Rangers Recap: Endgame.
by Jim Schmiedeberg on Apr 28, 2009 10:13 PM EDT
in NHL News
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In the end, the problem in Game 7 was the same as the problem in October: not enough scoring.
Despite the mid-season coaching change, despite the change in style of play, despite the acquisitions at the trade deadline to shore up the offense, the Rangers were unable to get the goals when they needed them in the playoffs, and in the end, it cost them a series they once held a 3-1 lead in, losing to the Capitals 2-1 in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals.
From the onset, the Rangers rediscovered the formula that worked so well early in the series: good solid forechecking, keeping the Caps to the outside, forcing them to take bad shots, and relying on Henrik Lundqvist.
Nik Antropov put the Rangers on the board at 5:35, giving them the lead for the first time since Game 4. They continued to control the play for the entire period, taking the play to the Capitals for one of the few times in the series. The Caps were held to only 2 shots, but one of them took a bad deflection and got past Lundqvist, tying the game with at the 15:34 mark.
Both teams picked up the pace in the second, but the Rangers seemed content to play keep away for most of the period, cycling and forechecking better than they have for most of the series. They were outshot 8-5 in the period, despite playing a majority of the period in the Caps end.
So after six games and two periods, it all came down to 20 minutes. The Rangers had to kill off an early penalty, and after that, the Caps began to carry the play. The Rangers were unable to muster much offense in the third, and after fighting off the Caps as long as they could, the air went out of the 2008-09 season when Sergei Federov beat Lundqvist with a shot over his left shoulder with five minutes remaining, sending the Capitals into the Conference semis, and sending the Rangers into the off-season.
So while the Caps get ready for the second round of the playoffs, the Rangers will prepare for an off-season filled with questions.
One final note, we hope you'll stick with us throughout the off-season, we'll be covering the rest of the NHL playoffs, as well as any other Ranger news. We'll also be looking ahead to the draft, and we hope to have some special surprises along the way. Thanks to everyone who has joined us so far, and we look forward to the future with you.
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This just in....
Welcome to the off-season, New Jersey Devils
Blueshirt Banter: Covering the New York Rangers
Big Blue View: Unofficial New York Giants blog
by Jim Schmiedeberg on Apr 28, 2009 10:15 PM EDT reply actions
So what's worse?
…losing a 3-1 lead in a series, or losing a 3-2 lead with 90 seconds left in a game 7?
Either way, there was an amazing amount of steaming poo coming from the NY/NJ metropolitan area hockey teams this week.
Glen Sather is a Hockey Genius.
http://glensathersucks.com/
http://twitter.com/ThGeneralissimo
The Devils loss was way worse
I think Brent Sutter should be on suicide watch. I’ve never seen a coach so despondent.
Great series guys. I thought for the first half of the night Rangers totally outworked the Caps.
I hope never to see Callahan in the playoffs ever again unless he’s wearing a Caps jersey down the road. The kid was a beast in both zones all series long. I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a complete performance in a series by player that young.
Congrats on a tough series – the Caps are better prepared for the second round because of it.
And congrats to Blueshirt Banter – you guys are all class and do a hell of a job.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Apr 28, 2009 10:34 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Thank You
Thank You Sir… I checked your site daily during this two week battle. Here’s to waking up your beast that is known as an offense for Round 2 for you, ha ha.
They gave it all they got, and that is what counts.
My Rangers Blog: http://rangerstribune.com/
by Nick Montemagno on Apr 28, 2009 11:00 PM EDT reply actions
A least nobody can say the Rangers didn't play with heart
Well, they can can. But they would be even more wrong than usual.
Caps/Pens should be a great series!
Ugh
The better team won the series. New York has some work to do. Having the 1st overall pick is gonna help…
I wouldn’t call this a “choke for the ages”
Thanks to the Japers guys for checking in.
Life goes on
Blueshirt Banter: Covering the New York Rangers
Big Blue View: Unofficial New York Giants blog
by Jim Schmiedeberg on Apr 29, 2009 7:52 AM EDT up reply actions
Are you having a laugh?
