Lundqvist - Two Weak Games, Bounce Back Buddy

[SnowblindNYR]

I vehemently disagree. And I'm not quite sure what hockey you're watching. Lundqvist stepped up his game, played some of the best hockey of his career in the 11-12 post season, and it took the Rangers 7 games to beat the 8th and 7th seed. Really, put that in perspective. I don't think anyone here will say Lundqvist was underwhelming in the post season last year. And it still took 7 games to beat the two lowest seeds. And I know people will criticize him for his inconsistent performance against the Devils, where his only two wins were shutouts. That's not a team contending for the Cup. Sorry, but it just isn't.

This season, again, Lundqvist played one of the best series of his career, putting in some of the best performances of his career, to beat the Capitals in 7 games. Again, I don't think anyone can criticize Lundqvist for his performance against the Capitals.

If you're goaltender is playing great hockey, and it always takes 7 games to beat teams with significantly less points than you (11-12) or teams with a virtually identical record (12-13) than you're not a team built for the Cup.

People are deluding themselves if they think otherwise. The goaltender faces too much responsibility for this team winning. That's the reality of it. It's a team built from the net out and there isn't enough of a presence amongst the entire team.

Lundqvist wins the Rangers a lot of games. When Lundqvist isn't playing well, how many games does the team win for him? Honest question. Not many.

And I'm trying to be objective. I know Lundqvist played a poor game last game. But until his team can step up and win a game for him, score a goal in an OT for him, etc, it's hard to always blame the goaltender. And frankly, I'm sick of it.

He did play well against the Sens and Caps last year, but he fell apart against NJD in 2 very important games. The 3-2 games he wasn't that bad. Last year he had the best playoff of his career and the team with no goal support ended up getting to the ECF (granted they were low seeds). My point is that if he played closer to what we saw in the first 2 rounds in the playoffs last year more often we'd have way more success over the years. Also, people forget that Richards saved his ass in game 5 of the Caps series last year. He allowed a terrible go ahead goal in the 3rd period of that game. If Richards didn't score his relatively lucky goal we're most likely done in 6 against the Caps.

This year against the Caps? Did the last 2 games blind Rangers fans? Game 1 he gives up one of the weakest goals I've ever seen him give up and another one that a goalie of caliber should stop. Games 3 and 4, he wasn't awful but he gave up 3 goals, each game he was pretty mediocre. That's after playing one of the best games of his career in game 2. I didn't even mention that in the breakdown. I counted that since 06-07 he has played 10 series and he was wildly inconsistent in 7 of them. The only series that wasn't the case was the Atlanta series in 07 (though game 1 he was pretty mediocre), and the first 2 rounds last year. I've broken all of those down except the first round series this year, which I thought was fresh in everyone's minds. This latest series will be either another inconsistent one, or worse just an awful one.

 

[Jersey Girl]

Well, I know he wouldnt have a Stanley Cup without Mark Messier and Brian Leetch. Generational talents.

And Messier and Leetch wouldn't have won a Stanley Cup with the Rangers without Mike Richter.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Sorry, you're delusional. I'm having a hard time taking this seriously. Respond to the bold sections in my last post. If you think this team is built for a serious run, you're kidding yourself. How did Lundqvist play last year in the first two rounds? How come it took the Rangers 7 games to win each set against low seeds? How good to Lundqvist play against the Capitals? Why did it take them 7 games to beat them?

Nash, Richards, Callahan and most of all Tortorella are the biggest reasons this team is 4-5 in the post season. If you can't see that, I don't know what to tell you.

Yeah, he played great. 3 games of giving up 3 goals in 4. One was an awful game, the other 2 were pretty mediocre. Scoring 4 goals or more in the playoffs consistently is hard.

 

[Fanned On It]

He did play well against the Sens and Caps last year, but he fell apart against NJD in 2 very important games. The 3-2 games he wasn't that bad. Last year he had the best playoff of his career and the team with no goal support ended up getting to the ECF (granted they were low seeds). My point is that if he played closer to what we saw in the first 2 rounds in the playoffs last year more often we'd have way more success over the years. Also, people forget that Richards saved his ass in game 5 of the Caps series last year. He allowed a terrible go ahead goal in the 3rd period of that game. If Richards didn't score his relatively lucky goal we're most likely done in 6 against the Caps.

