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

[CharlieCharleschuk]

He's nothing great, for sure. Still have to replace Brad with a top 6 guy. Roy? Not much out there. What's the other option? Stepan #1, Brass #2, Miller #3, Boyle #4? I'm not loving that.

What about looking to beef up #3 instead of trying for a top end FA talent again.

Bolland Ott Grabovski... there are a number of guys available for that slot.

 

[mandiblesofdoom]

I think the looking "discombobulated" was a result of being married to a gameplan that was being taken away from them. The most infuriating part was a palpable refusal to dump the puck in and go win a battle to get it.

They did that last night. In addition to protecting the puck better (execution), the Rangers also won the majority of the battles below the goal line (effort). It was all there last night and I hope it continues.

Agreed - Kreider really helps with getting the puck back on dump-ins.

 

[darko]

Good win. Now the hard part which is trying to win at home.

 

[Idlerlee]

Good win. Now the hard part which is trying to win at home.

Because the Pens getting destroyed in their own barn was something that happened to them so frequently in the regular season :p

 

[Killem Dafoe]

I'm really excited about Kreider. He's been exciting all season for the most part, but seeing him injured and then returning in a big situation like this is a breath of fresh air. It might be too little too late, but sheds a nice light on what type of a player he is and can be for us in the future.

 

[vladmyir111]

I'm really excited about Kreider. He's been exciting all season for the most part, but seeing him injured and then returning in a big situation like this is a breath of fresh air. It might be too little too late, but sheds a nice light on what type of a player he is and can be for us in the future.

Well one thing we have learned already about Kreider is he doesn't disappear in the playoffs like stepan and cally do/did.

 

[Loff]

A dominating win for the most part and a surprising one at that. I guess the guys really wanted to rally around MSL. Good stuff.

There's no reason to stop now boys. Don't fold like a 2 dollar chair. Keep 'er going.

 

[Fataldogg]

If McDonagh can play at that level for the remainder of the series...

If Lundqvist can continue to play well...

If the Brassard line can continue to fire on all cylinders...

We might, MIGHT have a chance to actually come all the way back in this series.

It would certainly make it easier on us if Nash came to play and produce, but we can win without him given the right players are producing.

If Lundqvist/McDonagh are going, that's my primary concern. Those two are the two most important players on the team. And with the Brassard line continuing to produce, I think it can be very difficult for the Penguins to finish us off.

Have to be A LOT better at home though.

 

[TheDirtyH]

If this is McDonagh here on in, we win the series. He is our answer to Malkin and Crosby. He and Lundqvist are the two guys on our team right now who can singlehandedly will their team a win. St. Louis has been that in Tampa, but I don't expect that from him right now. Nash, well we all hoped he was that guy but it's becoming clearer he's not. McDonagh can impact a game like nobody else on our roster, I've been saying it all postseason, but we go as he goes this year.

 

[LORDE]

Well one thing we have learned already about Kreider is he doesn't disappear in the playoffs like stepan and cally do/did.

This post is hillarious because it implies Nash is sooooo invisible he's not even mentioned!

 

[Ilovemymum]

If McDonagh can play at that level for the remainder of the series...

If Lundqvist can continue to play well...

If the Brassard line can continue to fire on all cylinders...

We might, MIGHT have a chance to actually come all the way back in this series.

It would certainly make it easier on us if Nash came to play and produce, but we can win without him given the right players are producing.

If Lundqvist/McDonagh are going, that's my primary concern. Those two are the two most important players on the team. And with the Brassard line continuing to produce, I think it can be very difficult for the Penguins to finish us off.

Have to be A LOT better at home though.

We are odds' fovourite to get a game 7. Then ANYTHING can happen. Given the change of momentum from last night I'd say we have a 35 % + chance to make it to the next round, and that doesn't call for a miracle. Just keep it up.

 

[I Am Chariot]

Which team shows up for game 6?

The enigma of our beloved Rangers.

Obviously they have the will to dominate inside them. They also have to frustrating capacity to muster 15 shots on goal in a playoff game.

Ive been a fan for so long, I can only say I will likely never fully understand how a team can look so bad in one game and so good in the very next game in a series

 

[NYR89]

The enigma of our beloved Rangers.

Obviously they have the will to dominate inside them. They also have to frustrating capacity to muster 15 shots on goal in a playoff game.

Ive been a fan for so long, I can only say I will likely never fully understand how a team can look so bad in one game and so good in the very next game in a series

Key to Game 6 is getting the first goal. The earlier the better. Fleury is awesome when he has confidence so taking that away is key for this team. The power play has to show up again. If they were even 10% this series is way different.

 

[Doctyl]

Just have to win at home then anything can happen in game 7

 

[Raymones]

Lol, what a joke. Those last 3 efforts were unacceptable, especially in the playoffs and ESPECIALLY game 4. They deserved to be booed off the ice and Nash specifically.

Even the beat writers were writing it was deserved.

I've spent over 100K on this team in the past decade. If I think I'm getting a **** product I'm entitled to boo. You're going to tell me I'm not a real fan?

How about the beat writers who travel with the team? Are they not dedicated because they think the team they are basically a part of deserves to be booed?

Sorry, but I'm not going to act all rah rah about this team just because. I want them to win, as much as anyone on this planet. My life revolves around them. But I'm a realist and when the product I pay a **** load for is embarrassing, I'll gladly call them out on it.

And Rick Nash is not paid to be ok, or get chances, he is paid to score, plain and simple. He hasn't done that, at all. I've defended this guy for over a year now, but there's no more. His effort is weak and his results are nil. My biggest issue is that he doesn't even skate hard to the bench. He doesn't go to the net after generating a shot. I've seen him mozy to the bench numerous times in these playoffs whne the play is going on around him.

