Girardi & Mac have a big part in that.
- B2B76

Without question, hence the reason why I think this series is going to be 2-0 Rangers around 3 PM Sunday afternoon.

Home team gets the matchups and McDonagh and Girardi will be out there whenever Giroux is.

But MacDaddy played a solid 19 games for us..

In all seriousness... we are desperate. He is actually a pretty solid player.. and with out him in the lineup we do have a pretty big hole.

Until our savior is ready to ascend to the NHL (See: Gostisbehere, Shayne), we need all the help we can get. MacDaddy and Girardi are actually pretty similar players.
- jak521

Everytime a defender who is slated to hit Unrestricted Free Agency signs a deal, everyone kills the deal for how much money the team spends to get it done. But, the fact of the matter is this, all half way decent defenders make a killing when they become unrestricted, because the supply of competent defenders is low. So, I understand what the Flyers did with McDonald, even though its alot of money to spend. They had a need, and they had to overpay to fill it.

But, I do think Girardi is way better than McDonald, so I have to disagree with you that they are similar.

Edit: When you see what defenders are getting on the open market, I fear what Staal is going to ask for next year. The Rangers should try to get him rapped up this summer, because one piece of negotiating leverage they have against him is that he may not want to go into next year without an extension given his injury history.

Another guy who I think deserves a mention since he got back in the line up, is J.Moore. Has been really steady in his own end, and shown really good vision when he joins the rush. Pretty good on the PP too. Kids only 23 and if he keeps progressing, he could be a really good Dman for us going forward.

Everytime a defender who is slated to hit Unrestricted Free Agency signs a deal, everyone kills the deal for how much money the team spends to get it done. But, the fact of the matter is this, all half way decent defenders make a killing when they become unrestricted, because the supply of competent defenders is low. So, I understand what the Flyers did with McDonald, even though its alot of money to spend. They had a need, and they had to overpay to fill it.

But, I do think Girardi is way better than McDonald, so I have to disagree with you that they are similar.

Edit: When you see what defenders are getting on the open market, I fear what Staal is going to ask for next year. The Rangers should try to get him rapped up this summer, because one piece of negotiating leverage they have against him is that he may not want to go into next year without an extension given his injury history.
- Pete V

definitely with Staal. I believe that is the plan and I think they will get it done with him this summer.

But MacDaddy played a solid 19 games for us..

In all seriousness... we are desperate. He is actually a pretty solid player.. and with out him in the lineup we do have a pretty big hole.

Until our savior is ready to ascend to the NHL (See: Gostisbehere, Shayne), we need all the help we can get. MacDaddy and Girardi are actually pretty similar players.
- jak521

AMAC and Girardi are similar in terms of shot blocking, but I think AMAC is a better puck mover while Girardi is better defensively.

Rangers came out more physical than the Flyers did to start the 1st I think, which was awesome to see. And then the team speed is just ridiculously faster than the Flyers'. Unless the Flyers can shave off a few seconds on their 40 yard dash times in the next couple days, this could be a quick series.

Love McDonagh undressing Sean "Selke winner and wouldn't trade him for any other player in the league" Couturier.

definitely with Staal. I believe that is the plan and I think they will get it done with him this summer.
- jimbo83

Yep, eliminate all that speculation that he only wants to play with his brothers in Carolina. Lock it down

Yep, eliminate all that speculation that he only wants to play with his brothers in Carolina. Lock it down
- TPC

definitely, that speculation should be ended completely

Yep, eliminate all that speculation that he only wants to play with his brothers in Carolina. Lock it down
- TPC

The Hurricanes are on the verge of blowing it up down there. Wanting to play with family, is one thing, playing for a rebuilding team isn't something many veteran players want to do.

If the Rangers give Staal a fair deal, he stays, without question.

definitely, that speculation should be ended completely
- jimbo83

Yea while I don't doubt that he might want to play with his brothers, his situation is so good here in NY. Great city, great goalie, great team, and it's not like he's on the 3rd pairing getting no minutes...he still has a lot of responsibility and plays 1st line minutes.

I'd be surprised if he ended up holding out to hit free agency and sign in Carolina, but then again I expected Cally to be a Ranger right now.

definitely, that speculation should be ended completely
- jimbo83

I highly doubt he wants to, probably more media driven than anything. But I agree we need to get him locked up. Most likely going to lose Stralman, don't want to also lose Staal the following year.

Flyers expect Mason back sunday

http://nypost.com/2014/04...e-likely-back-for-game-2/

Like the Flyers do with McDonagh, the Rangers should try "accidentally" running into Mason a few times to say welcome back.

