I imagine Carp will have a review later this morning and I will link to it when he does.
My Three Rangers Stars:
- Mika Zibanejad
- Mats Zuccarello
- Rick Nash
Your Three Rangers Stars:
- Mika Zibanejad
- Mats Zuccarello
- JT Miller
I imagine Carp will have a review later this morning and I will link to it when he does.
My Three Rangers Stars:
Your Three Rangers Stars:
272 responses to “Rangers 4, Senators 1”
I’d love to see Carp’s edited and unedited version of the report
I have come to the conclusion that, from the neck down Chris Kreider has as much talent as any player in the NHL. From the neck up, not so much because his hockey sense leaves a lot to be desired. Just get the feeling that THE has gotten by on talent alone.
Good morning Boneheads! AnthonyM I feel the same way about Kreider. Just can’t figure him out. He should be driving the net regularly instead going wide all the time. He is a mystery!
Doodie
Awesome review 😉
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Carp’s reviews are the best, the best!!!
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Staal Holden pair worst of the 3, glad to see the coach realized that
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Re zucc… I agree with bdl on this. I will say there are certainly other significant salaries I would try to move before him (I also think he means more to the team off the score sheet than on), he may be the piece to move to upgrade the D.
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Morning ilb and all
Also it appears Kreiders stick handling ability leaves a lot to be desired.
Doodie
Way to HAV the poll last night with the incorrect players on it 😉
Is there a link to the Carp report?
Norm
I don’t think it has been declassified yet 😉
Glass was in the poll, Wick, down towards the bottom.
It was late, I missed him. I swear I saw buch in there instead.
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Thanks norm
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My apologies doodie
Milbury: “A Brazilian may be included in next year’s draft.”
JR: “How many is a brazillion?”
Carp, did you hear Duguay say that when he was going bad, Herb Brooks would put him on a line with George McPhee, and that Duguay quickly found himself playing tougher and with more energy? Interesting.
Wicky,
The two players to think about moving after the season for D help are, Zucc, and Stepan. I would NOT TRADE Nash. In fact, I would look to extend him. They have no one like him.
AnthonyM, agree with you on Kreider. Despite all the physical abilities & always being told how smart he is by MSG, he sure does a lot of dumb things on the ice. BTW you can add Hayes to that list too, lots of talent, but no brains evident on the ice.
Coos,
It was George McPhee, and Mike Backman, that Brooks would put Duguay with. Usually I need the playoffs.
McPhee: “Hey, what are you doing?”
About to be hammered crook: “I’m breaking into your car, shortie. You gonna do something about it?”
McPhee, dragging big young thug to desk at Police Station: “I’m making a citizen’s arrest.”
Nash’s best play last night, he didn’t score. That fake spin move with a D right on him, an inch away from being the goal of the year. He’s on the downside of his career, no doubt, but it’s a helluva downside–complete player.
AV said he reduced Shea’s minutes but lost Smith ‘on the bench’ in Game 2. Holden/Stall pair’s had reduced TOI but still a lot of anxious moments with them in Dzone. Both refuse to move the puck quickly basically allowing the Sens to set up their trap.
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Jimmy Thomas Miller – gets away from Haze and plays better. Coincidence?
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Needed a center to step up and Zika had a HUGE game v his former mates. Just HUGE.
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Nash scored so he played great? Right?
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NYR better still be desperate on Thursday night…
Nash is approaching 500 goals, and 1000 games. I did not realize this.
Glass was in the poll, I varted for him. He was all the difference. A real tone setter.
I’m wondering why, after the first round, they stop with the local broadcasts and only have national broadcasting of the playoff games. I have been living outside of the NY area for a while now, but I don’t remember it always being this way. I remember Sam’s “This one will last a lifetime” was on MSG, right?
Tone doesn’t put the puck in the net, so credit to the guys who combined for the four goals, but Glass was indeed a positive factor in a not particularly physical game. Good move by AV once again. I thought the most noticeable change was in the forwards (Zib, Miller, Grabner, Nash…) who drove the edge all night with defenders draped on them, kept moving their feet.
Don’t think zucc is going anywhere or should be….AV would fight that move big time
Don’t mind the national broadcasts as long as it isn’t Screeching Doc Emric.
I can’t edit the order of the poll from my phone. Glass was in Buchnevich’s spot as a result.
The alternative would be to include everyone on the roster, but that would mean a lot of votes for guys who didn’t play after any loss.
What will Boucher counter with tomorrow?
He might have to replace Bobby Ryan &/or Zach Smith. Does he abandon the trap altogether?
Tanner Glass knocked Dr. Zachary Smith out of the game – tone setter.
Tanner Glass with an assist. Has twice as many points as Butch and all at even strength.
