Kick save and a beauty

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.

Presidential aspirations. Trial tonight. He should spell it Rempé That would get all of the effeminate ankle-biters (I mean NY Islander fans) onto his side. Just sayin'

Playoff anticipation is not exactly rampant around these parts right about now.

Rangers doing a pretty good impression of a stationary bicycle

yes we can cycle

Need Rempe here.

For purposes of Scrabble games, is Dog shit one word or two?

Even if we come back and win this will leave a bad taste

Nothing like getting ourselves onto a roll before the playoffs start. And I do mean this is nothing like that.

We have elevated playing down to the level of our opposition into an art form

wtf was that?

This whole starting slowly thing could be a huge problem for us in the next few weeks.

Lindgren must have Spartan blood somewhere.

Just keep on winning. It is a good habit to get into this time of year.

None of the self styled experts had the Rangers in the elite group of teams before the season began. None of them. Those self same experts have been using confirmation bias ever since and greeted every dip in form, no matter how minor of short-lived, as a way to show that they were right all along and that the Rangers are a fluke. Unless we go to the conference finals at least, the same folks will continue with the narrative that the record is not really what the record is and the Rangers finally revealed their true selves by losing. Otherwise they might have to actually admit that they were wrong. As others have said, the team should embrace the underdog label and use it to go out and prove a point.

The points total speaks for itself but to be honest apart from a game here or there I really do not think we have seen the best of this Rangers squad just yet. If there is a theme to this year it is that we seem to have a way of banking wins while not really looking good doing it much of the time. The best is yet to come. Let's not give the Islanders any kind of assist into the post season this week. Time to step on their necks and snuff out their aspirations

And you only have to look at the playoffs last year to see what might happen to a dominant team like the Bruins if they run into the wrong opponent

Yeah that one was coming

Igor needs to cut t\hat shit out

Is it just me or did the Flyers quit on Tortorella? Normally it takes a few seasons before his whole act get old, he wears out his welcome and gets moved along but maybe things are happening on a compressed timeline in Philly. Ever since benching the captain they have been much much worse.

Two of our last five against the Islanders. We can put them out (or close to it) if we win both games, or alternatively they can cost us the Presidents trophy and (more importantly) the number one seed in the east if they win both of those games. A split seems to be the most likely result which might lead to them squeaking in. Five games left, everything to play for. Although I don't think the Islanders are a good team, two teams out of this list of five will make it into the playoffs Islanders Capitals Flyers Red Wings Penguins