The Rangers uninspired effort against a the less talented, road-weary Panthers squad highlighted all of the serious problems that have plauged the team this season: no secondary scoring whatsoever, ineffective defense, an utter lack of grit and giving up soft goals.
But that's been true of pretty much every game the Rangers have played since the end of October. So here's a bold statement: this team is bad. They're not in a slump, they're not still putting together their lines and chemistry, they're not still learning a run-and-gun system that's totally unfamiliar to them. They play hockey badly, and lose most of their games.
The Rangers can't sustain offensive pressure, make countless turnovers in every area of the rink, and have literally no scoring outside of their top line. The players are not only struggling to keep up with opposing teams, they're also struggling to keep up with the pace of their own system. At this point in the season, some of the blame has to fall on Tortorella. Granted, benching players is difficult when the team is dealing with serious injuries to two of its top-six fowards, which also rules out sending veteran guys to Hartford. Instead, the system needs some tweaking.
From a fan's perspective, this is a bummer of a season. They're awful to watch and they don't seem to really care. Unfortunately, my roommate is an Islanders fan. Watching the Isles lose to the Blues the other night, I found myself thinking "I wish the Rangers played like this." And that's the biggest bummer of them all.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
11-9-1: If Your Record Looks Like This Then You're Doing It Wrong
This season, there are two crucial players on the Rangers: Marian Gaborik and Henrik Lundqvist. The Blueshirts go as Hank and Gabby go. Much like most other nights in the last month and a half, Hank and Gaborik were the only two Ranger players who made a difference in last night's game against OV and the Caps.
Since the beginning of October, nagging issues have become glaring problems for the Rangers. Secondary scoring is non-existant. No player except Gaborik scores on a consistent basis. In addition to having abosolutely no snarl, the defense lacks cohesion. The powerplay that roared out of the gate is hobbling along, and penalty kill has gone from good to mediocre.
Interestingly, the John Tortorella we saw in training camp is nowhere to be found. To be fair, if he were to try to hold everyone on the team accountable for their mistakes by benching individual players, then only Hank, Gabby and Vinny Prospal would play every night. But come on, Torts - where's that hot fire bro?! Have a public feud with a player! Get these guys going! Swear at Larry Brooks! Menacingly brandish a stick at a fan after squirting him with water! I'm tired of Even Keeled Torts. I want Bad Torts back - the Torts who claims not to know the names of all the players on his team, then sends the group of alleged strangers he's been hired to coach on a five mile run just because he feels like it. Bad Torts scares and punishes players until they win. Bad Torts got them to the playoffs last season, and Bad Torts sent them hurdling out of the gate like man-eating, goal hungry hyenas at the beginning of this season. We need that guy back.
A performance this dismal, though, can't really be blamed on the coach. You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink - the team has to want to win. The Rangers horse hasn't been particularly thirsty lately, apparently. I wouldn't necessarily say that the Rangers are calling it in. They're not. The effort is there, but it needs to be more focused. The powerplay needs to get strong again, and the even strength attack needs to be more sustained. Most importantly, these guys need to start finishing on quality chances. This is a problem that's plagued this team sinces the lockout. Elite players bury the puck whenever they see daylight in the back of the net, especially when they're right on the crease. The Rangers fan on those kinds of shots pretty regularly, and those are the ones that can really make a difference in a game. One timers come around once in a while, and snipers like Kotalik and Gabby pick their spots whenever they can. But there are quality rebounds in every NHL game. The Rangers need to start capitalizing on them.
The Rangers don't play again until Saturday against the Panther at MSG. Hopefully, they're at the practice facility in Westchester right now, where Torts is punishing them until they do it right.
Since the beginning of October, nagging issues have become glaring problems for the Rangers. Secondary scoring is non-existant. No player except Gaborik scores on a consistent basis. In addition to having abosolutely no snarl, the defense lacks cohesion. The powerplay that roared out of the gate is hobbling along, and penalty kill has gone from good to mediocre.
Interestingly, the John Tortorella we saw in training camp is nowhere to be found. To be fair, if he were to try to hold everyone on the team accountable for their mistakes by benching individual players, then only Hank, Gabby and Vinny Prospal would play every night. But come on, Torts - where's that hot fire bro?! Have a public feud with a player! Get these guys going! Swear at Larry Brooks! Menacingly brandish a stick at a fan after squirting him with water! I'm tired of Even Keeled Torts. I want Bad Torts back - the Torts who claims not to know the names of all the players on his team, then sends the group of alleged strangers he's been hired to coach on a five mile run just because he feels like it. Bad Torts scares and punishes players until they win. Bad Torts got them to the playoffs last season, and Bad Torts sent them hurdling out of the gate like man-eating, goal hungry hyenas at the beginning of this season. We need that guy back.