He has as many points as Miller and Kreider and twice as many as Haze.
Tanner Glass is the man!
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No forwards over 18:20 TOI last night.
Staal and Holden under 17 TOI = win.
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I know it doesn’t matter because goals are not important but can anyone tell me the only line to be a net negative plus/minus in the POs; all 3 forwards are on the neg side. No peeking…
I believe 1994 was the last time the finals could be broadcast by local networks. As far as rounds 2 and 3 being NBC exclusive, I think that began a few years ago.
Thanks for the info Ty…I’m assuming it has to do with money and ratings.
Still confident Rangers can make the ECF.
Interesting stat as per Brooks today on the Ottawa series:
“(The Rangers) have led for 104 minutes, been tied for 94:43 and have trailed for only the final 4:11 of Game 1.”
One big concern: Riding a lead the last 20 minutes and the tremendous amount of icings and dumping the puck out in the NZ. It may work against teams like Canadiens and Sentaors. Playing that way against the Pens/Caps – with more depth and multiple goal threats is not sustainable. IMHO.
BDL:
Not going to argue about swapping Zuccarello for a solid D. Even though we disagree on the matter i also see that #36 has a favorable contract that can attract some teams. What kind of player do you think Rangers should get in return to make it a good deal?
Dan – 1994 was the last year teams were able to broadcast all playoff rounds. I miss those days because I would always catch overtime games on Centre Ice in the playoffs.
Like everything else, it comes down to money. Networks want exclusive rights once the first round is over. NHL and NBC “allow” local broadcasts as a bone thrown to the teams and the number of games that are broadcast.
I think I finally figured out who to blame for losing the first two games. It was all John Forslund’s fault! 🙂 Seriously, it was great to hear Dave Strader back on TV. I know much has been made of Craig Anderson and his wife – and rightly so. However, Strader’s story is just as big and heartbreaking. I believe he is doing the NHL Radio Network play-by-play for Game 4. Strader was always a must listen on Centre Ice – much like Pat Foley.
SN
If I had to guess it would be a line centred by stepan. That guy is so overrated defencively it isn’t even funny.
SN, no, I can’t tell you, because plus minus is stupid and I refuse to lend credence to it having worth.
Goals scored are not important – I agree. It’s all about possession.
If we are trying to win now, I’d keep 36. He’s still the best forward on the team, two years running. After next season, Nash is gone, too. That’s a lot of minutes in the top 6 to fill, and I’m not sure our young guys are capable of taking the next steps needed to fill them.
Even if you’re inclined to trade him, I don’t know what kind of defenseman he brings you. Taylor Hall only landed Adam Larson. Hall had much more value than Zucc does.
I don’t mean to derail this feel-good party about about the Rangers’ possession, and time spent leading in this series..
But I’m concerned about Crosby. As Rangers fans we love to refer to him as Cindy, and that he gets preferential treatment from the NHL, etc. But the fact of the matter is, this latest concussion may cost the best hockey player in the world his career. The game will go on, but Crosby is a generational talent, a direct link to Lemieux, Gretzky, Orr, Howe, and arguably Jagr and Messier. This is a big thing and it’s a shame that it may come down to this. I actually feel for the guy and the world of hockey.
(Mic drops)
The truth is, the biggest upgrade our defense can get is the one made last night: more Skjei and Smith, less Staal, Holden, and Girardi. And even though Girardi was good last night, that is clearly the exception and not the rule.
Crosby will be back. People forget that his extended “concussion” absence was actually not a concussion but a misdiagnosed neck injury. He’s had concussions, sure, but I think the situation isn’t at Steve Young territory yet.
And for every player, it only takes one concussion to end their career if it’s bad enough. I don’t remember Savard having a history and look what happened to him.
is Klein worse than Holden?
When healthy no, question – is Kleiner healthy?
The play bothers me – I know it’s part of the game, but Ovie’s part just looked cheap to me. And I really like(d) Ovie as a player.
good question…. is Klein healthy? I mean, he was healthy enough for that one game vs the Le Herbs
RR2,
Zucc was very average in the regular season.
ITAOBB,
I would like to get a top 4 type of Dman for Zucc. He can be O minded, or D minded. Either one would help. I would not just give him away though. Not looking to just dump him.
Admiral, did the Empire just come up with a new mind-altering ray from the Death Star? All craft prepare to retreat……its a trap!!
Trade Stepan. Rangers can replace his physicality with a soft breeze. As for his speed game, well, Stepan doesn’t have a speed game. And I agree with wicky, his defensive prowess is wayyyyyy overrated.
Wick, belated … I obviously agree you need physical play, or the ability to play well in a physical game. Yeo is an idiot. He’s calling for all the garbage after the whistle, and obviously looking to pick fights with that big slow knucklehead playing a regular shift. He’s going down hard to a more skilled, faster team.
