How Good Are the 2013-14 Rangers (Part II)

[Thirty One]

This seems to be completely random though.

That's the point.

 

[AWall THE CLAW]

For the utter and complete panic mode the fanbase (including myself) has gone into since the Olympic break, they are (wait for it.......................................) 5-5-1. They had a hell of stretch over the course of 25 games before that, pacing the best teams in the league. If .500 sends the fans into a spiral of madness, that's probably a good thing.

How good are they? I have no idea. Very inconsistent. However, they play a style that is more sustainable in the playoffs than block everything, forget offense, and hope Hank pulls it out of his ass. Let's hope they can finish strong and see what this up-tempo team can do in a playoff atmosphere.

 

[aufheben]

This team is 18th in Goals For. My concern was that .500 hockey may not be enough to hold down a playoff spot. They've been dropping since the break.

 

[Thirty One]

This team is 18th in Goals For. My concern was that .500 hockey may not be enough to hold down a playoff spot. They've been dropping since the break.

Eight goals per game this week.

 

[aufheben]

Eight goals per game this week.

moar blowoutz!

 

[Blueshirt Special]

For the utter and complete panic mode the fanbase (including myself) has gone into since the Olympic break, they are (wait for it.......................................) 5-5-1. They had a hell of stretch over the course of 25 games before that, pacing the best teams in the league. If .500 sends the fans into a spiral of madness, that's probably a good thing.

How good are they? I have no idea. Very inconsistent. However, they play a style that is more sustainable in the playoffs than block everything, forget offense, and hope Hank pulls it out of his ass. Let's hope they can finish strong and see what this up-tempo team can do in a playoff atmosphere.

That's positive!

He's positive!

He's positive! Positive! Positive!

 

[Callagraves]

I still don't think we'll make it out of the 1st round, if we even make it into the 1st round.

We'll be outworked and out muscled by any playoff team in the east. More so in the West. Factor in that neither Nash nor Stepan inspires any playoff confidence, and I can't even imagine us trying to outscore another team.

 

[BlueshirtBlitz]

I still don't think we'll make it out of the 1st round, if we even make it into the 1st round.

We'll be outworked and out muscled by any playoff team in the east. More so in the West. Factor in that neither Nash nor Stepan inspires any playoff confidence, and I can't even imagine us trying to outscore another team.

We might be outmuscled, but we'll outskate and outshoot any team not named Boston or Pitt.

 

[GoAwayGiannone]

I think they may be good enough to compete for the Victoria Cup. They're close, IMO.

 

[mandiblesofdoom]

If anyone is interested, I compiled the Rangers most likely first round opponents with the data from http://sportsclubstats.com :

http://rangersunlimited.com/standings/

Interesting - I didn't realize we could play Boston in the first round. I guess if we maintain our position as second wildcard we will.

Good to see the probability of the Caps matchup is so low.

 

[True Blue]

For the utter and complete panic mode the fanbase (including myself) has gone into since the Olympic break, they are (wait for it.......................................) 5-5-1. They had a hell of stretch over the course of 25 games before that, pacing the best teams in the league. If .500 sends the fans into a spiral of madness, that's probably a good thing.

The flaws of this team were pointed out before the Olympic games. And there were alarm bells going off in preseason.

Doesn't being a .500 team equate with being mediocre?

 

[True Blue]

We might be outmuscled, but we'll outskate and outshoot any team not named Boston or Pitt.

Debateable. If the team is outskating and out shooting all teams not named Boston or Pitt, then why are they only considered a bubble team when it comes to the playoffs?

 

[Tawnos]

Debateable. If the team is outskating and out shooting all teams not named Boston or Pitt, then why are they only considered a bubble team when it comes to the playoffs?

There are currently 6, possibly 7, bubble teams. That's a pretty huge bubble. Chances are, at the end of the year, at least 3 of those teams won't be considered bubble teams anymore, in either direction. Last year, at a similar point, it looked like there was a pretty big bubble in the East. There ended up being no bubble teams at all, with the 8th place team having a 4 point lead on the 9th place team (7 points in an 82-game equivalent). The Rangers had a 5 point gap, or 9 points over 82. They ended up not being in any real danger of missing the playoffs.

