My personal goal for this team at the start of the year was to finish in the top 6 in the East, and win one playoff round. I am standing pat on that goal. I appreciate that this team is exceeding expectations, but this is a franchise that less than three years ago, tore down the entire team, and completely rebuilt it. When I am the one preaching patience, there is something seriously wrong.
I believe the Rangers have a real shot at the finals. I don't know that they can beat Colorado but I think they can get there so we can find out. It's easy to look at the GF/GA and say the Rangers are achieving over their actual talent. However it's also easy to look at Gallant and say he has what it takes to get a bunch of under achievers playing really well. The Rangers were under achievers the last couple of seasons. Now they're playing to the whistle and when they don't get blown out they're really good.
I would say that the Rangers have a "Strong Puncher's Chance" to make the finals. It would require Fox, Kreider, Zibanejad, Panarin, and Shesterkin to play their very best for the entire length of the playoffs. Not likely, but not impossible.
I think it also requires another guy showing up big. One of the three young guys. It could also be Miller or Lindgren stepping it up another notch and becoming dominant in the defensive zone and at mid-ice.
Laf has also had a very nice stretch of games since he was put with Kreider and Mika. The points are going to come, he could’ve had 4 points against Detroit.
Agree with this 100% Under no circumstances should they replace Lafreniere with Kakko on that line when he comes back from injury. I have seen more from Lafreniere in two weeks than I have seen from Kakko all season!
Kakko fits better on that 2nd line. Speaking of the second line, they need Panarin to start shooting the damn puck.
Will say this again: If the remove LaFreniere from the first like when Kakko gets back, I am going to go crazy.
We got fucking jobbed. That was an atrocious hooking call. Fuck the Penguins and fuck Sidney Crosby. I hope we see them in the playoffs so we can beat the shit out of them.
so the PP gaol was off a Crosby dive? I hate simulation, attempting to deceive refs IN ANY AND ALL SPORTS. Its fucking weak ass BS.
Hard to blame the refs when the The Rangers couldn't muster a single goal. They continue to struggle offensively at even strength. They did have a PP opportunity down 1-0 and couldn't convert. Jarry played really well. Pittsburgh was on a 4 game losing streak and they were home. They own the Rangers. This was a tough spot. I was hoping for a point, but we couldn't even manage that. On to the next one.
That game last night was an absolute disgrace. You would have thought Quinn was still coaching this team, they wat they did not show up. Those fans in attendance deserve a refund. They did not see a sporting event. They saw a team quit.
Only bright spot was Lafreniere. He's really coming into his own since he got on that first line with Zib and Kreider.
100% Kakko belongs on that 2nd line with Panarin and Strome. That line hasn’t been the same since they moved him off of it.
He's been playing really well since the break. Lafreniere hit 25 career 5v5 goals before Hall, Hughes, Kane, MacKinnon, and RNH did. The points will really come for him once he's put on PP1. Hopefully Kakko comes back and plays better; it would be a huge boost.
Just wait until that bozo Hunt is replaced on the 2nd line with Kakko; I'm telling you, that 2nd line is missing him.
