New Jersey Devils (M2) vs New York Rangers (M3) | Series Tied 3-3

[TheGreenTBer]

could the MSG ice be a factor? seems like its unseasonably warmer there and the fact that the Garden is fairly high up doesn't help matters.

Perhaps a bit of the Devils speed is neutralised a bit on what might be pretty choppy ice?

It's an interesting point, because if the Rangers for some reason try to get in a footrace with the Devils they're going to be absolutely slaughtered.

No idea who's going to win this and it might come down to who can impose their will on the game more often. If the Rangers can slow it down and score on the PP they have the advantage. If it's wide-open hockey the Devils have the advantage.

 

[Mr Bojanglez]

could the MSG ice be a factor? seems like its unseasonably warmer there and the fact that the Garden is fairly high up doesn't help matters.

Perhaps a bit of the Devils speed is neutralised a bit on what might be pretty choppy ice?

I think you're overthinking it a bit.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

Trouba's hit are 100% clean. He hasn't head hunted, he doesn't board players.

I would figure that a fanbase that watched Scott Stevens level dudes into another country would have a decent idea of what happens in games.

Good straw man argument, should we go back through history and name all the times where rules changes and other things would dictate how certain players play or just when it fits your narrative? There's plenty of Devils fans who have said that Stevens wouldn't get away with he did in the 90's and 2000's nowadays.

 

[Mr Bojanglez]

Trouba's hit are 100% clean. He hasn't head hunted, he doesn't board players.

I would figure that a fanbase that watched Scott Stevens level dudes into another country would have a decent idea of what happens in games.

1) What was legal during Stevens' era, vs. current, are different. However, he has had hits to inure that were deemed legal. It was a different time for hockey

2) Trouba has definitely had some dirty hits. And regardless of legality, he definitely intents to injure on some plays. It's absolutely the truth.

For what its worth, I liked his play in the Calgary game at the end of the season. No complaints.

But don't be too blinded - he has dirty hits under his belt. The league is different though, now. Like it or not

 

[PromisedLand]

this should be a fun series.

 

[jkrdevil]

And we sometimes consider the Islanders a form of retirement home for our old and beloved Devils players.

Well that is because their GM kind of has an obsession with that.

 

[JimmyG89]

Good straw man argument, should we go back through history and name all the times where rules changes and other things would dictate how certain players play or just when it fits your narrative? There's plenty of Devils fans who have said that Stevens wouldn't get away with he did in the 90's and 2000's nowadays.

It's not a strawman lmao. And it has nothing to do with the rule changes from them to now. It's a comparison cause Stevens was definitely called a dirty player, but his hits were within the rules. The same applies to Trouba.

If the league had issues with it, he'd have heard from them by now. He hit Crosby and the league didn't see anything wrong. I'd love to see the examples of Trouba's "dirty" hits.

And it's 2023. Still images aren't going to cut it. Video.

 

[jkrdevil]

could the MSG ice be a factor? seems like its unseasonably warmer there and the fact that the Garden is fairly high up doesn't help matters.

Perhaps a bit of the Devils speed is neutralised a bit on what might be pretty choppy ice?

Prudential Center ice is usually crap as well..so both teams should be used to
It.

 

[OVO16]

Should be a really fun series but more so in the Goal Scoring part.

I dont forsee too much hatred/physicality because I think it will be a 1-way street if that happens. Devils are pretty soft but have amazing goalscorers.

Its gonna be high up-tempo series with a lot of chances

 

[stonecold316]

Sad part is half the rags fans on here grew up and live in NJ. Support tall buildings!

 

[Holocene]

Sad part is half the rags fans on here grew up and live in NJ. Support tall buildings!

there wasn’t a jersey team when my dad started following hockey in the 70s. most of us inherited it. you’d all be ranger fans too cos lord knows most of you are giants/jets and mets/yanks fans or maybe philly fans.

but hey it’s actually tough being a nj ranger fan since half the fanbase makes fun of the state even though i see them clogging up the parkway and my highways in the summer.

 

[Ovi895]

I'm sure the Devils won't have an issue with sending Wood at Shesterkin's knees if they see Trouba do something which mostly likely will be dirty with how that guy hits come playoffs. Play with fire, I dare you

Really doubt the Devils want to get into that kind of game against the Rangers, most of whose players have been through more playoff series than their devils comparables played playoff games. Especially with the Devils top player being a 170lb twig

 

[Brobust]

Dougie Hamilton is the x-factor here, by which I mean he's going to get exposed hard by the Rangers and lose the Devils at least 2 games.

