CTHoya08
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Bring back Izzo!
Posts: 2,853
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Post by CTHoya08 on May 9, 2015 8:22:10 GMT -5
Sather is not going anywhere. The only person in Madison Square Garden who is tighter with Jim Dolan than Sather is the new president and part-owner of the New York Liberty, Isiah Thomas. The Rangers are learning first-hand what happens, in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, when a team runs into a hot goalie. Holtby is a hot goalie, and that is why the Rangers are on the brink of hitting that first tee this weekend. Holtby unquestionably has been playing well, but as a Ranger fan, I don't think that's the full explanation. The Rangers have been unable to generate very many quality shots. Holtby has made some great stops, but many of the Rangers' shots have been long-range wristers right into his breadbasket. So even when they're outshooting the Caps, a lot of those shots are not real threats. This is not meant to diminish Holtby's play--I'm just saying that this isn't a case of the Rangers thoroughly outplaying Washington and losing because of goaltending. Of course, as soon as I post this, Holtby goes out and makes 40 saves, albeit in a loss.
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njhoya78
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Posts: 7,766
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Post by njhoya78 on May 9, 2015 12:02:04 GMT -5
The Rangers outplayed the Caps last night, and deserved the win, notwithstanding Holtby's stellar play.
Tomorrow night is crucial for the Capitals. They won't win a Game 7 in New York City. If they are going to advance, they have to win Game 6 at home. It would help if Ovechkin showed up; he was a non factor last night, for which the Rangers deserve much credit.
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njhoya78
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
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Post by njhoya78 on May 10, 2015 20:58:34 GMT -5
And so the Rangers and Capitals will go to a Game 7 on Wednesday night in New York City. Holtby looked mortal for the first time in the series. It will be very, very difficult for the Caps to pull out a win, especially given how the last two games played out.
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Post by BubbleVisionBiff on May 11, 2015 8:45:02 GMT -5
A lot harder for the caps to block shots when the play originates behind the goal line. Nice adjustment by Rags.
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IDenj
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Posts: 2,526
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Post by IDenj on May 12, 2015 20:17:52 GMT -5
Habs really in trouble.
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Boz
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
123 Fireballs!
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Post by Boz on May 13, 2015 10:18:44 GMT -5
All is right with the hockey world.
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njhoya78
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Posts: 7,766
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Post by njhoya78 on May 13, 2015 11:20:55 GMT -5
In honour of the occasion, I understand that the Maple Leafs are planning a parade on their way to the golf course.
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IDenj
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Posts: 2,526
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Post by IDenj on May 13, 2015 16:42:53 GMT -5
NYR Caps tonight. Who y'all got? Can't go against Hank in a game 7.
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Post by BubbleVisionBiff on May 13, 2015 22:04:34 GMT -5
I am sure Alex has some great guarantees for the hookers on 8th Avenue later this evening.
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Elvado
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Posts: 6,080
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Post by Elvado on May 14, 2015 6:47:31 GMT -5
Word is Ovechkin guaranteed a birdie on his 7th hole today.
Holtby is a really good goalie on the rise. He is, however, not the King.
And the Orpik hit on Boyle was both a charge and a head shot.
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JB5
Silver Hoya (over 500 posts)
Posts: 690
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Post by JB5 on May 14, 2015 7:41:35 GMT -5
And the Orpik hit on Boyle was both a charge and a head shot. It should have been a penalty, but the refs had put their whistles away. The OT was full of holding and slashing that wasn't called. Great series, but the better team won. Should be another good one in the Conference final.
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hoyainspirit
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
When life puts that voodoo on me, music is my gris-gris.
Posts: 8,392
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Post by hoyainspirit on May 14, 2015 10:03:32 GMT -5
Caps live up to their reputation as choking dogs.
