Pre-Game Talk: Metro Division Final: (2) Rangers vs. (1) Penguins
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Going to be a tough one against Pitt -- the Rangers will be underdogs, but it is a winnable series.
First off, McDonagh needs to get healthy in a hurry. McDonagh/Girardi and Staal/Stralman will need to be firing on all cylinders to quell Pittsburgh's attack. My biggest worry, perhaps, is my fear that the Rangers don't have the defensive prowess down the middle to contain Crosby and Malkin. Dubinsky did an excellent job against Crosby -- do the Rangers have someone that can make life hell for him?
The great equalizer here is that Marc-Andre Fleury is a basket case. Keep pumping shots on this guy and the wheels can fall off in a hurry.
Sutter (who was very good in the Columbus series), Vitale, and Orpik are also banged up -- hopefully the Rangers get Kreider back. Rangers match up well when it comes to depth.
First off, McDonagh needs to get healthy in a hurry. McDonagh/Girardi and Staal/Stralman will need to be firing on all cylinders to quell Pittsburgh's attack. My biggest worry, perhaps, is my fear that the Rangers don't have the defensive prowess down the middle to contain Crosby and Malkin. Dubinsky did an excellent job against Crosby -- do the Rangers have someone that can make life hell for him?
The great equalizer here is that Marc-Andre Fleury is a basket case. Keep pumping shots on this guy and the wheels can fall off in a hurry.
Sutter (who was very good in the Columbus series), Vitale, and Orpik are also banged up -- hopefully the Rangers get Kreider back. Rangers match up well when it comes to depth.
HatTrick Swayze
Just Be Nice
Lololol yeah keep peddling that small team myth. The two smallest players were their two best forwards against a physical team. Seriously hahaha, great analysis. Small players wear down faster than big ones because too many games. Looooooolllll
I think it depends on the matchup. For their size the Flyers d group is pretty damn slow. You can find room against them. And the Rangers still did not score many goals that were not on East-West passing plays. 2 last night for example. No rebounds, tips. You can execute those plays against slow teams and small teams.
Pittsburgh's d group is perfectly beatable with the Rangers style. So it's a decent matchup. Against Boston? LA? Chicago? It would get ugly. Those teams have the mobility and the strength. The Rangers will continue to struggle when they have to get dirty offensively with an undersized top 9.
silverfish
got perma'd
Your HFNYR dice game of scapegoats, roll to see who to blame!
1. Hank
2. Hank
3. The refs
4. Nash
5. Sather
6. Hank
HockeyBasedNYC
Feeling it
Rangers Flyers series spanned 14 days after a 4 day rest.
This series is 12 after 1 day of rest coming off a 7 game playoff series.
Or better yet the first 4 games of the Quarters spanned 9 days. Pitt series, 4 days.
Thats a major disadvantage if you ask me. The Rangers will need to get some bounces, early and often. I think if they win this series theyll need to take 2 out of the first 3, so that instantly makes tomorrow night huge.
AV must have spun around and crumbled to the floor when he saw this schedule. Its asinine. There's absolutely no practice time, none. That will become a factor too. Every off day will be needed for recovery.
Better hope the PP and PK come back to life because thats where this series is going to be won or lost for the Rangers.
This series is 12 after 1 day of rest coming off a 7 game playoff series.
Or better yet the first 4 games of the Quarters spanned 9 days. Pitt series, 4 days.
Thats a major disadvantage if you ask me. The Rangers will need to get some bounces, early and often. I think if they win this series theyll need to take 2 out of the first 3, so that instantly makes tomorrow night huge.
AV must have spun around and crumbled to the floor when he saw this schedule. Its asinine. There's absolutely no practice time, none. That will become a factor too. Every off day will be needed for recovery.
Better hope the PP and PK come back to life because thats where this series is going to be won or lost for the Rangers.
The Rangers continued problem was that for all of the FLyers slowness, they could not generate offense unless off of the rush. The Flyers played a solid D and the Rangers kept firing from the outside. Thus, no rebounds. That has me worried. They need to be able to generate offense if their rush does not produce anything.
Beer League Sniper
Homeless Man's Rick Nash
More Nash, a little less Hank.
Seriously though, they're our two highest paid players, and they both underperformed in the first round. Much of the criticism leveled at them has been warranted.
Pens in 6, unless Fleury collapses (but he seems to only do that against Philly). Also, refs. 
I would have said Rangers in 6, but the powerplay has been atrocious.
I would have said Rangers in 6, but the powerplay has been atrocious.
silverfish
got perma'd
That home Sunday May 11th game that's TBD on time... you KNOW that's going to be a noon or noon-thirty mother's day start.
Ail
Based and Rangerspilled.
Aside from conditioning I would spend the entirety of today watching Pitt tape from the first round and take notes. They need the rest and watching tape will be more beneficial than running a few drills.
SingnBluesOnBroadway
Retired
HockeyBasedNYC
Feeling it
Of course, but theres only so much video you can analyze. Im talking about rest, plain and simple. 7 playoff games in 11 nights - thats crazy. Guys like Richards, St. Louis, the older guys... even Lundqvist if he get a lot of work. Its not easy. In the playoffs its that extra step, that extra reach, fresh legs, jump - that can make all of the difference. Little plays. If it goes to OT, forget it. that will set them back even further.
