New York Rangers ‏@NYRangers · 5m
"We were forced to play a stupid schedule, 5 games in 7 nights, & I'm real proud of how our guys handled it"-Alain Vigneault #NYRPlayoffs

Who would have thought MAF had this in him? What a redemptive story for him so far...
- Emperor Filonius

Second this. Letang too! Easily the best players so far this series.

New York Rangers ‏@NYRangers · 5m
"We were forced to play a stupid schedule, 5 games in 7 nights, & I'm real proud of how our guys handled it"-Alain Vigneault #NYRPlayoffs
- ryman1566

I'd be proud too. The Rangers were good tonight. But they could've avoided the harsh schedule by winning hame six against the Flyers.

I'd be proud too. The Rangers were good tonight. But they could've avoided the harsh schedule by winning hame six against the Flyers.
- Topshelf Mountain

When a team is 0 for 100 on the powerplay, you have bigger problems than the schedule. Petty to whine about it after the fact

Tirelessly defending Fleury is paying off.

Tirelessly defending Fleury is paying off.
- Ben37

Yep

I'd be proud too. The Rangers were good tonight. But they could've avoided the harsh schedule by winning hame six against the Flyers.
- Topshelf Mountain

EXACTLY!!! Rags fans that are reading this, whinning about the schedule ... They did not show up for game 6 vs flyers ... They ve been inconsistent much of the season, the pp is killing them ... There has been a lot of arrogance hear in ny regarding this team... Many have been extremely dismissive regarding pittsburgh... They talk about it as if they are the favorite and the date is booked with Boston ... Reality check time!!!!

They sat back and played smart, lead-protecting hockey, giving up I think ZERO odd man breaks the entire game, and keeping everything on the perimeter while blocking 17 shots.

Isn't that what most fans wanted to see? No more Globetrotter hockey, but defensively responsible hockey with counterpunching propped up by some of the best talent in the game?

Rangers only managed 8 shots in the 3rd period in a game that they trailed, including only 2 shots over the last 5 minutes.
- hardnosed

I'm RIGHT with you on this. They played it perfectly. Could they have pushed a little bit more? Sure. But they didn't give up anything really dangerous. They played it smart & positionally & tough without going into "prevent hockey" mode.

Second this. Letang too! Easily the best players so far this series.
- madmike71

Add Sutter to this list. He's been lights out.

New York Rangers ‏@NYRangers · 5m
"We were forced to play a stupid schedule, 5 games in 7 nights, & I'm real proud of how our guys handled it"-Alain Vigneault #NYRPlayoffs
- ryman1566

UMMMM ... Alain, if your group of guys decided to not allow Wayne Simmonds to outscore you in game six, you would have had a few more days of rest. Don't blame the schedule you dolt. Add in the fact Billy Joel is playing tomorrow at MSG, then ...

I'm RIGHT with you on this. They played it perfectly. Could they have pushed a little bit more? Sure. But they didn't give up anything really dangerous. They played it smart & positionally & tough without going into "prevent hockey" mode.
- ScienceJesus

I'm guilty of looking at the shots, then hating the prevent defense. The Pens did play it well, but I would've liked to see them not sit back like that. At least have a forward make a down-ice break to go after a third goal. It worked tonight, just don't think it will go as smoothly down the road. It sure as hell didn't against Columbus!

I don't like being outshot like that, but Flower was the man. Felt Letang, Sutter and Martin played well. I want to say we can't keep giving the Rags these power plays. Going 34 straight without a goal takes some work. Glad to see Sid on the board.

Really liking Bortuzzo more and more. Believe he could be a fulltime top 9 D guy next year.

God, did MSG go silent after the Crosby goal.

I don't like being outshot like that, but Flower was the man. Felt Letang, Sutter and Martin played well. I want to say we can't keep giving the Rags these power plays. Going 34 straight without a goal takes some work. Glad to see Sid on the board.

Really liking Bortuzzo more and more. Believe he could be a fulltime top 9 D guy next year.

God, did MSG go silent after the Crosby goal.
- Oneonta Penguin

martin and letang are looking like they can be entrenched as the new top pairing. knock on wood tanger keeps up this mental consistency. cant keep giving up the PPs either. the rags PP got much better as the game went on. granted, they were given enough chances to figure it out.

and yeah, i agree on bortuzzo. adds some snarl without getting burned for penalties so far. its even clear in their pairing that he is better than scuderi right now.

Letang-Martin should be our #1 pair going forward.

Letang's game has reached another level playing with him.

