I am kinda nervous now since we might not have zucc for the series. I still say we win in 6 but I would not be surprised if it goes 7.
I think getting Klein back + Shep-Moore-Glass crash line slightly outweighs losing Zucc & Hunwick, Hope Boomer is right. The Fishsticks played like garbage so it was hard to gauge the series - 3 shots by their forwards in a game 7? They were too busy lining up checks instead of chasing the puck in the offensive zone. If the Caps come into the series with that same strategy, which they usually do, it will be a quick series.
Nash needs to go to the net not be shooting from the blue line. He is reverting to last years playoff style.
This is going to be all out war. No way do the caps want to be eliminated again by the rangers. Imo these two teams are evenly matched. Nash has to be better and more assertive. If Ov outscored Nash NY more than 4 goals this series will be a failure for our beloved rangers. I'm not expecting Nash to match ovie by he has to be close. Have to stay out of the box. Zucc being out is a huge factor in this series. Sheppard needs to bring aggression but smart aggression. One positive is his inclusion should help on face-offs. Hank has played very well since returning. He hasn't had to be spectular.. Yet.... Hank has the Caps number yet again... Rangers in 6
That's what I like to see. Enough of this hedging crap. Interesting everybody is on board with a positive Ranger outcome. I will not put any onus on any one Ranger. They will win as a team or lose as a team. It is tough enough to win these scrum games. No need to point fingers at individuals until the games begin. In the heat of the action every playoff someone will be cursing & bitching, myself included, about a player.............but in the end it is a team accomplishment or a team failure.
This is a Ranger board, of course everyone will pick the Rangers cage.... I agree with a lot of what Al said. Pretty even teams, Caps do NOT want to get elminated AGAIN by us, Zucc a huge loss (Klein a good gain), will be a war. Hold OV to 4 goals in the series +/- AND stay out of the box and we'll win. I stay with NYR in 7. Million dollar question...will we see Zucc at all this series???
Just think. Let's say we win this battle.....without Zucc. That really puts us ahead of the game afterwards.
Last thing I'll say before this series starts is I really think the Caps are a good team. I thought for the past few months they could be our biggest test in the East. Now we play them without Zucc, which of course isn't ideal. We need Nash and MSL to play well, pressure is on them. I think this will be a long tight series, a series we can certainly lose. I think we'll win it due to Hank and our D (Klein being back is big), but I am not sitting here brimming with confidence that we got this for sure.
