Funny - I may not watch a minute of this game. I will be all over the two games that matter tonight though - Devs at Caps and Canes at Panthers. For us just stay healthy tonight.
Devs no show tonight - down 3-0 already. Guess they want to play us. I hope the Panthers win so the Isles have to play Boston, but the Canes lead 1-0 right now.
Bottom line is we have no excuse to lose to the Devs - none. We have a better goalie, we have a better coach, we have way more playoff experience, we have more talent overall. The concern is the Devs live to beat the Rangers, and if we play dumb, don't shoot, turn the puck over in our zone/neutral ice, the Devs have the scoring talent to make us pay. That is how we lose the series - we play fancy and turn the puck over in terrible spots. Outside of that we should beat the Devs, and it shouldn't be a crazy physical series either. Devs score to make it 3-1 Caps.
Looks just about set in the East: Panthers/Bruins TB/Leafs Isles/Canes NYR/NJ I'll say right now, the Isles have a very reasonable chance to beat the Canes. I say Canes in 7, but wouldn't shock me one bit if the Isles beat them. Panthers are going to regret the no show tonight, end up playing the Bruins instead of the Canes.
Good sign for us, I love how Laf/Chytil/Kakko have been playing recently. I continue to believe that line is our difference maker to separate us from other teams. Not many teams have that kind of talent on their 3rd line.
The downfall of this team this year will be the defense. It's just not good enough. Instead of Kane that should've been the focus.
It is funny that Joe and Sam are surprised the Rangers didn't get that call. 1. The Rangers never get those calls. 2. They are playing a Canadian team. 3. They are playing Toronto, the home of the war room where these decisions are made. I mean come on, you could have bet your house we wouldn't get that call.
I'll disagree with you on that. They allowed the 3rd fewest goals in the NHL. In addition to that, what move would you have made? Which of the 6 dmen would you ship out to improve? I guess maybe you say Mikkola, but truth is he's been solid. He is very good for a 3rd pair dman. I actually like the Rangers D 1-6, and think most teams don't have the depth we do. I think it's kind of simple for the Rangers, play North-South, shoot the puck, and minimize the d-zone and neutral zone TO's and we'll go a long way.
