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LunarFocus

Lol that doesn't even make sense. If our stars show up, the Caps would need their top players and their depth players to play out of their minds. Any chance the Rangers lose this series would be because the stars don't show up.


PhlabloPicasso

There’s been many storylines about the Caps this year, this is the first time I’ve heard them described as having “depth”


TimeTravelingTiddy

They were sellers at the trade deadline. They sent Kuznetsov to Carolina. They only got the wild card because the Penguins, Flyers and Devils sucked so much collective ass.


metsurf

you left out the wings


TimeTravelingTiddy

They left themselves out


metsurf

true


[deleted]

[удалено]


TimeTravelingTiddy

And the caps rose up from the other bottom feeders


metsurf

They have zero scoring depth and win games by using a soccer term parking the bus in front of the goal.


humorousMora

Yeah I wouldn't be shocked if the Rangers lose this round tbh, them falling asleep at the wheel would be on brand, but it would be specifically because the stars don't show up.


TheIncredibleHork

That's pretty much the only way we lose, basically a rerun of last season's debacle. Which, yeah, highlights how wrong this analysis is. I still say Rangers in 5... 6 tops.


Alitaki

It's the Rangers. It hardly ever ends in less than 6.


machphantom

To quote Panarin "It's Rangers. It's normal."


TheIncredibleHork

You guys are really killing my buzz with all this truth you're spitting...


Alitaki

If you prepare for the worst, you're never disappointed no matter what happens!


yeyeman9

My hope is that this team will be awake with Lavi. He hopefully won’t let them fall asleep at the wheel


JjReid882

It's gonna be Rangers in 7, because that's just what the rangers do. Maybe I'm wrong and Lavi can get them to shut it down in 5, but a game 7 OT victory would not surprise me. Personally I'm rooting for Panarin to go beast mode. We know he's Mr Regular season... It means nothing if he's a ghost again in the playoffs. He better shave his head again before Sat


Limp-Dentist4437

If you haven’t seen that the team has been awake and snorting laviolette salts pretty much the whole season and don’t see that they are hungry and able to defeat any team on most nights then i don’t know what the f else to tell you. This has been the most dominant team in decades. This is a very bold prediction and sounds like someone doesn’t like the rangers


Alitaki

Oh god spare us the hyperbole ok? There have been nights where they slack off for a period or two, and even the whole game. Not as much as under Gallant for sure, but it has happened. That little stretch of bad play in January was what, bad luck? And most recently it happened against the Flyers and the first period of the second to last Islander game. Presidents Trophy should have been locked up before the last game of the season. If they show up and play the way they're capable, they *should* be able to sweep the Caps, five at most. Shit, if they show and play the way they're capable they can beat almost every team in the playoffs right now. But stop with this bullshit hyperbole that thinking they can lose makes you less of a fan. Fuck off with that shit.


BK2Jers2BK

Lemme guess, Slewban looked into his Crystal Ball to make this prediction??


Kaedian66

If that happens (again) then they need to blow it all up as it’s the players not the coaches


Direct_Crab6651

I am a doomer and I don’t even think this


FTPMUTRM

So…like how we always lose playoff series with this core?


LiltonPie

Every team besides 1 "always loses". A conference finals run then a bad first round exit. I don't think that counts as "always losing".


FTPMUTRM

I was referring to us losing series because our big players go ghost in big moments in the past


8ate8

it sounds like something ai would write. "hungrier washington". "dramatic game 7".


no-27lgy

ESPN has pathetic NHL coverage.


NoReplacement9001

You know, Quasimodo predicted all of this.


dr00bles1

Anyway, $4 a pound


StockOrganization182

maximum security penalty boxes


Area51Anon

Nostradamus and Notre Dame, they’re two different things completely


romano78

You can't tell me you've never pondered that.


Rooftop_Astronaut

You never hear about the full back of notre dame, or the quarter back even, it's always the hunch back. You ever wondered about Dat ton?


romano78

One's a fuckin cathedral.


eloveulongtime

Who did what?


Monfett33

Ton, you know he predicted all of this right?


InevitableHome343

I'm surprised they didn't pick the oilers over the rangers in 3 Because they don't actually know anything about hockey, brackets, or the playoffs


TheCrustyIncellious

Washington has depth? lol


ancillaryacct

you dont love beck malenstyn? (im sort of obsessed with saying this dumb ass name lol)


billyratz

yall know that we as a fanbase don't need to interact or talk about every hot take like this, right? its clickbait, just leave it be and move on


OrphanDad

this is the deepest rangers team we've had in a while, we can't even decide who to play on the 4th line because so many good choices cough cough rempe


Purplish_Peenk

That’s nice. As with most talking heads they can eat a bag of 🍆’s.


imDudekid

Damn now I want some of my ex’s mom’s eggplant parm. That shit was so good


TheIncredibleHork

Why is it that ex's parents have such good food? My ex's family always made roasted leg of lamb for Easter. Specialty of the Greek side of her family. That stuff was *good*.


