I feel like this team deserves the benefit of the doubt during this losing streak. The losing streak is concerning, but I have the utmost confidence in the players and coaches. A resilient bunch. LGR.
the Flyers suck and hadn't won at MSG since Feb. 2011, so I fully expect the Canes to come out flying since they've lost 17 of their last 18 to the Rangers.
Sports mind, body & soul needs is a loss tonight. Unfortunately, I feel this will be the cherry on top of what has been a solid week of (my) NY teams losing. Rangers & Giants both shitting the bed since last Wed (+ NYR losing to Tampa the week B4) I'm desperate to see them get back on the winning track, but just don't feel it, that it starts tonight! Hopefully I'm wrong... PLEASE LORD lemme be wrong!!
Sports mind, body & soul needs is a loss tonight. Unfortunately, I feel this will be the cherry on top of what has been a solid week of (my) NY teams losing. Rangers & Giants both shitting the bed since last Wed (+ NYR losing to Tampa the week B4) I'm desperate to see them get back on the winning track, but just don't feel it, that it starts tonight! Hopefully I'm wrong... PLEASE LORD lemme be wrong!!
LGR.. Fuck this streak!!!
I'll up you Notre Dame losing on a last second field goal because Brian Kelly went to the NYG school of inept clock management skill... and my fantasy team dropping both this sunday. Oh and we're also less than a month removed from the Mets losing in 5.
sports suck
This is what some of us were talking about at the risk of
cyber beheadings. Yes, it's great to pile up wins early, it pays off later. But it's delusional to think they were playing great. Lundqvist stole a good number of those game. There have been too many games with long stretches of play in the Rangers zone, not enough continued offense by the Rangers. They are still in good position if they can clean up there act this month.
with Nash and maybe Brassard (since the gaps between these players and their replacements is so enormous) -- that's difficult to overcome ... and we're also in an absolutely ridiculous stretch of 7 games in 11 days (and 6 games in 9 days) on top of it.
It's time to start holding Kreider, Brassard and others accountable. Yeah our defense has struggled but these guys have to get it going. Enough already.
I recall our record being really shitty without Stepan but couldn't find it.
Kreider's been awful - for a guy with his size and strength to be losing board battles as consistently as he does is pathetic. He's #1 on my shit-list at forward.
Andrew Gross
@AGrossRecord
D-pairs: McDonagh-Klein Staal-Boyle Yandle-Girardi/McIlrath
Quote:
New lines: Nash- Brass-Zucc Kreider-Lindberg-Fast Miller-Hayes-Stalberg Moore-Stoll-Etem
It would be a shame if that's the only ride he gets down Broadway, but many greats have played valiantly for the Rangers and won dick. Andy Bathgate, Rod Gilbert, Chuck Raynor, Ron Greschner to name a few.
Kreider's been awful - for a guy with his size and strength to be losing board battles as consistently as he does is pathetic. He's #1 on my shit-list at forward.
Yup. Far too often, he's just invisible out there. Loses battles for the puck, hangs out on the perimeter, does nothing but try to cherry-pick breakaways. I was so hopeful that he would bust out this season, but he's just been a bust.
and we know he's excellent at draws, but he reminds me of #15 on offense at this point. Father time (and blow) seems to have taken that part of his game away so he's a very replaceable player at this point.
Sounds like McIlrath is the healthy scratch tonight
Kreider doesn't really flash high hockey IQ and doesn't have good hands. I suspect he dominated HS and college hockey (I only saw him like three times at BC, so can't say anything definitive) on sheer physical ability and he never had to really learn the nuances of the game the way a Zucc did. I'd almost equate it to the way running QBs don't learn how to read defenses. Someone like pjcas or Davisian could support/shit on that theory.
He also seems like a guy that lacks intensity for long periods.
Kreider needs to get his head out of his ass and finish
He's been terrible. We're beyond 'a slow start' with him now. With his physical ability and the experience he's accumulated he should be at the stage of contributing consistently on the scoreboard. Wake the fuck up.
AV going back to the D pairings he never should've went away from. Girardi isn't a top pair guy and hasn't been for some time. Yandle needs a partner that can bring some grit and as a 3rd pair guy Girardi does that.
I don't like FGast on the '2nd' line. he doesn't bring enough offensive potential imo. I'd go with these pairings.
Spent the day with him today at a signing and noticed his left hand and thumb are heavily taped and thumb is immobilize and he wasn't moving it at all.. When i asked whats wrong he said. "I can't say but it hurts"
looks very swollen and might explain the issues handling the puck as his top hand is his control hand on the stick, Dan is a great guy always smiling and great with the fans. Signing went great and he was amazing with the kids as most of the guys are.
