And yet the Rangers finished ahead of all of these teams.
I don't think you'll find too many objective hockey fans who'd call our defense "Mediocre"
Rangers were, defensively
3rd in the league in goals against
6th in the league in shots against per game (Hardly lundqvist carrying, no?)
5th in the league in PK
Our backup goalie rang up only a 2.46 GAA despite a pitiful .904 sv%
The Rangers were
3rd in the league when scoring first
1st in the league when outshooting the opponent
It just doesn't say "Mediocre defense" to me, especially considering our division scored more goals than any other in the NHL (Over 1200 total)
Stats don't mean nothing in the playoffs..I look at styles, this is what makes matchups...don't be surprised if this series goes 6 or 7 games...the Rangers will need Lundqvist to stand on his head as much as Ottawa will need Anderson...if its goes 7 its a toss up...
Stats don't mean nothing in the playoffs..I look at styles, this is what makes matchups...don't be surprised if this series goes 6 or 7 games...the Rangers will need Lundqvist to stand on his head as much as Ottawa will need Anderson...if its goes 7 its a toss up...
Its easy to discard all the evidence and make assertions.
I could say Pitt has a terrible offense regardless because numbers mean nothing in the playoffs.
Fact is that because NYR have played some of their poorer games against Ottawa, Sens fans are naturally not going to have as much respect for our accomplishments this year. That is about the long and short of it.
They have a mediocre defence that is made to look better than they are by Lundqvist...
Let me know if you still feel this way in 2 weeks.
__________________
"Here we can see the agression of american people. They love fighting and guns. when they wont win they try to kill us all." -HalfOfFame
Fact is that because NYR have played some of their poorer games against Ottawa, Sens fans are naturally not going to have as much respect for our accomplishments this year. That is about the long and short of it.
where are they stacked?? I dont get it? where? They have 2 top scorers and then a medium level balanced attack upfront. They have a mediocre defence that is made to look better than they are by Lundqvist...I'm not tooting the Sens horn here, we know we are in a rebuild season and surpassed expectations but being honest here...Pittsburgh/Boston/Philly are more intimidating that the Rangers...
- Pittsburgh has elite superstars
- Boston has a 7 foot monster and a goaltender that last year single handedly stole games to win them the cup
- Philly has the most balanced attack in the East (Giroux, Read, Jagr, Hartnell, Simmonds, Briere, Vorechek)....
Mediocre defense? The Rangers allowed a big 54 less goals than Ottawa. It's not all goaltending. Staal was missing for the first half of the season of that was well. Sauer has been out for the longest time. Eminger missed a lot of time when his game was coming into form before dislocating his shoulder and Del Zotto missed some time with a hip issue. They've gone through their injuries as well. Sure there are games where Hank bails the defense out, but that same defense had made other games easier on him.
Also for the Rangers not having this amazing offense, they scored 22 goals less than Ottawa, which has the top scoring defenseman in the league. Their forwards are similar, but Karlsson puts that offense over the top. A couple Rangers had down seasons as well, so we'll see if they (Dubi and Anisimov) can step up come playoff time.
Its easy to discard all the evidence and make assertions.
I could say Pitt has a terrible offense regardless because numbers mean nothing in the playoffs.
Fact is that because NYR have played some of their poorer games against Ottawa, Sens fans are naturally not going to have as much respect for our accomplishments this year. That is about the long and short of it.
We understand your a good team we just think that it's not a coincidence that the rangers played sone of thief poorer games against us.
Reminder, the term "RAGS" IS A DEROGATORY TERM AND WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. DO NOT USE THAT TERM, IT WILL BE INFRACTED/THREAD BANNED/FORUM BANNED. ONLY WARNING.
rangers definitely lucked out in this round, sens won't even win a game
Wow!
I'm the LAST to wave pom-pom for my local team, or ANY sports team for that matter, but this reeks of underestimating the Senators at the very least.
Here are FIVE reasons we can win a few games, and perhaps the whole series:
1)Alfredsson and veteran presence:
Our team still has a core of players that have been through the wars. Some of them have even won (albeit with other teams). Alfredsson has a great array of shots and can grind it out while being sneaky dirty. Neil will throw some solid, borderline hits that will drive Rangers fans NUTS. Gonchar can steady it at the back. The Rangers lineup is fairly young and untested in the playoffs. Richards, Lundqivist and a few others can steady the room, but is it enough?