A performance this dismal, though, can't really be blamed on the coach. You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink - the team has to want to win. The Rangers horse hasn't been particularly thirsty lately, apparently. I wouldn't necessarily say that the Rangers are calling it in. They're not. The effort is there, but it needs to be more focused. The powerplay needs to get strong again, and the even strength attack needs to be more sustained. Most importantly, these guys need to start finishing on quality chances. This is a problem that's plagued this team sinces the lockout. Elite players bury the puck whenever they see daylight in the back of the net, especially when they're right on the crease. The Rangers fan on those kinds of shots pretty regularly, and those are the ones that can really make a difference in a game. One timers come around once in a while, and snipers like Kotalik and Gabby pick their spots whenever they can. But there are quality rebounds in every NHL game. The Rangers need to start capitalizing on them.
The Rangers don't play again until Saturday against the Panther at MSG. Hopefully, they're at the practice facility in Westchester right now, where Torts is punishing them until they do it right.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Feel Free to Concuss Our Captain
Last year, one of the few bright spots of the Rangers mediocre season was that they remained relatively injury free. The team lost very few man games, which paid off after the all star break as they made a push for the playoffs. No such luck this year. Even though Gaborik has avoided any major injuries thus far, Drury (concussion symptoms) and Dubinksy (broken hand) will be out for a while.
Curtis Glencross's hit on Drury was off the puck, to the head and flagrant. All four officials missed it, which is an indicator of a) poor officiating, and b) how far away from the play the hit took place. If they're going to have four officials clogging up the rink and obstructing plays, they might as well use their whistles to make a good call once in a while.
Aside from the hit itself, the most egregious part of the play wasn't the non-call from the officials, but the complete lack of a response from any Ranger player. I would guess that most teams in the league might actually take exception to their captain getting dropped inside their own blue line by a hit to the head. Well, not the Rangers. If no one on the team felt compelled to stand up for their captain, then there isn't much else that can or should be said for this team. Their play and their mentality brings to mind the regretful years between '94 and the lockout, when the players had little interest in representing the logo on their jerseys.
Not unlike those squads, this year's team can be positively brutal to watch. Gaborik will score some great goals, Del Zotto will wrack up some points. What else do they put on the ice that makes them worth watching? Their defense is soft. But they skate the puck in deep! Who cares. They don't (can't?) deliver big hits, and half of them can't keep up with Tortella's system in the first place. Also, outside of two forwards, Gaborik and Prospal, no onen on the team can score consistently. Dubinsky held out for a huge contract that he obviously can't play up to. He's a second line center who's going to put up 13 goals every year. Before they handed him 1.8 million a year, he would have been trade bait. Afterwards, not so much.
Frankly, since the 9th or 10th game of the regular season, watching this team has been like pulling teeth. No one wants to acknowledge it, but they were actually better last year, and their record at the end of the season will show that. So they can score on the powerplay now? This being the Rangers, they've found a way to score on the PP and still lose all the time. Tortorella's vaunted take no prisoners attitude seems mainly geared towards beat reporters and Dan Girardi. This teams is sliding towards .500 quicker than you can say all star break.
Curtis Glencross's hit on Drury was off the puck, to the head and flagrant. All four officials missed it, which is an indicator of a) poor officiating, and b) how far away from the play the hit took place. If they're going to have four officials clogging up the rink and obstructing plays, they might as well use their whistles to make a good call once in a while.
Aside from the hit itself, the most egregious part of the play wasn't the non-call from the officials, but the complete lack of a response from any Ranger player. I would guess that most teams in the league might actually take exception to their captain getting dropped inside their own blue line by a hit to the head. Well, not the Rangers. If no one on the team felt compelled to stand up for their captain, then there isn't much else that can or should be said for this team. Their play and their mentality brings to mind the regretful years between '94 and the lockout, when the players had little interest in representing the logo on their jerseys.
Not unlike those squads, this year's team can be positively brutal to watch. Gaborik will score some great goals, Del Zotto will wrack up some points. What else do they put on the ice that makes them worth watching? Their defense is soft. But they skate the puck in deep! Who cares. They don't (can't?) deliver big hits, and half of them can't keep up with Tortella's system in the first place. Also, outside of two forwards, Gaborik and Prospal, no onen on the team can score consistently. Dubinsky held out for a huge contract that he obviously can't play up to. He's a second line center who's going to put up 13 goals every year. Before they handed him 1.8 million a year, he would have been trade bait. Afterwards, not so much.
Frankly, since the 9th or 10th game of the regular season, watching this team has been like pulling teeth. No one wants to acknowledge it, but they were actually better last year, and their record at the end of the season will show that. So they can score on the powerplay now? This being the Rangers, they've found a way to score on the PP and still lose all the time. Tortorella's vaunted take no prisoners attitude seems mainly geared towards beat reporters and Dan Girardi. This teams is sliding towards .500 quicker than you can say all star break.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Rangers & Forsberg
Today, Larry Brooks reports that the Rangers are scouting Peter Forsberg, who apparently considering a returning to the NHL or a possible stint in the KHL. Apparently, other interested teams include the Flyers, Capitals, and Canadiens.
