I don't see this team as a cup winner. They have 3 forwards worth a **** and their D and goalie have been utter garbage since February. Although mostly the goalie.
Since March not February.
He was a beast all of Feb. Right when March hit is when the D and him started slumping.
I don't see this team as a cup winner. They have 3 forwards worth a **** and their D and goalie have been utter garbage since February. Although mostly the goalie.
I don't see them as a cup winner either, but I think you're being overly pessimistic. At the start of the year, no one picked them to finish with 109 points or finish first in the division, much less the conference. Building a cup winner is a process, and they are going about it the right way, building from within. The talent level at all levels (NHL, AHL, college) of the organization has improved dramatically over the last few years - don't forget, it isn't that long ago they missed the playoffs seven years running.
Within a year, I expect them to have the best defense in the league, especially if Sauer can return to health and form, ditto Staal, much improved forward depth and scoring, and they will be a real Cup contender for a number of years.
Yes, the last month has been disappointing, and I see the team like a horse fading in the stretch, but there is just no reason to jump off a cliff.
I can only imagine what Hank's stats would have been, had he and the team not had the March meltdown. His GAA was like 1.77 and his Sv % was .940 going into March. Ridiculous stats.
I don't see this team as a cup winner. They have 3 forwards worth a **** and their D and goalie have been utter garbage since February. Although mostly the goalie.
I can only imagine what Hank's stats would have been, had he and the team not had the March meltdown. His GAA was like 1.77 and his Sv % was .940 going into March. Ridiculous stats.
I'm convinced we would have run away with the Presidents' Trophy with a record similar to what Vancouver had last year (117 points). Now this team is a wounded animal whose best player is playing like an AHLer.
Didn't catch the game, but from what I hear I guess it was just...ugly to watch.
Would like to have a win before heading into playoffs, it seems like we are limping into them, which isn't good at all. Doesn't mean we don't have a chance in the PO, but it would be more re-assuring if the team showed some heart in the last game of the season so they could go in with some fire under their *****.
Its disappointing to lose the President's trophy. We would stand alone with the Red Wings as the only 3 time winners.
But in terms of the game itself... Lets be fair to ourselves, we stomped all over Washington this game. They scored on almost all of their chances, everything they threw at the net went in and we couldn't bury ours.
Didn't catch the game, but from what I hear I guess it was just...ugly to watch.
Would like to have a win before heading into playoffs, it seems like we are limping into them, which isn't good at all. Doesn't mean we don't have a chance in the PO, but it would be more re-assuring if the team showed some heart in the last game of the season so they could go in with some fire under their *****.
Oh well
they really didnt play nearly as bad as everyone is making it out to be. they just got 3 screen/deflection goals. seeing eye goals. it was uncanny. that just sorta lost the game for us right then. Gabby had a few glorious scoring chances, nada, we hit 2 posts, nada. Rangers were actually VERY unlucky in this game.
Theres been too many "bad luck" games recently, and the teams been in decline, leading up to what I think is the worst game of the year (I dont usually shut games off after 2 minutes). I am going to attribute it to something other than the invisible forces of the universe.
Anyone who's feeling disappointed, I don't have words for how sad you sound. This team is #1 in the East. We haven't been here in 18 years. Unless the Rangers play the Canucks in the finals ,then PT doesn't matter. Get over it and get ready for the playoffs. I'd rather the team take it easy for 2 games and get blown out then play all out and have players get hurt for nothing.
I guess so many people have this attachment to the PT because the 94 team won it. Very few teams who have won the PT have won the Cup, so it's not anything that says if you with PT your odds of winning the cup go up x%.
I was pissed I couldnt see the game, but after reading the GDT I am OK with it hehe.
Sure, was disapointed that we lost (and the way we lost it), but all in all its been a heck of a season so far!
Hopefully we can turn things around come PO's as we have been looking quite sluggish the last few games.
I like Ottawa. One of the few fan bases I have no quarrels with
Quote:
Originally Posted by Neil Patrick Harris
The feeling is mutual. It's weird.
We've never met in the playoffs, I don't think we've ever gone after each-others players in some major way, we've never really beaten up on each other.
The Rangers are one of the few teams in the East that I've never had any sort of issue with.
Quote:
Originally Posted by BlessThisMess513
The Rangers are about to face something the likes of which this fan base has never seen. A friendly playoff series.
You have no faith whatsoever. Don't you dare celebrate when this team wins.
You don't think this is going to piss the team off? I think some very effective and positive events can take place due to this.
Even with all the Penguins fans, Canucks fans and others that I've had disagreement with here, I've never ever considered using the sites ignore feature.
they really didnt play nearly as bad as everyone is making it out to be. they just got 3 screen/deflection goals. seeing eye goals. it was uncanny. that just sorta lost the game for us right then. Gabby had a few glorious scoring chances, nada, we hit 2 posts, nada. Rangers were actually VERY unlucky in this game.
I thought Rangers outplayed the Caps, and they got some good bounces, Rangers did not. If they play like this the rest of the playoffs, I will be happy.
what bothers me most is that regardless of playoff position, this was a chance for the team to make a statement and instead they rolled over like a bunch of wusses. Richards takes a blatent offensive zone penalty, it seemed like there was agreement on the team that they were giving this up and that's a disgusting prospect. Then Boyle gets one late in the game to keep it respectable. This is not a championship team.
I didn't see them THAT bad. I mean, 2 goals on the first, what, 7 shots is brutal. 4 goals on 17 shots or so is ridiculous. Maybe Henke's still limited by this stickhand thing he suffered in the PHI game. It's disapointing to fall one step before the Presidents' Trophy but it's not the end of the world. I'm looking forward to these playoffs. The Rangers are going to make some noise this year.
BTW: two years ago, we weren't even dreaming of home ice or winning the Eastern Conference. Come on.
