Home Ice

Things are getting interesting now. With Montreal only getting 1 point tonight, the game is still big for TB tomorrow night against Philly. Montreal is 3 up on TB. They have 2 games left and TB has 3 games left.

If Montreal beats the Isles in Montreal tomorrow night and TB beats the Flyers they stay 3 points back. TB can get to within 1 point of Montreal if they beat CBJ Friday night. Then it comes down to Montreal hosting us Saturday night and TB at the Caps Sunday.

And worst case if the Flyers beat TB tomorrow night, and Montreal beats the Isles, home ice is locked up for Montreal, so that game Saturday night means nothing for Montreal. If that is the case we better win that game and get home ice. AV said Hank plays tomorrow and is 50/50 for Montreal. If we need that Montreal game for home ice I say play Hank. After Saturday night we don't play until Thursday if we win. That is 5 days, and should be plenty of time for Hank to rest and prepare.

Montreal has the TB over the Lightning as well. Downside for TB is Bishop is out. But man I would LOVE to see TB win tomorrow night. Would lock up the 2 spot for us if we beat Buffalo AND would give CBJ a legit shot to finish 3 and play us in round 1 (after tonight they will be tied with Philly but Philly has a game in hand and the TB over CBJ).

Tomorrow night will go a long way towards deciding the battle for position in the East.

 

With the Wings late tying goal at Pitt the East teams are set once the CBJ win is official. Wings and CBJ are in. Caps and Devs are officially out.

I really want the Wings to play the Pens in round 1. I think they would have a shot.

 

I bet the CBJs would give Boston a good series too.

 

And the BJ's are 0-5 against the Pens this season. I am sure that is who the Pens want round 1. Right now CBJ has the inside track at 7.

At TB and at Florida are their two games.
Carolina and at St. Louis are the Wings two games.

The BJ's have the TB over the Wings as well and they are tied now, so the Wings need to gain a point in these last two games. So at the moment the BJ's have the edge for the 7 seed.

Let's go Lightning tonight. If they win and we win we clinch home ice round 1. Come on TB, you still have a shot at home ice so you want this game tonight, and tomorrow night against CBJ as well.

If the Flyers win tonight, at least the Pens will be well rested before their game Saturday afternoon in Pitt. Hopefully they play to win so they can get some positive mo for the playoffs and actually beat the Flyers in case they play in round 2. I want to think the Flyers lose 1 of these next 2 games (at TB and at Pitt) in regulation to give us home ice with a win tonight, but who knows. We'll see.

 

We made it tough tonight against the worst team in the NHL, but now it is official. 2nd place in the Met and opening the playoffs at MSG next Thursday night.

Still more likely to be Philly IMO, they have the TB on CBJ and a touch easier schedule, but who knows maybe it will be CBJ now.

Either way we got the crucial home ice in round 1, not for games 1 & 2 but for game 7 which I think a Flyer series would see for sure.

Great job by this team battling back from a terrible start to get home ice in round 1.

Awesome stuff, and McDonagh looked okay tonight as well and I would think should be 100% in 7 days.

Now rest against Montreal, and let's take round 1.

 

RANGERS IN 5!

 

I will say tied 1-1 after game 2. Tied 2-2 after game 4. Rangers win in 7 at MSG. All along I said whichever team had home ice is who I would pick because of game 7, and I will stick to that. Rangers in 7.

 

Home ice between TB and Montreal is now a huge question mark after Montreal got beat by the Isles tonight.

TB hosts CBJ tomorrow night, and is at the Caps on Sunday. If they win both they get home ice with 101 points. Montreal can only get to 100 points tops.

I would love to see CBJ beat TB tomorrow night though and put huge heat on the Flyers to have to win in Pitt on Saturday. Both CBJ (at Florida) and Philly (home Canes) have easy last games. So that battle will come down to who does better in their next game. At TB tomorrow night for CBJ OR at Pitt Saturday for the Flyers. The Flyers edge is they have the TB at the moment because of 1 more ROW.

I would love to see CBJ end up 3rd for two reasons. 1. I would rather play CBJ than Philly. And the main reason 2. If CBJ gets 3rd in the Met that would mean Pitt would play Detroit or Philly in round 1, and that is what I want. Pitt clearly can lose to either team.

 

Chuck...think Montreal thought the Islander game was easy...thought tonight was an easy game?