2)Fly 65 or don't fly at all:
As much as the mind-numbing "Will he or won't he?" Norris talk is annoying, Karlsson CAN change a game in a hurry. Don't be surprised if he quick-strikes the Rangers in the first few minutes of a game.
3)Coaching is a wash:
Fonzie is winner, MacLean soaked it in from Babcock. Both will deflect, though Tortorella will be far more entertaining than the understated MacLean. Both will adapt and the game will be won on the ice...
4)8th is Enough:
The Senators really hate being favourites...and they are not even close to being favourites in this series. All they need to do is get a split in New York and win the first home game and then the pressure is ALL on the Broadway Blueshirts. Questions about whether the President's Trophy jinx is real, whether they are a mirage....
5)Goaltending is even:
Yes, you heard me. BOTH of these 'tenders can steal the series and BOTH can allow flukey, back-breaking goals. Anderson is used to a high shot count, high chance game against so the Rangers playing it safe could actually be poison to him. Henrik is fantastic but isn't even close to being in the Senators' heads..
I think these two teams are actually evenly matched. The Rangers have the edge in net, and that's really it.
I definitely believe the offense is about even. When it comes to defense and goaltending, I think the Rangers have a clear advantage (in both categories).
The amount of posters picking the Sens is kind of ridiculous. I think this is based on Ranger hate more than anything.
Reminder, the term "RAGS" IS A DEROGATORY TERM AND WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. DO NOT USE THAT TERM, IT WILL BE INFRACTED/THREAD BANNED/FORUM BANNED. ONLY WARNING.
I will obey.
But only because it came from Tyrion Lannister. If it were some HF mod saying it, it would hold no merit.
I definitely believe the offense is about even. When it comes to defense and goaltending, I think the Rangers have a clear advantage (in both categories).
The amount of posters picking the Sens is kind of ridiculous. I think this is based on Ranger hate more than anything.
I don't hate the Rangers, they have been a winning org no later than the mid-90s so I can't say anything bad about them.
Lundqvist just hasn't shut us down in the past so we aren't afraid of him. Tim Thomas would have had the Senators gripping their sticks the whole time, not so in this case.
I definitely believe the offense is about even. When it comes to defense and goaltending, I think the Rangers have a clear advantage (in both categories).
The amount of posters picking the Sens is kind of ridiculous. I think this is based on Ranger hate more than anything.
About 34% are voting for the Sens to win it. Probably 90% of those votes (about 30% overall) are coming from Sens fans. Why would any fan want to think that their team won't win.
Ottawa will not roll over and die. They have a lot of playoff experience, and veteran presence on the team. They know what it takes to win. That and as an Ottawa fan I am just happy to not play against Boston in the first round. Thomas loves the lighting at the SBP too much for me to ever want to face them in the playoffs. They are the team that scares me the most, not the Penguins, nor the Rangers, nor the Flyers. The Bruins are the most frightening team to me (followed by the Devils) in the East.
In team I want Ottawa to face, from most happy to least.
This isn't my list of teams that are worst to best, this is who I think Ottawa matches up against better. Rangers probably will win, but I want to live in my world where Ottawa will defy all odds and can squeak out an upset or two, or four. Ottawa made the playoffs when everyone counted them out, maybe people shouldn't count Ottawa out again this season.
NYR have been playing playoff style hockey for months now.
Similar to the Blues, and to a certain extent to teams like Phoenix and Nashville.
I know what kind of level Alfredsson and Phillips and Neil play at in the playoffs. I'm curious to see if the Rangers can take it to that next level come playoff time. If they can my prediction will look silly. I don't think they will though. I think this team has been getting pretty close to a maximum effort already all year.
Don't see Ottawa putting up much of a fight. Alfreddson is old as hell. Craig Anderson is dog ****. A couple of hits on Karlsson and he will crumble. The rest of the d-corp is just pain sad. Gonchar? Really? Guy is one hit away from retirement. Spezza is the one cat that can change the game, but I'm sure our D-men will contain him.
