Pre-Game Talk: MDSF: (2) New York Rangers vs. (3) Philadelphia Flyers

[SnowblindNYR]

The Flyers have 7 20 goal scores the Rangers have 3. Flyers are 11th in GPG the Rangers are 16th. The Flyers are clearly the better offensive team. I really don't see how that is arguable. Defense yea... about that.

Ugh, actually today's game against the Montreal Prices dropped them to 18th. The Rangers are a better offensive team than it seems IMO, especially given their start (the Flyers had one too, I know). I still think that the Rangers are not getting lucky. They have one of the worst shooting percentages in the league. It was 28th or 29th or something, they're not the 28th or 29th least talented team. I think if we were to rank them they would be closer to like 12th in offense. I think they're slightly top half. That's taking their above average ability to create pressure and below average ability to convert into account.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Well... he is better than Grossmann and probably L. Schenn too. I doubt he plays though. He did win the best defensive defenseman award in the ECAC. So I don't think there are too many question about his defensive play. He would probably have trouble against a guy like Nash though. I am really hype up for him either way. In the two final games in the Frozen four he has 1 goal, 4 assists, and a +11 plus/minus. In a game were four goals are allowed against you must being doing something right to go +7.

Thats all well and good but the ECAC is not the NHL. Forget Nash, He'll have trouble against most NHL players.

Cough Krug Cough.

Krug had a full season of pro experience and the Bruins were deep enough on D to keep him around.

Plus unless the rules have changed since the last CBA, I'm pretty sure he wouldn't be eligible.

 

[FlyTimmo]

With the Flyers' defense and goalie situation, I don't know how you can say guys like Nash, Zucc and Stepan aren't scary. Philly ended up 19th in the league in GA/G. That's last among teams that made the playoffs.

Teams live and die in the postseason based on how tight they can play defense as a team.

They just don't. I don't Stepan and scary belong in the same sentence. Nash has been very underwhelming this season, and although Zucc has impressed me, he still does not qualify as... "scary." When I think scary I think, Malkin, Stamkos, Getzlaf, etc.

 

[FlyTimmo]

Thats all well and good but the ECAC is not the NHL. Forget Nash, He'll have trouble against most NHL players.




Krug had a full season of pro experience and the Bruins were deep enough on D to keep him around.

Plus unless the rules have changed since the last CBA, I'm pretty sure he wouldn't be eligible.

Well... ya got to start somewhere. And if you win an award for your defense you probably are not bad defensively. And I take back what I said with Nash, I don't think he would be a problem.

He is eligible. The Flyers placed him on their reserve list, prior to the deadline.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

They just don't. I don't Stepan and scary belong in the same sentence. Nash has been very underwhelming this season, and although Zucc has impressed me, he still does not qualify as... "scary." When I think scary I think, Malkin, Stamkos, Getzlaf, etc.

Well in one breath you're bragging about Flyers depth and in the net breath you're taking shots at Rangers' lack of top end players. No the Rangers don't have any top end players, but they have 12 guys (ok 11, with Kreider injured Fast is a mystery) that can put the puck in the net and pressure the Flyers' D that isn't super great.

 

[haveandare]

They just don't. I don't Stepan and scary belong in the same sentence. Nash has been very underwhelming this season, and although Zucc has impressed me, he still does not qualify as... "scary." When I think scary I think, Malkin, Stamkos, Getzlaf, etc.

There are only three players on the flyers with more points than Stepan. One of them is Simmonds, who has one more point. Step has more assists this year than everyone on the Flyers save for Giroux.

Nash only played 65 games, and he has 2 goals less than Giroux, who leads the team, and played 81 games this year.

Zucc would be the third leading scorer on the Flyers.

When I think scary, I think players that can hurt my team in the playoffs. When your team has the worst GA/G of all playoff teams, players who can score as much as Stepan, Nash and Zucc can, should be scary. Not as scary as the best scorers in the world, no, but scary none the less.

If none of those guys scare you, who do you think the Flyers have that's going to give them such a huge offensive advantage that it cancels out their huge defensive disadvantage? Giroux is the only one who has scored head and shoulders above Rangers players. Is his offense alone going to counter balance the difference in these defenses and goalie tandems?

 

[SnowblindNYR]

The fallacy is saying "the Rangers will live and die with McDonagh" or something to that effect because they don't have a superstar forward. Why can't the Rangers rely on their team game on offense? It's not like they're a bunch of scrubs because we don't have Crosby or Stamkos.

 

[BarbaraAlphanse]

The fallacy is saying "the Rangers will live and die with McDonagh" or something to that effect because they don't have a superstar forward. Why can't the Rangers rely on their team game on offense? It's not like they're a bunch of scrubs because we don't have Crosby or Stamkos.

There is power in depth, especially in the playoffs.

Boston won it all a few years ago without any real superstars. Just a deep, cohesive team, that had a lot of balance and chemistry.

Sky is the limit with this team. A lot needs to click but i'm very, very, excited.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

There is power in depth, especially in the playoffs.

Boston won it all a few years ago without any real superstars. Just a deep, cohesive team, that had a lot of balance and chemistry.

