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

[Kovalev27]

Listen as he did multiple times last year buchy probably lost the game on his multiple grade A scoring chances that he blew and I love the kid. But this is par for the course for him

strome is garbage always has been but he along with kreider are notoriously slow starters. Which is why I knew they’d suck in the play in series and why I’m not surprised to see them sucking now. Both will get better but strome even at his best is trash.

it’s Quinn’s fault for playing him ahead of Chytil at this point. Stupidity but this is the same coach playing Johnson over Smith so you know he’s not bright

I’m amazed we lost. The penguins goals could not have been luckier. Lindgren literally threw one puck in his own net. Shesterkin must be livid.

two games that should have 100% been wins. This season will get real very quickly can’t afford to fall much further behind

 

[darko]

I don’t know who needs to hear this, but we may have already seen career years from Panarin and Zibanejad.

I wouldn't be surprised at all if Panarin already peaked.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Listen as he did multiple times last year buchy probably lost the game on his multiple grade A scoring chances that he blew and I love the kid. But this is par for the course for him

strome is garbage always has been but he along with kreider are notoriously slow starters. Which is why I knew they’d suck in the play in series and why I’m not surprised to see them sucking now. Both will get better but strome even at his best is trash.

it’s Quinn’s fault for playing him ahead of Chytil at this point. Stupidity but this is the same coach playing Johnson over Smith so you know he’s not bright

I’m amazed we lost. The penguins goals could not have been luckier. Lindgren literally threw one puck in his own net. Shesterkin must be livid.

two games that should have 100% been wins. This season will get real very quickly can’t afford to fall much further behind

Instead of hitting a crossbar, he scores and we're not having this discussion.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

Nice to hear about Miller. Love that kid.

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

good until tonight. Had one of the most baffling own goals you'll ever see.

 

[egelband]

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?

Yes. Kreider has been totally off the radar. It’s one of his ineffective periods. I think he’s skating hard. It’s just not clicking for him. And when he does shoot, as is his wont, it’s a muffin crest snipe.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Honestly, Deangelo regressed and Johnson is terrible, but 5 out of our 6 D-men are pretty good. Our D looked terrible and while it's still not GREAT, Miller makes it pretty good. Add to that Panarin, Mika, and lesser good players like Kreider and Buch, plus our forwards improving we should be able to do well this season. This is the happiest I've been with a loss, especially such a shitty loss in my life.

 

[ohbaby]

A few the things on the Rangers beyond just this game.

You know the Rangers are playing well, when Jacob Trouba gets the stick of an opponent in the crease. Also when ADA doesn't get beat cleanly. When they do those two things, you know they are playing well.

Do you realize every time there is defensive zone faceoff, K Andre Miller is thrown out there. This kid is quickly becoming our number one shutdown D-man.

All this talk of Chytil and Kakko wouldn't be possible without Di Giuseppe. He is why that line has been successful. The only time the youngsters do anything is when they play along side him. He was a healthy scratch in game one and they were shut out. Since he has been in the lineup, that line has scored in every game due to his hard work and smart play. He is very underrated.

 

[bl02]

I understand Panarin has been inconsistent so far and hasn't looked like the Panarin we saw last year but the guy is still over a ppg pace playing with our worst centerman. His overall game will get better and he will still manage to put over a ppg pace while playing with the current black hole at center.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

The Good:
- DiGi - Gave the kid a bit of flack for being used on a the 3rd line, but damn what a game he had tonight. He was extremely noticeable. We will ignore whatever that spin pass was in OT however..
- Kakko - Shocking, more ice time seems to help the young kids who wants to impress...
- Chytil - "See Above"
- Miller - What a f***ing stud. Completely shocked of how he started the season, thought it would take him awhile to adjust. I was wrong.
- Fox - 26 minutes of ice time, wow...completely deserved. Will be considered a legit #1 dman in the league by the end of the season (already is in most of our eyes but the league will know it).

The Bad:
- Panarin - Worst game as a Ranger. Not sure what was wrong with him but he couldn't do anything. Skating was off too.
- Mika - Terrible game as well. Maybe still feeling affects of the injury?
- Kreider - Earth to Kreider, the season started.
- Lindgren - Yikes, what were you thinking on that goal?

