Post-Game Talk: Lightning VI + Rangers Appreciation Thread

[FUZfan]

First off. This season, from beginning to end was wonderful. Far exceeded my expectations. A truly likable team, coming together and playing the right way. They far exceeded my expectations this year and I looked forward to every game.

AS far as last night.

First line: Mika played his ass off but couldn't seem to make the big play. Fumbled a couple of scoring opportunities that he had. Kreider was disappointing. We had that PP in the third with a chance to tie it up. Mika's one timer went right into Vasi's chest and when we got the look from Mika to Krieds for the deflection, CK flubbed it. Game over, right there. Frank the tank came up big time with the goal to tie it and I liked his compete level all series long.

2nd line: Strome saying that he could play and hardly being able to skate on the first shift was a huge WTF moment. Panarin did all he could and I think he to a slight extent and Copp to a much greater extent are injured. Strome's gotta go. Can't have a guy who can't hit an open net playing with Panarin.

3rd line: This whole Kakko debacle is the only thing putting a sour taste in my mouth after this run. The development of the kids and they're being able to play productive playoff hockey was the biggest bright spot to take from this run, and now that we have these questions about KK, that is diminished. If KK turns out to be another Lias Andersen I'm going to puke.

4th line. Liked Motte. Hope we keep him. Hunt and Rooney were ok.

Goalie: Igor was awesome. Just awesome. The only problem is that we needed him to be perfect last night. Perfection in a human performance is extremely rare.

Coaching staff: Until we figure out what the deal with the Kakko scratching is, I'm going to reserve my opinion.

I'm not rooting for the Bolts in the next series. I feel like the cup they won last season should have an * next to it. If they can beat the Av's, I will give them credit for being a dynasty type team.

 

[Greschner4]

The disciplinary thing has been all over the boards for hours now and it gets legs because of how GG is treating questions about the lineup decisions and the scratch. It adds up pretty well, actually. If it was just a normal "coaching decision" or "shaking things up to see if we can get a boost" that's real easy to say, GG says it all the time, and could have easily said it here.

 

[Irishguy42]

Cirelli body-bagged Mika for 6 games. Would love to have a center like him.

Kakko being scratched isn't a surprise. He was not good for the last few games for points and shot production, so putting in Hunt for him was basically a lateral move. Not going to knock Gallant for swapping one identical Bottom 6 player for another.

 

[Shesterkybomb]

Amazing that people are dumping on Gallant, the guy just overachieved big time. Tell me you thought we were a eastern cofernce finalist this year and ill call you a liar. The team was burnt out from too many games over the last month and a half, injuries with little depth to support them and one of the youngest teams in the league is what happened. It was an amazing first step, more of a leap. This was exactly what this team needed to have happen for the future of this team. Chytil, Miller, and Lafreniere all made a leap ahead this year, an excellent result from this playoffs. The road ahead is much clearer now. We had a great year.

 

[yrrebbor]

No need to. He's an UFA. Glad he played his last game here.

“I don’t recall saying good luck.”

 

[Shesterkybomb]

Cirelli body-bagged Mika for 6 games. Would love to have a center like him.

Kakko being scratched isn't a surprise. He was not good for the last few games for points and shot production, so putting in Hunt for him was basically a lateral move. Not going to knock Gallant for swapping one identical Bottom 6 player for another.

Cirelli had 3 points this series, he never got much room either, id argue we had our own cirelli in Mika.

 

[Doctyl]

Cirelli had 3 points this series, he never got much room either, id argue we had our own cirelli in Mika.

Cirelli only put up 43 points in 76 games this season. That’s his normal production.

 

[Filip Chytil]

The Great One has spoken

 

[Cmox]

I can see a few reasons GG would be pissed.

One is they just ended the season and two is Strome obviously not being able to go.

GG gets his medical updates from the medical staff. So Strome either lied and said he felt ok and the staff didn’t really really push or the staff f***ed up.

Also who does Strome think he is Kerri Strug?

 

[huerter]

The only coach you deem as great threw up all over himself in the playoffs.


You found Tampa to be unimpressive?

They are one of the greatest defensive teams to ever play.

Compared to our first two opponents.

 

[McRanger92]

Brutal loss but nothing but positives from this season. The stars showed they could play playoff hockey, the kids broke out and look very promising and the experience of going this deep will help going forward.

Injuries & fatigue clearly played a role as this series went on. Give Tampa credit, they are flirting with Best Team of All Time status.

It’s only Year 1. LGR.

 

[mas0764]

This is kind of logic I never understand. Kaprizov is a 5th rounder and you won't get one Kaprizov for the whole team of Kakko's.

Draft means something in the way management gives high pick players more chances to not be blamed for wasting those picks. Nail Yakupov played 350 NHL games, it's just crazy.