Sky is the limit with this team. A lot needs to click but i'm very, very, excited.

I was very excited in 11-12 because that team was the top seed, but outside of that this is the most excited I've been. I'm still terrified of their ability to finish. That said when they play their game defensively you'd be hard pressed to find a better team defensively, maybe the Kings because of their style that sacrifices offense. Seems like the Rangers just have games where they decide to shut the other team down and do. They just shut down Montreal without their top 2 D-men and they shut them down even worse in the game before. They got pissed at looking like **** defensively against the Flames and decided to not give the Oilers a scoring chance. I really thought that was because they were the Oilers, but they've been scoring since then. In our 4-3 SO win against the Pens, the PK sucked (which is the last time the PK sucked) but outside of one brain fart by the best defensive player ever Ryan Callahan, the Pens barely got a chance at even strength.

 

[LORENZO]

We'll be fine providing Carcillo plays.

 

[darko]

How I rate these teams:

Toughness up front: Flyers
Toughness on defense: Flyers
Toughness in net: Flyers

Should be a short series.

Yup. Rangers in 5.

 

[GoodKnight]

Dear rangers,
Please beat the filthadelphia cryers
Love, pittsburgh

 

[SixGoalieSystem]

Dear rangers,
Please beat the filthadelphia cryers
Love, pittsburgh

Will do.

Please lose to the Jackets.

 

[GoodKnight]

Will do.

Please lose to the Jackets.

Can't guarantee that

 

[Blueshirt Special]

NHL Network completly overlooking The Rangers and hoping for a flyers/pens series.

WTF

Sweep these clowns

 

[charliemurphy]

Have to give the Rangers the advantage in goal and defense. Offense has been just too inconsistent.
Rangers in 6 because they're that kind of team that won't make it easy on the fans, lol.
In the end... Boston Vs Anaheim.
I'm glad Gorton is in the front office. Rangers aren't that far away.

 

[Lime]

Sorry if it was already mentioned, when does it look like this series is gonna start? are the channels going to have a series draft like last year? I hope CBC grabs this one.

 

[eco's bones]

Basically the Rangers best forwards have to produce--not be passengers.

The Flyers are going to have to be constantly winning territory. Their strength will be a hard forecheck--drive to the net game--the more the Rangers are on their heels the more they can punish them with body checks and get dirty goals and the more their D get a free ride.

If the Rangers spend as much time in the Flyers zone as the Flyers do in the Rangers the Rangers will have the advantage--better goaltending--a lot better defense. Rangers can roll 4 lines without a problem--though I wish we had Kreider back--we are small on the wings. The Rangers have excellent quality and depth on defense and a great goaltender--and a very good backup. Special teams will be important--a real advantage on the pwp by either team should mean the series but especially for the Rangers as I see the Flyers physical advantage will probably mean more pm's for them.

Really I think the Rangers should win in 6 if trends from the regular season continue. The Rangers were great on the road.

 

[Vickers8]

Hate for the Flyers runs deep, no surprises here, this will be war...key is to get out of early rounds in as few games as possible

 

[egelband]

God. I remember that series and how Lindros ran all over the Rangers. Gretzky was awesome but that was the best he played for us. Time for payback.

I was in Korea and able to watch one or two games on AFKN on replay. Wow. Time flies. That as Messier and Gretzky together, right? I thought that would be storybook playoff run. But it just wasnt meant to be. I cant believe the Rangers and Flyers havent faced eachother in the playoffs since then.

 

[egelband]

Carcillo should be in the lineup over DD for THIS series

With Kreider out I guess it's between Fast and Carcillo. Is that correct?

 

[egelband]

The Rangers are very deep too, they just don't have a guy like Girioux. Thankfully they have McDonagh.

I think st louis will show he's every bit as good as giroux- still. Flyers are good but mentally weak, I think. Anything can happen but the Rangers should win the series.

 

[SixGoalieSystem]

With Kreider out I guess it's between Fast and Carcillo. Is that correct?

Or Miller, whom I would prefer on the line with Rich and Hags, but AV doesn't seem to trust him so I doubt he'll play.

Carcillo on the third line until Kreider is ready could work out fine i this series.

 

[egelband]

Ugh, actually today's game against the Montreal Prices dropped them to 18th. The Rangers are a better offensive team than it seems IMO, especially given their start (the Flyers had one too, I know). I still think that the Rangers are not getting lucky. They have one of the worst shooting percentages in the league. It was 28th or 29th or something, they're not the 28th or 29th least talented team. I think if we were to rank them they would be closer to like 12th in offense. I think they're slightly top half. That's taking their above average ability to create pressure and below average ability to convert into account.

I agree. The Rangers offense has been very impressive to me. Best puck control and passing ive ever seen from a Rangers team in years. Years. The finishing hasnt been there but to me theyre a live wire ready to bustout. I can seeone or two blowouts. Particularly with Philly's mental weakness. Theyll giveup if the Rangers get a couple quick goals at some point.

 

[Infinitum Vitae*]

I have a feeling Nash is going to go full power forward mode In these playoffs...he has something to prove from the last playoffs