Rangers vs. Canadiens…It’s Go Time! UPDATED

Game 3, Eastern Conference Quarter Finals

Series tied at 1-1.

Rangers vs. Canadiens -7:00 PM MSG, NBCSN, 98.7 FM. Online streaming is available on nbcsportss.com or the NBC Sports app.

After snatching defeat from the jaws of victory and settling for a 1-1 split in Montreal, the Rangers return home to MSG for game 3 of the first round. hopefully the team tries to play for a full sixty minutes instead of just the first fifty and then playing defense for the last ten. And also hopefully someone put some pine tar or super glue on Lundqvist’s stick.

I haven’t even been near the blog since yesterday morning, so I have no idea what the bonehead climate is, but I’ll assume the Chase ledge is full. Clearly, this is a HAV.

Tonight’s possible lineup for the Rangers (UPDATE: lines were shuffled, look in the comments or the Twitter widget):

Chris Kreider-Derek Stepan-Mats Zuccarello

Jimmy Vesey-Mika Zibanejad-Rick Nash

Michael Grabner-Kevin Hayes-JT Miller

Tanner Glass-Oscar Lindberg-Jesper Fast

DEFENSE

Ryan McDonagh-Dan Girardi

Marc Staal-Brendan Smith

Brady Skjei-Kevin Klein

The big news of course is that Kevin Klein might draw into the lineup for the dreadful Nick Holden. AV wouldn’t discuss any changes, but it would behoove the Rangers to get Holden off the ice.  UPDATED: Kevin Klein comes in for Holden, but plays on third pair with Skjei. Smith moved up to second pair.

No changes are expected among the forwards Also of note is that Magnus Hellberg was recalled from Hartford, a sign that Raanta’s lingering injury issues could be flaring up.

The Canadiens are also making some changes. Nikita Nesterov, who was the worst player for the Canadiens in the first two games, is scratched for Brandon Davidson. Also, some line shuffling for the Canadiens, who move Alex Galchenyuk to third line center. Galchenyuk was dangerous late in the third and in overtime.

Yesterday both Derrick Brassard and Brian Boyle played huge parts in wins for their respective teams. Sure would be nice for our forwards to do the same.

We smashed the record on Friday night, but the vote totals were pathetically low. So if and when we lose in pathetic fashion tonight, please still take the 10 seconds to click three names and vote.

Don’t forget to tell everyone you know and to follow me on Twitter @rangersreport2. And don’t forget to vote!

617 thoughts on “Rangers vs. Canadiens…It’s Go Time! UPDATED”

  8. All the talking heads on TV welcome Glasser’s, Skjei’s and Smith’s physicality, yet never mentioned our lack of it for month after month. Blowhards!

    Like

  39. Looking great guys….. asshats. Gee, wonder if Montreal can make it through the 1st 10 minutes of this onslaught….. I’m sorry, but these guys suck.

    Like

  50. I can easily understand deterioration due to age and/or injury, but when old pro’s like Klein, Staal, and Girardi lose their good, hard won hockey brains, I’m at a loss to explain it.

    Liked by 1 person

  60. Quiet bc like you said… real fans have been priced out… who the hell can afford to go to a game at those prices??? 200 bucks in the blueseats??! No thanks!

    Like

  75. Can’t be 3-0 rangers. Their two best scoring chances were a crossbar by Lindbergh and a missed open net by kreider. Neither are shots on goal.

    Lundqvist has been a savior and is the only reason there’s a game

    Like

  82. Ev, that’s kind of my point…lots of “fans” have been gifted tickets or bought them online or are celebs etc…..and that’s also why, yes, I’ll say it, I will always be grateful for the Potvin whistle…some traditions must live on!!!

    Liked by 1 person

  87. This is a matter of time of the game continues like this. All this crap about Carey Price….he has had very little to do because the Rangers don’t have the puck.

    Like

  88. I’m as diehard as their is. Season tix holder. I’m priced out tonight. Cheaper for me buy game 7 in Montreal which I did. Too bad we will be out in 5

    Like

  108. I have 2 theories…. Either they REALLY SUCK….. Or, the last game took a big bite out of them. At this point, I think I’m going with both.

    Like

  120. Too much fancy pants stuff by the rangers. They aren’t hitting like they were in the first two games (which gave them an advantage).
    –
    How does Nash only have one hit in two games so far?
    –
    I’m not sure I like the switching of skjeL away from smith. I’d rather have seen Klein straight in for Holden

    Like

  130. Tell you what…. Even if they made it past the Habs, they’d never get past the sens. All they’d have to do is 1-3-1 all game long… and our fancy boy mentality would do us in.

