Game Thread 4/16/17 Game 3 Montreal Canadiens vs New York Rangers

That's ok, everyone is free to jump ship. More room for me

 

Pretty much do or die Tuesday. We'll see.

 

And they both played like crap when Bylsma was there with his system. Sullivan changed up the system and gameplan, balanced offense with defense and BAM. Winning. Think back to AV's first season here. He BALANCED offensive zone play with defensive zone play. Since then it's been all offensive zone play focus and the defensive zone play has suffered TREMENDOUSLY for that.

 

I hate to disagree with you guys Disturbed and 717, but this is no carryover from game 2 I don't believe, this is what we do at home. Saying carryover from game 2 dismisses the fact that this is the identical game to the TB and Pens games.

When the game was still a game we had 14 or 15 shots. Now we get a few cheap shots and a goal late that distracts from the overall BS effort. We all saw how this game went for 56 minutes when it mattered.

The ONLY positive is maybe a good finish in garbage doesn't matter time will wake this team up for game 4.

And now they play with desperation.

 

Maybe they should try the white jerseys so they can fool themselves that they're on the road.

 

There is a game 4 to play. If the Rangers win it obviously the series is anyone's to win. Hard to believe the Rangers can win that game given the passionless shit we saw tonight, but a win in game 4 and it is a wide open series.

Only positive I can draw is maybe they get some life for game 4 from the meaningless little push that we had at the end.

0-6 outscored 21-4 last 6 home playoff games...awesome stuff.

 

I don't think this has anything to do with G2. Team plays with no urgency at home in the playoffs and its a joke. Same would be true if they were up 2-0 in the series.

Great hit by Klein, where was that in the 1st period to set the tone.

 

Who cares about the Pens. They have Crosby, Malkin and Kessel. We don't have players like that. But Sullivan deserves credit also. Team went a long time between cups until Sullivan came on board, so he deserves credit as well. Doesn't mean he would fit here...who knows.

 

You don't think the coach has something to do with personnel signed? Sullivan wanted certain guys and got them as did AV. Difference is Sullivan has made those guys work in his system and they've bought in (which is easier when you have star players like Crosby buying in too) whereas AV seems to have guys who are able to coast and not need worry about losing play time and don't all buy into the whole team first idea.

 

Love Roenick ripping this team. Absolutely right. Gutless effort

 

Montreal is playing a shell game now which the Rangers will have to navigate around.

 

I bring him up because so often people say "well who do you want to be the next coach" when it's not our job to figure that out. It's the lackluster front office's job to do so. AV balanced this team his first year here and that was why we were so successful and good. Since then we have been a single minded team and we have gotten worse playoff performances since. Sullivan has done a WONDERFUL job with a talented team that was floundering.

 

How's Torts doing this year in the playoffs?

 

Couldn't agree more Disturbed. You used the exact word...urgency. When you watch playoff games the home team comes out crazy, especially in their first home game, and we never do anymore...never. Even CBJ came out flying tonight. We were flat and lifeless from the drop of the puck. I knew it would be trouble when they had nothing early. It was an awful sign.

As for AV, I have been on his side, but truth be told if we don't show again in game 4 and get whipped in 5 for the 2nd straight season, hard not to think we need to make a change this summer...coach and some players.

Lose a hard fought game, okay. But to no show at home over and over again and have essentially 15 shots all game when it was still a game and 0 goals again cannot be tolerated anymore.

 

Tuesday night is going to tell us a lot about this team. Not just for this playoff season but for the team and coaching staff in general. This is three years in a row going back to the Tampa series in 15 where they are getting embarrassed at home. Where is the pride? The effort? If we see this same story again Tuesday, not only is the season over but Gorton is going to have some real work to do.

Win Tuesday, erase these MSG demons and we're still fine.

 

I don't know, I watch a lot of playoff hockey. Hard for me to point out more pathetic efforts than our last 6 home playoff games. At the very least those are 6 of the top 10 worst efforts over the past 3 playoff seasons I think.

 

They came out well but when you miss a few chances early and then nothing on the 1st few pp's let MTL get their feet. Not to mention the dumb penalties.