There's no cap space to sign Forsberg, and even if Sather was able to pull off another miracle salary dump (see Gomez, Scott), is Forsberg a solid investment? He's been plauged by injuries for years and at 36 is no spring chicken. Another injury prone star should not be on the Rangers' shopping list. It seems like Sather is more interested in other teams in the East not having Forsberg than he is with what Forsberg could do for the Rangers. Since the lockout the Rangers have more or less been able to reverse their trend of signing aging superstars who fail to produce. In fact they actually let a couple of them sign elsewhere (Jagr and Shanahan).
The hype that surrounds a potential Forsberg comeback isn't unlike the hysteria and speculation that surrounded Mats Sundin last year. Luckily, the Rangers were outdone by Vancouver's ludicrous $10 million offer (prorated, of course!). That's a huge chunk of change to spend on second round playoff run, which is essentially what the Canucks got. Would it be great to see the Rangers advance to the semifinals this season? Of course it would, but not if the cost is prospects, draft picks and/or developing young players. They'll get a few months out of Forsberg before he gets injured or retires, and in the end he won't be able to increase this team's postseason chances substantially enough to justify what he's undoubtedly going to cost.
Tempting as it may be to throw a few million his way and see what happens, the Rangers will, in the long run, be a better team if they let Forsberg become someone else's headache.
There's no cap space to sign Forsberg, and even if Sather was able to pull off another miracle salary dump (see Gomez, Scott), is Forsberg a solid investment? He's been plauged by injuries for years and at 36 is no spring chicken. Another injury prone star should not be on the Rangers' shopping list. It seems like Sather is more interested in other teams in the East not having Forsberg than he is with what Forsberg could do for the Rangers. Since the lockout the Rangers have more or less been able to reverse their trend of signing aging superstars who fail to produce. In fact they actually let a couple of them sign elsewhere (Jagr and Shanahan).
The hype that surrounds a potential Forsberg comeback isn't unlike the hysteria and speculation that surrounded Mats Sundin last year. Luckily, the Rangers were outdone by Vancouver's ludicrous $10 million offer (prorated, of course!). That's a huge chunk of change to spend on second round playoff run, which is essentially what the Canucks got. Would it be great to see the Rangers advance to the semifinals this season? Of course it would, but not if the cost is prospects, draft picks and/or developing young players. They'll get a few months out of Forsberg before he gets injured or retires, and in the end he won't be able to increase this team's postseason chances substantially enough to justify what he's undoubtedly going to cost.
Tempting as it may be to throw a few million his way and see what happens, the Rangers will, in the long run, be a better team if they let Forsberg become someone else's headache.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Pre-Gaming: Vancouver Canucks
Apparently, it's dangerous being a Canuck out there, because tons of them are hurt. Most notably, Daniel Sedin (0-4-4 in four games) is out for at least a month with a broken foot, and Roberto Luongo (.902 SV % and a 2.79 GAA in twelve games) is currently out with a cracked rib. Every year, Vancouver seems to get pegged as a Cup contender, but they always seem to fall short. After the Canucks were dismissed from the playoffs by the Blackhawks last year, the city of Vancouver collectively demanded that Luongo be traded, then collectively realized that without him, they're a bubble team with some flashy Swedes. We would never treat Hank like that! Never!
That's not to say that the Canucks (8-7) can't pull out a win. They just blanked the Avalanche 3-0 during a game in which Andrew Raycroft posted a shut out. Henrik Sedin (6-10-16), though he's struggled without his brother, is still a threat, as are Ryan Kesler (5-8-13) and Mikael Samuelsson (6-6-12). Also, the Canucks are at home and the Rangers, for some reason, have struggled in Canadian arenas the last few years.
After managing to beat Boston 1-0 following two low-scoring losses, the Rangers need to find their scoring touch again. Until some secondary scoring develops, this means that the top line of Vinnie Prospal, Marion Gaborik, and Brandon Dubinksy/Enver Lisin/Other Players need to find the time and space to produce consistently enough to put up big numbers almost every game. The Rangers will get a different look on offense than they did against Boston, who play a stifling defensive game. Much like the Rangers, the Canucks depend on production from their top line and big saves from their goaltender to win games. With 1/2 of the Sedins and Roberto Luongo sitting out, the Rangers need to capitalize on Vancouver's average blueline, and score consistenly on the power play (Vancouver's penalty kill ranks among the league's worst).
Also, in this game, someone besides Marion Gaborik will probably need to score a goal in order for the Rangers to win. One of the big questions coming into the next few games should be the status of Chris Higgins on the roster. It's a month into the season and he's yet to post a goal. P.A. Parentau potted one during his first call-up this year and no doubt Evgeni Grachev is itching to do the same thing. Higgins has been a 20 goal scorer in the past, but the main reason for the trade that brought him to New York (still not sure how Slats pulled that one off) was to unload Scott Gomez's contract, not necessarily to bring in a guy that can score. I'm surprised that Torts hasn't scratched him yet, and I'm inclined to think he will soon.
