Post-Game Talk: Game 5

[mas0764]

They're a top 4 team who could still win.

Only 1 team gets to win.

Does everybody else suck?

People saying the Rangers aren't trying or have no heart are the weak ones.

Rangers don’t suck but it is kinda obvious where this core maxes out. They would need tremendous luck to win it all.

I think they should go back to acquiring young talent, but if not, they at least have to try to do what Florida did, and move Huberdeau and Weegar for a star (Mika and Trouba who will be able to show up on the playoffs a little more consistently. And they need another player or two like Bennett and Verhage. Florida’s top 6 is better than ours even with Laf breaking out.

 

[will1066]

Rangers don’t suck but it is kinda obvious where this core maxes out. They would need tremendous luck to win it all.

I think they should go back to acquiring young talent, but if not, they at least have to try to do what Florida did, and move Huberdeau and Weegar for a star (Mika and Trouba who will be able to show up on the playoffs a little more consistently. And they need another player or two like Bennett and Verhage. Florida’s top 6 is better than ours even with Laf breaking out.

How? And, Florida fleeced Calgary, whether it was through some very shrewd player insights or luck or a combination of that. That doesn't happen often. A lot of was Tkachuk wanting out of Calgary too, I understand. Who would want Mika?

 

[Leonardo87]

Well, after reading 30+ pages, kinda impressed how civil you all are. Some of you were up to like 2am posting? Damn, lol.

Not much of a motivational speaker but will say this. We are not dead yet, need to survive. Let’s take it one game at a time, win tomorrow, and there is still hope. Do not go gentle into that good night.

 

[qwertyaas]

Imagine atleast having a RW for Mika and Kreider. I don't know, maybe if we could have drafted a guy like Pavel Buchnevich. He seems like a guy that could gel with them.

 

[AlaBlueShirt]

I don’t know who this guy is, but I laughed at his commentary.

What the f*** is up with this team and their style of bringing the puck in and then just stopping skating.

 

[bbny]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1796388450494738567

We can talk about the defense. We can talk about the 3rd line stinking. Barclay Goodrow has 7 goals over the same span. 1 less than both these stars combined. The Rangers have 2 OT goals in this series that were generated by the bottom 6. Recognize the real problem here. It’s Panarin and Mika. It always has been.

To Mika’s credit, he’s performed before, just not consistently. That’s not much different than what we see in the regular season. He’s a very streaky player. Anyone remember the ending to the Pittsburgh series two years ago? He’s shown he can step up and carry, and I’m less inclined to hose him. I’m more inclined to look Panarin’s way. He’s paid significantly more and he’s also expected to be the better player. You can’t have over $11 million tied up in a single guy not producing against the toughest teams in the playoffs. Good thing he’s only got 2 years left.

 

[pld459666]

5 games in and I have yet to see what the Rangers can do well enough offensively that give me any hope for wins in Game 6 and or 7.

Out top guys play a game with a serious aversion to contact.

Our whole third line has no idea on how to generate any offense.

No one drives the net with the puck. I watched wennberg have space, but choose to go behind the net instead of trying to muscle it to the front.

These players play too nice a game and I really hope Drury spends the summer looking for players tjat are more ornery and harder to play against.

For me, guys I would look to move:

Kakko
Wennberg
Zibanejad
Miller
Trouba
Gustafsson

Last three because they are stupid hockey players. Dumb doesn't fairly describe those guys.

 

[WojtekWolski86]

Why does this team give Sam f"n Bennett the blue line like he's Connor McDavid?

I get Fox is hurt, but he was in no man's land trying to cover the mouth guard who is on the outside. Forsling had so much space to sneak behind.

The 2nd goal I once again blame their gap control. Yes that squeaked through Igor but Tarasenko is standing in front of him uncontested.

Why did it take until it was 3-1 to get a puck on net with bodies in front? Our D has done absolutely zero offensively while stay at home dman Forsling has a bunch of back breaking goals. How do we manage weak wristers with no traffic but when we do have net chaos the puck gets dumped in the corner.

Jones won't happen because he should have been plugged in games ago. Either way, dressing a forward for 4 min or less consistently is terrible coaching when playing a team rolling 4 lines.

