Rangers Refuse To Play Montreal’s “Head” Games
Make no mistake, the New York Rangers are ready for the task at hand. Alain Vigneault has his team focused on playing “whistle to whistle”. The same can’t be said about Michel Therrein and his Montreal Canadiens.
TSN 690 in Montreal is the ESPN/WFAN radio of the city. All they can keep talking about is how the Canadiens are in the Rangers’ heads. It’s a repetitive story line held by every host, every so-called media expert and their fans. Their objective seems pretty clear, keep repeating it and everyone will believe it.
Of course, the reality is extremely different. The Rangers have already moved on from the incidents and are focused soley on winning game 4. FullTilt Rangers got into the locker room in our interview with NYR beat writer Denis Gorman of the Metro News. He told us, “I think the Rangers have moved on from the incident(s). They recognize they’re in a series, and their goal is to win Game 4.”
As for the Canadiens, we will let them speak for themselves…
Michel Therrein:
Does MTL think that what Ulf Samuelsson and Glen Sather did was because they are afraid? Or maybe they wanted to piss Therrein off. Well, it worked.
Then there was this veiled threat:
“We expect Derick Brassard to play and we know exactly where he’s injured. Hockey is a small world.”
More blatantly obvious pre-meditation that the NHL is ignoring. Welcome to the WWE HOCKEY LEAGUE!
Canadiens Players:
These are my favorite! Stepan is faking a broken jaw. Ryan McDonagh is a dirty slasher. Yet, the Habs are in the Rangers’ heads.
Brendan Gallagher on Stepan’s broken jaw: “I’ve seen some broken jaws, usually you can’t talk too much. I’m sure it’s just little.”
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) May 24, 2014
Daniel Briere says he hasn’t seen a defenceman slash as much as Ryan McDonagh since Chris Pronger.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) May 24, 2014
To be clear, Briere’s “fishy” comment was about Vigneault not giving an update on Stepan’s status AND about them wanting a PP from hit — Brett Cyrgalis (@BrettCyrgalis) May 24, 2014
Tonight the New York Rangers will have a singular focus, TO JUST WIN! You can expect the same quick, up-tempo game that the Habs have yet to find an answer for. NY will come in on rookie goalie, Dustin Tokarski in waves. His lateral movement will be tested as will his mettle. The Rangers will make a concentrated effort to put big bodies in his face.
Expect Chris Kreider, Brian Boyle and even Rick Nash to get in the paint. Marty St. Louis who was robbed three times, will not fail to roof the puck tonight. Hagelin will be flying by the Habs defense and Henrik Lundqvist will be Henrik Lundqvist.
When the final horn sounds, it will be the Rangers rising above the desperate Canadiens. They will be ignoring the mind games and the cries of foul. The Blueshirts are simply going to dismantle them and go into Montreal to close out the series.
FULLTILT FORECAST:
New York Rangers 6
Montreal Canadiens 1
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