eco's bones
Registered User
Yeah, and this is one of the biggest problems I had with Torts. This is one of the areas the game has changed alot the last ten years.
It just pays off much more now to take the puck to the net off the rush, instead of playing to put it below the hash-marks before you actually try to score. You will draw penaltys. You will push D's back more because they know they will be challenged.
When you can't hook and clutch and grab, a D is vunerable against a forward that actually challenge him. Good things come of it. They back down more which leaves more room to hit trailing players etc.
It seems the Bruins year in and year out jam the net hard and in the playoffs last year they jammed it so hard that our defense kept collapsing which is why Krug became such a force. The last few years IMO it's been the same teams Pittsburgh and Boston every year that have been the real class of the East. The Pens go harder to the net as well--and with Crosby, Malkin they have skill beyond anything we have.
The Rangers have proven they can play great defense. What they need to show is that they're a better than average offense. They don't have the skill of the Pens (but we do have better goaltending and defense)--the Bruins style of offense however is more than reachable. I have more hope for this year than last if only because we have more depth practically everywhere but especially at forward but Kreider for one needs to show up--needs to start becoming a force. An ability to roll 4 lines is also a key--having a good forecheck and some scoring from the bottom lines helps the top lines from always having to constantly regain momentum--takes a lot of pressure off of them. Rangers offense did not pressure or wear down other teams defenses last year nearly as much as they did in 11-12.