GDT: 7/3/2014 - Rangers @ Hurricanes. I'm not saying it was Aliens... But, it was Aliens

[VAcaniac]

The next GM needs to come in with 2 mandates:

1) Hire a coach who can get something out of this roster

2) Move us away from a culture where Eric Staal is untouchable simply because he's Eric Staal

I would love nothing more than Eric to be stripped of his C but who do we give it to?

 

[tomdundo]

I would love nothing more than Eric to be stripped of his C but who do we give it to?

Somebody who actually appears to give a damn, hopefully...Sekera maybe?

 

[What the Faulk]

This is why I'm pissed that the only move we made was the Ruutu trade instead of selling even more guys. "We're only 7 points back, we're still in it". No, **** you, we were out before the loss tonight, now we're REALLY out. Should have taken what we could get for Malhotra, and some of our scrubs.

They were 6 behind Detroit and 7 behind NYR entering tonight. A win would have passed Ottawa. A win over the Devils tomorrow would have passed the Devils. Rangers play the Red Wings Sunday, so they could have between 3-5 back by the time the Rangers return on Tuesday.

But that didn't happen.

Here are some fun tweets:

ShutdownLine
14-20-39 were matched up against Richards & St. Louis. Explains why they got annihilated at even strength.

ShutdownLine
Ryan Murphy was on the ice for 10 5v5 faceoffs. None of them were in the offensive zone.

ShutdownLine
Jordan Staal's line having the highest offensive zone start percentage is also interesting.


That's just bad coaching.

 

[TheOllieC]

ShutdownLine
14-20-39 were matched up against Richards & St. Louis. Explains why they got annihilated at even strength.

ShutdownLine
Ryan Murphy was on the ice for 10 5v5 faceoffs. None of them were in the offensive zone.

These are inexplicable.

 

[tarheelhockey]

ShutdownLine
Ryan Murphy was on the ice for 10 5v5 faceoffs. None of them were in the offensive zone.

Not just Murphy, but a pairing of Murphy and Harrison were repeatedly sent out for defensive zone faceoffs.

Furthermore they were repeatedly matched with a line of Skinner-EStaal-Lindholm for said defensive faceoffs.

How does that even remotely begin to make sense?

 

[Finnish Jerk Train]

ShutdownLine
14-20-39 were matched up against Richards & St. Louis. Explains why they got annihilated at even strength.

 

[Finnish Jerk Train]

Not just Murphy, but a pairing of Murphy and Harrison were repeatedly sent out for defensive zone faceoffs.

Furthermore they were repeatedly matched with a line of Skinner-EStaal-Lindholm for said defensive faceoffs.

How does that even remotely begin to make sense?

Harrison was also out there trying to kill the 5-on-3.

Edit: Never mind, forgot two of our other defensemen were in the box. Defensive depth is still not our strong suit.

 

[Stickpucker]

I just checked... the card doesn't even have any value! We didn't gain ANYTHING by going to tonight's game, did we?

Free popcorn courtesy of Ranger fans!

 

[Stickpucker]

I would love nothing more than Eric to be stripped of his C but who do we give it to?

That tells us all we need to know....is anyone really C material?

 

[tomdundo]

Harrison was also out there trying to kill the 5-on-3.

Edit: Never mind, forgot two of our other defensemen were in the box. Defensive depth is still not our strong suit.

Liles was also injured.

The PK options for the 5-on-3 were Sekera, Harrison, and Murphy.


...I'd rather have Harrison there than Murphy.

 

[Brock Anton]

Eric's effort on that SHG......

I don't give a **** if he's 'gassed' or not... make a ******* effort.

 

[What the Faulk]

Staal's effort left a lot to be desired, but that goal was another Carolina goaltender double-standard™.

 

[DougieSmash]

Kirl "Paul Maurice" Muller is really bad coach.

I cannot believe that we allowed four or five SH goals in our last five games. That's pathetic.

 

[AD Skinner]

All game long I was thinking, "boy Jordan staals line is looking strong." After their first pp opportunity I thought for sure they'd get another shot if another pp came along. They didn't.

I don't think I've ever trashed mullers decision making before but this to me was inexcusable. Just poor, poor player management at home with the last change.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

, but that goal was another Carolina goaltender double-standardâ„¢.

You've mentioned that a few times, but it's not really a double standard IMO. A double standard would apply if both goalies were performing equally well and people got down on one for letting in a bad goal and not the other. That isn't the case here at all.

Cam has performed poorly and has allowed more goals and more bad goals, so of course he'll get called out more when he gives up a weak one, because he's not doing enough otherwise to ever overcome that. Khudobin has played very well and in many games has kept them in it, but as with all goalies, he still will give up some goals he shouldn't have (note both of them in SJ for instance).

