Kick save and a beauty

Islanders "desperately holdin' on"..... Couldn't do it against us.... twice. And now apparently not against the Canes either. Was hoping they would dirty up Carolina a bit but it looks like that might be too much to hope for.

Bearing mind mind that we were up 2-0 last year but even so and TBH thew Capitals have a "just happy to be here" look about them.

hopefully someone gets a message to the refs between periods that even ESPN is holding their noses on some of these calls.

Kakko for an anytime goal. I got a feelin'

It is Rangers related because results will/could have a direct impact on the Rangers team. I will start it off. I thought the Islanders looked good. Carolina not so much and some of those penalty calls against the Islanders were pretty weak. Freddy Anderson might be a real problem however. Brind'Amour was putting it down to the fact the Islanders have been in playoff mode for 8 weeks and his team took a whole to get started. Not sure I buy all of that but Monday should tell the tale. Islanders PP is really bad

The good news is that we are the sexy pick to get knocked off in the first round. Apparently the #1 seed loses to the #8 seed around 25% of the time and it looks like we are the the most likely upset-bound team this year. According to the I just want to be an edgy analyst crowd this year. I am not even including the Dallas vs. Las Vegas series because that really does not feel like a #1 playing a #8. Cannot think of any better "tackling fuel" going into this weekend (thanks Waterboy).

Maybe not right off the bat but if the Rangers get up by one or two games in the series then Washington may feel that no other choice but to scramble the pieces on the board.

fuckin' matinee games

Tom Wilson is an effective player on the ice and so in any penalty scenario and if fighting is involved we need to have players of lesser on-ice skills going into the box from our side. If Tom Wilson is allowed to smash Panarin's head into the ice again then we have already lost no matter how many minutes he is assessed for such an assault. That means Trouba, Cuylle, Rempe, Goodrow, and Schneider (amongst others) need to be ready to dive in no matter what. I did not mention Lindgren because he always stands ready to do what is necessary for a team mate no matter who the opponent is or what the situation might be. If anything Panarin is even more critical to the Rangers prospects this time around.

Bingo. I know it is trite to say but the best defense against a team willing to dirty thing up is to make them afraid of taking penalties. They will likely try and start the series off by playing the style we saw in their last two games. Very very disciplined at the back and only allowing a small number of chances against. That is the way they will start things off but if they get down in the series they will have no other choice but to risk the Rangers power play by sending Wilson out there to cause mayhem.

Specific predictions give me the willies but of all the teams competing for the WC2 spot I felt that the Capitals were the best matchup for us if for no other reason than they have been running on fumes for the last two months just to get in. They won their cup this year by just getting across the starting line so to speak. Edited to add. Meanwhile I hope the Hurricanes and Islanders beat each other to a pulp in 7

I am not sure that Billy Smith did not have Hextall beat. He is 2nd on that all time list and refs were far less likely to call penalties on the goalies during his time.

I assumed that was going to be at some point down the road when Rempe had grown into his full man size and gained some more fight experience but fate seems to be putting them into the same work space sooner then I thought. We are the more skilled team so it is natural to think the Tom Wilson and the Caps might want to get up to their old tricks in order to change the calculus on the ice. Cheap shots, late hits and other "get under your skin" tactics. At that point Matt Rempe and Tom Wilson might become unavoidable if only to protect breadman.

Rempe vs. Tom Wilson?

For me the best part about last night's slate of results is that the Islanders and Hurricanes are going to be slugging it out with each other in the first round. hopefully the Isles can put a dent in the "anointed" team even though I think the Islanders to win that series is a stretch. I think we can handle any of the remaining four WC2 prospects although I think Washington will be the most favorable for us. They have been running on fumes for six weeks or more. I think they will fold right off the bat. Penguins would be the biggest problem although I see the Penguins and Red Wings as being similarly awkward opponents. Teams who can score in bunches and who might suddenly discover a team defensive streak the way the Devils did to us last year in mid-series. I say awkward because this Rangers team likes to play in track meet type games when they shouldn't and if they feel they are better then their opponent. The coach and the veterans need to reinforce this is is not a viable approach in NHL postseason games. Hopefully Rempe gets to suit up against whoever we play because he brings a completely different vibe to this team.