AV should be sitting him for a couple of weeks if this is the case. We have the depth for this. HFBoards - ( New Window )
yep toughness counts but it's stupid to play a guy ...
...well below 100% healthy when you have solid options. This is where the coach has to say we know you're a warrior but we need you to get healthy. If you accept this as an factual account.
Spent the day with him today at a signing and noticed his left hand and thumb are heavily taped and thumb is immobilize and he wasn't moving it at all.. When i asked whats wrong he said. "I can't say but it hurts"
looks very swollen and might explain the issues handling the puck as his top hand is his control hand on the stick, Dan is a great guy always smiling and great with the fans. Signing went great and he was amazing with the kids as most of the guys are.
AV should be sitting him for a couple of weeks if this is the case. We have the depth for this. HFBoards - ( New Window )
Thought McIlrath was one of the few that acquitted himself nicely this past weekend. He brings something to the lineup we don't have much of, and his skating and puck movement looks much improved. He should be playing much more often, and not just in place of Boyle. But it looks like he's out tonight
Stepan gone 4-6 weeks, and crickets from the league
I'm still really, really pissed about that entire sequence of events. Stepan gets hit VERY late yet it's the Bruins that end up getting the power play, and now Stepan's out for over a month while Beleskey doesn't even get a slap on the wrist. Fuck this league.
Duby gets a hearing for a run of the mill penalty to crosby...
Thought McIlrath was one of the few that acquitted himself nicely this past weekend. He brings something to the lineup we don't have much of, and his skating and puck movement looks much improved. He should be playing much more often, and not just in place of Boyle. But it looks like he's out tonight
Really like #6. That hit on Schenn saturday was (sadly, but still awesome) the highlight of the day. Agree he should be playing every night but AV's love affair with injured or fork in back veterans is starting to wear on me.
This is an important game - Islanders will be tough Wednesday, and you have yet another back to back with COL thursday where we wont have much in the tank as its 5th game in 7 days. The losing streak could get a little nasty if we're not careful.
RE: Stepan gone 4-6 weeks, and crickets from the league
I'm still really, really pissed about that entire sequence of events. Stepan gets hit VERY late yet it's the Bruins that end up getting the power play, and now Stepan's out for over a month while Beleskey doesn't even get a slap on the wrist. Fuck this league.
I've seen both the Stepan hit and the play with Hank. It seems like the coaches and Rangers' organization have been very preoccupied with the Hank situation and whether or not it was a dive, and I don't really get why.
If I'm the Rangers, the hit on Stepan was egregiously dirty and I'm throwing a massive fit about it. No offense, but Hank may have dove. He also may have not, but it's not all that cut and dry.
The hit on Stepan was dirty and the Rangers suffered a major consequence for it. Hoping he gets healthy for you guys soon. This is how we felt last year when Okposo went down.
He actually was punched in the face at Andrew MacDonald's bachelor party I heard (my friend knew one of the bridesmaids). But that's another can of tomatoes.
Yeah, they injuries are nothing alike at a lot. I was just being empathetic in regards to both of us losing our 2nd best forwards for 4-6 weeks.
It actually was a degenerative condition that manifested itself at practice. There were some "rumors" of it being the result of horseplay, but they were just that - rumors. Docs mentioned that he was lucky they caught the situation when they did.
PJ and I have discussed this in the past. A dive is creating a phantom penalty, the Syndee Crosby method of suddenly flying to the ice with arms flailing about despite barely being touched. Selling the call is when a guy is being hooked, and falls down to make sure that the refs see the hook.
Marchand's scummy rodent ass absolutely DID knee him in the head. There's no question about it. Now, was Henrik as hurt by it as he appeared to be? Maybe, maybe not. It might have been an act, but if so it doesn't absolve Marchand.
The reason all the talk has been about that and not Stepan is because that ugly turd Julian kept flapping his mouth about it.
but i would think a team would need to carry a 13th forward regardless considering you know Stepan wont be back for so long. Shit happens, guys get ill or in Stoll's case show up high.
At least MacDonald did something right - $5M a year and in the AHL...
Ha, it was at his party, but probably was just some guy who did it. Not to dispute pganut's info, but I heard this from a pretty reliable source. Probably the only time I've ever had legit asshat insights.
They're being outskated by a bunch of Ham n eggers out there tonight.
