Post-Game Talk: #4 - 01/22/21 | RANGERS @ penguins | 7:00 - MSG

[nyrage]

This season has been really frustrating. I expected the kids to make mistakes, but it's actually the vets and the Coach that are driving me nuts.

How the hell does Quinn get on the case of all the kids, but yet keeps rolling out the atrocious Strome? Get the clown off the power-play (first unit!). He's a black hole.

How is Johnson even in the lineup? I'm not a Smith fan, but I would rather see him in the lineup.

The constant line-shuffling is annoying, too. Not to mention that this team almost never seems prepared. It's really rich of Quinn to say that his guys didn't have the situational awareness tonight when leading 3-1. Isn't that his job to make them aware or to try to change it? Or is he just a passenger? Just frustrating.

On that note, Miller looked really good. Fox is a wizard back there. It's going to be nice as we add more of our prospects on the back-end. Now if we can only teach the forwards to shoot instead of always looking for a pass and also win a face-off once in a while.

 

[Shesterkybomb]

Probably true, but just to put things in context Panarin is a PPG player so far this season while having Strome drag him down.

Panarin was as bad as anyone out there tonight.

 

[Glen Sathers Cigar]

That's what I don't understand. Smith is a hard working, grinding D-man who plays a safe game. A coach's dream. He's also offensively challenged like Quinn likes. I just don't get it. It's not like it's Johnson vs. some flashy high risk offensive defenseman. He's the prototypical coach's pet type D-man.

Plus Smith has been objectively good in his two games this year. The one argument for Johnson is that he’s a veteran presence but Smith is also a veteran presence and has been here longer. Like everything should be in his favor.

He’s been better this season, he’s a better skater, he adds toughness, he’s a veteran, he has a bit of offensive upside.

There’s not a single argument for JJ to be in over smith that makes any sense.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

The ice time for Fox and Miller corroborate what it looked like to me. Deangelo and Johnson didn't get much time, especially in the 3rd period. Is the writing on the wall for Johnson? Even Quinn knows Deangelo should be up when he's not punished. So that leaves Johnson.

 

[Glen Sathers Cigar]

earth to Chris Kreider, I can't believe some people on this board wanted him to be captain

That wide open net with 4 minutes left that he carried behind the net instead of shooting was something else. I know there were bodies there and maybe he didn’t have a clean handle but dude, take the shot. Wide open net from 5 feet out even with a rolling puck and a defender flailing in the way with a few minutes left, you take that shot when the alternative is corralling the puck and going behind the net and losing it.

 

[Levitate]

That wide open net with 4 minutes left that he carried behind the net instead of shooting was something else. I know there were bodies there and maybe he didn’t have a clean handle but dude, take the shot. Wide open net from 5 feet out even with a rolling puck and a defender flailing in the way with a few minutes left, you take that shot when the alternative is corralling the puck and going behind the net and losing it.

I don't think he really had a handle on the puck

 

[PB37]

Nice to hear about Miller. Love that kid.

How has Lindgren been for you guys this year so far?

 

[will1066]

Plus Smith has been objectively good in his two games this year. The one argument for Johnson is that he’s a veteran presence but Smith is also a veteran presence and has been here longer. Like everything should be in his favor.

He’s been better this season, he’s a better skater, he adds toughness, he’s a veteran, he has a bit of offensive upside.

There’s not a single argument for JJ to be in over smith that makes any sense.

Smith being left handed might be the only still-weak argument. Totally agree with you.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Nice to hear about Miller. Love that kid.

How has Lindgren been for you guys this year so far?

He's played well the rest of the season but can f*** right off today. He literally put the puck into his own net and cost the Rangers a point.

 

[Glen Sathers Cigar]

I don't think he really had a handle on the puck

Maybe but still, chop at it. Take a whack. Gotta be better than just going behind the net. The goalie was down and out. Maybe it causes a scrum if it doesn’t go in. Collecting it and going behind the net just gives everyone time to recover, both goalie and D.

 

[Glen Sathers Cigar]

Smith being left handed might be the only still-weak argument. Totally agree with you.

Yeah but so is JJ.

 

[Shesterkybomb]

Nice to hear about Miller. Love that kid.

How has Lindgren been for you guys this year so far?

Lindgren has been our 2nd best dman to this point this season, he accidentally put the puck in his own net and some here react like he killed their mother.

 

[will1066]

Yeah but so is JJ.

Damn, you're right

 

[will1066]

Nice to hear about Miller. Love that kid.

How has Lindgren been for you guys this year so far?

He's bled in like 1 of 4 games, so he's regressed

 

[PB37]

He's played well the rest of the season but can f*** right off today. He literally put the puck into his own net and cost the Rangers a point.

Ouch, I was not aware of that. Lindgren is a beauty... he'll bounce back. Your blueline up and down the franchise is a treasure of young, talented players and it makes me envious. Miller, Fox, Lindgren, Zac Jones... wow.

Good luck the rest of the way!

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Lindgren was fine tonight he just... did a stupid.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Ouch, I was not aware of that. Lindgren is a beauty... he'll bounce back. Your blueline up and down the franchise is a treasure of young, talented players and it makes me envious. Miller, Fox, Lindgren, Zac Jones... wow.

Good luck the rest of the way!

Thanks, you didn't even mention Nils Lundkvist who before the season started and Miller played like he has was considered our top D prospect.

