Pre-Game Talk: Series discussion: NYR vs MTL

[Sockosensei]

in retrospect it seems ridiculous that Gretzky was given so much time in his office. Granted, if you chased him, he'd probably skate out and burn you some other way. Man does the defense look so lax back then. You'd think anyone could score with some of those opportunities.

That first year as a Ranger, Gretzky still had magic.
I'll never forget one particular game where the opposing team's checkers wouldn't come within three feet of him while he had the puck in the offensive zone. They just gave him space along the outside and set up a perimeter to cut down his passing options knowing that his shot was no longer threatening. Finally, one foolish defenseman got aggressive enough to try to pressure him. Gretz used that split second opening to thread a brilliant pass under the defenseman's stick to set up a goal. It happened all game: they'd pressure, he'd respond by immediately creating a scoring chance.
The magic faded after that first year as a Ranger, but I'm blessed to have seen it.


As for this upcoming series, I don't think the past counts for much. It's a different season, different state of mind.

 

[Glen Sathers Cigar]

Look at what Subban said.

Look at what Therrien said.

As far as the Habs are concerned, they just punched their ticket to the finals.

They just beat the best team in the league, they feel bad for any team that has to come to Montreal.

Come out in the first period of game 1 and score early. Shatter Price's confidence against the Rangers, which you know he has, and get on them early. Catch them napping. Taking game 1 is a necessity.

 

[BarbaraAlphanse]

My opinion of the Canadians:

They are a worse version of this year's Rangers team.

Worse goalie. Worse defense. Worse offense.

They're not as balanced as us. They don't have the big time players. Their scoring by committee isn't as potent as ours. Their defense has more holes and plays worse as a group than ours.

And they play a similar style of hockey, IMO.

They approached the Boston series quite noteworthy. Played conservative hockey on the road and really aggressively at home.

Winning in Montreal is never easy. But, I don't even think that the way that Montreal played against Boston is indicative of how good they are. Boston had their worst version of their team in the last 4 or so years. Their defense was a real weak spot for a team that depends on strong defensive play to really succeed. Their offense was as unreliable as it ever has been. Meanwhile, Montreal played their biggest rivals to a tee. Frustrating and coaxing them into undisciplined hockey and uncharacteristic play.

We're not rivals with Montreal. They shouldn't be able to coax us into undisciplined play because not only are we a relatively tame and disciplined hockey team, but we don't have the same emotional significance playing this franchise as the Bruins did. As I said, they have a worse goalie, a worse defense, and a worse offense than our current team. Stay disciplined and it should be fairly indicative of who is the better team in the series.

 

[Ola]

I am also fairly optimistic. I especially like our composure better than Montreal's attitude right now.

It will be close and with bounces etc who knows what can happen. A series like this can be lost in a hurry but it takes a lot to win it. But it just felt like Montreal left a lot on the ice against Boston, and definitely just not only in terms of effort, and I am not sold on how fast they can shift gears and play what will be a completely diffrent series with a completely diffrent atmosphere.

Given our and Hanks record in Montreal, that is of course one big challenge for us. But we have played better and better all the POs, which is the way it has to be, and if we could get of to a good start, I think we have a very good shot here.

 

[Bullseyes]

My opinion of the Canadians:

They are a worse version of this year's Rangers team.

Worse goalie. Worse defense. Worse offense.

They're not as balanced as us. They don't have the big time players. Their scoring by committee isn't as potent as ours. Their defense has more holes and plays worse as a group than ours.

And they play a similar style of hockey, IMO.

They approached the Boston series quite noteworthy. Played conservative hockey on the road and really aggressively at home.

Winning in Montreal is never easy. But, I don't even think that the way that Montreal played against Boston is indicative of how good they are. Boston had their worst version of their team in the last 4 or so years. Their defense was a real weak spot for a team that depends on strong defensive play to really succeed. Their offense was as unreliable as it ever has been. Meanwhile, Montreal played their biggest rivals to a tee. Frustrating and coaxing them into undisciplined hockey and uncharacteristic play.

We're not rivals with Montreal. They shouldn't be able to coax us into undisciplined play because not only are we a relatively tame and disciplined hockey team, but we don't have the same emotional significance playing this franchise as the Bruins did. As I said, they have a worse goalie, a worse defense, and a worse offense than our current team. Stay disciplined and it should be fairly indicative of who is the better team in the series.

Subban
Price

 

[Synergy27]

Subban
Price

Vanek.

These teams are practically identical. I think the Rangers D is better on paper but other than that it's about as even and similar in style as it gets.

Going back to my favorite Nintendo Ice Hockey analogy, both of these teams are full of medium guys. Thankful we don't have to face all the fat guys on the Bruins.

 

[Idlerlee]

As long as we can nautralize Big buff, I like our chances in this series. But by no means will it come easy, to any of the teams, this will be a long series

 

[RedBruin]

Please win.

Lets Go Rangers.

