Series Talk: Rangers vs. Carolina (Game 1, Sunday May 5th @ 4pm ET, ESPN)

[RangerLifer]

Fans here underestimate the Canes roster to their peril. That team is not a joke, and if we have an advantage it's a very slight one.

Maybe everyone else OVER ESTIMATES them.

 

[Machinehead]

This is going to be a tough series but we knew it was inevitable. Personally, I'd go Rangers in 7 with a gun to my head but could certainly make a case for the Canes.

I'll leave this graphic for everyone to compare to the Rangers current forward group:

View attachment 862806

This forward group is jacked

 

[Killem Dafoe]

My company has an office in Raleigh.

Maybe.

Maybe I make it to a game.

I might make it to a game.

It is only a 6 hour drive.

I think I'm going to a game.

Before we make a decision, please post all of the games you have ever been to and the Rangers win/loss record of said games.

 

[broadwayblue]

I think you missed my point, im just saying us and Carolina finished as 2 of the top 3 teams in the entire regular season. I didn’t say any bad teams would be left.

I also can’t stand having to play within your conference for 2 rounds but that’s just me

Division?

 

[RangerLifer]

Going to be a really tough test for the NYR group. Much better Canes team than 2022.

So are we and now we have a real coach.

 

[PuckLuck3043]

This forward group is jacked

I'll put this forward group against them and we are better in other areas as well. Oh and yes, Chytil will play.

Kreider-Mika-Ros
Laf-Trocheck-Panarin
Cuylle-Chytil-Kakko
Vesey/Rempe-Wennberg-Goodrow

 

[Machinehead]

I'll put this forward group against them and we are better in other areas as well. Oh and yes, Chytil will play.

Kreider-Mika-Ros
Laf-Trocheck-Panarin
Cuylle-Chytil-Kakko
Vesey/Rempe-Wennberg-Goodrow

I know who plays for the Rangers

 

[PuckLuck3043]

I know who plays for the Rangers

Just pointing out the Rangers are every bit as good in case you forgot.

 

[Machinehead]

Just pointing out the Rangers are every bit as good in case you forgot.

Thanks, Kemosabe.

 

[Guyute]

I wonder what a Rempe hit on Jarvis would look like

 

[PuckLuck3043]

Thanks, Kemosabe.

No problem.

 

[Machinehead]

I wonder what a Rempe hit on Jarvis would look like

Ugly, for starters.

 

[Savant]

My company has an office in Raleigh.

Maybe.

Maybe I make it to a game.

I might make it to a game.

It is only a 6 hour drive.

I think I'm going to a game.

I live here. Easy tickets

 

[Clark Kellogg]

Need to keep Andersen moving east/west. He’s being held together with Bondo and Spit. He’ll break down.

 

[PuckLuck3043]

I wonder what a Rempe hit on Jarvis would look like

Like this but worse.

 

[jerseyjinx94]

By the way, for those saying it didn't matter, if the playoffs were 1-8, instead of the divisional bracket, the Hurricanes would play the Panthers this round and Rangers would play winner of Boston-Toronto.

Instead, to reach the finals, the Rangers will probably have to beat Carolina and Florida.

 

[RangerLifer]

I'll put this forward group against them and we are better in other areas as well. Oh and yes, Chytil will play.

Kreider-Mika-Ros
Laf-Trocheck-Panarin
Cuylle-Chytil-Kakko
Vesey/Rempe-Wennberg-Goodrow

For real?

 

[PuckLuck3043]

Kinda pathetic that the #1 and #3 team in the entire regular season have to play each other in the 2nd round

Can we please go back to the old playoff format?

At least we got an easy matchup in the first round. Better than Winnipeg with 110 points having to face Colorado or western champs Dallas with 113 stuck in a death match with Vegas

 

[PuckLuck3043]

For real?

Not confirmed but he's been practicing with the team for 3 weeks now so just my guess. Why would he be practicing with no restrictions if he isn't going to play. I understand him not playing against Washington because they didn't need him but by the time the next series starts it will be nearly a month since he returned.

 

[80s Kid]

This forward group is jacked

I just view the Canes forward group as deep.

