RANGERS-LIGHTNING GAME 1

[chuckd3534]

Category TBL NYR
Shots 24 30
Power Plays 1/4 0/2
Hits 18 30
Faceoff Wins 30 23
Giveaways 6 8
Takeaways 4 10
Blocked Shots 17 15
Penalty Minutes 4 8

 

[chuckd3534]

Good stuff there outside of winning a couple of more FO's. Need to keep the penalties down to 2 a game.

Bolts with only 18 hits...if that continues we'll be in a good spot.

 

[Pastafazul]

Great win , so proud of this very special team, was on the run all day today visiting father in law in hospital in NYC then jersey for a confirmation. But I Got to listen then see all points of game I needed to see Thank you rangers

 

[kreidertime]

Fell asleep in the third but they played defensive, counter attack hockey which is what I thought they had to in order to win this series.

 

[jamsim67]

They better come out Monday with the type of intensity. Do not give Tampa a chance to go home 1-1

 

[Rangers94]

Good stuff there outside of winning a couple of more FO's. Need to keep the penalties down to 2 a game.

Bolts with only 18 hits...if that continues we'll be in a good spot.

Obviously I'd be happy with more face off wins, but that's not too bad like it had been in previous games. As for the hits, I'd expect Tampa to come out in game 2 looking to double that number, with a lot of guys flying around looking to hit and getting out of position, which we can hopefully take advantage of. Haven't seen the game yet as I have a family thing I'm doing today, but I'll be home tonight to watch it on the DVR, which hopefully recorded this time lol.

 

[Greyvtrayn]

Generally I like to avoid making predictions but in my opinion I see this being another long series. Last round when they lost game 1 I actually liked how they played and thought they got a little unlucky with how it ended. This game has me feeling a little differently. They win, but they got lucky with the winning goal. Either way, a win in a playoffs is just that. Doesn't matter how it goes in, score more than the opposition and move on to the next game. Would be very nice to be up 2-0 heading to TB but, let's be honest....

 

[Stepupstepan]

If they can win the next game, I honestly don't see this as a long series.

 

[chuckd3534]

Generally I like to avoid making predictions but in my opinion I see this being another long series. Last round when they lost game 1 I actually liked how they played and thought they got a little unlucky with how it ended. This game has me feeling a little differently. They win, but they got lucky with the winning goal. Either way, a win in a playoffs is just that. Doesn't matter how it goes in, score more than the opposition and move on to the next game. Would be very nice to be up 2-0 heading to TB but, let's be honest....

I have to disagree with you here Grey. I thought we played really well today, and our lack of finishing (what else is new) was the only reason we weren't up a few goals. Sure the actual winning goal itself was a lucky bounce, you see a lot of goals like that in the playoffs, but no way someone could watch this game and say the better team didn't win IMO.

Now I do agree I still believe this will be a long series, I said 7 at the start and will stay with that, but we differ on how we view the game today. This game actually made me feel that if we could finally find a way to win games 1 & 2 at home for the first time since 1994, maybe we can win this in less than 7.

The Bolts need to play much better than today if they want to win this series, that's the honest truth. I think they have that in them, but if someone says the winning goal itself was lucky, I would say yes but the better team won today AND TB was lucky to be tied at 1, could have been 3-1 at least.

So we go into Monday night trying to do something we haven't done in 21 years. Don't know which way it will go, but I do know the Bolts need to play much better to win game 2 AND there is no time like now to break that streak....

 

[chuckd3534]

Funny article from LeBrun:

http://espn.go.com/blog/nhl/post/_/...-defense-isnt-pretty-but-it-gets-the-job-done

 

[Messiah717]

The Rangers defense are playing very physical which is becoming a real difference maker. Then of course having Hank on top if his game means it takes a heck of a scoring chance to beat him. The Rangers still blowing too many premium scoring chances as they amazingly extend the playoff streak to 15 straight one goal games.

 

[mrmel29]

Funny article from LeBrun:

http://espn.go.com/blog/nhl/post/_/...-defense-isnt-pretty-but-it-gets-the-job-done

Lebrun is another anti-ranger asshole. Unless he is totally blind he should have seen if it wasn't for bishop we have 5 or 6 goals today. 2 breakaways, a 3 on 1, numerous point blank shots in front and completely dominated this lightning team. These analysts have become a joke and you wonder if they really can comprehend what the hell their watching.

 

[cagedlion]

Amazing how Rangers when there were only 6 NHL teams
were perennial doormats.......media people laughed & mocked
those Ranger teams. Now Rangers, being good, making strong
attempts to win the SC, media people still make jabs at this team.
Can't please these vacillating critics. If you listen to
their crap, you understand quickly not to take these
people seriously. Same goes for the NBCSN analysts
who constantly pick, pick , pick away at Rangers being
mediocre. One works for Flyers, the other works for
his ill-begotten[?] Bruins. They cannot help themselves!

 

[chuckd3534]

Totally agree mel. It is comical really. I listen to NHL radio and those guys hate the Rangers. A lot of the ESPN guys as well. There are some that don't like Weekes on the NHL network, but it is pretty common and sad.

It must just be a jealous of NY kind of deal. Otherwise I don't get it. I get Jones (Flyer and Cap) and Milbury (Bruin and Isle), but overall the hate is funny to me.

That article was a disgrace by LeBrun. The Rangers have not been scoring, but NOT because they are playing the trap or some LW lock crazy defensive style, simply because they have struggled to finish on their 15 chances a game...LOL. He talks like the Rangers are playing the Devs style and not pushing to score at all. The Rangers use speed and push as much as any team in the NHL, just not finishing right now as mentioned. Ridiculous article.

 

[Messiah717]

The Pens and Caps clearly played a lock down style against the Rangers. Where was the article mentioning that? It seems Lebrun's real problem is that the Rangers won and got the East Final against Tampa. Would he have felt better if the Rangers won 4-1 yesterday or wouldn't it still of been bad because the Lightening only scores one goal?

 

[chuckd3534]

You nailed it Mess. Pretty sure he picked the Caps, so it is sour grapes IMO. The Rangers play a D first but open style. They forecheck hard. They don't trap or play some crazy all D system under AV, but they do focus on being strong in their own zone first, which is smart. LeBrun is a typical NY hater and writes an article that is way off base and ridiculous. That's how I see it.

 

[Stepupstepan]

There was some douche from the hockey news last year who was picking against the Rangers every single round . It was comical.

 

[chuckd3534]

I really want to see the Rangers come out and play well in game 2. Win your home games to start the series. Make TB have to really think about what they're going to do going home down 0-2.

Listening to the Bolts talk and Cooper talk, you know they are going to come out and play a better game knowing going down 0-2 will be a very difficult hole to dig out of. We have to raise our level as well and don't let them take one in NY. If I am sitting in that building and we don't play well as TB raises their game I will be angry.

BTW...how nice is it to see Cindy, Malkin, and OV all playing in the World Championships this weekend due to their teams being elminated by the Rangers. That was nice to see.

 

[mrmel29]

Yep. OV didn't do to well there either as russia got their asses kicked by canada 6-1