 

[Glen Sathers Cigar]

Damn, you're right

Haha it’s legit funny bc in your mind it’s like there has to be something that someone can point to for JJ so maybe handiness, maybe veteran leadership, skill, toughness, scoring, size, etc. Literally nothing. Hell Smith will even drop the gloves no question so that’s another thing he brings.

It would be one thing if Smith looked horrible in his appearances but he was objectively good. He steps in and plays well. Not even just ok but flat out well. While at the same time JJ is directly at fault fir multiple goals a game.

I really wonder with these old coaches. I was hoping Martin would come here and implement a solid D system and maybe he will yet, but if one of his bugs is he needs a “traditional”’safe defenseman, and I put that in quotes bc that definitely has somehow become code for bad players who don’t take any chances and somehow that makes them safe players. But if a guy just sends the puck up the boards all game so he doesn’t have statistical giveaways but he’s always sacrificing possession and then scrambling off puck in his own zone, how safe is that really? I just don’t get this old school way of thinking of defensemen.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Lindgren has been our 2nd best dman to this point this season, he accidentally put the puck in his own net and some here react like he killed their mother.

I think if we include today's game it was Miller. But Lindgren has been good, but that goal was upsetting.

 

[aufheben]

Nice to hear about Miller. Love that kid.

How has Lindgren been for you guys this year so far?

Still a badass. Getting a nice boost in total ice-time, playing 3:00 of PK time every night. Probably our best penalty killer last season.

I mean he did literally sweep the puck into his own net with his hand tonight, but, you know, shit happens.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Haha it’s legit funny bc in your mind it’s like there has to be something that someone can point to for JJ so maybe handiness, maybe veteran leadership, skill, toughness, scoring, size, etc. Literally nothing. Hell Smith will even drop the gloves no question so that’s another thing he brings.

It would be one thing if Smith looked horrible in his appearances but he was objectively good. He steps in and plays well. Not even just ok but flat out well. While at the same time JJ is directly at fault fir multiple goals a game.

I really wonder with these old coaches. I was hoping Martin would come here and implement a solid D system and maybe he will yet, but if one of his bugs is he needs a “traditional”’safe defenseman, and I put that in quotes bc that definitely has somehow become code for bad players who don’t take any chances and somehow that makes them safe players. But if a guy just sends the puck up the boards all game so he doesn’t have statistical giveaways but he’s always sacrificing possession and then scrambling off puck in his own zone, how safe is that really? I just don’t get this old school way of thinking of defensemen.

Nepotism. Martin is loyal to him because he played for him before and Quinn is deferring to him.

 

[TominNC]

Kreider has been mostly MIA, Strome stinks and every time I see Johnson wasting space out there all I think of are the chorus of people telling us, "he won't play, he's just here to help teach the system, just a locker room guy, it's only $1M." They should fire Martin just for mentioning his name.

On the other hand, give me some more of Chytil, Kakko and Fox scoring. Watch the points Fox can rack up on the 1st PP unit too. And how does Laf not sniff the ice in OT when STROME is out there?

And Ryan Lindgren, WTF?

 

[FIRE DRURY]

I mean he did literally sweep the puck into his own net with his hand tonight, but, you know, shit happens.

Johnson would have missed the net if he tried to purposely do what Lindgren accidentally did tonight.

 

[2014nyr]

the kids were mostly awesome - they're coming along
miller is becoming a monster...he made some really, really sound and smart defensive plays and looked very good joining the rush. he has blown away my expectations so far.
kakko played the best game i've seen him play...he was involved in creating plays, competed - he does look more confident with chytil, was playing way faster...great to see
chytil has been great all year but tonight really stood out...made a bunch of really strong plays on the puck and showed some skill...arrow is pointing up there - his speed is a weapon.
laf was just ok, made some nice plays but fumbled the puck a bit...he needs to get one and it'll be a new game
fox was very good / so smart
igor was very solid
even howden and lemieux were noticeable in good ways though did get pinned a couple times

the vets ... not pulling their weight
jack - honestly just how bad does he have to be to get scratched? him and tony? i know coaches see more and know things we dont as it relates to lineup decisions in most cases...i mean i don't like gauthier sitting but rooney was really good...but there is absolutely no defensible argument that can be made to support jack playing. none. if he plays sunday
mika has been ok at best, far from a difference maker - need more
bread and buch were very good together...buch couldn't buy one
strome was terrible - its hard to do less in 4 games playing 20 per than he has, other than handful of muffins his stats would be identical if he'd spent all 60 on the bench in them.
kreider needs to turn his brain on
trouba again was very solid
tony was fighting the puck all night but wasn't the problem.
digiuseppe other than forgetting who he was for a sec in ot was great...for a guy who seemed like a sure casualty of the youth movement he's quietly becoming a valuable roster piece. his skating and hockey iq are really good. as a bottom 6 guy he may be a keeper

all in all we were clearly a far better team and that means more than the lost point in the long run. we do need to polish up some rough edges and learn to close those out, but the level of play was what i wanted to see. we were moving the puck up ice effectively with support and threatening almost all night. guys were turning pucks over with purpose. we looked like a team, and a skilled one at that but the work ethic was definitely there too. going to be a season of ups and downs, hope they can take one on sunday - for all the ways they blew this they still deserved a win.

 

[will1066]

You know, if you watch Strome handle the puck and play Anthony Kiedis singing "give it away, give it away, give it away now," it becomes merely funny instead of sad.