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njhoya78
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Posts: 7,766
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Post by njhoya78 on May 14, 2015 11:40:15 GMT -5
And the Orpik hit on Boyle was both a charge and a head shot. It should have been a penalty, but the refs had put their whistles away. The OT was full of holding and slashing that wasn't called. Great series, but the better team won. Should be another good one in the Conference final. Not a Ranger fan here by any stretch of the imagination. . .but the Orpik hit on Boyle was not a penalty. He did not leave his feet until after contact was made, and the impact was with his forearm, not his elbow. The Capitals did not lose the series in overtime last night. They lost it Friday night when they could not protect a one-goal lead with under two minutes to play in the third period. They let the better team back into the series when they lost that game. The Rangers did not beat the Lightning at all this season. Even so, Lundqvist is the best goalie remaining in the Stanley Cup playoffs, and I'm now of the opinion that he will find a way to finally win the Cup.
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Boz
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
123 Fireballs!
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Post by Boz on May 14, 2015 11:41:51 GMT -5
I am having a hard time trying to characterize this one. OK, choking dogs is easy, but is it fair?
On the one hand, you're up 3-1 and lose three in a row, that is absolutely choking.
On the other hand, is it choking to lose to the better team?
All season long, the Caps were fair to middling, fighting it out with teams like Pittsburgh, Boston and Ottawa for the final playoffs spots that were up for grabs until the last week of the season.
And, all season long, the Rangers were at the top of the Eastern Conference.
Of course, this is hockey, so the gap isn't that large, only eight wins separated the two. But I think it's very clear that the Rangers have the better talent overall.
Add to that the fact that this is a seasoned playoff team that made it all the way to the Finals a year ago, and I really don't think the Caps should have been expected to do nearly as well as they did, going all the way to Game 7 OT.
On the other hand....THREE GAMES TO ONE!!!!!
I don't know. Personally, I wouldn't call this year a choke. But I just have a soft spot for the Caps maybe.
I do think the Conference finals are going to be great, both East and West. I can't see the Cup leaving the Western Conference this year, but it's definitely a lot closer than the gap last year.
Of course, I thought St. Louis was going to do well, so what do I know.
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DanMcQ
Moderator
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Post by DanMcQ on May 14, 2015 21:16:11 GMT -5
NJ, I'd buy it except Orpik delivers head shots and blindside cheap shots all the time and refuses to stand up for it. Penalty or not, this one was no different. If it wasn't a 7th game he would have been (deservedly) laid out.
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njhoya78
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
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Post by njhoya78 on May 20, 2015 12:42:56 GMT -5
That may also mean Don Sweeney will be the new Bruins GM (Shero was supposedly the major competition). Congrats, Dan. You called this two weeks ago.
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IDenj
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
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Post by IDenj on May 20, 2015 13:16:14 GMT -5
Babcock to the Leafs.
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njhoya78
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
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Post by njhoya78 on May 20, 2015 15:35:38 GMT -5
Reportedly $50 million over eight seasons, front-loaded, with an exit clause after five seasons.
Might take all eight years to turn the Leafs around.
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DanMcQ
Moderator
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Post by DanMcQ on May 20, 2015 20:48:56 GMT -5
That may also mean Don Sweeney will be the new Bruins GM (Shero was supposedly the major competition). Congrats, Dan. You called this two weeks ago. The local question now is whether Sweeney is really the GM or just a front for the real GM, Mr. Neely. Time will tell.
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njhoya78
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
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Post by njhoya78 on May 21, 2015 11:45:06 GMT -5
Now that "King" Hendrik Lundqvist has been torched in consecutive games by the Lightning for six goals in each game, I was curious. . .all we hear in the New York metropolitan area from Rangers fans is that Lundqvist, who has never won a Stanley Cup, is as good as Martin Brodeur was with the Devils (he won three Cups for New Jersey). How many times did Brodeur give up six goals in a Stanley Cup playoff game?
Thanks to hockey-reference.com. . .on May 3, 1994, Brodeur and the Devils lost to Boston, 6-5 in overtime. On May 6, 2006, Brodeur and the Devils were beaten by Carolina, 6-0. Finally, on June 11, 2012, Brodeur and the Devils lost to Los Angeles 6-1, with one goal being an empty net goal (the last game of the Finals), so he only surrendered five goals.
So, in nineteen seasons, Brodeur was in net allowing six goals on only two occasions in the playoffs. Lundqvist did the same within approximately forty-eight hours.
This is no contest. Lundqvist cannot be compared to Brodeur.
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