Huge game tomorrow night in Raleigh. Will be interesting to see how they fare against the new look 'canes.
Agreed, and I would add high % chance that if a team wins in regulation, that team will win the division. We'll either be 6 up and in a great spot, or they'll only be 2 back with all the momentum. I think that game will go a very long way in deciding things (not that I think winning the division is a must anyway - most likely play TB if we win the division and the Isles if we finish 2nd - not a big difference and almost "rather" play the Isles).
With 18 or so games left in the regular season there is no point looking at 1st round matchups when the standings are this tight. There will be a lot of jockeying of positions in the standings over the next 5 weeks.
Great game aside from the braindead pass by CK with minutes left that cost Quick a shutout and the reckless play by Rempe who I don't think is going anywhere but will get a suspension. Finally the Rangers have a guy other teams have to account for allowing the top lines to play without looking over their shoulder, they responded positively on the PK There have been a lot of cheap shots far worse than Rempe's this year but guaranteed that chump Parros will give him 5 games. After reading dozens of Drury doesn't know what he's doing posts before the deadline seems like Chris made the right moves to improve the team significantly without losing much.
I think that is fair. Big picture, there are 3 teams the Rangers could face if they finish 2nd, Isles, Caps, Flyers. If they finish 1st, it will be one of those teams and add in TB and the Wings. Their 1st round opponent will come from that grouping (if you ask me, the team I'd like to face least of that group is TB). Overall, my point is I don't think there is a major difference if they finish first or second in the Met. And I do think the winner of the game tonight wins the division, especially if it ends in regulation.
Their competition is going to get tougher over the next two weeks or so starting tonight. It should tell us a lot about this team. 5 games would be pretty steep for Rempe considering he hasn't been suspended before but it wouldn't be unheard of. I'm guessing 2. Hope he learns something from it.
Rempe creates havoc in front of net , has some skills and can skate. he does get into the heads of the other teams too don't know if he’ll make PS , but I would not mind it.