Post-Game Talk: Game 5: Back to MSG!

[Levitate]

Kreider makes such a huge difference in the offensive zone with his speed and size. First and last goals all him for getting to pucks before the other team. Shot seems OK too but I still hope he works on his accuracy over the summer. Wish he had been around earlier in these playoffs...

I dunno if this team can pull it out or even force a game 7 but I'm much happier with them if they play like last night and still lose, rather than how they played in game 4. It's one thing to just not be good enough but it's another to play terrible and with no life. Last night they played their game that made them successful this year and they won. I'd like to see them at least push it to game 7 and make a series of it

e: the big difference I saw was the Rangers were much more aggressive and didn't give Pittsburgh a lot of time with the puck in their own end. Game 4 the Rangers were poorly positioned and sat back a lot and didn't give their guys who were forechecking any puck support. Gotta be aggressive against Pittsburgh, you won't win trying to sit back and play defense.

Having an actual day of practice probably helped a lot too, seemed much more in sync and back to their gameplan after that. Makes me want them to have a practice today just to keep it in their heads...

 

[Kokoschka]

A little off topic, but I just can't imagine how tough it must be to grandma Boyle to keep all the names straight. I mean I only have 2 uncles and a cousin, yet I have been JosefChristiaPatDANIEL! to my grandmother as long as I can think. I can only laugh at the thought of Brian's name getting butchered.

 

[eco's bones]

Kreider two games back from six weeks injured scores the pwp goal that we've all been waiting for. It's sometimes a matter of doing simple things right. Anyway a very good effort overall. Feel bad for St. Louis. That's a tough thing. One game at a time. Need to get a good start Sunday.

 

[CharlieCharleschuk]

They finally got back to covering for one another and supporting the puck in the d zone which allowed controlled breakouts. There was much much less scrambling in their own zone. Is this the result of a change such as instructing the forwards to play lower or was it that Pittsburgh relented their forecheck because of their sizable series lead?

Kreider's second efforts were amazing to watch. He personally created opportunities that I'm not sure any other Ranger could with his speed, drive, reach and size.

They finally had a game where the puck cooperated and they found open men for the shot. If they can keep it up great, but I think Pitt will bring increased pressure, especially early.

 

[JCrusher*]

Kreider makes such a huge difference in the offensive zone with his speed and size. First and last goals all him for getting to pucks before the other team. Shot seems OK too but I still hope he works on his accuracy over the summer. Wish he had been around earlier in these playoffs...

I dunno if this team can pull it out or even force a game 7 but I'm much happier with them if they play like last night and still lose, rather than how they played in game 4. It's one thing to just not be good enough but it's another to play terrible and with no life. Last night they played their game that made them successful this year and they won. I'd like to see them at least push it to game 7 and make a series of it

e: the big difference I saw was the Rangers were much more aggressive and didn't give Pittsburgh a lot of time with the puck in their own end. Game 4 the Rangers were poorly positioned and sat back a lot and didn't give their guys who were forechecking any puck support. Gotta be aggressive against Pittsburgh, you won't win trying to sit back and play defense.

Having an actual day of practice probably helped a lot too, seemed much more in sync and back to their gameplan after that. Makes me want them to have a practice today just to keep it in their heads...

I agree with all your points. i just wish Nash gaves us something. Not asking him to score every game BUT even a few goals would ahve made such a big difference. Its kind of amazing that kreider is still basically a rookie and he has 7-8 playoff goals and Nash only has 2

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

Great game last night so most of the team (minus Nash, of course).

Derek Brassard and Chris Kreider are starting to establish themselves as big game players. And Ryan McDonagh looked normal for the first time in a month.

Shouldn't be too tough to take that same emotion to MSG tomorrow for Mother's Day.

 

[mandiblesofdoom]

Kreider makes such a huge difference in the offensive zone with his speed and size. First and last goals all him for getting to pucks before the other team. Shot seems OK too but I still hope he works on his accuracy over the summer. Wish he had been around earlier in these playoffs...

Having an actual day of practice probably helped a lot too, seemed much more in sync and back to their gameplan after that. Makes me want them to have a practice today just to keep it in their heads...

Yup and yup. Kreider makes it possible for them to play dump and chase on the power play and actually recover the puck. And their breakouts looked better last night. I didn't so many not-quite breakouts that led to more zone time for Pittsburgh. Maybe they made an adjustment.