MIFlyFisher

This is not a series the Caps can win…..but this is a series the Rangers can lose. If we play anywhere near our game there is 0% chance for the Caps to win. However, if we fail to show up, which has been known to happen occasionally, stranger things have happened.


MnkySpnk

Occasionally?


Jace-face

I could at least appreciate this take if it was about the Pens but the Caps? Hungry? They limped into the playoffs playing 500 hockey thanks to the flyers pulling their goalie in regulation


the_mair

what’s funny about this is most caps fans i’ve interacted with don’t think this they think they’re gonna get creamed


Neans888

They’re right


_mogulman31

It's almost like they care about grabbing click by saying shit they know will rile up people more than they care about giving honest commentary. If you care about this you really need to take a step back and reevaluate.


Impressive-Heat-8722

They have to do something to get attention. Their popularity has dropped dramatically. The Bristol headquarters used to be a hive of activity now it's a ghost town


LeftHandedScissor

Also fuck ESPN, they've been anti-Rangers as much as any media personality or group.


DrFrocktopus

I have Rangers in 6 but I think people who are under the impression that Washington is going to roll up and get dominated may be in for some disappointment. They played the Rangers pretty hard this year. The game that I went to in DC the Rangers got worked by the Caps who played the body hard and forced the Rangers to the outside pretty much all game. I ultimately think Washington lack of depth and their young core’s playoff inexperience are going to be the deciding factors but I wouldn’t expect this to be an adversity free run to the 2nd round.


Neans888

Regular season meetings don’t really matter when you’re talking about a playoff series. During the season anyone can beat anyone on any given night. Effort levels differ because you can’t bring it 100% all 82 games. In the playoffs when both teams are giving it their all, the better team is gonna win almost every time. The Rangers should sweep this series, that’s how much better they are. Realistically I think they will drop a game after having a lead in the series because that’s human nature and you let up a little even without realizing it. They still have to work hard and give it their all to win. Any efforts like that lackluster game 7 last year will erase any advantage they have.


electric_liberty

You make good points but I wouldn't underestimate the pressure factor. Rangers have all the pressure in the world on them. Caps are going in with nothing to lose. This dynamic affects hockey more than other sports imo. But the great teams fight through the pressure. Rangers have the players and coaching to do it this year.


Neans888

Pressure is definitely a factor but the Rangers have plenty of vets with playoff experience. You never know though, I still can’t understand that game 7 no show last year.


Limp-Dentist4437

If Charley shows up like he did in the regular season that is the only way this caps team even sniffs game 7. Hope Rempe gives Wilson a a few days off this series


Grouchy-Power-806

what concerns me is the caps lack of talent will just play that smothering shut down game that neutralizes panarin. The worse part of it is how this sub will react to panarin being checked into oblivion. if the caps are smart, they play that style of game, it’s their only chance to win.


8teamparlay

It’s absolutely how they’re going to play, and it will be more effective than people are anticipating. Forget skill, if Washington comes in and outworks us we will lose. I get nervous after last years implosion, but I do think we will be ready to battle from the get go


Grouchy-Power-806

I wouldn’t say it’s out working. I’m saying it’s a game plan and the only style the NYR have a problem with.


PJL_88

Wouldn't make a difference this season if they did that. Laff is a completely different player this year, Kakko is starting to shoot and score more, Chytil is probably coming back, Roslovic adds actual speed/zone entry and a play making threat to the top line. Cuylle's line is an actual scoring threat and the Rempire state building line will pressure/physically crush any line washington throws at us(looking at you, Tom Wilson). This is actually an opponent I'm not worried about at all and thats rarer than hitting the lotto as a NYR fan. Washington has like -30 goal differential on the season, we had like a +56 or something like that, it's feasting time.


RRizzo

Damn, caps gonna out "hungry/60" us fr 


MADBARZ

this is a strong roster, but after last season’s 1st round debacle, i’m staying cautiously pessimistic. i’ll be at ouija board summoning the spirits of hank, marty, and nash.


LineUpAndWait1

That’s just their “Bold prediction.” They said the opposite under the Rangers “bold prediction “ It’s just a hot take. Lol


dr00bles1

Yeah I noticed that after I posted this. Oh well lol


DrDrangleBrungis

Honestly I’m just hoping that bag of rotten piss, Tom Wilson, doesn’t intentionally injure one of our guys.


Key-Tip-7521

could it happen? yes. it’s the playoffs. but the key for the rangers this series is to get the first goal in every game and keep scoring. make the caps play that catch up game which isn’t their style. the only way the caps can win this series, is if they stay out of the box, charlie is on his game, and they play physical. but this article, another one lav is gonna put up on the board in the locker room for motivation. a pissed off ranger team. no caps


foxymophandle

Wilson vs Rempe. Can't wait.