That's not to say that the Canucks (8-7) can't pull out a win. They just blanked the Avalanche 3-0 during a game in which Andrew Raycroft posted a shut out. Henrik Sedin (6-10-16), though he's struggled without his brother, is still a threat, as are Ryan Kesler (5-8-13) and Mikael Samuelsson (6-6-12). Also, the Canucks are at home and the Rangers, for some reason, have struggled in Canadian arenas the last few years.
After managing to beat Boston 1-0 following two low-scoring losses, the Rangers need to find their scoring touch again. Until some secondary scoring develops, this means that the top line of Vinnie Prospal, Marion Gaborik, and Brandon Dubinksy/Enver Lisin/Other Players need to find the time and space to produce consistently enough to put up big numbers almost every game. The Rangers will get a different look on offense than they did against Boston, who play a stifling defensive game. Much like the Rangers, the Canucks depend on production from their top line and big saves from their goaltender to win games. With 1/2 of the Sedins and Roberto Luongo sitting out, the Rangers need to capitalize on Vancouver's average blueline, and score consistenly on the power play (Vancouver's penalty kill ranks among the league's worst).
Also, in this game, someone besides Marion Gaborik will probably need to score a goal in order for the Rangers to win. One of the big questions coming into the next few games should be the status of Chris Higgins on the roster. It's a month into the season and he's yet to post a goal. P.A. Parentau potted one during his first call-up this year and no doubt Evgeni Grachev is itching to do the same thing. Higgins has been a 20 goal scorer in the past, but the main reason for the trade that brought him to New York (still not sure how Slats pulled that one off) was to unload Scott Gomez's contract, not necessarily to bring in a guy that can score. I'm surprised that Torts hasn't scratched him yet, and I'm inclined to think he will soon.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Pre-Gaming: Minnesota Wild
On Friday, the Blueshirts play the Wild in Minnesota, former home of the NHL sellout record. I think their sellout streak lapsed early this season, but I know that their offense did.
The Wild have a hard time scoring goals. Martin Havlat (1-4-5), who the Wild signed to replace the offensive vacuum created by Gaborik's departure to the Rangers, has appeared in ten games, but put up just one goal and four assists. Their leading scorer, Andrew Brunette (7-3-10), also leads the team points. Looking at his numbers, that doesn't say much about the team. The Wild also brought in vet right winger Petr Sykora (1-0-1), who has been a healthy scratch several times thus far, and most recently received the underperforming Chuck Kobasew from Boston via trade. The excellently named sophomore Cal Clutterbuck, who led the league in hits last year, has yet to contribute much on offense. Minnesota is at the bottom of a relatively soft Central Division, and can't seem to find the back of the net consistently.
This is an entirely winnable game for the Rangers. The Wild gave up six goals to the Kings, five to Edmonton, and let Nashville score four, losing all three games. I would guess that they're not going to score 5 goals on Hank this time around, and not only because the Rangers signed the guy who did it for them last time.
However, much like the Wild, the Rangers also struggle to score without Marion Gaborik, who in all likelihood will miss Friday's game. Without Gaborik to carry them on the scoresheet, the Rangers don't pose much of a threat offensively. At even strength and on the powerplay they suffer badly without him. So what can Torts and the Rangers do?
The Wild have a hard time scoring goals. Martin Havlat (1-4-5), who the Wild signed to replace the offensive vacuum created by Gaborik's departure to the Rangers, has appeared in ten games, but put up just one goal and four assists. Their leading scorer, Andrew Brunette (7-3-10), also leads the team points. Looking at his numbers, that doesn't say much about the team. The Wild also brought in vet right winger Petr Sykora (1-0-1), who has been a healthy scratch several times thus far, and most recently received the underperforming Chuck Kobasew from Boston via trade. The excellently named sophomore Cal Clutterbuck, who led the league in hits last year, has yet to contribute much on offense. Minnesota is at the bottom of a relatively soft Central Division, and can't seem to find the back of the net consistently.
This is an entirely winnable game for the Rangers. The Wild gave up six goals to the Kings, five to Edmonton, and let Nashville score four, losing all three games. I would guess that they're not going to score 5 goals on Hank this time around, and not only because the Rangers signed the guy who did it for them last time.
However, much like the Wild, the Rangers also struggle to score without Marion Gaborik, who in all likelihood will miss Friday's game. Without Gaborik to carry them on the scoresheet, the Rangers don't pose much of a threat offensively. At even strength and on the powerplay they suffer badly without him. So what can Torts and the Rangers do?
- Give Artem Anisimov his shot. Fourth line players don't throw spin moves 5 feet off the post and backhand the puck high glove side, like Anisimov did against the Islanders. He's getting eight minutes a night when he could be getting Enver Lisin minutes and producing (that's not to say Lisin doesn't deserve his ice time). Remember his highlight reel goal in the preseason game against Boston? The guy is a goal scorer, and the Rangers need goals. Put him on a line with Callahan and Avery. Callahan's hits and Avery's antics will create space for the rookie center to make some plays.
- Bench Chris Higgins. Put your money where your mouth is, Torts: it's time to bench guys, even if it's just for one game. Higgins is a very hard worker but he doesn't have the scoring touch at the moment, and his sluggishness makes me think he's nursing an injury. Evgeni Grachev was shaky in preseason but in terms of production, the Rangers wouldn't be losing anything by giving him Higgins' spot for a game or two. Thus far, the youth movement has mostly paid dividends - why not keep it going?
