Yes, that will most likely be their only plausible response.
- OLDSCHOOL#6

I would rather win the game than win a fight.

This Rangers team is small and lacks any edge outside of Dorsett and Carcillo (who happen to be...small). The only true response the Rangers could have is to draw penalties on hits like that and make the opposition pay. If we score 2 or 3 powerplay goals against the Flyers after a couple goon hits, I guarantee their coach tells them the next person to take a dumb penalty on a cheap hit gets his ass stapled to the bench for the rest of series.
- rangerdanger94

But how would you respond when you're up 3-1 with 48 seconds left, assuming there is no suspension?

But how would you respond when you're up 3-1 with 48 seconds left, assuming there is no suspension?
- jmatchett383

AV could have sent Carcillo out with Dorsett, Torts would have sent out Kassian etc., and a brawl would have resulted. Then AV would be taken to task for escalating the situation, and depending how bad it was, a fine or suspension would have been levied.

But how would you respond when you're up 3-1 with 48 seconds left, assuming there is no suspension?
- jmatchett383

Probably start a linebrawl and hope that whatever player fights a guy like Rinaldo or Kassian just hangs on for a bit then turtles

AV could have sent Carcillo out with Dorsett, Torts would have sent out Kassian etc., and a brawl would have resulted. Then AV would be taken to task for escalating the situation, and depending how bad it was, a fine or suspension would have been levied.
- airjan23

Jan I agree, my reaction to the play was someone should have reacted at the time of the hit. That is all. Stupid to do anything after Burrows was already escorted off the ice.

AV could have sent Carcillo out with Dorsett, Torts would have sent out Kassian etc., and a brawl would have resulted. Then AV would be taken to task for escalating the situation, and depending how bad it was, a fine or suspension would have been levied.
- airjan23

And the Canucks had more goons to put out with last change. Sestito, Kassian who was not penalized, Bieska who always tunes up a Ranger in a fight. Nucks not being in conference rival, I was ok with AV letting it go late.

Lets just hope Mac is ok & we move on. Playoffs are looming baby & we're playing our best hockey in 2 years right now.

It doesn't matter if they stand up for one another. I'm not speaking about last night, although with Burrows being AV's boy, I'm not surprised nothing came of it. That said, my point is, hits like last night's on McDonagh will be common place once the playoffs start. What will the Rangers response be?
- OLDSCHOOL#6

It is kind of a mute question at this point, cause if McDonagh can't go come playoff time, it is gonna be nearly impossible to get out of the first round.

Probably start a linebrawl and hope that whatever player fights a guy like Rinaldo or Kassian just hangs on for a bit then turtles
- rangerdanger94

So let me ask you this (because I honesty don't know): Is there anything that Dorsett and/or Rinaldo offer that can't be replaced at the moment? Because, if not, maybe you do what Ottawa did a few years back when they basically took the 5 minutes and let Carkner just pummel Boyle. I mean, let's say that Vancouver was your 1st round opponent and that was Game 1. You could basically tell Carcillo or Dorsett to grab Burrows and just unload on him and take the 5. But then again, I know there's some injuries on NYR and don't know if they can afford to lose either one of them.

Jan I agree, my reaction to the play was someone should have reacted at the time of the hit. That is all. Stupid to do anything after Burrows was already escorted off the ice.
- mdw7413

But the refs we're all right there. It happened as always so fast, before you knew it, everyone is in on the scrum & refs have Burrows. Not gonna go nuts on this whole thing. IF Mac is out long term however? I might get a LITTLE nutty.

And the Canucks had more goons to put out with last change. Sestito, Kassian who was not penalized, Bieska who always tunes up a Ranger in a fight. Nucks not being in conference rival, I was ok with AV letting it go late.

Lets just hope Mac is ok & we move on. Playoffs are looming baby & we're playing our best hockey in 2 years right now.
- B2B76

Bieska vs Boyle. Don't think Boyle even threw a punch.

In my opinion the Rag$ needed a coach like this last night

AV could have sent Carcillo out with Dorsett, Torts would have sent out Kassian etc., and a brawl would have resulted. Then AV would be taken to task for escalating the situation, and depending how bad it was, a fine or suspension would have been levied.
- airjan23

My concern is not fighting, my concern is the physical beating this team will most likely take from the Philly's and Bruins of the world. Last night was just a player who normally runs at opposing players, everyone in the rink knows that. If teams know the Rangers cannot really push back, they will take liberties with the team's best players, i.e. McDonagh. and it will manifest in the playoffs.

Jan I agree, my reaction to the play was someone should have reacted at the time of the hit. That is all. Stupid to do anything after Burrows was already escorted off the ice.
- mdw7413

Agreed. Girardi throws a gloved punch to Burrows as he comes in, but then everyone just skates away and they make half-hearted attempts to "mug" Burrows afterwards.

I'm not saying you have to go out and goon it up, but for f's sake, you'd like to see a teammate defend your best player.

But the refs we're all right there. It happened as always so fast, before you knew it, everyone is in on the scrum & refs have Burrows. Not gonna go nuts on this whole thing. IF Mac is out long term however? I might get a LITTLE nutty.
- B2B76

Yeah, you are right about that, refs jumped in real quick. Actually thought Kassian (by reputation) was going to be a pain in the ass, but he actually looked pretty good out there for the Canucks.

Agreed. Girardi throws a gloved punch to Burrows as he comes in, but then everyone just skates away and they make half-hearted attempts to "mug" Burrows afterwards.

I'm not saying you have to go out and goon it up, but for f's sake, you'd like to see a teammate defend your best player.
- jmatchett383

Meet the 2014 New York Rangers, been like that all year

Agreed. Girardi throws a gloved punch to Burrows as he comes in, but then everyone just skates away and they make half-hearted attempts to "mug" Burrows afterwards.