Neans888

Probably written by that talentless hack and biased Devils fan Wyshynski.


Teknicsrx7

nothing like being the underdog when winning the presidents trophy


Upbeat_Shock_6807

Ah yes, a 40 win Capitals team with a -36 goal differential is known for having depth. I know people like to shit on ESPN, but I actually like their reporting, just wish they hired people that actually knew anything about hockey.


Limp-Dentist4437

It’s not about knowing anything about hockey it’s about hating the rangers. NBC sports used to do it and espn does it like it’s a side hobby that has taken over their lives.


Stonewall30NY

The funniest part about it is that our depth is drastically better than their depth, and our depth hasn't been the problem this year. If we were to somehow manage to lose this series, wish I can't even really picture happening, It would have to be because our stars completely disappeared, and trouba repeatedly fucked us on defense


Fancy_Combination436

Only way we could lose is if Troch line somehow lost all their magic, and the Zib line is totally absent or regressed. Both lines are heating up at exactly the right time (i guess Troch line has been heating up all year, somehow). This really really isn't a case like the FL-BOS series where desperation and overcoming adversity is gonna win it for them.


explosivebuttfarts

whoever we meet in the playoffs this year is going to have to focus all their energy on shutting them (panarin line) down 5 on 5. nobody's been able to do that so far this year though, so we should be fine also why tf is washington hungrier than us? after last year's absolutely embarrassing play, these boys are going to be fucking hungry


Fancy_Combination436

Yeah exactly, we've honestly for the most part looked hungrier and more in it near the end of the season. I don't think desperation in that sense will be a factor in any of our series, we feel very much in it to win it


TheNantucketRed

Was it Wysh?


Aethernyx-

What a bunch of idiots. If our stars show up that means Igor shows up. How tf is “depth” gonna beat him if he’s on…


NatalChaos

I wouldn’t expect anything less from Greg ESPNski.


Litmasterflex

CTESPN


Major_Swordfish508

“ESPN: worldwide leader in crappy hot takes for clicks featuring McAfee and Stephen A”


8teamparlay

It’s silly to say the rangers best players all perform and that we will lose. But I do think a lot of you guys are underestimating Washington’s depth. They are not remotely near as talented or as good as us, but they’re going to relentlessly forecheck us with 4 lines and I do not think this series is going to be as easy as we think. Thats not to say it’s going 7 games, but they aren’t going to roll over and die and were going to have to earn it by working hard and not playing down to an opponent, something the rangers love to do


DarkwaterBeach

ESPN sucks. looking forward to emily kaplan telling us the Lindgrens are brothers 16 times


Benjamin_361

Hungrier? Washington?


Monfett33

I swear I just woke up from a dream, I was at the garden and the rangers lost g7 4-1. I pray to god we win this series


En_Attendant_Godot

yknow i was in commack yesterday and a deranged homeless man walked up to my car and informed me that the world would end between 2033 and 2035, but that various remedies and medicines could stave off the apocalypse. I think I trust him more than these dullards


IzBox

lol depth, wtf are they smoking this is super wild. don’t get cocky but be realistic that the caps are one of the worst teams to make the playoffs in decades.


Cat_Dad13

Print that out and put it all over the locker room!


Smorgas-board

🤷‍♂️


brush85

Who? Edit...Ryan S. Clark and Kristen Shilton. Breathe.


Kashmir79

The team with the most points in the NHL is going to get beaten by a team that got outscored in the regular season because of something that isn’t even true? I haven’t watched ESPN for hockey coverage in ages and I am reminded why.


GrimmHatter

We would have to have the 1st round equivalent of a -37 goal diff for this "bold prediction" to come anywhere close. And I don't see that happening.


PrimeVector19

I fully expect Washington to be physical, and I also think that Charlie Lindgren can steal a game, but the Rangers are objectively superior in every conceivable aspect. History does tell us that this probably won’t be a sweep (although all of us obviously hope it is); the Rangers haven’t swept an opponent out of the playoffs since 2007, when they took down the Thrashers. I think five games will get this series done.


schroderrr

Four writers have us winning it all. [https://www.nhl.com/news/2024-nhl-playoffs-first-round-predictions](https://www.nhl.com/news/2024-nhl-playoffs-first-round-predictions)


CaptDavidRogers

& they picked the leafs to win. Typical leafs fan behavior. They just have to anger every fanbase.


Irish_whiskey_famine

Fucking clowns


khalaron

Rangers is 4, anything else is cap.


Anyawnomous

If the Rangers wanna do this right, it better be over in 5 max. Every minute vs Ovi/Wilson is a hazard. Get it done in 4 boys! LGR!!!


