Post-Game Talk: Los Angeles Kings @ New York Rangers |Game 3| 6/9/14

[Miamipuck]

Another Rangers classic. Give up the crushing late period goal, deflection off Girardi, destroying all momentum. You can't write a more fitting goal to give up.

LA got a bounce in their favor on every goal. That's the one thing about last night that really eats at me.

That's the entire series so far. I have never seen anything like it. I think the 2nd goal Wednesday night and the 4th Saturday are the only bounces the Rangers have gotten all series long. Crazy. Oh well.

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

that's the funny thing, HBNYC. Had the Rangers lost in the first round, it would have actually been an easier pill to swallow, and the players feel a bit the same way. The goal is to win the Cup. When you get to the finals and taste it, it's different than the first round. It's a tougher loss. Personally, though, I take it far less personally than I used to. I realize I can't control the game, the players, who becomes the players, coach, in-game changes, game prep, etc. If it was work and I controlled it, yea, it would be tough. No control? I just move on.

Yeah ive gotten so much better at that as well the last few years. Its much easier to let losses go, especially when you have a house, career, kids. I forget about it pretty quickly. But this is the finals and that Game 2 was burning me up. It still is. How they lost 3 2 goal leads the way they did with the bounces and now find themselves in a 3-0 hole... cant take it. Especially given the historical stats to back up how impossible that was to have happen. It just flat out sucks. It may be another 20 years to get to this point. Ah whatever, i guess.

 

[Fletch]

for some bounces to be considered "lucky" you need to have a guy in position to retain that bounce and then bury it. Seems to have been some bounces, but no chances, for the Rangers, which to me is just a result of issues they've had for years around the net. Get them on the fly and go back and forth and not many can compete. Come inside the blueline and expect guys to grind it out around the net and it's another thing. One always says you create your own luck. LA created a bit more, and opened it up a bit more last night.

 

[nyrleetch]

Wasn't all his fault. But he's been mediocre in these finals, at best. I laugh when people say they take Lundqvist over Richter. After these finals, that argument should finally be put to bed. Mike Richter is the franchise's all-time goalie, and that's just the bottom line.

Lundqvist is on a level that Richter could only dream about reaching. Richter played on far superior teams than Lundqvist. Is Antti Neimi as good as Richter? They both have won one cup.

Mike Rupp scored a stanley cup winning goal. I'd love to hear your thoughts on his career.

 

[Fugazy]

That's the entire series so far. I have never seen anything like it. I think the 2nd goal Wednesday night and the 4th Saturday are the only bounces the Rangers have gotten all series long. Crazy. Oh well.

They've gotten quite a few breaks but they capitalize on all those breaks. They bury pucks when they get the chances, which the Rangers haven't been too efficient at doing. That's the big difference maker.

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

Maybe all of the bad bounces, terrible calls, reversed reviews and non-calls regarding goals this entire season will even out the next 4 games?

Still waiting.

I think the Rangers are owed about 10-12 goals to "even out" like all of the experts say it will.

 

[OverTheCap]

for some bounces to be considered "lucky" you need to have a guy in position to retain that bounce and then bury it. Seems to have been some bounces, but no chances, for the Rangers, which to me is just a result of issues they've had for years around the net. Get them on the fly and go back and forth and not many can compete. Come inside the blueline and expect guys to grind it out around the net and it's another thing. One always says you create your own luck. LA created a bit more, and opened it up a bit more last night.

Agreed. The Kings can score goals through deflections, rebounds, and tip-ins. They always have at least one forward planted in the crease to obstruct Hank's line of sight. The Rangers net presence has been inconsistent at best and they have struggled to convert on rebounds throughout the playoffs.

 

[chosen]

Lundqvist is on a level that Richter could only dream about reaching. Richter played on far superior teams than Lundqvist. Is Antti Neimi as good as Richter? They both have won one cup.

Mike Rupp scored a stanley cup winning goal. I'd love to hear your thoughts on his career.

Osgood won two. He's better than all of them. Funny how he sucked on the Islanders.

 

[Ice Hockey]

I just can't believe the puck luck that team has. Carter takes a shot it gets deflected and goes in the net. Richards makes a pass on a 2v1, it goes off Mac's skate and right back onto his stick.

When those plays happen to the rangers the puck usually flies up into the stands, it's really unbelievable.

I have never seen anything like it, maddeningly frustrating to watch.

The pass that went off McD's skate RIGHT BACK TO HIS STICK is just how this series is going. I mean it's laughable the bad luck we're having!

That's not to say the better team isn't winning but it's one of those "I mean come on are you serious!?"

 

[KreiMeARiver*]

I have to stay out of the playoff board. I just can't take these fans of garbage teams crapping all over us.

The fact of the matter is we are a VERY good team who couldn't hold leads on the road and suffered two psychologically devastating losses. We just couldn't recover. Last night proved that.

I called us being done after game 1. When you come out like that and STILL can't win, it's not good for the psyche.

Richards' comments in the post game were disgusting. "we have to play the next game, it's on the schedule."

really? Are you kidding me??? Keenan HATED it, and rightfully so. We just don't have enough players on this team with the mental toughness needed come back against a team like the Kings.

 

[nyrleetch]

Osgood won two. He's better than all of them. Funny how he sucked on the Islanders.

Two Stanley Cup's?! Better be first ballot hall of fame.

