Brady Skjei had seven games of NHL experience entering the postseason
– That was a tough, tough loss. When Chris Kreider’s goal was called back, it seemed like a lot of wind was taken out of the team’s sails and the Rangers couldn’t recover. The Blueshirts battled tooth and nail all night, but they had a very difficult time gaining the offensive zone and creating any sustained pressure.
– That said, I’m far from panicking. Despite what many believed heading into the series, there’s not much separating these teams. I expect New York to come out flying in Game Four and send the teams back to Pittsburgh tied 2-2.
– Can the Rangers give Brady Skjei a real number? The kid might already be the team’s fourth-best defenseman after Ryan McDonagh, Keith Yandle and Kevin Klein. He’s been a savior on the blueline and has demonstrated remarkable poise with the puck and compete level. Between him and Pavel Buchnevich, I have a hard time listening to the annual panic about the window closing. Will the team be different next year? Sure. But if the organization makes smart personnel decisions, there’s no reason the Rangers can’t extend this run.
– What a warrior McDonagh is. He has battled back from a slew of injuries the last few years and almost always steps right back into the lineup without missing a beat. No shocker but the captain led the Blueshirts with 22:48 last night.
– This is the most physical the Rangers have played in years. Even under John Tortorella, the Black & Blueshirts were known more for blocking shots than for punishing their opponents. But boy are they throwing the body in this series. It’s pretty clear that playing this way is when Kreider is at his absolute best.
– The Rangers’ MVP through three games is Henrik Lundqvist (as usual), but Derek Stepan isn’t far behind.
– Eric Staal was brought here to score playoff goals, but so far he has just four shots on goal. Staal has been a bull carrying the puck at times, but he still isn’t contributing nearly enough. Staal looks a step slow in comparison to the fleet of foot Penguins.
– I’m a Giants fan, but Nick Mangold is my favorite Jet by a country mile.
– In 30 playoff games across the last two postseasons, Nikita Kucherov and Tyler Johnson each have 30 points (15 goals, 15 assists). You have to wonder if Tampa’s success and the performance of these two (plus Jonathan Drouin) has changed any of the Lightning’s thinking on committing a forklift full of cash to Steven Stamkos this summer.
– Speaking of the Lightning – how about this rumor of what Tampa Bay offered Florida in exchange for Aaron Ekblad in 2014?
https://twitter.com/NicholsOnHockey/status/721051255745830913
I’d have a really hard time turning that down.
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Question time:
1. If you had to award the Conn Smythe to a Ranger after three games, who would you pick?
2. What do you think of Eric Staal’s performance thus far?
3. Would you have made that trade if you were Florida GM Dale Tallon?
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