The key is the scoring support you give that type of net minder…..
Shesty is also the best puck handling goalie in the league. He has no problem hitting a fwd with a tape to tape pass on the opposing blue line. FLA will need to keep the puck away from him on their dump ins.
Bob is a good puck handler too, but not like shesty.
Tampa imo was gassed. Depends too largely on kucherov and their PP.
Plus their D was banged up and looking old, they are rapidly going from one of the beasts in the East to a 7-8 squeak in seed.
So far, all the rangers top 6 has been performing. Panarin has 4-5 game winners and their entire top 6 is pretty much a PPG or better…
They are performing and will need to continue to do so if NYR wants to come out on top.
Their 3rd line mainly, needs to provide more timely offense. Besides will Cuylle, no one on it looks to be a danger offensively. They need to be better on that side of the puck. Hopefully chytil comes back fully and adds some offensive pop.
I give the rangers a slight edge on D and in net.
Forsling is very good, but Fla has no one like Adam Fox. Hes playing with a knee brace. Hopefully the rest will pay dividends for him.
I think FLA is more comfortable running their 4 lines with regularity.
It’s the final 4. The margins are razor thin as it is….. will the cats physicality slow down the rangers speed????
The most glaring thing my eyes saw against Boston was the amount of breakaways they let up.
At least twice a game, sometimes more the bruins were able to slip a FWD in alone from the redline in. Whether it was a bad pinch, line change, whatever etc……
If they give that to NYR, they are going to get burned, because the rangers have far more offensive fire power then the bruins.
If it turns into a back and fourth trade chances track meet, imo that also favors NYR. Again, both offenses are potent, but in that situation the better goalie is key, which is shesty.
For that panthers, they have to get the puck deep and cycle, Along the circles and behind the net.
Canes had a lot of their success there generating scoring chances and FLA has the personnel to make the rangers miserable if they execute that grind it away cycle..
PP/PK will be huge for both…. When the opposing team gets the chance, they need to make the other pay….
Both teams have healthy doses of playoff experience.
Both have a ton of playoff games under their belt and a ECF loss in the last 3 seasons.
These 2 are def the cream of the crop in the eastern conference. NYR finished 1st, most comeback wins, etc
Fla let in least goals, are a more vet heavy team; can play a physical grinding style that can give NYR trouble
Both are well coached and conditioned.
It’s going to be a good tilt eaither way…..
In the NHL, it’s really hard to beat a good team 4 times…..
That’s what makes me think this goes at least 6 games possibly 7.
Whoever you like.
