Post-Game Talk: SC Finals, Here We Come

[nyr2k2]

this is true, but if a team makes the SCF they did something right.

Yes, I absolutely agree. I'm just saying that it shouldn't be surprising to see Debs fans refusing to accept that we're good or to give us any credit--a lot of people here would be doing the same thing if the tables were turned.

Our fan base shouldn't throw stones in our glass house, I guess is what I'm saying.

 

[Doctyl]

Nah bro. He sucks and kills all offense. Big oaf should be on the bench as much as possible.

Actually no ones really complained about BB this year. I wasn't exactly fond of the guy in the past, but AV has used him perfectly this season. Huge difference compared to Torts who would throw him on the top line whenever he got pissed at Gaborik.

 

[darko]

I have to note what a huge factor McDonagh played in this series. Going in, all of the Habs fans were boasting about how Subban is far superior to every Ranger defenseman. McDonagh looked like he was on a mission to show he's every bit as good or better. How many people would've predicted he'd put up 10 points while Subban only managed 2?

Credit to our D because they zero'd in on Subban. The guy had hardly any room the entire series. We learnt from Boston's mistakes.

 

[darko]

It's such a great feeling walking around in my Brian Leetch shirt at work today in Quebec aka Habs Land.

Stay safe.

 

[Ola]

Which matchup is better for the Rangers? LA or Chicago? LA is the bigger team. Depth at center. They have the better goaltender. Chicago should be the better skating team. The Kings have added Gaborik,Toffoli and Pearson to give them some more offensive depth. Chicago has big time offensive players. Keith and Seabrook on D. Doughty for LA. When the Hawks are playing fast,they have won their games in the LA series. Pierre McGuire believes the Hawks are a tired team. They had a very short break last summer with the season ending late because of the lockout. Olympic year. LA has played the same amount of games as the Rangers with the game tonight. 20 playoff games. No team playing 14 games in the first two rounds has won a Cup.

The Rangers will have to play their best hockey of the season to win the Cup. All 4 lines contributing. Play fast. Timely goal scoring. MSL looked tired in the last two games. The five days off should help him. LA has some D with foot speed issues like Mitchell,Greene and Regher(who has skated skating again).

Richards needs to pick up his play. He did not have a very good series against Montreal. The Stepan line with the return of Kreider was good in the Montreal series. Kreider has 10 points in 10 games. The Rangers need the Brassard line to play better. They were pretty good last night. Brassard will get the chance to heal up in the next 5 days. Moore is better on the 4th line.

Go Hawks. Force game 7. Sunday night. 3 nights later is game one.

I agree with all of this to the dot.

LA has had one line scoring, but its not a one line team. Its a "team" that can beat you even if they only score 2 or even 1 goal... They have players on all 4 lines that creates chances and can score goal. They can also play a pretty -- nasty -- hockey game, and they do a good job with balancing on that line while doing it...

No team will ever beat that team without really playing a really strong game from the time the puck is dropped 'till the series is over. LAK hasn't ever played the best hockey in this league this year, I wonder if they even are top 5 in that cathegory. But its a really tough team to beat over 7, and if you give them an inch its a loss instantly.

Chicago is tired, but they have shown that they won't let that stop them. But I think CHI to a much bigger extent than LA is a team we actually could "beat" with some luck. To put it like this, any game against any team can be won by either team. We can win 2 games in LA. No matter what, LA would fight back against us untill we have won 4 and all games against them would take an extreme effort to win. A win or loss would be equally uncomfortable and any game against them would wear a lot on us. CHI can do so much on the ice still, but take a 3-0 lead in a game against them after 30 minutes, and its a easy and comfortable win. Take a 3-1 lead in the series against them, and I just would have a very hard time seing them being able to dig deep enough and fight back.

So I would take Chicago too. I don't think LA would roll over us (but we should be careful here, the marginals are small and LA is good, before we know it against either CHI or LA the losses starts to pile up if we get bad luck etc), but every game would be about either team solving Price / Lundqvist first, and following that up with a rock solid effort to stay on top. That would be tough for us. Doable, but it would be a lot tougher than to beat Phi/PIT/MTL.

 

[eco's bones]

Proud is the word, I'm 56 and this is only the 4th trip to the Stanley Cup Finals in my lifetime...gotta love the 4th line...AV deserves alot of credit for rolling 4 lines and 3 d pairs, keeping them fresh...last night was the easiest shutout Hank will ever have in his life....poetic justice Dom Moore scoring the winning goal, he was Mr Everything in this series, when Brass got hurt he played on the 3rd line, when Steps got hurt he played on the 1st line, he and Boyle won all the important faceoffs, a money player...LGR!

Same age and fourth time for me to see the Rangers in the finals as well. 71-72 beaten by the Bruins in 6. 78-79--lost to Montreal in 5. 93-94--won the cup finally against the Canucks and now 13-14 still needs to be decided but we're going to be there.

I'm not even pissed off at Brad Richards anymore. Or Rick Nash. And at this point the St. Louis deal just about looks worth it. If Richards and company can somehow manage to win the cup I don't think I'm even going to ***** if they don't buy his contract out even if those last 3 years of it are horrible.