    Like

  131. Zika thinks they just need to be a little sharper.
    Why do they bother with the between period nonsense.

    Go interview a random fan in the crowd, that would be worth watching.

    Liked by 3 people

  141. Every time the fans behind Montreal’s net it the glass you an hear it. When game was in Montreal there where times I could’ nt hear anything Kenny Albert was saying because of the noise level; Welcome to the worlds quietest arena.

    Like

  142. Evening and happy Easter all.
    Just me being “mellow dramatic” or did they play that period like a generic Wednesday night game in November?

    Like

  152. The Rangers play well on the road as opposed to at him because they’re used to a loud crowd cheering against them. They’re getting mixed signals at home and don’t know what to make of it.

    Like

  162. They’re so easy to play against…… seriously…. When’s the last time we’ve pinned a team in their own zone and blasted away?

    Like

  164. I see the Rangers players all suck, do I read that correctly? How are the narratives? Are they too soft? Too much fancy-boy passing? Coach has no idea what he’s doing? Glass the only forward who gets it? What’s the current non-whipping-boy count, 4? St. Glass, St. Hank, St. McD? St. Oscar?

    Liked by 2 people

  185. Mama is starting to lose her usual equanimity….it’s the third hartnelling playoff game, tied 1-1, and all I hear including on TV is season over!! For Cripes sake!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Like

  195. You’re right Mama.

    The rangers are being outplayed, but there’s still no score. The King is doing his job. It’s only a matter of time before his team wakes up.

    Liked by 1 person

  237. I figured it out…. when they “forecheck”… they go one man in… and there is NOBODY THERE for puck support… Whats the damn point! That’s why I think it’s a system issue…..

    Like

  251. Why does it always take the ref an eternity to blow the whistle when there’s a scrum in front of Lundqvist?

    This phenomenon goes back to 2012 when Henrique scored for the Derbils

    Like

  271. Those speedy Rangers…… their speed is on display. You know…. just how fast they can suck from head to toe (thanks torts for that line)

    Like

  279. I’m not hep enough to know what “trolling” is, but I am being an obnoxious prick, Wicky, if that’s what you’re wondering. LGFR!!

    Like

  288. Garbage !!! This game is awful , complete utter garbage. Now I know the Rangers don’t SUCK this much …CLEAN THE FIRETRUCKING ICE !! That ice is so crappy ..the players are skating in mud. Chippy bounces no passes , no control ..its a mess!! You wonder why we can’t win at MSG , because the ice sucks so bad it sucks the life out of us. The other team just loves the 50/50 pucks . Whistles after freaking whistles . Are you kidding me!!??? LETS DO THIS , COME ON!!!

    Like

  291. Just jump off the Ledge now. Why wait? You all know how it will end. Go ahead. Just all hold hands, 1 – 2 -3 JUMP! Why put up with this? It would all be over quick. Staying on the ledge is sheer torture. Jump. Jump! JUMP!

    Liked by 1 person

  292. No longer giving AV the benefit of the doubt. This is NOT a well coached team. Period. Lines aren’t well constructed, and players aren’t well instructed. Random games of hopeful winning is called luck, not a sign of a well oiled team. Slackin here big time and the entire team doesn’t even seem to notice or even care. (End rant- thx for listening)

    Liked by 2 people

  293. ZzZz… yoooo. You should change your name to DiZzZy. How you know what the ice is like? You playing in the game? Wouldn’t shootist me if you said you the goalie. Probably texting his boys instead of blocking the net. Put down your phone and play the game!

    Like

  294. Step: “I think we learned something there in that period. We have to learn to (fill in the blanks) better. Maybe next year we’ll learn that. Maybe by the ’18-19 season, hard to say. We had some good looks there with Hayzie, Millsie, Staalsie, Quickie, Kleinsie, Zibbie, Kreids, and Shayzie. Hank kept us in it and Glasser beat that guy up, so…”

    Like

  295. In honor of Mama I propose a toast to the nyr

    Here’s to it and to it again and if you don’t do it when you get to it may you never get to it to do it again! Salut

    Liked by 1 person

  298. Only the players ought to be embarrassed by their performance. But then again, it’s not their fault that they’re not as good as management would like us to believe.

    Liked by 1 person

  301. Yo First time …I was an iceman …you wouldn’t know ice if it was in your drink moron haha ..Its the ice you tool …no need to explain , you think its floor hockey?

