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

[RangerLifer]

Lundqvist is quite literally the only reason the Rangers are in the finals. Can you say that about Richter?

This isn't even getting into how extraordinarily better the 94 team was than this one which is actually the key to throwing out your very poor argument.

Ah, you see, THAT can't be said either because Lundqvist is always good and if he was the ONLY reason we are here then we should be in the finals every year then. :shrug:

 

[CharlieCharleschuk]

Lundqvist sure seems better statistically. I think he's phenomenal. But to those saying that if you put the '94 team in front of him, I say: that team was basically the last team to win pre obstruction era. Pre trap. Lundqvist has shown time and again that he's more of a mortal when his D isn't playing like a swiss watch.

So I don't know how he'd do behind Leetch and Zubov and the likes of Hardy or Karpovtsev. I don't think you've got it thought out all the way, though.

 

[nevesis]

“Lundqvist "We still believe that we can do it. We have to start by just focusing on the first period tomorrow."

“@stevezipay: Lundqvist said he needs to "give up one or less" in Game 4”

 

[AHB*]

Speculation and more hypotheticals. Richter played out of his mind at key times during that run. Lundqvist has yet to prove he can do that. He's been "OK" in the finals. Not good enough.

Richter also let in some insanely horrible goals. Most people only remember the "saves" because we won.

Read this and come back and tell me he was lights out all playoffs. It's laughable. Richter had multiple stinkers including some in the finals. People tend to forget those kinds of things when you win.

http://www.nytimes.com/1994/06/10/s...h-one-for-richter-but-beware-of-reversal.html

Richter has gone from hero to goat to hero more times than he can remember, or cares to. One day, he is the reason for the Rangers' failure, his body benched by Coach Mike Keenan and his presence booed by the fans. Another day, he is the one the team hugs in grateful celebration. Doubters in the Woodwork

Always, though, Richter's performance raises questions, and with one bad game, the doubters come crawling from all corners of Madison Square Garden, where Richter was booed more than once last season and has been cheered longer and louder than almost any Ranger this playoff series. The doubters were out last night.

In what must be called his worst performance of these Stanley Cup playoffs, Richter gave up rebound after rebound in front of the Rangers' net and watched almost helplessly as the Canucks crushed a third-period New York rally with three goals in the final 10 1/2 minutes of play.

 

[BarbaraAlphanse]

This is coming from the guy who said the Kings have no chance because they are tired.

A big reason they can be considered better is because they led at the end of every single game of the series.

It's hard to imagine the Kings having a different outcome if they lost the first two games in the manner that the Rangers did. We could be up 3-0 if the Rangers were able to bury two breakaways - Hagelins with 25 seconds, Kreiders in OT... or even if they were just able to hold onto a 2 goal lead throughout the course of regulation in both games.

Game 3 would have been quite different for everyone involved and the perceptions of who was better and fresher would be different.

 

[Inferno]

i think, most people, would agree that this series is 1 or 2 bounces away from being 3-0 rangers rather than 3-0 kings.

its not. were losing, and will likely be out in a game or 2. but i think its disingenuous to hail the kings as overlords of the sport of hockey without even acknowledging this series is unbelievably close.

 

[I Eat Crow]

Lundqvist needs to shut the door for the rest of the series. One goal or less per game. He can do it.

 

[Ail]

“Lundqvist "We still believe that we can do it. We have to start by just focusing on the first period tomorrow."

“@stevezipay: Lundqvist said he needs to "give up one or less" in Game 4â€

The team also needs to score 2 or more. Can they make both happen? I am skeptical at this point.

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

Richter also let in some insanely horrible goals. Most people only remember the "saves" because we won.

Read this and come back and tell me he was lights out all playoffs. It's laughable. Richter had multiple stinkers including some in the finals. People tend to forget those kinds of things when you win.

http://www.nytimes.com/1994/06/10/s...h-one-for-richter-but-beware-of-reversal.html

That goal he gave up to Dave Babych in game 5 of the final just after the Rangers came back from 3 goals was atrocious.

 

[BarbaraAlphanse]

The team also needs to score 2 or more. Can they make both happen? I am skeptical at this point.

Perhaps. They do play their best hockey with their backs against the wall, so who knows. Not unthinkable. Not likely, either. Temper your expectations.

There's an old adage... The key to happiness is lowering the bar as low as you can. (Only somewhat kidding). *Ducks head*

 

[BlueshirtBlitz]

simplistic argument.

i think, most people, would agree that this series is 1 or 2 bounces away from being 3-0 rangers rather than 3-0 kings.

its not. were losing, and will likely be out in a game or 2. but i think its disingenuous to hail the kings as overlords of the sport of hockey without even acknowledging this series is unbelievably close.

You're right. Unfortunately, people will, because sports fans are idiots.

 

[sbresistor]

simplistic argument.

i think, most people, would agree that this series is 1 or 2 bounces away from being 3-0 rangers rather than 3-0 kings.

would have to be at least 6 bounces no? one each in the 1st 2 games, and 4 in game 3

 

[AHB*]

That goal he gave up to Dave Babych in game 5 of the final just after the Rangers came back from 3 goals was atrocious.

That was the one that squeaked through his left pad while he just stood like a statue, right?

 

[nevesis]

http://blogs.northjersey.com/blogs/rangerrants/

Brad Richards, in particular, both looked and sounded the most somber, putting a face and voice to the overall feeling in the Rangers’ room.