I think their transition game and the speed that comes with it has been stifled a bit by the defensemen struggling to move the puck out of their zone more often this season.
for Kyle Okposo? I had this discussion with an Islander fan co-worker of mine today who was saying it's looking less and less likely that he re-signs with them. I just think this Ranger team needs to add another goal scorer befire the deadline to play on the 2nd line with Step and Kreider.
without Hank and Raanta playing as they are this is an 8-17 team, not 17-8. With that said, this same group has been league average or better in all the metrics the past two years and we see how shitty the other deep playoff run teams are playing too. It's starting to get dicey for Tampa specifically, Stamkos could be in play in another month or two.
Hopefully as Hank has alluded to its a "structure" issue defensively and it can be fixed. Let's hope so because YTD what we've seen is not a team that can make a deep run. Still another 50+ games to get their shit together.
There was one player responsible for >90% of the shot attempt
my concern is AV seems so reluctant to let young kids try and maybe fail relative to other coaches
We already have so much damn cap tied into this defensive corps and the frustrating part is they do have value but those fucking NMCs. Edmonton wouldnt want Staal? Of course they would.
#6 to me looks just as good as any defender we could get at the deadline without paying a king's ransom or allocating yet more cap against the D-line. Why AV wont play this kid - every night - your guess is as good as mine.
But the usage by AV sort of suggests he isn't going to shake up Staal/Girardi who have been the biggest issues in terms of puck movement on D (the forwards were fucking terrible on the backcheck last night too).
I don't think AV is any more wary of younger players than other coaches. Torts was much worse IMO. He does seem to not trust Lindberg/Miller yet, though.
I think they're going to go after Byfuglien for a rental. Who would be a great rental if he wasn't going to cost an arm and a leg.
I'm with you on McIlrath/Skjei - but do you think AV is going to sit Staal/Girardi for them? I'm doubtful - I'm also doubtful they continue playing this poorly, though.
I do wonder how much of the lack of speed is just that we're tired. Look at TB and Chicago. We've been making so many deep playoff runs. It doesnt have to take its toll, but it can.
I sort of doubt Gorton is going to trade picks/prospects this year. If we could get someone like Buff for Etem or Fast he'd probably look at it. But unlike Sather who had a lifetime employment relationship, Gorton cant really afford a crash and burn in 4 years plan. And he said a few weeks ago that you cant keep trading #1s.
I could absolutely see a Miller/Rath/2nd deal, though... I'd be surprised to see Buch/Skjei go.
I'm curious how the organization thinks - have they made the tradeoff for the short-term so much already that they might as well continue doing it for an increased shot at the Cup before the core is cooked? Or do they now take a step back and regroup a little? Gorton's comments seem to favor the latter.
It's time to move Etem up he has offensive instincts Fast(who I love as a checking forward)will never have. That's a couple games in a row he's been arguably our best forward. He has the requisite size, speed and hands to have an impact.
Not surprised by tampa's struggles. A coach with cooper's ego plays much better with a young up and coming lineup than one with a few pelts on the wall. Throw in Stamko's contract squabble and that's a shit stew rife with potential sedition in the locker room.
but i'm more inclined to think Tampa's struggles have to do with a shitload of injuries (T Johnson, Palat, Callahan have all missed significant time and others likely have too) and general fatigue from playing into June last year.
Its why it annoys me Washington was scheduled 3 times in 18 days with them (they also get Montreal twice with Price out too). Never understood why the NHL clusters games against the same opponents so often, i guess they dont have high pecking order with many arenas or something.
Tomorrow night could get ugly - i'd be lying if i said i was looking forward. Islanders are quietly playing much better hockey now after a slow start (probably due to Tavares sickness and other reasons)
Dan Rosen @drosennhl 1m1 minute ago
NYR D Kevin Klein out 2-3 weeks with strained oblique muscle. They had only 4 man games lost before Stepan (4-6 weeks) was injured Friday.
Time to step up, McI
At least McDonagh and Girardi are gonna be back together!
they'll need to make up for the loss with offense.
in other Habs news you will all be interested in they called up Zach Fucale (maybe their #1 prospect) to backup Condon. It would be good to see him have some success, I've heard mixed reviews. I like Condon, being the American goalie on the Canadiens, but he's not very good.
wish nothing against Klein or Stepan, but Im really happy that McIlrath and Etem are going to get force fed minutes. I think this was the plan all along -- assume there would be an injury so sit these guys early to avoid pissing off a vet.
Agree with whoever said swap Etem and Fast. Play to each guy's strength.
I think those cups of coffee can do a lot of good, especially when it is clear that short of playing like a 1st pair guy, it is really a limited term learning experience. A lot of guys can use those short visits to the NHL to get a sense of what they need to focus on.
I'd normally make one right now after reading this, but pganut is the starter. I'm hoping for a Redbeard Ranger thread. He gets rattled pretty easily. We'll just need to get some pucks on net and we've got this.