    Like

  303. Very disappointing effort. You are in trouble when glass is your best forward. Dumb play by Miller, but, it was just a matter of time until they got one. Not sure they are capable of scoring tonight. May not be a must win but it is a critical game since they let game 2 slip away. This series could slip away in a hurry.

    Like

  306. I heard that. They “get good looks”. Well maybe they can all do another Sassoon video. But for now, we don’t care about your looks and how good they are. Bunch of clowns!

    Like

  308. LETS GO LETS GO LETS GO , ahhhh new period , FRESH ICE for 3 minutes!!! yaaa hurry up and score then lay back and wait for bounces!!! LETS gog og gog goggooo!!

    Like

  314. Yo ZzZz GL. You an ice man? Great. I’m a mechanic. But as good as I am I can’t tell you what’s wrong with your car if it’s 10 miles away. Don’t gimme no “ice man” malarkey.

    Like

  316. I love the way people would be all over drugs for his comments but stepan gets the pass? Makes no sense to me, maybe it’s because Stepan is a vaunted ranger draft pick 😉

    Like

  318. Yo First time ..you must be one AWFUL Mechanic haha If I was , I could tell you what wrong just on the phone . I’m not saying I rule at making ice but up here in cold azz Canada Ive made ice million times PLUS was an iceman plus used an ice cube tray many times. The ice is good now ,,3 min go gogog og gog gogo

    Like

  322. I’m all for fine defensive play, but where the hell is the offense? When MTL dumps the puck in, they are sending multiple guys and their D is pinching along the wall. When we dump it in, there is no forecheck and our D is nowhere to be seen. Easy game for MTL thus far. Come on boys!

    Like

  328. Mattlear92 you’re 100 percent right…… thats all i’ve seen the entire night. One person “forechecks”… no pinch…. no support. It’s garbage. It’s AV.

    Liked by 1 person

  340. They dig this grave themselves. Game over, so is season. The rest will be just agony. It’s not a busy ledge – more like a graveyard of hopes.

    Like

  360. Sigh. Doesn’t matter if MTL takes a penalty or not because our PP is anemic. If I was them I would clutch grab do whatever to prevent good scoring chances. If they take a penalty it’s almost like a 2 minute break to watch the rangers pass the puck around (horribly I might add) and not shoot.

    Like

  362. Olga…. are we watching the same “team”? “Teams” actually have chemistry…. a certain level or organization/cohesiveness….. This is a collection of players who look like they’ve never played together and it’s disgusting to witness.

    Like

  371. It was so obvious combination of hook, high stick (you choose) call on Nash. And why AV never unleash on zebras some emotional wrath, curse, etc. like some other does to at least make ’em uncomfortable?

    Liked by 1 person

  384. ..and the Pens win in OT. Can tonight get any worse? Mike Sullivan’s powerplay sucked when he was here… guess it wasn’t Sullivan (or maybe he has 2 all-world players on his roster now)

    Liked by 1 person

  393. Stepan – “we weren’t as sharp as we could’ve been. We need to get back to our speed game. Speed game. Speed game. Speed game.” (Batteries die)

    Like

  396. Does it seem like our guys are doing an inordinate amount of stick swinging and reaching instead of moving their legs? They seem to be always reaching to get to a puck versus skating to it.

    Like

  401. This doesn’t bother me at all, my expectation of this team heading into playoffs was winning two extra games. I don’t know why anybody is upset, rangers aren’t that good. I’m starting to think also that AV is a good regular season coach but not a very good playoff coach. AV did great in the regular season with the cannucks but never won anything in the playoffs there either. I think Gorton needs to get creative in the off season and make a few trades to change this teams makeup.

    Like

  408. Woof- game over. So much for flushing the last game… they flushed this one from the start. Give MTL credit. Since the 3rd period in Game 2 they have been the more aggressive team.

    Like

  413. Wow you know shame on these guys for laying this kind of egg in response to Montreal’s come back on Friday. It’s really inexcusable from the coach on down when no one other than your goalie is ready to play.

    Liked by 1 person

  415. Olga… you’ve never seen a team come back from 3-0 with less than 4 min left? (well… actually you have if you’ve watched the Rangers blow a lead…..)

    Like

  418. This one is pretty much like the regular season games they lost to the Habs. They play with them for a while, the Habs finally get one and they fold. They can hit the links next weekend. Maybe they will get some good looks there.

    Like

  425. I wasted a whole year rooting for this garbage?? I’ll see ya! This is why nobody watches hockey in NY. Half the people don’t know what the game is. The other half is disgusted with one championship in 78 years! The Knicks will win before these clowns.

