Rangers have a little too much experience

Rangers suck. Avery is a piece of garbage.

This is one of those "no fun to say I told ya so."

When Sather did the predictable and dull last summer - throw A+ money at the B+ centers ( then follow, with the season underway and cracks already showin', with the wishful gift of franchise-goalie money to a minder who doesn't have nearly enough regular season games at that level, and not nearly enough playoff experience to tell you what y'can reasonably count on) leaving the Rangers, already considerably short of too many fans fantasies about this season (fueled by the usual careless and undisciplined and unknowing scribes), cap-poor at the help deadline
(Marcel Hossa rental, anyone?) and a run for the Cup (from a team no discernibly better than the one which was unmasked by a good-but-not-great Sabre squad last year) I warned, and did it again when the empty chatter about "why not us?' began, that the only way you'd know if the culture had indeed changed at the Garden - where a first-round triumph over a depleted squad last year and this seems like fan paradise when compared with the Knicks, but is, in reality, a continued disgrace from Golfer Glen in it s own rite - was for the locals to again engage a good-but-not-great squad in the playoffs, and actually beat 'em, then go, humbly, to the more difficult task of beating a very good side.
I didn't think what I saw from them this year, from the albatross contracts on, ever even hinted at the possibility, even remotely.
But so many of the local 'experts' kept writing it was a real, live chance, I started to think I mighta had the Rs as wrong as I had the Gs last g-round, and wouldn't it be nice to gladly eat prophetic crow a second time in a calendar year?
So now they're a likely second round exit again, no visibly better for all the thrown cash, and with a killer cap situation and overpaid contracts that will make any wheelin' and dealin', even if Sather were to bring in an assistant who actually knows something about grit and struggle and the Cup, of the less-than-transformational kind, and the kids, though likely to get better, so far do not look like they will beat Philly and/or the Pens anytime in the near future - and both those sides have better salary situations.
Thanks you, again, Little Jimmy Dolan, for your brilliant executive choices.

In the end there are 29 losers and only one winner. It's easy to kick the losers when they are down, but getting to the second round in this competition is considered a relative success. Just ask the folks in Columbus.

The Rangers only win when Henrik is at his Vezina candidate best. Tonight he was a ham and egger. If he rises to the occasion next game they could extend the series.

This team is as strong up the middle as any team in the league but when you lose two centres, you've lost your second edge.

I'm not making excuses because the team is flawed on defence. Bringing in Backman, who has gaping holes in his games, was a dumb move if that was meant to strengthen the defence for a cup run. They were better off with what they had, Malik and his off nights and Strudwick who almost never gives you a minus two. At least they were a cohesive pack. That has to be fixed. They need a bruiser back there like Hatcher and if you can combine that with an offensive threat like Souray, then they've got something. But it ain't over yet.

Ummm, how bout them Pens though. I will say the Rangers are a lot tougher than Sens, and Jagr, for the prick that he is, is really playing great. Its unfortunate that his teammates don't feed off of that. Clearly though the two best players on the ice are Malkin and Crosby with honorable to mention to Fluery. He is developing into the all-star that the Pens drafted. I have noticed a sever drop in Ranger fans whining so much. Is perhaps that when even the calls go your way, the Rangers still aren't talented enough to play with the Pens?

Bravo Mark Herrmann for being the only Newsday reporter thus far to mention that the Pittsburgh Penguins HAVE blown a 3-0 lead before.

The other Ranger homers (Zip and Staple) would never overcome their obvious despise for the Islander franchise and reference that fact.
Even if it meant giving a small sliver of hope for their now despondent fellow Ranger fans.

One would think that if the lowly Islander franchise could come back from an 0-3 deficit,(and they almost did it again in their next series against Philly in the following series in 75), the mighty Rangers should be able to do it as well.
Hey, it's an angle for one of them to run with.
But that would mean saying something positive about the Isles in writing....which might cause an earthquake in Melville.

Being a Pens fan, I love the way the series is going and the way our guys are performing. However I do have to say, being that it may be Jagr's last game, there has been no player as good or as dominat in the last 10 years. Thanks for all of good years in the burgh and for carrying this team on your back for most of the late 90s. I look forward to the night your number goes up in the rafters right next to Mario!

I think Joe Sakic has had as good if not better career then Jagr.

Watching the Ranger's play last night was watching a bunch of pee-wee league players play against the Greek Gods. It was as if they had forgotten 20 years of playing hockey. They cant keep up with Pittsburghs 1st line. Hell, even a 4th liner scored last night. Who in their right mind would get rid of Hossa for CHRISTIAN FREAKIN BACKMAN. Hes a clumsy defender who really has moments of good play. Ryan Hollweg has never been a talented player, I dont understand why he still takes up space on the ice. I hate to say it because I love this team so much but they just cant do it. They're too old. Jagr is 36 years old and hes playing with a younger heart than the whole team. Hes the only one whos truly playing like its the playoffs, where its win or your out. Glen Sather and James Dolan are probably having a laugh about this. The 2 of them are killing MSG sports, and its a shame. MSG used to stand for something, it used to be intimidating. Now its turning into a Museum of a past that has long died.

I can see the ranger$ signing Hossa if jagr doesnt stay.

i honestly think that the rangers can come back and tie up this series.

although losing their agitator in avery, they can dress some of the Wolfpack players they called up for the playoffs ans suprise pittsburgh with their speed. rangers can do it, i have faith in my team. they have to have that intensity in them.

i also think they should go back to the lines they had when they went on a 13 straight point streak. they were doing fantastic, but no renny has to f**k it all up, he has been the downfall of this team. and i truly hope that sather resigns jagr, he has turned his season around and finally decided to play.

and yes they gave up a star in the making of Marcel Hossa who i think could have shined this playoff series.

what rangers have to do to get back in this series, is get more speed in the lineup and more physical they can do it. i know they can.

Aaaaah! Why do writers, commentators and web sites always get this wrong??? It was the 1942 Maple Leafs that made the come back, not 1940. It's not some tiny, obscure, esoteric fact - it's the Stanley Cup championship! Would a writer be so careless with a World Series comment? Of course not.
Um, and I'd hope that most of you on this board, as Ranger fans, would know who won in 1940. As an Islander fan, I'll chant it for you ;o)
Yeah, yeah, I know. my team sucks. I didn't come on here to bash the Rangers. I came on here to say check your facts, Mr. Herrmann.

Being a Pens fan, like Phil Pittsburgh said, I too am enjoying the way the series is going. What I have noticed from the Rangers, as opposed to the Penguins, is that the younger players aren't feeding off of/capitalizing on the hard work and play of the Captains/veteran players. When the Rangers were down by two, after Straka's scramble goal, who tied it up but Jagr. At that point, I thought it might be coming back to Pittsburgh (it still could). Instead of taking that momentum and moving forward, Ryan Hollweg swung it back the other way with the penalty and subsequent power play goal. A shame as it turned what could have been a laugher into a game that could go either way.

BTW...it was the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs who came back from 3 down, as did the 1975 Islanders. And for those that can't do the math..that's a span of 33 years...and here we are, 33 years later. Just some hope for the Rangers fans.