Game 78

[kreidertime]

Habs vs. Rangers. Got to have it.

 

[Greyvtrayn]

I don't appreciate you abandoning the format with just 5 games left. This lack of attention to detail or intentional dereliction of duty is disappointing.

 

[NYR_94]

Roslovic and Gust healthy scratches tonight, Rempe and Jones in. Vesey moved up to play with CK and Z.

 

[Greyvtrayn]

Getting rest. will prob see one or two regulars out each of the remaining games if I had to guess.

 

[kreidertime]

Shut the fuck up. Lol

 

[kreidertime]

I say Panarin but Trochek is worthy.

 

[Stepupstepan]

lol Laf really wants to get paid for his next contract. The kid plays with such swagger and confidence.

 

[Stepupstepan]

Zibanejad and Kreider are two fucking clowns.

 

[kreidertime]

Joe says Montreal has been out played badly, but it doesn’t seem like it the Rangers haven’t done shit in this period.

 

[NYR_94]

I agree with you. Fair or unfair, I have almost zero confidence in the Rangers in their own zone. Whether it is a turnover or a guy wide open, I have little faith. If they don't improve and tighten up, they will not be long for the playoffs. Need to get this win tonight or it is a wide-open battle again for top spot in the East and the Met. The Canes are winning easy these days with SO's in 3 of their past 5 games. Huge game for them, us, and the Bruins on Tuesday night with the Canes in Boston.

 

[NYR_94]

Zibanejad and Kreider are two fucking clowns.

Zibanejad simply refuses to shoot. I truly wish Zibanejad and Fox would watch Panarin this season and follow his lead. He has become a shoot first player, and Z and Fox are shoot fifth players. They would be so much more dangerous if they ever looked to shoot more often, it would shock the goalie, and would make them so much more of a threat.

 

[Ranger71]

Kakko shoots it into the one defender on a 4/1.lol

 

[Stepupstepan]

Honestly, if other teams figure out how to shut down Panarin's line, I don't trust that the rangers will score a lot of goals in the playoffs.

 

[NYR_94]

True to form, Zibanejad scores off a skate while passing of course, then comes down on the wing all alone...and wait for it...passes to no one. The guy just will not shoot the damn puck, and it is so infuriating. At some point some coach has to tell him shoot the puck Mika, please.

Montreal draws a penalty late 3rd after 4 turnovers by the Rangers in their own zone, we'll see if they kill it off in the 3rd.

Go win the 3rd period and move on.

 

[NYR_94]

Honestly, if other teams figure out how to shut down Panarin's line, I don't trust that the rangers will score a lot of goals in the playoffs.

Unless it is on the PP, I agree. And it gets compounded because Zibanejad does not shoot at even strength.

 

[Stepupstepan]

and if they don't get a lot of power plays, we'll see a lot of low scoring games like this one tonight against this garbage team.

 

[NYR_94]

The Rangers have been finding ways to win, but outside of the Colorado game I have not liked the way have played in their past 7 games, including this game, at all.

 

[Greyvtrayn]

Wow, what a great give and go between Panarin and Laf....what a goal.

 

[BigDaddyAl1973]

The Rangers have been finding ways to win, but outside of the Colorado game I have not liked the way have played in their past 7 games, including this game, at all.

Jesus christ you are a huge Debbie downer...they are leading the entire league and all you do is bitch and moan

 

[Greyvtrayn]

Al, if the Rangers give up a fucking goal it's an embarassment. Don't you know?

 

[NYR_94]

Jesus christ you are a huge Debbie downer...they are leading the entire league and all you do is bitch and moan

Swing and a miss Al. I am always one of the most positive fans in here, but I call it like it is. They have been very sloppy in the past 7 games and have won by playing strong 3rd periods. That is great, but as they get into the playoffs, and play better teams they need to play much better in their own zone and value the puck. That is just being honest. Talent is not the question with this team, playing a structured detail-oriented game in their own zone is. We'll see if they do it.

 

[NYR_94]

Al, if the Rangers give up a fucking goal it's an embarrassment. Don't you know?