 

[Florida Ranger]

Derek Brassard and Chris Kreider are starting to establish themselves as big game players.

Derick Brassard is a great playoff performer. In the last two post seasons, he's easily up there with Hank as the most dependable and productive.

 

[Tawnos]

Kreider two games back from six weeks injured scores the pwp goal that we've all been waiting for. It's sometimes a matter of doing simple things right. Anyway a very good effort overall. Feel bad for St. Louis. That's a tough thing. One game at a time. Need to get a good start Sunday.

On the PP thing, it's all about out working the PKers, because you know they're going to bring the effort. When was the last time we saw a Ranger dive at the puck on the PP like Kreider did to get it back to the point? When it happened I said "see, now that's what you need to do." Then they scored before I could get another thought out of my head.

 

[haohmaru]

I dunno...perhaps they decided to quit wasting their time and apply it to better things in life then wasting it on this team.

Rangers have never comeback from 3-1 in their entire history and many people know the reality already...maybe there is your reason for the "crickets'

If they can win game 6 maybe this team will be worth my time again this playoff year...maybe...but I won't waste it anymore this year and I certainly didn't watch the game tonight...been a fan 30 years with constant disappointment...this year has been like many others

If they comeback and win this series, let alone win game 6, I'll gladly eat crow....but they won't

Also...They have never beaten Pittsburgh in the playoffs

Hope they prove me wrong

Well, all I can say then, is your loss.

Why even waste the time to come in here and tell us you have no hope, there is no hope, and you're not watching unless they win game 6? Who cares? Don't watch. Go enjoy the finer things in life and leave watching the Rangers to the fans. Sheesh.

This year's playoffs, particularly, have been pretty compelling. Kings came back from 3 down. Minnesota and Montreal are locked at 2 despite neither being given much of a chance. There have been crazy 2 and 3 goal comebacks for wins. How about enjoying the game of hockey?

Some people.

 

[Tawnos]

On the whole game: watched it with a Pens fan. He was having the same complaints about his team in the first period that I had on the Rangers all through games 2&4. Team looked completely out of sync. I don't expect that to happen again tomorrow. That being said, I don't think the Penguins have really played so well in this series that we can't beat them one more game even if they are in sync.

The Rangers remembered how to pass the puck and they remembered how to create turnovers with their speed/pressure. That's how they're successful.

 

[haohmaru]

I also think the further removed they are from the hellacious scheduling of 5 games in 7 nights, the better their chances are. Don't underestimate the amount of fatigue that induces and I don't care how willing the heart is, sometimes the legs just don't follow.

The Rangers can win this series and I've said that all along. The further this goes the more it favors them.

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

On the whole game: watched it with a Pens fan. He was having the same complaints about his team in the first period that I had on the Rangers all through games 2&4. Team looked completely out of sync. I don't expect that to happen again tomorrow. That being said, I don't think the Penguins have really played so well in this series that we can't beat them one more game even if they are in sync.

The Rangers remembered how to pass the puck and they remembered how to create turnovers with their speed/pressure. That's how they're successful.

I dont think they "remembered" it so much as they worked much harder to make it happen

 

[Glen Sathers Cigar]

I think Pierre is excellent at what he does and is insightful, knows what he is saying and says it clearly. The fact that Doc is the national voice of hockey is absurd. He's just unlistenable at this point. The putrid attempts at humor, the absurd over description of a simple play, the same played out act over and over, it's disingenuous and just plain bad! If Sam Rosen wanted this job and took it, the quality of the broadcast would escalate tremendously and I'd venture to say the ratings would improve. These NBC games make me long for the days when MSG broadcast the playoffs all the way through!

Rangers looked a million times better. The level of speed and puck support in game 5 vs game 4 is so much better. That's what it will take again on Sunday vs a Penguins team who I'm sure will want to end it again.

Nash is still no where to be found. Do the fans still boo him on Sunday? He has done nothing for that to change. It will be interessting to see the booing story line develop.

Booing him in game 6 at home trailing 3-2 in the series would be the dumbest thing ever. That being said, I wouldn't put it past most rangers fans.

The guy is struggling. Despite what most think, it's not from lack of effort. He's getting chances he just can't buy one. Booing him is not going to help and it's certainly not going to help in an elimination game. We need the crowd behid the entire team. Booing Nash would help Pittsburgh. The crowd needs to be loud and supportive, not waiting at the chance to be losing so they can boo Nash. Please.