The Ugly:
Jack Johnson - Completely to blame for goals #1 and #3. On #3 I guess he forgot what side he was playing because he was on the complete wrong side of the ice.
Strome - Really? Another terrible performance. Why is he getting time in OT?
Quinn - For playing Strome in OT and strapping our insanely talented 1st overall pick on he bench when he could have thrived with that much ice in OT.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

BTW, someone mentioned this this game. The only time I remember seeing Crosby was when he was getting schooled by Miller or went to the penalty box that led to Fox's goal. Pens fans think he lost some lower body strength, but he didn't look good at all.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

BTW, someone mentioned this this game. The only time I remember seeing Crosby was when he was getting schooled by Miller or went to the penalty box that led to Fox's goal. Pens fans think he lost some lower body strength, but he didn't look good at all.

Couldnt believe when Joe said this was Crosby's SIXTEENTH NHL season. Time flew by. Guy is getting older, as much as I loved to root against him, it sucks to see one of the greats our sport ever had starting to decline.

(Edit and i just checked he still have 5 points in 5 games...not much of a decline )

 

[CasusBelli]

BTW, someone mentioned this this game. The only time I remember seeing Crosby was when he was getting schooled by Miller or went to the penalty box that led to Fox's goal. Pens fans think he lost some lower body strength, but he didn't look good at all.

Age takes a toll even on the best of them. OV will continue to produce for years because of his natural build and his shot, but the speed he had early in his career has been gone for a long time, and I suspect he my further slow. Weber is a pylon at this point. Its the circle of life and all that.

 

[gravey9]

Just to add a few points:

1 - Everyone thinks no preseason hurts the kiddos more. But FWIW i think it's hurting the vets more. Kreider, Zibby, Panarin, Strome -- none have looked very good. We know Kreider and Zibby are definitely dinged up on top of that. I can't even count the number of times in my life when I've seen a player miss pre-season then come into the lineup and almost immediately gets injured. That's what happened with Zibby. And Kreider took that Panarin shot the other night in the hand and since his stick handling has been blunt force. It sorta explains why he never got that shot off. And I don't think it's an accident that the sophomores look the best. Young enough to handle the lack of an on ramp and just enough experience to know how to prepare for a season. Keep in mind, while Malkin and Letang looked pretty good, Crosby looked quite pedestrian. In other words, we're not the only team whose vets are starting slow.

2 - I'm pretty concerned that it seems like several players tonight ran around to help Johnson out because they have no confidence in him. Kreider and DeAngelo both did this. And I saw this a few other times. That's a big issue and easy to exploit. The other issue is, Johnson's most common form of outlet pass is one where he passes to a forward standing along the boards who then just tips the puck deep. Meaning, his outlet passes are leading to loss of possession. NHL game is just a touch too fast for Johnson.

3. That was a pretty heady play by Lindgren. It just didn't quite work out that time.

4. Underrated positive tonight was just how infrequently the Rangers got trapped in their own zone with the other team cycling and keeping possession.

 

[Glen Sathers Cigar]

Listen as he did multiple times last year buchy probably lost the game on his multiple grade A scoring chances that he blew and I love the kid. But this is par for the course for him

strome is garbage always has been but he along with kreider are notoriously slow starters. Which is why I knew they’d suck in the play in series and why I’m not surprised to see them sucking now. Both will get better but strome even at his best is trash.

it’s Quinn’s fault for playing him ahead of Chytil at this point. Stupidity but this is the same coach playing Johnson over Smith so you know he’s not bright

I’m amazed we lost. The penguins goals could not have been luckier. Lindgren literally threw one puck in his own net. Shesterkin must be livid.

two games that should have 100% been wins. This season will get real very quickly can’t afford to fall much further behind

Your last part is the most important one. If they have any plans on being in the playoff race this year they need to start winning. 56 games you can literally blow you chances at the playoffs beyond repair with 10 bad games.

 

[PuckLuck3043]

It's only 4 games. Some good, some bad. 1-2-1 could have easily been 3-1. Woulda coulda shoulda, I know, but it's still a long season even though it's only 56 games this year. I see posts that Panarin and Mika have peaked and TDA has regressed and shit like that. How can we make these statements after 4 games (only 2 for DeAngelo). I don't get it. I'll say it again, it's going to take 10 games minimum to see what we have. What I think we have is a young talented team that is going to be more good than bad but has only a 50/50 shot of making the playoffs because of the division we are in. I think it's more about next year and beyond anyway. Pissing away points sucks but I'm loving the play of young guys so far.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

It's only 4 games. Some good, some bad. 1-2-1 could have easily been 3-1. Woulda coulda shoulda, I know, but it's still a long season even though it's only 56 games this year. I see posts that Panarin and Mika have peaked and TDA has regressed and shit like that. How can we make these statements after 4 games (only 2 for DeAngelo). I don't get it. I'll say it again, it's going to take 10 games minimum to see what we have. What I think we have is a young talented team that is going to be more good than bad but has only a 50/50 shot of making the playoffs because of the division we are in. I think it's more about next year and beyond anyway. Pissing away points sucks but I'm loving the play of young guys so far.

