fletch

Finally finished watching the game on delay, and what a roller coaster.  Just not very good from the Rangers in the first 2 periods, but full credit for the third.

Shesterkin was much better than Andersen.  Some amazing saves from Igor (and some luck with the goal posts). Rangers had the advantage in goal all series.

I went from watching the Canes trying to put the game away to Kreider finding a way to poke home his first to make it 2-3.  The whole team grabbed momentum, Kreider got the hatty, and cue the crying Carolina kids.

Now I'm trying to figure out how to fall asleep.  What a night.

Watching the game on delay because of event, try to be kind to your fellow GDT posters - it would be great to have a stress-free Rangers blowout win but otherwise everyone is probably going to be tense.

The first ten minutes of the third, with a chance to close out the Canes, was terrible.  The key for me is how the locker room handles it.  Does a player step up and say we have to be better?  Or is it all good and we’ll just roll out for game 6, it’s fine?

Need this PP, let’s go!

Plenty of time but just terrible third so far

Lots of standing still on that goal.  Passive.

Canes overpassing because Igor locked in.

Keep building momentum off a couple good kills.

Trouba

Thanks to Igor still scoreless.  Didn’t love the odd man rushes for Canes at the end of the period.  Still in good shape.

Trading chances, hope Andersen blinks.

This game 5 is probably the most important game of the playoff run.  Win, and start preparing for the next round after two short playoff series.  Lose, and there's a good chance we're looking at a game 7 at MSG.

still time but that hurt.

Canes fans are dead, just waiting for the next bad thing to happen.  Love being the road team when the fans are quiet 

Generating good chances, just have to start burying them.

yuck

Canes making us pay for a slow start.

Results often drive the narrative.

The Rangers are playing well and on a hot streak.

They've had some overtime games so by definition they were close.  Credit to the team for keeping the game going until they had a chance to convert the first scoring chance in overtime.

The Canes haven't had a power play goal, which the Rangers Penalty Kill and Shesterkin certainly deserve credit for.  But if a too-many men on the ice or a bad interference, hooking, or spearing penalty far from the defensive end resulted in a Canes power play goal, we're probably talking more about too many undisciplined penalties.  Since the Canes can't convert, we can focus on how good the Rangers Penalty kill has been.  It can be true that the Rangers penalty kill has been great and that it's surprising that the Canes haven't got at least one fluky power play goal.

The Rangers certainly outplayed the Capitals and have earned a 3-0 series lead with the Canes.  They've been impressive so far in the playoffs, and there's no reason why we can't hope for an early end to the Canes, and a deeper run toward the Cup.  The Rangers regular season record shows that they can rack up the wins.  The Rangers are getting contributions from throughout their lineup.  There's a lot to feel good about.

Final standings by my calculations

Blair 22

Phil 17

Fletch 16

Ozzy 14

Morphinity 12

Brooks 12

RJ 10

So yes, @BlairBettsBlocksEverything won this rep bet after initiating it, and abandoning it without calculating the final scores.  Maybe he'll notice if your rep him.

Based on final standings, I see points as

Division winners

Panthers5

Rangers5

Stars5

Canucks5

Playoff teams

Panthers1

Bruins1

Leafs1

Lightning1

Rangers1

Hurricanes1

Islanders1

Capitals1

Stars1

Jets1

Avalanche1

Predators1

Canucks1

Oilers1

Kings1

Knights1

Bumping this thread so winner can be figured out, calculations pending

This team

I still am just waiting to see how the Rangers make the play to win.  

hard

Sweating this one