Post-Game Talk: Round 3, Game 2: Can the Rangers break the streak?????

[Miamipuck]

Thought Tokarski played pretty well but listening to Therrien's explanation to Budaj (as he stated in the post game) for why Tokarski instead it was because Dustin's proven himself a winner (at other levels) and I can only think that it would have better if he'd just not talked to Budaj at all.

He painted himself in a corner now. He can't go back to Budaj with a straight face. He basically told the dude, " You suck in the playoffs, we're going with the kid at least he has won big games in other leagues, you not so much". Good luck coming back to him now and saying hey Peter we need you.

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

Therrien put himself in an interesting corner. Does he stick with the kid? Can he go back to Budaj after not trusting him in Game 2?

I dont think he has much faith in Budaj so it will be the kid again imo.

I thought he played well but not great. Nash's goal couldve been stopped. Stick Kreids in front again on the PP, he cant see a thing.

 

[Fletch]

I hate to be captain obvious, but getting two from MTL in MTL is huge. Need to stay focus and not punch that ticket to the finals just yet. Montreal is a good team and just because they're goalie is out doesn't mean they can pull out some wins if they focus.

 

[True Blue]

I thought the 4th line last night played very well. Cycled the puck well and took the puck to the net hard. Good job by Carcillo and Dorsett on the wings.

Moore is quietly a very effective 3/4 defensive center. On top of that, he is a pain in the ass to play against.

I really like the Boyle/Carcillo/Dorsett 4th line.

Moore was good, but I actually thought his play was better in the first game.

The 4th line has made an impact in the series. Much like Boston's and NJ's 4th lines have made a difference against the Rangers in the past.

 

[beastly115]

The main board is hilarious.

So many Habs fans living in fantasy. If we had Price blah blah blah.

Reality is that players are banged up this time of year. Teams play without players all the time. Deal with it. Stop whining.

 

[Levitate]

I saw this in Swedish media and got a good lol-moment.

Aftonbladet asked Doug Murray before the game if he feared facing Carl Hagelin coming down at full speed at left wing. Doug Murray response was: "Nobody is fast after you have knocked them down on the ice."

Yeah maybe Douglas can knock them down after they've blown past him and scored a goal

Murray used to be pretty decent but he is a bad hockey player these days

Eh, Subban being trolled hard by Kreider and Lundqvist. His antics (punching our players in the face behind the play) have been getting him penalized so far this series. He's butthurt and frustrated.

He definitely is getting frustrated and was lucky he didn't get called for a few more penalties, he's trying to battle with guys in the defensive zone but it turns into him mauling them for some reason. That punch to whoever (Moore?) was just plain dumb.

But...while Lundqvist was great and stoned Subban, I'd realllllly like to see the Rangers tighten up and not keep letting him crank his shot on net all night long. Really have to clean up that defense

I've heard it a few times now from a few different players and coaches about the leadership in the room and I'm thinking of a few players Richards, Lundqvist, Girardi, and St. Louis. It's hard to believe G is 29 already and, whatever happens in the off season, I think a much maligned center (last year) has earned some respect from NY Rangers fans. It's obvious that he's a guy people are looking on and off the bench during this run. Good on him. And bad on Tortorella for not figuring out some way to tap into that last year.

Richards definitely seems to have stepped up to be the team leader and along with Marty is providing some good experience for the rest of the team in what it takes to get to the finals and win the cup.

 

[AHB*]

Montreal may had 40 shots but after the first they were never in control of that game. I never ever felt the Rangers were in danger, it was a surreal feeling. There were time against Pitt where the Rangers had the lead and you though," uh oh". I never felt like that last night.

Same. I read today they had 19 shots in the third. That was shockign to me. So many were from bad angles, just throwing it at the net praying for bad bounces.

The Rangers took away any odd man scoring chances and any prime opportunities.

 

[GP035]

On the NBC feed they were crowing about Kreider being benched, missing a shift. I was taking care of stuff at the time (sick pooch) and could have sworn he played a shift prior with a different line.

He was out on the previous shift after some minor line juggling and double shifting of MSL.

 

[SingnBluesOnBroadway]

I dont think he has much faith in Budaj so it will be the kid again imo.

I thought he played well but not great. Nash's goal couldve been stopped. Stick Kreids in front again on the PP, he cant see a thing.

I don't think the kid was really tested.

 

[Miamipuck]

Same. I read today they had 19 shots in the third. That was shockign to me. So many were from bad angles, just throwing it at the net praying for bad bounces.

The Rangers took away any odd man scoring chances and any prime opportunities.

Sorry for the poor wording in my prior response, I fixed it...... but yeah it was mostly throwing it at the net and hoping. They have beaten Hank once and that was a great shot that was kind of fluky. The other 2 goals were bank shots. He has to be in their heads.

Well Subban's idiotic statements are proof of that.

