GDT: #14 - 02/17/2013 | Washington Capitals @ New York Rangers | 6:00 PM - NBC SPORTS

[Kershaw]

This is a team the Rangers should get a ton of chances ES and should capitalize with the sieves in net for the Caps. I'll say a moderate 2-1 nail-biting win. Blocked shots prevail.

 

[Kakko]

1. Knock Ovechkin down
2. Keep Ribeiro up

Easy as that. Their goaltending and defense is pathetic, we just need to stop them from scoring

 

[JimmyG89]

Would prefer to see Kreider play over Asham. Don't see that tough of a team in Wsahington. No big fighter. Hendricks can fight, so can Erskine. I'd rather have some more skill out there. Put Boyle on the 4th and have 3 lines with skill and that can score.

But Torts will scratch Kreider because Nash will play and we'll have Boyle out there on the 3rd line and we'll have to rely on the top 6 forwards being the scoring for the team.

I still see them winning with either lineup but I can see a big win with Kreider in over Asham and having a top 9 that can score.

 

[Kreider Typical]

Would prefer to see Kreider play over Asham. Don't see that tough of a team in Wsahington. No big fighter. Hendricks can fight, so can Erskine. I'd rather have some more skill out there. Put Boyle on the 4th and have 3 lines with skill and that can score.

But Torts will scratch Kreider because Nash will play and we'll have Boyle out there on the 3rd line and we'll have to rely on the top 6 forwards being the scoring for the team.

I still see them winning with either lineup but I can see a big win with Kreider in over Asham and having a top 9 that can score.

asham has solid coverage and more puck control than kreider right now. this is one of the teams you don't want kreider out there against

 

[*Bob Richards*]

Just win, baby.

 

[JimmyG89]

asham has solid coverage and more puck control than kreider right now. this is one of the teams you don't want kreider out there against

The team is bad defensively. Downright awful. I'd prefer the better goal scorer and more skilled player. Tom Poti, Tomas Kundratek, and John Erskine on their D core. Those are not NHL players at this time. Asham will not give them fits in their own zone and be a threat to score.

 

[ColonialsHockey10]

We are simply treading uphill in a game against Poti, Kundratek and Wolsi.

Oates knew exactly what he was doing scratching Green for Poti.

That doesn't even factor in John Carlson's inevitable goal.

 

[Kreider Typical]

The team is bad defensively. Downright awful. I'd prefer the better goal scorer and more skilled player. Tom Poti, Tomas Kundratek, and John Erskine on their D core. Those are not NHL players at this time. Asham will not give them fits in their own zone and be a threat to score.

you already have the offense to score goals against them if nash is in. the problem is going to be shutting down their offense, and for that asham fits better than kreider.

 

[NYRangers88]

Need 2 points!!

 

[bubba5]

Nash???????????????????

 

[Doctor King Schultz]

I predict a goal from our bottom 6

 

[nyrpassion]

I want nothing more than to beat the ****ing caps. i ****ing hate them so much.

 

[AWall THE CLAW]

To the "sky is falling crowd" - we had 7 wins after 13 games last year. The Rangers have had 2 lapses in their last two games and all in all it cost them a single point. Best to have these struggles now and fix problems BEFORE they rear their ugly heads in crunch time.

That said... I smell a solid Ranger win tonight. 3-0, Hank with his first shutout of the 2013 campaign.

Goals from Nash, DZ, and the Cap'n.

 

[*Bob Richards*]

Powe scores tonight. Calling it.

 

[Barnaby]

The team is bad defensively. Downright awful. I'd prefer the better goal scorer and more skilled player. Tom Poti, Tomas Kundratek, and John Erskine on their D core. Those are not NHL players at this time. Asham will not give them fits in their own zone and be a threat to score.

Kreider has been a threat to score this year? He's tied with Asham for a whopping 1. If the Rangers lose, then it isn't because Asham played 6 minutes on the 4th line over Kreider. I'm not saying you need a goon, but you need to dress someone who can drop them if need be...