 

[timor]

It is just starting to sink in that the team made it here! I'm still in a daze. Amazing! Can't wait for saturday. The afternoon game is just perfect here in Europe.

 

[aroundtheriver]

Might be a shot in the dark and last minute... but is anyone planning to or interested in going to Montreal for one of the games?

 

[RangerBoy]

The Rangers haven't played well in Montreal. The 1996 Rangers won all 3 playoff games at the Moulson Centre which is now the Bell Centre. The Rangers have historically played poorly in Montreal but that's the regular season. Rangers dropped the first 2 games at the Garden. Won the next 2 in Montreal. Won game 5 at home. Wrapped the series in game 6. Games 2 and 6 were afternoon games on Fox. The Rangers opened the Moulson Centre and they were terrible in that game. Playoffs were a different story.

 

[ECWHSWI]

My opinion of the Canadians:

They are a worse version of this year's Rangers team.

Worse goalie. Worse defense. Worse offense.

They're not as balanced as us. They don't have the big time players. Their scoring by committee isn't as potent as ours. Their defense has more holes and plays worse as a group than ours.

And they play a similar style of hockey, IMO.

They approached the Boston series quite noteworthy. Played conservative hockey on the road and really aggressively at home.

Winning in Montreal is never easy. But, I don't even think that the way that Montreal played against Boston is indicative of how good they are. Boston had their worst version of their team in the last 4 or so years. Their defense was a real weak spot for a team that depends on strong defensive play to really succeed. Their offense was as unreliable as it ever has been. Meanwhile, Montreal played their biggest rivals to a tee. Frustrating and coaxing them into undisciplined hockey and uncharacteristic play.

We're not rivals with Montreal. They shouldn't be able to coax us into undisciplined play because not only are we a relatively tame and disciplined hockey team, but we don't have the same emotional significance playing this franchise as the Bruins did. As I said, they have a worse goalie, a worse defense, and a worse offense than our current team. Stay disciplined and it should be fairly indicative of who is the better team in the series.

you're making the same mistakes as Habs fans who think it's going to be easy, for the same reason probably, you havent watched the other team all that much, you don't know a lot about the opponent's players.

thinking this is a win because the other team is "worse" is foolish IMO, neither team are bad cause they dont have a Gretzky or Lemieux on it you know...

you're getting fooled by the fact there isnt much star power on our team, Sorry! not every team has Malkin AND Crosby on it! besides, it's not like you guys have much star power either... and it doesnt make you any less deserving of playing this 3rd round

my take ? winner will be the team who's defensive corp handle the opponent's speed better. And it's hard to predict wich corp it will be as they're both experienced.


if you guys are into specifics, you might want to look for Eller, Bournival and Gallagher, they may not be known as much as Subban or Price, but they're damn efficient at what they do... besides, Gallagher (shut down line, RW) and Eller (3rd line C) are our forwards with the most points.

 

[irishlaxburger2]

If Hank can somehow exercise his Bell Centre demons, I wouldnt want to face him in the Finals. Hes an emotional player whose streakiness at times relies on confidence. He'd be sky high at that point.

His mental make-up is the biggest factor in this series IMO

 

[Nanaki]

you're making the same mistakes as Habs fans who think it's going to be easy, for the same reason probably, you havent watched the other team all that much, you don't know a lot about the opponent's players.

thinking this is a win because the other team is "worse" is foolish IMO, neither team are bad cause they dont have a Gretzky or Lemieux on it you know...

you're getting fooled by the fact there isnt much star power on our team, Sorry! not every team has Malkin AND Crosby on it! besides, it's not like you guys have much star power either... and it doesnt make you any less deserving of playing this 3rd round

my take ? winner will be the team who's defensive corp handle the opponent's speed better. And it's hard to predict wich corp it will be as they're both experienced.


if you guys are into specifics, you might want to look for Eller, Bournival and Gallagher, they may not be known as much as Subban or Price, but they're damn efficient at what they do... besides, Gallagher (shut down line, RW) and Eller (3rd line C) are our forwards with the most points.

The only two players that really worry me are Price and Subban. We tend to let up a ton of goals to offensive Dmen and Price is being seriously underrated by some of the people here. The other players you mentioned are decent players, but not ones that are going to make the opposition shake in their skates. It's going to be a coin-flip series.

 

[JRinNYC]

Might be a shot in the dark and last minute... but is anyone planning to or interested in going to Montreal for one of the games?

I thought about going, but tickets are really scarce. The tickets that are available are super expensive as well. Checked earlier, basically last row seats are going for $265+ each.

 

[eco's bones]

From my time following the Rangers--the Rangers beat the Canadiens in 1972 and in 1974--lost in the Cup Finals in 1979--lost again in 1986--and won in 1996. So we're 3-2.

These teams are fairly evenly matched. The Canadiens have home ice advantage.