It's not over. I think our biggest challenge is coming. I think it will be the Kings and they are a grind it out team and deeper depth wise than any team we've faced until now. They can roll 4 lines and 3 defense pairs without a problem. Multiple guys who can finish and big stars like Kopitar and Doughty and a great goalie in Quick. Their lineup is dotted with guys who won the cup in 2012--so they know what it takes. The Rangers have shut down Giroux and Crosby--and quietened Malkin a bit and Subban didn't do much damage so that will be key for us--to keep Kopitar-Gaborik and Carter's numbers down and a close eye on Doughty. Kings have a ferocious forecheck as well. A very physical team.

 

[The Gloaming]

Actually no ones really complained about BB this year. I wasn't exactly fond of the guy in the past, but AV has used him perfectly this season. Huge difference compared to Torts who would throw him on the top line whenever he got pissed at Gaborik.

Torts' usage of Boyle was just completely idiotic. Half his shifts were in the last minutes when we were down a goal, and the other half were with Nash and Gaborik.

It's amazing how much better Boyle plays when he's not expected to score every night. Oh wait, it really isn't, because AV isn't a complete moron with the forward roster like torts could be.

 

[Vitto79]

Torts' usage of Boyle was just completely idiotic. Half his shift were in the last minutes when we were down a goal, and the other half were with Nash and Gaborik.

It's amazing how much better Boyle plays when he's not expected to score every night. Oh wait, it really isn't, because AV isn't a complete moron with the forward roster like torts could be.

to be fair it took AV about 20 games to realize Boyle, Moore, Dorsett should play together buuuuut he finally did realize it and its been glorious.

 

[nevesis]

And at this point the St. Louis deal just about looks worth it.

Haha…just about?

I think we can file that one under "100%, absolutely ****ing worth it"

 

[Fitzy]

Chicago is the better of the two teams but the Rangers match up better against them, they are much more like the Pens, while the Kings are closer in style to the Bruins with some extra speed and more goal scoring ability.

When you look at top forwards who can beat you, Chicago has Kane, Toews, Hossa, and Sharp. LA has Gaborik, Carter, Kopitar. Brown and Richards have not been their former selves. But each team does probably have a better crop of forwards than NYR.

 

[The Gloaming]

to be fair it took AV about 20 games to realize Boyle, Moore, Dorsett should play together buuuuut he finally did realize it and its been glorious.

Yeah, but torts would play Johnny Malkin with Gaborik. That there should be enough.

 

[Fitzy]

It's the best NYR 4th line I've ever seen, honestly. The '94 4th line barely every even saw the ice

 

[Nickmo82]

so big IF... but if we do win are there any players on the current roster would miss out on getting their name on the cup due to lack of playing time??

 

[eco's bones]

I agree with all of this to the dot.

LA has had one line scoring, but its not a one line team. Its a "team" that can beat you even if they only score 2 or even 1 goal... They have players on all 4 lines that creates chances and can score goal. They can also play a pretty -- nasty -- hockey game, and they do a good job with balancing on that line while doing it...

No team will ever beat that team without really playing a really strong game from the time the puck is dropped 'till the series is over. LAK hasn't ever played the best hockey in this league this year, I wonder if they even are top 5 in that cathegory. But its a really tough team to beat over 7, and if you give them an inch its a loss instantly.

Chicago is tired, but they have shown that they won't let that stop them. But I think CHI to a much bigger extent than LA is a team we actually could "beat" with some luck. To put it like this, any game against any team can be won by either team. We can win 2 games in LA. No matter what, LA would fight back against us untill we have won 4 and all games against them would take an extreme effort to win. A win or loss would be equally uncomfortable and any game against them would wear a lot on us. CHI can do so much on the ice still, but take a 3-0 lead in a game against them after 30 minutes, and its a easy and comfortable win. Take a 3-1 lead in the series against them, and I just would have a very hard time seing them being able to dig deep enough and fight back.

So I would take Chicago too. I don't think LA would roll over us (but we should be careful here, the marginals are small and LA is good, before we know it against either CHI or LA the losses starts to pile up if we get bad luck etc), but every game would be about either team solving Price / Lundqvist first, and following that up with a rock solid effort to stay on top. That would be tough for us. Doable, but it would be a lot tougher than to beat Phi/PIT/MTL.

If it's Chicago--our chances are much much better if only because it's going to take every ounce of energy possible for them to knock off the Kings. They do look tired--and to win they'll need two more games and the Kings take the body constantly. Some of the Rangers are to the point where they're just getting tired. Several days off should rejuvenate them if not all the way--then quite a lot. The Rangers can put out a pretty much healthy lineup. If it's the Hawks I think we have a pretty good shot at grabbing one of the first two games without Henrik having to steal it. Crawford to me is not as good as Quick either.

Rangers that need to pick it up a bit--St. Louis and Richards looking a bit tired, Nash, Pouliot (no points against Montreal--10 penalty minutes), Staal, Stralman, Girardi. The d guys have all logged tons of minutes and sometimes have been a little shaky.