- Split up Staal and Girardi. I'm not sure what's been bringing their game down lately, but these two guys do not have chemistry on the blue line.
Wanted: Grit
Last night's game was a tough one to watch. It was an uninspired loss to a division rival. The Rangers lacked grit and scoring. Sound familiar? It should, because last night the same team that flew out of the gate in early October like it was being chased by wild, starving dogs looked much more like last year's team - the one that had no game-breaking superstar, struggled to put the puck in the net and seemed totally incapable of sending a message to opponents. They were dominated on both ends of the ice and didn't do anything to stop it.
Brashear was scratched. This has become pretty frequent, as he's been in and out of the line up constantly since his fight with Colton Orr two weeks ago. There was no one on the ice to protect the top level talent, and the Islanders capitalized. Sean Bergenheim sent Callahan flying backwards over the blue line as he tried to skate the puck in, then, on the same shift, knocked Vinny Prospal into next week along the boards. Later on, Bergenheim sent Ales Kotalik hurdling into the Ranger goal, where he narrowly missed demolishing Hank. John Sim boarded both Avery and Dubinksy (without getting whistled for it), and Nate Thompson was allowed to harass Hank for most of the night. Good teams extend accountability to opposing teams by making them answer the bell. Last night, that just didn't happen.
So where's the grit on this team? Brashear, the 1.4 million dollar bruiser, hardly plays. When he does play, he rarely fights, and when he fights, he doesn't win. Voros, though resilient and always willing to take his lumps, is not much of a deterrent to opposing players. Dubinsky used to drop the gloves on occassion, but rarely does anymore (can we still look forward to his yearly bout with Philadelphia captain/noted headhunter Mike Richards?). Callahan now channels his aggression into his hits. None of the six defenseman are particularly inclined to scrap. Brian Boyle, despite his size, is apparently not a fighter. The only notable bout in the last few games has been Avery's fight with Mike Mottau against New Jersey.
That's not to say that the Rangers should fight in every single game, or that our marquee players should be wasting their ice time dropping the gloves. As Brian Burke and his truculent Leafs have demonstrated this year, fighting majors do not always tranlate into wins. But the Rangers need to take care of their own. Vinny Prospal should not have to go after Bergenheim himself, as he did last night. And more importantly, Hank cannot keep getting run. Other teams, including the Islanders, don't hesitate to take liberties in front of the Ranger goal or even to run Hank into the backboards.
Part of the problem, it seems, is that with the exception of Gaborik and Prospal, the Ranger players are being kept on too short a leash. Many of the more gritty forwards, especially Avery, are much more inhibited on the ice than they ever have been before, probably because they're certain that stepping over the line Torts had drawn will result in decreased ice time. Torts is a tough coach who will bench (non-veteran) players. But it's beginning to look like his iron will is sucking the grit right out of the team. There's running a tight ship, and there's being a hardass for the sake of it. It's the difference between demanding hard, responsible play and intimidating your own team to the point where their play is hesitant and robotic.
If Brashear is going to sit, Tortorella needs to let Avery wreak his unique brand of havoc on the ice. Avery is a game breaker in his own spiteful way, a world-class pest. Let him play like one. And least once in a while, Torts needs to let guys like Callahan and even Dubinksy play like the second line players that both of them are - guys who skate hard and play solid offense, but have the go-ahead from behind the bench to take opposing players to task when they step out of line. Players who fight sometimes can also be players who score often (see Shanahan, Brendan).
Brashear was scratched. This has become pretty frequent, as he's been in and out of the line up constantly since his fight with Colton Orr two weeks ago. There was no one on the ice to protect the top level talent, and the Islanders capitalized. Sean Bergenheim sent Callahan flying backwards over the blue line as he tried to skate the puck in, then, on the same shift, knocked Vinny Prospal into next week along the boards. Later on, Bergenheim sent Ales Kotalik hurdling into the Ranger goal, where he narrowly missed demolishing Hank. John Sim boarded both Avery and Dubinksy (without getting whistled for it), and Nate Thompson was allowed to harass Hank for most of the night. Good teams extend accountability to opposing teams by making them answer the bell. Last night, that just didn't happen.
So where's the grit on this team? Brashear, the 1.4 million dollar bruiser, hardly plays. When he does play, he rarely fights, and when he fights, he doesn't win. Voros, though resilient and always willing to take his lumps, is not much of a deterrent to opposing players. Dubinsky used to drop the gloves on occassion, but rarely does anymore (can we still look forward to his yearly bout with Philadelphia captain/noted headhunter Mike Richards?). Callahan now channels his aggression into his hits. None of the six defenseman are particularly inclined to scrap. Brian Boyle, despite his size, is apparently not a fighter. The only notable bout in the last few games has been Avery's fight with Mike Mottau against New Jersey.
