All Encompassing Tortorella..ella..ella..eh..eh...and Glen Cigar Thread Part IV

[Ail]

The adjustment is a welcome change, but let's not act like because he finally did make an adjustment four games in to a series it suddenly removes any lackthereof prior.

Correcting a weakness is progress, but it still a correction. I hope he continues to find new ways to adjust ES and special teams to give his players an advantage.

The team and coaching were both very good last night overall. It needs to continue away from home and it certainly won't be easier.

 

[Ail]

C'mon, you know this is a complaint thread, not a discussion thread. What are you doing?

One of the reasons threads are rife with critcism and negativity after a loss and mostly quiet during a win is the natural desire to vent (albeit irrationally in most cases) out of frustration and no two people deal with negative emotions exactly the same. It's human nature at a basic level. Dealing with a win is totally different and the lack of board presence after a win should indicate posting on HFBoards, or any social medium, is much less likely due to the kind of emotions felt. After a loss people need a place to let steam off and what better place than the Internet where there are little repercussions and the comfort of those feeling similar frustrations in large numbers? Misery loves company and there is plenty of both on HFNYR after a loss.

That's why it is silly and futile to get upset with people who become reactionary or "bi-polar" after losses. It is an almost involuntary reaction, and calling people negative nancy and bad fans will not stop it from occurring.

 

[NickyFotiu]

Sather did not bring Lundqvist here.

I believe Lundy was drafted in 2000. I believe Slats was here for that draft.

 

[iamitter]

So in the Tortorella thread there is not one mention of his PK adjustment that completely neutralized Green and Ovie on the power play last night?

Yeah, I totally noticed that. It was a fantastic adjustment. The Caps still looked dangerous, but they looked like chickens with their heads cut off. Ribeiro was left totally open and had no idea what to do.

 

[nyranger61494]

I believe Lundy was drafted in 2000. I believe Slats was here for that draft.

Sather got the job on June 1st. He had the job in title only for that draft. It was not his scouts or personnel that scouted Lundqvist.

 

[NickyFotiu]

Sather got the job on June 1st. He had the job in title only for that draft. It was not his scouts or personnel that scouted Lundqvist.

I'm sure if he was there for 3-4 weeks he was not just doing lunch for his first 25-30 days on the job. It may not have been his scouts but I would bet that he looked at tapes and reports. He also probably had been looking at guys before he even left the Oilers. Slats makes mistakes like most GM's but I'm going to give him credit for the good moves that occurred under him.

 

[Blueshirt Believer]

Except that last night he made a PK adjustment that, as I said, completely neutralized Green and Ovie on the power play last night.

If that was sarcasm...you really need to use the sarcasm icon!!!

Yeah he switched to diamond coverage(btw, that didn't start last night. He was playing with it back in game 2). But, I still think the Rangers are still too stagnant and not aggressive enough on their PK.

Caps will adjust in that department. I expect them to start setting more along the half wall or corner.

I am happy(for the players)that were able to come back in this series. But, lets face it, the Caps are not a very good team.

Defensively, Washington is an absolute disaster covering the front of the net in their own end. Plus, they are not a hard forechecking team. They are very soft along the wall in O zone and force plays up high.

With that said. games 3,4(and 2)were all games that could have gone either way. I still don't think the Rangers are all that well coached. They are going to have a heck of time with a forechecking team on their breakouts. Rangers transition game is still very painful to watch.

But, the Rangers have shown some creativity and character in these wins. Thats a positive. I still don't feel they are running the correct system.

Also, I am getting tired of the rangers falling back(with a one goal lead) into a 1-2-2 shell way too early. That is just begging for problems.

 

[Blueshirt Believer]

One of the reasons threads are rife with critcism and negativity after a loss and mostly quiet during a win is the natural desire to vent (albeit irrationally in most cases) out of frustration and no two people deal with negative emotions exactly the same. It's human nature at a basic level. Dealing with a win is totally different and the lack of board presence after a win should indicate posting on HFBoards, or any social medium, is much less likely due to the kind of emotions felt. After a loss people need a place to let steam off and what better place than the Internet where there are little repercussions and the comfort of those feeling similar frustrations in large numbers? Misery loves company and there is plenty of both on HFNYR after a loss.

