Post-Game Talk: #6 - 01/26/21 | RANGERS @ sabres

[Kovalev27]

Mika Panarin DeAngelo Kreider Lafreniere

Strome Fox Buchnevich Kakko Trouba

two centers for two power plays. Lefties and righties on both power plays. All your best players used.

not sure why this is hard

 

[Gardner McKay]

Mike Keenan is out there....lurking in the shadows.....whip in hand.....

He is busy enjoying his life in Key West.

 

[Gardner McKay]

I didn't get to fully watch the game but I thought we had a good third period from what I could see. It is just so disappointing though.

 

[Tob]

I didn't get to fully watch the game but I thought we had a good third period from what I could see. It is just so disappointing though.

mostly because Buffalo was trapping and score effect. There is so much cabbage and carrots shoved down this toilet that even the soft shits aren't going through.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

I didn't get to fully watch the game but I thought we had a good third period from what I could see. It is just so disappointing though.

Last 8 minutes were good. Not sure we had one chance in the first 12 minutes.

 

[True Blue]

I’d be perfectly fine if he and Strome never played again. Though I can’t say I’m enthused about the alternative options at this time either.

Strome is making my defense of him look pretty awful right now. This just cannot continue, but with Chytil's injury there is no one else that can play 2C right now. Not experimenting with Howden or Rooney there. So until Chytil gets healthy and in game shape, guess Strome it is.

And Johnson is so much worse than I EVER gave him credit for. There is some stat that out of all the power play goals that the Rangers have given up, in all but one situation Johnson has been either on the ice for them or directly responsible for taking the penalty that led to the team being down. I would insert Smith and close my eyes at this point.

 

[True Blue]

EDIT. TonyD playing like a dog who just had his nuts cut off by coach Quinn . It does not take a rocket scientist to figure this out . As Tony goes....so goes the Rangers.....so either Tony goes or Quinn goes ! One or the other has to happen very soon . A BIG question is....can Tony be coached by Gallant or Martin if they are what we end up with ?

Not sure it is fair to blame DeAngelo's poor play on Quinn. I will say that he does need to return to PP1. It operates better with him running it.

 

[True Blue]

The Rangers are floundering. What's with Panarin? He was playing pond hockey last night. I've never seen so many stretch passes. His first one almost connected, so he kept trying the entire game. Bear down for goodness sake. Weak team play is what I'm seeing. The horrific faceoff results and futile PK are indicative of lack of will. I see no leaders.

The entire veteran forward group is out to lunch. Strome is looking more like the Edmonton version. Panarin, one of the league's most dynamic players, despite getting some points has been anything but dynamic and ZBad and Kreider are not making an impact. This is not coaching, as they played just fine last year. This the vets not showing up. If they improve their play, that will open up more room for Lafreniere and Kakko. And the Rangers will climb in the standings.

Also cannot ignore that aside from one game, the goalie play has been mediocre at best to sub par more often.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Strome is making my defense of him look pretty awful right now. This just cannot continue, but with Chytil's injury there is no one else that can play 2C right now. Not experimenting with Howden or Rooney there. So until Chytil gets healthy and in game shape, guess Strome it is.

And Johnson is so much worse than I EVER gave him credit for. There is some stat that out of all the power play goals that the Rangers have given up, in all but one situation Johnson has been either on the ice for them or directly responsible for taking the penalty that led to the team being down. I would insert Smith and close my eyes at this point.

To play devil's advocate the team isn't more likely to give up a PP goal if he took the penalty vs. anyone else.

 

[True Blue]

To play devil's advocate the team isn't more likely to give up a PP goal if he took the penalty vs. anyone else.

Sure, but if the penalty is not taken, then they are not a man down.

 

[kovazub94]

The strange thing is I honestly liked way more than I disliked from games two through 5.

Its almost weird that they aren’t 4-2 at this point.