That's not to say that the Rangers should fight in every single game, or that our marquee players should be wasting their ice time dropping the gloves. As Brian Burke and his truculent Leafs have demonstrated this year, fighting majors do not always tranlate into wins. But the Rangers need to take care of their own. Vinny Prospal should not have to go after Bergenheim himself, as he did last night. And more importantly, Hank cannot keep getting run. Other teams, including the Islanders, don't hesitate to take liberties in front of the Ranger goal or even to run Hank into the backboards.
Part of the problem, it seems, is that with the exception of Gaborik and Prospal, the Ranger players are being kept on too short a leash. Many of the more gritty forwards, especially Avery, are much more inhibited on the ice than they ever have been before, probably because they're certain that stepping over the line Torts had drawn will result in decreased ice time. Torts is a tough coach who will bench (non-veteran) players. But it's beginning to look like his iron will is sucking the grit right out of the team. There's running a tight ship, and there's being a hardass for the sake of it. It's the difference between demanding hard, responsible play and intimidating your own team to the point where their play is hesitant and robotic.
If Brashear is going to sit, Tortorella needs to let Avery wreak his unique brand of havoc on the ice. Avery is a game breaker in his own spiteful way, a world-class pest. Let him play like one. And least once in a while, Torts needs to let guys like Callahan and even Dubinksy play like the second line players that both of them are - guys who skate hard and play solid offense, but have the go-ahead from behind the bench to take opposing players to task when they step out of line. Players who fight sometimes can also be players who score often (see Shanahan, Brendan).
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Pre-Gaming: Rangers vs. Islanders
Tonight the Rangers take on the struggling Islanders at the Coliseum. Struggling, I think, is a pretty polite way to put it.
Coming off of a year when their leading scorer was defenseman Mark Streit, logging a whopping 56 points, the Islanders have put all of their eggs in the John Tavares basket. Fair enough, I would too if I were them. Aside from Tavares, there's Kyle Okposo (overhyped), and Josh Bailey (rushed from Juniors). Maybe these two will flourish this year under the kind of steady hand of Dough Weight (currently out after a bout with H1N1). But it's more than likely they won't and they'll turn out like bite-sized Islanders stalwart Richard Park, who skates very fast but cannot score goals. Think Nigel Dawes with speed. Lately, Park has been throwing himself all over the ice because he is just so tired of losing that he just can't take it anymore. Can't say I blame him - every man has his breaking point.
In net, the Isles have the powerhoue tandem of Dwayne Roloson & Marty Biron, two goalies no other NHL team would sign. Until Rick DiPietro's robotic legs are good and ready to be re-injured, Scott Gordon is going to have to pick which one of these guys is going to start every game, which I'm sure is the worst part of his day aside from the part where he has to coach the New York Islanders for sixty minutes of hockey. Actually, make that forty minutes. In case you haven't been watching, the third period is pretty ugly for these guys.
That being said, the Islanders always come out like a different team against the Rangers. In the years since the lockout (including one where the Islanders actually made the playoffs under the stern, cold gaze of Ted Nolan), the rivalry has been heated, as the Isles play Blueshirts like they have absolutely nothing to lose. Usually they don't actually have anything to lose, but that's besides point. They're inspired against the Rangers and they've certainly managed to pull out a few wins both at home and at the Garden in the last few seasons. Regardless of their record, they're a team the Rangers need to take seriously.
With Gaborik injured, this seems like it would be a good game for the Rangers to really establish some secondary scoring. Callahan and Drury, both still struggling to score, are two players that almost always come up big in games against divisional rivals. Even with their underwhelming stats thus far this season, both players have a fifth gear for big games and have been with the team long enough to understand the importance of pulling out a W against the Islanders. And Chris Higgins, playing on his native Long Island for the first time since being traded to the Rangers, might finally break his scoring slump. He came close a few times against Phoenix on Monday night, including one quick release, bad angle shot off of a rebound that almost found the back of the net.
Go Rangers. Go Yankees. Everybody just win tonight.
Coming off of a year when their leading scorer was defenseman Mark Streit, logging a whopping 56 points, the Islanders have put all of their eggs in the John Tavares basket. Fair enough, I would too if I were them. Aside from Tavares, there's Kyle Okposo (overhyped), and Josh Bailey (rushed from Juniors). Maybe these two will flourish this year under the kind of steady hand of Dough Weight (currently out after a bout with H1N1). But it's more than likely they won't and they'll turn out like bite-sized Islanders stalwart Richard Park, who skates very fast but cannot score goals. Think Nigel Dawes with speed. Lately, Park has been throwing himself all over the ice because he is just so tired of losing that he just can't take it anymore. Can't say I blame him - every man has his breaking point.
In net, the Isles have the powerhoue tandem of Dwayne Roloson & Marty Biron, two goalies no other NHL team would sign. Until Rick DiPietro's robotic legs are good and ready to be re-injured, Scott Gordon is going to have to pick which one of these guys is going to start every game, which I'm sure is the worst part of his day aside from the part where he has to coach the New York Islanders for sixty minutes of hockey. Actually, make that forty minutes. In case you haven't been watching, the third period is pretty ugly for these guys.