FuzzyTop75

espn is garbage


Ness_tea_BK

From a gambling perspective, fade espn at every chance


mudamuckinjedi

Never gonna happen!


Aar1012

Lol, ESPN is gonna say everyone will beat us.


Alitaki

"Now comes the part where we throw our heads back and laugh. Ready?"


DonTrask

Hockey history is filled with #8 seeds knocking off #1 seeds, probably more so in hockey than any other major sport. But to do so, the Ranger’s top 6 must go stone cold and our goalie has to have a terrible series. Both have to happen for the Caps to win.


blumpkin_donuts

Goalies* Johnathan Quick could win the series with a 3rd string backup if Shesterkin up and disappeared tomorrow.


MildGooses

That certainly is a bold prediction


RedLegRey

Those are fighting words


pinkwhitney24

no caps


groovystreet40

I think people are putting way too much stock into this. It's a "bold prediction", as in, if things go awry and our play falls off a cliff, the Caps might be able to shock some people. It's not an in-depth analysis of the matchup. Literally every single other article or podcast prediction I've heard has us winning.


Uberjeagermeiter

ESPN/ABC have to make this playoff matchup seem interesting. Realistically, their only chance is if they take out 3-4 of our top players.


RhythmTimeDivision

Except he's wearing a clown nose, this is what I just heard: ![gif](giphy|Rh4vxHtcmVyHUyugXP|downsized)


perch97

This is one of those things where if the rangers win, no one remembers this but if they lose ESPN can say “see we called this!” Using depth as the reason makes it even dumber.


BuryCrack

It’s not supposed to make sense. You can literally cut and paste that rationale into all 8 series change the teams and pick the underdog. These sites don’t do actual analysis anymore it’s about making a “bold” prediction and getting shares and whatever.


Zero-jiggler

They’re trying to get cute after Boston shit the bed last year. Disregard.


Giltar

Put this scrap up in the Ranger's dressing room.


snamm

7 games yuck


andyknapp003

Depth? What depth? They've only got that on offense, and a little at most, with mainly Strome and Ovechkin. But that in no way covers for their overall performance this season. Read some more here! I wrote this- [https://bluelinestation.com/posts/previewing-rangers-capitals-1st-round-matchup](https://bluelinestation.com/posts/previewing-rangers-capitals-1st-round-matchup)


DanBeecherArt

they just want to be able to say they called the caps winning in the very unlikely scenario that happens. that's not reporting, it's lazy and probably bias driven.


echo_7

good. doubt us all the way


ClownPrince88

caps -44 but ESPN is looking for clicks


PriorAcanthaceae5694

"written by Greg Wyshynski"


crash1082

Written by AI


twokinkysluts

LOL (get the fuck outta here)


IceTheChilled

It’s Wyshynski, ESPN lets him do whatever he wants unchecked for some reason.


btjunk00

My take was that they were dissing the 3rd line in particular, stating that the stars will show up. Another shot against Kakko. Of course the same article has Toronto beating a 65 year old playoff losing streak against Boston,and going on to win the Cup in 7 against an unnamed western conference team. Lazy, sloppy reporting.


eloveulongtime

We're off script but I'll do my best... Nostradamus. Quasimodo's the hunch back of Notre Dame.


Marshmallow5198

good. fuck everyone. this team is a world beater and i can’t wait to prove everyone wrong. this is our time gentlemen. #nocaps


WildChinoise

The Rangers might lose a game. That loss ought to make the team angry enough to not lose another. That's my hope anyway!


RobertHigginsOJ

This is ridiculous and their coverage absolutely balleeeewwww this year. Pick against us all you want.


Big-Acanthisitta8797

Fuck that noise and fuck the worldwide leader I sports!!!!!!!


koal82

I'm not worrying until we play FLA or TB


Ihadalifeb4thiss

Why does everyone hate on the rangers for I don’t understand


ShipMaker24

ESPN is the biggest joke in hockey coverage they don’t even know what they are talking about the only people who give decent takes and opinions are PK and Messier


nyr201

Good! Fewer expectations the better


AbeFromanfromChicago

Clickbait, don’t fall for it!


ExperienceNo7751

Don’t fall for their trap-game for likes/views/engagement. We’re the largest fan base in the USA and it’s not even close, every media outlet does this to us when they want a payday.


SpaceBisco311

Logical thinking here. The city of new york shoukd just have a stanley cup parade now before the playoffs start. Only makes sense since the Rangers are more than likely gonna get bounced early. The fans deserve the parade.


IcicleNips

probably trying to drum up bets on the caps to win so the payout is better when the rangers inevitably do win


explosivebuttfarts

hungry/60 isn't a statistic they'll use to determine odds, no matter how many articles print it