GDT: ECF - Game 2 - New York Rangers vs Tampa Bay Lightning - 8pm EST, ESPN - Series (NYR 1-0)

[GENESISPuck94]

I think saying Tampa was rusty is a BS excuse for them. Maybe Vasi & their PP weren't clicking because of the time off, but that doesnt explain why the Rangers were outskating and outmuscling them on the cycle and off the rush. You'd think 9 days off would work in their favor in those areas.

The Rangers being the youngest and Tampa the oldest in the payoffs will make an impact in this series. Experience, to me, is no longer a factor. Our team knows we have what it takes to win after the first 2 rounds

Just like the narrative that they "played so much hockey" when the facts are they played the LEAST amount of hockey for any Cup in modern times. They played 56 regular season games in 19-20 with months off for rest between the regular season and the bubble (they had a bye for the play-in round too). Then they only played 70 games before the playoffs in 20-21.

The only other time a team played that little for a Cup was the 95 Devils.

They aren't rusty, they didn't play a lot of hockey. I've never seen a champion with so many excuses.

They got beat. Plain and simple. They weren't Rusty. They weren't tired. They looked like a team that was cocky as shit and thought they'd run over a young team. Their dirtbag tactics didn't work. And then they realized they were in a cage with a f***ing rabbid wolverine they started to look like a team that had its time but it's over. The look of bewilderment on their faces walking to the lockerroom after the game said it all.

Let's f***ing go Rangers.

 

[Synergy27]

I thought the Lightning came out and played a good first period. But like the Rangers in game 1 against Pittsburgh, I think the Lightning expended all of their energy in the first. First game in 9 days, a raucous Garden crowd, the ECF all these factors had them amped up. I expect them to get better as the series progresses.

They did for sure. When Stamkos scored that goal I thought we might be in trouble. Tampa controlled the play for the rest of that period and our boys were looking tired.

I really have no idea how they were able to bring it so hard for the rest of that game. Youthful exuberance I guess.

I keep waiting for this team to hit the wall but it hasn’t happened yet. Would be awesome if it just, uh, didn’t.

They win tonight and shit starts to get really real.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

A thread

 

[chosen]

Those stupid media things don't matter. Panarin is 5-0 against the Lightning! The Lightning don't lose 2 in a row! One of those will end. The streaks don't matter like GG said. They didn't play us each time. Panarin didn't beat the 2022 TBL each time. So who cares?

Like last game: If we win it's cause of rust. If they win it's cause we are tired. OR, watch the game and make a story based on what you see. Sports media in general is 95% stupidity.

The media reflects the fans and gives them what they want.

 

[McRanger92]

Just like the narrative that they "played so much hockey" when the facts are they played the LEAST amount of hockey for any Cup in modern times. They played 56 regular season games in 19-20 with months off for rest between the regular season and the bubble (they had a bye for the play-in round too). Then they only played 70 games before the playoffs in 20-21.

The only other time a team played that little for a Cup was the 95 Devils.

They aren't rusty, they didn't play a lot of hockey. I've never seen a champion with so many excuses.

They got beat. Plain and simple. They weren't Rusty. They weren't tired. They looked like a team that was cocky as shit and thought they'd run over a young team. Their dirtbag tactics didn't work. And then they realized they were in a cage with a f***ing rabbid wolverine they started to look like a team that had its time but it's over. The look of bewilderment on their faces walking to the lockerroom after the game said it all.

Let's f***ing go Rangers.

Another underrated aspect of this series is that Tampa doesnt have a center that they can match with Zibanejad. PIT had Crosby and Carolina had Staal. Cirelli is a solid defensive minded 2C, but I don't think he can match Mika physically and Stamkos isn't really a center anymore and cant defend in general.

 

[GENESISPuck94]

Another underrated aspect of this series is that Tampa doesnt have a center that they can match with Zibanejad. PIT had Crosby and Carolina had Staal. Cirelli is a solid defensive minded 2C, but I don't think he can match Mika physically and Stamkos isn't really a center anymore and cant defend in general.

Agree, really good point.

 

[ArPanet]

28. How good were the Rangers in Game 1 against Tampa Bay? The great Corey Sznajder (@ShutdownLine on Twitter) pointed out that Florida had two cross-seam passes against the Lightning at five-on-five all series. Toronto had seven. The Rangers got one on their first shot, and had seven for the game. That’s crazy, and as much a credit to New York as a display of rare Lightning sloppiness.

Friedman

 

[bleedblue94]

My biggest fear tonight is one of those perry or maroon accidental flops on top of Igor. Perry especially is very good at it. Tonight is a night I worry about that

 

[duhmetreE]

My biggest fear tonight is one of those perry or maroon accidental flops on top of Igor. Perry especially is very good at it. Tonight is a night I worry about that

I'd expect Perry to be the rat that he is but I don't think they take it over the top like the megarat Kadri

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

My biggest fear tonight is one of those perry or maroon accidental flops on top of Igor. Perry especially is very good at it. Tonight is a night I worry about that

Bolts should be frightened then because Habs and Penguins (and for some reason, Carolina fans) will tell you that we have the apparent master of this in Kreider.