This year against the Caps? Did the last 2 games blind Rangers fans? Game 1 he gives up one of the weakest goals I've ever seen him give up and another one that a goalie of caliber should stop. Games 3 and 4, he wasn't awful but he gave up 3 goals, each game he was pretty mediocre. That's after playing one of the best games of his career in game 2. I didn't even mention that in the breakdown. I counted that since 06-07 he has played 10 series and he was wildly inconsistent in 7 of them. The only series that wasn't the case was the Atlanta series in 07 (though game 1 he was pretty mediocre), and the first 2 rounds last year. I've broken all of those down except the first round series this year, which I thought was fresh in everyone's minds. This latest series will be either another inconsistent one, or worse just an awful one.

Holy crap... do you see the chances that this team gives up? Apparently not...

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

And Messier and Leetch wouldn't have won a Stanley Cup with the Rangers without Mike Richter.

They wouldve with Henrik Lundqvist. Maybe multiple cups.

Not sure what your point is - Messier won 5 cups without Richter. Are you disagreeing that Richter had the luxury of much, much better players in front of him?

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

Lundqvist has now played 9 games in this year's playoffs and has allowed 3 or more goals in regulation in almost half of them (4 times). This is not 93-94. Only a select few teams can score 4 goals consistently in the playoffs.

Hell we did it 3 times! We did it ONCE in 20 games last year. Stop the woe is Lundqvist his team is the worst in NHL history.

Your entire point is that Lundqvist needs to play at a God level for this team to go anywhere, which only enhances the point that Stanley Cup goaltenders had much better teams in front of them.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

I can't believe people deluded themselves into thinking that Lundqvist was consistent in the first round because he had 2 shutouts to end it. Giving up 3 goals in a playoff game puts all but the elite tanking teams behind the 8 ball. He did it 3 times. He basically gave us a pretty small chance to win 3 times in a ****ing 7 game series. Even then the team bailed him out by scoring 4 goals twice. Yet, woe is Lundqvist he never gets any support.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Holy crap... do you see the chances that this team gives up? Apparently not...

They gave up worse chances in the regular season regularly.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Your entire point is that Lundqvist needs to play at a God level for this team to go anywhere, which only enhances the point that Stanley Cup goaltenders had much better teams in front of them.

He needs to play at Lundqvist level, which he doesn't.

Edit: If he ups Lundqvist level once in a while like he's shown he's capable of doing many times during his career, it's not too much to ask. The best of the best up their level in the playoffs, especially when games get tighter.

 

[GAGLine]

He needs to play at Lundqvist level, which he doesn't.

Edit: If he ups Lundqvist level once in a while like he's shown he's capable of doing many times during his career, it's not too much to ask. The best of the best up their level in the playoffs, especially when games get tighter.

Who, like Ovechkin?

Every player, no matter how good, it's going to be great all the time. Do you realize the last time Biron played was March 30th? Henrik is coming up on 2 straight months, with a condensed schedule where every game is important.

He had his 2 best games in the 2 most important games of the playoffs so far this year. His stats are overall better than they were in the regular season. But you expect him to stand on his head every night? You are seriously out to lunch dude and your constant bashing of our best player is getting tiresome.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Who, like Ovechkin?

Every player, no matter how good, it's going to be great all the time. Do you realize the last time Biron played was March 30th? Henrik is coming up on 2 straight months, with a condensed schedule where every game is important.

He had his 2 best games in the 2 most important games of the playoffs so far this year. His stats are overall better than they were in the regular season. But you expect him to stand on his head every night? You are seriously out to lunch dude and your constant bashing of our best player is getting tiresome.

Ovechkin this season has been on a 95 point pace per 82 games in the regular season. Considering that games get more defensive that's amazing. He had 1 bad year. Lundqvist has been inconsistent every year in the playoffs. They're better than they were in the regular season because his great games weigh really heavily in a 9 game schedule. He was better in the regular season, far more consistent. Oh and if he's our best player he needs to play like one more than half the games in the playoffs.

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

He needs to play at Lundqvist level, which he doesn't.
.

Lundqvist's regular season and playoff stats are identical. So, Lundqvist level is the guy you've seen for the last 8 years.

Its not his fault, or logic's fault, that you place more emphasis on playoff games than regular season games, and argue accordingly.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Lundqvist's regular season and playoff stats are identical. So, Lundqvist level is the guy you've seen for the last 8 years.

Its not his fault, or logic's fault, that you place more emphasis on playoff games than regular season games, and argue accordingly.

