Pre-Game Talk: (3) Washington Capitals VS (6) New York Rangers (Schedule in Post #1)

[The Gloaming]

Rick Nash became the third active player to reach 20 goals in 8 consecutive seasons.

He sucks.

 

[haveandare]

Dear lord, I ventured into the main boards thread and quickly realized why despise the Caps fanbase more than any other. They have a vocal contingent that are like the most arrogant part of the Penguins fanbase, but with a lot less to back it up.

There are a few who try to have a reasonable discussion, but it feels like they have been slightly brainwashed by the more vocal part of their brethren. Apparently Ribeiro is better than Stepan, assists are the ONLY thing that matters when evaluating centers, and Marcus Johansson is at least as good as any NYR center.

Their tone and attitude is probably the reason why I've put WSH down a bit more harshly than they've likely deserved earlier in this thread. I just don't want to give that team any respect, and am willing to use a bit of hyperbole to put them down a bit extra.

I will try to avoid that thread like the plague unless we sweep the first two games in Washington, then I might as the great Jeremy Clarkson put it: go down there and mock.

I may get physically ill if we lose this series.

Why couldn't we play Boston instead? I like Boston fans.

Seriously. Going just by the conversation in there, you'd think the Caps were head and shoulders above the rest of the league, not 3 points above the team that's 8th in the East. At least there aren't a ton of Rangers fans in there spitting equally arrogant nonsense.

 

[The Gloaming]

Marcus Johnassen is better than any Rangers center? What are these guys smoking?

 

[Holocene]

Marcus Johnassen is better than any Rangers center? What are these guys smoking?

Lolololololol you can't be serious! Someone said that?

 

[aufheben]

Pretty close between Pens and Caps. Their fanbases have a lot in common. I don't understand why thy don't get along

Band wagoners are just the worst.

 

[The Gloaming]

Lolololololol you can't be serious! Someone said that?

It was mentioned on the last page.

I wonder if they think that Backstrom is better than Crosby. Some extreme homerism going on in Craps Land.

 

[aufheben]

Don't even visit that thread, there are funner ways to kill brain cells.

 

[Blue Blooded]

Lolololololol you can't be serious! Someone said that?

No, they said that there wasn't much between him and Stepan, and that Bäckström and Ribeiro were clearly better than him.

E: Not that stating Bäckström being better than Stepan is out of line, it's probably true, but the other two...

 

[Drewbackatu*]

No, they said that there wasn't much between him and Stepan, and that Bäckström and Ribeiro were clearly better than him.

E: Not that stating Bäckström being better than Stepan is out of line, it's probably true, but the other two...

It's probably true?? Look, Stepan had a great regular season but he really needs to produce in the playoffs(not just him mind you) if he truly wants to take the next step in his development.
Even then, he doesn't hold a candle to Backstrom who is one of the top 5 playmakers in hockey!(And this is not a knock on Stepan)

Ribeiro? Right now you have to take him over Stepan(guy has almost 700 points) but not going forward needless to say.

 

[truebluegoalie]

Have a bad feeling we get rolled. Please, please let me be wrong.

Absolutely do not want to face this ****ing team right now. I'm sick of them. Have lived in the DC area since the first time we met them in the playoffs, when we choked a 3-1 game lead. And since then, I just hate them. Hate their fans, hate their team.
****, and they're pretty hot right now. We'll see.
Anyway...LGR!

This is pretty much how I feel and I think some of it has to do with living down here. I think people who don't live here don't realize how bad it really is. I have been down here since 2000 and I can't stand their new fans, they were no where to be found earlier this season, I couldn't give away some tickets I had to a Caps/Canes game in March, and I was trying to raise money with them for a charity. Pathetic fan base, there are a few that I used to play hockey with that I know are die hard fans and have been for a long time. Most of the rest of them are just terribly annoying and bandwagoners which explains the reasons for all the comments on their thread and the main page.

I seriously hope we can win this series because there was nothing more satisfying than wearing my NYR sweater, along with my infant daughter wearing hers last year, the day after that game 7 victory. Pissed a lot of people off. Even had a guy at walmart look at me and just say "that isn't right" haha ha.

Either of you locals planning on going to the one of the games down here?

Really want to win this series cause if we lose it won't be fun around here.

 

[LyNX27]

Looking at the Main thread in the "Stanley Cup Play-Offs" forum one would think the Rangers aren't even in this thing.

 

[Blue Blooded]

It's probably true?? Look, Stepan had a great regular season but he really needs to produce in the playoffs(not just him mind you) if he truly wants to take the next step in his development.
Even then, he doesn't hold a candle to Backstrom who is one of the top 5 playmakers in hockey!(And this is not a knock on Stepan)

Ribeiro? Right now you have to take him over Stepan(guy has almost 700 points) but not going forward needless to say.

Why do I have to do that?

Ribeiro is a PP specialist that racks up points on a hot unit. He has the worst possession numbers on the Caps and scores points at ES at the same rate as Carl Hagelin.

Stepan is easily the more valuable player at the moment.

RE: Bäckström. I chose the word probably since it isn't an absolute fact as they play on different teams. The probability is likely over 90%, but that doesn't make it a certainty.

 

[nyrpassion]

This is pretty much how I feel and I think some of it has to do with living down here. I have been down here since 2000 and I can't stand their new fans, they were no where to be found earlier this season, I couldn't give away some tickets I had to a Caps/Canes game in March, and I was trying to raise money with them for a charity. Pathetic fan base, there are a few that I used to play hockey with that I know are die hard fans and have been for a long time. Most of the rest of them are just terribly annoying and bandwagoners which explains the reasons for all the comments on their thread and the main page.

