RangersIn7

Yeah. Again… it’s a short series. These games are won and lost and play out based on things that happen in very short stretches of time. And oddities and “outliers” are way more impactful now. In fact, they’re actually more impactful than that which trends well and plays out over 82. It just doesn’t matter. I can specifically remember a game in the Conference Semifinals vs Pittsburgh in 2007-08. Game 3 at the Garden. Rangers came in down 2-0 in that series. They were far and away the better team that night. Out shot Pittsburgh something like 40-17 Had the puck all night. Had tons of great looks. They lost 5-3. It doesn’t matter.

While the likelihood of him taking a penalty- whether it’s real or not- and it resulting in a PPG against is there, there is also no guarantee that it happens, and there’s also no guarantee that that goal is a meaningful one. It may not matter. And in reality, it doesn’t matter till it matters.

Would you rather, in a fight, have 5 elite soldiers? Or 50 mediocre soldiers?

This is why the analytic model is flawed. It’s based on shot share, irrespective of where those shots come from and how likely they are to result in goals. Obviously, the more you shoot from wherever, the more likely you are to score more goals. And while that has value, as does possessing the puck in the o-zone, if it doesn’t manifest in good looks, quality shots, and high danger chances, it’s not so impactful. They scored a handful more goals in droves of more shots than the Rangers did in the regular season. And it does nothing to show how efficient a team is offensively. If you pot your chances consistently and efficiently, the quantity means less.

There’s a valid case for making a lineup change given all the reasons- limited minutes, needing to be sheltered, no utility, and the fact that he’s being targeted by the officials. But bottom line is that they’re winning and playing good hockey when he’s in the lineup so you probably just have to keep rolling with him.

This 100. Yes… they need to close the loophole. But everyone needs to let it go. This is available to literally every team should certain circumstances arise.

DeAngelo plays with himself.

I have one response when a meet a Devils fan… ”So you’re the ONE?”

I’m of the opinion that in any playoff series that analytics don’t matter at all. Those are stats that matter and play well over the course of an 82-game, 6 month season. You can dominate a team in puck possession and shots and all that good stuff, and get goalied. Or just outplay a team at 5v5, but you take a bad penalty late in a tie game and they cash in and beat you. Or you make a horrible change on a PP and they come down and score short handed and take the momentum and the game from you. Or you can lose one key matchup. Or… Or… Or… The only thing that matters in the playoffs is the ability of teams and coaches to find ways to win games.

Start this one off right! LGR!

Lavy wasn’t the Caps coach when they won the Cup. Lavy won his Cup in 2005-2006 with Carolina. Tom Wilson was 12.

That place was apparently supposed to be LA.

Can we all agree on…? RANGERS IN 7!

They missed their window to exploit the payroll advantage they could’ve had in 10 years from the mid-90’s till the 2004 lockout. The Zubov trade and the miss on Sakic is what killed them. They’re competitive for the next 5 years if not for those things. Also very good historical points about the game to remember. I view sports through eras. And I’m getting older now so I’ve seen several in all sports. In hockey, there’s several distinct eras. 1) Pre-NHL Era 1890’s-1920’s 2) Original 6 Era of 1920’s to 1967. 3) Expansion/Merger Era 1967-1980 4) Modern Era 1980-2004 5) Salary Cap Era 2005-Present

The only thing that will fix this is for the two of you to just take a long weekend up to Brokeback Mountain and see what happens. You’ve clearly got it for each other, which is totally fine. Love you both regardless. But seriously… go do stuff in the forest together. Cause the rest of us can’t listen to this anymore. Entertaining as it is… cause it is. But this affection you have for one another shouldn’t be denied. Embrace it fellas!