Don't watch.
Don't watch.
thx
Apology accepted.
Don't watch.
Pass the chronic!
LGR.. Fuck this streak!!!
LGR.. Fuck this streak!!!
I'll up you Notre Dame losing on a last second field goal because Brian Kelly went to the NYG school of inept clock management skill... and my fantasy team dropping both this sunday. Oh and we're also less than a month removed from the Mets losing in 5.
sports suck
It's time to start holding Kreider, Brassard and others accountable. Yeah our defense has struggled but these guys have to get it going. Enough already.
Kreider's been awful - for a guy with his size and strength to be losing board battles as consistently as he does is pathetic. He's #1 on my shit-list at forward.
@AGrossRecord
D-pairs: McDonagh-Klein Staal-Boyle Yandle-Girardi/McIlrath
Quote:
Andrew Gross
@AGrossRecord
D-pairs: McDonagh-Klein Staal-Boyle Yandle-Girardi/McIlrath
Quote:
New lines: Nash- Brass-Zucc Kreider-Lindberg-Fast Miller-Hayes-Stalberg Moore-Stoll-Etem
It would be a shame if that's the only ride he gets down Broadway, but many greats have played valiantly for the Rangers and won dick. Andy Bathgate, Rod Gilbert, Chuck Raynor, Ron Greschner to name a few.
Yup. Far too often, he's just invisible out there. Loses battles for the puck, hangs out on the perimeter, does nothing but try to cherry-pick breakaways. I was so hopeful that he would bust out this season, but he's just been a bust.
I like Etem's a game lot. Was winning puck battles, etc. I'm not in love with Stoll and much prefer Moore at C.
He also seems like a guy that lacks intensity for long periods.
AV going back to the D pairings he never should've went away from. Girardi isn't a top pair guy and hasn't been for some time. Yandle needs a partner that can bring some grit and as a 3rd pair guy Girardi does that.
I don't like FGast on the '2nd' line. he doesn't bring enough offensive potential imo. I'd go with these pairings.
Nash/Brass/Zucc
Miller/Hayes/Etem
Kreider/Lindberg/Fast
Stalberg/Stoll/Moore
looks very swollen and might explain the issues handling the puck as his top hand is his control hand on the stick, Dan is a great guy always smiling and great with the fans. Signing went great and he was amazing with the kids as most of the guys are.
AV should be sitting him for a couple of weeks if this is the case. We have the depth for this.
HFBoards - ( New Window )
Quote:
Spent the day with him today at a signing and noticed his left hand and thumb are heavily taped and thumb is immobilize and he wasn't moving it at all.. When i asked whats wrong he said. "I can't say but it hurts"
looks very swollen and might explain the issues handling the puck as his top hand is his control hand on the stick, Dan is a great guy always smiling and great with the fans. Signing went great and he was amazing with the kids as most of the guys are.
AV should be sitting him for a couple of weeks if this is the case. We have the depth for this. HFBoards - ( New Window )
Agree. So what's Staal's excuse?
Thought McIlrath was one of the few that acquitted himself nicely this past weekend. He brings something to the lineup we don't have much of, and his skating and puck movement looks much improved. He should be playing much more often, and not just in place of Boyle. But it looks like he's out tonight
Thought McIlrath was one of the few that acquitted himself nicely this past weekend. He brings something to the lineup we don't have much of, and his skating and puck movement looks much improved. He should be playing much more often, and not just in place of Boyle. But it looks like he's out tonight
Really like #6. That hit on Schenn saturday was (sadly, but still awesome) the highlight of the day. Agree he should be playing every night but AV's love affair with injured or fork in back veterans is starting to wear on me.
This is an important game - Islanders will be tough Wednesday, and you have yet another back to back with COL thursday where we wont have much in the tank as its 5th game in 7 days. The losing streak could get a little nasty if we're not careful.
I've seen both the Stepan hit and the play with Hank. It seems like the coaches and Rangers' organization have been very preoccupied with the Hank situation and whether or not it was a dive, and I don't really get why.
If I'm the Rangers, the hit on Stepan was egregiously dirty and I'm throwing a massive fit about it. No offense, but Hank may have dove. He also may have not, but it's not all that cut and dry.
The hit on Stepan was dirty and the Rangers suffered a major consequence for it. Hoping he gets healthy for you guys soon. This is how we felt last year when Okposo went down.
He actually was punched in the face at Andrew MacDonald's bachelor party I heard (my friend knew one of the bridesmaids). But that's another can of tomatoes.
