Sure Hurts Doesn't It?

The playoffs really ARE the ultimate barometer.

This series is showing exactly what this team has got, and we've got a lot given our level of experience. You can see at times, like the first 15 minutes of the third period in game two, that this team isn't that far away from exploding. Unfortunately however, that probably won't happen until at least next year. Something to be sad about? I don't think so, it's hardly unexpected. New York has finally bought into the plan of building a team from scratch, and it's the only way we're going to have another parade any time soon. So good job boys is what I have to say...

Having said that, let me go on to now say that I believe we can still win this series. Call me crazy, but it just doesn't seem that out of reach yet. Consider the two Washington goals and the circumstances surrounding them.. They were the result of a drop in Ranger intensity, so just like in game one, the Caps scored because of the Rangers, not because they are so skilled that they just bulldozed through us. You could see right out of the gate that the Rangers were not playing as hard at the beginning of the second, and the Caps smelled blood.

Usually the Rangers just bust their asses all night regardless of what the other team gives them, but they seemed to stumble at the beginning of the second as if maybe they were over-complicating things, and they ended up straying from their well known mantra. The Caps seem more reactionary as far as how hard they decide to play (IMO), only becoming unmanageable when you give them a little bit of breathing room. I'm telling you, if the Rangers can just play their same old game consistently @ MSG for game three, good things could happen, and we all know what happens to this team when their hard work brings success; they do things like beat Boston 5-3 after being down 3-0.

Can't wait for game three, but can I ever really wait for the next Ranger game?

That's Right Bitches; It's Gonna Be A Long Series

Folks, I almost died when Semin scored in overtime Wednesday night. I felt as if a large pouch of poison had suddenly ruptured inside my chest, leaving me gasping for breath and questioning existence.

BUT FOLKS!!!

Everything is going to be OKAY. At least that's what I believe. We held the Caps scoreless for two periods, and then we scored 1st, and it was off a beautiful setup borne of hard work and a Gravey performance from Prust.

The goal Ovechtrick got was garbage, and could have been prevented if Staal had shoved him out of the way sooner (but how can you blame the guy that plays 30+ minutes?).

The goal with two minutes left in overtime? A product of another Ranger mistake, which was a result of physical and mental exhaustion.

Basically the Caps can't score when the Rangers are on top of playing their game, and so the Caps' worst fears were confirmed on Wednesday night: they are going to have to work extra extra hard to beat this blue collar Ranger team, and that is not something I believe the Caps are designed to do. The Rangers however are, because they've been doing it all season.

This is gonna be a great series, and I bet the kids can't wait to get back on the ice and take what they have learned from their 1st playoff experience and put it to work for them.

Torts' Old Pals Smash Canes; Send Rangers to Playoffs

Hello folks! Well it was really something watching the Rangers put MAAAARRRTTYYY and the Devils in their place this afternoon off a brilliant game winning 1st NHL goal by the rookie revelation and total trade STEAL Ryan McDonagh, and then watching the Bolts crush Carolina's hopes in Raleigh. I am just so completely jazzed that we made it into the playoffs that I don't really know what to do with myself. It was never an expectation of mine that we make it in this year, I've just thought that whatever we could achieve would be icing on the cake.

For all the naysayers I have but one question: what was the point?

We are at the beginning of something truly special here in New York, and if you can't see that you are either not paying attention, or are a two-dimensional thinker. We are finally doing what needs to be done in the cap-era, creating a home grown team and not signing any lazy ass HAS BEENs or SUPPOSED TO BEs to ridiculously exorbitant contracts hoping to patch gaping holes in the team with SILLY PUDDY!

We have a coach that knows how to use every player, and holds the players accountable. He also recognizes that some aspects of his methods are no one else's business and doesn't hesitate to tell the media where to shove their stupid ass questions that a 5-year-old could come up with. He has squeezed every last drop of capability out of this squad, and now we're in the playoffs!

So my mind is blown, and I can no longer just post a thought here and a thought there on twitter or Facebook, it has become neccesary for me to create my own BLOG, because there is just too much on my mind that I need to get out... and here it is folks! Ranger Onslaught, a BLOG inspired by a team that fights for what they want, stands up for their team mates, and never gives up. That's what it means to be a Ranger!!!

One more message to the naysayers whose first response to us making it into the playoffs is to say that we won't make it far: this is crucial experience for our young players no matter how far we make it, we are building a team folks! IN NEW YORK! CAN U BELIEVE WE'RE FINALLY DOING IT RIGHT??