Post-Game Talk: Rangers vs. Lightning, Game 4

[NCRanger]

No, I understand. It's disappointing.

When you get this far, people dream. That's fine. That's what it's all about.

I mentioned this before - I didn't wanna say anything beforehand but I didn't really give us a chance in hell last night. They had the momentum after game 3. The change of scenery will change momentum and then it's a best of three.

After a certain point, I think they knew it wasn't there. We certainly all did. You reign it in, even if it's subconscious.

We're tired and had terrible injury luck the last 2-3 weeks with guys getting hurt in garbage time games. A number of guys are playing hurt. There was no use breaking our backs last night after probably the Kucherov goal.

I agree with you.

I have a feeling they thought if they pushed any harder, they would have been called for something aggressive, and there was no sense trying to push against constant obstruction that just wasn't going to be called.

With that being the possibility, we see what appears to be "no effort".

 

[JHS]

The NHL is really screwing these players by starting these games at 8 and giving them no time to travel after the game forcing them to travel the next day on the off days. Really a pathetic display by a league that has not exactly dignified itself in many ways this playoffs with the below standard officiating etc...

It was predictable that Tampa would raise its game after going down 2-0. The issue is now the Rangers have injuries. With Strome hopefully returning, Goodrow can go back to bottom six minutes and actually play his game. Last night he destroyed the top 6( not because of his effort) but because he's not an offensive minded guy. This is why management said they needed guys to fill roles.

If Strome returns and can give a good skate, I'm not worried. If he's out and Filip is out--Rangers are in trouble

 

[Doctyl]

Carolina undefeated at home, defeated on the road and the narrative is they’re the best home team in the league and Raleigh is the hardest building to play in.

Rangers are 8-1 at home and 2-6 on the road and they’re spineless, gutless sacks of shit who don’t deserve to be here

 

[Machinehead]

The early Maroon goal set the tone. That game may have been winnable if we were allowed to get into it.

Once again, 4th line and 3rd pair on for the goal.

Those chuckleheads are the reason the Pittsburgh series ever went 7.

They don't play a ton but Gallant still plays his 4th line too much. I understand the energy/health aspect that we've talked about, but the kids look good. Take four minutes from the scrubs and give them to Laf-Chytil-Kakko.

From a nuts and bolts roster perspective, that's probably the thing that needs to improve the most. Injuries healing over the summer will give us a good starting 4th line automatically. We still need to have options better than Reaves or Rooney to step in. Then again we already do (Hunt, Brodzkinski). It might just be a matter of taking Gallant's toys away. We desperately need another defenseman. Maybe Schneider is ready next year. He really wasn't this year and we got ourselves stuck with him.

 

[Ola]

I think this loss was a little bit in the cards. Look, we were playing our best hockey at the most important time of the season. Our kid line played its best hockey. Tampa is a disciplined team that knows what it takes to give them a chance, and they got GWers. Up until G3 they were struggling without Point.

Then things turn, we lose Strome, we get off our bearings a bit. Ultimately we are a team that have leaned very hard on our top guys. This also challenged us against Carolina in a series that could have gone either way and which we ended up winning after facing brutal goaltending.

We could have won G3, and sure that would have increased our odds, but honestly, it doesn’t guarantee a thing. You have to get to 4 and just like Tampa could win 4 in a row going from 0-2 they could win 4 in a row going from 0-3 to 4-3.

Now it’s a tied series which boils down to a pure best of 3. First to 2 wins. We don’t have a perfect team, very much borderline contender at best, and if we play without core players and struggle — we can’t count on winning many games at this stage of the season.

To win 2 more and to eliminate Tampa, we need to turn the tide — and I think we need some help there. Tampa taking penalties, Vasilevsky giving up goals, injuries/ big hits, or whatever. But that is what I think, with this team, who knows. All of a sudden they destroy Tampa for a game or two no matter what. But…

 

[NCRanger]

The NHL is really screwing these players by starting these games at 8 and giving them no time to travel after the game forcing them to travel the next day on the off days. Really a pathetic display by a league that has not exactly dignified itself in many ways this playoffs with the below standard officiating etc...

It was predictable that Tampa would raise its game after going down 2-0. The issue is now the Rangers have injuries. With Strome hopefully returning, Goodrow can go back to bottom six minutes and actually play his game. Last night he destroyed the top 6( not because of his effort) but because he's not an offensive minded guy. This is why management said they needed guys to fill roles.

