If Tampa doesn't come out and play their best period of the series in the first, I don't know what to think.
They came out hard last game. I think the Rangers match up very well against the Bolts as the record indicates. I agree home with your back against the wall should be a great motivator but I recall the old Neil Young album Rust Never Sleeps. Hopefully that remains true as poor TB and their 9 days off continue to haunt them.
The game that will define the series. TB win we got ourselves a series, but NY win and they’re not coming back from that.
Point in the playoffs. 2018, 16 points in 17 games. 2020, 14 goals, 33 points in 23 games. 2021, 14 goals, 23 points in 23 games. Eventually, you can't overcome losing a guy like that.
I think the Rangers come out and score first. However, if they do there has to be follow-up goals. This game is important to go up 3-0. They haven’t been sitting on leads but are due for a game like that. But, they have to keep pressing. TB won’t be discouraged 1-0 going into the t 3rd but they will be if it is 2-0 or 3-1… keep that offense going boys
In regard to Reaves and Maroon. The puck is on Reavo’s stick. He doesn’t need to do anything unless there’s a dirty hit. Let Maroon take the bad penalty this game
Weather the storm through the first commercial break. Keep it 0-0 or even better, go up 1-0. But cannot go down a goal early. I expect PPs to come often for Tampa as the NHL doesn’t want two sweeps in their conference finals. Oilers are a crap organization that still can’t figure out that they need defense and goaltending to be real competitors, so that series is over. I’d be shocked if Oilers won even one game. Have to play smart, disciplined hockey. No cheap penalties, nothing stupid post whistle. Just skate away and make Tampa take the penalty.
You have to look at it this way I think. If TB gets beat today it is series over quickly. I really think that is unlikely given all they have done and been through. I have to think TB finds a way to win this game. Then I'd say game 4 is the toss-up, and I think the winner of game 4 would be in a good spot to win the series. With that said, a win today would really make me say wow even more than I already am. To take a 3-0 lead on TB would be amazing.
The action will get frantic early as Tampa will come out hard, but the Rangers need to keep their structure and avoid taking penalties. There will likely be some odd man chances if they use the boards well.
Hank postgame 2 says series will be over in 4! We’ll soon see if Hank is messier or Ewing with the predictions. BAHAHAHAAHH
Disappointing no Hank today. This is such an interesting game to me. My head says TB has to play well and win otherwise this will be a quick series. We have played really well the past 4 games though, so I expect us to at least be good. Win and we win in 5 max. Lose and game 4 is really big. Excited to see how we handle today.
Both teams playing defense focused. I expected TB to come out with a little more aggressive play than what we've seen so far.