Every team pisses away points, that 13-14 team lost more games like the one on Tuesday (though they would have lost 2-1) than any team I can remember. It's more pronounced in a 56 game season. However, it's still 56 games, not 10.

 

[duhmetreE]

It's only 4 games but overall do we realize our team defense is miles better? We are not giving up 50 shots a game. We are not giving up up high% slot chances, numerous times a period.

Our goalies have been bad 2 games. Jack Johnson has been bad all games. Besides that, I feel like we've been real solid.

 

[Glen Sathers Cigar]

Just to add a few points:

1 - Everyone thinks no preseason hurts the kiddos more. But FWIW i think it's hurting the vets more. Kreider, Zibby, Panarin, Strome -- none have looked very good. We know Kreider and Zibby are definitely dinged up on top of that. I can't even count the number of times in my life when I've seen a player miss pre-season then come into the lineup and almost immediately gets injured. That's what happened with Zibby. And Kreider took that Panarin shot the other night in the hand and since his stick handling has been blunt force. It sorta explains why he never got that shot off. And I don't think it's an accident that the sophomores look the best. Young enough to handle the lack of an on ramp and just enough experience to know how to prepare for a season. Keep in mind, while Malkin and Letang looked pretty good, Crosby looked quite pedestrian. In other words, we're not the only team whose vets are starting slow.

2 - I'm pretty concerned that it seems like several players tonight ran around to help Johnson out because they have no confidence in him. Kreider and DeAngelo both did this. And I saw this a few other times. That's a big issue and easy to exploit. The other issue is, Johnson's most common form of outlet pass is one where he passes to a forward standing along the boards who then just tips the puck deep. Meaning, his outlet passes are leading to loss of possession. NHL game is just a touch too fast for Johnson.

3. That was a pretty heady play by Lindgren. It just didn't quite work out that time.

4. Underrated positive tonight was just how infrequently the Rangers got trapped in their own zone with the other team cycling and keeping possession.

Re: point 2 I remember a specific time with about 5 minutes left in the 3rd period Johnson has the puck behind the net and Miller is on the near side half boards. JJ holds it with limited pressure, just one guy in front of Shesty who’s not chasing, and he holds it for about 7 seconds so Miller skates across the ice to the opposite half boards giving JJ the chance to hit him in stride for a quick outlet but JJ keeps holding it so Miller stops and stays on that half board area. JJ finally moves the puck, not to Miller but instead he passes it out to the NZ where Strome tips it on our side of the red line and it goes all the way down for an icing.

So the end result of the play is an icing when JJ had the opportunity to twice breakout to Miller easily; even after passing up the first one the second one was even better and could’ve hit him in stride. Instead he waits and waits and waits and then has no play so he ices the puck. He wasted about 30 seconds and iced the goddamn puck. This is basically the “safe” player fallacy. He didn’t make a bad play and directly turn it over in the coaches eyes but it was a waste of time late in a tie game and he ended up icing it and keeping his tired unit on the ice now facing a DZ draw.

Here you had a player start the play with full possession of the puck and time behind his own net with no pressure and the end result is an icing.

I was losing my mind.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

It's only 4 games but overall do we realize our team defense is miles better? We are not giving up 50 shots a game. We are not giving up up high% slot chances, numerous times a period.

Our goalies have been bad 2 games. Jack Johnson has been bad all games. Besides that, I feel like we've been real solid.

It's been fewer than 30 shots in I believe 3 of the 4 games. The D is much better. It was so bad in game 1 that I'm shocked at the change.

 

[Hi ImHFNYR]

Wasn’t he on the 1st line? I didn’t watch the 1st period though. Who was he playing with?

Look, I just want a f***ing Cup. I’m 24 and I was born 2 years after 1994. The hype that Lafreniere was getting was extremely high. “60 point rookie season.” “NHL-ready.” “Immediate impact.” I’m not saying that these things won’t happen this season eventually, but we’re heading into game 5.

MAtt Gilroy, Tim Erixon, Kakko, Kevin Hayes, Justin Schultz, Lias, Kravtsov, Trouba, Vaatanen. I can't tell how many times this board lit up with "OMG this rookie/guy we just got/guy Im dying for us to get! He's going to be soooo good right away" before the guy has stepped onto the ice for us. Let down almost everytime.

Fox was a super nice surprise tho. K'andre has been splendid too. But when the hype train takes off for literally every young guy the board is bound to be right eventually

 

[jay from jersey]

Yes. Kreider has been totally off the radar. It’s one of his ineffective periods. I think he’s skating hard. It’s just not clicking for him. And when he does shoot, as is his wont, it’s a muffin crest snipe.