When (if) Cam returns to playing equally as well and people continue to get on him about a bad goal here and there, then I'll agree it's a double standard.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

Re: Eric Staal, I think we have to all accept that he's not going to change. He's almost 30, been in the league for 10 years and been through 3 different coaches. I agree with Kev's assessment. I don't think it's a case of him "not caring" as I have to believe all these guys care. IMO it's a case where he doesn't have the will to do whatever it takes to win a game. Some guys have that (Michael Jordan is a prime example)...some guys don't and never will. I know this is pure speculation on my part, but I can only base it off of what I see.

He is what he is, and as long as he remains on this team, the team (players, coaches, GMs) are going to have to figure out a way to win with Eric exhibiting this trait, because I don't see it changing.

 

[AhoLottaLove]

Based purely on professionalism and consistency and having not seen these guys in the locker room I'd say that Gerbe, Sekera, and Malholtra would make good captains.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

Does anyone honestly believe they are going to take the C away from Eric? I'd be shocked if they , plus I'm not sure it would really accomplish anything.

 

[Navin R Slavin]

This team is a total dumpster fire. They simply don't work hard enough to win consistently, and I have no idea how that can be so acceptable for so long.

Yup.

Done with Canes hockey for a little while. See y'all after a break.

$ echo "127.0.0.1 hfboards.hockeyfuture.com" > /etc/hosts

--hank

 

[Anton Babchuk]

You've mentioned that a few times, but it's not really a double standard IMO. A double standard would apply if both goalies were performing equally well and people got down on one for letting in a bad goal and not the other. That isn't the case here at all.

Cam has performed poorly and has allowed more goals and more bad goals, so of course he'll get called out more when he gives up a weak one, because he's not doing enough otherwise to ever overcome that. Khudobin has played very well and in many games has kept them in it, but as with all goalies, he still will give up some goals he shouldn't have (note both of them in SJ for instance).

When (if) Cam returns to playing equally as well and people continue to get on him about a bad goal here and there, then I'll agree it's a double standard.

khudobin would have had to let in 25 more goals this season (in 24 games) to have the same sv% as cam ward. i don't think the cam ward fan club really comprehends just how terrible he has been.

 

[Sasha Cares]

They were 6 behind Detroit and 7 behind NYR entering tonight. A win would have passed Ottawa. A win over the Devils tomorrow would have passed the Devils. Rangers play the Red Wings Sunday, so they could have between 3-5 back by the time the Rangers return on Tuesday.

But that didn't happen.

Here are some fun tweets:

ShutdownLine
14-20-39 were matched up against Richards & St. Louis. Explains why they got annihilated at even strength.

ShutdownLine
Ryan Murphy was on the ice for 10 5v5 faceoffs. None of them were in the offensive zone.

ShutdownLine
Jordan Staal's line having the highest offensive zone start percentage is also interesting.


That's just bad coaching.

What's sad is, those are so horrible and I doubt anyone in or FO knows those numbers. I'm telling you, time for a new coach.

 

[DaveG]

I honestly think they need to hire a couple people for the front office and Billy Beane this mother ****er up. Bring in a capologist if they don't have one already, and bring in some advanced stats gurus.

If Muller doesn't use the team correctly, as he certainly didn't do last night, give him the Art Howe treatment.

 

[Stickpucker]

I wonder what this team would have looked like with Boudreau as the head coach. Washington got a lot worse when he left and Anaheim a lot better. He also has a fun system to watch played out.

Too bad we didn't get him way back when (not that I think we would have won Stanley Cups, but we probably would have been in the playoffs)

 

[DaveG]

I like Boudreau and his system leads to a LOT of regular season success. But that said his teams typically flounder in the playoffs because of the emphasis on defense. How much of that is the ineptitude of GMGM in Washington and how much of that is Boudreau is the question though.

The last two teams they'll want to be playing in the first round are Minnesota and Winnipeg, even if having Pavs in net is the equivalent of having a drunken squirrel back there.

 

[Ole Gil]

The weird zone starts are about the lack of synergy in line possibilities, not bad decisions.

Jordan's line deserved offensive zone starts.
Gerbe and Dwyer are arguably the two best defensive wingers.
Murphy's strength is bringing the puck up the ice, and opposing 4th lines usually start in offensive (our defensive) zone.

And at the end of the day, Canes finished up 1-0 in 5v5 play + penalty shot.

I actually think it takes Muller too long to get more creative with lines and roles, like he did tonight.

Special teams need to be burned with fire.