Richards is almost certainly solely focused on the Rangers’ predicament. But there’s a good chance his own performance is adding to his mood as he had another two giveaways in Game 3 and was scoreless for a fifth straight game. Plus, if the Rangers do get swept, there’s a very good chance it will be Richards’ final game with the Rangers as the Rangers almost all but have to buy him out this offseason.

“Today is a tough day,†Richards said. “Your mind is racing on a thousand different things you could’ve done.

“But you have to make the best of it,†Richards added. “The series is not over. “We all can’t wait to get back on the ice. It’s just the waiting and the thinking. We’ve just got to get back into the battle and see where it goes.â€

It was a very optional skate for the Rangers with Dan Carcillo - eligible to return after serving a six-game suspension for abuse of linesman Scott Driscoll in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final against the Canadiens - J.T. Miller, Jesper Fast, Raphael Diaz and Justin Falk - all extras - on the ice shooting on Henrik Lundqvist.

That Lundqvist was the only goalie on the ice was a mild surprise but he said, given the choice between skating today and Wednesday morning, he opted for today in order to save more energy for Game 4.

“Well, it was a tough day today. It was a tough night last night,†Lundqvist said. “You have to move on. You understand how serious the situation is and how tough it is for us to try to turn this around. But now we’re only
looking at tomorrow and trying to win that game. That’s what we’re going to try to accomplish. Then you take it from there. But our mindset right now is just to have a really strong game tomorrow and get our first win.

“I think you feel a lot of different emotions right now, and anger is probably one of them,†Lundqvist added. “I think it’s important that you don’t feel sorry for yourself. But, you know, you’re disappointed and upset you’re in this position. But at the same time you have to accept it and move on and get ready for the next game. But today, yeah, it’s not a happy room, obviously. We worked really hard and long to get here. Again, we’re playing a really good team. They take advantage of mistakes. They play extremely well defensively, I think. We stil believe that we can do it. We have to start by just focusing on the first period tomorrow.â€

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

I understand your apprehension to hypotheticals. I'm also not discounting what you're saying as a fallacy.

I tend to think that the reality of all of our arguments tends to lie in between your pessimism and my optimism.

Im not even being overly pessimistic. I am thrilled and surprised the team even made it this far. They are playing with house money.

They are also losing to a better team.

 

[BlueshirtBlitz]

Expecting to let in 1 against this Kings team is lunacy.

(Which, again, is why gifting them a goal completely changed this series.)

I wish Hank could do it but it's not gonna happen, and guess what? He's still the best Ranger goaltender of all time and the best goalie in the league.

 

[Fugazy]

Im not even being overly pessimistic. I am thrilled and surprised the team even made it this far. They are playing with house money.

They are also losing to a better team.

It's just frustrating because the first two games were there for the taking. They had those games in hand. Ugh.

 

[NikC]

Aside from mistakes and getting hosed on the 3rd goal in game 2 the series would be 2-1 now.

MSG is a very intimidating place to play.... for the NYR

 

[KreiMeARiver*]

i think, most people, would agree that this series is 1 or 2 bounces away from being 3-0 rangers rather than 3-0 kings.

its not. were losing, and will likely be out in a game or 2. but i think its disingenuous to hail the kings as overlords of the sport of hockey without even acknowledging this series is unbelievably close.

Exactly why a stroll over to the main boards will make you want to destroy every inanimate object in your vicinity.

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

It's just frustrating because the first two games were there for the taking. They had those games in hand. Ugh.

The Rangers defense hasn't looked comfortable all series, mainly because LA can come at you in so many different ways. They can beat you on the rush, they can manhandle you in front of the net. Its a tough way to play.

McDonagh, in particular, was trying to do way too much last night

 

[BarbaraAlphanse]

Im not even being overly pessimistic. I am thrilled and surprised the team even made it this far. They are playing with house money.

They are also losing to a better team.

I, at least, agree with this. I think they over achieved. If given the chance, I think we'd all enjoy and prefer a team that overachieves than underachieves.

I liken the Kings team to the last two championship Giants teams. They play when it counts. They do all the right things. They play cohesively as a unit. And they make their own good fortune bounces.

No matter what, the core of this team will have learned invaluable lessons throughout this process.

 

[BlueshirtBlitz]

Don't know how the Rangers overachieved. Hank had an average season by Hank standards and the team was still one of the best teams in the NHL post January 1st.

Literally if Dan O'Halloran does his job I think you're singing an entirely different tune. This is a very good hockey team.

 

[I Eat Crow]

Expecting to let in 1 against this Kings team is lunacy.

(Which, again, is why gifting them a goal completely changed this series.)

I wish Hank could do it but it's not gonna happen, and guess what? He's still the best Ranger goaltender of all time and the best goalie in the league.

If he can hold the Penguins to a goal or less a game in games 5-7, he can do it against LA too. They're very well rounded, but again, their puck luck is unsustainable.

 

[BarbaraAlphanse]

Don't know how the Rangers overachieved. Hank had an average season by Hank standards and the team was still one of the best teams in the NHL post January 1st.

Literally if Dan O'Halloran does his job I think you're singing an entirely different tune. This is a very good hockey team.

I know this is a very good hockey team. I'm not saying that they overachieved by much, but they finally overcame the round 2 hump, and even the round 3 hump.

 

[BarbaraAlphanse]

If he can hold the Penguins to a goal or less a game in games 5-7, he can do it against LA too. They're very well rounded, but again, their puck luck is unsustainable.

Maybe over the course of like 20, 30, 50 games... it is unsustainable. Not 7. Teams have won on luck over a 7 game series.