One last comment. Next year the first Ottawa game someone should just skate up to Neil and beat the SH*T out of him. Then tell Staal, that ones for you buddy. That is how I would handle Neil. Not last night when we needed the points WAY more than trying to prove something late in the game.
Comments on last night: Henrik Lundqvist on tonight’s game…“It felt like they were a little bit more on top of things in the first period. Brad Richards on tonight’s game…“I think we just were half a step behind. We were a little slow doing things and they came; their D pinched hard on us at different areas of the ice. We just weren’t quite on top of it and executing, and that gave them some momentum coming the other way and [there wasn’t] enough zone time. They were opportunistic — a couple of chances and they buried them.” Alain Vigneault on tonight’s game…“Energy wise it was a challenge for us but our guys tried hard, but we just couldn’t get it done.” Those comments say it all really. I don't get why a team that had a shot to clinch a playoff spot AND basically clinch home ice round 1 is flat and lacking energy, but there it is from players and the coach. One thing stays consistent with this team regardless of the coach, we simply cannot make things easy for ourselves. Now we have a battle for home ice again and must at least win these next two at home to get it.
Because they are not robots they are human. Just like saying the flyers have an easy schedule that doesn't mean that they aren't susceptible to laying an egg either. Other issue you keep bringing up is the 8 in a row the rangers have won at msg over thr flyers..that and 3 bucks may get you a metro card. Huge differnece in playoff hockey than regular season games. You throw away all stats when it comes to the playoffs. Bottom line this team has not played as well at home than on the road. That is a huge problem. Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk
So your POV is clear Al. You rather open on the road. Forget that we have won 8 straight at MSG over Philly. Forget that THIS SEASON Philly is much better at home than on the road. And forget that THIS SEASON we are 0-2 in Philly and 2-0 against them at MSG (which makes our great road record mean ZERO since we were 0-2 at the team we are actually playing). Got it. So you should say go Flyers I guess so you get your wish Al. We'll agree to disagree.
And for the record, I feel I need to say this again just in case, I am NOT saying we cannot win without home ice, just like I am NOT saying we win for sure if we have home ice. Home ice isn't the deciding factor in the series win or lose, but it is very important IMO, especially considering home teams were 4-0 this season in this series. What I am saying is anyone who thinks it doesn't matter due to our road record, or wants us to open in Philly, is simply lost IMO.
And one other thing to think about, which 100% applies here IMO, if we lose home ice now that would mean we'd falter the last 4 or 5 games and the Flyers would excel their last 5 games. That is the only way we'd lose home ice at this point (has to be a perfect storm where they get 8-10 points in their last 5 games, and maybe we get 3 or 4 points in our last 5 games). You want to open in Philly with them rolling their last 5, and us struggling our last 4 or 5??? Don't think so.
That would be great chuck and since we don't have that said player on the roster on the moment I'll look forward to see who we add to the team next season that will do it. Of course, they could have had big mac up here already who for some reason isn't (strahlman, moore) HAH ROTFLMAO. They both suck and provide little to the team in my opinion. We are much better off with a pair of balls named Mcilreith ready to dish up pain and punishment then we are with those 2 losers 1 of which strahlman will be walking at the end of the season anyway.
The Rangers still control what happens so I don't see the need to get all worked up. To say the Rangers should've won 12 straight games and had things all locked up is absurd.
Where did I say I would prefer to be on the road....what I did say is the following.... 1. Rangers home record this year sucks. 2. Rangers have for one reason or another have played better and have a better road record. 3.I dont give a shit about how many games in a row one team has one over the other. Didnt we sweep the devils one year? Things are a lot different in the playoffs you shouldn't be relying on the fact the flyers haven't won at msg in the regular season to get comfortable. Also you assume that the flyers will win against teams beneath them or teams will just lay down against them...the flyers cant come out over confident and blow a game? Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk
Oh Al...good stuff as always fella. You always seem to avoid the fact that we are 0-2 in Philly and they are 0-2 here. I don't care if we went 39-2 on the road...guess what...we are 0-2 in Philly. And guess what else...that is who we are playing not another team we beat in their place. Anyway.... Mess, I agree we do still control things. I am not upset at all about how we are playing or where we are. We win our next two games against bad teams at home and we'll get the home ice I believe. I do not think the Flyers go a pefect 10 for 10, or even 9 for 10. So if we take care of our business the next two games we'll be okay. I will add that I don't want to "need" that Montreal game to clinch home ice, but we'll see how it goes.
Just finishing up on last night, in the light of day I do like how the players stuck up for one another on what they felt was a cheap hit by Neil on Staal. Good for them on that. MZA for a little guy is someone I wouldn't want to mess with. He plays hard and with heart. So at least that was good to see even if it wasn't the ideal time for it. The refs got that one wrong IMO.
this team only goes as far as lundy takes em.... its all about lundy, it has always been about lundy, we win a cup it will be all about lundy, lundy lundy lundy
So your saying that the Rangers are the same team now than October 24th when they lost 2 to 1 in Philly? Are the Flyers the same team when they lost 4-1 in January? What happened in the first half of the year means 100% nothing to me when it comes down to advantages. If anything the odds are the Flyers WILL win a game in NY and we WILL win a game in Philly. I will say this again, the playoffs are a different animal dont base regular season results on what may happen. Especially results from a game in Oct between a team that was 1-7 and another team that was 2-5.
Here is what I am saying. The Flyers are MUCH better at home. The Flyers are 2-0 against us in Philly. The Flyers are 0-2 at MSG this season. The Flyers have lost 8 straight overall at MSG. Those are all FACTS Al. Look, we agree to disagree on this. Clearly you think home ice is no big deal, I respect your opinion I just disagree. I happen to think home ice is important in this series. This should be a long hard fought series, and I would love to have game 7 at MSG (for the record I do believe each team would win a game on the other teams home ice). The team without home ice can win the series, but to me it is a clear edge to be the team with home ice, double so with how this has played out. If we lose home ice now that would mean the Flyers would streak to the end of the season, and we would stumble to the end of the season, that's the only way we can lose home ice now Al. I guess you think that doesn't matter much either, again we simply agree to disagree bro...all good.
That is too easy...LOL. Of course it comes down to Hank for us. I would add we need a healthy McDonagh, and Nash/MSL to score some goals, but yeah it is mainly about Hank. BTW...wouldn't it be awesome if Nash played like the big power forward he is. I like Nash, and you can see how much ability he has to make plays, but if he had that snarl he would be a monster. That is why he has struggled in the playoffs I think. He needs to get there in these playoffs or it won't be good for him looking foward I fear.