De-Klein was pretty lousy when healthy this season, and I believe he is healthy. Is he worse than Holden? Arguable. Does he make the first pass like Holden? No. And we all know how important that is to the head coach.
My opinion of Crosby aside, I hate concussions and wish there were fewer of them. I’m just not sure how to totally prevent them in a game as physical and fast as hockey.
Carp with another hat trick with his Game 3 review. Agree with your # 3 with the Rangers beating TB if the defense wasn’t being held together with chewing gum. Still might have won if McDonagh didn’t break Zucc.
Also agree with Carp’s #8 in terms of an “edge’ or confidence the Rangers have in getting nine goals against Anderson. However, the Rangers also had an “edge” after scoring seven goals in Game 6 against TB in 2015 ….
Difference between Anderson and Lundqvist – Hank knows he can’t handle the puck and does so as a last resort at times. Anderson doesn’t know he can’t handle the puck and looks to do it waaay more than he should.
BTW, when Stepan made that Del Zaster of a play at the end of the first period I wanted to reach into my TV and snatch him bald. Then I realized that Mother Nature beat me to it! 🙂
Great Review Corp.
“Perhaps Zibanejad’s best game as a Ranger, and the last two games he’s been miles better than Big Game Brassard, for whom he was dealt last summer.”
I would say the whole series, as NYR has controlled play and Zika has been the most effective center, esp on the dot. (not hard to do compared to Lazy Hazy and step soft)
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LGR!
I continue to be amazed at the amount of leash that MSG is giving Carp in these write ups. If only they would do the same by putting Maloney in the booth with Sam and get an honest call of the games.
I don’t think it is MSG muzzling Sam and Joe. I just think they are rah-rah type of announcers. I have heard Mike Breen and Walt Frazier give the Knicks grief – not as much as is warranted, but they have gone after the lack of effort.
[Mic drop]
Ouch.
OK, Wicky, I’m on the scent: “centred” and “defencively” tell me you are from… the Shetland Islands?
We’ve only seen the start of Pitt players getting concussed. Apparently after Ovi and Niskanen took out Crosby, Ovi skated to the Pitt bench and started yelling, “All series, Baby…All series”! 😉
How does DeKlein decline so quickly if healthy? Old age? Old legs?
Finally got to the Carp review (had to get intro. chain rule out of the way) and what a surprise: near perfection in its terse, epigrammatic, and succinct compendiousness. But I must quibble, I must: if Stepan were lucky enough to try drop passes inside the blue line with 10 seconds left in a period to Wayne Gretzky, he’d be going to the Hall of Fame. (Or, depending on sweater colors, Gretzky would be off on breakaways in the other direction.) I suspect an Ottawa got Stepan’s ear there, oldest trick in the book, just as Stalberg got Skjei with another old-pro move.
Has anyone seen a single embellishment call in any of the playoff games? I mean, they fine guys if it’s bad enough during the season,(albeit couch change). During the playoffs, Dive-on!
Thanks for the Review Carp! Nice job.
I’m ok with exploring extending Nash when the season ends. Nash has played well thus far in these playoffs.
How many years and how much per year would he get on the open market? Would he give the Rangers a discount? I’m guessing no.
Andrew Ladd got 7 years for $5.5 million.
d/dx Cos(x^2)
Let u = x^2
D/dx =d/du * du/dx
Thus, d/du cos(u) = -sin(u)
Now, du/dx = 2x
Therefore, d/dx cos(x^2) =
-sin(u) *2x
And finally, -sin(x^2)*2x
Stepan sux
TGS = Tiny Game Step
duh
Thought I’d throw you a bone
Norm – you ever play with integral equations?
Great review. Nothing sweeter, than my heater, excluding Derek Jeter, a woman – never beat her.
Boyeeeeeeeeeee
Use chain rule to solve
t^2y” + 8ty’+ 12y = 0
By letting x = ln(t)
I was just thinking about that stuff, E3.
Thanks guys. It’s not easy to write for the corp. sometimes. Easier when they win, naturally.
Norm, thank you again, but you can’t make that drop pass inside the blue line with 10 seconds left in a period. You just can’t.
don’t remember if I posted this yesterday. Uncle Larry wrote a great column about how the 1994 Rangers — yes, those guys again — three times gave up 5-on-6 goals in the final minute during their playoff run.
http://nypost.com/2017/05/02/desperate-rangers-can-cling-to-this-inspiring-history/
Shouldn’t ever make a blind, behind the back, drop pass EVER. It was slow, telegraphed, and ill advised.
Nice review, Carp
Dion Phaneuf didn’t blow a tire. Tanner Glass “inadvertently” tripped him with his skate.
