Post-Game Talk: What A Run: Thank you, 2013-14 New York Rangers

[Xref]

I agree. Every goal needs to be reviewed by the league. I think every coach should get a challenge too which they can use on any call. If they're right they get to keep the right to challenge again, if they're wrong they're unable to challenge again. Simple system to fix the game's officiating.

There's a very simple fix; another off-ice official should monitor the game and review plays and goals and have access to replays, and can relay his or her viewpoints to the on-ice refs through wireless communication devices. Everything can happen quite instantly, even while play is in motion. The key here is having that official be competent. But this is an easy fix.

 

[Zil]

The Kings' skaters are monsters at corralling loose pucks & turning the play around. How many times did the Rangers overskate just a little bit, only to find the puck did not go forward as far as they thought, because a King had got a stick on it.

But yeah, add the goalies, and it's just a few inches. The Rangers played them to the limit.

Three OT losses. No wonder I hate overtime. It's such a painful way to lose.

We're 6-15 in playoff OTs since 2007. I just assume we're going to lose when it gets to overtime.

 

[Idlerlee]

We really dropped the ball in games 1 and 2. Blowing two goal leads as easy as we did is something you can't do when we've made it that far.
If we didn't royally **** it up there, we would've hoisted the cup for sure. We just beat ourselves with some mindblowingly bad plays.

It stings, but it was a terrific run. Hoping it won't take another 20 years to reach the SCF.

Hopefully Richie gets dumped. We're stuck with Nash right?

Unless he waives his NTC. But who would want a Rick Nash that doesnt score goals (you have to score goals with that contract if you're a forward, there can be no good argument that says otherwise)

He's literally down-produced himself into a contract long stay with this team, unless some GM goes complete Bonanza and takes a longshot

 

[Made Dan]

What a great run. I was born in 1995, so obviously this is the greatest season I've been able to experience. So proud of this group. Feel sick when I think of how Hank feels, but he was unreal. Thanks to this group for a great ride.

 

[Blueshirt Special]

Hopefully our core of young(er) players learned something about what it takes to win the big one and we can build on that and get right back.

Fun season.

 

[Brief Candle]

We were outmatched by a better team...but only by the slightest of margins. Never would I have thought this team would have gone on this run.

I am extremely proud of our boys. They should NOT have been hanging their heads last night. They hung in, with the exception of game 3, right there with a team that could have won it for the third time in as many years.

We'll have some changes next season for sure, but one can hope they build off of this. Until next year!

 

[ak10r]

Well at least we know that there are going be a lot of third world kids with their bloated bellies and flies buzzing around their faces wearing NYR Stanley Cup Champions gear…….

 

[OrbitalDynamics]

It was something improbable,took on a life of its own.

Sorry it ended like this,Henke deserved so much better.

AV needs to explain the turtle in the 3rd strategy,cause it was @#$%ing asinine.What was the final 3rd period numbers,156-18?

As long as Sather doesn't shuffle the deck again next year should be fun.

 

[ColonialsHockey10]

That was probably the worst week of hockey I've ever had to endure...to be completely honest I'm glad it's over. It was becoming way more than just a source of entertainment.

But, proud of this squad. Thanks for the run fellas. Plenty of memories that will last a lifetime, good or bad.

 

[eco's bones]

The difference between winning and losing wasn't that great. It was helped along last night a bit by the Zuccarello penalty call. We'll assume that the Kings would have tied the game anyway. Kozari and Watson were probably the best officiating crew the NHL had to offer these playoffs.

The Rangers tended to play best in the first halves of games and the Kings better in the 2nd halves. Overall there was more momentum by the Kings than the Rangers. It wasn't a great margin but it was evident.

This Rangers team is probably going to lose several players over the summer. I don't expect the same team back. The question is whether we can improve on the team. Our main problem in this series was a lack of a 1st line center IMO. Stepan and Brassard are fine but not in that position. With cap concerns and other issues I really don't see much of an avenue to get that kind of a player.

Anyway congrats to the Kings. They are deserving and I liked their team better than any other team we faced particularly the Canadiens acrobatic barrel rolling team.

 

[NYR89]

I wouldn't be surprised if Nash rebounds next year. Concussions notoriously take a long time to come back from. He was a shell through most of the playoff run, but then turned it back on in the Final. He had some brilliant stretches. He had a bit of bad luck but I liked the looks he got.

 

[Synergy27]

I wouldn't be surprised if Nash rebounds next year. Concussions notoriously take a long time to come back from. He was a shell through most of the playoff run, but then turned it back on in the Final. He had some brilliant stretches. He had a bit of bad luck but I liked the looks he got.

Gabby sure did rebound from his injury and bad playoff performance, so hopefully you're right. Man am I eating crow on that one.

 

[alkurtz]

I've been a Ranger fan for 50+ years so Ive seen a world of ups and down.

Many of you remember the 97 playoffs when we lost in the conference finals to the Flyers. By the end of that series it seemed like we had more AHL players in the lineup than NHL players....the injuries were devestating. When it was over, I remember the tremendous pride I felt in my team and as a fan. They gave everything they had.

I didn't feel that way when we lost in the finals in 72 or 79.

