GDT: #12 - 02/12/2013 | New York Rangers @ Boston Bruins | 7:30 PM - MSG, NBC SPORTS

[bubba5]

Prey. Labels out!

 

[Jackpot]

Feel like Nash is due for a big game. LGR!!!!!

 

[Bring Back Avery]

Feel like Nash is due for a big game. LGR!!!!!

Hopefully they'll keep Chara against Gabby's line so Nash can have a big game.

Let's Go Rangers!!!

 

[Boruto]

I carry no imagination for the outcome of the game. This one is going to be interesting. I hate to be a gloomy shroom and point this out but the game where we've show dominance has been against teams that are mostly bad-average. The lightning aren't a great team. Goaltending is average, defense is average. Leafs weren't playing with confidence or as well as they are right now. The islanders are arguably one of the worst in the last 5 games. Philly is not great either. We won one against Boston with a great effort but the score was still nonetheless close.

I'm all for the team but it's hard to ignore our loses thus far. Philly, PIT X2, BOS, NJD. We've lost 4/5 to the best in the conference. Tonight will answer questions.

 

[silverfish]

Win the game, win the season series.

LGR

 

[*Bob Richards*]

Feel like Nash is due for a big game. LGR!!!!!

Considering how my words worked out last game, I'm going to say it again to be safe.

Nash is bad. He is snakebitten. Probably wont put up any points. Can't score, yadda yadda etc. etc.

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

Big two points on the line tonight. This could be a bit of a statement game for the Rangers if they want to take the opportunity, imo.

Denis Potvin was on NHL network radio this morning for about a half hour with Mike Ross and they went around the entire league covering whats been going on. The Rangers werent mentioned once. I think its a good thing. Fly under the radar and quietly move up the standings.

The Rangers are a top 10 team over the last 10 games and if they bring it home tonight theyll be 7-3 in their last 10. Even though they are still on the bubble line in the standings, they have been winning in regulation and they actually have some games in hand on a lot of the teams around them.

They need to put on their hard hats tonight and go to work. I feel a comeback victory tonight with the Bruins getting on the board early. I want to see a more dynamic game from Richards, I want to see a true PP goal and I want to see increased focus in the neutral zone defensively.

 

[*Bob Richards*]

We have outscored the opposition 9-2 in our last two games. Lets hope we didn't exhaust the seasons offense so quickly.

 

[AWall THE CLAW]

Looking at the lineups side by side; the Bruins are pretty deep, but the Rangers have just so much more talent, especially on defense. Not to mention, which I have before, that I'm just in love with how the top 3 lines look right now. (I'd switch Hagelin and Pyatt, but I digress) Each line has speed and that player that really just makes everything "GO". Let's not forget about the energy and quickness being brought by the 4th line! 10 mins. last game? Me likey likey.

I had some serious concerns about the depth, but it looks like the team is coming together and playing with some serious confidence. Avoid the bench minors and messy changes and everything should go swimmingly. SWIMMINGLY!

New York F***IN'! Rangers - 4
Hah-vad Pooh Bears - 2

Goals from Gabby, Rick, Stepan, and..... Stralsy!

 

[LORDE]

Need to start the game ready to play... And I don't mean score an early goal (tho that would be nice).

When we've shown up ready to go to work we've played well and won every game except against the Devs. That's the effort that needs to be there night in / out.

 

[Dangleberry]

LGR

 

[*Bob Richards*]

Forget the Powerplay, forget Richards, forget juggling lines. Fix the ******* bench minors. Its absolutely mind blowing at this point.

 

[nevesis]

They will be up for this game. Hank will be in beast mode. Its a statement game for sure.

The league is watching.

 

[SupersonicMonkey*]

I'm not convinced the standings or points accurately represent, at all, what each team really is.

There's an awful lot of superficial loss points being handed out.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

I carry no imagination for the outcome of the game. This one is going to be interesting. I hate to be a gloomy shroom and point this out but the game where we've show dominance has been against teams that are mostly bad-average. The lightning aren't a great team. Goaltending is average, defense is average. Leafs weren't playing with confidence or as well as they are right now. The islanders are arguably one of the worst in the last 5 games. Philly is not great either. We won one against Boston with a great effort but the score was still nonetheless close.

I'm all for the team but it's hard to ignore our loses thus far. Philly, PIT X2, BOS, NJD. We've lost 4/5 to the best in the conference. Tonight will answer questions.

We gave the Leafs their only road loss and the Lightning their only home loss (when they were 6-1 at the time). We also played with a completely different lineup most of the season. We also had a lot of turnover since last season.