If Strome returns and can give a good skate, I'm not worried. If he's out and Filip is out--Rangers are in trouble

The 8 start has been commonplace for some 30 years now, if not even longer. However, there were always the occasional two day breaks, once the Conference Finals started.

I agree with you that it is definitely an issue, and will be a GIANT issue if the Rangers series goes 7. The Final will be played every other night, even when travel becomes an issue. But they don't care. They sold their integrity to be shown on Disney, so Disney can direct the schedule.

 

[Larrybiv]

Give less minutes to the obvious candidates. Healthy scratch the obvious people. We can right the ship.

Wanna right the ship? Put Brodzinski & Gauthier in. A strong shot of speed AND the fresh legs and enthusiasm from them, will give TB fits. 4th line absolutely sucks and the victims of the most important goal. The 1st.

 

[Machinehead]

I'm a soccer fan. I like when games start at 11 am.

 

[JHS]

The 8 start has been commonplace for some 30 years now, if not even longer. However, there were always the occasional two day breaks, once the Conference Finals started.

I agree with you that it is definitely an issue, and will be a GIANT issue if the Rangers series goes 7. The Final will be played every other night, even when travel becomes an issue. But they don't care. They sold their integrity to be shown on Disney, so Disney can direct the schedule.

Right I know the 8 start ahs been around forever but It's really absurd what they are asking these players to do. It will be comical when they expect the teams to make a 4 hour flight to Denver in a few days and play the next day. I used to really think the NHL was well run but what they've done this year in the playoffs is absurd. Hockey in July is not ideal but running your players into the ground shows no respect for them at all.

 

[Gardner McKay]

I cut out early.

There was no reason to say anything before the game and ruin the mood, but I would have bet my house on the Lightning in this game.

I knew from the get-go they would blow us away in Tampa. Game 3 was our chance to steal one and we didn't get it over the line.

We still have home ice and it's going to be a very different game at MSG.. Momentum is just your imagination playing tricks on you.

You've gone from angriest poster in HF history to the wise shaman of these boards.

 

[Doctyl]

Wanna right the ship? Put Brodzinski & Gauthier in. A strong shot of speed AND the fresh legs and enthusiasm from them, will give TB fits. 4th line absolutely sucks and the victims of the most important goal. The 1st.

No. Gauthier can go f*** himself. Awful awful hockey player and I’m tired of some around here pretend he will ever be anything.

Brod and Hunt are the ones who should be playing over Reaves and Rooney

You've gone from angriest poster in HF history to the wise shaman of these boards.

I think the boards collectively got lead poisoning making angry takes sound calm and rational

 

[NCRanger]

The early Maroon goal set the tone. That game may have been winnable if we were allowed to get into it.

Once again, 4th line and 3rd pair on for the goal.

Those chuckleheads are the reason the Pittsburgh series ever went 7.

They don't play a ton but Gallant still plays his 4th line too much. I understand the energy/health aspect that we've talked about, but the kids look good. Take four minutes from the scrubs and give them to Laf-Chytil-Kakko.

From a nuts and bolts roster perspective, that's probably the thing that needs to improve the most. Injuries healing over the summer will give us a good starting 4th line automatically. We still need to have options better than Reaves or Rooney to step in. Then again we already do (Hunt, Brodzkinski). It might just be a matter of taking Gallant's toys away. We desperately need another defenseman. Maybe Schneider is ready next year. He really wasn't this year and we got ourselves stuck with him.

Had Blais never been injured, there's no trade for Motte, and Reaves only plays when they need an enforcer.

The 4th line wouldn't have been an issue without the Blais injury.

 

[Larrybiv]

This is exactly what I expected with the series to be tied 2-2. The question is if they have reached the point of exhaustion and the injuries. 18 playoff games every other day is pretty tough.

Last night was game #100

 

[Glen Sathers Cigar]

The early Maroon goal set the tone. That game may have been winnable if we were allowed to get into it.

Once again, 4th line and 3rd pair on for the goal.

Those chuckleheads are the reason the Pittsburgh series ever went 7.

They don't play a ton but Gallant still plays his 4th line too much. I understand the energy/health aspect that we've talked about, but the kids look good. Take four minutes from the scrubs and give them to Laf-Chytil-Kakko.

From a nuts and bolts roster perspective, that's probably the thing that needs to improve the most. Injuries healing over the summer will give us a good starting 4th line automatically. We still need to have options better than Reaves or Rooney to step in. Then again we already do (Hunt, Brodzkinski). It might just be a matter of taking Gallant's toys away. We desperately need another defenseman. Maybe Schneider is ready next year. He really wasn't this year and we got ourselves stuck with him.

