Post-Game Talk: Lightning III

[will1066]

My friend who is a huge Celtics fan wants to know in his terms what happened to the Rangers today.

Me: "imagine Tatum and Brown played all 48 minutes but they had also had Pritchard and Thies out there all 48 minutes for no reason and when they're all doubled over, we cut to Horford and Smart just looking sad on the bench."

I am trying to relate to this post.

I am still trying...

 

[Raspewtin]

Kid line wasn’t great but they should have played more. Not gonna hate on Frankie he was literally the only one in third that attempted to chase the puck down deep and forecheck.

effort means nothing when you’re as f***ing awful as he is defensively

several times he couldn’t clear. several times his passes were off. he better work his ass off since half our breakdowns are his fault

 

[I Eat Crow]

Huh? I thought it was a non-contact lower body?

It's strange. ESPN kept cutting to Palat slashing Strome in what looked like his wrist and Strome dropped his stick right away and went right to the locker room.

 

[chosen]

Doesn't make it any less frustrating seeing some of the reffing be so awful and influence tangible things on the scoreboard

Sometimes a bad call hurts your team. Sometimes it helps your team.

Yet, I doubt you've ever thanked the refs for helping your team win.

I wonder if anyone here believes that the Rangers came back against Carolina and Pittsburgh because the NHL wanted to extend the series.

Anyone here believe that?

If a Carolina or Pitt fan said those things, they would be ridiculed here by the same people who think the refs are helping Tampa, now.

 

[Kords]

Again, if you believe that it's even possible that the league may be trying to lengthen a series, you should never watch, because that would mean that it's all not legit, and it's no different than professional wrestling.

Also, if what you believe is true, certain people could be making billions betting on hockey, and I doubt that's happening.

I mean game management is a confirmed thing. I watch Hockey because i'm okay with it. I wish it didn't happen, but sometimes it goes your way and sometimes it doesn't happen at all.

If you don't think this stuff happens, look no further than Boxing in the 90's.

 

[I Eat Crow]

BTW, we're 8 pages in and I'm shocked no one has asked.

Is Blais ready? He goes right in for Strome if he can't go.

 

[will1066]

What did he say?

Strome is underrated because he keeps plays alive and as a righty on a 1-3-1 PP always makes himself a decoy bumper for Mika on the cross seams coming from the right side. Chytil as lefty allows Tampa to focus on Mika a little more on those cross seams. Suggested the coaching staff put a righty there.

 

[Machinehead]

I am trying to relate to this post.

I am still trying...

Tatum and Brown are their best scorers.

Horford and Smart are their best rebounders/defenders/role players.

Thies and Pritchard are guys who play when the real guys need a rest.

 

[Hunter Gathers]

It's gonna be Rooney. I can almost guarantee it.

 

[chosen]

I mean game management is a confirmed thing. I watch Hockey because i'm okay with it. I wish it didn't happen, but sometimes it goes your way and sometimes it doesn't happen at all.

If you don't think this stuff happens, look no further than Boxing in the 90's.

If you think the NHL is as corrupt as boxing, you should never watch a single game unless you don't care who wins.

 

[smoneil]

I posted this in the GDT, too, but it's worth noting. There are 7 forwards who have been producing more (most significantly more) than Bread and Strome at even strength. Might not be a bad idea to put the Strome/Bread line down to 3rd line minutes at ES, particularly when the kids have produced nearly 2x the even strength points of the Strome/Bread/Copp line. Strome and Bread have basically been power play specialists since the start of round 2.

Over the last 10 games (basically since the end of the 1st round), Panarin only has 2 even strength points.

For context, in the same span:
Chytil has 7
Mika has 6
Kreider, Vatrano and Fox each have 5
Copp and Laf each have 4
KAM and Kakko each have 3
Strome, Trouba, and Panarin each have 2


If Strome and Panarin are going to play like PP specialists, then they shouldn't be getting 15+ minutes of ESTOI/G.

 

[RangerLifer]

I am trying to relate to this post.

I am still trying...

Yes. We need an explanation.

 

[zlev]

fwiw it looked like Strome's leg gave out when he got crosschecked

anyone who thinks it wont be Rooney in G4 is kidding themselves

 

[Brutananadilewski]

I mean game management is a confirmed thing. I watch Hockey because i'm okay with it. I wish it didn't happen, but sometimes it goes your way and sometimes it doesn't happen at all.

If you don't think this stuff happens, look no further than Boxing in the 90's.

Don't bring up that sport.

And only 90s?

Shit, Roy Jones Jr. didn't get a gold medal in Seoul, and Germany had an "undeafeted" boxer who never left Germany, for a reason.

 

[Hunter Gathers]

Let's also remember that this game was a MUST win for Tampa. If Tampa lost today, the series is, for all intents and purposes, over.

So it's no surprise that they played this game like their season depended on it.

 

[Kords]

If you think the NHL is as corrupt as boxing, you should never watch a single game unless you don't care who wins.

I never said that, haha. I'm just saying you're naive if you think it can't happen in a pro sport.

 

[RangerLifer]

BTW, we're 8 pages in and I'm shocked no one has asked.

Is Blais ready? He goes right in for Strome if he can't go.

Please, God.

 

[Glen Sathers Cigar]

You can criticize a call, but the idea that some sort of fix is in, is beyond stupid.

Oh yeah that’s for sure. I just think the refs flat out suck.

 

[Hunter Gathers]

fwiw it looked like Strome's leg gave out when he got crosschecked

anyone who thinks it wont be Rooney in G4 is kidding themselves

Yeah, it's unclear what it actually is. The stock was not super heavy, but it hit him right in his unprotected lower back. Did that trigger sciatica? Did his leg just give out from something else? Just completely unclear but it was a bizarre play. I just hope he's OK whatever the injury turns out to be.

 

[Mike in Houston]

Holy shit. From the former Rangers reporter for WFAN.

 

[Hunter Gathers]

You can criticize a call, but the idea that some sort of fix is in, is beyond stupid.

I think the rational on here (that includes GS's Cigar), most of us are just sick of the game management stuff from the refs. Especially when it's not needed (like the idiotic call on Reaves last game).

Either let them play or don't. The lack of consistency in NHL reffing makes it so hard.

 

[chosen]

I never said that, haha. I'm just saying you're naive if you think it can't happen in a pro sport.

Anything can happen is pretty different than saying it is happening. It's as stupid as 99% of other conspiracy theories.

 

[will1066]

Phone battery at 16%. It's a sign.

 

[Platano King]

My friend who is a huge Celtics fan wants to know in his terms what happened to the Rangers today.

Me: "imagine Tatum and Brown played all 48 minutes but they had also had Pritchard and Thies out there all 48 minutes for no reason and when they're all doubled over, we cut to Horford and Smart just looking sad on the bench."

This is such an apt analogy of what happened, but something about comparing a NY team to a Boston team just makes my stomach sick.

To quote the legendary Jerry West

 

[Hunter Gathers]

Holy shit. From the former Rangers reporter for WFAN.

Lmao. For who? Nemeth? A completely untested Jones? I'd rather see if he can follow an awful game with a good one as he's done a few times this year.