I'm guilty of looking at the shots, then hating the prevent defense. The Pens did play it well, but I would've liked to see them not sit back like that. At least have a forward make a down-ice break to go after a third goal. It worked tonight, just don't think it will go as smoothly down the road. It sure as hell didn't against Columbus!
- Topshelf Mountain

I don't think they went into the Prevent though. They played smart positional hockey and trapped like a mofo. They kept the shots mostly to the outside & didn't allow a lot of pressure. They counter-attacked when possible.

Again, I would have liked to see a little more aggression, but it worked. I think they'll fine-tune it to get the right amount of aggression next time around, but it was not "prevent" IMO.

Their "prevent' defense against CBJ was totally different. It was a trap that didn't really trap and relied on waiting for CBJ to make an errant pass before clearing it and waiting back. This time, they clogged the neutral zone & stripped pucks and kept skating. It was like they half-trapped against CBJ but didn't do the things that a makes a trap work. Just the "wait" part of it. This was a different type of system altogether.

Really liking Bortuzzo more and more. Believe he could be a fulltime top 9 D guy next year.
- Oneonta Penguin

Agreed. I think you mean Top 6 D next year though unless the roster rules changed for next season. But he's been solid. If Scuds could actually make the D-to-D pass onto Bortz's stick instead of into his skates all the time, I think you'd see a lot more positives to him as well.

The Rangers board right now is hilarious. I think they'll die before giving any credit to the pens hahaha. Reasons why they are trailing the series: schedule, posts, Fleury not imploding.

The Rangers board right now is hilarious. I think they'll die before giving any credit to the pens hahaha. Reasons why they are trailing the series: schedule, posts, Fleury not imploding.


- Conse

I almost posted on there but figured the irrational one's are ruling the roost tonight.

Sid's smile said it all when he scored that goal. It's got to be a relief for him. Now it's only fair for him to score in 13 straight now. MAF with the back to back blanks. His confidence is really high right now. He bounced back from the softy he let in against the Jackets in OT and has played so well in these victories. Go get another one in MSG on Wednesday night.

Great night with the Penguins winning and 24 back on TV. Time to watch that now.

New York Rangers ‏@NYRangers · 5m
"We were forced to play a stupid schedule, 5 games in 7 nights, & I'm real proud of how our guys handled it"-Alain Vigneault #NYRPlayoffs
- ryman1566

He should ask the teams not in the playoffs if they wished they had the opportunity to still play 5 games in 7 nights. I'm guessing they all would.

I don't think they went into the Prevent though. They played smart positional hockey and trapped like a mofo. They kept the shots mostly to the outside & didn't allow a lot of pressure. They counter-attacked when possible.

Again, I would have liked to see a little more aggression, but it worked. I think they'll fine-tune it to get the right amount of aggression next time around, but it was not "prevent" IMO.

Their "prevent' defense against CBJ was totally different. It was a trap that didn't really trap and relied on waiting for CBJ to make an errant pass before clearing it and waiting back. This time, they clogged the neutral zone & stripped pucks and kept skating. It was like they half-trapped against CBJ but didn't do the things that a makes a trap work. Just the "wait" part of it. This was a different type of system altogether.
- ScienceJesus

Agreed. They were giving up chances left and right against CBJ. There were very few quality looks in the 3rd for the 40Rangers and almost no rebounds. Like you, I'd prefer more forechecking. Sunday night was the perfect balance.

New York Rangers ‏@NYRangers · 5m
"We were forced to play a stupid schedule, 5 games in 7 nights, & I'm real proud of how our guys handled it"-Alain Vigneault #NYRPlayoffs
- ryman1566

I actually thought that was perfect by AV. He made his point about the schedule but didn't dwell on it, and turned it into saying something positive about his team. Am I the only one that misses Torts answering those questions? The meltdown would have been epic.

I actually thought that was perfect by AV. He made his point about the schedule but didn't dwell on it, and turned it into saying something positive about his team. Am I the only one that misses Torts answering those questions? The meltdown would have been epic.
- Emperor Filonius

yeah i was fine with how he handled it.

I understand y'alls points, and tonight it worked, but it won't long term. Playing tht style in the third doesn't win the Cup.

Agreed. I think you mean Top 6 D next year though unless the roster rules changed for next season. But he's been solid. If Scuds could actually make the D-to-D pass onto Bortz's stick instead of into his skates all the time, I think you'd see a lot more positives to him as well.
- ScienceJesus

LOL ... thought I hit 6 instead of 9, so I look like the idiot.