miller -2, and Glass -3.

Skjei played the least amount of time on D. He played 19:02. Next was Staal at 19:42.

We are a 4 line team, but as we get real late I don't understand that 4th line getting on ice with under 2 left. And Skjei pretty much takes a seat on the bench late in games. Weird to me. Tough spot for AV I guess, but I hate seeing Glass out there with 1:30 left protecting a 1 goal lead.

 

[Messiah717]

For some reason they're having the same problems regardless of who's on the ice at the end. They get collapsed on with everybody falling to the ice.

 

[RangersFan]

Yeah, you are right. Is it coaching? Do they panic (they seem to so Disturbed may be correct)? Does Hank get tight? Not sure what it is, but very difficult to win in the playoffs that way.

Man I admit I'm in disbelief we lost this way again and trail this series 3-2. Really hard to believe. That's the crusher as Disturbed said. Almost been an impossible path to get to us down 3-2 in the series.

And BTW...Karlsson with 3 assists today and a +3, he was due for a great game.

 

[Messiah717]

Yeah, you are right. Is it coaching? Do they panic (they seem to so Disturbed may be correct)? Does Hank get tight? Not sure what it is, but very difficult to win in the playoffs that way.

Man I admit I'm in disbelief we lost this way again and trail this series 3-2. Really hard to believe. That's the crusher as Disturbed said. Almost been an impossible path to get to us down 3-2 in the series.

And BTW...Karlsson with 3 assists today and a +3, he was due for a great game.

It goes back to Chris Drury and Buffalo with this bunch. The other team pulls the goalie and it's like a five alarm fire out there. Always collapsing on Hank, falling down and making it impossible for him to do his job. Today with Staal on the game tying goal was my last straw with him. How does Turris have Staal end up on his hands and knees in the crease? That was as sickening as it was sad.

 

[RangersFan]

Thing is you have to figure Staal will be back. I don't see how it is possible Gorton can move Staal and Girardi. I would be happy if one gets moved. And even now a Girardi buyout is not that appealing as I posted last week.

Not sure how it will play out, but AV needs to get it through his thick skull that Staal needs to be the clear 3rd pair LD next season, with McDonagh and Skjei on the 1st and 2nd pairs. And hopefully Smith back or Shatty here to go with those two guys on the R side.

 

[RangersFan]

Just read that Skjei didn't play the final 5 minutes of regulation. I have to admit I am puzzled by that decision by AV...one that he seems to make late in every tight game. Can he really be that much worse than Staal...really.

Very puzzling decision.

 

[Stepupstepan]

what is so puzzling. Look at this coach's playoff record. It will tell you all you need to know.

 

[RangersFan]

AV is weird. He does trust the kids, you see it with Vesey and Skjei and Buch played a lot of games. Miller is young as is Hayes. So he gives young guys time. But then he also has his favorites that puzzle me. I know all coaches have favorites, but sometimes it goes too far.

He won't play Skjei on the PK. He played Skjei/Smith as the 2nd pair in game 3, but now Skjei is back down. He doesn't play late in games. Puzzled me when he benched Lindberg and Buch for the final 5 minutes of the 2nd, all of the 3rd, and the OT's in game 2. Very weird decisions.

The whole shell thing I really don't get worked up about, look around the NHL and see how many of these games are played when leading in the 3rd period, plus this happened prior to AV, but his decisions on who plays late in tight games is so weird. Like he doesn't have a good feel for the bench and team. And yes the assistant coaches play a big role there, but the buck stops with the head coach.

He lost Smith in game 2 he says. Skjei never plays late in close games. He shortens his bench in game 2 in a crazy fashion. Then today has Glass on ice with under 1:30 left in regulation up 1 (Glass was a -3 today).

Very weird decisions.

 

[Messiah717]

I look at it more of what's going on in the execution to end games than who's on the ice. I mean somebody has to be on the ice. It goes from why is Stepan out there. Then it was why is Hayes out there? On the tying goal today Smith was on the ice, got knocked on his ass and ended up completely out of the play and the front of the net. Today's tying goal was just complete garbage luck. A high shot where Lundqvist couldn't control the rebound, Brassard attempts a soccer kick at the puck which you wish went in there since it wouldn't of counted and then it somehow gets in off Glass. Aside from terrible luck as I've mentioned Staal just killed them there. Let Turris rape him, knock him down into the crease and then he ended up on his hands and knees in Hank's way. Also, not for nothing but when does Beukeboom start to take a hit for this?