    Liked by 1 person

  432. Klein didn’t help either having plenty of real estate and making simplest pass without any pressure on Radulov tape. NOT READY FOR PO.

    Like

  448. Hey… look on the possive side…At least all those people who paid $200+ per ticket got to sing the “hey hey hey” song once… (rolls eyes)

    Like

  457. No you’re wrong Eric. I said it Friday and got told I’m mellow dramatic. That loss meant nothing. I was also wrong when I said after game one that the offense needed to make adjustments and quick because they weren’t going to generate much trying to beat guys 1 on 1 and making the extra pass. I’m sure I’m wrong now as well for saying I’m embarrassed to be a fan of this team right now for the first time in about 12 years

    Liked by 2 people

  459. It may seem odd for opponents in big games to pick on little Zucc, but it’s kind of smart in that he is the most likely of everyone on the roster to take a retaliation penalty.

    Like

  465. It’s a shame this team has no fight, no fire, no desire. Truly one of the most inept, incompetent efforts I have every seen as a Ranger fan. Pitiful, embarrassing!

    Like

  466. Well I predicted Montreal in 5, this is what I expected. A more cohesive, hungrier, better coached team that supports each other all over the ice. No such thing from the Rangers and the unkindest cut is being outdone by a lowlife like Alex Radulov. Zibanejad could not handle him last game, and Hayes this game. There is zero guts or onions. Positives? Henrik, Skjei, Girardi, Vesey and the 4th line. The rest of them were useless.

    Like

  473. Time to rally the blog. Easy to root for your team when you’re up, tougher when you’re down. Let’s differentiate ourselves from the MSG moneybags and get tough, and LOUD. USE YOUR LOUDEST BLOG VOICES! LET’S GO, RANGE-E-E-RS!!

    Liked by 3 people

  476. Game 4 vs pens, booed off the ice, go down 3-1, way worse.

    Then what happened?

    Buck up pilgrims, been down 2-1 before, looked like azz before, no?

    Who tf am I kidding, they stink.

    Liked by 1 person

  480. Does anyone get the feeling lately that the Captain said to his old buddy Step: “Pick up an oar for me, buds. I’m tired of this media with the same questions.”

    Like

  482. The only surprise in this game is that they didn’t get shut out. It’s hard to be positive with one cup in 77 years, of which I have been watching and rooting for 50 years.

    IMO, by Thursday night we will be discussing the off season plans. The fact of the matter is you need at least 1-2 elite players(non goalies) to win a cup. Rangers have zero elite players. They have three lines of third line talent and a fourth line. McD is good but not elite. MANY OF THE CURRENT PLAYERS HAVE VERY LITTLE COMPETE LEVEL.

    Liked by 1 person

  483. Evrock

    re look at last 6 home playoff games and game 5 at pitt last yr. all just as bad as this one.

    men against boys

    i was optimistic with series prediction of montreal in 6.

    Like

  489. I don’t think any of last year’s games had a compete level by the Rangers this low. Their ineptness was just magnified by Lundqvist’s play and Pittsburgh’s dominance of everyone. That’s how I feel.
    There was practically zero hope in this one. There was barely any times in this game that I actually thought the puck might go in Montreal’s net. They got lucky

    Liked by 1 person

  490. I don’t think any of last year’s games had a compete level by the Rangers this low. Their ineptness was just magnified by Lundqvist’s play and Pittsburgh’s dominance of everyone. That’s how I feel.
    There was practically zero hope in this one. There was barely any times in this game that I actually thought the puck might go in Montreal’s net. They got extremely lucky that they weren’t shut out, because they should’ve been.

    Like

  502. I know we make fun of JR but I just saw a clip on NBCSN where JR said something I really liked… he said that whatever the Rangers do for a pre-game at home, they have to completely change it… go with something fresh… and I agree…they have been TERRIBLE hockey team at home. Something needs to be changed…

    Liked by 1 person

  506. Love that tweet, carp… but what happened? My boy Avery is broke? can’t afford a ticket to see his former team at the World’s Most Corporate Arena?

    Like

  507. There has been no accountability on this team under AV. AV needs to send message to team by putting in Buchnevich and sitting (pick one) Kreider, Stephan, Hayes, Zbad. Any or all of the above should be playing elsewhere next season. Trade them before the expansion draft. None are worth protecting but you need to get what you can for them before draft.