Respectfully, you guys are just making sh*t up now. They have not been on top of their game, that is real. They have allowed 3.66 GPG over the past 6 games, that is real. Kudos for playing strong 3rd periods and winning, I sincerely mean that it shows good battle and mental toughness, but if they want to beat the Canes/Bruins/Panthers in the playoffs they need to play a much more sound game in their own zone. Just being real. Again, they have the talent, but will they execute how you need to in order to beat good teams in the playoffs.

And last I checked, I am the one who has been saying they are going to be the top seed in the East, so again not accurate. But I am being real and saying they need to play better in their own zone. That's the way it is.

 

[Ranger71]

Jesus christ you are a huge Debbie downer...they are leading the entire league and all you do is bitch and moan

Chuck is mostly positive, he's just bringing up the D since the playoffs are nearing and they do have some coverage issues, despite the great record. They are going to have to tighten that up in a few weeks, and maybe they will as they are sort of coasting now. We will see.

 

[NYR_94]

If the Rangers get 4 of a possible 8 points that would give them 114 points.

The Bruins would need 8 of 8 points to finish ahead of us.
The Canes max points are 113, so they would not be able to catch us.

Root for the Canes to beat the Bruins in Boston Tuesday night, and the Rangers to get at least 4 of 8 possible points, and we are the top seed in the East. We'll play one of the Isles/Wings/Pens/Caps/Flyers. And with the way the Flyers and Caps have played, Caps only got 1 points against the Sens at home, those teams are not looking good to get in right now, but they are still right there if they can get some wins.

 

[Ranger71]

I just want to knock the Isles or Flyers out.

 

[NYR_94]

Chuck is mostly positive, he's just bringing up the D since the playoffs are nearing and they do have some coverage issues, despite the great record. They are going to have to tighten that up in a few weeks, and maybe they will as they are sort of coasting now. We will see.

Exactly. It is not about being positive or negative, it is about bigger things and playing playoff hockey. We have not been good in our own zone for at least the past handful of games. That has to change, I hope it will.

This coming from the guy who has been saying they'll be the top seed in the East for a couple of weeks now, yes Debbie downer.

 

[NYR_94]

Yeah, it will be real close. The Flyers and Caps look dead right now, 7 straight and 6 straight L's, with some terrible L's in the mix. The Isles and Pens are hot right now. The Wings are gritty and will claw to get points. I would think it will be between the Isles/Wings/Pens for 3rd in the Met to play the Canes (Isles or Pens), and the 2nd WC to play us, but who knows.

I'll standby what I wrote yesterday regarding how I rank the teams we may play (most want to play to least):

1. Flyers - have the Torts grit, but not overly talented.
2. Caps - I think 2 and 3 are a very close coin flip.
3. Wings - very close coin flip with Caps.
4. Isles - I put them at 4 due to the rivalry. It is never easy dealing with the Isles.
5. Pens - Top heavy yes, but top heavy with high end talent, plus they would be on a roll.

 

[Greyvtrayn]

Re-reading all of the messages after the final whistle. If you had not watched the game you'd be pretty surprised that the Rangers won the game judging by the tone.
This whole tighten up in the d-zone, while having some merit, is something every playoff bound team needs to do. The Rangers aren't the only team giving up odd-man rushes when playing with the lead, guilty of bad turnovers, taking stupid penalties, getting out positioned or losing a man in front of the net. Literally every team does this, every game. Whatever happens or happened in the regular seasons means nothing when the playoffs start.

 

[NYR_94]

I agree with everything you wrote. The playoffs are a new season, and I am hopeful they will tighten up in their own zone, and play playoff hockey They can do it, and they also may play white collar run and gun hockey lacking structure as they have been recently, and did in the playoffs last season, and that will not work. Again, I am hopeful that once they get going, they will play the right way. The team has the talent, but do they have the will and discipline to play the right way.

And BTW, can Mika please shoot the gosh darn puck, you saw it on his 2nd goal, the guy has a great shot, he just has to use it. He does that in the playoffs, and the Rangers will be much better for it.

And double BTW, how awesome has Panarin been this season with his new dedication to being a shooter first, it has made a great player even more dangerous. Now the question is can he keep it going in the playoffs, I say yes, and he will continue his greatness. And he should get some MVP votes as well IMO.

 

[strudwickisthebest]

Wennberg is a dud