Expect AV to really roll his lines games 1-2. He will spread it out as much as possible. 4th line is going to have to come up big. I dont know what else you can do other then tell your players to recover. Maybe put them all in hyperbaric chambers on off-days. Who knows. Thats a lot of hockey if they were playing the Buffalo Sabres. Not happy about this.
silverfish
got perma'd
GordonGecko
First Ping Pong Ball
Round 2 - NYR vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
Bring on the Cindys! Looking forward to shooting on MAF
Game 1 - Friday, May 2 - 7:00 PM @ Pittsburgh
Game 2 - Sunday, May 4 - 7:30 PM @ Pittsburgh
Game 3 - Monday, May 5 - 7:30 PM @ MSG
Game 4 - Wednesday, May 7 - 7:30 PM @ MSG
x-Game 5 - Friday, May 9 - TBD @ Pittsburgh
x-Game 6 - Sunday, May 11 - TBD @ MSG
x-Game 7 - Tuesday, May 13 - TBD @ Pittsburgh
Bring on the Cindys! Looking forward to shooting on MAF
Game 1 - Friday, May 2 - 7:00 PM @ Pittsburgh
Game 2 - Sunday, May 4 - 7:30 PM @ Pittsburgh
Game 3 - Monday, May 5 - 7:30 PM @ MSG
Game 4 - Wednesday, May 7 - 7:30 PM @ MSG
x-Game 5 - Friday, May 9 - TBD @ Pittsburgh
x-Game 6 - Sunday, May 11 - TBD @ MSG
x-Game 7 - Tuesday, May 13 - TBD @ Pittsburgh
I was listening to XM yesterday and they made a good point about how lots of third/fourth (mostly 3rd) liners tend to really step it up since the teams' top players are usually paired against each other. I think Boomer (or whoever it was) went as far as saying 3rd liners win you championships, mainly since top vs top means fewer points by them and then the 3rd liners step up to win the games. I never thought about it that way, but weren't the most important GWG in this past series (I want to say 3 GWG) scored by Carcillo and Pouliot?
I think D.moore will do a good job... he got Giroux mad..only problem is Giroux plays better when he's made.. Crosby just turns into newborn mode when he gets taken off his game
Was just thinking that
"Hi Mom, heres some flowers" (immediately goes into the living room and watches game with my Dad)
Im happy to see that Game 2 this Sunday is a late start...getting the Mayweather fight Saturday and plan on being massively hungover.
Blueshirt Special
Shady Brey
Would love to see MAF get lit up in this series by Nash and MSL. Chase him in Game 1 and mess with his confidence.
Then we have a shot.
Out on a limb: Rangers in 6
Then we have a shot.
Out on a limb: Rangers in 6
I love what Moore has brought, but I dont want him playing 20+ minutes a game shadowing Crosby
Honestly I don't understand all the butt-hurt around the schedule for this round. First of all, both teams have to play the same schedule, and if it gives the winner (hopefully us) more time to rest before the ECF, that's certainly a positive.
And for this round, I think the schedule can actually work to our advantage.
1. Even though the Penguins played one less game, the Penguins-Blue Jackets series was infinitely more physical than Rangers-Flyers, so hopefully that took a toll that Pittsburgh isn't even disclosing. Packing the Penguins with more games early could certainly be a positive for us.
2. Crosby is playing like he's hurt. His energy level is not the same (partly thanks to Brandon Dubinsky), but it's not just that. He seems to be indecisive at times and making bad decisions at other times. Very un-Crosby like. The less rest for Crosby the better. McDonagh seems to be kinda going through the same thing, but if two players wind up being less than 100% because of the schedule and it's Crosby and McDonagh (or Crosby and anyone) advantage us.
4. Kris Letang is coming back from a stroke, and he played horribly in the Blue Jackets series. While I hope Letang lives a long and healthy life, as far as hockey goes the more the games keep coming without rest for Letang, the better.
5. Brooks Orpik is said to be hurt too. The less rest for Orpik, the better.
6. Not sure about Pittsburgh, but we did just fine in back to back games this year. Advantage us.
And for this round, I think the schedule can actually work to our advantage.
1. Even though the Penguins played one less game, the Penguins-Blue Jackets series was infinitely more physical than Rangers-Flyers, so hopefully that took a toll that Pittsburgh isn't even disclosing. Packing the Penguins with more games early could certainly be a positive for us.
2. Crosby is playing like he's hurt. His energy level is not the same (partly thanks to Brandon Dubinsky), but it's not just that. He seems to be indecisive at times and making bad decisions at other times. Very un-Crosby like. The less rest for Crosby the better. McDonagh seems to be kinda going through the same thing, but if two players wind up being less than 100% because of the schedule and it's Crosby and McDonagh (or Crosby and anyone) advantage us.
4. Kris Letang is coming back from a stroke, and he played horribly in the Blue Jackets series. While I hope Letang lives a long and healthy life, as far as hockey goes the more the games keep coming without rest for Letang, the better.
5. Brooks Orpik is said to be hurt too. The less rest for Orpik, the better.
6. Not sure about Pittsburgh, but we did just fine in back to back games this year. Advantage us.
Whiplash27
Quattro!!
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