 

[Tawnos]

I dont think they "remembered" it so much as they worked much harder to make it happen

Disagree. I never saw a lack of effort on the part of the team. More of a lack of execution. You can try hard and still be doing things wrong.

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

Disagree. I never saw a lack of effort on the part of the team. More of a lack of execution. You can try hard and still be doing things wrong.

Agree to disagree. If you think they were hard on the puck in game 4, I dont know what to tell you.

 

[haohmaru]

From the NYP:

“We are a team, and a close team, and in the short time Marty has been here he has been pretty magnetic,” Brian Boyle, a major contributor, said following the victory in which the Rangers played with passion and pride. “He’s a special person.

“There’s a love we have for him.”

^ Pretty powerful stuff.

 

[Glen Sathers Cigar]

Most important thing for game 6 is to come out hard, fast and score an early goal. The games are night and day when we score early and have a good first period compard to when we come out flat.

If we have a first period in game 6 like the one in this game, at home, I think we'll be going back to Pittsburgh.

 

[Paulie Walnutz]

Most important thing for game 6 is to come out hard, fast and score an early goal. The games are night and day when we score early and have a good first period compard to when we come out flat.

If we have a first period in game 6 like the one in this game, at home, I think we'll be going back to Pittsburgh.

It'll also get the crowd going wild. They've been waiting to explode. Also takes the boo birds off of Nash.

 

[Tawnos]

Agree to disagree. If you think they were hard on the puck in game 4, I dont know what to tell you.

Not being hard on the puck is an execution issue and not an effort one.

 

[haohmaru]

Not being hard on the puck is an execution issue and not an effort one.

It's actually both.

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

Not being hard on the puck is an execution issue and not an effort one.

If this was a video game, I'd agree. Getting in hard on the forecheck and being hard on the puck certainly has elements of effort and battle level. I think its quite absurd to say otherwise.

Weren't you the one that said this style was going to be more sustainable compared to Torts hockey? Thats something I agreed with at the time, but it seems like we have some major disagreements regarding what constitutes effort vs. executing a system.

 

[Petey Pucks]

Well, all I can say then, is your loss.

Why even waste the time to come in here and tell us you have no hope, there is no hope, and you're not watching unless they win game 6? Who cares? Don't watch. Go enjoy the finer things in life and leave watching the Rangers to the fans. Sheesh.

This year's playoffs, particularly, have been pretty compelling. Kings came back from 3 down. Minnesota and Montreal are locked at 2 despite neither being given much of a chance. There have been crazy 2 and 3 goal comebacks for wins. How about enjoying the game of hockey?

Some people.

funny how you say you too have been a fan 30 years yet you never get tired of the same old story with the product....I like your dig of saying leave watching to the fans as if I'm not one...well I guess you can call me a fan that's tired of the same old ****...funny how some people are blindly devoted my meager results over many years...some people

other teams wins don't affect me much....there is only one team I'm interested in

You asked why I even bother posting , well my post was directed to his sarcasm and wasn't directed to you....so why bother wasting your time to respond to it if you don't care for it huh?

Enjoy game 6

also those teams that have made their series interesting this year by coming back had the ability and heart to do so....something that's always been lacking with this organization the rangers have never come back from 3-1...they haven't won't 3 straight playoff games in quite some time....but you guys cling to hope...it's good

 

[Ola]

Kings fan coming in peace.

I just wanted to say your guys played some inspiring hockey tonight.

Boyle's defensive play during that 5 on 3 in particular I thought was fantastic.

Glad to see you guys get the win, especially in light of the braindead scheduling the Rangers had to deal with and, more importantly, the tragic circumstances preceding tonight's game. This victory was much deserved and I hope you guys get the next one too.

Agreed, things don't look very good for us, but what you at least can take away is that we are 1 of 8 teams playing and we just won 5-1 after winning the shots 35-15 the game before. I don't think we have had a "good" game like this this late in the year since like 97'. We have played later by relying on Hank and fighting with toots and nails, but clearly that was not enough to go all the way.

This is probably not enough either (frankly Pittsburgh aren't impressing me, they can win a game in many ways, but they are not playing that good). But it's at least a step in the right direction.

 

[mandiblesofdoom]

It looked to me in Games 2-4 the Rangers were more discombobulated than not trying. They waited when they should have gone, passed when they should have carried, dallied when they should have shot the puck in, zigged instead of zagged, etc.