 

[Emperoreddy]

Some of you are in for a bit of a surprise thinking this Devils team is super soft

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

Really doubt the Devils want to get into that kind of game against the Rangers, most of whose players have been through more playoff series than their devils comparables played playoff games. Especially with the Devils top player being a 170lb twig

Well right but at the same time, you're joking if you don't think NJ isn't going to return the favor if Trouba decides to make ill advised runs at their players. And the Rangers best forward possibly is labelled as a soft + floater in regards to physicality too. Not sure why the Rangers have this mantra of being hitting machines.

 

[theoptimist]

Dougie Hamilton is the x-factor here, by which I mean he's going to get exposed hard by the Rangers and lose the Devils at least 2 games.

He’s important but ‘the’ X factor? Idk

For me, it’s probably Hughes or Shesterkin

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

NJD X factor: Palat, he's been bad the past couple of weeks but he was signed for these exact moments. A ton on our board didn't think we'd possibly recoup the benefits of a playoff Palat this early in his contract, myself included, but he has to show up for an effective top 9. He'll probably be on Hughes's line to start off game 1 since Jack and Timo are awful fits for each as puck hog volume shooters.

NYR X factor K'Andre Miller: said it multiple times in this thread already but if he's bad, they're in a world of trouble. If he's good then the defenses are way closer and the Rangers would have the advantage from the blue line + the far superior goalie.


God, it needs to be Tuesday already lol.

 

[JimEIV]

Scott Stevens 22 year career 1635 NHL games. 4 elbowing minors - 8 minutes in 22 years and never once suspended for a hit.

 

[Ovi895]

Well right but at the same time, you're joking if you don't think NJ isn't going to return the favor if Trouba decides to make ill advised runs at their players. And the Rangers best forward possibly is labelled as a soft + floater in regards to physicality too. Not sure why the Rangers have this mantra of being hitting machines.

That "soft" player has 44 points in 50 playoff games when he's usually the top target for other teams.

Rangers have arguably the most battle tested forwards after Tampa of any team in the playoffs. Kreider, Zibanejad, Trocheck, Tarasenko all varying degrees of physical, Goodrow very physical. Panarin and Kane don't have the reputation of being physical but their resumes speak for themselves. Defense has very physical players in Lindgren and Trouba and neither Miller or Fox are soft to any degree.

Usually it takes even the best players a few years of playoff experience to get up to speed including Tampa, Colorado, Washington, will be interesting how the Devils do given how green most of their team is in comparison

 

[jkrdevil]

That "soft" player has 44 points in 50 playoff games when he's usually the top target for other teams.

Rangers have arguably the most battle tested forwards after Tampa of any team in the playoffs. Kreider, Zibanejad, Trocheck, Tarasenko all varying degrees of physical, Goodrow very physical. Panarin and Kane don't have the reputation of being physical but their resumes speak for themselves. Defense has very physical players in Lindgren and Trouba and neither Miller or Fox are soft to any degree.

Usually it takes even the best players a few years of playoff experience to get up to speed including Tampa, Colorado, Washington, will be interesting how the Devils do given how green most of their team is in comparison

Tampa went to Conference Final (Game 7 even) in Stamkos and Hedman’s first playoff. The Blackhawks went to the Conference Final in Toews/Kane first playoff.

I think experience thing is getting overplayed here. Especially since outside of Hughes and Mercer, it isn’t the first playoff for most of the Devils roster.

 

[ffh]

Some of you are in for a bit of a surprise thinking this Devils team is super soft

They're super small. Should get pushed around.

 

[Emperoreddy]

They're super small. Should get pushed around.

Except the team isn't. Like that's just misinformation

 

[Killing Joke]

Except the team isn't. Like that's just misinformation

Lol it’s amazing how people think the lesser offensive team that can’t drive play is gonna be able to push around a team that is too fast for captain chicken wing to take runs at and try to injure

 

[Killing Joke]

Dougie Hamilton is the x-factor here, by which I mean he's going to get exposed hard by the Rangers and lose the Devils at least 2 games.

lol like the rangers second d pairing that sucks won’t get eaten alive. Or like tarasenko and Kane don’t utterly suck defensively and 5 on 5 and they themselves won’t get exposed for being has beens.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

They're super small. Should get pushed around.

Avs really got pushed around last year