This was one of our best shots at a Cup. Nobody injured, Igor on a season-long roll as the best goalie, lots of depth after the deadline deals. There will be other chances but this was one of the best because we got to the starting line in good shape. Freaking officials threw game 1 to the Pens and things got dark. It's embarrassing to the NHL that the officials waved off a goal that clearly should have stood. It would be slightly more understandable if the game was in Pittsburgh and the Penguins were the top-seed in the matchup. It was just embarrassing for the league's image that it happened in Madison Square Garden.
The big reason was that the Rangers had something like 30M of cap available to them this deadline that they wouldn't have going forward. Not really sure what moves this team makes going forward. Strome has got to go, they can't spend 6M AAV on that guy. Trouba and Kreider are the two big money guys the Rangers have that they can move -- both guys have a 15-team no move list in 2024. With that being said, losing that 3OT killed this team. Igor is gassed and not losing a game like that takes its toll on a young team. I think the 2 early boarding calls in game 1 made the Rangers hesitant to hit the Pens at all. They came out flying in the first period and haven't done it since. Mika hasn't shown up at all. Panarin looks bad (I think he's actually hurt). Kreider isn't being given the opportunity to deflect pucks in front of the net because the team is just launching low % shots at Domingue. Absolutely NO defense outside of 1st period of game 1 and the entirety of game 2. I really hope this team doesn't go out with a whimper. You're coming home to MSG -- Come out flying and pummel Pittsburgh relentless. Who gives a shit if you get called for a penalty? It's 3-1 and you need to go down with a swing.
The defense has been brutal; they reverted back to pre-trade deadline performance. Trouba has been worthless and don't even get me started on Patrick fucking Nemeth.
noticed this throughout the year as well... you see the back of his jersey alot when Ighor is picking the puck outta the net anyway... last years KNicks= this years Rangers.... it was just a nice regular season run. unless they pull this one outta their asses.
Doubt they pull this one out. I do think the Rangers success going forward is more sustainable. No reason to think they shouldn’t be a playoff team next year.
Inexperience and lack of poise. This team sure has top end talent and they are young. Hopefully they bounce back. Just sucks we are losing to Pittsburgh a team that is not as good as us, we are getting outplayed and our defense has been weak
We're losing to the Pens because the officials waved off the game winning goal game one causing the best goalie in the NHL to play 2+ extra periods that game.
Rangers should have scored to end the fucking game after blowing a 2 goal lead. After, Igor played well below NHL avg x2. We've got ZERO playoff grit so far. We need that or we'll be a playoff team that just gets bounced immediately.
Not everything is Igor’s fault. This team went soft defensively and generated next to no high % chances against Domingue, they barely challenged him. With that being said, if this team goes down tonight, they better do it pummeling Crosby into the fucking boards everytime that pansy is on the ice
Am not stating that everything is Igor's fault. He's been really good for us. But he has not performed up to the standard he himself has set. It's no crime. But it's also a fact. Earlier I mentioned how much the Rangers owe him and how coming back to win a game he performed poorly in is what he DESERVES. We came back then couldn't finish the deal. We have a bad habit of not scoring enough.