It seems like you haven't read a thing I've said since I've been posting here.

In the next 4 years you're making 30,000 dollars after taxes each year. Then the 4 years after that you're making 10,000 10,000 50,000 50,000 after taxes. How much do you make in either 4 year period? Which one is more desirable?

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

It seems like you haven't read a thing I've said since I've been posting here.

In the next 4 years you're making 30,000 dollars after taxes each year. Then the 4 years after that you're making 10,000 10,000 50,000 50,000 after taxes. How much do you make in either 4 year period? Which one is more desirable?

Right, I guess I must've forgotten all those 6,7,8 goals against games for Lundqvist over the years. Because, after all, stepping into your world, a shutout or a goal against are the only acceptable outcome.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Right, I guess I must've forgotten all those 6,7,8 goals against games for Lundqvist over the years. Because, after all, stepping into your world, a shutout or a goal against are the only acceptable outcome.

No it only has to be a 50 save shutout with at least 5 breakaways and 10 2 on 1s stopped. Even then, he better score a ****ing goal even if the other team doesn't pull the goalie.

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

No it only has to be a 50 save shutout with at least 5 breakaways and 10 2 on 1s stopped. Even then, he better score a ****ing goal even if the other team doesn't pull the goalie.

"Richards, you're doin fine out there. Lundqvist will just make a couple more saves for ya!"

Helluva way to address problems, considering what this goalie has done for this organization.

 

[nfld77]

Hey guys/gals, Bruin fan here. Just a quick word on Lundqvist. Before the playoffs began, our Bruins site{not hf board} ran a poll asking what team you feared the most in playoffs..Roughly 70% said the Rangers. Reason being Lundqvist..Now, Bruins are up 2-0 and we know we definitely haven't seen the best of him, far from it. Lundqvist over the years have dominated the Bruins. Always a low scoring affair, 2-1, 1-0...This series is far from over in our opinion. If or rather when Lundqvist plays like he's capable, this series could very easily go back to Boston with series all tied up. Rask is an outstanding young netminder and has a very bright future but right now Lundqvist is the best goaltender in the world. That's why this series is never over til some team wins 4 games!!

I heard today Lundqvist stated his shoulder is fine..Happy to hear that. All the very best Ranger fans and the best of health to you and your families!! This WILL end up being a great series going minimum 6 games. Been a Bruin fan for 45 years so I've seen a few games in my 50 years!!

 

[Fataldogg]

Yeah, he played great. 3 games of giving up 3 goals in 4. One was an awful game, the other 2 were pretty mediocre. Scoring 4 goals or more in the playoffs consistently is hard.

Don't you get what I'm saying though? You just admitted last year he played great against the Senators and Capitals. Yet, the 1st seed Rangers still took 7 games, with great, consistent goaltending, to beat the 8th and 7th seed team. Yet, after that, you claim that team could have went all the way if the goaltending was more consistent? When is the team held accountable? If they were truly a 1st seed team, they should have had no problem beating the 8th and 7th seed teams with an elite goaltender on the top of his game the entire series.

And Lundqvist played inconsistent against the Devils. And you said he was inconsistent there, and I would agree. But don't you find it alarming that each game Lundqvist gave up a goal, the Rangers lost against the Devils? He only won two games. Both were shutouts. Yet, the Rangers couldn't provide Lundqvist one win when he let up goals... That is definitely a team that could go all the way.

This year, the team is eliminated by the Capitals in the first round without Lundqvist. You put him down for letting up 3 or more goals, and he did so twice against the Capitals, and the team was able to help him out there. But where do you place accountability on the team when he gave them a chance to steal games, when he stood on his head, in multiple losses to the Capitals? Where is the team accountability?

You're holding one man too responsible for the teams success. If a team if truly this dependent upon one man to win a game, then they weren't a Cup contender last year, and they're certainly not going to make any noise this year.

Lundqvist has been lights out at least four times (has had a .935SV%+ in five games), respectable in another two, and soft in two. Ask yourself this, how many games has Rick Nash been lights out and gave the team a chance to win. One? Maybe? In the last game. How many games has Richards been lights out and gave the team a chance to win? How many games has Girardi, McDonagh or Del Zotto stepped up their game to be a playoff hero? Not a single skater on this team has put in the kind of performance of a Krejci, Crosby, Malkin, Couture, Pavelski, or Alfredsson. How many of them have been playoff heroes? If the Rangers were getting that kind of impact performance from their skaters, I'd certainly agree with you, that Lundqvist needs to step his game up. But they don't have any skater who has been able to step up as an impact playoff performer when it counts. The closest they had was Brassard, who was big in the Capitals series, but that is literally it.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

"Richards, you're doin fine out there. Lundqvist will just make a couple more saves for ya!"