That being said, the Islanders always come out like a different team against the Rangers. In the years since the lockout (including one where the Islanders actually made the playoffs under the stern, cold gaze of Ted Nolan), the rivalry has been heated, as the Isles play Blueshirts like they have absolutely nothing to lose. Usually they don't actually have anything to lose, but that's besides point. They're inspired against the Rangers and they've certainly managed to pull out a few wins both at home and at the Garden in the last few seasons. Regardless of their record, they're a team the Rangers need to take seriously.
With Gaborik injured, this seems like it would be a good game for the Rangers to really establish some secondary scoring. Callahan and Drury, both still struggling to score, are two players that almost always come up big in games against divisional rivals. Even with their underwhelming stats thus far this season, both players have a fifth gear for big games and have been with the team long enough to understand the importance of pulling out a W against the Islanders. And Chris Higgins, playing on his native Long Island for the first time since being traded to the Rangers, might finally break his scoring slump. He came close a few times against Phoenix on Monday night, including one quick release, bad angle shot off of a rebound that almost found the back of the net.
Go Rangers. Go Yankees. Everybody just win tonight.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Bad Habitants
After dropping their third game in row (albeit on the road and in OT), it's clear that there could be some serious issues with this year's team. Whereas the Blueshirts seemed poised and collected during their seven game winning streak, at ease with the puck and generally letting the game come to them, the team now looks like they're collectively gripping the stick a little too tight, either scrambling desperately to gain the lead or playing carelessly enough to give it up entirely. After watching the wins that followed the season-opener loss Pittsburgh, that first game seemed to be an exception to what we could expect to see this year. Now, it seems like putting together a string of wins was probably the aberration.
For me, the question early on was whether or not this year's squad actually has any depth. So far, that's still a question mark. The potential for solid secondary scoring is there, but outside of Gaborik and Prospal, there isn't a single offensive player who's contributed consistently. Despite his fiery play, Callahan has struggled to score lately. Similarly, Drury's been hustling but can't finish. Dubinksy isn't a first line center (now, last season, or ever) who probably won't hit 20 goals this season. Aside from his scrap with Mottau the other night, Avery's been toeing the line too carefully, probably because he's being kept on too short a leash by Torts. Poor Chris Higgins literally can't buy a goal. The fact that he really can't keep up with the transition game makes me think that his problems could be injury related. At the beginning of the season, he was solid on D and the neutral zone.
Obviously there are bright spots. Marion Gaborik is awesome. Without him, this team is below .500, no question. Del Zotto is on fire, Kotalik's minutes have been increasing and his play has improved remarkably since preseason, Enver Lisin seems like he's a goal away from going a real tear, and Anisimov seems to finding that highlight-reel creativity that shone through against Boston. Gilroy's offensive numbers aren't great, but he's solid on D and skates the puck in deep and often. Rozy has been decent enough to avoid getting jeered at home, and Redden's play has picked up enormously since last season.
Unless they turn it around soon though, things are going to get ugly, fast. Staal and Girardi need to get their heads screwed on straight again. And Hank, though he's made some key saves, has also been letting in some softies.
They're ten games in, but for some reason it seems like the entire season is hanging in the balance already. The next few weeks will probably make it clear if this year's Rangers are a legitimate threat to make a deep playoff run, or if they're another bubble team that's going to be fighting tooth and nail for eighth place in April.
The next two games are against Phoenix and the Islanders. Not exactly the cream of the crop right there, but games against the league's weaker squads can be pretty telling. Elite teams wipe the floor with cellar dwellers, every time. Bubble teams (and apparently, the Capitals) let the Islanders give them a run for their money.
So let's hope for the best, and end on a positive note: Scott Gomez still can't finish. Thanks, Bob Gainey.
For me, the question early on was whether or not this year's squad actually has any depth. So far, that's still a question mark. The potential for solid secondary scoring is there, but outside of Gaborik and Prospal, there isn't a single offensive player who's contributed consistently. Despite his fiery play, Callahan has struggled to score lately. Similarly, Drury's been hustling but can't finish. Dubinksy isn't a first line center (now, last season, or ever) who probably won't hit 20 goals this season. Aside from his scrap with Mottau the other night, Avery's been toeing the line too carefully, probably because he's being kept on too short a leash by Torts. Poor Chris Higgins literally can't buy a goal. The fact that he really can't keep up with the transition game makes me think that his problems could be injury related. At the beginning of the season, he was solid on D and the neutral zone.
Obviously there are bright spots. Marion Gaborik is awesome. Without him, this team is below .500, no question. Del Zotto is on fire, Kotalik's minutes have been increasing and his play has improved remarkably since preseason, Enver Lisin seems like he's a goal away from going a real tear, and Anisimov seems to finding that highlight-reel creativity that shone through against Boston. Gilroy's offensive numbers aren't great, but he's solid on D and skates the puck in deep and often. Rozy has been decent enough to avoid getting jeered at home, and Redden's play has picked up enormously since last season.
