Just enjoy it folks. Yes, they're a tough opponent who have won before. They can score and have been resilient as all hell winning three game 7s on the road and coming back from 3-0 down in round one. It is what it is. Get pumped and take it one game at a time. Different sport but think about it this way. 1996 World Series against a favored Braves team. Yankees get blown out at home in game one and then get shutout by Maddux in game two. Back to Atlanta for three where everyone thought the series was over. The Yankees win four straight. Anything can happen so for me I'm not going to get caught up in the over analysis and or having the Rangers defeated before a game has even been played.
So, everywhere ive looked and read, we arent getting any love. Most people say LA in 4-5 which I think is insulting LA is a good team no doubt but to look at the Rangers and say we are not even going to have a shot is absurd. Steve Levy is the only person ive seen say the Rangers in 6.
I would expect for LA to be the favorite and for most people to pick them to win. It doesn't upset me. The ones that annoy me are the Keith Jones of the world who have a clear problem with the Rangers. I'm waiting for Millbury to ask him which Ranger pissed in his Cheerios because the guy is absurd.
I agree. Cannot complain if the Kings are the pick the vast majority of the time. I don't see 4 at all. 5 maybe, but I think we can win 2 at least. I would say anyone who picks Kings in 6 or 7 is real legit. If someone says Kings in 6. I think the Rangers will play hard and make it tough on the Kings, but I have to go Kings in 6, I won't complain at all. That is very fair. I just thought it was comical when 9 or 10 of 12 ESPN pickers took the Habs. That was crazy.
Rangers in 6. Very underrated is the fact that AV is completely familiar with kings from his time in the west and has had success against them in the past.
I am sensing a bit of pessimism from the big boys of this board. I am picking the rangers in 6. I don't think I can ever bring myself to picking against them like some other fans do.
We'll see. I am not making a pick. All I will say is it will be a tough challenge for us. Certainly we can win, but we will need to play our A game. We'll see.
When the Rangers were down 3-1 to the Pens and posters were jumping off the bandwagon at alarming rates, i preached patience b/c i knew the Pens weren't that good. All those years when posters like Pasta and Caged spent all their efforts criticizing the team, players and management i tried to stay objective knowing the ECF was so weak that we always had a chance. Now that we've made it to the SCF's and previous full-time haters are suddenly back to being die-hard Ranger fans i try to remain objective b/c i realize the Western Conference is a lot better than the East, and that the Kings are a very good, complete team that has the skill, character and is battle tested. I don't think we'll be run out of the rink and do think we will put up a very tough battle and can conceivably win the series, but "gun to my head" i would have to pick the Kings to come out on top.
Chuck and 31 you guys are being depressing. Only positive thoughts please. The hell with any evidence to the contrary. LOL
I don't think we are being downers, I think we are just trying to be realistic. I don't know which team will win, but I do know we are playing a very good team, and will need to play really well to win the series. That's just reality IMO.
It's the finals so that's implied without repeating it continuously. You're getting the best the other conference has to offer.
I'd be thrilled if this went 7, from an excitement standpoint and it would mean they were very competitive, plus they could win it and wrap up the season where it started. Of course winning at MSG would be optimal but i don't see the Kings losing in less than a 7 gamer.
As I said, I dont like the match up and am picking the Rangers in 6 based on my heart more than my head. If the Rangers win this series and the Cup its because Henrik wins the Conn Smythe. I think the Rangers are going to win game 1. I think the Kings will be flat. They just played a very long emotional 7 game series vs the Cup champs and the Rangers can absolutely steal game 1 off 2 days rest for LA. But the games will get more difficult as the series goes along so I really think NY needs a win on Wed. Also, I think Henrik has to steal 2 games this series too and I think he can
Very true, but I also think it is deeper than that. With this matchup I think it makes it even more of a challenge. I think the Kings have like 200 + more hits than us in the playoffs thus far. That is their game, they pound you, and that doesn't mesh well with our team IMO. They out-hit the Hawks by 57 hits in the WCF, that's big. I am sure we are preparing for that type of physical play, so we'll see how we handle it. I still think Staal is going to be huge for us in this series. Our key IMO.
