(1) New York Rangers vs (8) Ottawa Senators - Playoffs Round 1

Hoags wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:

Can't stand tying on this Playbook...I agree, they deserve respect. I've been banging the Rangers drum for a year and a half now, just not sure they got the right matchup. They'll win at some point, but I don't think they're there yet. We shall see...

My biggest concern is our offensive depth, Spezza, Alfredsson, Michalek and Karlsson are the main cogs of this team and in the playoffs we will be scouted far more than in the regular season. The Rangers will focus on these players and I think we are in big trouble if they shut them down.

Greening, Turris and Foligno will have to step up, much like the bottom 6. No more posts, crossbars, missed open nets. I just haven't seen enough. We need a coming out party for some of these guys.

Anderson is the least of my worries, the bigger the game the more fired up he is and the better he plays. He will be fired up for this series and we've seen how good he can be. My biggest concern going into this season is will he be rested enough if the off chance we make the playoffs and that is not an issue.

The best thing about our team that no one is talking about ? There is a quiet confidence about them. No bravado, no angry outbursts. They know what they face and they know what they have to do.

Same thing can be said about New York. You shut Richards, Gaborik, and Callahan down, guys like Dubinsky and Stepan will have to step up. Gaborik especially is a known playoff underperfomer.

shabbs wrote:

Flo The Action wrote:Any news on whether ottawa games will have priority over bruins games nationwide?

Based on this link, it looks like the Ottawa games will get the TV coverage:

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockeynightincanada/broadcast/

Click on "CBC Television" to see the games that will be aired.

Oh you are so right I think!!! Yeeereaaaaaawwwwwhhhh!!!

Big Ev wrote:

Hoags wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:

Can't stand tying on this Playbook...I agree, they deserve respect. I've been banging the Rangers drum for a year and a half now, just not sure they got the right matchup. They'll win at some point, but I don't think they're there yet. We shall see...

My biggest concern is our offensive depth, Spezza, Alfredsson, Michalek and Karlsson are the main cogs of this team and in the playoffs we will be scouted far more than in the regular season. The Rangers will focus on these players and I think we are in big trouble if they shut them down.

Greening, Turris and Foligno will have to step up, much like the bottom 6. No more posts, crossbars, missed open nets. I just haven't seen enough. We need a coming out party for some of these guys.

Anderson is the least of my worries, the bigger the game the more fired up he is and the better he plays. He will be fired up for this series and we've seen how good he can be. My biggest concern going into this season is will he be rested enough if the off chance we make the playoffs and that is not an issue.

The best thing about our team that no one is talking about ? There is a quiet confidence about them. No bravado, no angry outbursts. They know what they face and they know what they have to do.

Same thing can be said about New York. You shut Richards, Gaborik, and Callahan down, guys like Dubinsky and Stepan will have to step up. Gaborik especially is a known playoff underperfomer.

Gaborik is also overdue for an injury.

I see a lot of reasons posted why we have a shot in this series, and all are valid. Let's not overlook the fact that the Rangers finished first for a reason. Whether or not they can translate that into post-season success is another thing. They have some grit, and are also coached by Torts - a guy that has won it all before. I don't expect to be given anything. If we're going to win this series, we'll have to play out of our minds.

Karlsson will need to fight through the relentess checking he's sure to endure, Spezza and Michalek will need to produce constantly with Greening, The Alfie will need to lead Turris and Foligno on the 2nd line, we'll need the bottom six to chip in offensively AND shut down the Rags (Smith vs. Richards?), and we'll need to steal us one, maybe two games.

We'll need a lot of things to go right for us to win this series. If you think back to the first half of this season, we were pulling a lot of W's out of our asses. This team is capable of anything.

Jordo wrote:

Big Ev wrote:

Same thing can be said about New York. You shut Richards, Gaborik, and Callahan down, guys like Dubinsky and Stepan will have to step up. Gaborik especially is a known playoff underperfomer.

Gaborik is also overdue for an injury.

OH, yeah, completely forgot about that. What's his MTBF anyway? Can't be that high. Maybe we can help him along a little. Remember me, I've got the first one. I've got the first one.

Try finding a clip of Karlsson battling -- and flipping -- Boyle. Every search ends up with Susan Boyle.

wprager wrote:Try finding a clip of Karlsson battling -- and flipping -- Boyle. Every search ends up with Susan Boyle.

Karlsson flipped Susan Boyle???

Hobiesens wrote:

wprager wrote:Try finding a clip of Karlsson battling -- and flipping -- Boyle. Every search ends up with Susan Boyle.

