HEY I HAD AN IDEA...

...Sorry, still worked up from the rather loud game thread. Anyway, I have an idea. Battle lines are being drawn. Half the forum thinks the Rangers are a red and blue bucket of poop, a nugget of fool's gold, a marginally talented sham of a team that's barely been held up in the air all season long by brilliant defense and goaltending, and once those leveled off, the wheels flew off their bus in a hurry.

Then the other side, the Sunshine Brigade, thinks there's an excuse for anything and everything. If the Rangers only played 10 forwards instead of the standard 12 one night, they'd argue that 10 is a nice round number. If the Rangers played against a team with a trash can in net and lost 2-1, they'd argue that trash cans are deceptively big, especially those round metal ones at the train station. And if the Rangers got swept out of the 1st round of the playoffs despite holding the NHL lead all season, they'd say hey, they didn't do too bad because, like, sports is hard and stuff.

So let's pick our sides and settle our differences on the battlefield. Here's the ground rules.

If you are on TEAM NEGATIVE, you think the Rangers will do no better in the playoffs than a 5 game loss in round 2.
If you are on TEAM POSITIVE, you think the Rangers will do anywhere from slightly better to way better than that.

So, TEAM NEGATIVE wins if the Rangers lose at all in round 1, get swept in round 2, or only win one game in round 2.
TEAM POSITIVE wins if the Rangers win at least 2 games in round 2 up to the Stanley Cup.

What's the bounty? Candy! The losers will buy the winners a bag of candy and mail it to them. You can easily do this through Amazon with very little effort and expense. Kind of like how our Secret Santa works.

If the teams are uneven and there's not enough people on one side to make a 1:1 ratio, whatever, we'll figure something out or I'll buy all those extra people bags of candy.

SO CAST YOUR LOT ON THE RANGERS IMMEDIATE FUTURE AND CHOOSE YOUR SIDE. Maybe we can get avatars made up, too.

I'm in for Team Negative!

Pretty cool Pete. Even though I've criticized their lack of depth after the deadline I fall into Team Positive because I can't see them not at least having a long series in Round 2.

Im a tweener. Go team or something/

I do think Team Positive has slightly better odds, but whatever, it's a bag of candy.

I completely expect them to make it to round two, but how much further they make it largely depends on how much help they get from other teams. If somebody is a hero and knocks off the Penguins and/or Bruins for us, we will have a MUCH better shot at going far.

It's only a $2.99 bag of candy, people! Pick a side and let it roll.

Does it have to be a whole bag of candy or just a small soccer sized portion?

/101

Fuck you, haters! Have fun rooting against your own team and whoring yourselves out for a bag of candy!

TEAM POSITIVE, CAN YOU SMELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

Really, we're going to rip off Twilight fans? Should I shower with a belt sander or just go straight to lighting myself on fire?

This is so un-Twlight inspired I don't even know what you're talking about.

Team positive here. I think they'll make round two a long series.

I like Sour Patch Kids.

Only thing I can think of is the "Team Edward/Jacob" crap, and that's a stretch.

Sorry, no time to feel shame, will have too much candy to eat.

See, this is a no lose scenario. I either get candy, or the Rangers are playing in May.

Team Negative: 5 game loss to Pittsburgh in Round 2.

Pretzel M&M's.

Reese's PB Cups for me. A bag of minis works.

Rangers win the Stanley Cup and the White House in 2012. Fanboi!!!!!!!!

GO TEAM VENTURE! erm TEAM POSITIVE!


Peppermint Patties or Junior Mints.

That's a pretty sensible way to handle this. If there aren't enough Team negative members, I'll change my vote.

Mike, what the hell is your new "avatar"? Is that Team Positive?

Better yet should we measure by the weight of the product? Also, any allergies from anyone in particular? Can it be chocolates? Does it have to be Made in the USA? Should we go by calories as well?

Too many questions.... this is too hard for me to participate in.

Team Positive!

I enjoy 100 grand bars.

Team Negative. No 1st place finish, 2nd rd elimination. Sather needed that goal scorer at the deadline, instead we got Scott. Atleast our team will be awesome in 2016, so they say.

TEAM NEGATIVE! I ship so much on amazon that this won't make a big deal for me. We're losing in 4 games in the first round. Count it.

Mini Take 5 bars by the way.

TEAM NEUTRAL.




Edit: Seriously though, Team Positive.

Need I say more? Oh and Dark Peanut Chews are my poison on choice

Team negative. This feels like '05-'06 all over again.

SO POSITIVE, BROS.

Good lord there's still a month left in the season and even Pittsburgh can't win EVERY game.

I've had travel bags packed for June since the Winter Classic, but it seems pretty silly right now.

Team Posi-meh.

and save all your black jelly beans for me.

I'm still optimistic. Three losses in a row haven't made me hit the panic button yet. They've played like garbage, but I would much rather have them get this shit out of their system now than in the postseason. I'm just glad they don't have to depend on another team to lose in their last game of the season in order to make the playoffs this year. So sign me up for team positive, I guess.

Until John Scott gets injured, then the season's definitely over. /sarcasm

Team negative!

Goldberg's Peanut Chews, Bit-O-Honey, or some other old man candy would be awesome.

Team Positive. Candy TBD.

I say if they're done in 6 not 5 in the second round that should be a team negative win.

It doesn't even fucking matter. I guarantee we're getting bounced in the first round.

YAY! Another Peanut Chew fan. It sucks up here. The only place I can get them is the nastiest Walmart in the area

My team negative candy is Cadbury creme eggs.

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COULD'VE HAD A RICK NASH

Did you take a screenshot of a photo editing software?

So...your team positive?

Better they face this now than next month. They'll get back to their game....solid defense, top notch goaltending, and praying for 3 goals a night. Put me down for positive. anythin reese's for my candy.

Team Negative is best team. God Why Would I be Positive?

Does the bag of candy come w/a dental visit after Sed pulls his fillings out ?

MARY JANES! Those were the other ones that I was trying to remember before.

I think that you, the elderly, and I are the only people who like Peanut Chews.

Crosbys planning on Thursday for his return. Crosby back plus malkamania = blowout.

It was hard to escape them in NYC and when you could buy the little wrapped ones for 5 cents it was a bargain to boot.

Ok.... FINE. That was.

But Irakinquirerlajahd released this photo, which looks very clean and realistic.

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I think i'll get the Avery treatment if i join either team. Friggin anti-fashionistas on here.

I fucking called it.

There is no need to bring him back sooner than that.