 

[duhmetreE]

Another underrated aspect of this series is that Tampa doesnt have a center that they can match with Zibanejad. PIT had Crosby and Carolina had Staal. Cirelli is a solid defensive minded 2C, but I don't think he can match Mika physically and Stamkos isn't really a center anymore and cant defend in general.

He can match up well but the problem is they have no one else for the kid line.... and if Panarin gets going they're really in deep shit

 

[ohbaby]

A lot is being made that Tampa hasn't lost successive playoff games the last 17 times. I freakin love it! Another record shattered tonight.

Yeah sure, they might play better, but the result will be the same because they can't match our speed and tenacity. If we were to lose, if would have nothing to do with how well they played, and everything to do with us not playing our game the way we can.

But I don't see that happening. We are on a roll, and still playing on home ice. Tampa has their hands full. Our 7th man (The Garden Faithful) is too much for them to handle. Every time we play at home,... it's like we have a man advantage.

Igor is Better!

 

[DumpnChase12]

 

[Glen Sathers Cigar]

Really need to win tonight. Who knows if Point will come back, we really need to take advantage when he's not in the lineup. And really want to win our home games, Tampa is too good to trade wins with them so I really want to see us have a great effort tonight. Also really need to come out and score on Vasy early, he's surely going to be completely dialed in so if we can try our best to not let him get into a rhythm that would be great.

In the first 25 minutes or so on Wednesday we were very sloppy and were failing to clear multiple times and getting hemmed (that's how they scored their first goal) and just a lot of easy giveaways. We cleaned it up in the second basically after the game got to 2-2. Really hope we can come out and execute.

 

[duhmetreE]

Brayden Point plays a massive role into their success. It's been over looked since the Florida sweep.

Without him, I'm starting to see a Rangers in 5 scenario. I'm still at Rangers in 7 because I'm a cynic.

 

[IDvsEGO]

Without point their centers become overmatched at the 2nd line, instead of perfectly matching up with us.
Theoretically
Point vs Mika
Cirelli vs Strome
Paul vs Chtyil
Colton/Maroon vs Goodrow.

 

[Synergy27]

My biggest fear tonight is one of those perry or maroon accidental flops on top of Igor. Perry especially is very good at it. Tonight is a night I worry about that

Same.

 

[NCRanger]

He can match up well but the problem is they have no one else for the kid line.... and if Panarin gets going they're really in deep shit

For once, the Rangers are deeper and faster.

 

[romba]

Another underrated aspect of this series is that Tampa doesnt have a center that they can match with Zibanejad. PIT had Crosby and Carolina had Staal. Cirelli is a solid defensive minded 2C, but I don't think he can match Mika physically and Stamkos isn't really a center anymore and cant defend in general.

Great point.

Crosby is ELITE offensively and Mika had his hands full focusing on not letting him score 5 per game and it really hindered his offensive game, Staal is ELITE defensively (and Fast is excellent too) and Mika had his hands full getting any offensive traction when they were matched up with him. Cirelli, while very good, is neither, and Mika can do his thing.

 

[SA16]

If Tampa wasn't back to back champions people would look at their current center depth and say a team like that has no chance to win in the playoffs.

 

[leetch99]

Gotta come out hard and fast....I think the break killed any interest by the TB club of putting it all on the line for a 3rd time and a win would almost do them in ......I have said all season they would not have the stomach to endure the pain and rigors of a long Cup battle once again.....and the break certainly would create that type of mindset and lessen their hunger . Win tonight.....a goal early by the Young Turk Line to start things rolling .

 

[Bacon Artemi Bravo]

Brayden Point plays a massive role into their success. It's been over looked since the Florida sweep.

Without him, I'm starting to see a Rangers in 5 scenario. I'm still at Rangers in 7 because I'm a cynic.

He's one hell of a player. Not only offensively but he is clearly an emotional leader on that team and an absolute playoff warrior. His value to that team can't be overstated.

 

[will1066]

None of what happened on Wednesday matters. Brand-new ballgame tonight. Let's see what transpires.

 

[romba]

No 'already drunk' posts yet? Get on your game guys!

 

[NYRFAN218]

Brayden Point plays a massive role into their success. It's been over looked since the Florida sweep.

Without him, I'm starting to see a Rangers in 5 scenario. I'm still at Rangers in 7 because I'm a cynic.

I'm still expecting a 6 or 7 game series at this point. But if they pull out the win tonight, then you have the path to that in 5 scenario with the split in Tampa and the game 5 at home where the Rangers have been dominant.

Every single playoff game is important and tonight is hardly a must win given what we've seen in the playoffs and how many true must wins they've played. But taking tonight really puts them in the drivers seat for the series.