 

[5 4 Fighting]

Damn, feeling confident in Powe scoring huh? Well, I'll call a goal for Kreider if he plays tonight! LGR baby!

 

[NYRSchrute217]

Need to play a full 60 tonight. Not 20, not 40, not 50. Play a full game and we'll win

 

[BBKers]

Kreider has been a threat to score this year? He's tied with Asham for a whopping 1. If the Rangers lose, then it isn't because Asham played 6 minutes on the 4th line over Kreider. I'm not saying you need a goon, but you need to dress someone who can drop them if need be...

True dat
But do you want to hear something ghastly?
Kreider has more goals (1) in 72:05 minutes of total icetime (8:46 on PP) than Nash (0 goals with 48:26 on PP), Richards (0 goals in 54:47 on PP) and Gaborik (0 goals in 46:35 on PP) do combined. With them together having more than double the ice time that Kreider has gotten!!!

Nash has $7,600,000 in salary, Gaborik has $7,500,000 and Richards has $12,000,000 in salary
Combined $27,100,000 in salary

Kreider has - if he fullfills all his performance bonuses - $1,627,500 and is guaranteed $990,000 in salary - if he plays in the NHL.

That, my friends - is insanity!

 

[*Bob Richards*]

Insanity? That's just upsetting.

 

[Machinehead]

I'm unexpectedly going to this game thanks to Nils. So hooray Nils!

I sure hope I get to see Nash

 

[Net Front Presence]

4-2 Victory.

Gaborik
Boyle
McDonagh
Richards

 

[niinah]

LGR!!!
Going to this one, looking forward to 2 points!

 

[JimmyG89]

Kreider has been a threat to score this year? He's tied with Asham for a whopping 1. If the Rangers lose, then it isn't because Asham played 6 minutes on the 4th line over Kreider. I'm not saying you need a goon, but you need to dress someone who can drop them if need be...

First off, Kreider should be on the 3rd line. Boyle would move down.

Second off, Kreider would get around 10-12 minutes and he fits that mold better than Asham.

When Boyle was scratched, the team was rolling 4 lines with Miller and Kreider on line 3. There were no people playing out of where they should be, and it showed. There is the presumption of a threat. When Asham, Boyle, Powe, or Halpern are out there, I don't see a threat, and other teams feel the same. With Kreider there is ability that has the be accounted for. You have to know where he is because of his speed and shot.

Those players mentioned above can play, but are 4th line players IMO. That alone means our 3rd line will have less skill offensively because of it. For a team that struggles to have many ppl chipping in on the offense right now, with really one line going, diluting the offensive skill on a 3rd line hurts.

I have no issues in a 1 goal game, switching guys like Boyle, Powe, and Halpern to a shutdown role later in games, but having offense from the 3rd line for 2 1/2 periods with a lead and turning it into shutdown due to guys shifting in and out.

 

[Lion Hound]

Would prefer to see Kreider play over Asham. Don't see that tough of a team in Wsahington. No big fighter. Hendricks can fight, so can Erskine. I'd rather have some more skill out there. Put Boyle on the 4th and have 3 lines with skill and that can score.

But Torts will scratch Kreider because Nash will play and we'll have Boyle out there on the 3rd line and we'll have to rely on the top 6 forwards being the scoring for the team.

I still see them winning with either lineup but I can see a big win with Kreider in over Asham and having a top 9 that can score.

Actually Wash is a pretty tough team in general. Erskine, Hendricks, Chimera. Not just with the fats though. Brower, Ovechkin, Fehr all big boys, tough to contain. They gave the Rangers a hard time last season with these guys. Top 6 and overall roster at forward are far more physical than the Rangers are. D needs to get the pucks up and out quick so they don't get pinned down.

Any word n Miller?

 

[BBKers]

insanity? That's just upsetting.

definition of insanity: Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
albert einstein

this