2007-04-15 08:31:53 · 25 answers · asked by Ayato Kamina 3 in Sports ➔ Hockey
Not me. They have been fun to watch at times this season, but no chance at the cup. Avery was the best deadline pick up this year, and I would love the see Shanny get another, maybe next year.
2007-04-15 09:46:07 · answer #1 · answered by kinggretzky99 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've said for two weeks now that the Rangers are the darkhorse in this competition. They are severely underrated, and even after two strong games against Atlanta, people still can't take them as a serious threat.
Jagr is obviously...Jagr. Even when he doesn't score, he's constantly drawing the attention of the opposing team (usually two guys), leaving his teammates open to do something. He has the experience along with Shanny and Cullen who have been playing strong. Along with the experience, they also have great youth and energy out of players like Prucha, Girardi and Ortmeyer.
And of course you can't forget "The Avery Factor." They wouldn't even be in the playoffs if it wasn't for the acquisition of Avery. He energizes all his teammates and he gets in the opposing players' heads and draws tons of retaliatory penalties for it. Just look at the sore-loser hits and brawl at the end of the game last night by Atlanta, and tell me Avery doesn't affect things?
Lastly of course, they've got King Henrik in net. He was the number one goaltender since the all-star break in GAA and Save Percentage, and I'd put him #2, just behind Brodeur. In front of him, the additions of Girardi and Mara have really helped, and Malik has been playing great of late as well (leading the team in +/- and in the top 10 of the league). Along with the help of wingers like Ortmeyer, they're one of the best teams at blocking shots.
The odds are very good that it'll be a Devil-Ranger Eastern Conference Championship, and boy will that be an intense series. I'd be very surprised if that doesn't go the full 7, with 1-3 OT games in there. Because of their embarrasing defeat in the first round to the Devils last year, the Rangers will fight that much harder.
So I think the Rangers definitely have a shot at making it to the Stanley Cup Finals and winning it all. It won't be a cake-walk by any means, but it's the playoffs, and no team will just waltz on in. You want to know the last time NYR, NYI and NJ were all in the playoffs together? 1994. You know what happened then, right?
2007-04-15 16:07:31 · answer #2 · answered by ClayMeow 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They did luck out in the beginning rankings. They pulled off 6th place and got a match of a 3rd seed team with only 1 more win than them. So they are coming home with a good lead now, and look like the most likely to make round two. Having watched all series I declare Atlanta one of the biggest jokes in the finals. Rangers look to be heading to round 2 well rested and anything can happen.
The real test would be your likely round 2 opponent should still be Buffalo. I think Buffalo would win that. But there are a lot of other scenarios in the match-ups, they would have a great chance verses, Ottawa, Pittsburgh, Tampa or Jersey.
2007-04-15 15:51:43 · answer #3 · answered by JuanB 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
They have a 1 in 8 chance of making it to the finals. Truth is, they are better than Atlanta, so they should win that series. The question is, can their goaltending hold up through the playoffs? Having Stanley Cup winners, Jagr, Straka, and Shanahan doesn't hurt though.
2007-04-15 16:00:29 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
i think that the rangers have a chance this year because Jagr has had a good healthy year and Prucha has made the club better with puck handling skills and his speed. Lundqvist is an amazing goalie and i think he will definitely help the Rangers getting to the stanley cup.
2007-04-15 15:38:36 · answer #5 · answered by catcher55 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Even though they have a chance, I doubt it. They do have some fire power...(my personal opinion Jager is one of the most overrated players ever) but from an analyst's standpoint, they do have a couple problems. The 1st, they have no depth. You have to admit, Shanny and Jager are agging along with most of the rest of the team. And I think just like in football, defense wins champoinships. Lundquist is a good goalie, but not "great" like in the caliber of Kippuersoff, Guigere, Miller or Hasek. Even though they are up 2-0 over the Thrashers, they are still going to have their hands full. Even if they get out of the first round, they would still have to face Ottawa or Buffalo next.
2007-04-15 15:43:56 · answer #6 · answered by mrchapel0971 1 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Love the Rangers. Can"t see it happening Sabers VS. Sharks.
2007-04-19 05:13:05 · answer #7 · answered by ratspit72 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes i think so their goaly is stepping up real big just on time and jagr will carry the team through the playoffs and show the NHL why he was the MVP last year.
2007-04-15 20:58:09 · answer #8 · answered by patr0l_gn 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no because the islanders will win the stanley cup and only 1 team from that division can go to the finals
2007-04-15 15:37:53 · answer #9 · answered by jonathan g 1 · 0⤊ 4⤋
not me, Atlanta played like crap the first series, Atlanta is a power house with no defense, and if their coach was smart he would pick up a bunch of defenders in the up coming season.
2007-04-19 14:22:03 · answer #10 · answered by paul s 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