NHL 13 Crowns New York Rangers Stanley Cup Champions

[bwiggy33]

Quote: Originally Posted by SteelersFan09

Bretsky, I'm not basing everything on rankings. The Rangers just don't have the team this year. Not to mention Lundqvist is not a good playoff goalie.

I wouldn't say that at all if I were you. Any team can do it. If I were a Pens fan I'd be extremely nervous facing the Rangers in the 2nd round, if that happens. They are playing unbelievably well right now. I wouldn't count them out for a damn minute. Getting rid of Gaborik was a great decision by them because he just didn't fit the structure of Torts' system. I'm no fan of the Rangers at all but that team has a great chance IMO.

Saying Hank is a bad playoff goalie is a tad bit over doing it, but I do partially agree with you. However, we all know his ability. If Hank can finally steal them games in the playoffs they can go a long way. Hank has never physically taken over a series and stole games where he gets 40 some shots and wins 1-0, 2-1. He's consistent and stops the ones he should, but I have just never seen him flat out steal multiple games in the playoffs. For people who think a goalies job is to just stop the ones they should, it's completely false. In the playoffs it is a MUST that a goalie robs a game that his team shouldn't have won. I group Hank and Luongo in the same category of being good playoff goalies, but not stealing games they shouldn't have won. The team who has a goalie who stands on his head will be the team to beat the Hawks or Pens.

FWIW my prediction is Kings vs. Rangers in the finals. I'd love to say it will be the Sharks year, but sadly I just never know with them. As for the Wild they'll be lucky to come close to getting out of round one. Anyway I honestly think if Quick can find his playoff mode the Kings have the team to do it. They just have that great mix of physical play to go along with great talent and defense. As for the Rangers I think this could finally be their year to get there because they're not expected to. If Hank doesn't steal games in this playoffs, I don't see him winning a cup ever. He's getting older by the day and he has never shown he can flat out steal games and series for his team. If he does it this year, they've got a great shot.

[NYwRiter94]

Quote: Originally Posted by SteelersFan09

Bretsky, I'm not basing everything on rankings. The Rangers just don't have the team this year. Not to mention Lundqvist is not a good playoff goalie.

LOL. Lundqvist has a .917 SAV and 2.31 GAA all time in the playoffs (55 games). Your goalie has a .904 SAV and a 2.68 GAA all time in the playoffs (75 games).

Also, did either of you watch that game against Ottawa last year? The 39 save shutout? Speaking of shutouts, Lundqvist has one more than Fleury, even though he's played 20 fewer games.

[SteelersFan09]

Bwiggy33 - I never said the Rangers didn't have a chance. Like you said this is the playoffs and anything can happen. I'm just pointing out Lundqvist is rather below average in the playoffs.

NYwRiter94 - Give me a break. Fleury who has indeed been struggling lately is 11 games over .500 in the playoffs. While Lundqvist is 5 under .500. There is no comparison there. Fleruy is the better playoff goalie.

[RagingTrav]

I'm on the Rangers. I like watching them play and Lundqvist in net, he's a freak every time I've seen him play.

[bwiggy33]

Quote: Originally Posted by NYwRiter94

Also, did either of you watch that game against Ottawa last year? The 39 save shutout? Speaking of shutouts, Lundqvist has one more than Fleury, even though he's played 20 fewer games.

So 1 game shows that he can steal games in the playoffs, especially when he's played year after year in them? As good and solid as Lundqvist has been in the playoffs, he has never gone that extra step to steal multiple games and will his team to the next round. I'm talking pulling Jonathan Quick, Patrick Roy, Martin Brodeur, Tim Thomas, Cam Ward, JS Giguere, kind of stuff.

Lundqvist has not once completely led his team through the playoffs and into the cup. You can't even argue that with me. If the Rangers ever make or win the cup he has to be the reason they do. If he's as good as everyone thinks he is, than at some point he should do it. There's no better time than now considering he's aging by the minute. I was a goalie myself. I know the position. I may not have played professionally but I know damn well that in order to be considered elite you have to win games that you shouldn't, at big times. Stopping the ones he should will more often than not work with the Hawks and Pens, but it doesn't with the Rangers. They don't sustain the type of offensive pressure that those teams do.

As for SteelersFan, NYwriter is 100% right. No way Fleury is better in the playoffs than Lundqvist. He had one terrific postseason where they won a cup, and ever since has been a disaster. Throw the "He's won a cup" line in there, that doesn't matter. To me a great playoff performer is someone who is consistent. Fleutry is far from consistent. His numbers have continually gotten worse in the playoffs since the cup. If Fleury allows that many goals with the defense and puck possession game that you guys play, then I'd take Hank over him any day of the week. At least Hank is pretty much a lock to make the saves he should. With a team like yours that's all you need. I like Fleury a lot, but he's been nothing but shaky since he won the cup.

[SteelersFan09]

Bwiggy - Of the two Fleury is the better playoff goalie. No doubt about it. As you mentioned the playoffs and how Lundqvist has never lead his team through the playoffs and into the cup finals. Well Fleury has done that twice in his career. On top of that the Penguions defense is a lot better this year than last season. If Fleury has another bad post season again then I'll admit you are correct. Until then Fleury is the guy who can get you wins while Lundqvist is like you mention another Luongo.

[bwiggy33]

Quote: Originally Posted by SteelersFan09

Bwiggy - Of the two Fleury is the better playoff goalie. No doubt about it. As you mentioned the playoffs and how Lundqvist has never lead his team through the playoffs and into the cup finals. Well Fleury has done that twice in his career. On top of that the Penguions defense is a lot better this year than last season. If Fleury has another bad post season again then I'll admit you are correct. Until then Fleury is the guy who can get you wins while Lundqvist is like you mention another Luongo.

Ya but put Lundqvist in Fleury's position. I'd be willing to bet that Lundqvist would have won a cup by now if he was on the Pens. Maybe even multiple cups. The playoff stats show for themselves. Lundqvist has way better playoff numbers in the same amount of years as Fleury, on a team that has had much less talent. All the Pens need is a solid goalie who will stop the ones he should, and occassionally make a save he shouldn't. Lundqvist has done that just about every single playoff year, where Fleury has done it for two and that was 4 and 5 years ago. Put Fleury on the Rangers and I'd bet any money he could not handle what Lundqvist does. At the end of the day though both are solid goalies no doubt about it, but neither one is elite. Until either one straight up carries their team to a cup, they will never have that elite status. I know if I started a team I'd take Lundvist over Fleury though.

[Bretsky523]

Quote: Originally Posted by SteelersFan09

Bretsky, I'm not basing everything on rankings. The Rangers just don't have the team this year. Not to mention Lundqvist is not a good playoff goalie.

Lundqvist is not a good playoff goalie? smh

And with there team, if they turn it on watch out