BrooksBurner

That was a sickening loss

Just running down the list: Special Teams: Even (2 years ago: Rangers, modest edge) Depth: Even (2 years ago: Canes, big edge) Faceoffs: Even (2 years ago: Canes, big edge) Physicality: Even (2 years ago: Canes, modest edge) 5v5: Canes, big edge (unchanged) Goaltending: Rangers, big edge (unchanged) Scoring Talent: Rangers, slight edge (2 years ago: Rangers, big edge) Coaching: Even (2 years ago: Canes, slight edge) I think the Rangers completely closed the gaps on depth/faceoffs/physicality/coaching, and the Canes closed the gap on special teams and narrowed the gap on scoring talent w/ the Guentzel add and progression of Jarvis/Necas. The Rangers were sizable underdogs two years ago and Igor stole it. This time around is a closer matchup in every department except two, and those two haven't changed at all from 2 years ago: 5v5 and goaltending. We talk all of the time about how the Rangers shouldn't pay Shesterkin his next contract because it's not how you build a Cup winner, and that teams should spend the money on the rest of the team because if the team is playing the right way at 5v5, then the goalie matters less. The reason for that is that, more often than not, great 5v5 play matters more than paying a great goalie. The Canes have that edge. They will have the puck in the Rangers' end of the ice more in this series. They will generate more chances, and they have a more cohesive forecheck. This is all pretty guaranteed to happen. This is why the betting odds will favor the Canes, and it should, but it's not a lock. The Rangers will need Shesterkin to be the difference again, and he's capable.

Head says Canes in 6, maybe 5. Heart and hope says Rangers in 6, maybe 7.

Well you’re just wrong on both accounts here. There are plenty of examples, but the premise you started with that Kreider’s position on the PP has anything to do with Lafreniere is honestly just nuts. I don’t know of any teams who put their first overall picks in front of the net on the PP, in a position where the puck isn’t on their stick to create chances and take shots.

I wonder what the trade offers were like. I think we all assumed a 1st and a B prospect. So a pick in the 20s and we would have watched Kreider post 40 goals a year elsewhere. That would have been so brutal. Gotta give Gorton some props for sure for that decision. It wasn’t an easy one.

Lafreniere’s main problem didn’t have anything to do with opportunity. It is evident that it was pretty solely related to his physical training. Zibanejad and Panarin block Lafreniere on the PP because those are the positions he would be playing. Kreider blocks…Will Cuylle as a big net front presence I guess? No biggie.

Yeah I remember being in the trade Kreider boat given where the team was at, but the train of thought leading up to it was that he was going to get mid-7s on a long term extension. I think pretty much everyone was a bit surprised to see the 6.5 per, and that was before he became one of the best bonafide first line goal scoring wingers in the league. He’s been performing at roughly a $9m pay rate for 3 years now. Incredible.

Hard to disagree with him

My special @Phil ballsy prediction for the next round is either the Rangers or the team they are playing wins 4 games in the series

You use the same sites I do. NST had 5v5 scoring chances at 79-59 in favor of Washington. xGF 55 to 45 in favor of Washington. HDC 31-22 in favor of Washington. It just didn’t matter because Washington couldn’t convert on Shesterkin.

Hey, I agree and you’re preaching to the choir. I’ve been reading all year that this team is “different”, so you saying they aren’t different is apparently a pretty edgy, pessimistic take. Welcome to the club dude

That’s too simplistic

Lmao legit made me laugh Also fuck you

I concur

Ok, I hope you all enjoyed last night and that series. Now it’s time for a little real talk about it and what we need moving forward. I’ll give some good first. The Rangers obliterated the Caps on special teams and goaltending. They swept this trash team by scoring 5 PP goals, 2 SH goals, and only giving up 2 PP goals. Going even on the PK across 4 games in the playoffs is as good as it gets and I don’t care who they played. They shaded Ovechkin and made him a complete nonfactor. Kreider was excellent taking him out of the PP. The Rangers hung tough in the 3rd periods with the lead, but they also didn’t face that much pressure. The Caps were the worst team to make the playoffs in probably the last decade+. There’s not much to feel good about yet. Here’s a fallacy I am seeing perpetuated in Rangers land since last night: “this would have gone 6 or 7 with previous iterations of Rangers teams”. Based on what? They never played this bad an iteration of an 8 seed before. This board had 11 people (including me) picking sweep and 31 picking 5. That’s how bad the Caps are. We don’t need to make stuff up to pump tires here. This round was meaningless. Now if they punch the next opponent in the mouth, it will actually mean something. The Rangers weren’t any better than the Caps at 5v5 outside of game 1. The Rangers were outscored 4-3 5v5 in games 2 through 4, and don’t get me started on the scoring chances. Quite frankly it’s a little embarrassing that they couldn’t tilt the ice against that team. That’s horrendous guys and gals. Sorry. The Rangers will have to continue to blow teams out on special teams and goaltending. They are about to get caved in at 5v5 against anyone else they play from here on out. We all know the next matchup is going to be the Canes. Here’s a what to watch out for: they are significantly better than the Rangers 5v5 and they had the league’s best PK this year ready to counter our PP. Igor stole the series two years ago and he’ll have to do it again. Then he’ll have to do it for another two rounds to win a Cup. Igor will have to be the Conn Smythe winner to have a chance, and there’s no way around it. The good news is he’s capable. I hope he at least does it against the Canes because I would rather not be stuck wearing my Rangers gear around Raleigh after a loss. Let’s Go Rangers!

The fighting starts with my series summary coming later.

You had to be here all season to read

First round exit was off the table the second it was the shitty Caps snagging the 8 seed. Second round exit very likely though, unfortunately.

I must be watching a different game. I think the Rangers have been doing a pretty good job of shutting things down. They gave up the one grade A chance, which was a brilliant but very risky feed/play by Carlson on the blueline.

McDavid won't be McDavid when he loses a step. Who knows when that will happen....could be at 30. Even Gretzky wasn't Gretzky anymore after he turned 30.

I have no doubt the Rangers' talent will come through to win this game. It's been an ugly hockey game all around IMO. I guess that's a win for the Caps, since it's better than being down 2 or 3 goals after 2 like the last few games.