If Wheeler or Chytil plays, I am not sure I see a spot for Rempe. Other than Brod, who do you take out of the lineup for Rempe? And if Wheeler or Chytil is in, that means you'd need to take Brod and another forward out of the lineup. I know they want to take it slow with Wheeler, but by game 1 he will have been practicing with full contact for a week, and to me that means he should be ready. I think we'll see him game 1, and worst-case game 2 if they lose game 1. Wheeler would be a good add to the bottom 6 against Florida as you mentioned. Chytil is a total who knows as he was sick (flu?), then back at full practice, then scratched for soreness, who the F knows what the deal is with him. But I think we'll at least see Wheeler, and that leaves me wondering where Rempe fits in. I do agree if Wheeler and Chytil are not ready, this is a series I would use Rempe over Brod. Considering the Panthers are a big team, that is nasty and had the most penalty minutes in the regular season and are second to the Bruins in the playoffs, you could make the case that getting Wheeler back for this series is a big thing, bigger than if Chytil could play. Then you could put Wheeler on the 4th line with Goodrow and Vesey, and keep Cuylle, Wennberg, Kakko together on the 3rd line (or flip Wheeler and Cuylle). Wheeler's health could be a big key against Florida. And I don't see why he won't be ready for game 1 having practiced in full for a week + at that point. To me I think the Canes man for man are a better team than the Panthers. The two big differences are: 1. Bob in goal is clearly better than Andersen. As I said though, while better than Andersen, Bob is inconsistent, let's hope we see that version of Bob. 2. The Panthers are bigger and play a more physical style. That is why the Rangers ability to give it back physically within their game will be key. Those two differences notwithstanding, the Canes are a better team than the Panthers IMO, and have their own advantages, deeper upfront, full press style with a great forecheck, better overall D.
And I know it doesn't really matter, and I am sure no one will be shocked, but the Panthers are the clear betting favorite in the series (-140) and favored to win game 1 (-125). Panthers 4-2 is clearly the biggest favorite with regards to exact games (+380), followed by Rangers 4-3 (+475), and Panthers 4-1 and 4-3 (both +500). Add it all up, and the Panthers are clear favorites, yet again the Rangers get zero respect as they were underdogs against the Canes in the series, and every single game. Once more the Rangers should use this for just a little extra motivation. Say whatever you want, but it is kind of crazy how little respect the Rangers get.
Rempe needs to play game one. Florida had 75 hits one game against Boston. They also have a lot of cheap shot players. Maroon eventually kept them in check and he’s a relic. Brodzinski adds nothing against the team like Florida who aren't as fast as the hurricanes were
If Wheeler, Chytil, Rempe, and Brod are all available who plays and who sits. Even if only Wheeler is available and not Chytil who play and who sits. I think most of us agree this is a Rempe series over Brod, but what if Wheeler and/or Chytil are in the mix as well.
You know why the rangers don’t get respect? Their play 5 v 5 sucks most of the time. The canes outplayed them and outchanced them 5 v 5 pretty much every single game. I know at the end of the day you look at the result and the rangers just know how to pull games out of their asses this year. Not saying it’s a terrible thing but sometimes that’s how hockey and professional sports is. Not the best team always wins.
I would play Rempe and Chytil in game one. Scratch Brodzinski and Roslovic. Move up Kakko and Put Chytil on third line.
I agree it has to do with 5 v 5 play, but I think it is more than that. I think there is a NY bias, especially against the big city NY Rangers, combined with their history, and you get what we have, an underrating of the Rangers IMO. I am also curious to see the "expert" picks in this series, something tells me we'll see a lot of Panthers. I will also add, last time I checked, special teams count, and not just the PP, but the PK. The Rangers are # 1 on the PK in the playoffs at 89.5%, they have allowed 4 PPG's and scored 4 SHG's. The Panthers are at 86.1%, they have allowed 5 PPG's and scored 2 SHG's. The Rangers are # 3 on the PP in the playoffs at 31.4%, they have scored 11 PPG's and allowed 0 SHG's. The Panthers are at 22%, they have scored 9 PPG's and allowed 1 SHG. At 5 v 5 in the playoffs the Rangers are a +2-goal differential, 20 goals for and 18 goals against. Florida is a +5 with 22 goals for and 17 goals against. Not some huge difference. If he is good, I would play Chytil for sure. I do like the idea of Rempe in game 1 at least to maybe help set a tone for the series. Maybe he is in game 1 over Brod, and if Chytil and Wheeler are both ready you play Chytil over Roslovic, and give Wheeler an extra game, then unless something crazy happens you sub-Wheeler in for Rempe in game 2. I'll tell you this, if all these guys are healthy, it is a good problem to have. Also, good point about Fox, hopefully with 5 days off between series he will be fully healthy and ready to go against the Panthers, as we could certainly use a close to 100% Fox.