Helluva way to address problems, considering what this goalie has done for this organization.

The best and most important player on the team deserves more scrutiny than an over the hill center. When all is said and done people will remember Richards for being a Conn Smythe winner on a forgettable SC champion, a guy that had some good seasons (2 really good ones). When all is said and done Hank is a potential HOFer and probably the best goalie post-lockout.

BTW, what has Lundqvist done for this organization? The job that he's being paid millions of dollars to do? I know that sounds harsh, but he's not exactly doing God's work here for charity.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Hey guys/gals, Bruin fan here. Just a quick word on Lundqvist. Before the playoffs began, our Bruins site{not hf board} ran a poll asking what team you feared the most in playoffs..Roughly 70% said the Rangers. Reason being Lundqvist..Now, Bruins are up 2-0 and we know we definitely haven't seen the best of him, far from it. Lundqvist over the years have dominated the Bruins. Always a low scoring affair, 2-1, 1-0...This series is far from over in our opinion. If or rather when Lundqvist plays like he's capable, this series could very easily go back to Boston with series all tied up. Rask is an outstanding young netminder and has a very bright future but right now Lundqvist is the best goaltender in the world. That's why this series is never over til some team wins 4 games!!

I heard today Lundqvist stated his shoulder is fine..Happy to hear that. All the very best Ranger fans and the best of health to you and your families!! This WILL end up being a great series going minimum 6 games. Been a Bruin fan for 45 years so I've seen a few games in my 50 years!!

Thanks for the kind words, but don't be surprised that Lundqvist **** the bed so far against you guys. He tends to do that in the playoffs. Chances are he'll play a couple of great games (it's possible, if not probably when the team will not score anything to even make it matter) in the series, but the ******** the bed is not far away.

 

[Kwayry]

Hey guys/gals, Bruin fan here. Just a quick word on Lundqvist. Before the playoffs began, our Bruins site{not hf board} ran a poll asking what team you feared the most in playoffs..Roughly 70% said the Rangers. Reason being Lundqvist..Now, Bruins are up 2-0 and we know we definitely haven't seen the best of him, far from it. Lundqvist over the years have dominated the Bruins. Always a low scoring affair, 2-1, 1-0...This series is far from over in our opinion. If or rather when Lundqvist plays like he's capable, this series could very easily go back to Boston with series all tied up. Rask is an outstanding young netminder and has a very bright future but right now Lundqvist is the best goaltender in the world. That's why this series is never over til some team wins 4 games!!

I heard today Lundqvist stated his shoulder is fine..Happy to hear that. All the very best Ranger fans and the best of health to you and your families!! This WILL end up being a great series going minimum 6 games. Been a Bruin fan for 45 years so I've seen a few games in my 50 years!!

Thanks for the objective input.
Some Rangers fans have their own agendas against specific Ranger players, they are looking for any excuse to trash them. The list is long, Hank, Callahan, Girardi, DZ, Stepan, Boyle, kreider, Zuke, Staal.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Don't you get what I'm saying though? You just admitted last year he played great against the Senators and Capitals. Yet, the 1st seed Rangers still took 7 games, with great, consistent goaltending, to beat the 8th and 7th seed team. Yet, after that, you claim that team could have went all the way if the goaltending was more consistent? When is the team held accountable? If they were truly a 1st seed team, they should have had no problem beating the 8th and 7th seed teams with an elite goaltender on the top of his game the entire series.

And Lundqvist played inconsistent against the Devils. And you said he was inconsistent there, and I would agree. But don't you find it alarming that each game Lundqvist gave up a goal, the Rangers lost against the Devils? He only won two games. Both were shutouts. Yet, the Rangers couldn't provide Lundqvist one win when he let up goals... That is definitely a team that could go all the way.

This year, the team is eliminated by the Capitals in the first round without Lundqvist. You put him down for letting up 3 or more goals, and he did so twice against the Capitals, and the team was able to help him out there. But where do you place accountability on the team when he gave them a chance to steal games, when he stood on his head, in multiple losses to the Capitals? Where is the team accountability?