I seriously hope we can win this series because there was nothing more satisfying than wearing my NYR sweater, along with my infant daughter wearing hers last year, the day after that game 7 victory. Pissed a lot of people off. Even had a guy at walmart look at me and just say "that isn't right" haha ha.

Either of you locals planning on going to the one of the games down here?

Really want to win this series cause if we lose it won't be fun around here.

On point. Despise their fans, was ecstatic when they were struggling early on.
And I think nothing can beat last years series, it had everything in terms of pissing off the other side. Triple OT at Verizon, tying the game with 6.6 seconds to go..Winning in game 7! Absolutely amazing and awesome, it was really satisfying.
Just went over to the Caps board, they're currently discussing who they want to face in the 2nd round.

 

[nyrpassion]

Looking at the Main thread in the "Stanley Cup Play-Offs" forum one would think the Rangers aren't even in this thing.

Such a turn of events from March, when the Caps were in last place. haha

 

[The Gloaming]

Do I have to take Richards over Stepan because he has more career points as well? Or does that only apply to players who aren't Rangers?

 

[BlueshirtBlitz]

Hate the Caps. Obnoxious playing them SO MANY TIMES but I'd love to knock these scrubs out of the PO's.

Rangers in 6.

 

[Drewbackatu*]

Why do I have to do that?

Ribeiro is a PP specialist that racks up points on a hot unit. He has the worst possession numbers on the Caps and scores points at ES at the same rate as Carl Hagelin.

Stepan is easily the more valuable player at the moment.

RE: Bäckström. I chose the word probably since it isn't an absolute fact as they play on different teams. The probability is likely over 90%, but that doesn't make it a certainty.

You don't have to do anything! I said I would take Stepan going forward but you can't ignore a player who has put up great production for 10 years.

 

[Drewbackatu*]

Do I have to take Richards over Stepan because he has more career points as well? Or does that only apply to players who aren't Rangers?

You don't have to do anything but come next year, who the heck do you think is going to be the #1 center on the Rangers? If your answer is Stepan, then he would be the "de-facto #1" and if he is, we're in a lot of trouble!!

 

[The Gloaming]

Stepan finished 11th in center scoring. Keep pushing your agenda though.

 

[3rd Guy High]

I got a whopping 0 replies from Caps fans when I posted this, but when I just said Stepan might be the best 2 way player in this series with no evidence I got ripped to shreds. How quick they run back into their hole when proven wrong

Caps fans amuse me.

Would I take Stepan over Backstrom? **** no. Not on one shortened season of play. He has a better track record, and brings more speed to the game which is my style of play. But right now, its really not that absurd to say Derek Stepan might be the best two way player between these two teams.

First off, Stepan doesn't have the prolific powerplay to feed off of that Backstrom and Ribiero have. Stepan has a total of 10 powerplay points versus Backstrom's 18 and Ribiero's 27 amazed. What he also doesn't have is Ovechkin, who just scored 32 goals in a shortened season on his wing and might be the best offensive player in hockey right now. (Dont know whether Ribiero or Backstrom plays with him but the point still stands.)

Second, Stepan plays more shorthanded minutes than both Backstrom and Ribiero. Stepan is the go-to guy on the penalty kill along with Callahan. If Backstrom was so much better defensively as everyone here is claiming, then why is the Capitals PK so bad? Isn't he the go-to guy on the PK? If he is, like he should be from what everyone saying, then why is their PK 26th in the league?

And again, I said Stepan MIGHT be the best two way player between the two teams. It's not as black and white as everyone is making it seem. Stepan had an awful start to the season, and if not for that he would be well above the PPG mark.

 

[Blue Blooded]

You don't have to do anything but come next year, who the heck do you think is going to be the #1 center on the Rangers? If your answer is Stepan, then he would be the "de-facto #1" and if he is, we're in a lot of trouble!!

I didn't mean going forward, I meant right now I take Stepan over Ribeiro without thinking twice.

Ribeiro puts up points, but he's pretty terrible at everything else.

 

[trueblue9441]

i put together a playlist for the playoffs, if anyone wants it shoot me a pm and ill send it to you. its worth a listen

 

[Drewbackatu*]

Stepan finished 11th in center scoring. Keep pushing your agenda though.

Stepan had a terrific regular season but I'll repeat it: "If he craps out yet again in the playoffs, then he really hasn't reached the next plateau in his development."

I'm not really sure I know what you mean by me "pushing my agenda."

 

[Drewbackatu*]

I got a whopping 0 replies from Caps fans when I posted this, but when I just said Stepan might be the best 2 way player in this series with no evidence I got ripped to shreds. How quick they run back into their hole when proven wrong

Caps fans amuse me.

Excellent points! Once again, Stepan has indeed had a remarkable season and I agree he might very well be the best 2 way player in the series but can we just tone it down a bit until we see how he produces in the playoffs?(And not just him, mind you!)

I don't know about you but I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Stepan does in fact produce in the playoffs.

 

[3rd Guy High]

Excellent points! Once again, Stepan has indeed had a remarkable season and I agree he might very well be the best 2 way player in the series but can we just tone it down a bit until we see how he produces in the playoffs?(And not just him, mind you!)

I don't know about you but I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Stepan does in fact produce in the playoffs.

Oh I hope so too. Other wise I'm going to look like the biggest dumbass on this board.