Post-Game Talk: Flames at Rangers 12/15/2013

[mrhockey193195]

Calgary's 3rd goal is the textbook reason why most team dont play man defense.

Falk leaves the slot to play his man behind the net. At best that leaves Brad Richards picking up the forward crashing the slot. At worst Richards is late in recognizing and the opposing forward has free reign directly in front of the net.

It's asinine in my opinion.

I agree with this. I was never one that disliked the style under Tortorella, so it's easy for me to say that I wish the team never switched. I wonder what other fans think though?

I mean, AV clearly had success with this style in Vancouver. So one can assume that it works when the team is on the same page. But I agree with you, it seems like a very dangerous system...one small mistake, one small hesitation by a player and you're royally ****ed.

And that's what we've seen this season. Every single small mistake seems to be catastrophic and end up in our net.

 

[Blueshirt Believer]

I agree with this. I was never one that disliked the style under Tortorella, so it's easy for me to say that I wish the team never switched. I wonder what other fans think though?

I mean, AV clearly had success with this style in Vancouver. So one can assume that it works when the team is on the same page. But I agree with you, it seems like a very dangerous system...one small mistake, one small hesitation by a player and you're royally ****ed.

And that's what we've seen this season. Every single small mistake seems to be catastrophic and end up in our net.

Nothing wrong with man to man inherently. The problem is that Rangers are poor with the puck so they can't take advantage of their aggressive D coverage. A few teams have won with aggressive man to man like LA.

You need to be really strong on the transition for it to work well.

 

[NYR2007]

Did anyone get what AV meant in his press conference after the game when the walkie talkie goes off and he says something about torts?

I didn't get this part at all ? Any can clairife ??

 

[The Gloaming]

Rangers got scored on first and won.

Championship's head must have exploded.

 

[Raspewtin]

Rangers got scored on first and won.

Championship's head must have exploded.

**** I already gave him my lotto tickets .

 

[Raspewtin]

Katie Strang @KatieStrangESPN 5m
#NYR What did McGrattan say to McIlrath after fight? "Good job, kid." McIlrath said that put a smile on his face.

Das niceeee

 

[The Gloaming]

Das niceeee

But I was told McIlrath sucks at fighting.

 

[AKrangerfan]

The last two goals against him he stops every time in the past. Shake your head and white knight him all you want. He's not the same player this year.

He is a very average goalie this year. Maybe below average.

Save % 857 today. He is not the same player this year. Defend him all you want, he is not the best goalie in the world anymore. He isn't even in the top 10 in the NHL. In the past he made incredible unbelievable highlight reel saves routinely. He has been outplayed by at least 60% of the goalies he has faced this year, a lot of them second and third stringers. Not to mention a 41 year old on his last legs.

He is a big part of the reason the record is as bad as it is. When you give up an early lead, the team gets deflated and we just don't have the firepower to come back. This is the first game this year that I can remember that we came back and won.

Personally I love the guy but you have to look at the facts, he is having the worst year of his career. Can he recover his form? I think he can. It is possible that gets hot the last month and leads us on a deep run. Or not.

 

[Hunter Gathers]

But I was told McIlrath sucks at fighting.

Tarasenko is a better fighter, bro.

 

[eco's bones]

“@AGrossRecord: Dylan McIlrath gets the Broadway Hat for, well, c'mon, pretty obvious why.â€

5 minutes of ice time and his teammates think he's the star of the game because WTF he hung in against Brian McGrattan. Just goes to show that players appreciate guys who can defend themselves and their teammates.

 

[Infinitum Vitae*]

Yeah, I can't outright blame Hank for that. I didn't during the game thread, either.

I will... YOUR THE HIGHEST PAID GOALIE IN THE LEAGUE! play like it... he's getting paid almost as much as ovi and malkin... play like they play be a game changer

 

[Machinehead]

Yeah. Nothing is his fault. The team is to blame for him only posting one single game this month with a .900 SV% or better (that game being against Buffalo).

