Post-Game Talk: #1 - 01/14/21 | islanders @ RANGERS

[MysticLeviathan]

Like in the bubble, bad goals early kill a team’s confidence. Bad defense and bad goaltending will lead to goals against. Shesterkin didn’t bail them out when he usually does. Once we were down 2-0 early, our confidencd fell apart. And that’s not even factoring the first game jitters.

Defense has to play 100x better. Our too guys like Panarin, Mika, Buch, abd Kreider have to show up. Say what you want about Kakko, Chytil, Strome, Gauthier, etc. Those guys aren’t known variables. We know what Panarin can do. We know what Mika can do. We know what Kreider can do. We know what Buch can do. If they don’t perform the way we know they can perform, this team is doomed to another lottery chance.

I don’t think we’re going to beat the Isles on Saturday, but I want more effort and urgency. JJ and Mantis will make terrible plays that will lead to goals. I expect that. I don’t expect such nediocrity from Panarin. As long as we fight hard and show like we belong, I’m okay with it. I don’t expect this team to go anywhere. I do expect growth from our young guys and Quinn to prove his worth. The first game was terrible all around. It’s not that we lost, it’s how we lost, and the loss was truly bad.

 

[PuckLuck3043]

So if we lose Saturday is the season over? Asking for a friend.

 

[Tob]

A vet team that plays system and structure well with good leaders is very important in empty buildings. I have convinced myself that these 4 COVID era games have sucked absolute horse anus because there's zero passion and energy for this young team that relies on energy and to stay engaged in the game. If this is a decent part of the problem we've seen, then we're cooked.

 

[Trxjw]

Gonna take solace in a number of kids having a good night. Lafreniere, Howden, Gauthier, Fox, and Lindgren all played pretty solid hockey tonight. Miller showed some flashes even if he was largely on the ugly side. Kakko had chances but couldn't finish.

Kreider on the PK seems like it could be a decent idea.

If we still look like this after 10 games, then I'll start to worry.

 

[PuckLuck3043]

I knew I’d eventually be right about Panarin, I just didn’t think it was gonna be this early. Or maybe I did.

Are you serious? He was a Hart trophy finalist last year.

 

[Shesterkybomb]

I can't believe all the crazy talk here after the first game

 

[DanielBrassard]

Hey guys, maybe Fast wasn't as easily replaceable as most people seemed to think?

I know you know the numbers BB, but if you look at the Panarin-Strome-Fast combination, it was Panarin and Fast who did all the heavy lifting while Strome was there to make some nice cross seam passes. Without Fast there to be a forechecking presence as well as his stout defensive game who knows what the hell is going to happen now. Kakko is unlikely to fill that role even if he's not the worst player in the NHL this season.

 

[Glen Sathers Cigar]

I really didn’t think Kakko was that bad. I thought he had some good chances and was doing somethings. He certainly looked better than Panarin and Strome.

 

[Fitzy]

There was so much bad I’ll just focus on the one good element of the game- hard back checking from Buch saved two possible goals with goal mouth defensive plays

 

[Kakko Schmakko]

I don’t think that’s really a thought right now.

If they go 2-10-2, perhaps. But I really don’t think they’re going to make a move unless it just becomes impossible not to.

And even then, I think we’re probably looking at an interim coach and maybe another transitional one at that.

Try pushing that thought remind them that Quinn lost 5 in a row now. I think by now all Ranger fans understand that we need a better coaching staff. It is very clear. NHL coaching experience and success does matter.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Like in the bubble, bad goals early kill a team’s confidence. Bad defense and bad goaltending will lead to goals against. Shesterkin didn’t bail them out when he usually does. Once we were down 2-0 early, our confidencd fell apart. And that’s not even factoring the first game jitters.

Defense has to play 100x better. Our too guys like Panarin, Mika, Buch, abd Kreider have to show up. Say what you want about Kakko, Chytil, Strome, Gauthier, etc. Those guys aren’t known variables. We know what Panarin can do. We know what Mika can do. We know what Kreider can do. We know what Buch can do. If they don’t perform the way we know they can perform, this team is doomed to another lottery chance.