 

[Stepupstepan]

Thats why the guy has zero cups. I mean the guy is a good coach and can lead you to the playoffs but when it comes to getting it done in the playoffs, he just makes some questionable decisions that lead to the terrible losses.

 

[Stepupstepan]

Even with Torts, they did not blow late in many games in the playoffs. When they had a one goal lead at the end of the third period, you knew they will win for sure. With this guy, it's pretty much given that they will manage it to blow it somehow.

 

[RangersFan]

I don't disagree 717, but I also think it is about the right players. Me personally I would have McDonagh/Girardi and Skjei/Smith on ice late in games...that's it on D. Doesn't mean they cannot mess up or the other team makes a good play, but do you see anyone killing Smith in here or killing AV for having him on ice...nope. Guy has been awesome in the playoffs, the other team will score, but late have the right guys on, not Staal and Holden on D.

Upfront, play the right guys and I'll be okay with the results. Ziban, Zucc, Nash, Stepan, Grabner, Fast would be my main 6 guys. And yes you will need a couple of more, but not in the last 2 minutes. I would have 3 of those 6 on AND only the 4 dmen I called out above on. That is doable late. Then the chips fall where they may.

To have no Skjei ever, and no Smith game 2, and way shorten the bench game 2, then have Glass out and Staal out with 1:30 left in game 4 is puzzling and all over the map I think.

I also think you are over playing the breaks thing a little also. Make a save please Hank. Clear a puck please guys. Stay on your feet please guys. And hold a lead please guys. That is much more of the focus then breaks or no breaks to me.

 

[Messiah717]

Even with Torts, they did not blow late in many games in the playoffs. When they had a one goal lead at the end of the third period, you knew they will win for sure. With this guy, it's pretty much given that they will manage it blow it somehow.

I don't want to hear about Torts. That 2012 run was as frustrating as anything. Two seven game series in the first two rounds that shouldn't of happened and a terrible series loss to an inferior NJ team.

 

[Messiah717]

I don't disagree 717, but I also think it is about the right players. Me personally I would have McDonagh/Girardi and Skjei/Smith on ice late in games...that's it on D. Doesn't mean they cannot mess up or the other team makes a good play, but do you see anyone killing Smith in here or killing AV for having him on ice...nope. Guy has been awesome in the playoffs, the other team will score, but late have the right guys on, not Staal and Holden on D.

Upfront, play the right guys and I'll be okay with the results. Ziban, Zucc, Nash, Stepan, Grabner, Fast would be my main 6 guys. And yes you will need a couple of more, but not in the last 2 minutes. I would have 3 of those 6 on AND only the 4 dmen I called out above on. That is doable late. Then the chips fall where they may.

To have no Skjei ever, and no Smith game 2, and way shorten the bench game 2, then have Glass out and Staal out with 1:30 left in game 4 is puzzling and all over the map I think.

I also think you are over playing the breaks thing a little also. Make a save please Hank. Clear a puck please guys. Stay on your feet please guys. And hold a lead please guys. That is much more of the focus then breaks or no breaks to me.

I really do hate to get on Hank because he has been the franchise but lets also face it. You're judged by your biggest moments and in the biggest spots he has come up short. That's the difference between him and lets say Marty. If things end for him with being the finals against Los Angeles as the only chance he would've gotten he didn't exactly play off the charts in that series.

 

[Ranger71]

You need quickness a little more than physicality at that stage. People who can move east-west to try and close gaps.

 

[Stepupstepan]

I think they had a better strategy with Torts when they were up by one goal late in the third period. With AV, they always have no clue what they are doing.

 

[Stepupstepan]

I really do hate to get on Hank because he has been the franchise but lets also face it. You're judged by your biggest moments and in the biggest spots he has come up short. That's the difference between him and lets say Marty. If things end for him with being the finals against Los Angeles as the only chance he would've gotten he didn't exactly play off the charts in that series.

I completely agree with this. He has had a great NHL career and the best ranger goalie of all time but he implodes with the rest of the team in the big moments. I dont think the guy is mentally strong enough. He has also thrown many tantrums throughout his career like a little baby which can be also distracting to the team.