One time when Hank was six, he and Joel were playing soccer in the house and broke Mrs. Lundqvist's favorite vase. Stepan got grounded for two weeks.

 

[BarbaraAlphanse]

Pair McI with Falk. Bash bros. Talk about grit.

 

[JCrusher*]

Pair McI with Falk. Bash bros. Talk about grit.

Grit for sure but i worry about the amount of goals they will give up

 

[mrhockey193195]

One time when Hank was six, he and Joel were playing soccer in the house and broke Mrs. Lundqvist's favorite vase. Stepan got grounded for two weeks.

This is ridiculous, and just not true. Stepan wasn't born when Hank was 6.

 

[RothmanHockey]

NEW YORK – Henrik Lundqvist outstretched his arms, looking past the famous spoked ceiling, all the way to the heavens. Like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders.

The Rangers home losing streak was over, and while it was about as difficult to kill as could possibly be, all that mattered was that it was over.

“It was just a big relief to finally get two points,” Lundqvist said of his post-game exultation. “I had a chance to close it out twice, and I didn’t do it. Then I just had a feeling if we don’t win this one, I’m not going to be a happy guy. Finally we ended the game.”

http://insidehockey.com/lundqvist-rangers-snap-losing-streak

 

[AKrangerfan]

http://www.nhl.com/ice/playerstats....&position=G&country=&status=&viewName=summary

Hank is #47 in the league in save %. Last year he was #9, the year before #11. Somewhat higher each year if you only count goalies with more then 10 games.

 

[JCrusher*]

http://www.nhl.com/ice/playerstats....&position=G&country=&status=&viewName=summary

Hank is #47 in the league in save %. Last year he was #9, the year before #11. Somewhat higher each year if you only count goalies with more then 10 games.

I understand why some fans refuse to be even a bit critical of Hank. he has had a great career and been the best goalie for 7 years. However he has had his worst year by a mile and he just signed a lucrative neal deal

 

[jacko23]

Poo leakin' poo all over DAT ICE.

is it safe to say i lost my **** over that joke?

 

[AKrangerfan]

I understand why some fans refuse to be even a bit critical of Hank. he has had a great career and been the best goalie for 7 years. However he has had his worst year by a mile and he just signed a lucrative neal deal

I have to admit the defense has been playing worse also but I can't deny Hank is having an off year. Hope he pulls his head out in time.

 

[JCrusher*]

I have to admit the defense has been playing worse also but I can't deny Hank is having an off year. Hope he pulls his head out in time.

No doubt. Every defensemen besides MacDonough has been up and down.

 

[Jabroni]

Take hold of the Flames (song reference, pun intended).

Zucc, Moore, Poo and Richards with some nice SO goals. Kreider was ridiculous.

 

[TheTakedown]

I agree with this. I was never one that disliked the style under Tortorella, so it's easy for me to say that I wish the team never switched. I wonder what other fans think though?

I mean, AV clearly had success with this style in Vancouver. So one can assume that it works when the team is on the same page. But I agree with you, it seems like a very dangerous system...one small mistake, one small hesitation by a player and you're royally ****ed.

And that's what we've seen this season. Every single small mistake seems to be catastrophic and end up in our net.

Nothing wrong with man to man inherently. The problem is that Rangers are poor with the puck so they can't take advantage of their aggressive D coverage. A few teams have won with aggressive man to man like LA.

You need to be really strong on the transition for it to work well.

Very informative posts.

I think the primary reason why is because of the fact that we have alot of simple-minded (or dumb? Whatever word you'd like to use) defensemen. Inherently, zone defense is very easy to play.... "Protect THIS part of the ice", "Cover THIS area of the slot", etc... We're taking simple-minded defensemen and asking them to trot AROUND all of that ice to cover their man...

My thought is AV uses man-to-man to match defensive lines.... Basically skill matching... Our D has minimal skill aside from McD, so... there ya go

 

[mike14]

looked much more dangerous once Hags and CK started using their speed. They need to bring that level of compete from the first puck drop

 

[Giacomin]

Henrik is the key to the Rangers. I hope he is just going through a slump!