Despite the record Chuck, this team is still very bad at certain things. They are an embarrassment on faceoffs. They struggle a ton with big teams on the forecheck. Their PP is awful right now. All things that cause problems in the playoffs.
Don't agree on the PP. Teams have won the cup recently without good PP's. Plus I still think this PP can get things done, they just need to shoot more when the chances are there. The faceoff thing doesn't concern me that much either. Need to simply be respectable. Can't lose like 80% or something like that. lose 60% or 65% and we'll be okay IMO. And don't lose them cleanly in the D zone. The forecheck thing concerns me. This team does get sloppy in their own zone. This team does get pinned into their own zone too often. That is what concerns me the most. Need to hope that with our talent on D we can move the puck quickly and make smart decisions. The plus I think will be we should be able to keep the minutes somehwat balanced. McD and Girardi shouldn't have to play 26 or 27 minutes, so that should keep them fresher to move quickly and make good decisions. That is my hope at least.
I don't think the Sens will get there. If Detroit, Pitt, and Boston all just get 2 points the Sens will need 5 of 6 to get in since they own no TB's. Cannot lose a point at Toronto and feel good about it. I won't say no shot, but I don't see it. I will add this though, their next game is home against the Pens tomorrow night. Win that game and tie the Pens, then we'll go from there. Obviously that is a 100% must win in regulation for the Sens or they are DONE. I also think Boston is still in the 8 mix. You all want to hand them better, but it isn't a lock yet with their schedule. They have 3 road games left. At the Caps won't be easy. Then at Florida and at TB to end the season. What they have going for them, besides playing well right now, is Florida is out of it AND in the last game Montreal may have the Atlantic clinched. But I don't think they will. Thursday night Montreal hosts the Wings and TB hosts the Devs. Worst case they both win meaning going into Saturday night TB is still alive for the divison. Now the Montreal at Toronto game is at 7 and the Boston at TB game is at 7:30, so it could be 2-0 Montreal by the time the TB game starts, but it may not be. And if Montreal ever gets beat by the Wings on Thursday night, TB controls their own destiny for the division. That would be a very tough game for the Bruins. Meanwhile the Wings have two games left with the Canes (and a game at Montreal). Should be minimum 2 points, and could be 4. And the Pens end their season at Buffalo, which should be a lock 2 points (also at Ottawa and home Isles). I think Boston wins at Florida. If you told me they would split at Wash and at TB I would give them 3rd in the Atlantic because I don't think Detroit goes 6 for 6, BUT it is no lock we don't get Boston still. I still view it as the Pens, Wings, Bruins in that order as possible 1st round matchups for us.
This team won a ton of games this year with speed. Unfortunately, bigger teams with speed tend to be more of a problem in the playoffs when the hitting is 10 fold. The playoffs are a second season. Totally different. We'll see how this team does. The defense seems to be a lot more sloppy this year than previous years. Seems like they give up many good scoring chances each game.
Update on points to clinch the East/Pres trophy: Any combo of 2 gained by us or 2 lost by TB and we lock it up over TB (this is big to me). Any combo of 3 points gained/lost and we clinch the East over Montreal. 1 point either way and we lock up home ice over the Hawks (this is big to me). Any combo of 3 points gained/lost and we lock up home ice over the Preds. Any combo of 4 points gained/lost and we lock up the Pres trophy over the Ducks/Blues. So go 50% on points gained in these last 4 games and we clinch it all. If we beat CBJ tonight we will win the Pres trophy. If we lose tonight then we still have some work to do to lock up the East/win the Pres trophy (would make tomorrow night at NJ big for us).
Take the record vs. Tampa, Boston and the Islanders during the regular season. It is not good. Boston is slow. Rangers should have been better vs. that team. However, size and faceoffs gives them problems.