They woke up in period 3 of Game 6 when it looked like thr series was slipping. They pulled monkeys out of their asses vs Pitt and Canes 2 years ago. Both times Mika stepped up.


But for every example I just listed there is what happened between those with Tampa and Jersey that is still bitter tastes in our mouths.

This game will be truly legacy defining. Game 6 has to be their best game this series and playoffs. Anything less and they are done.

 

[yrrebbor]

What the f*** is up with this team and their style of bringing the puck in and then just stopping skating.

Every single year.

 

[yrrebbor]

Why does this team give Sam f"n Bennett the blue line like he's Connor McDavid?

I get Fox is hurt, but he was in no man's land trying to cover the mouth guard who is on the outside. Forsling had so much space to sneak behind.

The 2nd goal I once again blame their gap control. Yes that squeaked through Igor but Tarasenko is standing in front of him uncontested.

Why did it take until it was 3-1 to get a puck on net with bodies in front? Our D has done absolutely zero offensively while stay at home dman Forsling has a bunch of back breaking goals. How do we manage weak wristers with no traffic but when we do have net chaos the puck gets dumped in the corner.

Jones won't happen because he should have been plugged in games ago. Either way, dressing a forward for 4 min or less consistently is terrible coaching when playing a team rolling 4 lines.

They woke up in period 3 of Game 6 when it looked like thr series was slipping. They pulled monkeys out of their asses vs Pitt and Canes 2 years ago. Both times Mika stepped up.


But for every example I just listed there is what happened between those with Tampa and Jersey that is still bitter tastes in our mouths.

This game will be truly legacy defining. Game 6 has to be their best game this series and playoffs. Anything less and they are done.

I’m kind of tired of reading about “legacy” games. What they should have done is played their asses off with all the heart they had in game 4 and came home with a chance to finish the series.

They have the skill, so they are all dying or just as lazy as can be.

 

[bbny]

5 games in and I have yet to see what the Rangers can do well enough offensively that give me any hope for wins in Game 6 and or 7.

Out top guys play a game with a serious aversion to contact.

Our whole third line has no idea on how to generate any offense.

No one drives the net with the puck. I watched wennberg have space, but choose to go behind the net instead of trying to muscle it to the front.

These players play too nice a game and I really hope Drury spends the summer looking for players tjat are more ornery and harder to play against.

For me, guys I would look to move:

Kakko
Wennberg
Zibanejad
Miller
Trouba
Gustafsson

Last three because they are stupid hockey players. Dumb doesn't fairly describe those guys.

I would package Miller and Kakko and look for the best young forward they can possibly get. Lafreniere will take the mantle soon enough and he’s going to need help. It’d be better if they start looking to find someone now, to give time for chemistry to develop, and to pivot if they miss. Laffy could use someone to develop a rapport with and play with through his prime. We all envisioned that to be Kakko, but clearly that’s not the case.

They can’t put all their money on Othmann and Perreault being the ones to do that, no matter how hopeful they are on those two guys.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Rangers don’t suck but it is kinda obvious where this core maxes out. They would need tremendous luck to win it all.

I think they should go back to acquiring young talent, but if not, they at least have to try to do what Florida did, and move Huberdeau and Weegar for a star (Mika and Trouba who will be able to show up on the playoffs a little more consistently. And they need another player or two like Bennett and Verhage. Florida’s top 6 is better than ours even with Laf breaking out.

They're going to need to move the assets you want to keep/bring in to acquire now players.

No one is giving up those kinds of players for Mika and Trouba. Mika is pretty much unmovable.

Weegar was great (and still is very good) and Huberdeau was coming off of a 100+ point season and a hart nomination (red flags around this season, but perception is reality for some.)

That level of player is not going to be available anyway. The Walmart version of him might be (if you buy the Brady rumors out of Ottawa) but even if you want him, there are tons of other teams who probably would too and are better positioned to acquire him.

I agree that they're going to have to get rid of some popular locker room players but we're looking at guys on that Lindgren tier. Maybe a Trouba but I doubt there will be a ton of interest there.

