Jan Levine: Game 2: NYR 3 WAS 2, Kreider Early, Lundqvist Throughout Key Rangers' Win Back to Washington even at 1-1

great recap Jan, it seems they've yet to bring their A game all playoffs long. Great at some stretches but too often they're sitting back late in games.

Really good move by Av to move up Fast, he was great again and it makes that line more defensively responsible. It seemed that the Hayes line didn't play much, maybe AV was trying to limit Millers time out there, but they were good with a few long shifts in the caps zone. Nash does need to start scoring, we haven't seen enough of him cutting to the middle, he can create so much when he drives to the net like that.

Staal has done such a great job on OV in prior series, I'm scratching my head a bit why Av is matching up Girrardi and McDonagh on him instead. The Boyle and Yandle pairing has been scary at time, not in the good way.

great recap Jan, it seems they've yet to bring their A game all playoffs long. Great at some stretches but too often they're sitting back late in games.

Really good move by Av to move up Fast, he was great again and it makes that line more defensively responsible. It seemed that the Hayes line didn't play much, maybe AV was trying to limit Millers time out there, but they were good with a few long shifts in the caps zone. Nash does need to start scoring, we haven't seen enough of him cutting to the middle, he can create so much when he drives to the net like that.

Staal has done such a great job on OV in prior series, I'm scratching my head a bit why Av is matching up Girrardi and McDonagh on him instead. The Boyle and Yandle pairing has been scary at time, not in the good way.
- MatzCT

You hit it right on the head with that one. Absolutely Staal should be matched up against him. OV is on another level I have never seen before. We have to contain him or we are going to be in trouble. Hank was awesome yesterday afternoon. That IMO was his best game since coming back from injury. Our depth is so much better than Washington's we must continue to keep that team deep in there zone and we need to finish. We had so many high quality scoring chances that we need to finish at a better rate. I know Holtby is playing awesome as well and you need to tip your cap to him but when we are in the slot we have to finish.

Idk about you guys but Boyle needs to be scratched and Hunwick should play. I know Boyle is the big name but flat out Hunwick is the better defenseman plain and simple. That was atrocious coverage on the goal Kutsnetsov scored. You can't let goals like that in the playoffs cause it swung momentum for Washington. That's just lazy lost of focus by Boyle and inexcusable. I know it will never happen cause AV will prob lose the locker room if he does that but it's so obvious that Boyle is a huge liability defensively for this team. Every game I can point out 3 or 4 plays he totally misplays the opposition.

4 PP's to 1 and still complaining I see Alain loaned you his wine. As for Ovechkin, one of these days the idiotic hockey media will realize his substandard teammates are the reason he won't win a Cup-35 playoff goals, higher playoff pts per game than Crosby and Toews, now he finally has quality D and goalie(after 10 years) and now his forward group is the weakest since 07. Ovechkin and Holtby give them a punchers chance but in the end the wastes of space up front(Brouwer,Laich,Chimera,Glencross)will be their undoing. Whiny Rags in 6

4 PP's to 1 and still complaining I see Alain loaned you his wine. As for Ovechkin, one of these days the idiotic hockey media will realize his substandard teammates are the reason he won't win a Cup-35 playoff goals, higher playoff pts per game than Crosby and Toews, now he finally has quality D and goalie(after 10 years) and now his forward group is the weakest since 07. Ovechkin and Holtby give them a punchers chance but in the end the wastes of space up front(Brouwer,Laich,Chimera,Glencross)will be their undoing. Whiny Rags in 6
- bondraovie

who's whinng right there? pp's are not supposed to be even

4 PP's to 1 and still complaining I see Alain loaned you his wine. As for Ovechkin, one of these days the idiotic hockey media will realize his substandard teammates are the reason he won't win a Cup-35 playoff goals, higher playoff pts per game than Crosby and Toews, now he finally has quality D and goalie(after 10 years) and now his forward group is the weakest since 07. Ovechkin and Holtby give them a punchers chance but in the end the wastes of space up front(Brouwer,Laich,Chimera,Glencross)will be their undoing. Whiny Rags in 6
- bondraovie

Crap... accidentally flagged your comment instead of quoting it. Sorry

Ovi easily is the best offensive player in the game & its not even close. Hotlby has been stellar so far.

You bring up a good point about your team, but then you say complaining about reffing and whiny rags. Um who's complaining about the reffing?

4 PP's to 1 and still complaining I see Alain loaned you his wine. As for Ovechkin, one of these days the idiotic hockey media will realize his substandard teammates are the reason he won't win a Cup-35 playoff goals, higher playoff pts per game than Crosby and Toews, now he finally has quality D and goalie(after 10 years) and now his forward group is the weakest since 07. Ovechkin and Holtby give them a punchers chance but in the end the wastes of space up front(Brouwer,Laich,Chimera,Glencross)will be their undoing. Whiny Rags in 6
- bondraovie

Hi!!! Welcome!

You know what else burns me about Boyle, his attitude. You ever read any of his quotes? The guy has little to no comments ever about improving his game. He like thinks he's some veteran that can't do wrong. His answers are always like, look we won, that's what's important...it's borderline smug. Never once heard him say anything like I need to improve my game, or I gotta do more to protect my team. Kinda think the guy is just a jerk.

4 PP's to 1 and still complaining I see Alain loaned you his wine. As for Ovechkin, one of these days the idiotic hockey media will realize his substandard teammates are the reason he won't win a Cup-35 playoff goals, higher playoff pts per game than Crosby and Toews, now he finally has quality D and goalie(after 10 years) and now his forward group is the weakest since 07. Ovechkin and Holtby give them a punchers chance but in the end the wastes of space up front(Brouwer,Laich,Chimera,Glencross)will be their undoing. Whiny Rags in 6
- bondraovie

Wut.