You're holding one man too responsible for the teams success. If a team if truly this dependent upon one man to win a game, then they weren't a Cup contender last year, and they're certainly not going to make any noise this year.

Lundqvist has been lights out at least four times (has had a .935SV%+ in five games), respectable in another two, and soft in two. Ask yourself this, how many games has Rick Nash been lights out and gave the team a chance to win. One? Maybe? In the last game. How many games has Richards been lights out and gave the team a chance to win? How many games has Girardi, McDonagh or Del Zotto stepped up their game to be a playoff hero? Not a single skater on this team has put in the kind of performance of a Krejci, Crosby, Malkin, Couture, Pavelski, or Alfredsson. How many of them have been playoff heroes? If the Rangers were getting that kind of impact performance from their skaters, I'd certainly agree with you, that Lundqvist needs to step his game up. But they don't have any skater who has been able to step up as an impact playoff performer when it counts. The closest they had was Brassard, who was big in the Capitals series, but that is literally it.

I'm just going by his play. Maybe they still lose all of the series that they lost over the years. What I do know is that he hasn't helped matters that much by his inconsistency. I went down the line with every year, every series, even didn't mention his latest bipolar gem last series. I'm not making this up.

I really can't stand people comparing Lundqvist to other players on the team. The only two that I can see getting even REMOTELY close to the slack are Nash and Richards. Richards looks done, I just don't think he's good anymore. You're right about Nash. Still Nash is not even in the same league as the player that Lundqvist is. Plus, Nash plays a position that does not have anywhere near the impact on the game that Lundqvist does. It may not be fair, but Nash is far less likely to cost us a game.

Finally, I know that the "woe is Lundqvist" attitude is a mainstream for Rangers fans, but it's pretty sickening how you just have to degrade the entire team to make your point. McDonagh and Girardi held Ovechkin pointless at even strength. Nope, they did nothing. Oh I forgot all the breakaways that they allowed to him that Lundqvist stopped. Especially in the 2 games he was held to 1 shot. What a shot it was! Did you expect them to give you Mike Green production on offense too? You can make your point without completely disregarding the great play of McDonagh and Girardi last series. It's like there is an edict that Lundqvist is the one player that Rangers fans praise and everyone else gets **** on, and when there's nothing to **** on him for you make it up!

 

[nfld77]

Thanks for the objective input.
Some Rangers fans have their own agendas against specific Ranger players, they are looking for any excuse to trash them. The list is long, Hank, Callahan, Girardi, DZ, Stepan, Boyle, kreider, Zuke, Staal.

On our Bruin's Board, practically EVERY player is criticized one time or another. Lucic was trashed all season and now he's God..Chara was trashed all season and playing great now..Tim Thomas was even trashed when we won the cup in 2011.. I crap on players sometimes when they have a bad game but some posters consistently trash. I think it's only their way of showing their passion for the team..When team loses, they're so upset someone has to be blamed!!

 

[adam graves]

Hey guys/gals, Bruin fan here. Just a quick word on Lundqvist. Before the playoffs began, our Bruins site{not hf board} ran a poll asking what team you feared the most in playoffs..Roughly 70% said the Rangers. Reason being Lundqvist..Now, Bruins are up 2-0 and we know we definitely haven't seen the best of him, far from it. Lundqvist over the years have dominated the Bruins. Always a low scoring affair, 2-1, 1-0...This series is far from over in our opinion. If or rather when Lundqvist plays like he's capable, this series could very easily go back to Boston with series all tied up. Rask is an outstanding young netminder and has a very bright future but right now Lundqvist is the best goaltender in the world. That's why this series is never over til some team wins 4 games!!

I heard today Lundqvist stated his shoulder is fine..Happy to hear that. All the very best Ranger fans and the best of health to you and your families!! This WILL end up being a great series going minimum 6 games. Been a Bruin fan for 45 years so I've seen a few games in my 50 years!!

Right back at ya from a ranger fan for 45 years. Still pissed tho you ruined my barmitvah year by taking us in 6 in '72....lol

Cheers.

 

[nfld77]

Right back at ya from a ranger fan for 45 years. Still pissed tho you ruined my barmitvah year by taking us in 6 in '72....lol

Cheers.

Your "Son of Commandment year" was a big year for you..Brother, I remember the 72 series..Maybe you'll get us back this year. I FIRMLY believe this series is far from over. Cheers to you too my friend!!