Blue Notes

Should be a great series. Even though Montreal has a great team, I was hoping to get them b/c they'd be less rested then Pitt. But regardless, NY played well against Pitt in the regular season and NY can certainly win this.

Tough blow for the Capitals. Sucks for them.

Let's Go Penguins!!!

Screw the Caps, up until this years trade deadline McPhee uses this team as a tax write off. I'm not sure if it was Ovie signing and saving DC's hockey team or Ovie's ability to draw a crowd for the Craps, but it started to look like they finally got something going on. Nevermind, the paper hardly covered the lose last night. Even with a game 7 in town the place was mostly orange and black. And what the paper's did cover was the bad officals and Philly marked as playing a little unfair. Can you believe that? Why won't newsday remark on the poor officials?
McPhee will blow this good thing he's go going on. Sadly Ovie will never meet his true potenial playing in a none Hockey town that won't properly cover the season. I won't mention how bad the 2 colorguys are on CSN. But I will call the the worst in the NHL, hands down, no comp, the worst ever.
Pitts vs. Rangers will be awesome. Mark my words the refs are never going to let the Rangers beat Pitts.
So we'll have to beat 2 teams in the semi-finals. How fair is that?

Both top 2 lines for Rangers and Pitt match up evenly, I believe. Certainly Pitt is more youthful, yet Rangers experience is pivotal as well.

It will boil down to Henrik vs. Conklin / Fluery, Rangers 3rd line vs. Pitt 3rd line, and how well Crosby / Jagr are contained.

Gonna be an intense matchup - I was hoping to head up to Montreal, but gotta go through Pitt anyway.

Avery will have to be more goal / playmaker orientated - I dont think Roberts, Malone, Whitney will let him buzz around like he did in NJ.

In regards to the refs / bettman / etc, if the rangers dont take penalties, then the refs cant call anything, correct? However, i agree with msg4ever in previous thread - bettman is always up to something.

Gonna be a sick series. Nothing beats playoff hockey. Nothing.

Welcome JDS.
We'll see. After watching the Caps game last night and all the calls they had going their way it seems like any team that isn't on the top of buttmans biggest rating possible list is going to have to play the refs just as hard as the next team on the list.
Pitts and Montreal would be bigger money makers and ratings grabbers left in the eastern playoffs.
The Rangers are in major trouble going up against the leagues pretty boy and his gang. Not because Pitts is better, their not.
The Rangers are going to have to be so careful down low and along the boards, the refs will call them every chance they get. It's the only way Buttman can ensure that Sid the Baby gets a chance at the cup.

Let's go Rangers!!!! I really wish I had a ticket to the game.

Join fellow NY Ranger fans right here: http://iamaranger.rangers.nhl.com/TrueToBlue22

Thankyou Mr. Willy. I agree with the ref problem, but I think actually its just a byproduct of all the changes made to the game, including an NHL rule book now bigger than a Stephen King novel. The refs no longer have an easy time. With so much scrutiny today with instant replay and such, im sure theyre on edge and have lost some confidence with all the second-guessing they do. I'd like to add that I am not a ref, I just hate Baby Dolan.

tix available on eBay and on the ticket exchange soon. if u search u can usually find some that aren't too ridiculously priced.

I'm sorry, JDS, are you DEFENDING the refs? wow, never thought I would see that on these boards. As has been stated numerous times, I strongly beleive the Rangers can beat anyone in the East when we play our game. I haven't been following Pitt at all recently, its Crosby/Hossa on one line and Malkin/Sykora and someone else correct? Which of our lines do you put up against their top lines?

i think the gomez line should be matched up against crosby/hossa and put the drury line out against malkin/sykora.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=235586&lid=sublink01&lpos=headlines_main

With the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs over, the National Hockey League has trimmed the number of referees that will work the second round.

IN:

Paul Devorski
Mike Hasenfratz
Marc Joannette
Don Koharski
Mike Leggo
Bill McCreary
Tim Peel
Kevin Pollock
Dan O'Halloran
Kelly Sutherland
Don Van Massenhoven
Brad Watson

OUT:

Kerry Fraser
Eric Furlatt
Dave Jackson
Greg Kimmerly
Dennis LaRue
Dan Marouelli
Wes McCauley
Chris Rooney

most of the horrible refs from the NYR/NJD series seem to be out for this round...maybe things will be called more fairly

The ticket exchange has ridiculous prices, I don't know how some of these season ticket holders have the balls to ask for the money they ask for 400 level seats.

I went to the first game vs the Devils buying from Ebay and the second from Stubhub and both went very well for a good price.

I have never seen a reasonable price on that ticket exchange

what does everyone think of the matchups this series? what line or defensive pairing should play against the Crosby & Malkin lines?

i was thinking drury line against crosby line, since they are fast, play good D, can keep a good physical presence on them, and break out for a goal or two. with either staal/rosi or tyutin/giradi out there too

any thoughts?

Zip: Is Renney going to keep Orr, Prucha, Struds, and Malik out of the lineup, or is maybe Orr or Prucha going in for Hollweg?

Anon: Mike Hasenfrantz and Don Van Masenhoven are still in and they called the atrocious game 3.

boys get a clue - i agree the refs have sucked and that the cry baby in the burgh gets his share of calls but to think that the league will work against the rangers and the #1 media market in the world to continue is a bit ridiculous.

I actually think the league could not be happier with the final eight and now can only hope for good hockey. Great media markets, lots of super stars (yes including poster boy crosby), a few originals and some great match- ups.....game on.

I agree, Rucchin. Just reading the name Hasenfrantz from that list made me throw up in my mouth. That game was all him, VM called three penalties that game. Hasenfeffer Incorporated called 12.

couple or reasons why Caps lost were the Refs and Tom Poti (aka Malik, aka Backman, aka defenseman that only poke checks and never takes the body)

Regarding bad officiating, it's been going on forever.....as fans of sports, we just have to accept it's part of the game....I just can't stand the phantom and cheap calls...that will always burn me. Wally Harris years ago was clearly the worse. Andy Van Hellomond was the best, and I also like Kerry Fraser. Kerry used to be inconsistent, but over the last 4+ years, he really has improved. In any case, I am looking forward to the challenges ahead playing the 'Guins......stop taking a parade of penalities, close the lanes off for the Kid, Malkin, and Hossa, give Hendrick a clear view of the shots from the point (ie: from Gonchar) and have success of the PP and we'll be just fine.