 

[Fugazy]

Osgood won two. He's better than all of them. Funny how he sucked on the Islanders.

Well that's all I need to see. No need to dig into stats. 2 cups = HOF.

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

That's the entire series so far. I have never seen anything like it. I think the 2nd goal Wednesday night and the 4th Saturday are the only bounces the Rangers have gotten all series long. Crazy. Oh well.

The Rangers putting themselves in a position to get a good bounce would be a nice start.

This is not about being unlucky.

 

[KotsyJr]

I'm deflated.

I appreciate the good runs/teams I've experienced lately (49ers/Rangers).

But falling short like this the last 3 years has killed me, sports-fan-wise, of course.

 

[goawaygary*]

Excellent point by point summation. I will expand on the Devils point a bit.

In a weird way I forgive Devils fans, because their attacks are motivated by the fact that their team's very existence has always been somewhat marginal in New Jersey, even after three Cups, even after getting a brand new arena in Newark. The more successful the Rangers are, the more their team's very existence becomes more precarious. Heck, the whole reason the New Jersey Devils exist is that MSG management in the early 80s decided to stay at MSG after getting the City to cave and give them a perpetual property tax exception.

If the City refused to do that, its almost certain the Rangers and Knicks would have followed the Giants and Jets to East Rutherford. The Colorado Rockies were brought in to fill dates at the brand spanking Brendan Byrne Arena.

The Devils are about to enter a very interesting/potentially dangerous part of their history. The Marty Era is all but over. Lou has clearly lost a few MPH off his fastball. Their farm system is average. What's going to happen if they enter into a true rebuilding period for several seasons? How viable is the Prudential Center going to be with the Devils drawing 10k-12k a night (if lucky), no NBA tenant, and fierce competition on the concert circuit from Barclays?

Add in a competitive, likable Rangers team and who knows, maybe a competitive Islanders team in Brooklyn, and where does that leave the Devils?

Their rich cable contract will protect them from outright relocation, but could they enter into a period of some serious belt tightening? I could see it, yes.

So yeah, we are about to eat a lot of poo from Devils fans, no question about it. But its always helpful to remember the real motivation behind their trash talking.

This is not even remotely close to factually accurate. Arthur Imperatore wanted the Rockies in NJ as early as 1978. Finally he sold to McMullen who had the same idea, and he wanted the Rockies relocated I believe in 80 but the NHL told him cool his heels until the arena was ready

The Devils are finished with their "true rebuilding period" that's what you just saw. They didn't make the playoffs the past 2 years, but they weren't awful. Next year they will be expected to make the playoffs.

Prudential Center is one of the busiest arenas on the planet. It's rated that high annually.

 

[TheDirtyH]

Hoping beyond hope that Lundqvist wins us game four. Just takes over and refuses to lose, no matter how we play. We need to step it up, every player. And Lundqvist is that good that he can be a rallying point.

Somehow I totally believe this team is capable--more than capable--of winning four straight, of forcing game seven at the very least. We just need to get back to who we are and how we play. We never blow leads like we have. We don't let up five goals. We don't play on our heels.

LGR

 

[FJB]

I am very proud of this team, but at this point, I just don't want a sweep. Win one freaking game PLEASE!!!!

 

[Killem Dafoe]

We've played some good hockey, for the most part, backed into a corner.

Well it doesn't get any more "backed into a corner" than this...

Win the next one and go from there.

 

[Fugazy]

We've played some good hockey, for the most part, backed into a corner.

Well it doesn't get any more "backed into a corner" than this...

Win the next one and go from there.

That's all you can ask for. Make history or be history.

 

[CJCNYR]

Hey if I told you all to being the season, the rangers need to win 4 straight to win the cup would you take that situation? I certainly would and have not given up hope on this team. Kings are a fantastic team but anything can happen when the teams are closely matched like this.

 

[Tundra]

This is not even remotely close to factually accurate. Arthur Imperatore wanted the Rockies in NJ as early as 1978. Finally he sold to McMullen who had the same idea, and he wanted the Rockies relocated I believe in 80 but the NHL told him cool his heels until the arena was ready

The Devils are finished with their "true rebuilding period" that's what you just saw. They didn't make the playoffs the past 2 years, but they weren't awful. Next year they will be expected to make the playoffs.

Prudential Center is one of the busiest arenas on the planet. It's rated that high annually.

Our period lost in the NHL wilderness is far from over. Besides Adam Henrique, we have nothing up front in the organization from a long term perspective. We're going to have to trudge through some bad seasons in order to rebuild our forward pool.

 

[aufheben]

for some bounces to be considered "lucky" you need to have a guy in position to retain that bounce and then bury it. Seems to have been some bounces, but no chances, for the Rangers, which to me is just a result of issues they've had for years around the net. Get them on the fly and go back and forth and not many can compete. Come inside the blueline and expect guys to grind it out around the net and it's another thing. One always says you create your own luck. LA created a bit more, and opened it up a bit more last night.

This needs to be stickied, Fletch.

 

[KreiMeARiver*]

I think JT Miller and Carcillo need to be in the lineup for game 4.

 

[Fugazy]

I think JT Miller and Carcillo need to be in the lineup for game 4.

Gotta mix it up somehow. Wouldn't mind this.

 

[KreiMeARiver*]

Gotta mix it up somehow. Wouldn't mind this.

Fresh legs, and both are probably less mentally destroyed right now (fresh minds)