A “choke for the ages”? A 7 seed that struggled to get into the playoffs lost to a far superior 2 seed. They won three games despite being badly outplayed in all of them. It’s not surprising that the luck, and insane goaltending the Rangers were getting through game four was leveled out. If Henrik makes a few less saves in games 1,2, and 4, and the rangers went out in four or five, we would all just be saying that the Caps were the better team.
Washington played well from start to finish and the Rangers did all they could to battle with them. It sucks to be one game away from advancing only to lose. But the fact that the Caps won shouldn’t come as a surprise.
Agreed
We weren’t supposed to win this series. The fact that we should have sucks, but in reality the efforts in this series almost softens the blow for this disappointing season in general.
Japer beat me to it
But throughout the series I’ve been reading Banter and really respect all you guys. Great writing and great analysis. It was an amazing series, and with King Henrik (wow, just incredible) in net you will always have a shot to do something.
terrible 3rd period by the Rangers
It seemed like the offensive mindset from period 1 & some of period 2 was all gone by the 3rd. Does this team not understand that in order to win, you need to get MORE GOALS than the other team? It just seemed like they were fending off instead of attacking, it was so maddening.
the early PP in the third turned the game around for the Caps. Like I’ve said all along, the Rangers are what they are, a team that can forecheck well, and has to grind for every goal. With a collection of 20 goal scorers, other teams have no one to fear, they can play their game and take their chances. There is no one player on the Rangers teams have to adapt to.
When guys like Ovechkin, Semin, Malkin, Crosby, Mike Richards, and Jeff Carter have the puck, it makes you nervous, because those guys are dangerous. The Rangers don’t have that guy. They had one, he’s in Russia now. The Rangers need to find a player or two or three that make other teams nervous.
Blueshirt Banter: Covering the New York Rangers
Big Blue View: Unofficial New York Giants blog
by Jim Schmiedeberg on Apr 29, 2009 11:10 AM EDT up reply actions
Handshake offer from a fan of the capitals.
I have to give your team all the respect in the world. It was a tough series and consider the Caps very lucky to have survived it. Hopefully it woke them up a little bit. Lundqvist is an awesome goaltender and I wish we had him on our team. I have to admit I lurked on the blueshirtbanter site during the series and was impressed with how reasonable your assesments were.
I’ll go back to hating you guys next year but I wanted to offer my congrats on the heart your team showed during this series.
Can't score, can't win.
Simple and plain.
The Rangers have lots of nice grinding players who play a great PP. Now they need to get a true sniper or two and get some balance.
L!
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Atlantic Standings
| GP | W | L | OTL | PT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
New York Rangers
|
55 | 37 | 13 | 5 | 79 |
|
Philadelphia
|
56 | 31 | 18 | 7 | 69 |
|
Pittsburgh
|
56 | 32 | 19 | 5 | 69 |
|
New Jersey
|
56 | 32 | 20 | 4 | 68 |
|
New York Islanders
|
56 | 24 | 24 | 8 | 56 |
(updated 2.15.2012 at 8:59 AM EST)
Rangers Schedule
Next 5 Games
|
Chicago
|
Thu 02/16 | 7:00 PM EST |
|
Columbus
|
Sun 02/19 | 8:00 PM EST |
|
@
Pittsburgh
|
Tue 02/21 | 7:00 PM EST |
|
@
New York Islanders
|
Fri 02/24 | 7:00 PM EST |
|
Buffalo
|
Sat 02/25 | 7:00 PM EST |
Last 5 Games
|
@
Boston
|
Tue 02/14 | W 3 - 0 |
|
Washington
|
Sun 02/12 | W 3 - 2 |
|
@
Philadelphia
|
Sat 02/11 | W 5 - 2 |
|
Tampa Bay
|
Thu 02/09 | OT - W 4 - 3 |
|
New Jersey
|
Tue 02/07 | L 0 - 1 |
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