That's why it is silly and futile to get upset with people who become reactionary or "bi-polar" after losses. It is an almost involuntary reaction, and calling people negative nancy and bad fans will not stop it from occurring.

Honestly, the only thing I have seen in this series is that both teams are pretty damn mediocre.

 

[nyranger61494]

I'm sure if he was there for 3-4 weeks he was not just doing lunch for his first 25-30 days on the job. It may not have been his scouts but I would bet that he looked at tapes and reports. He also probably had been looking at guys before he even left the Oilers. Slats makes mistakes like most GM's but I'm going to give him credit for the good moves that occurred under him.

I am, too but to give him credit for Lundqvist may not be one. Guys scout players for years. Also, the fact that he was so heavily involved in the Oilers scouting and draft process, he was probably removed from the Rangers'. That's not uncommon with GMs taking a new job that close to the draft.

 

[3rd Guy High]

Still think he needs to go, but hey, can't complain when were winning!

 

[Ail]

Honestly, the only thing I have seen in this series is that both teams are pretty damn mediocre.

I agree. I still don't see either of these teams getting past round two. Which was my original stance going in to the playoffs.

It was more to the point that the reactionary crowd who conveniently disappear during wins post driven by emotion rather than a rational critique. Some of us have more realistic gripes than others, and also have no problem admitting when we are wrong or something changes for the better.

 

[Ail]

Still think he needs to go, but hey, can't complain when were winning!

You can still complain as long as the complaints are legitimate critcisms and not petty whining. Even in wins mistakes are made or bad habits continued.

 

[Trxjw]

So in the Tortorella thread there is not one mention of his PK adjustment that completely neutralized Green and Ovie on the power play last night?

I think the PK configuration was a great move. Worked extremely well.

However, his decision to put Richards and DZ on the points for the 5 on 3 was maddening. I know he's perpetually trying to get Richards 'going' but that's a point in the game where we could have blown it wide open. We need the guys out there that are already 'going', not the ones who haven't shown much this series.

 

[Hunter Gathers]

I think the PK configuration was a great move. Worked extremely well.

However, his decision to put Richards and DZ on the points for the 5 on 3 was maddening. I know he's perpetually trying to get Richards 'going' but that's a point in the game where we could have blown it wide open. We need the guys out there that are already 'going', not the ones who haven't shown much this series.

Richards on the point was fine. DZ, however, was not. I want to see Moore and Richards on the point with Brassard/Stepan, Nash, and Boyle/Stepan up front. That would be my #1 unit right now.

 

[Trxjw]

Richards on the point was fine. DZ, however, was not. I want to see Moore and Richards on the point with Brassard/Stepan, Nash, and Boyle/Stepan up front. That would be my #1 unit right now.

I don't think Richards has been fine on the point for some time now. He rarely moves, forces passes to people who aren't open, and fires shot after shot into the defenders.

 

[Ail]

I don't think Richards has been fine on the point for some time now. He rarely moves, forces passes to people who aren't open, and fires shot after shot into the defenders.

Yup. My thoughts exactly. He is indecisive and when he tries not to overthink it he ends up handcuffing his teammates or taking a low percentage shot. He has not looked confident or creative at all.

 

[The Gloaming]

Still collapsing and allowing the Caps way too much time and space up high. Causing us to spend too much time in our endzone. We won, but it still happened yesterday.

Overall, our transition game is putrid, with only a few spurts where it looks like that of an NHL team. I once again, blame that on the collapsing strategy. However, forwards need to keep moving FORWARD and not just stand there to deflect dump-ins.
Lastly, let's win a fricken game at Verizon Center. Does Tortorella rely too much on matchups? Is that why we've had trouble on the road all season?

 

[haveandare]

Still collapsing and allowing the Caps way too much time and space up high. Causing us to spend too much time in our endzone. We won, but it still happened yesterday.

Overall, our transition game is putrid, with only a few spurts where it looks like that of an NHL team. I once again, blame that on the collapsing strategy. However, forwards need to keep moving FORWARD and not just stand there to deflect dump-ins.
Lastly, let's win a fricken game at Verizon Center. Does Tortorella rely too much on matchups? Is that why we've had trouble on the road all season?

