(1) NEW YORK RANGERS vs. (7) WASHINGTON CAPITALS Series Thread

[BOSSMANPC]

I still think the Caps NEED a split in the first two games at MSG so i'm calling this a "must win" game for them.

 

[ritari330]

I don't see it as a "must win", but they certainly need to play better and show some fight tonight. They looked like the regular season Caps.

 

[RangersReds03]

I kinda agree with Boss if the Caps are down 2-0 it's going to be tough to win 4 of the next 5.

 

[awaz]

if the caps play like they did over the weekend i think they'll be fine.. the rangers got a lot of fortunate bounces including 4 posts

 

[BOSSMANPC]

I kinda agree with Boss if the Caps are down 2-0 it's going to be tough to win 4 of the next 5.

That's what I'm thinking. They will need to win 4 of 5 and still need a win at MSG. The way the Rangers can play defense and against Lundy....Good luck with that.

 

[ritari330]

if the caps play like they did over the weekend i think they'll be fine.. the rangers got a lot of fortunate bounces including 4 posts

Perhaps, but there were a lot of mistakes by the Caps. On each goal you can point to atleast 1 player who made a pretty big mistake which led to the goal.

 

[BF4L]

Tonight is a must win for the Caps for sure. I dont see them winning it if they go down 2-0

 

[dash]

Holtby needs to bounce back from a so-so game 1 performance, and the big guns for the Caps need to find a way to contribute more offensively. I agree with Boss that the Caps need to treat game 2 as a "must-win game".

 

[awaz]

Perhaps, but there were a lot of mistakes by the Caps. On each goal you can point to atleast 1 player who made a pretty big mistake which led to the goal.

but to play like that and still be in a position to win the game if you shoot a combined 3 inches better has gotta make you feel good

i dont think green will play as poorly as he did in game 1.. he really didn't have his head on straight.. lost track of the puck numerous times when it was right in front of him

 

[awaz]

Holtby needs to bounce back from a so-so game 1 performance, and the big guns for the Caps need to find a way to contribute more offensively. I agree with Boss that the Caps need to treat game 2 as a "must-win game".

i dont like the idea of treating a game like a 'must-win game' just because what happens if you lose that game? you're still alive and you gotta bring yourselves back up after saying you had to win that game.. a 2-0 series hole would suck, but going back to washington the caps gain a big advantage, can get the OV or backstrom line away from girardi, plus the red rocks pretty good there these days and the caps are much better at home (i think?).. gunna have to win one on the road eventually, but it doesnt HAVE to be this one.. at least IMO

 

[ritari330]

i dont like the idea of treating a game like a 'must-win game' just because what happens if you lose that game? you're still alive and you gotta bring yourselves back up after saying you had to win that game.. a 2-0 series hole would suck, but going back to washington the caps gain a big advantage, can get the OV or backstrom line away from girardi, plus the red rocks pretty good there these days and the caps are much better at home (i think?).. gunna have to win one on the road eventually, but it doesnt HAVE to be this one.. at least IMO

In the regular season, yes. They lost 2 of the 3 games at home i the 1st series though.

 

[ritari330]

but to play like that and still be in a position to win the game if you shoot a combined 3 inches better has gotta make you feel good

i dont think green will play as poorly as he did in game 1.. he really didn't have his head on straight.. lost track of the puck numerous times when it was right in front of him

Yeah, that's kinda why I feel encouraged about it, but they still have to play better. Holtby will rebound, I think he's just that kinda guy who can put a bad game behind him.

 

[BOSSMANPC]

The Caps did make some mistakes in the game but didn't play too bad defensively. I would be a bit concerned that they held the Rangers to only 14 SOG and they still lost the game.

Not trying to be pessimistic it's JMO and personally I want to see a long series.

 

[BOSSMANPC]

Boyle and Schultz in the line-up tonight and Semin dropped to the forth line. Semin must be in the dog house where he should be.

 

[Winged_Wheel88]

Go Caps!

 

[BOSSMANPC]

Go Gaborik, He's the only forward I have left on my pool team.

Please play Pietrangelo, He's the only defensemen I have left on my team.

 

[ritari330]

The Caps did make some mistakes in the game but didn't play too bad defensively. I would be a bit concerned that they held the Rangers to only 14 SOG and they still lost the game.

Not trying to be pessimistic it's JMO and personally I want to see a long series.

Overall, I'd agree Boss. But they made some really big mistakes which led to the goals. Green got way outworked on the 1st goal, bad line change on the 2nd goal, and just bad play by everyone on the 3rd play, especially Wideman and Holtby. Rangers don't get a whole hell of a lot of offense anyway, they capitilize on mistakes.

 

[ritari330]

Boyle and Schultz in the line-up tonight and Semin dropped to the forth line. Semin must be in the dog house where he should be.

Wouldn't be surprised if he's back on the 2nd line by the middle of the 2nd period. Hope it wakes him up.

 

[dash]

Go Gaborik, He's the only forward I have left on my pool team.

Boss, pool team or not, a Sabres fan cheering for a Rangers player?!? I just don't know.

 

[BOSSMANPC]

Boss, pool team or not, a Sabres fan cheering for a Rangers player?!? I just don't know.

The problem is that my choices were veeeeeeeery limited when it came to picking any Sabres for my team.