    Liked by 1 person

  511. It looks like bob and hank switched sweaters after the regular season, bob was stellar and hank was average, now it’s the bizzaro world opposite

    Like

  514. nhl network had this one

    rangers tied with detroit from the 40’s with 9 straight playoff home games 2 goals or less

    only 1 team more – montreal (not the canadiens the maroons)

    Like

  518. Not simple to me, Wick, and you don’t have to answer, but I literally don’t know what “trolling” means. I sense it’s an ad hom blog term, given the three of you that use it, but really I know nothing else about it.

    Like

  521. T.D. Pincus‏ @tdpincus
    @stevezipay @RickCarpiniello @NYP_Brooksie

    Last 5×5 goal scored by NYR at MSG in playoffs. Dominic Moore 2015 ECF Game 1

    Like

  523. WAY too much spectating. Rangers almost never had the puck because when they did, forwards especially didn’t support the puck. Stretch passes which turned into give-aways.

    They know MTL is going to stand em up on the blue line. Dump and go get it!

    Could have been 5-1 if not for Hank. Late 1st period the score was 0-0. Team looked listless. Gotta snap-out of that NOW. Not sure what lineup changes AV makes. Buch?

    Like

  524. This team, in the first 2 games (well, 1.5 games) of the series, decided to play in your face hockey and was a bad coaching decision and poor effort by a player away from being up 2-0. They play game 3 like a one trick pony…all star fancy boy…get schooled a bit. Go back to in. Your face hockey boys, I know you can do it.

    Like

  530. It’s reality check time. They are not coming back in this series. The time has come to dismantle this team, reduce the cap and suffer through 5-6 years of bottom feeding and getting top 5 picks(provided Sather isn’t doing the picking.) Only players worth keeping are McD, and Vesey, Skeji, Miller(?), Buchnevich(?) due to their potential. Might be able to get good prospects or top draft picks for Steph, Kreider & Miller. Would be lucky to get mid – late 2nd rounder for Hayes, Zbad, Buchnevich but likely only get 3rd rounder. McD is biggest trade chip as he is the only player that has top talent and competes every game but he is young enough that you keep him for rebuild, unless offer is too good to refuse. Unfortunately, the rest of the D has little value and we are stuck with them until we can buy them out or contract expires. Down the road you can use the extra cap space to maybe get an elite player in the prime of his career, rather than waiting until the elite player is 35 or older like they usually do.

    Last but not least, we see the same stupid mistakes and poor play game after game. We see the never ending “fancy passing”, especially at home. Nobody is willing to shoot and when they do, they miss the net. They can’t win a faceoff to save their lives. These are all a reflection of poor coaching. Either the players are extremely dumb(Kreider) or they tune the coaches out. Time to bring a coach in that they will listen to.

    Liked by 1 person

  533. Norm
    Troll definition
    a person who sows discord on the Internet by starting arguments or upsetting people, by posting inflammatory,[1] extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community (such as a newsgroup, forum, chat room, or blog) with the intent of provoking readers into an emotional response[2] or of otherwise disrupting normal, on-topic discussion,[3] often for the troll’s amusement.

    From Wikipedia (not wickypedia;))

    Like

  537. First Time – other than 94, 50 years of frustration. They don’t make dubs that big.

    The bottom line is, I don’t think anyone who really watches this team believes that they are close to winning a cup this year or the near future, but that is the ultimate goal. There comes a point in time that you have to start over. The Rangers never do that. We trade the picks or pick in bottom of each round, so we don’t win the cup. Look at Pitt, Chicago and L.A, they all built mostly through high draft picks with elite talent. Edmonton and Leafs are on their way but still 3-4 years away. Islanders are exception so far, but I fear they will win before Rangers do.

    Like

  538. Thanks, Wick, but since I’m not off-topic when I’m accused, I’ll assume trolling means disagreeing, which I certainly do a lot of the time. Thought it was mere name-calling, so I’m a happy troller from here on. 🙂

    Like

  539. Rangers look frustrated. Need to dig deep. Need to be resilient!
    Win or lose Tuesday, do NOT get out-worked.

    Win some face-offs.

    MTL is a good, gritty hockey team, but they CAN be beaten!

    Liked by 1 person

  540. Tell me I’m hearing things – TroutWig just said stay tuned to MSG for ‘The Best of MSG Hockey Show.” A ha ha ha ha ha ha! The very best of almost Hall of Famer Anson Carter. Must be about twelve shows and now they have “The Best of…” Hilarious.

    Liked by 1 person

  541. Coos
    100% agree re coaching. That’s why the one trick pony style was a bad way to go from the start. Need to have a mixture of style to be successful (minny speed game getting trounced by stl). I just think the softness (yes I said it) in the top 6 forwards is a big problem on the team. I also think the players that wear the “A” are a serious problem, more than is being discussed.
    –
    All that being said, we can discuss this all we want after we beat Edmonton for the cup in June 👍LGR!!!!

