Watching the WCF its like watching an all star game. No lead is safe as goals are being scored at a crazy rate. In the East we will get 2-1 or 3-2 type of games.
I hate the ridiculous superstition that you shouldn't lift up the conference championship trophies if you win it. Am I the only one who remembers this...
The Avs starter got hurt. Don't know how serious it is and if he can come back. I think the Avs win it in 5 or 6 unless McDavid and Draisaitl completely dominate which they are capable of.
I usually just lurk this forum on TGG but wanted to see if any of the Tampa area locals from the site are going to the game Sunday. Rangers are usually pretty well represented at Amalie Arena so should be a pretty good crowd. I'll be going with my Ranger's jersey on sitting next to my son in his Lightning jersey.
The Rangers play the kind of team defense that can compete with both of those attacks. However we're prone now and then to short lapses and we'll have to guard against those if we make the finals.
The problem with all the prognosticating at this time is that it heavily weights something that has absolutely no value in predicting the outcome of the series. What is the thing it over-weights? The Lightning's status as back-to-back champions - which means absolutely nothing in this series. If you look at the Lightning and the Rangers in '21-'22 there is very little difference between them and the Rangers are the team that has grown over the year. Also, of course, the Rangers have home ice advantage and that's a big factor that everybody seems to be under-weighting.
I don't put much stock in home ice to be honest. I think it will be a long series probably 6 or 7 games. I also think the Lightning will win at MSG and the Rangers will do the same in Tampa. Both teams have excellent goaltending, strong defenses as well as elite level forwards who can score. I think we are in for a lot of 1-1 games going into the 3rd period. Wouldn't shock me if multiple games go to OT. I expect a very competitive series.
Good thing I don't need to talk to anyone at work because I won't have a voice left on Monday, just glad it's a 3pm game otherwise I'd be hoarse and hungover Monday
Good luck Rangers fans! I did not expect them to beat Carolina, but they were impressive the past few games. That is why New York should not be counted out. They played pretty poorly against the Penguins and escaped with a series win. Started slow against Carolina and eventually were down 3-2, but won Game 6 and 7. They could start to get hot (especially Igor) and ride that all the way to the Stanley Cup. As for the back to back Stanley Cup Champion Tampa Bay Lightning: They did not look very good Round 1 against the Maple Leafs. As usual, Toronto found a way to blow it. I couldn't fully evaluate them against the biggest frauds in the playoffs either, but they did seem to sweep them with ease, as they should have. This truly should be a fun series that likely goes 6 or 7.
i didnt believe the team was poised to make a run... and flubbing G 1 vs Penguins seemed to confirm all my worst suspicions.. i was dead fking wrong... big time hockey coming up
The Penguins series is a 5 game win for the Rangers if Chytil's goal does not get disallowed game one. The triple OT game flattened Igor and was the main reason he had the bad games later on.