Oilers with a good effort to stay alive and force a game 7 Monday night in Vancouver. Rooting for the Canucks, but also happy to see one game 7 in round 2. I think it is a toss-up game that either team can win. Maybe slight edge to Vancouver as the home team, but Edmonton can win it for sure, flip a coin. I don't want to scratch Roslovic, I am simply looking at the potential situation if all the guys are healthy and saying how do you handle it. I tend to agree it is highly unlikely Roslovic is scratched as that line played well in game 6, but if all these guys are healthy the Rangers have 15 forwards for 12 spots, so 3 players have to sit, and I am not sure how Lav handles it. Maybe he stays status quo and only flips Brod for Rempe and leaves Chytil and Wheeler out even if they are good to go, who knows. The Rangers are practicing Sunday, so we should get an idea then.
I guess Vesey can come out too. He has done nothing aside from game 1 but he kills penalties. Roslovic has done ok in the playoffs overall but he fucks up a lot. You don’t know what you’re going to get from the guy. He is pretty inconsistent.
Chytil stuff after practice today: "I don’t know about the percentage," the Rangers' forward said when asked how close he is to 100%. "There are too many people talking to me about those percentages. I’m not talking about it. I don’t know. I’m just going to work every day now, and let’s see what’s going to happen. But if I’m going to play, I will give my best." "I was feeling great in that game," he said Sunday in his first public comments since Game 3. "What happened after was just another experience for me and for the future. ... That was a tough moment." There was a sense of relief when the illness was determined to be unrelated to his previous injury or any new head injury, according to one person with knowledge of the situation who spoke to lohud.com, part of the USA TODAY Network. Another source indicated that multiple players got sick during the Carolina series, with a bug apparently going around the locker room. It's unclear if Chytil's absence for Games 5 and 6 was due to ongoing symptoms or a coach's decision, but the Rangers are rightfully proceeding with caution given everything he's been through. "I want to play," he said. "I didn’t join to just watch the guys from the stands and have a vacation in New York and Florida. I want to play. I’m going to do my best any time I get put in the lineup." The Rangers' options are increasing, with veteran Blake Wheeler also cleared for full contact last week after missing more than three months with a lower-body injury. Whether Laviolette decides to go down that route remains a mystery, but Chytil sounds ready and willing if called upon. "I feel great now," he said. "We have a couple more practices and I can work on my game. Let’s see what’s going to happen on Wednesday." Wheeler ready as well: On Sunday, after an optional skate for the Rangers at their practice facility, Wheeler said he was available to play in the Eastern Conference finals. "I think once you get rid of the red jersey, and the fact they take me off of the injured reserve, I think that's been my goal the whole time since I got hurt: to be an option and be available again. And that's where we're at," he said. "It's going to be in the coach's hands from there, but I'm ready in any capacity I can to help out."
To me you have to play Chytil in game 1. Simply put he adds something to the team, and gives the 3rd line more scoring. I'd go Chytil/Wennberg/Kakko and Cuylle/Goodrow/Vesey. That is a very deep bottom 6. Then you have Wheeler waiting for game 2 if you need to change it up. You go with your best, and I just don't see how Chytil isn't clearly one of the best 12 forwards, and he seems ready to go, and last week was maybe flu symptoms, not concussion related. I cannot wrap my head around sitting both a healthy Chytil and Wheeler to play one of Brod or Rempe as the 12th forward, I don't see how Lav can do it. At the very least one of Wheeler or Chytil needs to be in.
The Pacers scored 70 points and shot over 70% in the 1st half, that is ridiculous, do the Knicks play any D when I thought their coach was a D specialist...lol. If they no show the 2nd half as well, that will make 3 of the last 4 games in the series the Knicks no showed. I say again, they need a new coach to take the next step when ready hopefully next season after adding a little more this off-season. Tibs is not the guy to lead them to a title, he just isn't. He did a very good job taking them from the bottom to a very good 2nd round type team, now to complete the process and take them the next step to the ECF and a title team, they need a new coach. And let's remember Tibs drilling his guys into the ground playing a million minutes in the regular season, not just the playoffs, plays into them falling apart and running out of gas in the playoffs. And BTW, Burks is a great example of the faulty Tibs way, he has played well against Indy, but was glued to the bench in round 1 so Hart could play 48 mpg, for no reason. I am not crazy upset like I would be if the Rangers lost to the Canes, because the Rangers can win a Cup this season, the Knicks have zero chance to beat Boston, so they are almost at their peak for this season anyway, but it is still frustrating. Back-to-back seasons losing in round 2 as the higher seed with home court, this series blowing 2-0 and 3-2 leads, no showing 3 of the last 4 games, all equals the Knicks need a change at coach unless they make a huge comeback in the 2nd half, which seems unlikely since they play no D and allow the Pacers to shoot an amazing 70% +.
