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

[mas0764]

Lundqvist getting signed as a backup when he's 41 behind Igor when we go on our miracle tear in 2023

I approve of this this post.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Beyond the goals, Kakko’s underlying metrics were about as good as it gets. Great performance from the kid.

Tonight's game

Throughout the season:

 

[will1066]

Beyond the goals, Kakko’s underlying metrics were about as good as it gets. Great performance from the kid.

@Machinehead

 

[mas0764]

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.

Is KZB even that good really?

 

[will1066]

Is KZB even that good really?

When Zibanejad is going, definitely. He makes that line, not the wings.

 

[ViD]

Panarin- Strome - KK works, whoda thunk it?

Kakko also looks legit suicidal coming off the ice

Any line involving Panarin works.

 

[bobbop]

Tonight's game

Throughout the season:

Kaapo is also passing the eye test. The goals will come...they started coming tonight.

 

[Priorae]

Kreider sure can drive you crazy. 40 minutes of ice time against the Caps, 2 shots no points.

tonight - solid.

what’s most frustrating is his game is the kind that “should” be reliable....reliably great.

 

[AWall THE CLAW]

Rangers need to rip off like 8 out of 9 before we can start playoff talk. Flyers might be into a freefall they don't recover from and that would mean you only have to jump one team. That awful record against Pitt. isn't looking so hot right now.

 

[2014nyr]

Would DQ have moved Kakko up tonight ? I doubt it.

Already makes Knoblauch a better coach

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.

 

[duhmetreE]

I find that hard to believe. We are 4 points behind Boston and they have 3 games in hand. I think the playoff ship has sailed. I would just like to see what this team could do with a complete roster.

We are 6 points behind Pittsburgh if we win the game in hand. We beat them in our final series, that's a 2 pts difference. Boston is unlikely but we'd need to get to 3pts behind into the final 2 games of the season.

The 2-game series make for a lot of weird standings possibilities. There little to no room for error on our part though.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Rangers need to rip off like 8 out of 9 before we can start playoff talk. Flyers might be into a freefall they don't recover from and that would mean you only have to jump one team. That awful record against Pitt. isn't looking so hot right now.

Should have 3 more points against the Pens and they should have 4 fewer against us. Brutal.

 

[ohbaby]

Very important two points. Good to see Kakko get rewarded finally for his hard work. The 3rd line flatten out when he moved up. It was good to see Strome's line not lose a step with Kakko. That alone shows how much Kakko has improved this year. He still needs work, but he is getting there. He couldn't get the puck to Panarin a few times, which really shouldn't be difficult cause he is always wide open. Strome hardly ever has that problem. But all in all, he had a good game. And I know I am being a bit critical of Kakko. But one look at his face and you could tell,.. he himself knows, he has much more to give.

His two goals were gifts from Panarin. But he deserved it. He's been working hard.

What can I say about Adam Fox? It's like he plays in another dimension. Defenders are like six inches away from him and he dares them to try and take the puck away. Just amazing puck control. And I thought Panarin was good. Fox is as good or even better,.. and that's saying a lot.

If we just keep to the defensive structure that's been so successful this season, this team could go places. I don't know how they did it,.. whether it's the new coaches or what, but they have been very consistent in keeping the number of shots down to a minimum. Big difference from last year. And I'm pretty sure quality chances have gone down as well.

 

[Whoot Whoot]

Did we find Quinn’s hf account?

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.

 

[2014nyr]

Did we find Quinn’s hf account?

nothin gets by you sherlock. tbh i'm not sold on him being the guy, said it quite a few times. do think its too early to call.

but the idea that he's somehow single handedly holding/been holding back these kids from taking off is just dumb. knoblauch didn't cause kakkos performance tonight. quinn didn't either. sure the org has prob helped along the way in different ways, but kakko is why. he's gotten to a point where he's ready for more, and now he's showing it, and he's going to get more opportunities because of it. its not rocket science, its just annoying hearing all the amount of crying about quinn like if he's swapped out some miracle will happen. because it wont. aimless fingerpointing is embarrassing, like people who never heard no as a kid and don't know how to handle not getting what they wanted so there must be someone else to blame

 

[Rempe73]

When Zibanejad is going, definitely. He makes that line, not the wings.

Sorry. Buchnevich made that line most of this season. And when Kreider and Zibanejad are on, that line is almost unstoppable.

 

[Rempe73]

Good to see Kakko get rewarded finally

Imo he wasn’t getting rewarded because he wasn’t driving or going to the net like he did tonight.

 

[Rempe73]

Only problem with this game is that we played against the Sabres. Hopefully it’s not an illusion that we’re good.

The Adam “Fox” memes and puns have to stop. Fox always play so well, so the puns just never stop.

Buchnevich is such a 1st liner. 4g and 5a in his last 5 games.

Trouba was pretty good, but if he played close to his contract, we would be such a good team. Miller was great.

Kakko scoring always makes my night. Not playing perimeter made all the difference in the offensive zone tonight. Legit looked like a scary 2OA pick during parts of the game. Lafreniere wasn’t bad either, but his hockey sense looked a bit suspect at times. Kakko & Kravtsov > Lafreniere? Not yet, because I still very much believe in Lafreniere and he’s younger, but I’m slowly getting on that train.

That ENG counts as much as any goal imo. You make your own luck and points. If Kakko didn’t score that goal earlier in the game and gain some much-needed confidence, he may have not scored there.

Kreider is so streaky. Looked great tonight.

The coaching staff working hard with Hajek to make something out of him makes sense. They’re trying to salvage something out of that awful trade. One of Nils/Hajek needs to become a top pairing defenseman to even make that trade close.

Panarin is on pace for 78 points in a 56-game season and 115 points in an 82-game season, and he might get even better as the season goes on. Dude is unreal. Best FA signing ANY team has had in the past decade (or longer)?

Zibanejad with some nice dangling early in the game, but I want to see more of that.

 

[KiwiGriff]

I honestly think a random AHL team would have been more of a test tonight

As a Sabres fan I take offense at this. It should read “any AHL team would have been more of a test tonight”

 

[duhmetreE]

@Ginger Papa

 

[wolfgaze]

"You can smile young man - that's gotta feel good..." ~ Sam

 

[tlk]

That ENG counts as much as any goal

A goal in a 1 goal game with a whole minute left, and not a gimme. Legit goal.

Question is how it was still a 1 goal game with this Sorbos team.

 

[The S5]

Good to see the team bounce back from allowing the Sabres back into a game they had no business being in.
If this team is going to be really good going forward, some of the kids have to make big strides forward. Miller oozes the potential to be dominant, but he is making way too many plays that result with the puck in his own goal. Laf still hasn't shown any sign that he possesses the skill to make him a top line player. It would be great to at least see some flashes. I'm less worried about Chytil. If feel like he is physically maturing and will possess a nice package of size, skill and speed. Same with KK. This kid has the tools and when he physically matures, he is going to be a tough guy to deal with.
More kids are coming. Just have to have a few live up to their potential.

 

[Larrybiv]

If a kid needs to feel special after scoring 2 goals in the NHL, then the generation is far softer than I already anticipated lol

Maybe it was poor wording. Just would have been icing on the cake for his evening.

 

[aufheben]

Did we find Quinn’s hf account?

He’s not wrong.