Karlsson flipped Susan Boyle???

Hey, flipping a 6'8" forward is one thing, but an opera-singer-wannabe? He's not superman.

Where can I post my compliments on the new banner?

SeawaySensFan wrote:Where can I post my compliments on the new banner?

Here is fine.

By the way, DirtyDave was asking about you over in the Bracket thread. He was asking if you were in. I've got room.

tim1_2 wrote:I see a lot of reasons posted why we have a shot in this series, and all are valid. Let's not overlook the fact that the Rangers finished first for a reason. Whether or not they can translate that into post-season success is another thing. They have some grit, and are also coached by Torts - a guy that has won it all before. I don't expect to be given anything. If we're going to win this series, we'll have to play out of our minds.

Karlsson will need to fight through the relentess checking he's sure to endure, Spezza and Michalek will need to produce constantly with Greening, The Alfie will need to lead Turris and Foligno on the 2nd line, we'll need the bottom six to chip in offensively AND shut down the Rags (Smith vs. Richards?), and we'll need to steal us one, maybe two games.

We'll need a lot of things to go right for us to win this series. If you think back to the first half of this season, we were pulling a lot of W's out of our asses. This team is capable of anything.

Because Crosby was out.

NEELY wrote:

tim1_2 wrote:I see a lot of reasons posted why we have a shot in this series, and all are valid. Let's not overlook the fact that the Rangers finished first for a reason. Whether or not they can translate that into post-season success is another thing. They have some grit, and are also coached by Torts - a guy that has won it all before. I don't expect to be given anything. If we're going to win this series, we'll have to play out of our minds.

Karlsson will need to fight through the relentess checking he's sure to endure, Spezza and Michalek will need to produce constantly with Greening, The Alfie will need to lead Turris and Foligno on the 2nd line, we'll need the bottom six to chip in offensively AND shut down the Rags (Smith vs. Richards?), and we'll need to steal us one, maybe two games.

We'll need a lot of things to go right for us to win this series. If you think back to the first half of this season, we were pulling a lot of W's out of our asses. This team is capable of anything.

Because Crosby was out.

There's that. I personally think Tortorella is a hell of a coach, though. However, I thought before the matchups were set that Ottawa could beat anyone and the Rags are no exception.

Yeah, if Pitts had a healthy Crysby all year, they likely finish 1st. I like our chances better against the Rangers than against either Boston or the Pens, though, so things kinda worked out for the best.....so far.

On the eve of the playoffs, I give you the greatest song ever written:

There's a dream that lives deep in every heart
Heroes carve their name
Legends leave their mark
And it's worth the sweat
And it's worth the pain
Cause the chance may never come again

Give it all you've got
Take your best shot
The fires burn deep inside
Stand among the giants - yeah!

For the game belongs
To the swift and the strong
Though the flame burns bright
In an instant it's gone

It's the spirit of the game
And the legend lives on and on
But the chance may never come again - no, no
The chance may never come.... again


That's "The Chance May Never Come Again" used extensively by CBC years ago in the playoffs. It's the cheesiest song of all time, yet every year at playoff time, it gets wedged in my brain.

Hoags wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:

Can't stand tying on this Playbook...I agree, they deserve respect. I've been banging the Rangers drum for a year and a half now, just not sure they got the right matchup. They'll win at some point, but I don't think they're there yet. We shall see...

My biggest concern is our offensive depth, Spezza, Alfredsson, Michalek and Karlsson are the main cogs of this team and in the playoffs we will be scouted far more than in the regular season. The Rangers will focus on these players and I think we are in big trouble if they shut them down.

Greening, Turris and Foligno will have to step up, much like the bottom 6. No more posts, crossbars, missed open nets. I just haven't seen enough. We need a coming out party for some of these guys.

Anderson is the least of my worries, the bigger the game the more fired up he is and the better he plays. He will be fired up for this series and we've seen how good he can be. My biggest concern going into this season is will he be rested enough if the off chance we make the playoffs and that is not an issue.

The best thing about our team that no one is talking about ? There is a quiet confidence about them. No bravado, no angry outbursts. They know what they face and they know what they have to do.

Well said.

tim1_2 wrote:On the eve of the playoffs, I give you the greatest song ever written:

This, my friend, is the greatest and best song in the world... he even says so...



Heh heh.

Via the New York Rangers: #NYR practice underway, working on PP right now...Ryan Callahan and Marian Gaborik both back on the ice taking part

One of the worst PPs in the league apparently. They better work on it.

PRESSURE!!!>>>!>!>>!