So, it is debatable, but only time will resolve the debate. I have a feeling they'll end up in a better spot than it feels like they're in now, but that's just me.

 

[True Blue]

So, it is debatable, but only time will resolve the debate. I have a feeling they'll end up in a better spot than it feels like they're in now, but that's just me.

I certainly hope that you are right. What I am seeing tells me something different, but hope that I am the one that is wrong.

 

[Thirty One]

There was a debate in part 1 of this thread about how much an individual player can affect on-ice SV%.

Dang.

 

[RGY]

12 games left. There are 6 in those 12 the rangers need to be able to win. New Jersey, Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, Carolina, and Buffalo. Ottawa as well to make it 7. They probably need 7-8 wins to get into the playoffs. Philly, CBJ, MTL, and PHO are all teams they can beat. Colorado, Philly, and CBJ will be there toughest matchups. This team can determine its own fate.

This was my post from last week.

Took care of OTT, CBJ, NJ. Need to keep going. Take care of the games they should win.

 

[Thirty One]

They are such a good team, they just know how to win.

 

[NoQuitInNewMexico]

JT Miller's on ice SH% might be my favorite funny number this year

 

[SnowblindNYR]

So the Rangers only have an 11% chance higher to finish 3rd than 2nd? Considering Philly's position in the standings that's hard to believe. I guess they take into consideration strength of schedule. Is that how they get the odds? They use point % or something? That seems like a flawed way of doing it.

http://www.sportsclubstats.com/NHL.html

 

[Cassano]

IMO I think the morality of this fanbase is quite pessimistic, and I'm very guilty of this in the past as well.

Realistically, this team is clearly the 3rd best in the conference, which is a ranking many teams aspire to reach.

In the playoffs, it's all about the healthiest team winning. I do believe the Bruins are the favorites, however it's a crapshoot after that.

That being said, I do think this team was ridiculously unlucky this season. I see them challenging for the Presidents Trophy next season.

 

[Thirty One]

So the Rangers only have an 11% chance higher to finish 3rd than 2nd? Considering Philly's position in the standings that's hard to believe. I guess they take into consideration strength of schedule. Is that how they get the odds? They use point % or something? That seems like a flawed way of doing it.

http://www.sportsclubstats.com/NHL.html

On the side you can have set it to weighted or 50/50.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

On the side you can have set it to weighted or 50/50.

Thanks! 97.4% chance. Looking good right now.

 

[True Blue]

IMO I think the morality of this fanbase is quite pessimistic, and I'm very guilty of this in the past as well.

Big difference between pessimism and realism.

Realistically, this team is clearly the 3rd best in the conference, which is a ranking many teams aspire to reach.

I do not think that is so clear. They sit 1 point ahead of Philly who is 6th in the conference. As of a few days ago, they were a few points out of the entire playoff picture.

In the playoffs, it's all about the healthiest team winning. I do believe the Bruins are the favorites, however it's a crapshoot after that.

That would imply that you put them on equal footing as Pittsburgh.

That being said, I do think this team was ridiculously unlucky this season. I see them challenging for the Presidents Trophy next season.

Wow. Why not just annoit them Cup favorites now? After all, they are such victims of bad luck, it is due for a turnaround.

 

[jerseyjinx94]

Big difference between pessimism and realism.

Realism: "the quality of a person who understands what is real and possible in a particular situation and is able to deal with problems in an effective and practical way"

Pessimism: "an inclination to emphasize adverse aspects, conditions, and possibilities or to expect the worst possible outcome"

This board tends towards the latter, pretty clearly.

Notice how a realist looks at what is "possible in a particular situation" and a pessimist "emphasize adverse aspects . . . and . . . expect the worst possible outcome."

 

[Thirty One]

Thanks! 97.4% chance. Looking good right now.

And 89% at one of the top 3 spots in the Division, which is crucial.