If he was hitting everything in site and giving what i felt was 100% I might feel better about him overall, but right now I see a lazy, gliding player who isn't producing any offensive results.

To be fair I never said you're not a fan. Nor did I say you're not dedicated. You obviously are. I said I hope true supporters attend the game. I'm not sure you use that term in the U.S., but in my mind a supporter helps with creating an atmosphere where players love to play, where they feel support even if they are struggling. Being that extra help pushing the team a bit further.

As I said: hockey is a team sport. Rick Nash is a part of that team you love and live for. What good will come out of booing players, making them feel unwanted?

Yeah, Rick Nash is a disappointment, and professional athletes will (and should) get critizised. But critizism usually only works if it's constructive. He's an athlete and he's underperforming, no doubt about it. He's also a human being and you and I have no clue about what he's going through in his life (his real life outside of his job), how booing affects him or how much he cares about the New York Rangers. Why wasn't McD booed? It's fair to say he underperformed as much as Nash these playoffs. Everybody is assuming he is playing hurt and will need surgery, but what if he's not? You boo him at the start of next season?

 

[RangerBlues]

The comeback is on.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

What a game, what a win but I have to get something off my chest.

Never, ever again do I want to play the Penguins in the 2nd or 3rd round of the play offs. I am sick and tired of the Penguins jerk fest on NBC and CBC. In game 4, the CBC crew kept on going on about 'our boys' did and last night on NBC, when the Penguins dumped the puck in the 3rd period, they actually said "we turn over the puck".

Sickening.

 

[Raymones]

What a game, what a win but I have to get something off my chest.

Never, ever again do I want to play the Penguins in the 2nd or 3rd round of the play offs. I am sick and tired of the Penguins jerk fest on NBC and CBC. In game 4, the CBC crew kept on going on about 'our boys' did and last night on NBC, when the Penguins dumped the puck in the 3rd period, they actually said "we turn over the puck".

Sickening.

Agreed. However, as a Swedish citizen I get to chose between both a "Ranger" and "Penuin" feed. I'm not sure what channel, but I actually turned back to the lovefest because the other feed was so boring and totally lacked any form of emotion.

 

[haveandare]

I don't want to say that they'll win for sure, but I'd be very surprised if they come out flat and get dominated.

It's an elimination game, which this group tends to succeed in, especially Hank. It's on mother's day, and we've seen how they can rally around each other in emotional times. Plus, they've planted the seed of doubt in the Pens' minds.

 

[LORDE]

What a game, what a win but I have to get something off my chest.

Never, ever again do I want to play the Penguins in the 2nd or 3rd round of the play offs. I am sick and tired of the Penguins jerk fest on NBC and CBC. In game 4, the CBC crew kept on going on about 'our boys' did and last night on NBC, when the Penguins dumped the puck in the 3rd period, they actually said "we turn over the puck".

Sickening.

Not that I don't agree with you, because I certainly do. But most TV analysts are ex players and have some "tendencies" like it or not. It's human nature.

I work in sports TV and can tell you that we tell our announcers/analysts to not reference anything by saying "us" or "we" or "them" UNLESS they are referring to a past team that they were actually a part of. As in "When we played the Flyers back in 1997..."

It's difficult for some of them to keep in check, especially team events or Olympics where they were immersed in that "us Vs them" way of thinking for so many years.

But you're right, it's EXTREMELY important for the media to appear un-bias even there is some on a personal level.

When that doesn't occur, it's an embarrassment.

 

[silverfish]

We're the better team when we keep our legs moving. Hopefully game 5 showed them that, and that should be enough to see the team we saw in game 5 come out in game 6.

Nothing would be more typical Rangers than laying it on the line on the road in game 5, and coming out with a stinker on home ice in an elimination game.

 

[Pizza]

I'd love to see another effort like the one last night from the 4th line.

2nd best line on the ice last night and many nights.

 

[gardenparty]

Key to Game 6 is getting the first goal. The earlier the better. Fleury is awesome when he has confidence so taking that away is key for this team. The power play has to show up again. If they were even 10% this series is way different.

Completely agree. The first goal is so key for the Rangers (for confidence and fan engagement); I would be shooting pucks from everywhere on MAF, like they did in Game 5. If MAF lets in a bad goal, he has a tendency to unravel like a $50 suit.

Thankfully, the Rangers have had proper rest and appear to have their energy back, so their ridiculous schedule won't play a part in the outcome.

 

[RangersFan]

First goal is an absolute must. This team's confidence deflates the moment they give up a goal.

 

[Pizza]

What good will come out of booing players, making them feel unwanted?

Rick Nash is a disappointment, and professional athletes will (and should) get critizised. But critizism usually only works if it's constructive.

He's also a human being and you and I have no clue about what he's going through in his life (his real life outside of his job), how booing affects him or how much he cares about the New York Rangers.

Why wasn't McD booed?

- Perhaps he will finally motivate his sorry ass and play like it's his last game. That's what he needs to do. Engage. Play with absolute desperation. Even if he continued to come up empty people could at least respect him.

- There are plenty of instances where a dose of good old humiliation and shame have done wonders to turn people around.

- Take out your calculator and sum up what Nash makes per game. That's what going on in his life....and not in yours or mine. Never feel sorry for a multi million dollar athlete who is under performing on an epic level.

- Please. Stop. McD has been the Rangers best player on many, many nights and is recovering from an injury...or still playing thru one.