RANGERS-PENS GAME 4

[strudwickisthebest]

pens are missing Maata, Erhoff, Letang, and Pouliot on D, Cindy isn't succeeding in the trap

 

[panzerporter]

I never had a doubt either the best road team in the NHL does it again, now feed off the Garden energy and close it out Friday. Good for Hayes, his ears must have been ringing. The Pitt trap doesn't offer much open space for Nash or anyone else so when there's an open shot they have to take it and crash the net. Isles/Caps should be a slugfest tomorrow after the Wilson hit.

 

[mrmel29]

Just checked out the boxscore and kreids who was hitting everything near him tonight had 10 hits. Also, in postgame players were talking about how AV went berserk in the locker room after the first period. Guess whatever he said worked as rangers had better of play from there

 

[panzerporter]

Nash leading the Rangers in scoring so far in the postseason with 4 points.

 

[Disturbed]

That's a good point Panzer about the trap. They are kind of taking what Pitt is giving them and it's not pretty hockey but I will take it.

 

[kreidertime]

I stated they were trapping during game 2. They have to. Finish the series already. They need to stop dragging the series out. They also badly need Klein back. There will be games where Boyle basically is going to sit on the bench when things are tight. He's a defensive nightmare at times.

 

[chuckd3534]

Couple of quick comments.

As crazy as it sounds being THAT bad in the 1st was better than just being okay and trailing 1-0. AV I guess ripped into the team after the 1st. To a man they all said the 1st was awful and they needed to rebound in the 2nd, almost took it as a challenge after a terrible period. If they were average I am not sure that challenge would have been there for these guys.

Interesting stat into last night (that thankfully we overcame):

The Rangers entered the game 1-12 in games played after taking a lead in a playoff series since 2012 and had lost four of five with a chance to take a 3-1 lead.

Lastly, MSL is a good dude. Watching him in the postgame you can see he is very well spoken and a clear leader on this team. Hopefully the nice play in OT last night will get him going and his game back to at least solid. I really like that 3rd line, and MSL is an important part of it. We need him to be solid at least so that line can be a threat. I would take him off the PP though OR tell him if he wants to stay on the PP he must look to shoot more, he isn't even looking at the net on the PP, and it is hurting us.

Overall good win. Way to battle back after a terrible 1st period. Finish this Friday night. You don't want to give them any life, and they are due for a win in Pitt over us, so no game 6.

 

[panzerporter]

I have to think MSL is going where he goes on the PP because that's where Arniel wants him so his criticism might be unwarranted. There were plenty of open shots on the PP that were passed away, too many one times fanned on too. Aside from the call on Moore I thought last night's officials did the best job in the series.

 

[Messiah717]

All 2-1 wins but of course you take it. Close it out Friday with a nice 5-2 win.

 

[chuckd3534]

Trust me, MSL is not alone on the I won't shoot on the PP bus, but he isn't even looking at the net, that's an issue. To me the message has to be get pucks towards the net on the PP or you won't play on the PP. I think it has come to that already. The Rangers PP is too pretty, and that doesn't work.

Teams that do well on the PP move the puck quickly and SHOOT THE PUCK whenever they can. That is what the Rangers need to understand. And that is what frustrates me about their PP. If they were shooting and not scoring you could live with it more than 0 or 1 shot on 3 PP's. That was crazy.

The Rangers do NOT need a great PP to win a cup. I do think they need a respectable PP that can score some goals if given a few chances. If we finish off the Pens and get to round 2, the Isles/Caps will play a hard series against us, right on the edge and sometimes over the edge. We need to make them pay at times for crossing that line.

 

[mrmel29]

Looking for the isles-caps to continue beating the living shit out of each other for another 3 games. Rooting for one cheap shot after another.

 

[Rangers94]

The Rangers do NOT need a great PP to win a cup. I do think they need a respectable PP that can score some goals if given a few chances. If we finish off the Pens and get to round 2, the Isles/Caps will play a hard series against us, right on the edge and sometimes over the edge. We need to make them pay at times for crossing that line.

This times a MILLION. I blast the PP not because I think we need one that's 50%, but because we need it to be at least considered a threat to score, not a momentum builder for the other team. The pieces are all there for it to be good, they just can't seem to figure out what piece goes where though.

 

[Ranger71]

McDonagh has to be more of a difference maker offensively.

 

[chuckd3534]

3 points in 4 playoff games this year. 17 points in 25 playoff games last year (leading scorer). So 20 points in his last 29 playoff games. 57 point pace over 82 games.

Agree to disagree on that one sc. McD (and Girardi..and Staal) has been great so far IMO.

 

[Ranger71]

Girardi has been great(grits teeth) but i'd like to see Mac step up and shoot more. That goes for Yandle too.