 

[Fletch]

Beastley...

it's a natural reaction. Many Rangers fan would say the same thing if Lundqvist was skated into and missed a series. Yes, injuries happen and teams have to deal with it. Losing your starting goalie seems a bit different than losing any other player on the ice (and we can attest to that), and there are few that would not play the "what if" game, even if silently.

 

[Vickers8]

He painted himself in a corner now. He can't go back to Budaj with a straight face. He basically told the dude, " You suck in the playoffs, we're going with the kid at least he has won big games in other leagues, you not so much". Good luck coming back to him now and saying hey Peter we need you.

I agree, kind of put all their eggs in one basket, trying everything to win that game and still lost, Thursday we will dictate the pace and use our speed and smother them

 

[The Gloaming]

If I were a Habs fan, I would really want Subban to shut the **** up and play hockey, not be a sideshow.

 

[Vickers8]

Sorry for the poor wording in my prior response, I fixed it...... but yeah it was mostly throwing it at the net and hoping. They have beaten Hank once and that was a great shot that was kind of fluky. The other 2 goals were bank shots. He has to be in their heads.

Well Subban's idiotic statements are proof of that.

Subban played about 40 minutes and they still lost... he is delusional

 

[Miamipuck]

He was out on the previous shift after some minor line juggling and double shifting of MSL.

Thank you, that's what I thought and at that moment I couldn't concentrate on the game. It makes me wonder about the schmucks they have announcing the game. They miss so much.

 

[Vickers8]

Thank you, that's what I thought and at that moment I couldn't concentrate on the game. It makes me wonder about the schmucks they have announcing the game. They miss so much.

Doc Emrick is horrible, gets 1/2 the names wrong, in the 3rd period with a 3-1 score he says the next goal will be telling, what if there is no goal stupid, we're ahead by 2

 

[SnowblindNYR]

On Kreider--he fumbles around with the puck a little too much in his own end and that penalty he took late in the 2nd period was completely unnecessary. A penalty killer he ain't--at least for a while.

His speed is a problem for the Canadiens and it opens up space for Nash on the other side. The defense pair facing them have always got to be honest or they're going to get burned. Chris has an underrated playmaking game. That pass for the Nash game winner was about as perfect as it could be.

Before the series I went over to the Canadiens board to help them a little with their Rangers scouting report. They didn't seem all that aware of what Kreider can do. They forgotten about him running right over their big hitter Emelin earlier this year. Told them that Kreider was very big and very fast--that he drives defenses back and if he got by their defense he was like a freight train--no comment. Now he's replaced Milan Lucic as enemy No. 1. Who woulda thunk?

Lost in all this as well is that Derek Stepan has emerged. 10 points now.

Some Habs fan even after game 1 was like "what does Kreider give you that your average 3rd line grinder doesn't". I told him I hope that his coach believes the same thing.

 

[Miamipuck]

I agree, kind of put all their eggs in one basket, trying everything to win that game and still lost, Thursday we will dictate the pace and use our speed and smother them

I think the Rangers will be cranked up by the crowd and swamp Montreal in the first 10 minutes. If the Rangers can get a goal or 2 quickly I think Montreal can be put to bed. I really hope they put that foot to the gas pedal. That has always been a Rangers problem.

 

[nevesis]

Haha...

I smell blood. Bury them in Game 3 at home and put the foot to the throat. Lets go!

 

[Miamipuck]

Doc Emrick is horrible, gets 1/2 the names wrong, in the 3rd period with a 3-1 score he says the next goal will be telling, what if there is no goal stupid, we're ahead by 2

Lol the knifing through the defense or a waffle board save is pretty annoying as well.

I don't think there are any accurate play by play guys any longer. I see more of what happened then they do, maybe I am becoming a grumpy old man with really good eye sight. Emrick does suck fwiw.

 

[True Blue]

Montreal is a good team and just because they're goalie is out doesn't mean they can pull out some wins if they focus.

Agreed. This is even more obvious, but if the Habs win, they are right back in it and it is a different series. if the Rangers win, they put a strangle hold on the series.

I am actually a little leery of the extra day of rest. They need to package all the good things that they have done and bring it to the Garden.

 

[GordonGecko]

Omg the devils board is filled with some hilarious stupid comments that only the fans of the devils can muster lol if you want a quick laugh check it out

But let's be fair here, Islander fans give them a good run for their money

 

[Paulie Walnutz]

I wanted to punch Michelle Terrien through the tv after hearing him whine oh we need breaks and we need calls, shut the **** up. And what did Subban say? I missed it.

 

[Siddi]

Don't think Price would have changed much tbh.

Unless he can score goals.

Off-topic; they took your handsome avatar away as well Well what can i say, its the ****ing playoffs

 

[eco's bones]

On the St. Louis goal--that was an awful call on Galchenyuk. The goal gave us breathing room and that's a good example of how luck doesn't always even out. I'm happy that it benefited our team here but calls like that can go either way.

OTOH--a short time before that **** call--we all got to watch Mike Weaver slew foot Martin St. Louis in front of the net--and no call on that. That's a very dangerous play. Almost unbelievable that they let Weaver get away with that.