The early Maroon goal definitely was the worst thing that could've happened. It let Tampa just completely clamp down with their interference and clogging all over the ice. The refs let them get away with so much interference that we don't even get a PP until the game is out of reach. Pretty frustrating, considering they had one early and the last game was ticky tack calls all day.

If Igor doesn't give up that goal, maybe we find our legs and get something going, it's not like they were going to sludge it up like that if it was tied - could've been a totally different game.

Getting the PPs is important not only for the obvious in the goals it brings us but simply in that it energizes everyone and lets them start to "feel" it because they're setting up with time and space and usually it will swing some momentum for you and bring some more pace to your game, maybe tire out the opponent and then maybe it opens some seams the next time you're in the zone.

It definitely looks bleak right now but I'm not giving up. It's going to be really tough if either of Strome or Chytil can't go, even worse if both are out. But not impossible, we have guys who can step up. That 4th line needs to be addressed though. Rooney is so freaking bad it's insane.

 

[Larrybiv]

No. Gauthier can go f*** himself. Awful awful hockey player and I’m tired of some around here pretend he will ever be anything.

Brod and Hunt are the ones who should be playing over Reaves and Rooney.

Gauthier will never be what we would want, but like his speed. But yeah, You are right. Hunt is a much better forechecker and even though he cannot score, does provide a little something.

 

[Fitzy]

The team has given the exact amount of effort required to win all season. No more, no less.

That makes me optimistic about how they will rebound when the situation deteriorates, but it also may end up biting them in the butt. Play as hard as you want in elimination games, but anything can happen. It's still an odds game.

 

[NYblades]

I hope the Rangers can at least score first in game 5. Although even a 2-0 lead isn't safe against TB, they need to grab the momentum series back early.

 

[McRanger92]

The Rangers being outplayed and Shesterkin saving their bacon has been a thing all year, why would it stop against the defending champs?

The roster needs changes though. Something is broken. No first round pick stings.



You mean former Ranger favorite Ryan McDonagh??

Couldn't wait for a letdown game so you could fire off this gem eh? The roster needs changes despite being 1 of 3 teams left in the playoffs, not to mention in a tied series with the back to back defending champs? Give me a break

 

[Larrybiv]

The early Maroon goal set the tone. That game may have been winnable if we were allowed to get into it.

Once again, 4th line and 3rd pair on for the goal.

Those chuckleheads are the reason the Pittsburgh series ever went 7.

They don't play a ton but Gallant still plays his 4th line too much. I understand the energy/health aspect that we've talked about, but the kids look good. Take four minutes from the scrubs and give them to Laf-Chytil-Kakko.

From a nuts and bolts roster perspective, that's probably the thing that needs to improve the most. Injuries healing over the summer will give us a good starting 4th line automatically. We still need to have options better than Reaves or Rooney to step in. Then again we already do (Hunt, Brodzkinski). It might just be a matter of taking Gallant's toys away. We desperately need another defenseman. Maybe Schneider is ready next year. He really wasn't this year and we got ourselves stuck with him.

THIS should never ever happen. As soon as I noticed it, I screamed WTF are you doing, 20 seconds later they scored.
Even though we were the road team, that easily could be prevented. DON'T play your worst 5 players at the same time.
Sorry Schneider (not there yet) and Motte, but you know what I mean.

 

[Machinehead]

You've gone from angriest poster in HF history to the wise shaman of these boards.

We talk about experience for the players. Fans get experience too.

With Liverpool's '18-'22 (and hopefully ongoing) run, I've been through things you can't imagine. The sparknotes version of it is that we've built a dynasty but we're up against two other dynasties in a pretty unprecedented time for the sport. Tell-the-grandkids triumph and spine chilling tragedy, sometimes within weeks of each other. Seasons so hard that you forget about "would be nice if we went up 3-1 and it got easy" and you just accept the labor that's in front of you.

After awhile, you just learn that it's gonna happen or it isn't. You build arguably the best team in the world (1A/1B for sure) and it still either happens or it doesn't.

You still put your best foot forward and critiques are fine. Stay tuned, I have things I'm gonna sound off on this summer and at the start of next season. For now, this is the team we have and they could win it. It's gonna be hard if they do and hard if they don't.

But we do it, and here's something else I've learned - it's worth it. Oh man, is it worth it. I've learned a lot about losing. If this teams wins the Cup, you guys are gonna get to see what I've learned about partying.

I think the boards collectively got lead poisoning making angry takes sound calm and rational

And also this too.