To easy, e3. I won’t ruin it for the others.
Bulldog – I’m with you. Rangers in 6
That game 7 vs the Devils was the most nerve wrecking 4 hours of my life.
Thanks, Captain. I did not see that.
Phaneuf? Woof.
My school was the streets. I get $50 a day plus expenses, when I can get them.
Eric Karlsson on one leg is miles better than any other D-man Ottawa has. tTouble is, he’s also much better than most of NY’s D-men
I thought when methot was crushed by Charles Lindberg, the game was over.
Expect a yuge game 4 from Big Game Glass.
Doodie, I’m not so sure that “neck issue” was not a concussion. Hard to say. Regardless, if Crosby plays again this year, it’s either he needs to have a psych evaluation or the whole Penguins medical personnel should be fired. Actually, I thought they all should’ve been fired for how they handled that mumps situation.
I am stunned the Penguins even admitted to Sidney having a concussion, given the time of year. Let’s face it, upper body injury was nhot going to get it done given the hit and his history.
No integral equations for me, E3, unless by accident. High school doesn’t even let you get after delta-epsilon limit definition any more.
Stephan has played much better last few games but that drop pass at end of period was real brain freeze. Magnified by the game situation…giving up a late goal there to Ottawa could have changed game ..just get it deep and end period
Pens Caps game should be fun tonight ….just let it go 7….Is Sestito dressing?
Just kidding around, Carp (though I enjoy the notion that any pass to Gretzky is a good pass), not a good play. It wouldn’t surprise me if Step got a “Yeah, Yeah!” from a Senator, but it wouldn’t surprise me either if he was showing too much faith in his Spidey-sense. Drop passes, especially in that spot on the ice, are high-risk, high-reward–Messier’s second assist on THE goal (Leetch from Zubov, Game 7) comes immediately to mind.
psyched to watch Craps v Dirty Birds tonite. Eye for an eye. Old time hockey. Eddie Shore.
It’s probably a good idea for high school, and college freshman, calculus to get away from epsilon-delta proofs. Better left to first semester real analysis. First semester Calculus should be more about computation of derivatives, integrals, limits, and their applications. Continuity, at this stage, should be merely defined as not needing to lift your pencil to draw your curve. But, if you’re pushing theory, if the limit exists at X-naught, and is equal to f(X-naught), that’s enough for me and that class of student.
Coon it’s drilling a slapper into Ovi’s face is must see TV. Love to see it.
Speaking of the devil, I dropped a monster coon its this morning. So pretty I almost took a picture.
And that’s a natural hattie
No water can quench my thirst, I’m in bed, need a nurse. I’m thirsty, thirsty, lord have mercy.
All this Calculus talk reinforces why I double-majored in Journalism and History. Two plus two still equals four, right? 🙂
Anthony – only in base 10
All this calculus talk is making me mildly nauseous.
Speaking of Gretzky, I wonder how many points he’d end up with if he came into the league in 2006 with all the stupid Bettman rules? 1200? 1400? Probably in that range.
E3 disappointed you didn’t use mathjax or just use latex to generate it. Clearly the NYR are not a well behaved function as their performance is discontinuous and therefore not differentiable. I suppose they are some type of odd Markov process
Bettman and his dumbaasen rules are envenrualky going to get a guy killed on the ice.
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The only positive from the Crosby incident is I’ve heard a few hockey insiders say there are some whispers now going around about the game is too fast…duh, no Shiite. (Now if they get rid of the stupid instigator rule).
TGO would be hard pressed to get 200 in a season, but whatever Crosby gets, add about 50.
E3, four posts in a row is now a Pageau.
The Rangers are so talented they alone can be divided by zero.
And Fast is so smooth that he’s differentiable at a corner.
The problem the NHL has is the tiny rinks, not the speed. A vestige of the days when players were normal size. You could fix it by putting a cap on height and weight–nobody wants that but the Zuccs of the world–or spend the big bucks and go to the Olympic rink.
Could be norm. I don’t think it is, but could be part of it.
Anybody remember Jethro Clampett describing his math ability in doing times and goes-intas?
Drysdale said he got the times part, but wtf are goes-intas?
2 goes-inta 8, 4 etc etc
Wicky
the flyers of the 70’s and 80’s loved having no instigator rule
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/hockey/rangers/rangers-brendan-smith-key-deadline-pickup-thriving-playoffs-article-1.3134697?utm_content=bufferbe641&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=JTasch+Twitter
got to sign this guy. way more important than shattenkirk.