I highly doubt he wants to, probably more media driven than anything. But I agree we need to get him locked up. Most likely going to lose Stralman, don't want to also lose Staal the following year.
- mdw7413

He's gone, that's why I liked seeing what we had in Diaz, I would be ok with him in as our 6th D man, righty shot on the 3rd pair...since it looks like McIlrath is a bust.

Flyers expect Mason back sunday

http://nypost.com/2014/04...e-likely-back-for-game-2/

Like the Flyers do with McDonagh, the Rangers should try "accidentally" running into Mason a few times to say welcome back.
- jimbo83

Gut feeling tells me they're rushing him back. He's still hurt.

He's gone, that's why I liked seeing what we had in Diaz, I would be ok with him in as our 6th D man, righty shot on the 3rd pair...since it looks like McIlrath is a bust.
- B2B76

Patience

Flyers expect Mason back sunday

http://nypost.com/2014/04...e-likely-back-for-game-2/

Like the Flyers do with McDonagh, the Rangers should try "accidentally" running into Mason a few times to say welcome back.
- jimbo83

The good thing is, it shouldn't make to much of a difference. Emery played pretty well last night. He really didn't have much of a chance on any of the goals. If the Rangers play like they did last night and create those open looks on the powerplay, they will score vs any goalie.

Flyers expect Mason back sunday

http://nypost.com/2014/04...e-likely-back-for-game-2/

Like the Flyers do with McDonagh, the Rangers should try "accidentally" running into Mason a few times to say welcome back.
- jimbo83

I would have loved to be a fly on the wall in the Philly lockeroom postgame last night to see the frustration firsthand on the Flyers faces, especially Hartnell & Simmonds.

Patience
- rangerdanger94

Seen enough & I was a Mc supporter, hopefully wrong, but I think its time to move on with him. Full 4 years into his development & yes he's been injured but I just never think he's gonna be able to keep up with the pace of the NHL.

He's gone, that's why I liked seeing what we had in Diaz, I would be ok with him in as our 6th D man, righty shot on the 3rd pair...since it looks like McIlrath is a bust.
- B2B76

I hate to agree, but I'm definitely leaning that way with McIlrath. Diaz has been pretty good imo. And glad we picked him up. Except for the last play in Montreal. Wtf was he doing

Seen enough & I was a Mc supporter, hopefully wrong, but I think its time to move on with him. Full 4 years into his development & yes he's been injured but I just never think he's gonna be able to keep up with the pace of the NHL.
- B2B76

He's never gonna be a top pairing guy...hell maybe not even 2nd pairing. But I think he'll be solid on the 3rd pairing. He's still extremely young and writing him off as a bust already would mean we need to write off guys like Adam Larsson, Gormley, Danny Kristo, Lindberg, etc.

I hate to agree, but I'm definitely leaning that way with McIlrath. Diaz has been pretty good imo. And glad we picked him up. Except for the last play in Montreal. Wtf was he doing
- mdw7413

Guys make mistakes, sometimes brutal mistakes, haha, it happens.

He's never gonna be a top pairing guy...hell maybe not even 2nd pairing. But I think he'll be solid on the 3rd pairing. He's still extremely young and writing him off as a bust already would mean we need to write off guys like Adam Larsson, Gormley, Danny Kristo, Lindberg, etc.
- rangerdanger94

Again, hope your right, but we agree to disagree on this one.

I would have loved to be a fly on the wall in the Philly lockeroom postgame last night to see the frustration firsthand on the Flyers faces, especially Hartnell & Simmonds.
- B2B76

I watched Simmonds interview last night. He actually gave the Rangers a lot of credit, and was pretty spot on about the game.

The Hurricanes are on the verge of blowing it up down there. Wanting to play with family, is one thing, playing for a rebuilding team isn't something many veteran players want to do.

If the Rangers give Staal a fair deal, he stays, without question.
- MidnightMarauder

It'll be Jordan and Eric who want to come here and play with Marc after we win the cup this year

Flyers expect Mason back sunday

http://nypost.com/2014/04...e-likely-back-for-game-2/

Like the Flyers do with McDonagh, the Rangers should try "accidentally" running into Mason a few times to say welcome back.
- jimbo83

Ok, so the Rangers will win 3-1 instead of 4-1.

Don't think this will turn the Flyers' fortunes around. Mason is better than Emery, for sure, but it's not like an in his prime Hasek is returning Sunday.