The fact that I still hate hockey coaches and will tell anybody within earshot sounds fair compared to "why haven't we swept Tampa?" or "why don't we just STOP Crosby?"

 

[NCRanger]

Right I know the 8 start ahs been around forever but It's really absurd what they are asking these players to do. It will be comical when they expect the teams to make a 4 hour flight to Denver in a few days and play the next day. I used to really think the NHL was well run but what they've done this year in the playoffs is absurd. Hockey in July is not ideal but running your players into the ground shows no respect for them at all.

It's going to be a total joke.

All about getting on Disney, and sacrificing the integrity of the games in order to do so.

The schedule itself is an abomination. There was NO REASON, NO REASON AT ALL to basically take off all of February, ESPECIALLY after the decision was made not to go to the Olympics. Then the break was "conveniently" used for COVID makeup games AFTER some teams had already played games decimated by "COVID positives".

So, the playoffs don't start until MAY f***ing SECOND, even though the league had already decided that JUNE THIRTIETH was the last possible day of the Final. That is the most constricted playoff in the last 30 or so years, especially when Disney has already decided that no game on a Disney network will conflict with the NBA Finals, which stretch out over EIGHTEEN DAYS!

I hope if the Rangers lose, every Ranger fan says **** it to the Finals, and these great ratings fall off a cliff.

 

[McRanger92]

I f***ing believe. I don't give a shit about last night at this point. It sucked, they sucked, but it's over and done. Like others have said, 2-2 against the b2b Cup champs with home ice advantage going into a best-of-3..I'll take it. It's a series and this series isn't over until Dancin' Larry sings, and I hear he doesn't like to sing.

Thursday is a new day. Let's f***ing go boys

The Rangers have played games like this in the previous 2 series...and then what happened? This team has responded all year, and I firmly expect us to be going back to Tampa Bay with a shot to win the series Saturday. Ranger fans clearly showing they don't remember what a playoff run is like with this reactionary negativity

 

[Machinehead]

It's going to be a total joke.

All about getting on Disney, and sacrificing the integrity of the games in order to do so.

The schedule itself is an abomination. There was NO REASON, NO REASON AT ALL to basically take off all of February, ESPECIALLY after the decision was made not to go to the Olympics. Then the break was "conveniently" used for COVID makeup games AFTER some teams had already played games decimated by "COVID positives".

So, the playoffs don't start until MAY f***ing SECOND, even though the league had already decided that JUNE THIRTIETH was the last possible day of the Final. That is the most constricted playoff in the last 30 or so years, especially when Disney has already decided that no game on a Disney network will conflict with the NBA Finals, which stretch out over EIGHTEEN DAYS!

I hope if the Rangers lose, every Ranger fan says **** it to the Finals, and these great ratings fall off a cliff.

The Final might suck anyway.

They're taking this thing deeper and deeper into June.

Mid-90's next week in Tampa. Mid 90's this weekend in Denver. It's almost officially summer and the real shit is coming. I'm sure we're not far behind.

They know ice melts, right?

 

[nevesis]

It's not easy for anybody.

Have you watched Colorado this year? Haha...

 

[JimmyG89]

Have a feeling Strome will be back for Game 5. You don't take pre-game warm-ups if you aren't close at least. Feel less confident about Chytil. Not sure if he jammed his left shoulder or if it's head related.

The big question will be what does Gallant do at 3C. The options are, since the kids line is no longer a thing, going with Strome and Copp down the middle together and let Goodrow be the 4C, or go back to the same top 6 and let Goodrow be the center for Lafreniere and Kakko. That's probably his mindset.

Realistically, this team needs a shuffle at 5v5 play. I'd prefer they go with Mika/Copp/Strome/Goodrow down the middle. With Strome not being 100%, he should be able to handle his PP1 role as well as 3C duties. Let Copp roll as the 2C. I'd also get Lafreniere and Kakko into the top 6 and try and jumpstart those lines:

Kreider-Mika-Lafreniere
Panarin-Copp-Kakko
Motte-Strome-Vatrano (Gives Strome two excellent skaters if he is compromised)
XXXX-Goodrow-Reaves

The wildcard will be is Sammy Blais available. If he is someone that can give them 8-10 minutes, he should be in there. Went full contact last practice. Should be able to do the same today and see how he feels tomorrow morning. If he is good, he slots in on the 4th line. If not, it's going to be Rooney because Strome and Goodrow could go down in game. Reaves will never come out this season. You saw after he got cross-checked in the back how Kakko reacted? Doubt he gets pulled out, but he should.