Yeah, they injuries are nothing alike at a lot. I was just being empathetic in regards to both of us losing our 2nd best forwards for 4-6 weeks.
fixed: **Yeah, the injuries are nothing alike at all. **
Marchand's scummy rodent ass absolutely DID knee him in the head. There's no question about it. Now, was Henrik as hurt by it as he appeared to be? Maybe, maybe not. It might have been an act, but if so it doesn't absolve Marchand.
The reason all the talk has been about that and not Stepan is because that ugly turd Julian kept flapping his mouth about it.
but i would think a team would need to carry a 13th forward regardless considering you know Stepan wont be back for so long. Shit happens, guys get ill or in Stoll's case show up high.
At least MacDonald did something right - $5M a year and in the AHL...
At least MacDonald did something right - $5M a year and in the AHL...
Ha, it was at his party, but probably was just some guy who did it. Not to dispute pganut's info, but I heard this from a pretty reliable source. Probably the only time I've ever had legit asshat insights.
Find a way to escape this one.
They're being outskated by a bunch of Ham n eggers out there tonight.
They're being outskated by a bunch of Ham n eggers out there tonight.
I think their transition game and the speed that comes with it has been stifled a bit by the defensemen struggling to move the puck out of their zone more often this season.
But he has the size/speed package that plays better in the postseason. He will be a Claude Lemieux type player. A guy who can win you cups.
without Hank and Raanta playing as they are this is an 8-17 team, not 17-8. With that said, this same group has been league average or better in all the metrics the past two years and we see how shitty the other deep playoff run teams are playing too. It's starting to get dicey for Tampa specifically, Stamkos could be in play in another month or two.
Hopefully as Hank has alluded to its a "structure" issue defensively and it can be fixed. Let's hope so because YTD what we've seen is not a team that can make a deep run. Still another 50+ games to get their shit together.
They had such a solid first ten minutes and died.
I think the Rangers will make a move at the deadline for a defenseman somehow.
We already have so much damn cap tied into this defensive corps and the frustrating part is they do have value but those fucking NMCs. Edmonton wouldnt want Staal? Of course they would.
I don't think AV is any more wary of younger players than other coaches. Torts was much worse IMO. He does seem to not trust Lindberg/Miller yet, though.
I'm with you on McIlrath/Skjei - but do you think AV is going to sit Staal/Girardi for them? I'm doubtful - I'm also doubtful they continue playing this poorly, though.
I got the stats from War-On-Ice (below).
War-On-Ice - ( New Window )
I sort of doubt Gorton is going to trade picks/prospects this year. If we could get someone like Buff for Etem or Fast he'd probably look at it. But unlike Sather who had a lifetime employment relationship, Gorton cant really afford a crash and burn in 4 years plan. And he said a few weeks ago that you cant keep trading #1s.
I'm curious how the organization thinks - have they made the tradeoff for the short-term so much already that they might as well continue doing it for an increased shot at the Cup before the core is cooked? Or do they now take a step back and regroup a little? Gorton's comments seem to favor the latter.
Not surprised by tampa's struggles. A coach with cooper's ego plays much better with a young up and coming lineup than one with a few pelts on the wall. Throw in Stamko's contract squabble and that's a shit stew rife with potential sedition in the locker room.
Its why it annoys me Washington was scheduled 3 times in 18 days with them (they also get Montreal twice with Price out too). Never understood why the NHL clusters games against the same opponents so often, i guess they dont have high pecking order with many arenas or something.
Tomorrow night could get ugly - i'd be lying if i said i was looking forward. Islanders are quietly playing much better hockey now after a slow start (probably due to Tavares sickness and other reasons)
NYR D Kevin Klein out 2-3 weeks with strained oblique muscle. They had only 4 man games lost before Stepan (4-6 weeks) was injured Friday.
Time to step up, McI
they'll need to make up for the loss with offense.
in other Habs news you will all be interested in they called up Zach Fucale (maybe their #1 prospect) to backup Condon. It would be good to see him have some success, I've heard mixed reviews. I like Condon, being the American goalie on the Canadiens, but he's not very good.
Minutes together - bigger bubble, bigger sample size. They've played so much together that the 'with Girardi' bubble is always bigger.
pj - I think you'll weather the storm without them... Your division sort of sucks this year. Stamkos on MTL would be terrifying, though.
Wraths time to shine
Drew the line at Billy Tibbetts, of course.
Agree with whoever said swap Etem and Fast. Play to each guy's strength.
Weak.
Weak.
I'd normally make one right now after reading this, but pganut is the starter. I'm hoping for a Redbeard Ranger thread. He gets rattled pretty easily. We'll just need to get some pucks on net and we've got this.