I'm not saying you have to go out and goon it up, but for f's sake, you'd like to see a teammate defend your best player.
- jmatchett383

Exactly, we just don't have the team for it anyway. But would have loved for 1 Ranger to start pummeling Burrows, you know Burrows wont fight back. Just send a message , that's all I ask.

Exactly, we just don't have the team for it anyway. But would have loved for 1 Ranger to start pummeling Burrows, you know Burrows wont fight back. Just send a message , that's all I ask.
- mdw7413

Hell, even if Burrows comes up swinging and you lose, someone needs to show up. You can't just let guys off the hook like that. Teams have to know that if you take a run at someone, be prepared to answer the bell.

Look, I'm not fan of the Rangers, at all. But I respect at least a handful of them (never liked Carcillo even as a Flyer), and it's disheartening to see them all just become sort of "meh" as they see their best player crumpled on the ice.

My concern is not fighting, my concern is the physical beating this team will most likely take from the Philly's and Bruins of the world. Last night was just a player who normally runs at opposing players, everyone in the rink knows that. If teams know the Rangers cannot really push back, they will take liberties with the team's best players, i.e. McDonagh. and it will manifest in the playoffs.
- OLDSCHOOL#6

I think the effect of having goons/tough guys as a deterrent is very overstated, especially in the playoffs, when everybody is going 110% no matter the opponent. Boston is going to wear down any team, big or small, and we probably match up better trying to beat them with speed and skill than a team that would try to out-physical them and beat them at their own game.

At this point, I am just resigned to the fact that fans will always dwell on the flaws of a team and overstate their effect, instead of just looking at how they have been playing overall, which in this case is pretty darn well.

Hell, even if Burrows comes up swinging and you lose, someone needs to show up. You can't just let guys off the hook like that. Teams have to know that if you take a run at someone, be prepared to answer the bell.

Look, I'm not fan of the Rangers, at all. But I respect at least a handful of them (never liked Carcillo even as a Flyer), and it's disheartening to see them all just become sort of "meh" as they see their best player crumpled on the ice.
- jmatchett383

One of my biggest issues with this team for awhile. As much as I dislike the Flyers, I respect the toughness you guys play with. I couldn't imagine Giroux laying on the ice like that and your team standing around.

I think the effect of having goons/tough guys as a deterrent is very overstated, especially in the playoffs, when everybody is going 110% no matter the opponent. Boston is going to wear down any team, big or small, and we probably match up better trying to beat them with speed and skill than a team that would try to out-physical them and beat them at their own game.

At this point, I am just resigned to the fact that fans will always dwell on the flaws of a team and overstate their effect, instead of just looking at how they have been playing overall, which in this case is pretty darn well.
- AgraipVigneaurd

While I agree with you to an extent, I don't want this team trying to go out and pick up another Scott, Brashear, etc. There is also a team toughness to look at, which I believe we lack, and that is my concern.

I think the effect of having goons/tough guys as a deterrent is very overstated, especially in the playoffs, when everybody is going 110% no matter the opponent. Boston is going to wear down any team, big or small, and we probably match up better trying to beat them with speed and skill than a team that would try to out-physical them and beat them at their own game.

At this point, I am just resigned to the fact that fans will always dwell on the flaws of a team and overstate their effect, instead of just looking at how they have been playing overall, which in this case is pretty darn well.
- AgraipVigneaurd

^ dING dING!

While I agree with you to an extent, I don't want this team trying to go out and pick up another Scott, Brashear, etc. There is also a team toughness to look at, which I believe we lack, and that is my concern.
- mdw7413

I agree that the team is less tough than others, but every team in on the receiving end of cheap shots. Yes, if Burrows ran a Bruin or Flyer, there would have been more retaliation. But I don't think he would have done anything differently, in the heat of the moment, knowing there would be push back. I don't think he thought "well its the Rangers so I can run MCD"

While I agree with you to an extent, I don't want this team trying to go out and pick up another Scott, Brashear, etc. There is also a team toughness to look at, which I believe we lack, and that is my concern.
- mdw7413

Bingo. You don't need "that one guy." It's a team concept. That's the mistake that Buffalo made. They went out and got Steve Ott and Jon Scott (that's some rhyming right there) and assumed that they were tough. 2 tough players does not make a team tough. It's a mindset of the entire team, with each player not allowing the other team to take liberties against them and their teammates.

Again, not saying the Rangers are bad, but if I were a Rangers fan, I'd want to at least see some shred of toughness last night.

I agree that the team is less tough than others, but every team in on the receiving end of cheap shots. Yes, if Burrows ran a Bruin or Flyer, there would have been more retaliation. But I don't think he would have done anything differently, in the heat of the moment, knowing there would be push back. I don't think he thought "well its the Rangers so I can run MCD"
- AgraipVigneaurd

Definitely agree. I just want to see some team toughness when one of our best players is lying on the ice. Don't want to goon it up, just make it known as a team this is unacceptable.

I think the effect of having goons/tough guys as a deterrent is very overstated, especially in the playoffs, when everybody is going 110% no matter the opponent. Boston is going to wear down any team, big or small, and we probably match up better trying to beat them with speed and skill than a team that would try to out-physical them and beat them at their own game.

At this point, I am just resigned to the fact that fans will always dwell on the flaws of a team and overstate their effect, instead of just looking at how they have been playing overall, which in this case is pretty darn well.
- AgraipVigneaurd

They'll be pounded in the playoffs. Sather did nothing to help the team for the playoffs, only cared about making the playoffs.

Peace out.