I have no stats to prove this but I believe that if both teams play their best, the Rangers win. However, I also believe the Canes are more consistent with their play and less likely to lay an egg or have an off night.

I have no idea if Chytil is playing and even if he is, I don't know what to expect from a guy who hasn't played since the fall of last year. He's a wild card.

I like Rempe and believe he does add value in the small amount of minutes he plays. Our record with him in the lineup speaks for itself. However, he is also a wild card because you can't take stupid penalties against the Canes and expect to just score SH goals against them. That being said, the dude scored the opening goal of the last series and took out TVR for the rest of the series. Apparently he also broke Oshie's hand but haven't seen anything official on that. In game 4 it looked like the Caps were legit game planning around Rempe.

The more I think about it, I believe a lot falls on Lav to make the right decisions in terms of matchups and lineups. What worked against the Caps probably won't work against the Canes. Yes, players need to show up but when you play the same team multiple times in a row, the team has to adapt and make changes. I have a lot more faith in Lav than Gallant to put this team in the best position for success.

TLDR:
-Rangers have more potential but Canes are deeper
-Chytil and Rempe are wild cards
-Lav has to continue to make the right coaching decisions to give this team the best chance for success
-Rangers in 7

 

[KevinFinnerty]

make sure we protect Trouba and Lindgren out there and we should be fine. Panarin is exploding this round. Keep Rempe in to bang bodies. every hit from him crunches bones.

 

[KevinFinnerty]

Rempe on Svechnikov, Kuznetsova would be a sight to behold.

 

[eco's bones]

guys like Aho, Jarvis and Guentzel are pretty elusive and hard to hit. I would try to play physical with the Canes though. If Trouba can really connect once or twice. He knocked out Jarvis the last time we were in the playoffs with them. If Rempe plays his mission will be to beat up on their D. If Pesce plays you might as well test his shoulder. Schneider, Cuylle and Goodrow are all guys who can hit hard too.

The first two games at home will set the tone I think for how the series goes. If the Canes come away with a win in either of them the series is probably going long. Rangers forwards need to be on top of Andersen a lot too. Igor IMO is the better goalie but Andersen can get really hot. Got to make his life as miserable as possible.

Florida will be definite favorites over either of Boston/Toronto. Whoever wins our series is very likely facing them so it's not going to get easier. Still you never know....for any of the remaining teams, injuries start to pile up or your goalie loses it or a couple weird bounces, your special teams go south, too many dumb penalties or the officials start hating on you and then you're going home. You need more than just a really solid team to go all the way......you have to have some luck too.

 

[LOFIN]

Special teams are the key, and good thing we got some practice at it vs Washington. Carolina will dominate 5v5 posession, they would against pretty much every team against the league. That doesn't mean they are super dangerous. Keep them to the outside, punish them on the PP, Shesty cleans up. Those are my three tenants for the series.

 

[maddskkilz]

Honestly the Canes scare me but I also think Rangers should be able to hold their own.

Goaltending: EDGE - Rangers
Shesterkin when he’s on his game is one of, if not the best goalie in the league.
Andersen is playing great and can’t be outright dismissed. I think Shesterkin needs to stay composed cuz the Canes will crash the net and Rangers need to do the same to Andersen.

Defense: EDGE - Canes

Fox is the best D man in the series but the hurricanes have quality up and down their D pairs. If Pesce and (can’t believe I’m saying this) D’Angelo are unavailable then that significantly weakens their back end.
I honestly think the series will come down to how well Schneider and Miller play. If this is their coming out party and they can contain Guentzel, Svech, Aho, Jarvis et al then Rangers should be able to advance.

Trouba and Gus on third pair need to limit mistakes

Offense: EDGE - Even

Rangers high end offense is a touch better but Canes have much better depth in their bottom 6. Getting Chytil back lengthens the lineup and helps even out the playing field. We will need contributions from bottom 6 guys. My picks would be for Cuylle and Kakko to step up and be difference makers. If those two can supply some offense and limit Canes offense we should be in a good position in the series.

Have a feeling that extenuating, uncontrollable circumstances (puck luck, etc) will play a big role in this series but I’m hopeful Rangers take the first 2, drop next 2, and then take last 2 to move onto the conference finals.