 

[AWall THE CLAW]

We gave the Leafs their only road loss and the Lightning their only home loss (when they were 6-1 at the time). We also played with a completely different lineup most of the season. We also had a lot of turnover since last season.

Indeed. We all wanted the Rangers to blow teams away out of the gate, but I think I realized that no matter what there were going to be some growing pains with the Rangers this year. I think they've found the combination up front they've been looking for. Not to mention that the King seems to finally be up to speed. He was spectacular against Tampa in his positioning and rebound control.

 

[RangerBoy]

How many goals did TB have heading into the first Ranger game? 34 or 37. The 93-94 Kings were only team to have more in the same amount of games to start a season. Not for nothing but the Rangers can take those teams. TB was being talked about as an elite team in the league in the first week of the season. St.Louis was going to run away with the West and Tarasenko was going lead the NHL in goals. Two weeks later. Different story. The Rangers get their **** together. They will be a top team. They say its only a 48 game season. Its still 48 games. Not 20.

 

[Boruto]

We gave the Leafs their only road loss and the Lightning their only home loss (when they were 6-1 at the time). We also played with a completely different lineup most of the season. We also had a lot of turnover since last season.

I'm not sure why there's so much emphasis put on road and home records. A good team is a good team, an average team is an average team. The records at home and on the road weighs on momentum. If a great home team players a great road team then does it cancel out? That momentum of confidence of being a great home/road team is in the first 5 minutes. We came out strong in the first 5 minutes in both games and we took that away from them and it was team vs. team after that point.

But Snow, I get what you're saying. it's a bit worrying though, to look at the season's highlight games and see opponents that are in the middle to bottom spread in the standings. It would be a much lovelier sight to see a better record than 4/5 against.

 

[NYROrtsFan]

Worried about the lack of toughness in our lineup compared to a team like Boston... I like Asham, but he can't do it all.

 

[Boruto]

I think I said with conviction in the OT Thread that the team will turn things around starting the game against NYI

There's this notion that if you say something on the non-positive side about the team, it's negative and not just constructive.

 

[Boruto]

Worried about the lack of toughness in our lineup compared to a team like Boston... I like Asham, but he can't do it all.

Pyatt is a hidden piece of toughness. He's got the size and he can stand his ground in a fight. He might be the biggest and toughest guy on the team if there was a free for all fight.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

I'm not sure why there's so much emphasis put on road and home records. A good team is a good team, an average team is an average team. The records at home and on the road weighs on momentum. If a great home team players a great road team then does it cancel out? That momentum of confidence of being a great home/road team is in the first 5 minutes. We came out strong in the first 5 minutes in both games and we took that away from them and it was team vs. team after that point.

But Snow, I get what you're saying. it's a bit worrying though, to look at the season's highlight games and see opponents that are in the middle to bottom spread in the standings. It would be a much lovelier sight to see a better record than 4/5 against.

Well we played the Bruins who have 1 regulation loss, beat them once. We played the Devils who have 1 regulation loss and a lot of people believe we outplayed them. They capitalized on some uncharacteristic mistakes. Brodeur had an amazing game. He played over his head even for him. We got killed by the Pens, but we don't match up well with them. They're the team that constantly beats us.

Also, of course home record and away record matters. The Blues last year were a .500 team on the road and dominant at home, ditto the Wings. Are you seriously going to tell me it didn't matter where you beat those teams?

 

[*Bob Richards*]

Pyatt is a hidden piece of toughness. He's got the size and he can stand his ground in a fight. He might be the biggest and toughest guy on the team if there was a free for all fight.

Yeah because Stu and Asham would be fighting half the opposition.

This team is plenty tough. We just aren't as in your face about it as Boston is.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Worried about the lack of toughness in our lineup compared to a team like Boston... I like Asham, but he can't do it all.

I'm more worried in that it seems like we have a lot fewer 2 way players than we used to. Still I'd rather have more skill and fewer guys like Feds. We play a good enough defensive system and have enough guys that play some D, and our D-men are good enough.

 

[NYR Viper]

Worried about the lack of toughness in our lineup compared to a team like Boston... I like Asham, but he can't do it all.

This, and before anyone goes all "well then you must think we need Bickel!!?!!", that's not what I am saying. Just that this team lacks any significant players who can stand up for their teammates.

Montreal attempted to go this route. They brought in Prust, Armstrong, Bouillon and brought up White this season.

Buffalo attempted the same thing for a long time. They went out and got Ott, Scott and brought up McNabb and Foligno.

Teams recognize the need for toughness in their line-up.