I hate to say this because I’m a big supporter , but if Quinn in scratching people on merit Kreider should sit a game. He was awful when the team needed veteran decision making and veteran play while leading 3-2. All game he was making stupid bone-headed plays. Let alone people wanting him to be captain. I like krieds and I think he bounces back but woof. Zibby looks like he’s playing hurt, and Panarin was ok but doesn’t look like his timing is where it was most of last year. He looks like he did in the bubble. But like I said it’s early. There was a lot to like in this game. Chytil Miller Fox kakko etc. our kids are coming into their own and it’s fantastic to see. This squad has the making of a true Deep team for years to come. I think LaF is a little too nervous. I’d leave him at LW until he gets a couple goals/ points and get his confidence up. Like I said there’s a lot to like. The better team lost and they deserved a different outcome. Quinn usage of Strome is still a little bewildering as well

 

[gravey9]

Re: point 2 I remember a specific time with about 5 minutes left in the 3rd period Johnson has the puck behind the net and Miller is on the near side half boards. JJ holds it with limited pressure, just one guy in front of Shesty who’s not chasing, and he holds it for about 7 seconds so Miller skates across the ice to the opposite half boards giving JJ the chance to hit him in stride for a quick outlet but JJ keeps holding it so Miller stops and stays on that half board area. JJ finally moves the puck, not to Miller but instead he passes it out to the NZ where Strome tips it on our side of the red line and it goes all the way down for an icing.

So the end result of the play is an icing when JJ had the opportunity to twice breakout to Miller easily; even after passing up the first one the second one was even better and could’ve hit him in stride. Instead he waits and waits and waits and then has no play so he ices the puck. He wasted about 30 seconds and iced the goddamn puck. This is basically the “safe” player fallacy. He didn’t make a bad play and directly turn it over in the coaches eyes but it was a waste of time late in a tie game and he ended up icing it and keeping his tired unit on the ice now facing a DZ draw.

Here you had a player start the play with full possession of the puck and time behind his own net with no pressure and the end result is an icing.

I was losing my mind.

Yup. I had a very similar frustration. What makes me really nervous is, the team is trying to instill in the kids the right way to play. That involves positioning and picking up the right guy on the backcheck. But if everyone is covering for Johnson it impacts the whole defensive structure. It's counterproductive to developing the kids. You know people ragged on Marc Staal, but at least he could defend a little. Johnson just gives up so much time and space it's hard to watch. He manages to look like Tony DeAngelo covering Sebastian Aho but all the time.

That said, the sophomores are coming on. And it's really exciting to see. Especially seeing Kakko get more and more confident on the forecheck. Seeing him get on the defense quicker and anticipate breakout passes, is gratifying. And seeing that really helps create patience for guys like Laf and Miller. Those two are benefitting because Chytil and Kakko are blossoming after being inconsistent prior.

And finally, DiGuiseppe and Howden have both looked pretty good. They've been a real net positive on the year and are providing some of the things Fast used to. Say what you want about Howden but more often than not, he's in the right spot. I'd just like Gauthier to bring a similar quality.

Rooney is a slightly less effective Greg McKegg.

 

[aufheben]

MAtt Gilroy, Tim Erixon, Kakko, Kevin Hayes, Justin Schultz, Lias, Kravtsov, Trouba, Vaatanen. I can't tell how many times this board lit up with "OMG this rookie/guy we just got/guy Im dying for us to get! He's going to be soooo good right away" before the guy has stepped onto the ice for us. Let down almost everytime.

Fox was a super nice surprise tho. K'andre has been splendid too. But when the hype train takes off for literally every young guy the board is bound to be right eventually

Wut, Hayes was awesome lol

 

[kovazub94]

Who cares about the outcome tonight. Miller is awesome and instantly a fixture in his age 20 season. Unbelievable. And we have Adam Fox too? And Lundkvist is coming? And Robertson? And Schneider? That can’t be right?

No words to describe how impressive Miller’s been so far. To see him making plays all over the ice by someone with this size and speed invoke references in my head to some of the top defensemen from the last 20 years.

 

[kovazub94]

Great- Chytil, Miller, PDG, Kakko

Terrible- Deangelo, Panarin, Lindgren

well it’s a change of pace at least. Coach using Miller in 3v3 over Trouba was gutsy

Panarin terrible? I’d definitely put him and Buchnevich in at least good category. Breadman is not in his last year’s mid-season form [when he was the best Rangers forward or even player) but he’s close.