 

It doesn't matter who they play, their are no easy games this time of the year. I'm through hoping they play somebody who I think would be easier, as they are all tough (especially against the Rangers). If the Rangers are going to move forward, they need to play as close to mistake free Hockey as possible, and they need to finish more of there opportunities ... against whoever they draw.

 

Give the Isles credit. Sometimes you make me laugh Al. Of course there are no locks, that is why they play the games. Sometimes things go according to plan and sometimes not. We should have beaten the Sens and didn't. We should have beaten the Canes and Sabres and did. The Flyers should have beaten the Sabres and Panthers and did. The Habs should have beaten the Isles and didn't. Sometimes the %'s work, and sometimes they dont, that is why it isn't 100%.

In the playoffs there is none of that. Every game is hard fought and any team can get some wins.

 

I agree jam, and that is what I was just saying, in the playoffs any team can win games. I just wanted the home ice for game 7, I would be SHOCKED if it didn't go back to Philly 1-1, but game 7 here is huge IMO.

As for CBJ or Philly, like I said it isn't nearly as much I don't want to play Philly as it is I really want Pitt to play the Wings or Flyers. That is my motivation there.

 

I think CBJ, just like Philly, would be a long hard fought tough series (I would say us in 7 in both cases). You know those ex-Rangers would love to stick it to us. And Bob is better than Mason. So really that is a tough series either way, no real advantage to playing either. I just rather CBJ because I don't want to deal with the Flyers cheap BS AND like I said I want the Pens to play Philly or the Wings.

Go CBJ tomorrow night. Put the pressure on Philly at Pitt Saturday.

 

The more I think about it, the more I would love to see a CBJ win in reg or OT tonight at TB. That would put a ton of pressure on the Flyers to have to win in reg or OT tomorrow at Pitt otherwise they will be a WC for sure (assuming CBJ wins in reg or OT at Florida tomorrow).

That would be a great look for us. Makes the Flyers and CBJ have to play all out for 82 games. Means the Pens play the Flyers or Wings in round 1, which would be a tough battle for them. Means we may get to avoid the Flyers and all their cheap BS they pull.

Like I said, Flyers or BJ's I see that as a long 7 game series either way for us, but overall I think it is a good thing for us if CBJ wins in reg or OT tonight at TB.

 

I'm not even thinking about it, whoever they play, they play. For me, it's be careful what you wish for, because you just might get it. So I don't wish for anybody. Success for the Rangers will be defined by how well they play on the defensive side of the ice, against whoever they play. In other words, if they continue to allow opposing skaters access to the front of the goal without putting a body on them, it will be tough for them to make it out of round one. Opposing teams know how to beat the Rangers, be physical and go to the net. The Rangers have to hit, protect the net and capitalize on there many opportunities. McDonagh coming back will be a HUGE help, and they could also use Kreider ...

 

I agree jam, and I am not really wishing for a specific team either. I am however wishing for CBJ to win tonight and put pressure on Philly tomorrow. That makes both of those teams have to play full out for 82. Maybe get a little more banged up. We can rest until next Thursday really.

If there is any reason I want to "play CBJ" it is because I would like to see the Pens play the Flyers or Wings in round 1, and CBJ finishing ahead of Philly assures that.

McDonagh will be good to go. Kreider I doubt it. Like I said when he got hurt 2 + weeks ago, it wouldn't be an issue in the regular season losing Kreider, and it wasn't as we still got 2 in the Met. It will potentially be an issue against Philly or CBJ, but what can you do. No excuses...injuries happen...we just have to play.

 

I still think Philly is the fav to be here. Look at it like this:

Philly hosts the Canes Sunday...should be a sure win.
CBJ is at Florida tomorrow night...should be a pretty sure win.

CBJ is at TB tonight...toss-up as TB still has home ice to play for (they need to win out).
Philly is at Pitt tomorrow afternoon...toss-up, but Pitt has nothing to play for at all.

Philly also has the TB at the moment (1 more ROW). And I would say a touch easier schedule.

So I would still edge towards Philly, but CBJ is possible. This is also why I want a CBJ win tonight in reg or OT...makes the next two days of hockey much more interesting. If CBJ gets beat tonight it is over and we play Philly 99% for sure.

 

Exactly! Who ever it is, just go beat them.