Unless they turn it around soon though, things are going to get ugly, fast. Staal and Girardi need to get their heads screwed on straight again. And Hank, though he's made some key saves, has also been letting in some softies.
They're ten games in, but for some reason it seems like the entire season is hanging in the balance already. The next few weeks will probably make it clear if this year's Rangers are a legitimate threat to make a deep playoff run, or if they're another bubble team that's going to be fighting tooth and nail for eighth place in April.
The next two games are against Phoenix and the Islanders. Not exactly the cream of the crop right there, but games against the league's weaker squads can be pretty telling. Elite teams wipe the floor with cellar dwellers, every time. Bubble teams (and apparently, the Capitals) let the Islanders give them a run for their money.
So let's hope for the best, and end on a positive note: Scott Gomez still can't finish. Thanks, Bob Gainey.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Shark Attack
Well, they had to lose sometime right? Like everyone else, I was holding out for an 81-1 record this year, but it looks like we'll have to settle for a few losses along the way. And in true Rangers fashion, they capped off a seven game winning streak by surrendering a two goal lead and totally collapsing at MSG. Ah, the soaring highs and crushing lows of Blueshirt fandom.
An ugly loss? Definitely. It's hard to say though, if this is really one to worry about. Every team gets blown out somewhere along the line during the course of the regular season (the Pens got shut out 3-0 by Phoenix. The Phoenix Coyotes. Really.). Nabokov brought his "A" game and so did Heatley. When those guys are tuned in, it takes a focused effort to pull out a win. The Rangers were discombobulated from the start, and didn't improve as the game went on.
The biggest blunder in this game came from behind the bench, with Tortorella giving Valiquette the start. Despite a few bad games last year, I think Valley is more solid than most back-ups. Still, I don't really see the logic in starting him at home against one of the league's best teams. With the Islanders and the Coyotes coming up on the schedule, there are plenty of games to give Hank the night off. San Jose is a deep, talented team that, barring another playoff meltdown, could be a legitimate cup contender. They're going to handle your back-up. That's what good teams do.
Aside from a lackluster game from Valley, there were other issues. The fourth line choked. I try to see the bright side of having Brashear on this team, but in the last two games, he's been nothing but a liability, lumbering up and down the wing like he has cement in his skates. With Hank getting run (again) by Toronto, he failed to make an example out of anyone. There's no point having a bruiser like him on the roster (or the payroll) if he's not going to bust some heads when a bush-league squad starts taking liberties with the franchise goalie. And tonight he got smoked, absolutely smoked, by Marleau coming across the blue line. They would have been better off giving Brash the night off and letting Voros loose out there to bang around in front of the net and solicit a beatdown from Jody Shelley, as I imagine he would have.
On the other hand, the Rangers had to lose again sooner or later, and with the Devils in town on Thursday night, I'd much rather they got it out of their system against the Sharks. Hopefully this bummer of a game makes them hungry to bring it to Brodeur and his cronies later this week. I'm sure there will be the usual Avery vs. Marty hype, but hopefully the team will stay focused on bouncing back from a gnarly loss, and send the Devils back across the river with something to think about.
An ugly loss? Definitely. It's hard to say though, if this is really one to worry about. Every team gets blown out somewhere along the line during the course of the regular season (the Pens got shut out 3-0 by Phoenix. The Phoenix Coyotes. Really.). Nabokov brought his "A" game and so did Heatley. When those guys are tuned in, it takes a focused effort to pull out a win. The Rangers were discombobulated from the start, and didn't improve as the game went on.
The biggest blunder in this game came from behind the bench, with Tortorella giving Valiquette the start. Despite a few bad games last year, I think Valley is more solid than most back-ups. Still, I don't really see the logic in starting him at home against one of the league's best teams. With the Islanders and the Coyotes coming up on the schedule, there are plenty of games to give Hank the night off. San Jose is a deep, talented team that, barring another playoff meltdown, could be a legitimate cup contender. They're going to handle your back-up. That's what good teams do.
Aside from a lackluster game from Valley, there were other issues. The fourth line choked. I try to see the bright side of having Brashear on this team, but in the last two games, he's been nothing but a liability, lumbering up and down the wing like he has cement in his skates. With Hank getting run (again) by Toronto, he failed to make an example out of anyone. There's no point having a bruiser like him on the roster (or the payroll) if he's not going to bust some heads when a bush-league squad starts taking liberties with the franchise goalie. And tonight he got smoked, absolutely smoked, by Marleau coming across the blue line. They would have been better off giving Brash the night off and letting Voros loose out there to bang around in front of the net and solicit a beatdown from Jody Shelley, as I imagine he would have.
On the other hand, the Rangers had to lose again sooner or later, and with the Devils in town on Thursday night, I'd much rather they got it out of their system against the Sharks. Hopefully this bummer of a game makes them hungry to bring it to Brodeur and his cronies later this week. I'm sure there will be the usual Avery vs. Marty hype, but hopefully the team will stay focused on bouncing back from a gnarly loss, and send the Devils back across the river with something to think about.
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