Post-Game Talk: 1/23: Rangers visit the zoo

[NCRanger]

They didn't "coast"... learn the definition of the words you use. They simply weren't good tonight. They weren't handling the puck well and when they can't control the damn puck they suck. What confuses me is how they go from being able to make/accept passes to handling the puck like it's a time-bomb.

Yet when they play on the road, miraculously the puck handling all of a sudden gets so much better.

But it couldn't possibly be the ice at Madison Square Garden. Nahh, couldn't be.

 

[Zuuuuc]

Holy smokes the Blues are good. Halak played awesome and the difference was them scoring a PPG. 15 PPG within the first 10 seconds of a power play...unreal

That being said, not a terrible game, the Blues are just that good

 

[Raspewtin]

I missed the game, how did Klein perform? More details the better, thx!

Third best D of the night, imo.

Staal and Stralman were the best, by far.

McD and G had another very forgettable game.

 

[Blueshirt Believer]

I missed the game, how did Klein perform? More details the better, thx!

Good. At times very good. He even got bumped up for a bit and played with McD. He looks to be a very good acquisition.

 

[Infinitum Vitae*]

but...but....who's going to say, "We had some chances, just got to get pucks deep" after every loss !!

Hey can't Get a mother **** puck deep and can't win a board battle and can't score oh and his slow as ***** trade him at the deadline

 

[RGY]

Callahan in the slot late and he did nothing with it.

**** PPs in the 3rd.

 

[OverTheCap]

Rangers have struggled all year against bigger, physical teams who play a stifling defensive system. Instead of bringing the forecheck and battling, the Rangers try to play a finesse game and it doesn't always work.

Even the skilled teams score dirty goals. The Rangers have let opposing goaltenders off the hook all year - they need to get in their face, screen them, crash the net, etc.

 

[Glen Sathers Cigar]

Watching him lug the puck shows he can skate with it (and protect it okay), but I agree with you that he really does not know what to do with it. But, maybe the skating is what makes it look so promising. I'm looking for the good things from him on he offensive side, so I guess I gushed a bit over that foray into their zone and around the net.

His skating ability is great but I think he's more flash than substance in that respect. His skating can blind you from deficiencies in his game. He is constantly in the position of holding onto the puck too long and having nothing to do with it. And like I said before, always missing breaking players for outlet passes to push the offense. No matter how good of a skater he is, the puck can always move faster than him. A lot of times he has an open man and can push the pace, but instead slows it down by skating it himself. He's just a frustrating player to watch.

 

[Doctyl]

Lol reading through the get you would think we lost 7-1 or something. 2-1 loss. Good defensive game. Get over it. Not at all like the isles game where the team just stopped playing. The isles game was disgusting. This one was not.

 

[Machinehead]

I'm just gonna title my next PGT "Callahan bashing thread" because that's what they all turn into.

 

[TheDirtyH]

Wonder what the D pairings will look like leaving tonight. I think I saw just about every possible combination at some point in the game. Thought Stralman had a standout game, was one of the few players who could consistently move the puck past the redline. Also think the lines need a shakeup. Hagelin might be able to ride Nash's hot-streak if we reunite last year's top line of 62-21-61. Move Kreider down with Richards and Callahan and hope he can bring to that line what Hags has decidedly stopped bringing. Carcillo has also gone invisible since that Philly game.

 

[17futurecap]

Lol reading through the get you would think we lost 7-1 or something. 2-1 loss. Good defensive game. Get over it. Not at all like the isles game where the team just stopped playing. The isles game was disgusting. This one was not.

Yea, the bigger problem was the effort in the Islanders game, but I would say the majority of the posters knew going in this would be another loss with the way the Blues played Tuesday night, and that is a problem.

At least with MDZ gone, the focus can move to John Moore, it's a shame he is no longer waiver wire exempt, could use some serious time in the AHL, wish he could get some games with the Pack during the Olympics.

 

[Cassano]

I'm just gonna title my next PGT "Callahan bashing thread" because that's what they all turn into.

Why is he start getting bashed? When did this start?

 

[HatTrick Swayze]

Rangers are hilariously neutered against big teams that can skate and move the puck.

 

[mike14]

I'm just gonna title my next PGT "Callahan bashing thread" because that's what they all turn into.

well what else are we meant to do now that DZ is gone?

 

[RGY]

Losing to the islanders made this loss hurt that much more.

