One thing that concerns me

[chuckd3534]

chuck, what about Tampa? You think we can get by them this year? I would be more concerned about them then the caps.

With the playoff setup in the NHL, we wouldn't play TB until the ECF, unless 1 of us finishes as the WC, which will not happen.

The top 3 teams in each division cannot cross play each other until the CF's.

So you only have to play one of TB, Montreal, Det and it wouldn't be until the ECF.

Out of those teams Montreal would be the team I'd least like to play.

 

[chuckd3534]

I am with you Step. I cannot go higher than 4.7 like I said, and rather be at 4.5 tops if I had my choice. To me that is very fair for Zucc if he wants to stay here. 1 mill raise on this season.

Now no doubt someone would give him 5 if he went to the open market, but if he wants to stay here take mid 4's bro.

 

[chuckd3534]

The East is tough though man. Isles, Caps, TB, Habs, Wings all tough teams IMO. Nothing easy there.

To me two things need to happen if we want a long run:

1. Hank needs to be back in March. Obvious but still needs to be said. Back in March so he can get back into shape for the playoffs.
2. We need to add pieces by the trade DL in 9 days. If we stand pat we are not winning a cup. I think we need a dman and a forward. One a bigger chip and one a depth guy. You decide which is the bigger chip and which is the depth add.

That's how I view it. But make no mistake about we can be one and done for sure this year...OR we can win the cup. East is tough and 5 or 6 (not sure about the Wings) teams can win it.

 

[cagedlion]

Everyone remembers all too well the last time the Rangers finished
first 2011-2012 season. New Jersey beat Rangers in the CF 4-2....tough
to believe with the state of NJ now. I just think if we advance, the Isles
will be an obstacle.

 

[chuckd3534]

We need to beat at least one of the Isles or Caps (maybe both). And while I do think the Isles are real good, and 100% can beat us, I still rather play them than the Caps.

The Caps are due to beat us in a series. OV is just so dominant (add in Backstrom as well). Counter to some peoples thinking, Holtby is better than Halak IMO. The Isles have that 4th line that pounds us, but the Caps have maybe the best 3rd line in the NHL. The Caps have more playoff experience. And I think the Caps D has the potential to be better than the Isles D as well.

Neither would be easy. Both could clearly beat us. But if given the choice I "rather" play the Isles.

I still think the team that ends up with the Pens/the WC in round 1 has a huge edge in the round 2 series. Playing Pitt/Fla/Bos won't be as taxing as playing Wash/NYI in round 1 (especially if it is Pitt or Fla).

 

[chuckd3534]

And since you mention 2012, let's hope Sather doesn't do what he did that trade DL...NOTHING...which was an epic failure on his part, and could have cost us a shot at a SC that year.

 

[chuckd3534]

From a standings POV these next 3 games are really big. CBJ, Calgary, Zona. All at home this week. Need 6 out of 6 points IMO.

CBJ will be on a back to back, they are at Montreal tonight. Calgary has dropped 2 straight, and is average. And Zona is one of the worst 3 or 4 teams in the NHL.

Biggest reason we need 6 for 6 IMO is the schedule after these games. Look at this:

At Philly, Nashville, at Detroit, at Chicago, at NYI, at Washington

That is a crazy hard 6 game stretch, 5 on the road, before we play at Buffalo and host Florida. Isles and Caps to end the stretch are back to back nights.

If we get 4 or 6 points out of that 12 without Hank, consider it solid. So it makes the next 3 games at home really big and to me it is very important to go 6 for 6.

 

[cagedlion]

feeling the pressure, Chuck? LOL What is this "they are due to beat us"?

With the exception of last year........I would always feel through the years
that the Rangers would be able to beat Montreal in the playoffs. It has been
a while, but we did it last year........after how many decades???

Every year is different. YA NEVER KNOW.

 

[chuckd3534]

That's just a law of averages comment. But the other 9 things I named are more the point with the Caps. That was just a hey at some point the Caps will win a series against us comment.

Overall it is what it is. You play who you have to play. If you want to win a cup you need to beat good teams, so get it done.

We can beat the Caps and Isles of course. They can both beat us of course. 3 very good teams IMO. I just happen to think the team that gets to play the Pens or the WC in round 1 would have an advantage in the 2nd round over the winner of the NYI/NYR/Caps series. That series is going to be a long physical series and will certainly leave its mark on the winner in round 2 (and moving forward into the ECF if they win in round 2). With all that said...just win regardless of matchup.

 

[theProdigy223]

Chuckles it sounds like you could use a beer or three

 

[chuckd3534]

Maybe I am overanalying it too much with 25 games left in the regular season....

 

[cagedlion]

Chuck......when you dance you do go round and round.
Settle down.............the horses have not hit the final turn. LOL

 

[Ranger71]

The Caps are more mentally stable with Trotz and better overall on defense with Orpik and Nisk.

 

[chuckd3534]

That was a solid win by the Pens last night. After losing 3 straight they were due. And the Blues on the 2nd night of a back to back didn't show.

The Met is crazy tight. 4 teams are within 5 points of each other. No division is as close. Going to be a crazy finish in the Met. One team will be a WC.

And with Boston falling apart, Florida and Philly and even Ottawa have snuck back into the battle for the 2nd WC.

Crazy stuff...

 

[chuckd3534]

MDZ getting it done for us with the winning goal late against the Caps. Good to see. He also made about 5 D zone mistakes prior to that, but he does have 7 goals now.

Good for us. And Philly is right there for the 2nd WC now. Since the Bruins have fallen off a cliff, 6 straight L's and 7 could be at the Hawks today, the Flyers may sneak in. Both WC's may come from the Met.

Crazy that we are tied with the Caps, but have 4 huge games in hand, and despite playing 4 less games we own the ROW TB already.

 

[Stepupstepan]

I doubt Philly will make it as WC. Their D sucks. MDZ is one of their top d-men...LOL
I think the Bruins will pick it up. They are too good of team not to make it as WC.

 

[chuckd3534]

And I agree Step. Still think Boston is the team. They are taking it to the Hawks today. Based on talent alone they are the best team in the 2nd WC hunt. I don't trust that Philly D and Florida is a nice story, but they are too young and need some more talent/experience.

Thing with Boston is if they get in, they can be dangerous. Those top teams would much rather see Florida get in.

 

[Stepupstepan]

I agree, I would not want to face Rask and the Bruins in the first round. That's 7 game series written all over it.

 

[mrmel29]

Bottom line is all of these series will be tough but very entertaining series that the rangers can win or lose. Despite our success recently with the pens I never look forward to playing a team that has crosby and malkin and the magical effect they seem to have on the officials. (still shaking my head on that recent penalty crosby was in the box for a few seconds on before he magically was taken out by the refs and penalty rescinded.)

 

[chuckd3534]

With the Caps losing today, and the Isles down 3-0 against Vancouver right now, this is a great shot for us tonight. Come out ready to play and take it to a team that played last night.

Could be a very good day for us if we win.