Guys are what, an inch taller and a few pounds heavier? Is the rink really more crowded because of that? How about losing one of the useless referees instead. Then we can make the rinks smaller 🙂
I think the problem has more to do with the guys being much faster and stronger, and that they aren’t allowed to tie up an opponent who is about to squish a teammate without getting a France in the Air penalty. meanwhile every cross check and slash and spear to the onions goes unpenalized until 87 eats one.
ps, some of you guys will hate Smith after they sign him, as soon as he makes a couple of mistakes or has a bad stretch. Just like almost every other defenseman to come along since Willie Huber, if not before. The chart boys will especially despise him and want Shattenkirk.
JR: “The team doctor told me years ago that calculus supplements were good for healthy bones.”
I hate Smith already, knowing that he will never be as good as I want him to be.
Smith goes from minimum wage to Ranger multi millions over multiple years. Pretty good for a couple okay games.
Caps win tonight they go on to win cup.
Last night, Zibanijad kind of resembled that White Whale we’ve been chasing for over 10 years: a 1C.
I still don’t think he is, or will be, a 1C. But he might turn out to be better than 21.
I dated a very thin girl once who was a 1C. Very thin.
LMAO, coos.
How do officials let Penguins take a timeout before the PP without calling a timeout?
Hilarious, Coos.
Just like that, the Mets have but one legit starter.
The players are much bigger. Go back to 1960 or thereabouts. Six teams and seven guys over 200 lbs:
John Bucyk 6’0″ 215
Dale Rolfe 6’4″ 210
Jean Beliveau 6’3″ 205
Albert Langlois 6’0″ 205
Gordie Howe 6’0″ 205
Frank Mahovlich 6’0″ 205
Eddie Shack 6’1″ 200
That’s it. In the league.
This is awesome.
Last night, Derek Stepan became the Rangers all time leading forward in playoff games played with 94. That’s kind of…sad?
Derek Stepan is making 8 million dollars a year right now.
Carp: The first Ranger defenseman I recall being booed and panned was Rod Seiling. He was “soft”, did not put up points, etc. I also recall Brad park being booed at the garden, that was difficult to believe. Ranger fand have always been hard on defensemen.
Stealing 8 mil. 6.5 cap hit. No trade next 2 years kicks in July 1
Carp
Your 7:28 is spot the falk on….exactly!
Is there a more athletic goalie in the league than flower?
I was wondering if booby was going to show up, his ears must have been burning with his blind love of 2C opie
That cheating death commercial is just awesome
Alex
Not having the instigator rule will not lead to 70’s and 80’s hockey, not even remotely close.
Come on pens, bury these guys!
Even know they trail in game and series I find myself thinking caps are fine. Their forecheck game is tough to handle. Would cause issues for anyone
No idea what you’re talking about, Wick. Were you speaking French? : )
Wicky
I don’t agree with you at all on the instigator penalty. It prevents flyer hockey from years back. A thug can pick a fight with a star and get even 5 minutes for each plus get a teammate of the star thrown out for being 3rd man in (or the stars mates can watch him get a whipping while not being thrown out of the game). The rule serves a very good purpose..
Alex
Different game, different players
I think your scenario would rarely play out
You make it sound like if the instigator rule is gone, teams are going to all go out and start looking for village people Gillies and officer boulton
Woo hoo pens baby!!!!!
Stoopid Ovechkin cant even beat the b!tchless Pens.
Wow- caps are screwed…..
All series baby!
Rangers handle their business, pens close it out…rangers are in the cup final baby!!!!!
Agree on rooting for the injured pens.
Best chance for us if we get past ottawa.
Wicky…. sorry to say but we match up better against the Caps. Not sure why you prefer a Pens matchup IF we get out of this round.
Pens are a well-oiled machine even without Sid. I’d want no part of them… I think you’re both crazy.
They have more injuries than Crosby. Letang. A couple of others either out or playing hurt.
They are running on adrenaline.
If Wash gets past this round i think they loosen up and play very well.
They’ve been fine without Letang. They’re plenty deep and they’re built for the playoffs with players that win board battles. I’ll be honest- were not beating either team even if we pass the Sens…. but again, we can’t handle pittsburgh’s speed and tenacity on the puck. Turnover city.
Craig some of their speed is either out or playing hurt notably Hagelin. If Crosby is out I like our chances if we get to play them. If Wash wins in 7 they have a great feeling and will roll in the next round.
I’m in complete agreement with Alex on this. To me it isn’t just what Alex has already pointed out, but we win the physicality match up vs the pens, we don’t vs the caps.
The Rangers have done pretty well against Holtby in the playoffs though. The Caps firepower does scare me, but I’m not so much worried about their toughness (unless it leads to play-affecting injuries to multiple players on our team).
I don’t think the Pens can win the cup without Crosby. For as much grief as we give Sausage Lips on this board, he is really one helluva skilled player and the puck seems to follow him around. Even with FrankenMalkin playing lights out it will be tough for them to overcome the loss of Sausage Lips.
