Series Thread: Capitals vs. Rangers - Round 2

[Cobiemonster]

The logical inference from that conclusion is that the NYR are equivalent to NYI. So I looked it up. Both scored 252 goals this year. NYR led by Nash and Brassard, NYI by Tavares and Okposo. Seems like NYR then has a more balanced offense, not so heavily weighted on one player (JT). This is an advantage in the playoffs.

NYR gave up 38 fewer goals this year then NYI did. Almost half a goal a game. Lundqvist (statistically) was better than Halak this year.

Then there is the intangible of a veteran team (NYR) versus a young, inexperienced team (NYI).

So, comparing NYR and NYI, NYR has a more balanced offense, less susceptible to shut down, gives up 1/2 goal a game fewer and has a ton more playoff experience.

Yet WSH was life and death to beat the NYI.

Anything can happen. Ovie could run King Henrik and you can throw all predictions out the window. As it stands right now though, NYR is a much tougher opponent (on paper) then NYI.

The first round is usually the toughest

Look at the last two deep runs the Rangers made - it took seven games to beat Ottawa a few years back and then it took seven games to beat the Flyers last season

If the Rangers played someone other than Pittsburgh in the first round, they would have needed 6 or 7 games to win their series because they very clearly didn't play great and that was against a team in Pittsburgh that didn't have much of a chance

Nobody is denying that the Rangers are a tougher opponent than the Islanders, but to say that the Caps needing 7 games to beat the Islanders is a sign that they don't stand much of a chance against the Rangers is just not fair to them

 

[pixburgher66]

I think this one goes the distance. If the Caps show up on offense, I think they win it. This is assuming round 1 Rangers show up again, and sans Zuccarello.

 

[ritari330]

6 games. Not a big enough sample size. Particularly when it is against one team.

Now if you want to quote Holtby's regular season numbers, you have a better argument.

41 wins, .923 SV%, 2.22GAA. Still wouldn't call that mediocre. Easily top 10 Goalie in the league.

Edit: Additionally, a hot goalie is just as important as a good goalie come playoffs. So even if he is mediocre as you seem to think he is, he is playing well enough to cause the rangers problems.

 

[ritari330]

A fair argument against the caps however, is that they played an extremely physical series that will have an effect on the team throughout the rest of the playoffs.

 

[BGDave]

41 wins, .923 SV%, 2.22GAA. Still wouldn't call that mediocre. Easily top 10 Goalie in the league.

Edit: Additionally, a hot goalie is just as important as a good goalie come playoffs. So even if he is mediocre as you seem to think he is, he is playing well enough to cause the rangers problems.

Agree completely with both points.

Guess I will be the only one then choosing NYR in 5 LOL

Let Round 2 begin !

 

[Cobiemonster]

A fair argument against the caps however, is that they played an extremely physical series that will have an effect on the team throughout the rest of the playoffs.

I think it could help them because they're used to that type of play and I think having a short turn around could help them too because they get enough time off but they don't get too much time off to read their clippings

As long as Holtby plays well(which is my expectation), they'll have a good chance

 

[RangersReds03]

Agree completely with both points.

Guess I will be the only one then choosing NYR in 5 LOL

Let Round 2 begin !

Probably

 

[BGDave]

Probably

Gotta say, I expected more support from the NYR fans.

I guess they have already moved on to the NYY.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

This is going to be a completely different series for the Caps. How they handle the Rangers speed will determine whether or not they can win the series. Of course it should be tougher for them to score to. After all the Rangers defense is healthy & they supposedly have the best goalie in the game. I don't agree with that, but many seem to for some reason.

 

[BGDave]

Another wild ass prediction.

Wilson will run St Louis through the boards, and due to height difference alone, it will be a "head shot". This will earn Wilson a (fill in the blank) suspension [Acceptable answers are anywhere from 0 to 4 games].

 

[Cyder]

There is no way this goes 7. Sorry Caps fans. Not going to happen. Your goalie is a sieve, and your offense is shut down too easily. You barely got by the Isles, the Rangers are in a whole different league.

Rangers in 5. Maybe a sweep. Lundqvist v. Holtby. Thats all anyone needs to know about this series.

I disagree. Holtby's been solid this year and the Rangers rarely do anything easy. I'm going with my boys but in 6 or 7

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

I disagree. Holtby's been solid this year and the Rangers rarely do anything easy. I'm going with my boys but in 6 or 7

I agree on Holtby. He's the biggest reason the Caps beat the Isles. He gave up a bad goal in game 7, but other than that he was outstanding.

 

[Cyder]

Zuc is out but the Rangers have Klein back which will give them 2 shut down pairs. The Caps top line will never be on the ice without dealing with Staal, Girargi or McDonugh

 

[Cyder]

I agree on Holtby. He's the biggest reason the Caps beat the Isles. He gave up a bad goal in game 7, but other than that he was outstanding.

If a goalie gives up one goal in a game I don't care if it's a softie. It's only one goal.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

If a goalie gives up one goal in a game I don't care if it's a softie. It's only one goal.

I understand what you're saying, but the Isles only had 11 shots on goal. The Caps played their best game of the series in Game 7 by a mile.

 

[Cyder]

I understand what you're saying, but the Isles only had 11 shots on goal. The Caps played their best game of the series in Game 7 by a mile.

The Isles were so shorthanded on defense I thought they did a solid job keeping it close. With the Rangers Caps a lot my hinge on if the Rangers can win a faceoff when on the PK. If they take calls and give the Caps the puck cleanly they're in trouble. That's the only positive thing of Zuc being out. Sheppard, arguably their best faceoff man will replace him. Between him and Moore they should be able to win a few more than they did against the Pens

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

The Isles were so shorthanded on defense I thought they did a solid job keeping it close. With the Rangers Caps a lot my hinge on if the Rangers can win a faceoff when on the PK. If they take calls and give the Caps the puck cleanly they're in trouble. That's the only positive thing of Zuc being out. Sheppard, arguably their best faceoff man will replace him. Between him and Moore they should be able to win a few more than they did against the Pens

I'm very interested to see how this series is officiated. The Capitals/Isles series had the fewest penalties called by far in the first round. There was only 1 penalty called in Game 7. They missed to blatant calls against the Caps. Nielsen took a high stick to the face. He was bleeding & they still missed it. It was an easy double minor. Ovechkin cross checked Hickey. Heck, they could have called boarding if they wanted to. No call on both.

 

[Cyder]

I'm very interested to see how this series is officiated. The Capitals/Isles series had the fewest penalties called by far in the first round. There was only 1 penalty called in Game 7. They missed to blatant calls against the Caps. Nielsen took a high stick to the face. He was bleeding & they still missed it. It was an easy double minor. Ovechkin cross checked Hickey. Heck, they could have called boarding if they wanted to. No call on both.

Ovie is back to "Superstar" penalty status. No autopsy, no foul.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

Ovie is back to "Superstar" penalty status. No autopsy, no foul.

Yeah, it's pathetic. Beware of Wilson & Brower. They aren't looking to hit the opponent. They're looking to injure them.

 

[elocomotive]

Yeah, watching the Leafs does make me a bit of an expert on sieves. My view on Holtby is objective and based on facts. Like the fact of the goal last night . Ninth shot, so I guess he was tired. Oh, and then there is the fact of all the Vezina noms Holtby has.

I guess we will agree to disagree then

2nd best save percentage among goalies in the playoffs - fact!

What you're doing is called "selective observation," since you clearly based much of that response on one goal from one game. Very objective. Lol.