In some ways I didn't even feel that way in 94. That team was the best in the league and they were expected to win.

I feel that way this morning.....incredibly proud of my team. It was a gallant effort against a superior team that we played to a virtual standstill. We easily could have won in five games. We didn't but that does not subtract from how I feel this morning.

From the time we hired AV until now, this has been a fascinating year, one of the most interesting that I can ever remember. Though we didn't bring home the Cup, the good memories of this year and this run will last a long time. I'll always feel a warm glow about this team.

Hold your heads up, it was a proud and gallant effort.

 

[LORENZO]

If only Carcillo was put in.

 

[Idlerlee]

I've been a Ranger fan for 50+ years so Ive seen a world of ups and down.

Many of you remember the 97 playoffs when we lost in the conference finals to the Flyers. By the end of that series it seemed like we had more AHL players in the lineup than NHL players....the injuries were devestating. When it was over, I remember the tremendous pride I felt in my team and as a fan. They gave everything they had.

I didn't feel that way when we lost in the finals in 72 or 79.

In some ways I didn't even feel that way in 94. That team was the best in the league and they were expected to win.

I feel that way this morning.....incredibly proud of my team. It was a gallant effort against a superior team that we played to a virtual standstill. We easily could have won in five games. We didn't but that does not subtract from how I feel this morning.

From the time we hired AV until now, this has been a fascinating year, one of the most interesting that I can ever remember. Though we didn't bring home the Cup, the good memories of this year and this run will last a long time. I'll always feel a warm glow about this team.

Hold your heads up, it was a proud and gallant effort.

I like that you're able to put this years run into a broader perspective, with other viewpoints than the 94 finals to compare it with. Nice post

 

[TruBlue]

I want to see how this discussion ends....which contestant will fall asleep first?

I gave up after the post you quoted...remembered Twain's quote about mud and experience

 

[Ex Officer Friendly]

You know after getting a well let's just say sleep...

I look back at the season and I am pretty content with it, starting the season as rough as it did with the long road trip and changing coaches, literally had a player pull a Malik in the middle of play, if you had asked around Thanksgiving if this team would be in the playoffs I probably would have said no... Or that they would get destroyed in the first round.

However, this team fought back and made a run... They came up against a team that was a better team, the Rangers couldn't establish a good forecheck and Hank did everything he could to bail them out.

The last time the Rangers were in the cup final I was 3 years old... I am content with this season hoping they make a few more moves and couple more guys mature and are ready to play next season.

In the long run it is a game and is meant to be enjoyed and I for one this season.... Even coming up a bit short I was happy.

 

[BlessThisMess11]

Are the Rangers the only team...

in Stanley Cup history to lead the majority of the time and still lose the Stanley Cup.

 

[toastbag]

The Kings are the better team, that is evident. Don't know why the Rangers were so bad in the 3rd period all series, but once again the Rangers got screwed yesterday by that call on Zuccarello which was a total ******** call. It's hard to swallow the fact that if not for two HORRIBLE calls, the Rangers very likely could be sitting with a 3-2 series lead right now or at the worse trail the series 3-2 but at least still be in it.

 

[The Lunatic Fridge]

We were outmatched by a better team...but only by the slightest of margins. Never would I have thought this team would have gone on this run.

I am extremely proud of our boys. They should NOT have been hanging their heads last night. They hung in, with the exception of game 3, right there with a team that could have won it for the third time in as many years.

We'll have some changes next season for sure, but one can hope they build off of this. Until next year!

Except NYR dominated game 3 and the only reason why the scoreboard indicates otherwise was because 3 freak bounces. 3 of MANY freak bounce goals they had this series. They had at least one up until game 4. People who think they actually "outplayed" us for 60 minutes need to get their head checked.

 

[Tawnos]

The Rangers forced the Kings to play a series with basically zero margin for error and vice versa. I don't know how anyone can say that either team dominated the other except for stretches.

By the way, there was no way the Kings weren't going to be the much better team for 25-30 minutes of regulation each game. What was so bizarre about the way the games went was that they were that team for 25-30 minutes STRAIGHT instead of 5-10 minutes here and 5-10 minutes there. It was just downright unusual.

 

[Baby Punisher]

This doesn't hurt like I thought it would.

Yea i'm with you. Guess we were all prepared for it after going down 3-0.
I also look at it as I just saved $1800 by not having to go to game 6.

 

[Glennsoe]

Heartbreaking to see Henke sitting there with his head buried in his hands...

 

[Whiplash27]

This doesn't hurt like I thought it would.

I said going into Game 4... If they lose in 4, I'll be upset with the sweep. If they lose in 6, I'll be disappointed because they actually were able to force the series back to MSG. If they lose in 7, I'll be devastated because they would have had a chance to make the greatest comeback ever. If they had to lose, let it be in 5... that's what happened.

 

[nevesis]

I said going into Game 4... If they lose in 4, I'll be upset with the sweep. If they lose in 6, I'll be disappointed because they actually were able to force the series back to MSG. If they lose in 7, I'll be devastated because they would have had a chance to make the greatest comeback ever. If they had to lose, let it be in 5... that's what happened.

I agree. Looking for any possible silver lining. At least they didn't skate the cup around MSG.