    Liked by 5 people

  542. Montreal is an okay team with good goaltending and an innovative coach. Not much more than that, and yes, they can be beaten and will. Question is, will it be the NYR who knock them out or will it be their next opponent.

    Like

  548. Norm
    I quite honestly don’t want to get into a debate with you about this. I just simply (and it’s nothing more or less than my opinion here) think it’s pretty crappy and “trolling” of you to post something like your 8:08 to belittle (my opinion) posters who have been posting about in game action since the drop of the puck. They post their opinions about the events as they happen, good or bad. Sometimes they may be wrong or sound foolish, but they are here for the duration and are giving their honest feelings.
    –
    If you don’t see any problems (again I said IF) with the rangers in any game they play, then I’m a little concerned about what you see when you watch. If you do see issue and don’t want to post negative things about the rangers, fine but don’t belittle others because they do (which to me seems like what you do). If you are afraid to comment in game because you might look silly or be wrong, don’t be…it happens to all of us.
    –
    In the end I just think it’s a bit dishonest (trollish or cowardly…not sure of the right word here) to be snarky or crappy towards posters who are willing to “put themselves out there” with in game “evaluations” posts while you don’t do the same yet freely criticize them.

    Liked by 3 people

  549. That was the MOST boring hockey game, let alone playoff game, I have ever witnessed. Those who were commented on the crowd being quiet in one post and then killing the team’s performance in the next post need to consider the obvious.
    .
    This team is soft down the middle save for Oscar who is playing like an absolute stud.
    Mr Smith has been a revelation but forced to play with Staalled tonite, he was fishing soft passes out of of his skates with a forward bearing down on him. Kleiner started out slow but seemed to get going in 2nd and 3rd.
    .
    The refs really sucked. Like really really sucked. Poor Nash can’t get arrested out there and the Zucc getting a double minor for the high stick.
    .
    Kreider was doing loops and running from WWWeber, unwilling to engage.
    Haze is so soft, he is a regular season middling point compiler. Wussy college boy. #sad.
    .
    2-2 after 4…
    LGR!

    Liked by 5 people

  550. Not trying to insult you norm, I swear I’m not. I was just trying (probably not well) to explain the troll comment from my perspective. 😉

    Like

  552. Carp, yes 77 but i wasn’t watching for first 27, I started following in 1967 and have been bleeding blue since. Needless to say, extremely frustrated by this team.

    Like

  553. When the crowd was booing, I did not partake, but understood completely. That was hot garbage out there tonite. Sad what this team has become from Torts to Elaine.

    Like

  554. Finally, prior to the first PP goal when Girardi was spinning like a top trying to follow the puck being passed around him, AV put Step out there to take the draw which ended up being an absolute horrible decision. Just horrible. just like Step on the dot…horrible. 23% tonite. #badcoaching

    Liked by 2 people

  555. Wicky i don’t find Norm annoying at all. What i do find annoying is some over the top and repeating ad nauseum stuff. i won’t be naming names but there’s a few who do that a lot. an example – such and such event number 1,2,3,4,5,6.

    and with the playoff games volumes here i can’t follow in game or i’d be listening to game not watching.

    Like

  558. Former NHL Star Anson Carter is busy dragging down Kathryn Tappen, so they have to run a “Best Of” The Hockey Show on MSG. Think about that for a moment…….The Best of The Hockey Show.

    Like

  560. Alex
    I don’t find norm annoying either. I also don’t find 5th in the metro, season over, or anything like that annoying. There is not a single poster here I dislike.
    –
    As I tried to state earlier, I just find it a bit disingenuous to post a post like he did at 8:08 when others are here being honest fans about how they feel while the action is taking place and he offers no posts about the action while it is going on.

    Like

  561. Wicky – be happy you did not watch that game live. It was in a word..embarrassing.
    They have lost 6 PO games in a row at home being outscored 24-4.
    And I return on Tuesday to see them again.
    2-2 after 4…

    Liked by 1 person

  564. This team is hard to root for..went to my first game in 1961 and I feel over my 57 years of watching that there are a lot more lows than highs…just my opinion…I LOVE the sweater I just don’t care for some of the soft listless players that are currently wearing it (Hayes, Steph, Zbad..) I hope someone gives this team he11 for this putrid excuse of an effort tonight …they need to be reminded of how precious these invites are to play for the Cup..and hopefully they come out Tues night and wake the pHoc K up…Where is the Passion? Where is the Preparation ? Where is the Atmosphere at our home rink?

