I hope the Capitals sweep the Rangers just so I can say I told you so
- rangerdanger94

This wouldn't surprise me in the least.

This wouldn't surprise me in the least.
- mdw7413

I'm just kidding...if we got swept then McIlrath couldn't complete his prophecy of winning Conn Smythe

There are 6 teams in each conference that have a decent shot at winning the Cup. If your team is part of that 12, you could just as easily be bounced in the first round or make it all the way to the end. So much depends on the team and goalie getting hot at the right time. And experience definitely helps but it isn't everything.

The other 18 teams should be aiming to tank, unless they are a small market team that really depends on playoff revenue.
- SMSB

And injuries too. Rangers D need some up-armored skates for the playoffs

Yup, for a 1st game, I like the fact he was always around the goal. Just need some more forwards to shoot at it.
- mdw7413

And not completely miss the net far side, like Miller did

I'm just kidding...if we got swept then McIlrath couldn't complete his prophecy of winning Conn Smythe
- rangerdanger94

I know, that why I was laughing.

And injuries too. Rangers D need some up-armored skates for the playoffs
- mdw7413

Yeah, true - we got decimated last year vs TB, losing McD, G and Staal - you can't recover from that. No team could lose 3 of their top D and still expect to compete.

I know, that why I was laughing.
- mdw7413

Let's not pretend for a second that mdw doesn't know that I was kidding. Mdw knows exactly that I was kidding.

As opposed to you, you quivering bag of jello at the mention of the Caps
- mdw7413

Im the guy that keeps saying "im not afraid of the Caps cause they have NEVER gotten past Rd 2 in the OV era". Who the F am I? Lil old B2B talking. The Ranger players Im sure are not disrespecting the Caps in any way & thats all that matters.

Im the guy that keeps saying "im not afraid of the Caps cause they have NEVER gotten past Rd 2 in the OV era". Who the F am I? Lil old B2B talking. The Ranger players Im sure are not disrespecting the Caps in any way & thats all that matters.
- B2B76

I saw your posts on the Rangers chalk board. You are mother(frank)ing Brian!

Yeah, true - we got decimated last year vs TB, losing McD, G and Staal - you can't recover from that. No team could lose 3 of their top D and still expect to compete.
- SMSB

Hopefully a healthy Zucc too. That was big.

Eric Staal has split time most of the year playing wing and center.

Basically he and Elias Lindholm swapped positions based on which side of the ice the face-off was on because they're opposite handed.

Whenever the faceoff would have E.Staal on his strong side, he played center. Whenever it was on Lindholm's strong side, Staal would play wing.

I saw your posts on the Rangers chalk board. You are mother(frank)ing Brian!
- mdw7413

It's not disrespect, its a fact, Caps have done a whole lot of choking in the last 10 yrs in the playoffs. Now these things don't always last forever, you remember the 90s Wings lost a lot of playoff series before winning that Cup in 1997. I want to see the Caps do it, then I'll believe it. I am not gonna quiver in my boots at the mention of tht team though, especially when we've beaten them 3 out of 4 years in te post season.

Eric Staal has split time most of the year playing wing and center.

Basically he and Elias Lindholm swapped positions based on which side of the ice the face-off was on because they're opposite handed.

Whenever the faceoff would have E.Staal on his strong side, he played center. Whenever it was on Lindholm's strong side, Staal would play wing.
- BINGO!

Where would you say he looked best? Or did he look about the same playing both?

It's not disrespect, its a fact, Caps have done a whole lot of choking in the last 10 yrs in the playoffs. Now these things don't always last forever, you remember the 90s Wings lost a lot of playoff series before winning that Cup in 1997. I want to see the Caps do it, then I'll believe it. I am not gonna quiver in my boots at the mention of tht team though, especially when we've beaten them 3 out of 4 years in te post season.
- B2B76

I'm with ya Brian, I said the same thing earlier in the year. They are playing lights out, but lets see what happens in the playoffs. Like SMSB said, once the playoffs start, they are all pretty much equal.

I'm with ya Brian, I said the same thing earlier in the year. They are playing lights out, but lets see what happens in the playoffs. Like SMSB said, once the playoffs start, they are all pretty much equal.
- mdw7413

Yep, clean slate, everyone's 0-0. So let them win the fancy President's Trophy & have all the pressure on them.

Yep, clean slate, everyone's 0-0. So let them win the fancy President's Trophy & have all the pressure on them.
- B2B76

The President's Trophy is somewhat of a curse come playoff time.

Im the guy that keeps saying "im not afraid of the Caps cause they have NEVER gotten past Rd 2 in the OV era". Who the F am I? Lil old B2B talking. The Ranger players Im sure are not disrespecting the Caps in any way & thats all that matters.
- B2B76

I for one am pretty afraid of them. They seem to have it all, including the experience. But any given team can beat any given team on any given day. That's why they play the game and why we, as fans, love to watch.

I'm with ya Brian, I said the same thing earlier in the year. They are playing lights out, but lets see what happens in the playoffs. Like SMSB said, once the playoffs start, they are all pretty much equal.
- mdw7413

I should be quoted more often

I should be quoted more often
- SMSB

You have to become a regular again Cheater.

Where would you say he looked best? Or did he look about the same playing both?
- mdw7413

I don't think he has the footspeed to play center consistently. His positioning is generally excellent, but he's a step slow and it's battles down low and around the net where he excels.

I think he's better suited for the wing, but his excellence on face-offs makes that a hard sell.

You have to become a regular again Cheater.
- B2B76

Who's that? I'm SMSB.

I don't think he has the footspeed to play center consistently. His positioning is generally excellent, but he's a step slow and it's battles down low and around the net where he excels.

I think he's better suited for the wing, but his excellence on face-offs makes that a hard sell.
- BINGO!

Thanks for the info Bingo.

Thanks for the info Bingo.
- mdw7413

I think the best case scenario is he takes the draws and Hayes plays center, which sounds nice on paper but is a bit difficult to translate on ice. A giant line of Staal -Hayes - Nash would be fun to watch, but I doubt we ever see that. Hayes is just so well suited to play on the third line against weaker opponents.

This is a good issue to have for sure

Any of you boys in the NY market have Directv? Here around Hartford if they play the game on NHL Network it gets blacked out on that, MSG and the other teams broadcast. CAN YOU SAY WTF??? Nice to see the next 2 games are on NHLN.. that's 4 in a row

I think the best case scenario is he takes the draws and Hayes plays center, which sounds nice on paper but is a bit difficult to translate on ice. A giant line of Staal -Hayes - Nash would be fun to watch, but I doubt we ever see that. Hayes is just so well suited to play on the third line against weaker opponents.

This is a good issue to have for sure
- Bean_Dip

Yeah, I like Hayes on the 3rd, like you said. Maybe in another year or two he might move up. Its nice to have 3 decent lines though. I would like to see Staal Stepan Nash. Thats a hell of a defensive line that can also be a top scoring line.