T-minus 6 games!

[Greyvtrayn]

Get a point (or two) tonight and lock up the playoff spot. Two weeks to go...! This godawful long regular season is almost over.

 

[Stepupstepan]

8.5 million goalie is back to being a mediocre goalie again. I guess 8.5 million needs some games under his belt to get his game back.

 

[Greyvtrayn]

Guess so! right, #1 Rangers fan??

 

[Ranger71]

Even more than any EC team, this is probably the worst matchup in the league for them.

 

[strudwickisthebest]

Wow they f'd up by trading Talbot. Lundqvist is finished

 

[Stepupstepan]

Raanta is as good as Talbot if not better. The defense is just horrific in this system and gets exposed especially when playing big and fast skilled teams. Good to see Stepan is back finally.

 

[Ranger71]

I guess they digested the In-N-Out burgers in between the 2nd and 3rd periods.

 

[Stepupstepan]

I still need to try those In-N-Out burgers. Skjei may end up being one of the best players taken in that 2012 draft. What a pass to J.T.

 

[Ranger71]

I haven't had them either. Got a point and it's official. I'd like to see Lundqvist rack up a few more wins and move up the list before the playoffs.

 

[Stepupstepan]

Good comeback but just can't win with this defense in the playoffs.

 

[Stepupstepan]

I know it is 4 on 3 but with this kind of goaltending and defense you cannot win in the playoffs. Oh well I guess they are in the playoffs again.

 

[Messiah717]

Red Wings out of the playoffs for the first time since the 1989-1990 season. That's crazy. The top three streaks are now Pittsburgh who last missed in 2005-2006, Chicago 2007-2008 and the Rangers 2009-2010.

 

[kreidertime]

Said a month ago that Raanta might take over in the playoffs. I give Lundqvist 1 game. If he sucks, I go back to Raanta for the playoffs. Skjei has a chance be a superstar. Minnesota was completely incompetent developing his offense. If he can improve his slapper, you have an elite defenseman on your hands.

 

[Stepupstepan]

Yeah Skjei is looking more and more like a stud. Thank god they did not trade him for Trouba.

 

[Stepupstepan]

Cant expect 8.5 million to be the same goalie from three years ago especially now with this atrocious defense and the head guy's weak defensive system.

 

[panzerporter]

Thank God Skjei got a chance at the end of last year after Boyle was hurt. I think he's already established himself as a top 4. Would have been nice to see Graves get the same opportunity but guess we'll have to wait until next year. Any other team in the playoffs or in playoff contention with a prospect like Graves would have given him a look by now. At least if Hank can't get it going there's a viable plan B. The Rangers need to play smart and stay out of the box because their PK stinks.

 

[Ranger71]

Lookin' definately like Montreal.

 

[Messiah717]

Lookin' definately like Montreal.

Unless something very strange happens. Tough match up but honestly with the current playoff format nobody has it easy. The Pens and Blue Jackets playing in the first round is brutal.

 

[Ranger71]

Yup, no shortcuts. Especially not for the Rangers.

 

[Messiah717]

McDonagh sitting out tonight.

 

[RangersFan]

I told you guys it was Montreal 2 weeks ago....

Seriously though, tonight isn't a bad game to play well and lose. A tough OT L would be okay tonight.

A loss tonight and it is pretty much a done deal. 1 point gained by the Pens or 1 point lost by us and we cannot pass the Pens. 2 points gained by us or 2 points lost by the Bruins and we cannot drop below them. So locks it in.

If we win tonight, still a longshot outside chance we win out and the Pens continue to flounder with 800 injuries and we pass them. Unlikely, but possible still.

Smart to sit McDonagh and anyone else who isn't 100%. Also give some others a chance as they might be needed in the playoffs.

Certainly will root for a W, but a tough L isn't terrible in this game.

 

[Messiah717]

The Knicks are on MSG and the Islanders and Devils are on both MSG2 and MSG+.

 

[cagedlion]

If they lose to this Pitt group......... well, let's just say they need help

More than half of Pitt's regulars are injured and still they outplay the Rangers.

Rangers treating this as an exhibition game.

 

[Ranger71]

Luckily msg is doing this during a meaningless game or people would really be flipping out.