    Liked by 2 people

  565. Wicky, I was unable to watch the game, so I looked here and elsewhere to get a sense of the thing. When I am able to watch, I throw it out there during the game just like anyone else. I honestly think we go a bit nuts here when we (honestly) overreact to a bad performance by a player, players, and the gym-chewing coach. And I honestly oppose the (honest) broad-brush narratives put forward here about softness and the like. I don’t see where honesty or dishonesty enter into it. Just disagreement. But if I’m going dish out my side of things, I can certainly take it from the other. But nothing disingenuous about how I see the negativity I encounter here–I hate it, even and especially when I’m guilty of it.

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  567. the fans are priced out and or beaten up over all the home losses. reg season and playoffs.

    i also think the salary cap makes us all play the blame game essentially making guys on entry level deals fan favorites and as they move up to longer and more expensive deals more and more of the blame gets shifted to them.

    the guys from the 90’s and earlier never had to deal with that – yes there were whipping boys but far less than currently.

    saw the winning goal by pitt tonight. crosby made a heck of a play behind the net. not one ranger can do it the way he does.

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  569. Norm and Wicky, I think the only “trolling” was done by Hank during the regular season. Made everyone (except me of course…) think he was old and washed up and then come playoff time he’s like “just kidding!” But honestly other than Hank and the 4th line that was an unbelievably lethargic game. I kept thinking they would get geared up but they just didn’t. Price coulda gone out for a smoke in between shots…

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  572. This is a great post by a friend of mine about the noise at the MSG. Thanks Marcie!

    “Have you been in the new Garden? There are a few factors going on here. Even if fans wanted to cheer, they can’t bc literally ANY TIME, even for a split second that there is a lull, loud horrible music is bombarding us from the scoreboard. Also, the acoustics of the building has changed and voices don’t travel from one section to another.

    Dolan has literally taken our house from us. He has taken away our voice in this renovation. Even if the most rabid Rangers wanted to cheer, the building prevents them doing so. And that is the truth.”

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  578. Norm
    Nice post. You still didn’t really address any ownership to the flaws you see in the team (unless you don’t think they have any) vs the criticism you give others for pointing out the flaws they see. But it’s all good my friend, nothing to see here, please move along.

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  580. wicky since i am not bothered by norms posts and some others bother me then to be compared to norm is a better option than to be thought of as some others that post here.

    so yes it’s a compliment.

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  588. Seems to be more fight on this blog than in the Rangers locker room which translates to zero accountability on the ice. But hey I live in St Pete so who am I to say?

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  589. Good morning, boneheads!
    I feel bad for SN, and anyone else, who had to sit through and watch this “performance ” live.
    Opening draw-Stepan loses it, Montreal get puck possession, and the tone is set. By 10 min mark you could see that it would take a miracle for them not to lose this game.
    I remember during Torts’ time after period like that they would come out with a different attitude. Not anymore.
    Hard to be optimistic after that performance. But we’ve seen playoffs hockey before. A new game on Tuesday. LGR!

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  590. That was one pitiful performance last night. I could have played defense for Montreal with no problem because there was no threat of a forecheck. But, they had more hits than Montreal so I guess they feel good about themselves.

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  591. I’ve watched quite a bit of playoff hockey and I wonder why the rules are changed. The clutching, grabbing, interfering bogs the game down. Didn’t they institute rules to “open the game up to make it more exciting” because the clutching and grabbing was getting to be a bore? There are cross checks and boarding that would have players heading to the penalty box in the regular season that are allowed in the playoffs. I don’t understand why they have two sets of rules – one for the regular season and one for the playoffs. And they wonder why television viewership is down.

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  592. I find last night’s performance far more disturbing than the game 2 loss. Not to take anything away from the 4th line, no team is going to win a series with only their 4th line. There just seems to be (from where I sit) little or no accountability for a) failure to make plays and b) unforced errors. None of us really know what goes on in the room between and after games; perhaps they just put on that ‘its all going to be ok’ thing for the cameras and they are really screaming at each other. They don’t need to name names publicly but for once I’d like to see them really be pissed off at each other and say its so during the post game.

    As to the blog – compared to others, this is a warm and fuzzy place. Perhaps its turned a bit more negative of late but at least most of those comments are directed at specific things and not just personal or disparaging attacks on the players. Rarely do you see here the really juvenille (and offensive) comments about players. And I agree with whom ever up thread said that the current cap/contract structures make it a lot easier to make whipping boys out of anybody off their entry level contract, unfortunate but it is what it is and to some extent it is valid, though always remember, its not the player who offered all that money or years on the contract.