 

[Oscar Lindberg]

Time to take Rempe out and either go 7D or put in Wheeler or Brodzinski

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Imagine atleast having a RW for Mika and Kreider. I don't know, maybe if we could have drafted a guy like Pavel Buchnevich. He seems like a guy that could gel with them.

He'd be getting killed because hes another guy who goes ghost mode in the playoffs.

 

[qwertyaas]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1796388450494738567

We can talk about the defense. We can talk about the 3rd line stinking. Barclay Goodrow has 7 goals over the same span. 1 less than both these stars combined. The Rangers have 2 OT goals in this series that were generated by the bottom 6. Recognize the real problem here. It’s Panarin and Mika. It always has been.

To Mika’s credit, he’s performed before, just not consistently. That’s not much different than what we see in the regular season. He’s a very streaky player. Anyone remember the ending to the Pittsburgh series two years ago? He’s shown he can step up and carry, and I’m less inclined to hose him. I’m more inclined to look Panarin’s way. He’s paid significantly more and he’s also expected to be the better player. You can’t have over $11 million tied up in a single guy not producing against the toughest teams in the playoffs. Good thing he’s only got 2 years left.

Laf has 8 goals just in these playoffs.

An average of 1.33 Goals per Panarin and Mika over each playoffs is pretty pathetic. Edit - math is off but point stands. This was from last 2 games of 2022 ECF.

 

[mas0764]

They're going to need to move the assets you want to keep/bring in to acquire now players.

No one is giving up those kinds of players for Mika and Trouba. Mika is pretty much unmovable.

Weegar was great (and still is very good) and Huberdeau was coming off of a 100+ point season and a hart nomination (red flags around this season, but perception is reality for some.)

That level of player is not going to be available anyway. The Walmart version of him might be (if you buy the Brady rumors out of Ottawa) but even if you want him, there are tons of other teams who probably would too and are better positioned to acquire him.

I agree that they're going to have to get rid of some popular locker room players but we're looking at guys on that Lindgren tier. Maybe a Trouba but I doubt there will be a ton of interest there.

Well there doesn’t seem to me to be much point in running it back again with some of these guys. If you can’t do an on the fly retool then tell Mika and Trouba you are rebuilding, waive or suffer through losing again. Get what you can. The cap space alone is worth it.

 

[80shockeywasbuns]

If Knoblauch gets to the SCF, we'll be second guessing not hiring him for a while...

And he actually made a real change the other day scratching a bum for someone who hadn’t played all playoffs. I guarantee NYR think they can’t play Jones because he hasn’t played yet, aside from the fact that they think Lindgren/Trouba are good

I think it's a case of "fans of 28 other teams wish they had our shitty team."

Yeah, we don't look good in this series... but there is a lot of hyperbole in here right now.

for sure. But I think they have the players to win the cup there right now but the coaches won’t deploy them properly. To me that’s more frustrating than not being good enough

 

[Jack Hanson]

Last night final score 3-2, one of fla goals an empty net. We didnt get our butts kicked.

You know, end of 1st period it was like 15 shots to 11 in our favor but towards end of 3rd it was like 30 shots to 21 in Panthers favor, Im not positive but thats what I remember. Its strange how we always start off stronger and fade. Definitely they grind us down.

Well, pick up the pieces and try to move forward. Is it likely we win game 6, no. We have maybe a 1/3 to 1/4 chance if I was a betting man.

If we win game 6 then take it from there. Still, a greatly improved team from last year.

Problem for us going forward us we have some $$$ tied up in a couple players who have contracts like Trouba and Mika where they dont perform for what were paying esp in the post season. Were definitely going to have to move some pieces into place next year if we want to be better.

Well, lets hope for an upset victory game 6!

 

[Kovalev27]

Shesterkin has a tremendous game but both goals are bad. Watching the forsling one again there’s no move the shot isn’t under the bar it’s low he gets a big piece that should have been an easy save. It’s two bad goals. To many bad goals. When he has to be the difference for this team. We know he has to be the difference we know fla will out chance us. But to make the amazing saves and let up the back breaking stupid ones is a killer and that happened really in all 3 losses. Game 1 just a joke of a goal.