I don’t think we’re going to beat the Isles on Saturday, but I want more effort and urgency. JJ and Mantis will make terrible plays that will lead to goals. I expect that. I don’t expect such nediocrity from Panarin. As long as we fight hard and show like we belong, I’m okay with it. I don’t expect this team to go anywhere. I do expect growth from our young guys and Quinn to prove his worth. The first game was terrible all around. It’s not that we lost, it’s how we lost, and the loss was truly bad.

How did we fall for far from being 3-1 against them last year We lost Fast and Staal and replaced them with Laffreniere and Johnson. Not like we lost amazing players. I don't get how we've fallen this far.

 

[will1066]

Gonna take solace in a number of kids having a good night. Lafreniere, Howden, Gauthier, Fox, and Lindgren all played pretty solid hockey tonight. Miller showed some flashes even if he was largely on the ugly side. Kakko had chances but couldn't finish.

Kreider on the PK seems like it could be a decent idea.

If we still look like this after 10 games, then I'll start to worry.

Gauthier was a force out there particularly.

 

[MysticLeviathan]

Just like you didn't have a problem with Kakko, I didn't necessarily have heartburn with Johnson. He wasn't a huge liability in this game like ppl are making him out to be. Collectively they weren't ready to play and let the game get away early. They tried too many fine, thread the needle plays. Against a team like that, you find yourself doing that even if you don't mean to because you feel that's the only way to get through the muck.

JJ made two incredibly stupid plays directly that led to goals. I still can’t get over the play where his pass hits the linesman and instead of rushing back into his zone, he’s jawing with the official and slowly moving back to his zone only a couple seconds later seeing a big play developing and by that time he’s too far behind the play and the Isles score. That is f***ing inexcusible. Having no talent is one thing but to not focus on your job is inexcusible. The official f***ed up, but you can’t make a thing out of it and lose the play.

 

[DanielBrassard]

I really didn’t think Kakko was that bad. I thought he had some good chances and was doing somethings. He certainly looked better than Panarin and Strome.

I know he had one good chance in the 2nd period from right between the circles, but what other chances did he have? Just looking at the charts he had 3 shot attempts, the one I talked about then 2 others that had a 3% chance and 1% chance of becoming a goal.

 

[TheBloodyNine]

Are you serious? He was a Hart trophy finalist last year.

That was last year.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

A vet team that plays system and structure well with good leaders is very important in empty buildings. I have convinced myself that these 4 COVID era games have sucked absolute horse anus because there's zero passion and energy for this young team that relies on energy and to stay engaged in the game. If this is a decent part of the problem we've seen, then we're cooked.

I don't think this is true.

Tonights game really came down to a few things...

1. Johnson's early penalty (which honestly, was borderline but F him)
2. Igor giving up 2 stinkers in the 1st. First goal was a lucky bounce, goals 2 and 3 both have to be stopped.
3. Panarin looking like a Fart trophy finalist.
4. The inexplicable waiving off of what would have been a goal to make it 3-1. They were pressing the play and shortly after that goal was waived off with out a reasonable explanation, Lafreniere gets called for a BS penalty (and the Isles get away with a slash on the same play) and they make it 4-0. Now whether or not they're able to come back from down 3-0 I don't know, but there would be less crowing tonight if that goal stood.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Good point. What about Lafreniere?

Alexis Lafrenière is the best prospect since Connor McDavid to come out of the draft. You cannot compare Kakko to him and have the same expectations.

 

[MysticLeviathan]

How did we fall for far from being 3-1 against them last year We lost Fast and Staal and replaced them with Laffreniere and Johnson. Not like we lost amazing players. I don't get how we've fallen this far.

It’s a combination of rust, a lack of confidence, poor coaching, and I do think the lack of a crowd is hurting them.

