Bantering Points: 4/12/17
News and notes for Wednesday, April 12th, 2017
If you're a hockey fan, no matter what team you consider yourself a fan of, today is the best day of the year. The puck drops for the beginning of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs tonight. Every team is back to square one, every player is giving it their all, and every player will leave everything they have out on the ice. But why? Because It's The Cup. Here are today's news and links:
Rangers News:
- Brett Cyrgalis claims that the Rangers are more focused on playing their style of hockey, rather than adjusting to what the Canadiens throw at them (NY Post)
- Larry Brooks previews New York's first round series against Montreal (NY Post)
- Mark Herrmann notes that some of the team's young players can lean on the team's core for how to handle the unique atmosphere of the playoffs (Newsday)
- Steve Zipay lists five keys before the Blueshirts and Les Habitants hit the ice tonight (Newsday)
- Justin Tasch believes that Tanner Glass has rightfully earned his Game 1 lineup spot over Pavel Buchnevich (NY Daily News)
- Series Preview: Chris Kreider revisits the scene of the crime where he became public enemy #1 throughout Quebec three years ago (CBS)
- Tom Dianora discusses that Carey Price, Alexei Emelin, and the rest of the Habs should be wary of Chris Kreider (The Hockey Writers)
- Scott Charles names the three keys to beating the Canadiens (Blueshirt Bulletin)
- Justin Rutherford goes in-depth on Canadiens goaltender Carey Price, and breaks down how New York can make him a non-factor in the series other than intentionally injuring him again (Blue Seat Blogs)
- Brandon Cohen prepares Rangerstown for the storylines to follow after New York's second consecutive first round exit (Blue Line Station)
- Timothy Haggerty argues that the Canadiens are a bad matchup for the Rangers (Blue Line Station)
- Post Practice Interviews: Rick Nash,(1:20) Alain Vigneault,(4:32) Ryan McDonagh,(1:28) Mika Zibanejad,(2:14) Derek Stepan,(2:04) Henrik Lundqvist,(4:12) Jimmy Vesey,(1:40) and last but certainly not least, Tanner Glass (2:09) (Official Team Site)
- Here's a bunch of Rangers hype videos to get you pumped up for the playoffs: NewYork SportsHighlights,(2:43) metranger fan711,(3:58) Hockey Sam 18,(2:48) and ajcastigliaa (4:58) (Youtube)/
Around the NHL:
- The ProHockeyTalk staff made their picks for each of the first round matchups (NBC Sports)
- Frank Seravalli picks a player from each team who was built for playoff hockey (TSN)
- Mark Spector details how Edmonton is about to remind the world what a real hockey city looks like, as they host their first playoff game since Game 6 of the 2006 Stanley Cup Finals (Sportsnet)
- Jared Clinton reports that the NHL's Olympic decision has already created a ripple effect, as two KHL players have cut off talks with NHL clubs due to the league's refusal to participate in the Olympics (The Hockey News)
- Josh Cooper hears that the NHL has officially released the date and odds for each team during the annual draft lottery (Puck Daddy)
- Here's a bunch of playoff games from season's past that should get you hyped up for tonight's action if the Rangers-centric montages weren't your thing: Sharks-Predators Game 6, 2016, Blackhawks-Blues Game 7, 2016, Capitals-Rangers Game 7, 2015, Ducks-Flames Game 3, 2015, Kings-Blackhawks Game 7, 2014, Rangers-Penguins Game 7, 2014, and Thrashers-Rangers Game 4, 2007 (Youtube)/