Rangers will beat Pens easier than caps, but they’d beat the caps too.
Pens are hurt beyond hurt. As for the caps, Holtby is playing horribly.
Morning Boneheads welcome to Thursday! I think you all are jumping the gun a bit on who is a better match up for the Rangers. They lose tonight and there probably not playing either team.
Good Game Day morning!
We win tonight !
LGR !!!
I’m thinking 4-1 or 5-2, either way we’re looking at some sweet, sweet papa johns.
St Pete Eli,
“IF” was very clearly stated in my posts. I’m still not so sure we make it out of this round…
Let’s go boys.
I’m starting to feel it with this ranger team, there’s something happening here. I’m beginning to believe they are going to win 16 games.
I’m on a journey, my own right now, and I’m loving being able to watch these guys play for the cup again. Let downs and redemptions, highs and lows, critics, nayersayers, and self-doubt. Champions are born within, developed within, and then they step up and claim it on the outside.
(Ride Lindberg- sel playoff MVP as a rookie. The kid has something special in him. I’ve been saying it. Hes been stepping up, He’s been trying his all to get the chance)
Poor Sid. Hate to see the guy hurt like that.
…but I don’t feel sorry for pittsburgh at all. Can’t stand them.
I’ve been saying since the regular season, Lindberg will become the next Franz Nielsen. Love that kid’s play in all 3 zones.
Loved Franz Nielsen in ‘Airplane.’ ‘Don’t call me Shirley!’
Lets get by Ottawa…. think Pens running on fumes right now and have been outplayed most of series plus Fleury is playing over his head. They would probably switch back to Murray if healthy at some point. If Caps did come back and win they would have monkey off back and would start rolling. Doubt that will happen though …that team looks cursed …must be tough to be a Caps fan
They win tonight. No doubt. 2-2 going to Ottawa. That’s the difference between a real sports fan and you people. I know sports.
As per Brooks:
Turris: “You were in the minors.”
Glass: “I’m here now, buddy.”
You’re right CraigWeather my apologies. If the Rangers do get past the Sens I would prefer they play Pitt, I hate Pitt love to beat them!
Could it be the Caps are built for the regular season and not the playoffs?
Two losses in Ottawa and stick a fork in them. One win in NY and it’s who would they beat more easily, Washington or Pittsburgh. As the Pendulum Swings in Bonehead Nation.
Ahh…to be the dispassionate fan and see life so clearly. What a blessing!
Indeed we are blessed by your clear thinking, SN. Keep it coming! 🙂
I had always hoped we’d get Chara. Only for the fact that we could put him with Staal and have the pairing:
Chara-Staal. (say it fast!) ha! 😉
We’re not Boneheads for nothing Norm!
To be clear, I wouldn’t make fun of BN if I weren’t a hand-wringing charter member for some years now.
Some comments on the discussions over the past evening:
1. “ps, some of you guys will hate Smith after they sign him, as soon as he makes a couple of mistakes or has a bad stretch.”
Carp, it will all depend on his contract. If we get him at Klein money, then fine. If we pay him at a number closer to Staal/Girardi’s previous contracts (just under 4), then yes, the microscope will be watching him very closely. He’s playing the best hockey probably of his entire career right now. Paying a guy off of one good playoff is a recipe for disaster.
2. “I still don’t think he is, or will be, a 1C. But he might turn out to be better than 21.”
When he’s on his game, he already is better than 21. What he lacks is consistency. But the talent and physical advantages are there. And as 21 has become less consistent, it bridges that consistency gap a little bit more. As for the first part of the statement, he’s not going to be an elite scorer, but I think he could be a top 25-30 guy if he brought his A game every night. I’ve really liked him for a long time.
3. A lot of people are talking about loving what they’ve seen from Lindberg and I have as well. i think Admiral’s comparison of Frans Nielson is a bit lofty, but he’s a pretty good bottom six player. Too bad he or Fast will be lost in the expansion draft. Holden and Klein have played themselves out of contention and every team thinks their back up goaltender is the one that will get taken. Raanta won’t be one that’s taken because he’s UFA after next season. And if it is Raanta, good, because I’d much rather keep the two young forwards than the backup goaltender we seem to be able to replace on an almost yearly basis (Biron, Talbot, Raanta, . Between Lindberg and Fast, I think they go Lindberg because he’s a center.
I’d worry about losing Grabner. Yes one year left but Vegas can keep him or flip him at next years trade deadline.
Whoever we lose between Grabner, Raanta, Fast, Lindberg will be a fairly big loss. I guess the Buch boys will be happy assuming its not Raanta.
Not sarcasm. I think the Rangers are going to find a way to protect Fast. I agree about preferring Lindberg. Position and up side.
