Rangers v Islanders (only 9 games left!)

[panzerporter]

Unfortunately for the past few weeks the games have meant nothing and the Rangers effort has been inconsistent especially at home. They could have easily won both games but as has been pointed out several high quality scoring chances were not converted. Have to hope they wake up come playoff time. Good news is the regular season is almost over, Hank's coming back, Nash is actually showing signs of life that hopefully carry on into postseason and the Rangers have multiple lines that can create scoring chances - converting them will determine their postseason success. If Montreal is their first round opponent Fast needs to be scratched, he is utterly useless against physical teams. Jesper's still young and showed great promise on special teams when he came up but this year's team has better options on the PK who offer a scoring threat shorthanded. I still think this year's team is better than last year's.

 

[panzerporter]

RangersFan - guys are referring to you as Chuck because your posts are basically identical in structure/phrasing to a long time poster Chuck who left the board last year. Could just be an amazing coincidence.

 

[theProdigy223]

Unfortunately for the past few weeks the games have meant nothing and the Rangers effort has been inconsistent especially at home. They could have easily won both games but as has been pointed out several high quality scoring chances were not converted. Have to hope they wake up come playoff time. Good news is the regular season is almost over, Hank's coming back, Nash is actually showing signs of life that hopefully carry on into postseason and the Rangers have multiple lines that can create scoring chances - converting them will determine their postseason success. If Montreal is their first round opponent Fast needs to be scratched, he is utterly useless against physical teams. Jesper's still young and showed great promise on special teams when he came up but this year's team has better options on the PK who offer a scoring threat shorthanded. I still think this year's team is better than last year's.

I'm with you on most of this except scratching Fast. I think you're really underrating what he means to this team defensively. I understand why some may want Glass in there as we'll be seeing assholes like King, Ott and Shaw but I play Fast every day of the week. The fourth line clicks with him and Lindberg on there.

 

[panzerporter]

As Chuck would say Prod "We can agree to disagree" about Jesper.

 

[RangersFan]

I agree with 223. Great post panzer, and I agree with all you wrote outside of the Fast part. To me if used correctly, a 4th line winger and PK guy, Fast is valuable. We get into trouble when AV decides Fast is more than that and plays him in the top 9 over Buch and Vesey. That is a dumb decision.

If my two options for the 12th forward are Fast and Glass, give me Fast please. I would go Vesey/Lindberg/Fast as my 4th line. Put Buch in the top 6. Go with Grabner/Hayes/Miller as the "3rd line". Great depth there IMO.

As for the Chuck thing, yes must be a coincidence because I am not him. All good.

 

[Stepupstepan]

IMO is exactly what chuck used to write at the end of his sentences...LOL Noone else did it as much as chuck. He has been reborn as RangersFan.

 

[Ranger71]

I'm assuming Glass is not going to be part of the playoff mix so really what we're talking is how do they manage PB/Fast. Buchnevich has to be in the lineup every night in the playoffs imo, you just can't be without his natural skill. Plus he needs to be in a playoff environment going forward. Fast will be in pretty much every playoff game over Pirri or Puempel.

 

[Stepupstepan]

With AV's unconditional love for Glass, I BET Glass will be in some playoff games.

 

[Ranger71]

Montreal has gotten tougher but without the fighting in the playoffs i don't know if you can really have Glass in there over Fast and definately not over Buch. King and Ott are better players than Glass.

 

[Messiah717]

Ottawa now one point behind Montreal with a game in hand. They play each other tomorrow so it's very much up in the air who takes it at this point.

 

[RangersFan]

Ottawa's only shot I believe is a regulation win tomorrow night. Look at their schedule compared to Montreal's. And Ottawa has almost all road games as well.

I do agree though if Ottawa wins tomorrow night in regulation they could win the Atlantic...anything short of that and Montreal is still the very odds on favorite I think. And I rather play the Sens as I wrote last week.