Gravesy

I don’t know if people expected us to moonwalk into the Amelie and sweep these guys or what, but calm down. We lost a road game to a desperate team with back to back cups. That’s what happens in the playoffs. We’re fine.

Like I said in the series thread, if neither can go you might have to consider a reshuffle and play Panarin with Mika and CK. Kids as the 2nd, Motte/Copp/Vatrano 3rd.

Yeah, if Goodrow can go you could definitely bump him up and play Rooney on the 4th. It’s just that if you remove Goodrow from the 4th it essentially becomes a black hole. I feel like the overall balance of the team might be better if you keep him there and put in a winger on the 2nd. Tbh I’m expecting both guys to be out though.

If Strome can’t go you probably slide Copp to center and stick somebody like Gauthier or Hunt on the right. If neither can go it might be time for something a little more drastic? Something like Kreider/Zib/Panarin Kids Motte/Copp/Vatrano Whichever combination of 3 guys you feel least awful about

Yeah, apart from leading all defensemen in points and being 3rd among all skaters he’s being totally neutralized. I mean, come on. This is just stupid.

They played a desperate two time reigning champion and lost at the death, having had plenty of opportunities to win it themselves. Yes it’s disappointing, but I’m staying positive. No need for finger pointing and looking for scapegoats after this one.

Pretty good. Half the battle here is weathering their storm, and it must be a bit worrying for them that this turned out to be a fairly even period.

Ferraro is a broadcasting god compared to Ole Eskild Dahlstrom for fucks sake

Just noticed we’re getting Norwegian comms for this one. I mean, why? Fuck me. Going to try to run audio from MSG radio

I think he’s referring to Iron Mike benching Leetch, arbitrarily pulling Richter, Neil Smith and Keenan never agreeing on anything, Messier having to mediate between players and coaches etc etc. And of course nothing will eclipse the drama of that Devils series. But on ice there’s been no lack of drama in this run to be fair!

Yeah. I’m trying my best not to get ahead of myself, and stay in the moment. But you look at the kids line, Igor, Fox, Key, Lindgren, Schneider and what they’ve been able to do and the idea that these guys are our core for the next 5-8 years is a great feeling. Like I said, completely different teams, but the same type of feeling that it’s one of those very special years.

This is incredible. I’m sitting here trying to get to grips with the notion that this Rangers team might be on the verge of knocking out the two time reigning champions and going to the Stanley Cup Final. I took part in the #believe thing heading into the playoffs, but if I’m honest I never saw this. Now though, this group of guys are coming together into something special. I don’t know if other auldies like me are also getting strong 94 vibes from this run. Very different teams, obviously, but this team has developed an “it” that I really don’t think any of the teams since that 94 team had. The story going in was that Tampa can play you every which way you want, but incredibly enough it looks like this young team is better at it. I’m genuinely floored by what they’ve been able to achieve.

I mean, I don't know. It would just be really surprising to me if a championship team like Tampa would need or use something as trivial as that to get up for this fight. It'll be water off a ducks back imo, I doubt they've even given it a second thought.

@Jon Cooper @the Rangers

I think you're over thinking this one to be honest. It's just a bit of banter, and apart from the atmosphere of a raucous home crow lifting the home team I don't think it has much if any impact on the game itself. Ryan McDonagh certainly isn't out there having deep thoughts about what the home crowd is chanting in the Eastern Conference Final. He's out there doing his job. If it was deeply personal or abusive, then I guess a team could rally around that. But Igor's better? Nah, I don't think so.

I’ve been wearing my battered old Rangers sweatshirt since game 3 of the Canes series. And I just now realized that I didn’t wear it for game 5, because I watched that at work.

The roof is going to come down in the Garden. It'll be absolutely bouncing. The players will have no problems whatsoever getting up for this, and Tampa have had their feet up for too long. Rangers in 4.

Whilst several aspects of what the Rangers have been able to do in these playoffs has been a bit surprising, nothing comes close to the transformation of Chytil. I mean who the hell is this big, fast, purposeful driver of play who plays in straight lines, uses his speed and size effectively and drives the net? In his short cameo on the top line he made it better. Kakko looks pathetic and lost without him. Even the impressive Laffy looks slightly less impressive without him. Considering his previous manifestation as a wet blanket I'm having trouble believing what I'm seeing. Maybe I'm over cooking it, but it's been a truly astonishing transformation.

Let's finish these hideous peasants.

Game 6 could hardly have gone better. Their goalie having a wobble, a comfortable win, several Canes losing their cool and, as a team, looking fucking rattled by the end of it. I totally agree with the idea that, whatever happens, this has been a great experience and learning process. But I’m not really thinking about that right now. We’re going down there to beat those fucking peasants. Bring on Tampa.

Let’s get after these fools!

I mean, if someone had the audacity to ask me to come to a wedding rehearsal dinner without inviting me to the actual wedding I'd give them a lesson in body parts, anatomy and where they could put certain things.

Yeah, I think so too. I honestly think all three of them have looked the best when playing together these playoffs. Part of me wants to see Panarin moved up to Mika and Kreids. We're just not getting shit out of him at 5v5 as things stand. Go Panarin/Zib/Kreider Kids line Vatrano/Strome/Copp Motte/Rooney/Reaves/Goodrow But reverting to the lines that started the playoffs is maybe the best route.