Posted by There is nothing better then going into a road arena and hear the opposing fans chant “Rangers Suck” and “Avery Sucks”, especially when they were losing. Funny how the chants didn’t even seem to begin until after the Capitals fell behind on Ryan Callahan’s goal almost eight minutes in. So if the Rangers suck and are winning, where does that leave the hometown Capitals?
I may be wrong but I don’t think I heard a single “Lets Go Capitals” chant the entire game, instead the crowd focused their anger and frustration on trying to annoy the Rangers with stupid chants. Their attempts wer
e futile and when all was said and done the Rangers now have a 2-0 series lead, the number seven seed winning both games in the number two seed’s building.
The NHL may feel that a series without Sidney Crosby is an un-exciting one, but maybe they haven’t seen either of these first two games which were some of the most intense and exciting hockey games I have seen in a long time. Henrik Lundqvist has now dominated in two straight games making 35 saves today and stood on his head all game long. Opposing netminder, the rookie making his NHL playoff debut Simeon Varlamov didn’t face much work at all, but allowed a goal by Ryan Callahan early in the first on assists from Markus Naslund and Brandon Dubinsky.
Regular season underachievers Wade Redden and Michal Rozsival have also stepped up tremendously, each playing 25 minutes and 24 minutes, respectively. Redden has actually looked like a completely different player, being calm with the puck and patient to make good outlet passes. Marc Staal is also playing well beyond his years and the Rangers defensive corps held Alex Ovechkin to just six shots on goal, one game after allowing him twenty eight shot attempts and thirteen shots on goal.
The Washington Capitals slogan is apparently “Rock Your Red”, but after two games in this series, who is rocking who?
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Lundqvist Helps Rangers Take 3-1 Series Lead on Capitals
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No question, Lundqvist has been stellar. He’s the reason the Rangers are up 2-0. Great couple of games to watch, from an entertainment standpoint. Washington’s against the wall, I’m expecting nothing less then an even better game 3.
I do NOT want to read articles stating how valuable the “Idiot”(aka Avery) is because NYR is in the 2nd round…please wake up Caps…please!!!
You would take him on your team in a heart beat.
Greg – that’s not the first time you’ve suggested that other teams would have an interest. I think most GMs agree that while he can be effective – at times – on the ice, his distractions outweigh any positives that he may bring. I would think that there are barely 2 or 3 GMs that would even consider signing him.
Greg: with all due respect, not an effin’ chance!
And the countdown is on for the next Avery “idiot” moment…
3…2…1…
He hasn’t had an “idiot moment” while on the Rangers, in fact, he’s been more then effective.
Against the Devils when they were down 3-0 in the third period they were so worried about trying to kill Avery that they focused more on him then trying to score goals. Same with the Capitals today, every time he carries the puck across the blue line players go out of their way to line him up, leaving his other line mates open. When you have an entire crowd chanting your name instead of their own team name, I call that effective.
Greg, he had an idiot moment when he hit Tim Thomas in the back of the head with his stick.
Anyway, I’m shocked that no team tried to get Avery other than the Rangers. He may not be the best fit everywhere, but he was there for the taking and only New York made the move.
Probably about the only team he really is a fit for…although (glad they didn’t), Leafs would likely have given hima shot were they a contender…
I thought the Isles would have gone after him just to tweak the Rangers. I think it would have been gamesmanship at its absolute finest.
I can’t wait until someone comes around and just knocks him out and he finally gets what he deserves…mark my words that day is rapidly approaching
btw….this is why fans were chanting that….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqSiStYIfTI
A few things:
1. I’m surprised you could not hear a “Let’s Go Caps” chant. “Horn Guy” starts the chant as the puck drops, and starts it up again every 5-10 minutes.
2. “Goat” as he is known at the Verizon Center, also starts Capitals’ chants. 2. His voice is so loud that you can hear him on TV. You probably had trouble hearing him because the arena itself was so loud.
3. To say Varlamov ‘didn’t face much work at all’ is a huge understatement. In his sixth start in the NHL he stops 23 shots and the only goal that was scored, he had no chance on.
4. I guarantee you that fans of 29 NHL teams hate Sean Avery. “Avery Sucks” is everywhere, this shouldn’t really come as a surprise.
5. You said the Caps had ’stupid chants.’ I didn’t hear any. I only heard the one’s you mentioned: “Rangers Suck” and “Avery Sucks,” chants you would hear at any game regardless.
6. Ovechkin had 16 attempted shots, with six making it on net. You didn’t mention that, but the Rangers did do a good job of keeping him in check.
7. That would be “Rock the Red” thank you very much.
8. I think Bruce, Christopher, and Jim kind of put to rest other team’s interest on the chance to acquire Avery. Care to comment on the Thomas incident? I’m sure that was a mistake.
9. Bruce Boudreau had Avery on his team in 2003. Avery played three games for Boudreau’s Manchester Monarchs in the AHL playoffs. Here’s what he had to say about coaching Avery:
“I had him for one week,” Boudreau said. “It felt like a year.”