 

[Machinehead]

Why is he start getting bashed? When did this start?

I don't know when it started but it's contagious.

 

[HatTrick Swayze]

Rangers have struggled all year against bigger, physical teams who play a stifling defensive system. Instead of bringing the forecheck and battling, the Rangers try to play a finesse game and it doesn't always work.

Even the skilled teams score dirty goals. The Rangers have let opposing goaltenders off the hook all year - they need to get in their face, screen them, crash the net, etc.

Well said. Maybe "soft" is the wrong word but in matchups like this they just have no answer and no way to win battles.

 

[NCRanger]

Lol reading through the get you would think we lost 7-1 or something. 2-1 loss. Good defensive game. Get over it. Not at all like the isles game where the team just stopped playing. The isles game was disgusting. This one was not.

At least the Islander game was watchable from an entertainment perspective. Yes, the Rangers played terribly, but they had scoring chances.

This was a snoozefest. This was similar to the Tampa game from the standpoint of the opponent setting the sport back 60 years. I don't want to say the Blues are so great, other than they know how to disrupt and have a bit of skill to finish the turnovers.

 

[Raspewtin]

Rangers are hilariously neutered against big teams that can skate and move the puck.

They just lose, like, every sembelance of puck confidence against teams like Anaheim, Boston, and St. Louis. Like they forget how to play hockey entirely against these teams. It makes these losses much more brutal, they look like they never had a chance.

 

[trilobyte]

His skating ability is great but I think he's more flash than substance in that respect. His skating can blind you from deficiencies in his game. He is constantly in the position of holding onto the puck too long and having nothing to do with it. And like I said before, always missing breaking players for outlet passes to push the offense. No matter how good of a skater he is, the puck can always move faster than him. A lot of times he has an open man and can push the pace, but instead slows it down by skating it himself. He's just a frustrating player to watch.

I do not know Moore's pre-NHL history, and what kind of success he has had on the offensive side.
There is a reason why a Dman with the talent for the breakout pass is so valued. Still, carrying the puck can be very valuable as it allows players time to synchronize on the developing play, not to mention it's fun to watch.
I watched Moore a lot tonight.

 

[Fitzy]

At least the Islander game was watchable from an entertainment perspective. Yes, the Rangers played terribly, but they had scoring chances.

This was a snoozefest. This was similar to the Tampa game from the standpoint of the opponent setting the sport back 60 years. I don't want to say the Blues are so great, other than they know how to disrupt and have a bit of skill to finish the turnovers.

The Blues won't be taken seriously until they actually make it to the SC finals. The entire team's legacy is being good consistently but never good enough to win the cup.

Tonight it was like we were playing against a team full of Dan Girardi clones. NYR had the better of the play.

 

[Raspewtin]

Moore seemed confident tonight, willing to rush the puck and carry it into the zone.

Too bad he literally did nothing good with the puck he was carrying.

 

[Blueshirt Believer]

Wonder what the D pairings will look like leaving tonight. I think I saw just about every possible combination at some point in the game. Thought Stralman had a standout game, was one of the few players who could consistently move the puck past the redline. Also think the lines need a shakeup. Hagelin might be able to ride Nash's hot-streak if we reunite last year's top line of 62-21-61. Move Kreider down with Richards and Callahan and hope he can bring to that line what Hags has decidedly stopped bringing. Carcillo has also gone invisible since that Philly game.

I don't think there is anything to be done about the third line.

Our best line right now is the Zuc line. Its the most consistent and the players have the most chemistry. Bad move to break up that line even if they can't get on the score sheet once and a while.

First line's weak spot is Stepan(who should be slotted in a second line role ideally)but we don't have anyone to replace him with on that line. Richards doesn't have enough physicality or skating(neither does Step) to really compliment Krieder/Nash. Rangers need to look out for a first line center in the off season...fun.

Third line is what it is. Richards, who isn't going to be here next year, doesn't mesh with Cally and doesn't have the speed to keep up with Hags. Hags/Cally don't have the offensive hockey IQ to play Richard's game.

Only way your going to improve the third line is through trades and its not really worth it because Richards is gone next year. They need to trade Cally simply for value and retool the third line next season.

 

[Machinehead]

If you told me a month ago that we would hang right with the Blues I would've taken it. I understand being disgusted at the Isles loss. This is an overreaction.

In fact, I think it's just the Isles loss carrying over.