I need him to truly steal a game. Not win a game 5-4. I need a stolen game from a super star goalie at some point. That’s just reality. Super stars do that.

Having said that. We haven’t played a desperate game yet. Saturday will be our first one. This team hasn’t lost 3 times in a row many times this year. Shesterkin hasn’t lost 3 times often ever. Bobrovsky has been awful at home in the playoffs. We can win this game. If we do everything changes. This is far from over.

 

[pld459666]

Last night final score 3-2, one of fla goals an empty net. We didnt get our butts kicked.

You know, end of 1st period it was like 15 shots to 11 in our favor but towards end of 3rd it was like 30 shots to 21 in Panthers favor, Im not positive but thats what I remember. Its strange how we always start off stronger and fade. Definitely they grind us down.

Well, pick up the pieces and try to move forward. Is it likely we win game 6, no. We have maybe a 1/3 to 1/4 chance if I was a betting man.

If we win game 6 then take it from there. Still, a greatly improved team from last year.

Problem for us going forward us we have some $$$ tied up in a couple players who have contracts like Trouba and Mika where they dont perform for what were paying esp in the post season. Were definitely going to have to move some pieces into place next year if we want to be better.

Well, lets hope for an upset victory game 6!

Igor is the only reason we didn't get our butt's kicked on the score board, but anyone watching saw after the first, we get caved again.

Again.

 

[Atax]

Well, after reading 30+ pages, kinda impressed how civil you all are. Some of you were up to like 2am posting? Damn, lol.

Not much of a motivational speaker but will say this. We are not dead yet, need to survive. Let’s take it one game at a time, win tomorrow, and there is still hope. Do not go gentle into that good night.

I think we just knew the series has been over for a while now. Watching our team get stuck in the defensive zone for like 50 minutes of every single game has shown this team doesnt have what it takes.

 

[nevesis]

The series isn't f***ing over. Win ONE game and its a Game 7. A chance to play at home to go to the f***ing Stanley Cup Final.

Sign me up for that. It starts by going down there on Sat night and winning just one hockey game. Get it done.

LETS f***ING GO.

 

[Mike in Houston]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1796388450494738567

We can talk about the defense. We can talk about the 3rd line stinking. Barclay Goodrow has 7 goals over the same span. 1 less than both these stars combined. The Rangers have 2 OT goals in this series that were generated by the bottom 6. Recognize the real problem here. It’s Panarin and Mika. It always has been.

To Mika’s credit, he’s performed before, just not consistently. That’s not much different than what we see in the regular season. He’s a very streaky player. Anyone remember the ending to the Pittsburgh series two years ago? He’s shown he can step up and carry, and I’m less inclined to hose him. I’m more inclined to look Panarin’s way. He’s paid significantly more and he’s also expected to be the better player. You can’t have over $11 million tied up in a single guy not producing against the toughest teams in the playoffs. Good thing he’s only got 2 years left.

Outside of 2022 where Mika had a shit start but ended up scoring 10 goals in the playoffs he just doesn't have what it takes for playoff hockey. Panarin is a wonderful regular season player.

These guys can get you to the playoffs, but it looks like you just can't rely on them to win in the postseason.

 

[will1066]

The organization absolutely is f***ed by the Zibanejad contract. I can't take watching him play without courage for another minute but there are six more years.

 

[blue425]

5 games in and I have yet to see what the Rangers can do well enough offensively that give me any hope for wins in Game 6 and or 7.

Out top guys play a game with a serious aversion to contact.

Our whole third line has no idea on how to generate any offense.

No one drives the net with the puck. I watched wennberg have space, but choose to go behind the net instead of trying to muscle it to the front.

These players play too nice a game and I really hope Drury spends the summer looking for players tjat are more ornery and harder to play against.

For me, guys I would look to move:

Kakko
Wennberg
Zibanejad
Miller
Trouba
Gustafsson

Last three because they are stupid hockey players. Dumb doesn't fairly describe those guys.

So what you're saying is...we need more jam? Agreed. This team would benefit greatly from being meaner.