I think Torts is starting to figure the Caps out.

I'm torn about the collapsing. Yeah, they're giving the D too much, but they're taking everything away from the forwards. Might not be a bad trade off in the scheme of things. Caps have one dangerous D man and multiple dangerous forwards.

 

[Richter Scale]

EDIT - I'm picking this out from your post as an example. The rest of what you say in that post - though I don't necessarily agree with it, at least makes some legitimate points.

I am happy(for the players)that were able to come back in this series. But, lets face it, the Caps are not a very good team.

The Caps had an abysmal start, which is why their point total was mediocre at the end of the season. In the last 40 games, the only teams better than them were the Penguins and the Blackhawks. They have been the 3rd best team in the entire NHL in that time.

Not saying the Caps don't have significant flaws (agree with you, their defense is not the best) - but jesus... some of you seem like you just can't ****ing be satisfied when things go well for the Rangers. You don't even have to be optimistic - just stop going out of your way to to grasp at straws and try to rationalize why anything this team does is bad. Its really getting old.

Do we really have to devalue every accomplishment of this team/coach? The series isn't even over yet, and because the Rangers won a couple suddenly the tune among a few people is changing from "the Caps are hot, the Rangers will be stomped" to "the Caps blow, Rangers still suck, na na na na na don't care that they won, means nothing". Is it really that hard to cheer for this team and just be happy that they are winning?

 

[Hi ImHFNYR]

I give up http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4A_QKY-YIGI. Couldn't figure out how to post the actual vid. Freakin hilarious I'm sure it's appeared before but too funny.

 

[Jersey Girl]

I think the PK configuration was a great move. Worked extremely well.

However, his decision to put Richards and DZ on the points for the 5 on 3 was maddening. I know he's perpetually trying to get Richards 'going' but that's a point in the game where we could have blown it wide open. We need the guys out there that are already 'going', not the ones who haven't shown much this series.

I agree Richards and DZ are not good at the point, but who else do you want him to put out there?

Stepan? Need him near the net
Moore? Has done some good things...but some bad giveaways as well
Girardi? Nice shot last night, but he's been botching power plays the rest of the series
Fowler? We didn't draft him
Stralman? Possibly, but he makes some questionable decisions sometimes

What I really want is for all those guys who GUARANTEED over one particular summer that the signing of Richards would fix the power play for years...and questioned anyone's hockey sanity who dared disagree...to step up and accept their mea culpa.

 

[*Bob Richards*]

I agree Richards and DZ are not good at the point, but who else do you want him to put out there?

Stepan? Need him near the net
Moore? Has done some good things...but some bad giveaways as well
Girardi? Nice shot last night, but he's been botching power plays the rest of the series
Fowler? We didn't draft him
Stralman? Possibly, but he makes some questionable decisions sometimes

What I really want is for all those guys who GUARANTEED over one particular summer that the signing of Richards would fix the power play for years...and questioned anyone's hockey sanity who dared disagree...to step up and accept their mea culpa.

Moore and Stralman having occasional questionable plays is still about a thousand times more advantageous than Richards and Del Zotto seemingly never making good plays.

 

[JohnC]

Moore and Stralman having occasional questionable plays is still about a thousand times more advantageous than Richards and Del Zotto seemingly never making good plays.

I swear sometimes it seems like they're playing "how close to the blue line can we pass the puck across before it slides out of the zone"

They're so bad at keeping it in sometimes

 

[Holocene]

So in the Tortorella thread there is not one mention of his PK adjustment that completely neutralized Green and Ovie on the power play last night?

It's been talked about in the PGT. He has done a great job with the PK and neutralizing Ovechkin there. I wish he put the same amount of effort into the PP. Was really weird hearing him talk about Moore running our PP and then the next game Girardi and MDZ are on the points. Blind squirrel finds a nut every once in a while Brass, Zucc and Moore should be running our PP at this point.

 

[The Gloaming]

Moore and Stralman on the PP please.

But now that Dan Girardi didn't shoot it wide, prepare for him to be out there for entire power plays ala Kovalchuk.