For just the second time in franchise history, the Islanders face the Lightning in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. See how both teams match up by checking out our tale of the tape and stay tuned to MSG Networks for complete post game coverage following every game.
@StanFischler 1. Goalies just don’t get it. They belong in the crease, not minding their defensemen’s business by wandering behind the net where they often botch up plays; usually with careless clearing passes, but more than that. 2. If you don’t believe me, ask Detroit’s Petr (The Hiker) Mrazek who ruined the Red Wings in […]
Stanley Cup Finalists last spring, the Tampa Bay Lightning were given the second-best chance — after Anaheim — to win The Mug this June before the season started. That was the word from our sport’s bible, The Hockey News, alias THN as the Islanders and Bolts prepare for the second round opener on Wednesday night […]
The Islanders and Lightning both enter the second round of the playoffs with momentum. The Isles are looking to build on their first playoff series win in 23 years, while Tampa Bay has its heart set on a second straight Stanley Cup appearance after dispatching Detroit in five games. In three regular season meetings […]
How many of you folks out there want this stirring Stanley Cup Final to go a full seven games? Certainly, Steven Stamkos does. The Lightning captain has been the most invisible star of the Stanley Cup Final since Patrick Kane. The difference is that Kane’s Blackhawks won the pivotal Game 5 on Saturday night, 2-1, […]
It isn’t often that you enter the second half of the Stanley Cup Finals and the top contenders for the Conn Smythe Award are defensemen. Defensemen are generally overlooked when we look for the NHL playoff MVP — blueliners have only won nine out of 49 times — but through four games of the Stanley […]
One of the things that ultimately cost the Rangers during their 2014-15 Stanley Cup run was a gradual decline in their ability to control the play. Early on in the postseason, they were able to dominate possession and create high-end opportunities. However, as the playoffs wore on this advantage began to dissipate and they became […]
The bugler was not supposed to blow Taps for the Rangers. No way. Confetti and cheers for the Blueshirts were to cascade down at The Garden on Friday night and plans for the Stanley Cup Final were to be studied. Playing golf was to be only an afterthought for the Blueshirts at this point in time. […]
Where would the Rangers be with average goaltending? It is a question that Rangers fans haven’t had to ponder in a decade because of the presence of the future Hall of Famer who has patrolled the blue paint since the 2005-06 season. Tuesday night was an outstanding reminder of what life is like when your best […]