Same - last night's game was the first one I felt frustrated at the team's play. Before the team was getting better with each game even though it wasn't translating into points (eh, goaltending). After last night only Buch, Fox and Miller (maybe Lindgren) could walk with their heads high.

Can't be just the fact that Chytil was out.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Sure, but if the penalty is not taken, then they are not a man down.

I get it, I'm just saying unless he was taking penalties at some alarmingly high rate (I haven't noticed that) the goal being scored with him in the box vs. anyone else is a coincidence. Those goals could have been scored against anyone else in the penalty box.

 

[NYSPORTS]

Gordon appeared pretty disappointed after the Carolina series. He can’t be taking this start too well. This is his roster and these vets shows signs of content.

 

[Kovalev27]

I’m at the point where I’m no longer blaming players individually. Our guys are lost against structured teams and every team we play is well coached and structured (excluding ours)

this is on the coach. Poor decisions, no in game adjustments, team isn’t ready to play, and development is non existent. Veterans no longer responding. Bad special teams and even the goaltending is dejected.

this is a coaching problem period

 

[JimmyG89]

Is it painfully obvious that teams are just attempting to take away their speed game and make them grind it out? Sabres and Pens just sat back in the neutral zone when they didn't have the puck. Make them go through 5. When they look to dump the puck, no speed because they took too long to get through the neutral zone.

They aren't stretching out the defense on the rush or while breaking out. There are going to need to be some serious adjustments if they are looking to turn this around.

In a normal season, these 6 games would be preseason. They better start showing some jump on Thursday.

I'm not overly concerned about Lafreniere. He had a 10 month layoff before playing in a meaningful game. He's jumping from the CHL to the NHL and his supporting cast hasn't been helpful enough, and the line shuffling isn't helping. Stick him with someone for more than 1 game and keep him on left wing. Let him get some confidence.

 

[mrmel329]

Mika Panarin DeAngelo Kreider Lafreniere

Strome Fox Buchnevich Kakko Trouba

two centers for two power plays. Lefties and righties on both power plays. All your best players used.

not sure why this is hard

I like this with one change. Substitute Miller for trouba. He’s already better and has an accurate one timer from the point!

 

[bubba5]

No Fast is really showing what he was worth to this team. Should
Never have let him go. He was the reason the breadman was so successful

 

[leetch99]

Whatever they do...I would sure hate to see the development of some really promising players F'ed up because of mismanagement on behalf of the Rangers....these days are vital for development and not so much the playoffs.....but I think we are PLENTY good enough to be a top 3 team in our division in regular season play even with Quinn . Strome is a problem we have to endure for now ...but we do not need him on the PP . Even if we win a lot of games moving forward...our mix is not right for the playoff wars . We need more sandpaper like effort for the 1000th time .

 

[Kovalev27]

Watching Washington beat the isles missing most of their entire team. They’re undefeated

Quinn lost Fast over the summer and hasn’t recovered.

 

[LetsGoRangers2021]

Guys,

The defense has been much improved. Most of the kids have taken huge leaps forward and are playing their best hockey. The lines have been shuffled to try to find chemistry and to give the kids every chance to succeed (see: Laf, Kakko, Miller...) Buch gone from a tweener NHL player to busting his ass in three zones. Even guys like DG are playing well.

THIS IS NOT QUINN.

Mika losing all of his faceoffs and doing next to nothing. Kreids mailing it in. Panarin can't hit the net with a puck. Strome is COMPLETELY f***ING USELESS. It's not Quinn's job to get the "vets" moving. Our top six has sucked.

Even our goaltending has been average at best.

THIS IS NOT QUINN.

Find another scapegoat or watch the games objectively.

 

[True Blue]

I get it, I'm just saying unless he was taking penalties at some alarmingly high rate (I haven't noticed that) the goal being scored with him in the box vs. anyone else is a coincidence. Those goals could have been scored against anyone else in the penalty box.

Yes, they could have been. But still either being on the ice for them or being responsible for taking them is not a very good look.

