DEBATE: Is there any chance the Rangers can come back?
JIM: No.
The Rangers are done. D-O-N-E. Done. My only regret is that the Rangers will get swept and not lose in five games as I predicted. Too bad.
What a majorly disappointing series for the Rangers. They looked so good against the Devils, and they've outplayed the Penguins more often than not in these three games. But what do they have to show for it? Nada.
You could have seen this happening when the Rangers blew a three-goal lead in the first game. No good team does that in the postseason.
The party line for the Rangers fans today - at least for the ones courageous enough to show their faces - is that the Rangers could have won all three of those games. So why can't then win the next four?
Pfffttttt. Stop right there. This series is over. You know it. And the Rangers have only themselves to blame.
ANTHONY: A chance? Yes.
If I sat here and said the Rangers will definitely come back, it would undercut the vast amount of hockey knowledge I obviously have. But to say it's impossible? No way.
Jim says they can't. More importantly, our Newsday colleague Steve Zipay, who covers the team, says they won't.
I say there's a small chance they might.
Look, no one can making a living betting on a team to come back from 0-3 down. But it happens. It happened for our beloved Islanders once, it happened for the Red Sox against the Yankees in '04.
Could it happen for our beloved Rangers? All you have to do is go back to the first part of the first game of the series, when the Rangers took a 3-0 lead. A most learned colleague of mine who is a true hockey expert told me, "The Rangers are going to win the Cup. I just have a feeling about them."
Oops. Well, that guy had a feeling because of how the team was playing. Can they play that way again for four games, the last two on the road. It's unlikely. But impossible? No.
And don't forget that the NHL wants the Rangers to continue in the playoffs. I'm not saying the refs will throw the entire series the Rangers' way, but would it shock us if a few calls went in the Rangers' favor so the series can be extended? And once the Rangers get their confidence back. It's not like the Penguins are can't-miss Cup favorite locks. Any team can be rattled.
Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? No. And it's not over now.
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Comments (10)
Anthony, you're an idiot.
The NHL and all of toadies at Versus and NBC have been preening Sidney in preparation for a Stanley Cup all season long. The idea that the NHL actually WANTS the Rangers to win the cup is a myth.
Oh..and the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor.
looks like someone has never seen animal house
Animal House is hands down one of the funniest movies ever, even if it was a National Lampoon production. Anyone who doesn't recognize that line or who hasn't seen that movie has really missed out in life.
Well, Im not sure he's correct about the Rangers outplaying the Pens during any game this series is correct either. Granted the Pens were down 3-0 but then escalated to a level the Rangers were not prepared for and did little else but watch the lead and possibly the their season begin to end.
As for the Germans bombing Pearl Harbor... LOL, Loved it :)
It is a shame people do no recognize magnificent works of art.
Germans?
Forget it, he's rolling.
(If only one of the Niedermayer brothers played for the Pens)
Niedermayer!! Dead!
I can only hope the guy/gal who didn't know the animal house line was kidding.
No one can be that clueless.
But it sure seemed like he/she wasn't kidding.
Nice Animal House reference....one of my favorite movies of all time along with Caddyshack; Blazing Saddles and every guy's favorites: Shawshank, The Godfather and Good Fellas.
Anyway, I'm happy to say the Rangers are done!
Stanley Cup 2008: If the Isles don't go, the Rangers don't go!
Anthony ... do you want to lose the debate and the prediction altogether?
Or is it Rangers in seven ... the hARd way? :)
Anthony... I love that last line you put. I am the General Manager of my college radio station and I used that clip on my sports talk show today. That was great man good job. As for the Rangers chances.. well I am a die hard Rangers fan and I hope they can win 4 in a row but we shall see.
LET'S GO RANGERS!!!!!!!!!!!
Okay, Jim, the Rangers have done their part to give you five points ... up to the Pens.