If Rick Nash is going to show up at all this would be the time. The Rangers have 3 lines that can hurt you and an excellent 4th line. The Canadiens are pretty much the same. Both teams frustrated the **** out of teams that were almost universally considered superior teams. A bit of rope-a-dope. Get the lead and turn the neutral zone and blue line into an obstacle course. The Canadiens are usually better on the pwp--the Rangers usually a little better 5 on 5. Funny that for all the hammering the Rangers have taken in the playoffs about their ineffective pwp--they outscored the Penguins pwp in the series 3-1 including the series winning goal.

 

[ECWHSWI]

The only two players that really worry me are Price and Subban. We tend to let up a ton of goals to offensive Dmen and Price is being seriously underrated by some of the people here. The other players you mentioned are decent players, but not ones that are going to make the opposition shake in their skates. It's going to be a coin-flip series.

not expecting it, it was more of a "here's a few unknown you may be interested in looking for" thing.

 

[CharlieCharleschuk]

That first year as a Ranger, Gretzky still had magic.
I'll never forget one particular game where the opposing team's checkers wouldn't come within three feet of him while he had the puck in the offensive zone. They just gave him space along the outside and set up a perimeter to cut down his passing options knowing that his shot was no longer threatening. Finally, one foolish defenseman got aggressive enough to try to pressure him. Gretz used that split second opening to thread a brilliant pass under the defenseman's stick to set up a goal. It happened all game: they'd pressure, he'd respond by immediately creating a scoring chance.

Looking at the pace and space in those videos of '96 it's amazing - the ice seems like it got a lot smaller since then.

 

[Jag68Sid87]

Please beat my hometown team. Or else, I will have one miserable summer.

And as a lifelong New York Jets fan, I know all about misery.

 

[eco's bones]

you're making the same mistakes as Habs fans who think it's going to be easy, for the same reason probably, you havent watched the other team all that much, you don't know a lot about the opponent's players.

thinking this is a win because the other team is "worse" is foolish IMO, neither team are bad cause they dont have a Gretzky or Lemieux on it you know...

you're getting fooled by the fact there isnt much star power on our team, Sorry! not every team has Malkin AND Crosby on it! besides, it's not like you guys have much star power either... and it doesnt make you any less deserving of playing this 3rd round

my take ? winner will be the team who's defensive corp handle the opponent's speed better. And it's hard to predict wich corp it will be as they're both experienced.


if you guys are into specifics, you might want to look for Eller, Bournival and Gallagher, they may not be known as much as Subban or Price, but they're damn efficient at what they do... besides, Gallagher (shut down line, RW) and Eller (3rd line C) are our forwards with the most points.

Both teams won with committed team effort. They both rolled their lines and d-pairings. To me there was a lot of similarity in how both the Canadiens and the Rangers won. Not smart to think you're going to roll over anybody in a series. Now and again there are laughers but usually they're early or against an injury depleted team. The deeper you go in the playoffs the more you should expect it to get harder.

Reading the main boards it seems the California fans were all chomping at the bit to roll over us. The west is the best. They should worry about Chicago first.

 

[JCrusher*]

I think we match up well. Remember in both losses this season we were missing a ton of guys. The last game we played we sat pretty much everyone out and MCD and Kreider were injured

 

[Rangers2319]

Man can we get a schedule already, kind of annoying this league

 

[haohmaru]

NYR history vs. Montreal is not good. I used to cringe when they faced that team with Roy even at home. Even when they are bad they still beat the rangers more often than not.

Lundqvist isn't good in Montreal. There's some wacky French mojo up there that negatively affects this team.

This series is house money as far as I'm concerned. I thought we should beat philly, and i thought we could beat the pens, but the conf finals is where I thought the ride stopped and we all got off. We'll see. I just want someone to feed danny briere his teeth before it's over

We're 7-7 vs. Montreal in the playoffs. I'd submit that history vs. the Canadians is probably better than most other teams in the league.

 

[Ail]

Rangers suck, Philly in 6! Lol omg they beat a flawed Philly team barely in 7 games, Pens in 5. Lol Fluery and the Pens choked Rangers would get crushed out West and Montreal has their number so they'll lose in 5!

So on and so forth. This will be their toughest opponent yet no doubt, but once again I truly believe they are the better team. Should they make it to the SCF, for the first time this post season I will freely admit they are not the better team. Until then, Rangers in 6. Although we all know it will be 7 if they win.

 

[JCrusher*]

Rangers suck, Philly in 6! Lol omg they beat a flawed Philly team barely in 7 games, Pens in 5. Lol Fluery and the Pens choked Rangers would get crushed out West and Montreal has their number so they'll lose in 5!

So on and so forth. This will be their toughest opponent yet no doubt, but once again I truly believe they are the better team. Should they make it to the SCF, for the first time this post season I will freely admit they are not the better team. Until then, Rangers in 6. Although we all know it will be 7 if they win.

LOL I agree with all your points. its funny the only time most ranger fans are positive is the moment of victory. In between games and god forbid in losses its mostly negative. This is the ECF so nobody will be easy BUT if you are a Ranger fan you have to feel pretty confident right now