You also have to remember the Isles have a really solid core. They have like 4 or 5 players who have been there for like 4 seasons now. We don’t have that kind of stability with our players or any kind of true leader. And it really bothers me how totally unprepared Quinn has been both tonight and during the bubble. And the lack of major adjustments between periods was worrisome along with his post game comments. Yes, we looked better as the game went along, but a big reason was the Isles stopped really pushing and just went into shell mode.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

I know he had one good chance in the 2nd period from right between the circles, but what other chances did he have?

He had one in the first? And another one in the 2nd that was kind of good-ish?

He won a battle against Greene along the walls in the 3rd which led to a good shift that didn't result in anything other than some good pressure.

I mean it's hard to get much generated when Panarin plays the way he did tonight.

 

[will1066]

JJ made two incredibly stupid plays directly that led to goals. I still can’t get over the play where his pass hits the linesman and instead of rushing back into his zone, he’s jawing with the official and slowly moving back to his zone only a couple seconds later seeing a big play developing and by that time he’s too far behind the play and the Isles score. That is f***ing inexcusible. Having no talent is one thing but to not focus on your job is inexcusible. The official f***ed up, but you can’t make a thing out of it and lose the play.

I'll have to look at the play again. Not saying you're not correct.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

I'll have to look at the play again. Not saying you're not correct.

Even if he is, thats a shot Igor should stop every single time he faces it.

 

[PuckLuck3043]

That was last year.

Yeah and? Has he just lost it in the 4 games he's played in the last 10 months?

 

[will1066]

I don't think this is true.

Tonights game really came down to a few things...

1. Johnson's early penalty (which honestly, was borderline but F him)
2. Igor giving up 2 stinkers in the 1st. First goal was a lucky bounce, goals 2 and 3 both have to be stopped.
3. Panarin looking like a Fart trophy finalist.
4. The inexplicable waiving off of what would have been a goal to make it 3-1. They were pressing the play and shortly after that goal was waived off with out a reasonable explanation, Lafreniere gets called for a BS penalty (and the Isles get away with a slash on the same play) and they make it 4-0. Now whether or not they're able to come back from down 3-0 I don't know, but there would be less crowing tonight if that goal stood.

The TMM penalty undermined them too. They had started gaining some steam at the time

 

[Glen Sathers Cigar]

I know he had one good chance in the 2nd period from right between the circles, but what other chances did he have? Just looking at the charts he had 3 shot attempts, the one I talked about then 2 others that had a 3% chance and 1% chance of becoming a goal.

He had a couple chances early in the first I believe.

I didn’t think he was great, I just didn’t think he looked bad. It didn’t help that Quinn started shuffling him around and the constant penalties don’t help.

 

[Tob]

I don't think this is true.

Tonights game really came down to a few things...

1. Johnson's early penalty (which honestly, was borderline but F him)
2. Igor giving up 2 stinkers in the 1st. First goal was a lucky bounce, goals 2 and 3 both have to be stopped.
3. Panarin looking like a Fart trophy finalist.
4. The inexplicable waiving off of what would have been a goal to make it 3-1. They were pressing the play and shortly after that goal was waived off with out a reasonable explanation, Lafreniere gets called for a BS penalty (and the Isles get away with a slash on the same play) and they make it 4-0. Now whether or not they're able to come back from down 3-0 I don't know, but there would be less crowing tonight if that goal stood.

I get why the game went tits up but the completely lethargic, dead in the water, worst effort I've ever seen this team in a 4 game span compared to some of our decent or even good stretches is because of the inability to get engaged in a game early. Fast was trucked 17 seconds in and the Canes were off and running. The Isles forechecked gangbusters. In 4 games in empty buildings, we haven't put together one high energy period. This is a more amplified version of the same problems we've had for a few years now where we get scored on early cus we don't show up on time. Even guys like Bread crave the energy and excitement from the crowd and the Panarin in the last 4 games is not the Panarin we know.