I’d be pretty happy if the guy we lost was Raanta. As I said, we seem to not have too much trouble replacing back up goaltenders. Even Hellberg showed some solid improvement this season. And here’s a list of some pending UFA goaltenders that will likely be signed as backups (or at best the B-side of a platoon) that could probably fill in as decent replacements for Raanta (in order of cap hit from this season): Bernier, Mason, Pavelec, Johnson, McElhinney, Kinkaid, Budaj, Darling (probably going to sign with Carolina), Condon.
Not to mention there’s always the possibility of trading a middle round draft pick for a better backup under contract, like we did for Raanta.
BDL, unless they make a major trade to move out a forward or a minor trade directly with Vegas for assurances on Fast, he will be exposed. I don’t think they do either.
BTW, they’re still going to have to resign one of Fast or Lindberg before the expansion draft to meet our exposure requirements. Technically they could also resign Pirri or Glass, but I don’t think either of those are happening.
Alexm I don’t think they lose Grabner because of his pending UFA status and absurd shooting percentage from this year. They want players they can control. Plus, Grabner could revert to 15-16 Grabner, he of the 9 goals.
BDL, just to follow up: FWIW, I think a direct trade with Vegas is the much more likely scenario in terms of protecting Fast. Like send them a third round pick if they take Klein.
If Glass were a few years younger, he’d be re-signed. Unique discipline for his type.
Along those lines RR. You leave Stepan unprotected ( he is more highly thought of around the league than he is here), with the deal that Vegas takes him. Vegas also takes two players from other teams the Rangers like, and as part of the wink wink, they send those players to the Rangers for a pick.
No way would the Rangers leave Stepan unprotected. The players exposed on other teams wouldn’t merit that trade, either. If they’re going to get rid of Stepan, they’ll trade him directly to another team that’s deep on defense but not at forward, like Carolina, Minnesota, or Nashville. Then you buy out Girardi to protect that extra defenseman. A lot depends on Stepan’s NTC (Minnesota definitely on the list, not sure about others), but that’s the play they would make.
Just an example.
No, I get that. I’m just saying that for a player like Stepan, a two-way, right hand shot 2C, they wouldn’t make that move unless the return is something that significantly improves our defense. Because you have to think of what it does to the rest of the roster. Hayes becomes your 2C, Lindberg or Miller in the 3 spot, etc.
Teams are too conservative for that kind of flurry of activity.
Exactly.
Have some chutzpah, leave Stepan (“Stamp Boy”, “Opie”, “Step-On”, “#2C”, etc.) unprotected for the Lost Wages Golden Whichevers, and lose a good player and his awful salary.
I’d protect Fast (“Couch”) and Lindberg (“Machine”) at almost any cost.
I’m sure Gorton has a plan regarding this.
Not gonna leave Stepan unprotected.
Doodie, saying Zibnejad is as good as Stepan when he’s on his game doesn’t take into account how good Stepan is when he’s on his game. When Zibanejad plays this way and Stepan plays this way, Big Edge: Zika. But let’s see him do it for more than a 10-12 game stretch, let alone five.
Wick, IMHO, if you take out the instigator (not happening; better chance that Bettman becomes a good-of-the-game commissioner) I think every team will want to have a Sestito.
LOL, Washington or Pittsburgh talk. Pittsburgh will crush Rangers again. Washington, too, but the Caps (and the Rangers) have some major work to do to get there.
Rangers are going to lose a player they want to keep.
I am with Bdl on Stephan…said this before but I think they may protect Lindberg and either expose Stephan or more likely try to move him for picks before draft. Lindberg is showing that he may be able to replace Stephan’s defensive responsibilities at much lower cap hit with offense being picked up by other centers Hayes, Mika and Miller.
they’re not leaving Stepan unprotected. C’mon. Think.
You guys are crazy. Even if the Rangers do nothing and lose Fast or Lindberg in expansion, you could still just trade Stepan for a return that includes a replacement for Fast or Lindberg while also getting you more in return. To lose Stepan for nothing is the worst possible solution.
Carp, as I said, consistency is Zibanejad’s problem, no question. But I think if/when both guys are at their best, Zibanejad is better. It’s just a question of who can do it more consistently. That’s why I’d say Stepan is, for now, the better player. I’d sure love to be able to keep Zibanejad on a longer contract at a lower number than Stepan. I hope they have the foresight not to bridge him.
Point I am trying to make ( not very well apparently), if Gorton is creative, he can dictate who he loses. Would I leave Stepan unprotected, no. I would just take my chances of losing Fast or Lindberg.
also, I think it’s pretty unlikely Smith — a UFA whose value is rising in a league where every single team needs a top-4 D-man — is going to come in anywhere near Klein’s $2.9M
He can deal Stepan as an asset. Not lose him in expansion. They like him enough where they won’t trade him without a significant piece(s) coming back.