 

[True Blue]

Whatever they do...I would sure hate to see the development of some really promising players F'ed up because of mismanagement on behalf of the Rangers....these days are vital for development and not so much the playoffs.....but I think we are PLENTY good enough to be a top 3 team in our division in regular season play even with Quinn . Strome is a problem we have to endure for now ...but we do not need him on the PP . Even if we win a lot of games moving forward...our mix is not right for the playoff wars . We need more sandpaper like effort for the 1000th time .

You are not seeing the development of any promising young player get detered.

The sandpaper is needed. Winning face off is needed. Al of the things that some would tell us are not necessary.

 

[Tob]

Guys,

The defense has been much improved. Most of the kids have taken huge leaps forward and are playing their best hockey. The lines have been shuffled to try to find chemistry and to give the kids every chance to succeed (see: Laf, Kakko, Miller...) Buch gone from a tweener NHL player to busting his ass in three zones. Even guys like DG are playing well.

THIS IS NOT QUINN.

Mika losing all of his faceoffs and doing next to nothing. Kreids mailing it in. Panarin can't hit the net with a puck. Strome is COMPLETELY f***ING USELESS. It's not Quinn's job to get the "vets" moving. Our top six has sucked.

Even our goaltending has been average at best.

THIS IS NOT QUINN.

Find another scapegoat or watch the games objectively.

Okay David.

 

[True Blue]

Guys,

The defense has been much improved. Most of the kids have taken huge leaps forward and are playing their best hockey. The lines have been shuffled to try to find chemistry and to give the kids every chance to succeed (see: Laf, Kakko, Miller...) Buch gone from a tweener NHL player to busting his ass in three zones. Even guys like DG are playing well.

THIS IS NOT QUINN.

Mika losing all of his faceoffs and doing next to nothing. Kreids mailing it in. Panarin can't hit the net with a puck. Strome is COMPLETELY f***ING USELESS. It's not Quinn's job to get the "vets" moving. Our top six has sucked.

Even our goaltending has been average at best.

THIS IS NOT QUINN.

Find another scapegoat or watch the games objectively.

There are certainly some criticisms that are fair of Quinn and can be discussed. But I agree, this is not him. This is subpar goaltending and the veteran leadership group coasting.

Aside from the first game blow out, last night was really the first night I came away disappointed. If Shesterkin and Georgiev even bring their B game, this team is 4-2 right now. And that is without the vets performing at even a C level. Right now, Panarin is a C- and Krieder, ZBad & Strome are below that. With Strome brining up the rear with an F-.

I feel like Mr. Hand handing out grades after the test on the Platt Amendment.

 

[haveandare]

I’m at the point where I’m no longer blaming players individually. Our guys are lost against structured teams and every team we play is well coached and structured (excluding ours)

this is on the coach. Poor decisions, no in game adjustments, team isn’t ready to play, and development is non existent. Veterans no longer responding. Bad special teams and even the goaltending is dejected.

this is a coaching problem period

I really disagree.

The team as a whole has outplayed the opponents in every game but the opener and last night and that’s with key cogs like Panarin and Mika phoning it in for the most part. If that’s not due to structure, what is it due to exactly? The individuals talents of the bottom 6 and a few others scattered through the lineup are so incredible that they’re willing good team play? I don’t think that’s the case.

The fact is, if Panarin drives the play and leaves his comfort zone a handful of times or Mika shows up and plays like he can in even half these games - or instead of either, we just get even average goaltending - we’re looking at a winning record and a team outplaying the opposition. That, as the youngest team in the league, is very positive.

I think there’s a trend here of a scapegoat being established early on and then reinforced over and over. Now, it’s Quinn. I don’t think he’s perfect and I do think some boneheaded decisions have contributed to the record so far, but I don’t see how this is his fault primarily. If the top guys sucking is on him when the bottom guys are playing tight, assertive hockey, when is anything the fault of those top players as individuals?