Based on the number of Rangers fans I've spoken to personally and what I've seen posted to Twitter, this last left a sour taste in the mouth of the Blueshirt Faithful. I seem to be in the minority as I believe Moore's ensuing penalty and suspension were deemed the right calls.
Many Rangers fans note how nothing on the ice was called regarding Prust's hit and Stepan's broken jaw should have led to a power play and lengthier suspension accordingly and that's a fair argument. As much as you want to compare the two, right now, you can't.
The officials, who haven't had a very memorable series, are absolutely looking for any hint of a dirty play ever since Prust laid the blindside hit on Stepan. What do you expect them to do, turn their heads the other way when Moore made a very illegal play?
Officials miss calls....it happens every game. It's unfortunate they failed to have their eyes on Prust's flying elbow in Game 3, but there's nothing you can do about it. It's not the first time the officials have missed a severely illegal hit and a player was issued a suspension in the days following. The only thing we can do is hope we see Moore in the Stanley Cup Final and Raphael Diaz fills his spot well.
Other things that caught my attention today:
- A co-worker told me today he believes this Rangers team is "destined" to win the Stanley Cup this year and it took me by surprise, because I haven't heard something like that in 20 years. I thought about that line all day and think he may be on to something. This team has bounced back extremely well from adversity throughout the regular and postseason. It also helps they're a win away from the Cup Final.
- As a fan, it's not good karma to look ahead to potential opponents in the next round until the current round is over, but as I sit here and watch Game 5 of the Western Conference Final between the Kings and Blackhawks with the Rangers a win away, it's hard not to. I travel to Chicago next weekend so part of me wants the Hawks and part of me doesn't simply because they're so, so loaded, but so are the Kings. Corey Crawford has made it evident that he can be very average and while the Kings may lack the incredible star power the Blackhawks possess, they're deep. I don't know who I'd rather see the Rangers battle for the Cup, but at this point it wouldn't matter because this run has been so great so far.
- I believe Henrik Lundqvist has a huge bounce-back game in Game 6 after a sub-par performance in Game 5. Hank's hard on himself when he struggles and he had a tremendous Game 7 in the first round against Philadelphia just a day after getting abused by the Flyers.
- The crowd at Madison Square Garden better blow the roof off the building tomorrow night. For the most part in these playoffs, the MSG has been nothing short of a morgue. I've seen pictures of guys in suits at the games watching the NBA playoffs on monitors in front of them instead of the action on the ice. Hey moron, I've never been to a Rangers home playoff game and here you go with a free ticket not even paying attention to the best postseason tournament that exists. That is such a pet peeve.
- Speaking of tickets, as of pm the night before Game 6, the cheapest ticket on StubHub is $326.50 which is way too rich for a guy with Hoboken, New Jersey rent to pay among other bills and weddings to attend. Barring a miracle, I still will not get to a Rangers home playoff game (the one Rangers playoff game I've been to was in Jersey in 2006 -- the John Madden hat trick game).
- Prediction: Rangers win Game 6 and we all celebrate.
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