Well Kaprizov already established himself as a star.

Kakko is not a star but teams pay for potential. Not sure why that would be confusing.

 

[Kodiak]

It was a fun ride while it lasted. They got farther than I thought for a first year playoff team. Experience counts for a lot in the playoffs and we saw that in this series.

I am a bit bitter that the second my mindset went from “let’s see how far they go” to “they could actually win this thing” they lose 4 straight. You would think I would know better after following this team for 30+ years, but here we are.

 

[FUZfan]

It was a fun ride while it lasted. They got farther than I thought for a first year playoff team. Experience counts for a lot in the playoffs and we saw that in this series.

I am a bit bitter that the second my mindset went from “let’s see how far they go” to “they could actually win this thing” they lose 4 straight. You would think I would know better after following this team for 30+ years, but here we are.

Completely agree.

The curse of being a Rangers fan...lol.

 

[Do you want ants]

Cirelli had 3 points this series, he never got much room either, id argue we had our own cirelli in Mika.

The problem is Mika is our full time 1C and we need him to produce to go anywhere. Cirelli is their 2C when they have Point.

Would be nice to utilize an actual shutdown line next season that isn’t a 4th line that gets caved but we continue to pretend is a shutdown line.

 

[DuneGoon84]

With the emergence of our younger players and return of Blais we will be even better next year. Rooney needs to go. Strome needs to go and Hunt. I would love to see Kravtsov and Othmann on this team next year.

 

[chosen]

This season when Carolina played their game they were more impressive then Tampa. For whatever reason during the Carolina series the Rangers I feel only ran into that true Carolina team in Game 5. Tampa simply went into a neutral zone trap when they had the lead and the Rangers didn’t have the structure to beat that.

The Rangers had something like 3 or 4 scoring chances in the entire game. If you don't find that to be an impressive display by the defense of Tampa, I'm not sure that anything would convince you.

Compared to our first two opponents.

It's comical that Pitt impressed you more than Tampa did.

I think Tampa will beat Colorado. You must think that's absurd.

 

[GlasgowNewYorkRanger]

When we won the cup we went 4-0 , 4-1 first 2 series ....
20 games 40 days is murder .
Lesson learned

Perhaps, although, we never seem to learn and repeatedly make the same (or similar) mistakes over and over again with different groups and coaches.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

Great season. Honestly relieved, teams would have gotten wiped by Colorado. It’s not like we’re the Islanders last year who only had to win game 7 and then an easy showdown with a horrible Montreal team for a cup. Plus we’ll have more chances in the future.

 

[chosen]

Compared to our first two opponents.

It's comical that Pitt impressed you more than Tampa did.

I think Tampa will beat Colorado. You must think that's absurd.

The problem is Mika is our full time 1C and we need him to produce to go anywhere. Cirelli is their 2C when they have Point.

Would be nice to utilize an actual shutdown line next season that isn’t a 4th line that gets caved but we continue to pretend is a shutdown line.

They played who they had. You can't use players that aren't on your roster.

 

[Do you want ants]

It's comical that Pitt impressed you more than Tampa did.

I think Tampa will beat Colorado. You must think that's absurd.

They played who they had. You can't use players that aren't on your roster.

They had players on the roster that were solid at keeping the puck out of their own zone yet we kept matching up the 4th line bc reasons.

I’m still happy with the run and not on the trade and fire everyone bandwagon. Just one of the things that annoyed me.

 

[Clark Kellogg]

It's just him not wanting to throw him under the bus. The fact is, Kakko needs to get faster and better at putting the puck in the net

Add to that , he has to be willing to take the body.

 

[GlasgowNewYorkRanger]

Slightly OT but we also need to focus on the Pack this offseason. We need the kids playing long seasons/playoffs down there to get them used to the grind

It has been an organizational failing for more years than I care to remember. I mean, without wishing to open old wounds - and as it is topical - Kakko should have gone straight there and done a solid year with Hartford. And if and when he did start his rookie year in the NHL, it should have been more than obvious to anyone that he aught to have been sent down because he was absolutely awful. That is just for starters.

 

[Clark Kellogg]

There is a possibility that Kakko was scratched due to a protocol type rule. Late for meeting/bus/morning skate. Missed curfew. Despite what people may think, teams have these rules and they are enforced.

You might be on to something here. ESPN reported that several Lightning players needed police escorts to make to the Arena last night do to heavy storms that afternoon and early evening.

 

[RangerLifer]

the team and young guys, definitely not us we already have experienced deep soul stabbing pain.
BUT WE GO AGAIN

The playoff runs we had from 2012 to 2017 were the longest of any team to not win a Cup. Teams with fewer long runs won Cups and we didn't. That stings.