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  593. If anyone watched the Caps-Loafs game on Saturday night, both teams were flying up and down the ice with exciting plays being made by both teams and quick decisions with puck.
    .
    The Habs have neutralized our centers and to the naked eye, outside of the 4th line; Nash and sometimes Zucc are the only ones making plays in the Ozone..
    .
    The BC Boys + JT are just non-factors. It is not their ‘fault’ per se, the challenge is roster construction and coaching strategy which has a top 9 offense that can score in the regular season and one checking line (which generates all the offense). Haven’t seen the stats, but did AV even match lines last night?
    .
    And yes, Talbot had another shut out last night. The 3rd goal was embarrassing for Henk, Haze and Klein in that order.
    .
    If Kreider converts the open net in the first 10 minutes, a different game. Habs are not that good.

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  596. After that third period powerless play when they couldn’t even gain the zone, I mentally checked out. I was in front of my television and some guys were skating around, but the outcome of the game was not in doubt.

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  597. The “should have kept Talbot” narrative rearing its ugly head at this point is mind-blowing given the way Henrik has been playing. Without him standing on his perfectly coiffed head, Games 2 and 3 would have been blowouts. To be disappointed with the way the team played yesterday is normal. To lay any part of the blame on Hank is just silly.

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  598. Henk had a .897 save percentage last night along with a couple of cross bars hit. .
    .
    Last night was all about the PP. Habs 2 of 3; NYR 0 for 3

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  599. Hank has been more than fine. That “if” has been answered.
    AV has to readjust ( and that doesn’t mean mixing the lines) their puck carrying strategy, and their ability to enter the zone. On PP, and in general. Short passes, more support perhaps? Dumping and chasing hasn’t worked. Price either clears it out, or their forwards get to the battles too late.

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  600. The 3rd period line shuffle was very curious as well.
    Haze to center Nash and Zucc is taking an ineffective center and putting him between two productive forwards.

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  601. Montreal is targeting MZA physically because he is the only one capable of creating anything. They’ve neutralized him pretty well. Nash is the other one. Anyone else ( Hayes, Stepan, Zibanejad) are MIA

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  602. The Rangers were a HAV last night like the last 20 games of the regular season. No effort and lousy special teams. This was to be a step back year and I had set the bar low. A competitive first round loss would have been acceptable. They were exceeding that for a game and a half and then they regressed to inconsistent regular season play. They need to figure out why this team has become a first half of the regular season team the last two years and address it over the summer. It may be time to change the personality of the team since this group seems to mail it in way too often.

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  603. Yup an .897 save percentage driven by 2 unstoppable power play goals. I guess the multitude of highlight reel saves are irrelevant as is the fact that he played with passion and heart unlike most of his teammates. Give me a break…

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  605. not throwing in towel yet since but disappointed in battle level last night. Thought this would be a close, long series but that was due to Price who we have not tested or made uncomfortable nearly enough. Paging Mr. Kreider …get to the net please

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  607. Hockey Sittoo – highlight reel saves last night? Really?? Which were they???
    .
    Neither goalie was tested much at even strength. The game had a preseason feel to it with not many plays being made on either side.
    .
    tough to play a ‘speed’ game when you centers are slow

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  608. Eric I would say a few more guys then Stepan. Listened to AV’s presser the man has no clue what to do with this bunch. We all want to see the Rangers win a cup, but with teams like Edmonton, Toronto, Pitt, just to name 3 and their elite talent & Hank at 35 this group doesn’t have a chance. Jeff Gorton has some serious decisions to make this summer that will dictate the future of this organization for years to come. Just can’t build a Champion with late 1st rounders and late round picks. You all know I’m right!

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  609. SN there were 3 of them in the first 10 minutes of the game and a series of 4 saves in 4 seconds in the 2nd. And every commentator on the game said in no uncertain terms that it would have been a blowout without Lundqvist’s play. I really don’t understand your inability to credit Hank for the way he has played in these first 3 games. But it’s not worth arguing over so I will stop.

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  611. Stepan, Hayes, and Zbad cannot be any worse. If they pick up they’re game 10% (which is orders of magnitude better that what they’ve done so far) there’s hope. Kreider should see a shrink. All those physical tools and rocks for brains.

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  615. Sorry E3 the Rangers are not winning this series. If Glass, The Machine, and Fast are their best line through 3 games they’ll be cleaning out their lockers shortly!

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