12/12/08 Rangers Devils - How I learned to worry and hate the Powerplay

Wow, so as I start this it's 9:35 and the Rangers were blown out, tied it up, and then were blown out.  Maybe things will change.  Probably not.  

If anyone thinks this is remotely Lundquvists' fault, wake up.  The guy played a good game.  How can 8 goals be considered a good game?  Well, he made the saves he was supposed to make.  When an NHL player is able to take a shot and GET HIS OWN REBOUND there is a huge problem.

Wade Redden.  He's not the only problem, but he's indicative of it.  He's sloppy on the point, can't get his shot on net, and vacates the goal mouth when his partner is in the corner.  The point play is one thing.  Maybe with the defense first approach, he was trying to change his game up.  Maybe he's trying to adjust his shot.  But the play in his own zone is inexcusable.  When one is making a salary like his, you should at least be able to play on the level of an AHL defenseman.

The trouble, and it doesn't take a rocket scientist to see this, is that the Rangers lost 2 stay at home defensemen, and focused on on puck movers.  Toots and Girardi were a solid, young pair last year.  They're gone.  Mara and Strudwick were your muscle.  Sure they were slow, and could take some bad penalties, but you need those big guys back there.  Sounds, big guys that'll clear the front of the net.  Staal is a phenom, and keeps growing, even though he's stuck in the mud right now.  Rosie was the cannon on the point, and he was doing just fine.

Management didn't learn from the Christian Backman experiment.  Or Sandis Ozilinch.  When your attack is based on solid defense allowing your forwards to go deep into the zone and not worry as much about backchecking, you need solid, drab defensemen.  The two players didn't last long because they are, in essence, forwards playing D.  Wade Redden fits into this mould.

It's 9:49 now, and the game is over.  8-5.  Terrible.

What to do?  Rosie is good enough on the point.  When you have the forwards the Rangers have, the offensive contribution of your D should be to get the puck on net, and keep the puck in the zone.  Basic stuff.  They don't need to rush it, they don't need to snipe.  Or pinch into the slot.  Play back, don't pinch unless you know you can get to the puck first, and take low shots.  Your main priority, over all else, is PREVENTING goals from being scored.  

Renney, who I am a fan of, should bench Redden.  It would send a message to the team that no player is safe.  You perform or you sit.  Put Potter in his place.  Or send Kalinin down and bring up two guys.  Shake things up.  If it pisses Redden off, good.  Get him going.  Kalinin hasn't been as bad as his numbers state.  He hasn't been good, and I would take Toots over him any day, but we're working with broken pieces here.

Next game you give Henrik a rest.  He did his part, but was constantly left out to dry.  He's losing his motivation.  You can see it in the way that he knows he's getting no help.  You can see it in the way he threw the puck away after a freeze.  It's not fair to the guy to pin it on him.  Make the Rangers play up to his standard.  Until he sees the team actually play, I don't think he's going to be 100 percent.

Give it to the Devils.  They saw the Rangers playing lightly, and they jumped on it.  An 8-5 Rangers/Devils game?  Who knew?

I mentioned the power play last post.  Same applies, except they put Drury back there.  Good call.  He's defensively sound and has a mean shot.  He's a daywalker, and a product of Fairfield Prep. 

Yeah Prep!

Ok, that made me feel better.  Big game tomorrow as my Ex-Whalers come to town.  If there's one game I want the boys to win, it's this one...

12/11/08 Game thoughts

A lot of people are down on the Rangers for not blowing the Thrashers out of the water.  They forget that this team does have Ilya the psychotic, who can almost score at will when he's on.  They forget Exelby on the back line and his punishing hits.  They forget that "Moose" is one of the most underrated goalies in the league.  Hell, look what they did to the Islanders a few nights ago.  They can turn it on.  Just, you know, not when it counts.  They do play the Rangers tough everytime though.  Maybe it's bad blood from the sweep a few years ago?  Maybe not...

*  COLTON ORR SCORES!

*  The Rangers looked pretty good in this one.  They gave up fewer odd man rushes than usual.  The fact that I just typed that is a problem.

*  Wade Redden should just cut the crap and play as a forward.  Either that or put him and Betts on the points during the powerplay.  That way it'd look like the Rangers are trying to generate more offense by having a forward on the point, but really just shore up the D.

*  That last one was a joke.  Maybe.

*  Glad Gomer popped Kovi.  Ilya likes to act like a fighter every now and then, but his silky soft hands just give him away.  I'm hoping this leads to some good, aggressive matchups down the line between these two.  Also, it may be the coverage, but I didn't see the Gomer slash that sent him to the box with Ilya right after they served their "not fighting minors".

*  Freddy "Quadzilla" Sjostrom is probably better off on the third line, but honestly I like him better with Betts and Orr.  I'd honestly rather see Voros/Betts/Orr and more the Korpedo up.  Voros and Orr seemed to have some chemistry tonight on that goal.  Maybe it could lead to something?

*  Great saves by Valley.  Seriously, those were Patrick Roy style glove saves!  Also gotta love Moose pulling out the stacked pad save!  Not enough goalies do that stuff anymore.

Lastly, I just want to say something.  If you think Scott Gomez is a waste, you need to find another sport to follow.  The space that this guy creates is invaluable.  He's not going to score like Jagr.  He's not meant to.  When he's on the ice during a breakout, the puck is going into the offensive zone, 100%.  Think of how many times the Rangers get chased back into their end, trying to make an overly long pass or realizing that Wade Redden is on the team.  They get trapped, the other team starts to cycle and WHAM.  Goal.  Having a speedster who can bullrush the puck, make a good pass, and score the occasional goal is huge.  If you don't believe me, watch how other teams respect the Gomer's speed.  When he starts a rush, the other team's D drops back half a zone.  They don't try and stand him up, the just drop back and try to push him to the outside.  It's all they can do.

Remember kids, only 83 more games until Colton's next goal...