Pro: Great defensive team game and amazing goalie.
Cons: Could use some more scoring power, system sort of hampers Richards and Gaborik skills a bit.
Should be an interesting series in the sense you have a high powered offensive team vs a great defensive one. I expect the series will go 5 games(either way) as one definitely takes charge and the other crumbles
Rags pp is horrid. Defense is their strong point and its strong, but hasn't held up against all the high skilled players. Not so sure they have anyone on the defensive side who can keep up with Michalek or Spezza. Theyre anchored by Hank in net. He IS prone to bad games, which he had at the end of the ssn, but he's rested this year, something he hasn't had in the past. Biron is a very capable backup IN THEIR SYSTEM.
If Sens get the Rags to play their game, the rags have no shot. If sens are sucked into a grind-it-out type of series, well, better luck next year.
I dont know how unbiased we can be as fans of our rivals but as unbiased as I can, I think Pierre McGuire made a good point yesterday on a local radio interview (WFAN) that the Rangers as a team that plays a lot along the boards and cycles a lot on offense, they struggle some with skill teams like Pitt, Washington and Ottawa. Teams that can score off the rush and have a lot of speed definitely bother them. But their D is very good and they keep teams on the perimeter well. Theyre going to be a tough out because they play such good D and have such good goaltending that it causes the offenses to overthink that they have to get in close to score.
Offensively the Rangers score a lot on odd man rushes. Gaborik and Haglund can definitely skate. Otherwise they cycle a lot and hope something goes in. Callahan and Dubinsky I think really fit the playoff style game really well as theyre skilled grinders.
Thats as nice as I can be with regards to talking about the Rags.
Pros- Great defensive team, they block a ton of shots, great penalty killing team, Lundqvist is a stud with his pads, very tough to score down low. Callahan is the guy who will score the big goals for them, Richards could also be very good in the playoffs. Del Zotto is very good at moving the puck. McDonaugh is there best defenseman imo.
Cons- Lundqvist doesnt have the greatest glove, shoot high since hes always back in his net. Lack of scoring is definitely there biggest problem. Stop Gaborik and they will have a lot of trouble. I still think Del Zotto is weak defensively.
If Gaborik shows up, the rangers will win in 5.
If Gaborik doesnt show up, the Senators will win in 6.
you're talking to the fanbase that reworded the lyrics to the "Chicken Dance" to vocalize how much we dislike the Rangers, good luck getting the "unbiased" part.
you're talking to the fanbase that reworded the lyrics to the "Chicken Dance" to vocalize how much we dislike the Rangers, good luck getting the "unbiased" part.
How about Screaming the name of one of our players whos been retired for 30 years every game.....?
Pro: Great defensive team game and amazing goalie.
Cons: Could use some more scoring power, system sort of hampers Richards and Gaborik skills a bit.
Should be an interesting series in the sense you have a high powered offensive team vs a great defensive one. I expect the series will go 5 games(either way) as one definitely takes charge and the other crumbles
This.
And they're going to be all over Karlsson, the Sens are going to have to find a way to give him room to work.
You guys have seen them plenty, and can offer an unbiased assessment.
They play a very solid team game. their forwards and defenseman play very responsibly at both ends of the ice. they are certainly not a high powered offense but they do have gaborik who has a real penchant for scoring at the right moment timely goals. they are also capable of playing a physical game. if the senators or any other team want to defeat them in a 7 game series, they will have to put pressure down low and force the rangers defense into mistakes. by pressure i mean playing physically around the net and having the senators defenseman pinch in from the blueline.
I think the Sens could win if they get some offense from some unheralded guys and secondary players. I'm talking about Colin Greening, Zack Smith, Bobby Butler and Erik Condra.
Let's go Sens!
I think the Rangers match up well against teams who play a similar style to them, like Boston and Philly who grind games out. Put them against a team with a good run and gun offense with a creative offense and they seem to run into trouble. The reason I want Pitt to beat out the Flyers is because the Pens match up well against the Rags and I want the Rags to have as difficult a playoff as possible.
I think you guys will bring it to em' and have a chance of winning the series, just need to play an explosive style that consists of physicality and dynamic offense.