I'll go out there and make a prediction on which team we'll play: Pens - end up with 4 points gained. I think they split at Ottawa and home NYI, and beat the Sabres. So 99 points and 40 ROW's. Wings - end with 4 points gained. Beat the Canes twice and lose at Montreal. So 99 points and 39 ROW's. Bruins - end with 2 points gained. Win at Florida. Lose at Wash and at TB. So 97 points and 38 ROW's. Sens - end up with 4 points gained. So 97 points and 36 ROW's. I think we will play the Bruins. Their schedule is real tough. If not the Bruins I will say the Wings. I think the Pens will get 4 points and have more ROW's, so I think they finish 7th. I think 8th will be the loser between the Bruins and the Wings, and right now I edge Wings getting the better of it due to their easier schedule (two games against the Canes). Going to be real close between those two, and if the Canes steal a point or 2 AND/OR the Bruins get a point or 2 at the Caps/at TB they could finish ahead of the Wings.
Like you said dump, the playoffs are a WHOLE different season. So don't say that and then talk about regular season records. On top of that we haven't played TB in MONTHS. AND we beat the Isles the last two times we played them.
By the way. For all the people sucking off getting Vermette. 16 games, 0 G, 3 A, 50 % on draws. Complete bust. That's why you don't give up high picks for guys who are rentals and aren't difference makers.
You say that dump, but just about every single team does it. AND moving forward just about every single team will continue to do it. One team will win the cup this season, and odds are they added something at the trade DL that helped them win that cup. And all the other teams that added players at the DL will look like losers, but I don't view it that way. Simply by %'s most of the teams will look like losers, only one team can win a cup each season, but that doesn't mean the answer is do nothing. Part of the business IMO. You take your shot at winning a cup. For the large majority it doesn't work out, but you have to be in it to win it. As for the Hawks, if they win a cup I think they'll be fine with the Vermette add (and Kimmo as well). And if they don't win a cup then at least they tried, and I won't kill teams for that.
I am loving the end of this regular season...with all of the playoff implications in some of these matchups it makes for some really great hockey. Just tonight's game....Jets @ Wild, Kings @ Canucks and Stars @ Sharks (likely that both of these teams are out considering how far back they are but the winner is still mathematically alive). Pens @ Sens on Tuesday (this is the most pivotal game in the East in my opinion). Bruins @ Caps Wednesday. Hawks @ Blues and Kings @ Flames Thursday. Islanders @ Pens Friday. Everyone playing Saturday...it's such a great end to the season.
True. We have not played TB in months, but we still have never beaten their goalie, Ben Bishop......all 6'7" of him. That's a TALL ORDER! LOL
It is funny how dump points out the weaknesses of the Rangers but says things like this "People are tools for still complaining when the ranges win" So that's ok for dump to complain but not for everyone else...LOL
Washington Capitals & Brayden Holtby have shut out Boston Bruins for 2 games and 2 periods so far. Washington leads 3-0 after 2. Isles, Sens, Pens, Wings love this score. Under Trotz, Caps are not going to lose this game. I'm curious if they can shut out the Bruins this year. Glad Rangers don't play them 1st Round. Washington is big, tough and very good. Definite threat. Holtby has shut out the Bruins this year. A tremendous feat.
I said last week I didn't want to play the Caps. Everyone was worried about the Bruins and didn't want to play them, I said I much rather play the Bruins than the Caps. I wanted no part of the Caps in round 1. Caps beat the Isles (or Pens) in round 1. We beat the Bruins (or Sens) in round 1. We have a long hard fought series win over the Caps in round 2. We play TB in the ECF.
Glad to see Marchand not doing well. He deserves it 10 fold. Cheap shot artist, if there ever was one. DIRTY LITTLE RUG RAT.
CBJ is a team on the rise. Yeah. I said the same thing last year. If it weren't for the early numerous injuries, they'd be playoff bound this year. I think they will be one of 8 to make playoffs next year from the Eastern Conference. CBJ trounced the hapless Maple Leafs tonight, 5-0.
Revenge, nothing's sweeter.......whatever. Last year Anaheim defeated Dallas in the playoffs. Last night Dallas shut out Anaheim on the road, 4-0.
Last night.... Isles 3 Pittsburgh 1. Crosby and friends bitched the whole game. The one team that can play with Washington is the Isles. Will be shocked if that series does not go 7 games. As for the Pens.....can finish 6, 7, 8 seeds or out. Pens next opponent, Buffalo, lost at Columbus 4-2. Why do I feel it's not going to be a cake walk for Pens.
