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Post by parise (Rangers GM) on Aug 21, 2011 10:03:03 GMT -5
While it has been only 16 games into the season, the Rangers have proven to the league that they are a cup contending team. Despite the fact that the entire league placed the Rangers in either the 8th spot or even as low as the 11th in their predictions, the Rangers have stormed out of the gate with a 10 game undeafeated streak.
" We know that we are a team that can be a real threat to win it every year, and we all found those predictions to be absurd." Said Rangers captain Wade Redden.
However, recent injuries to stars Oliver Ekman Larsson and Bobby Ryan have hurt the Rangers lineup tremendously, and Coach Tortorella has been forced to roll out a first line with an inexperienced Derek Stepan on it.
" There's definitely alot of pressure on me to perform, but people can't expect from me the same kind of production that Ryan can put up, its just not a realistic comparision. Said Stepan.
Nonetheless, the Rangers are confident that even without their star player, their lineup will be able to compete with the best in the league. With Tyler Ennis and James Van Riemsdyk bouncing back from a forgettable 2011-2012 campaign, the future looks bright in the big apple.
"People can't forget who we have in net! " Bragged Henrik Lundqvist jokingly. The thirty year old is also looking forward to erasing his mind of his woes of last season. " I think with our orgasmic defensive core in front of me this year, i'm going to win the Vezina."
A bold prediction indeed, but unlike the league's predictions of the Ranger's fortunes this season, it seems that this one perhaps may come true.
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