If not for a few panic moves in there defensive zone, they could easily be ahead 2-0 in games. Their fortunes will change in the Garden, and then they just need to come back to L.A. and get a win. In my opinion, they've been the better team, just need to relax and play their game for a full 60 minutes.
I agree. If not for 6 sloppy panic move TO's in their own zone leading to 6 of the 8 Kings goals, worst case it is 1-1. BUT they all happened and we are down 2-0. The odds of us winning this series now are very small. Never say never, but not strong. Play the games and we'll see how it goes. Deflating though. 1-1 and I truly believe we could have won this series for sure. That goal was huge. The series winner IMO. I thought the team that scored it was going to be the team that had a great shot to win the series IMO.
Lose Gm 3 and this series is over. Gm 4 is just to save face. Win Gm 3 and we're back in this big time. Gm4 the garden will be ROCKING
That's fair. All we can do is play 1 game at a time. When you look at it all big picture it is a big mountain. But win game 3 and make game 4 count, then we go from there.
They just need to get a win in game 3, and it's on. They know they blew the first 2, that alone should HIGHLY motivate them to get on the right track. Just need to relax, and get it done.
I don't think the Kings have played like they are the better team, that alone should be enough to make the Rangers play some serious angry hockey Monday night ... We will see just what this team is made of come Monday. I'm expecting big things!
Could go either way jam. We'll see which way it goes. Could get us really going. OR we could be totally deflated blowing four 2 goal leads and being down 2-0 despite never trailing for a second in game.
I expected them to be deflated after game 4 against Pittsburgh. I don't expect that anymore ... will see. Defense just needs to stop panicking, and start hitting.
I would feel MUCH better if we were simply out classed so far. The fact that worst case this has been an even series, and maybe even our edge if we take out the 3rd in game 1, makes this feel even worse. This is such a downer. Imagine how great we'd all feel if we were 1-1 right now...shaking my head.
Its been pretty much even series even at times we have outplayed them. Now just win the next game and we are back in the series. PP has been abysmal. Instead of trying to fix this god awful PP, they hit the fucking beach.
The Kings game plan is to apply pressure, and get their opponents to make mistakes and it's worked ... so far.
Agree jam but the sad part is the stepan and girardi turnovers in game 1 weren't really under any pressure just complete brain cramps and I hear those that say we had our chances to score but didn't in game 2. That being said I don't know if the same ref made both calls but on one end of the ice pouliot gets called for interference outside the crease with no puck in sight and on the other end kings player hits hank with stick so he couldn't use glove hand, knocks hank down and lays on top of him in the crease then puck goes in net and blatant no call. Now if that play called properly not only no goal but we get pp and even though our inept pp most likely doesn't score 2 more minutes come off the clock and we're still protecting a 2 goal lead and completely different game. Hockey is the sport year in and year out that officials have the most influence on the game. I think we can take games 3 and 4 at the garden and since the kings have never led for a second in either game out there rangers should be confident going back out there to play them in game 5 and or game 7 if it comes to that
The Stepan and Girardi turnovers might not look like they were under pressure to us sitting in front the television, but on the ice, in the Stanley Cup Finals, who knows. For some players It might be pressure filled just to take the ice in a SCF, while for others it's just another game. You're right Mel, it was a terrible non-call and one that should have been made and IMO did change the dynamics of the game. But it happened, it's over and the Rangers still had opportunities to win the game. And theirs that pressure again. The nice thing is that they know they can play with the Kings, and just need to get that first win out of the way. I'm expecting them to come out tomorrow playing like a team on a mission. I think the Rangers have been the better team, now they just have to finish it, and it starts with a game 3 win. Just get on a roll ...
For those who have followed their games throughout the payoffs this has been the Kings the entire time. They always seem to be down a couple of goals in every game and then even it up later on. Game 7 against Chicago was a prime example. Three straight games now where they win the overtime and haven't lead for a second in any of the games. It's absolutely unbelievable.
The Blackhawks are really the only team right now built to consistently go toe to toe with LA, just based on their roster and the puck control they have also. Maybe Boston could in a series since they're sort of a mirror image and have really good goaltending. The Rangers just need a little more down the middle and a big dman who can shoot. They're a little small still overall.
I don't agree with this at all SC They have played 2 games and have been the better team. Maybe not drastically better but they have been better. They are going toe to toe. Now my concern is probably the same as yours: That we haven't seen the best of the Kings play yet. But we win tomorrow night the Rangers get life and if they outplay them and win tomorrow then they are down 2-1 and have outplayed the Kings in 3 games. That can really help you in a series. Let's figure out who can play with the Kings AFTER this series is over. It hasn't been told yet.
I agree with you Dis. I think you are not seeing what is happening sc. In nearly 8 periods we have been the better team or as good in 7 of them. We can play with the Kings, and have proven that. We just need to clean up the mistakes. And if the Kings raise to another level tomorrow night, maybe that opinion changes, but as of now we have shown we can play right with the Kings, and that is good. Next is we actually must win a game.
I agree the Rangers have gone toetotoe and even been the better team for the most part, my point is just that in terms of really being able to hold them off or beat them in a series you need some elements that we're still missing.
