Bantering Points: 5/1/17
News and notes for Monday, May 1st, 2017
The calendar has turned over into the month of May, and the New York Rangers are still playing hockey. While that isn't something I expected to be able to say back in October (or April for that matter), that's what ended up happening. Unfortunately, the team is two games away from getting laughed out of the playoffs, and will need a strong effort to avoid falling behind 3-0 in the series. Here are today's news and links:
Rangers News:
- Larry Brooks thinks that Alain Vigneault's habit of shortening his bench during crunch time could come back to haunt him once again (NY Post)
- Brett Cyrgalis hears from team members that hope the extra day off between Games 2 and 3 will help them rebound from Saturday's performance (NY Post)
- Mark Herrmann detials the catch-22 situation New York currently finds itself in (Newsday)
- Justin Tasch notes that any and all options are on the table for Alain Vigneault to try and swing the series back in his team's favor (NY Daily News)
- Shayna Goldman breaks down how curious coaching choices curbed New York's chances of winning in Game 2 (FanRag)
- Jess Rubenstein delivers another prospect update, with bits on Ryan Gropp and Sergei Zborovskiy (Blueshirt Bulletin)
- Robby Sabo writes that after rough outings in Game 2, Henrik Lundqvist and Alain Vigneault must be perfect to avoid a 3-0 series deficit (Elite Sports NY)
- Dave Shapiro ponders what the Rangers can do to bounce back and get themselves back in the series with a win in Game 3 (Blue Seat Blogs)
- Brandon Cohen warns that placing the blame for the team's losses in Games 1 and 2 on Henrik Lundqvist's shoulders would be nonsensical (Blue Line Station)/
Around the NHL:
- Josh Beneteau relays word of great news out of Edmonton: After the American national anthem singer's microphone died, the crowd at Rogers Place took it home (Sportsnet)
- Kyle Cantlon reports that the best Quarterback in the NFL's NFC East Division was in Nashville yesterday, looking on as the Predators took Game 3 of their playoff series over the St. Louis Blues (Puck Daddy)
- Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander will be participating in the IIHF World Championships for Sweden this spring (TSN)
- Shayna Goldman examines the relationship between hits and wins during the first round of the 2017 Playoffs (Hockey Graphs)/
