In the past two series - 11 games - Panarin has TWO even strength points...TWO. That is ridiculous. His soft, East-West, pass first, second, third approach doesn't work in the playoffs. It will not happen, but we need to try and convince him to accept a trade this summer. The team needs to move past players that don't perform in big spots and are soft.
I don’t have a good feeling going forward. I think everyone picks the Rangers tmr because of the home record but I think that streak comes to an end soon.
The Rangers looked like they were resigned to going home with it 2-2 and a 3 game series. Tampa wanted yesterday's game alot more.
You play with fire eventually you get burnt. Will we get burnt in game 5 - not sure. If we get to a game 7 will it be then - not sure. But at some point blowing games, making everything as challenging as possible, coming from behind, etc. will catchup with you. It is sort of inevitable. And to me showing up for game 4 of the ECF flat as a pancake, listless, no passion, no sense of urgency is alarming. Give Tampa credit for playing well and coming back no doubt, but our listless effort is inexcusable.
Like I said earlier games 3 and 4 were important but not a must win. Game 5 tmo is a must win. Do t know if you guys saw this but it was reported that blais now practicing in regular contact jersey so I wouldn’t be stunned to see him pop back into the lineup and if strome and Chytil play in for reeves. Reeves is just too slow, no one on Tampa is gonna fight him, the refs have their eyes on him constantly for anything untoward and he is a negative at this point in the season