Stepan no trade kicks in July 1. After we lose in 5 we trade him at draft June 23
Would protect Lindberg over Step. Step’s salary moving forward will be a big anchor with cap rarely moving higher. Right hand shot doesn’t matter if you never use it….
.
Hell, i would move either Haze or Step for an RD. Watching Haze play makes me nauseous. (pretty much confirmed he will score tonite then…) Glad to know he is ‘trying’.
Smith making 2.8 now comes in easy at 4.5 per.
doodie, I don’t disagree. But we haven’t yet seen Zibanejad be better than Stepan at his best ever.
no matter how creative Gorton gets, they’re losing either Fast, Lindberg or Grabner.
Rangers-Capitals Eastern Conference Consolation series?
2-2 after 4.
Carp, I think he could move a draft pick to Vegas in exchange for Vegas taking Klein. I just don’t see them doing that.
Carp, don’t disagree at what Smith’s number will be, just acknowledging that if he’s making that much, he’s going to become a new whipping boy. After they buy out Girardi, Staal will take over the lead for #1 on the WBM.
And while I don’t disagree that we haven’t seen Zibanejad be better than Stepan’s best, we haven’t seen Stepan be at his best either in a long time. Long enough that we may need to redefine what his best is.
SN, again, why not just trade him then instead of lose him for nothing? Are you people even awake yet?
Carp,
Precisely. I don’t understand how some people seem to think just bc the Pens are down Crosby (forget Letang….they’re fine without him) we can steamroll over them much less beat them. They’re a class above the Rangers even without the aforementioned players and anyone who can’t see that… well, don’t know what to tell you.
Stephan hasn’t been good Stepan for at least a year and a half. Sad to say that he’s already maxed out. He’s hit the vertex of a parabola opening up and he ain’t increasing with X.
I already gave you guys the appropriate off season movement scenario a few threads back…sheesh, don’t you guys ever read posts?!
Stephan is not getting any faster and still think they will move him for picks before no trade kicks in ..Lindberg has more long term value based since he plays center at reasonable cost
Lindberg’s ceiling is 3C.
agreed 3c is ceiling ..its about role he can play and having other younger cheaper centers that should improve
bottom line, whatever Stepan’s level of play this year, whatever his contract, if he leaves in any way, they will need to find a No. 2 center at least. Where are they getting one of those?
if Stepan scores a goal tonight “everybody” will be saying how much he picked up his game.
Hope he scores 3 tonight!
Miller and Hayes are 24/25 – would either grow into a 2C?
I think Hayes could if he ever gets his head on right, so it’s questionable. Miller is better as a wing than he is in the middle. Top six on the wing, but third line as a center.
Carp, the thing that bothers me about Stepan isn’t the offensive production, it’s that the defensive side has not been good this year. I can live with his offensive numbers being down (partly a product of his linemates also not being as good) if he was still as good as he was on the defensive side of the puck. That’s gone way down for him this year.
Stoopid Ovechkin
http://i67.tinypic.com/3166j9f.jpg
If Stepan scores tonight, and I hope he does, the earth might stop spinning on it’s axis and we will all be dead.
Also, it really pisses me off that he still sucks so bad at faceoffs. Not every player can be above 50%, I get that. But his numbers are embarrassing. 42% for the playoffs. 47% on the season. It’s not good enough.
Stepan’s play is lackadaisical in all three zones. Stops skating. Like BGB. Only much better 🙂
Doodie – Stepan has always had good line mates….not sure I follow you there…..
I used to think Stepan could be as good as Backstrom if he had Ovechkin. I don’t think that way anymore.
Craig
Pittsburgh healthy no worries vs rangers or ottawa.
Point is they are not healthy including guys playing not just those actually out. We would have a better chance against them than a Wash team coming off 3 wins to get past their Waterloo..
i don’t think so, but that’s just my humble opinion. Pit’s D has as many holes, maybe more, than Rangers’ D. But PIT traps better than OTT and has faster forwards. Nastier, too.
I’m not a doctor or ilb, but isn’t it a tad irresponsible for PIT to have Crosby skating so soon after another concussion? And not ruling him out for Game 5? (I doubt they’d play him, up 3-1, but still …).
Pitt’s trap is more effective because their D play it so well. Puck goes in, puck goes out. Put it into space and let their forwards win foot races. You can’t dump and chase against it.
Did anyone catch the high sticking call that the Pens drew near the end that the replay showed was pure “embellishment”? There should be some supplement disciple for that kind of obvious dive. I suspect the refs will be looking for more convincing evidence before they give the Pens another cl like that one.