 

[lJuicel]

Going into the final almost completely healthy, couldn't really ask for more then that. Now only if the hawks can force game 7 and no matter who comes out is battered and bruised. Cloud 9 all weekend.

 

[eco's bones]

Haha…just about?

I think we can file that one under "100%, absolutely ****ing worth it"

well the point isn't to make the finals--it's to win the whole shebang. MSL has gotten us almost there but we still have one more mountain to climb and it's probably going to be the nastiest one.

 

[The Gloaming]

The more I think about it, the more I want Chicago.

 

[Fitzy]

so big IF... but if we do win are there any players on the current roster would miss out on getting their name on the cup due to lack of playing time??

Apparently the rule is that you need to play either 41 regular season games for the team, or play in the Stanley Cup finals. I assume they make an exception for backup goalies. As of right now, if NYR were to win a guy like Diaz would be on but a guy like Falk wouldn't be. Carcillo probably won't.

 

[Xref]

Same age and fourth time for me to see the Rangers in the finals as well. 71-72 beaten by the Bruins in 6. 78-79--lost to Montreal in 5. 93-94--won the cup finally against the Canucks and now 13-14 still needs to be decided but we're going to be there.

I'm not even pissed off at Brad Richards anymore. Or Rick Nash. And at this point the St. Louis deal just about looks worth it. If Richards and company can somehow manage to win the cup I don't think I'm even going to ***** if they don't buy his contract out even if those last 3 years of it are horrible.

It's not over. I think our biggest challenge is coming. I think it will be the Kings and they are a grind it out team and deeper depth wise than any team we've faced until now. They can roll 4 lines and 3 defense pairs without a problem. Multiple guys who can finish and big stars like Kopitar and Doughty and a great goalie in Quick. Their lineup is dotted with guys who won the cup in 2012--so they know what it takes. The Rangers have shut down Giroux and Crosby--and quietened Malkin a bit and Subban didn't do much damage so that will be key for us--to keep Kopitar-Gaborik and Carter's numbers down and a close eye on Doughty. Kings have a ferocious forecheck as well. A very physical team.

Proud is the word, I'm 56 and this is only the 4th trip to the Stanley Cup Finals in my lifetime...gotta love the 4th line...AV deserves alot of credit for rolling 4 lines and 3 d pairs, keeping them fresh...last night was the easiest shutout Hank will ever have in his life....poetic justice Dom Moore scoring the winning goal, he was Mr Everything in this series, when Brass got hurt he played on the 3rd line, when Steps got hurt he played on the 1st line, he and Boyle won all the important faceoffs, a money player...LGR!

Wow, we're all about the same exact age. I thought I was the only graybeard here. I agree: the Kings (assuming they prevail) will present a huge challenge to us. Quick and Henrik are virtually a wash. Their D are as good as ours, and their forwards have an edge over us. Gaborik may be the X-factor....I'm sure he's going to want to prove what a mistake it was to trade him. Nash, Richards and Marty are going to have to become more of a factor for us to stand a chance. I'm hoping the LA-Chi series goes 7 games and quadruple O/T in the next 2. Anyway, this is gonna be a fun SCF! LGR!!!!

 

[darko]

The more I think about it, the more I want Chicago.

I tend to agree. They look tired.

 

[Nickmo82]

Apparently the rule is that you need to play either 41 regular season games for the team, or play in the Stanley Cup finals. I assume they make an exception for backup goalies. As of right now, if NYR were to win a guy like Diaz would be on but a guy like Falk wouldn't be. Carcillo probably won't.

Ah okay. i thought it was for the playoffs as a whole.

You get a couple of gimmes though right? Like in 94 with Olcyzk?

 

[darko]

Apparently the rule is that you need to play either 41 regular season games for the team, or play in the Stanley Cup finals. I assume they make an exception for backup goalies. As of right now, if NYR were to win a guy like Diaz would be on but a guy like Falk wouldn't be. Carcillo probably won't.

Carcillo played in the postseason. It'd be Pejorative Slured if he didn't have his name on the Cup (if we were to win it).

 

[irishlaxburger2]

Ah okay. i thought it was for the playoffs as a whole.

You get a couple of gimmes though right? Like in 94 with Olcyzk?

Yes, you can petition to have guys included

 

[Fletch]

agreed, eco's. Not taking away anything from Montreal, they are a very good team and it was close series, but I think both Chicago and LA present tougher challenges, and a SCF game will be more intense than a CF game. I think the Rangers have a high level of confidence and get some rest and hopefully can get back into it quickly. The more I think about it, if LA's going to be the eventual winner, I'd hope they'd win tonight. Think I'd rather face CHI (partially because I like the original 6 matchup, as well as my best friend lives there), but if it's not to be, I'd like to see LA away from the intensity of the matchup, and out of the flow as long as the Rangers. I do not give much thought to the rest; they'd still have 3 days and that's ample enough for them to recharge.

 

[HatTrick Swayze]

Look the Rangers are definitely going to be underdogs on paper on the finals.

But games aren't played on paper. And if there is a team that has taught me that it is this one.