Post-Game Talk: Game # 31 Rangers vs Buffalo - 7pm EST - MSG

[CasusBelli]

Lafreniere, not only Kakko, looked better last night. Thinking it’s at least partially because of easier opposition than what they face otherwise. Still a good sign and hopefully we should see a bigger (up) trend as the season progresses.

To be frank, I didn’t once notice Laf last night, though I did miss the first few minutes of the second and third.

 

[kovazub94]

To be frank, I didn’t once notice Laf last night, though I did miss the first few minutes of the second and third.

Chytil didn’t have a strong game for that line so maybe this impacted you not seeing Lafreniere who was making right plays in specific situations.

 

[romba]

In contrast to the kid line which just does board work 99% of the time. Laf Fil Kaapo simply does not play to move to puck to a threatening area right now. All 3 players are basically drones doing chip chase and puck battle. As good as KZB is, I think we need to give Fil a good winger and give Laf someone other than Rooney.

That's why the kid line was a stupid idea to begin with. Reminds me of a few AV 4th lines that would grind and cycle along the boards and make zero attempt to play offense.

The kids weren't playing 'chip and chase' that might work, they were actually playing the less elegant sister-style of 'stumble, fumble and whack'.

 

[Embryo]

How about Kinkaid robbing Jeff Skinner (again, Skinner has been robbed by Rangers goaltending 4-5 times this season) Huge saves early in the game..

 

[Embryo]

All the haters on this forum (and really only this forum, most people are pretty respectful on other forums) just trashing Kakko and Laf saying they're busts and the Rangers can't develop players in the Kakko/Laf thread in the main NHL Talk forum. Astonishing stupidity and ignorance.

 

[Embryo]

He is focused

 

[True Blue]

To be frank, I didn’t once notice Laf last night, though I did miss the first few minutes of the second and third.

Thought it was his most visible and best game in quite a while.

 

[Kodiak]

Thought it was his most visible and best game in quite a while.

There were some flashes, but that line seemed to have trouble getting out of the D zone.

 

[True Blue]

There were some flashes, but that line seemed to have trouble getting out of the D zone.

Not all was perfect. And some of that I lay at Chytil. But Lafreniere did have his most visible game in a while.

 

[ArPanet]

coaching Kakko received to start 2nd


зайти в сеть и подождать, если хочешь остаться на этой линии

 

[aufheben]

Expected Win% via The Athletic.

 

[EdJovanovski]

Expected Win% via The Athletic.

View attachment 411446

Shocked the Canucks are above .500 in this, they get absolutely caved in every game

 

[Peltz]

I didn't believe the percantages at first... we were like 9-10% a week ago.

It has to do with the 'head to heads'. A lot of wacky stuff can happen. If we get hot right now, we could ride it into the playoffs.

If we sweep the PIT and BOS series, that makes up 4pts in the standings, onboth.. Those teams play eachother as well, so we'd hope 1 team beats the other consistently. Everything else then starts to look obtainable.

We have a lot of NJ, BUFF, WAS and PHI. Hopefully the Fishies don't screw us, but they usually fall of late season though. I'm pretty sure we went 16-9 at some point last year, or something relatively close to that... We would have to do something similar. 20-5. One game at a time.

We just need Shesty back

Honestly, before Zibanejad got back to himself, I thought there was no way. But if he continues doing Zibanejad-type things on the ice, and Miller can limit some of the rookie mistakes he's been making, and we stay healthy, then I do think we have a legitimate shot at getting into this thing.

The issue is, nothing on your roster is guaranteed this season. With COVID-19 protocols, the deepest team has the best chance, since you never know when your best players are going to miss a handful of games. And, quite frankly, we are the least deep team in the division other than the Devils and Buffalo. So many key players on our team missed a bunch of games this year, and you have to imagine that it will continue with this fast-paced schedule and just the general circumstances we are dealing with.

And also, our goaltending situation has been a total clusterf***. We are accustomed to hall-of-fame levels of goaltending and consistency, and we just haven't gotten it this year with Shesty struggling, then getting hot, then getting hurt, and our backups getting exposed for what they are.

Kincaid is definitely pulling his weight above expectations, but he's still not someone you want to rely upon for weeks at a time. Still, even though he has lost us a few games and let in some softies, he's also come up with tremendous highlight-real saves every time he's played which is really unexpected. Even though he gave up 3, last night was his best game of the season so far. He didn't get a star but should've - he basically won us that one.

Georgiev looks like a total headcase right now. He's a disappointment and his value has dropped tremendously. He is just moving too much in the crease and doesn't look like he's thinking the game correctly. Frankly, I think Kincaid has outplayed him.

Regardless, we aren't going anywhere as an organization unless Shesterkin gets healthy and stays that way for a prolonged period of time. I'm getting worried about his longevity.