Wut.
- Blackstrom2

He's one of your's.

4 PP's to 1 and still complaining I see Alain loaned you his wine. As for Ovechkin, one of these days the idiotic hockey media will realize his substandard teammates are the reason he won't win a Cup-35 playoff goals, higher playoff pts per game than Crosby and Toews, now he finally has quality D and goalie(after 10 years) and now his forward group is the weakest since 07. Ovechkin and Holtby give them a punchers chance but in the end the wastes of space up front(Brouwer,Laich,Chimera,Glencross)will be their undoing. Whiny Rags in 6
- bondraovie

I would love for you to point out where there has been whining but because somehow I have missed it.

He's one of your's.
- mdw7413

My alt account

Jan i like your blogs. Always well written, And insightful, With just a touch of homerism(to be expected). But to complain about the refs when you had ONE penalty. And the Caps had FOUR. That is taking it to another level. If you cancelled the Brassard penalty the Rags would have skated an entire playoff game with no penalties? Do you honestly believe your team doesn't take penalties?
And i apologize now if you are leaning more to the off sides calls and the like! But you specifically mention the ONE penalty your team was called for.

I guess someone beat me to it already!

My alt account
- Cptmjl

I think what he was trying to say was besides Ovi, dont know why he left out Backstrom and I would also add in Kuznetsov, the Caps have a lot of bigger bodies who are more 3rd line 4th line grinding players and not enough skill.

Jan i like your blogs. Always well written, And insightful, With just a touch of homerism(to be expected). But to complain about the refs when you had ONE penalty. And the Caps had FOUR. That is taking it to another level. If you cancelled the Brassard penalty the Rags would have skated an entire playoff game with no penalties? Do you honestly believe your team doesn't take penalties?
And i apologize now if you are leaning more to the off sides calls and the like! But you specifically mention the ONE penalty your team was called for.
- camfor

Rangers are generally a disciplined team. I don't think we went the whole game without committing one penalty, it's just the one they decided to call was a little soft.

I think there were 2 or 3 clear penalties on us that went uncalled, and the 1 they did call wasn't a penalty. And I think that's what Jan is referring to when he's "whining" about the refs. He just wants to see what should be a penalty be called a penalty and what shouldn't be called not be called.

4 PP's to 1 and still complaining I see Alain loaned you his wine. As for Ovechkin, one of these days the idiotic hockey media will realize his substandard teammates are the reason he won't win a Cup-35 playoff goals, higher playoff pts per game than Crosby and Toews, now he finally has quality D and goalie(after 10 years) and now his forward group is the weakest since 07. Ovechkin and Holtby give them a punchers chance but in the end the wastes of space up front(Brouwer,Laich,Chimera,Glencross)will be their undoing. Whiny Rags in 6
- bondraovie

Imagine if you guys kept Forsberg?

Jan i like your blogs. Always well written, And insightful, With just a touch of homerism(to be expected). But to complain about the refs when you had ONE penalty. And the Caps had FOUR. That is taking it to another level. If you cancelled the Brassard penalty the Rags would have skated an entire playoff game with no penalties? Do you honestly believe your team doesn't take penalties?
And i apologize now if you are leaning more to the off sides calls and the like! But you specifically mention the ONE penalty your team was called for.
- camfor

I had no problem with the Brassard penalty, because I thought the penalty the Caps got for hooking Hags was a bit iffy in a playoff game. The offsides call made me laugh it was so bad, it happens though. I think if people actually read our comments on the blog, there is almost no complaining about anything with the refs. Just Boyle & Nash.

Imagine if you guys kept Forsberg?
- rangerdanger94

I had no problem with the Brassard penalty, because I thought the penalty the Caps got for hooking Hags was a bit iffy in a playoff game. The offsides call made me laugh it was so bad, it happens though. I think if people actually read our comments on the blog, there is almost no complaining about anything with the refs. Just Boyle & Nash.
- mdw7413

I complain about all 3. I feel weird now.

I complain about all 3. I feel weird now.
- tomburton99

I hope you have a baptism Monday & Wednesday too.

The other Matt said you were praying in the church when Boyle scored.

I hope you have a baptism Monday & Wednesday too.

The other Matt said you were praying in the church when Boyle scored.
- mdw7413

I won't watch, but we need a vote on it. deal? No religious arrangements on either day.

You know what else burns me about Boyle, his attitude. You ever read any of his quotes? The guy has little to no comments ever about improving his game. He like thinks he's some veteran that can't do wrong. His answers are always like, look we won, that's what's important...it's borderline smug. Never once heard him say anything like I need to improve my game, or I gotta do more to protect my team. Kinda think the guy is just a jerk.
- xcheckmajor

I don't mind the attitude. He is 39 his game is what it is at this point. He wants to win. As long as the team wins, he will be happy. You see how pissed he was when he shanked the open net vs the Pens? He cares. I don't expect him to come in the postgame and say I suck, take me out of the lineup. He is doing what he can to help the team win. Yesterday he scored a big goal for them.

I won't watch, but we need a vote on it. deal? No religious arrangements on either day.
- tomburton99

I would never tell someone else not to watch. haha But if the Rangers lose, I'm sending gangster Pete after you.

4 PP's to 1 and still complaining I see Alain loaned you his wine. As for Ovechkin, one of these days the idiotic hockey media will realize his substandard teammates are the reason he won't win a Cup-35 playoff goals, higher playoff pts per game than Crosby and Toews, now he finally has quality D and goalie(after 10 years) and now his forward group is the weakest since 07. Ovechkin and Holtby give them a punchers chance but in the end the wastes of space up front(Brouwer,Laich,Chimera,Glencross)will be their undoing. Whiny Rags in 6
- bondraovie

This guy's great!