 

[Peltz]

All the haters on this forum (and really only this forum, most people are pretty respectful on other forums) just trashing Kakko and Laf saying they're busts and the Rangers can't develop players in the Kakko/Laf thread in the main NHL Talk forum. Astonishing stupidity and ignorance.

Yea, I agree. Patience people. They're going to be great.

 

[CasusBelli]

Chytil didn’t have a strong game for that line so maybe this impacted you not seeing Lafreniere who was making right plays in specific situations.

Maybe that was it. I noticed KZB, Strome, Bread and KK among our forwards. Then there was that drive to the net by Goat. The rest was kind of a mix-up for me.

 

[Larrybiv]

Kreider's game is dependent on the players around him. Look at the goals he scored last night. One was a tip in and the other a rebound chance. He does his job in front, screens the goalie and cleans up the garbage, but other players have to get the puck to the net.

Yes, Kreider can also score off the rush, but it's usually because someone hits him with a great pass to spring him, so he can use his speed. Kreider isn't going to carry the puck end to end. He isn't going to dangle people.

He will always be a streaky goal scorer.

Stepan was great with passes off the boards.

 

[will1066]

Maybe that was it. I noticed KZB, Strome, Bread and KK among our forwards. Then there was that drive to the net by Goat. The rest was kind of a mix-up for me.

The kid line lost a few shifts where they were pinned in the defensive zone. Then Kakko got elevated to be with Panarin and Strome. Laf carried the puck well on a couple of occasions, while Chytil lacked time and space most of the night. He did have a close-in chance late in the game near Tokarski's left post.

 

[will1066]

Coming in hot...

Hajek's game is better than Miller's right now.

He was skating well last night and joining the offense, as he has had in recent games, kind of weaving in and out like Fox in the o-zone.

 

[Levitate]

Laf needs to be firing the puck a little more, a couple of times he's tried really low percentage cross ice passes when he could have shot

 

[True Blue]

Coming in hot...

Hajek's game is better than Miller's right now.

He was skating well last night and joining the offense, as he has had in recent games, kind of weaving in and out like Fox in the o-zone.

He's certainly looked much better and much more confident this year. In addition to the camp battle on the right, the one on the left might well be Hajek vs. Robertson vs. Reaunen

 

[aufheben]

Shocked the Canucks are above .500 in this, they get absolutely caved in every game

Lol that has to be because of Thatcher Demko or something

 

[Peltz]

Laf needs to be firing the puck a little more, a couple of times he's tried really low percentage cross ice passes when he could have shot

Laf got a shot on goal last night from a bad angle that looked like a laserbeam and caught the goalie by surprise. I really do think he should try to snipe a few or just shoot to create some rebounds.

In some ways, I think he may be trying too hard to emulate Panarin with the cross ice passes. He doesn't have the skill to slow the game down like that yet. Eventually he might, but he should not play with expectation that he can at this stage. It's a rare sort of thing. Laf just doesn't create that sort of open ice for himself yet.

I agree with those in general who said Laf looked better last night though. He didn't string together multiple good shifts in a row or anything, but there were 1 or 2 flashes of brilliance here or there. I think he just needs to think less and feel more.

He's going to be really great though. It's going to come. He is an elite passer and puck handler. He's got that incredible shot. It's just about knowing which of his tools to use at the right times in this league. It all happens much faster than he's accustomed to.

 

[LetsGoRangers2021]

he literally does it all the time with both laf and kakko when they look like theyre going...and if prior evidence isn't enough knoblauch said it explicitly after the game it was part of the gameplan put together by quinn to get kakko more minutes and on that line, primarily as an acknowledgement of recent play.

this is a kid just emerging. the tears over him being broken or held back by quinn could only come from people who don't understand hockey. this shouldn't be a surprise to see him have a breakout game for anyone paying attention... he's taken progressive steps for a long time now people that only see progress in box scores have been missing...this has been building, and its only the beginning.

Notice all the “likes”? It’s hilarious to read some of these anti-Quinn posts. It reminds me of political trolls.

 

[BKGooner]

How about Kinkaid robbing Jeff Skinner (again, Skinner has been robbed by Rangers goaltending 4-5 times this season) Huge saves early in the game..

That's ok. Skinner has feasted on Rangers goaltending his whole career.

 

[romba]

Coming in hot...

Hajek's game is better than Miller's right now.

He was skating well last night and joining the offense, as he has had in recent games, kind of weaving in and out like Fox in the o-zone.

Hajek has been very impressive in the D zone, which is how I judge my Dmen. His o zone work is gravy. He wins the puck quickly in our zone and finds the open man crisply. Very few mistakes as well, he seems way more polished this year, experience matters.

Once a game Miller seems to muff a pass, muff a shot, or pinch at the wrong time leading to golden chances the other way. Part of being a rookie.