Post-Game Talk: Islanders, 1/31: Rubber Match

[SixGoalieSystem]

Honestly I don't understand why we have these Dorsett or Carcillo talks. I would rather have both of them. I doubt we resign both Boyle and Moore. If we can keep on of those centers and those 2 gritty players, I think we would have a really good 4th line.

I honestly believe that torts hates offense. He never showed any emotion when we scored. He refused to practice the PP, it's amazing what a little practice did to our PP. Good riddance torts.

Agree with this. Boyle is likely gone. Moore is brought back with a small raise.

Carcillo - Moore - Dorsett is a pretty good fourth line.

 

[Doctyl]

Klein has stabilized John Moore's game, our top 3 are playing lights out and Strals has been very good as well, when Hank plays great our D is top notch

John Moore actually looks like an NHL dman again

 

[OverTheCap]

Kreider and Stepan are always looking to pass to Nash and Nash is always looking to dangle through 3 defenders. Tough to generate consistent offense chances that way.

This was happening way too often for my liking last night, Nash must have did this on at least 4 occasions. That line also missed the net a lot - there was a shift in the 3rd where Nash, Stepan, and Kreider all had prime scoring opportunities and shot it high and wide.

In terms of the lines, I guess if it ain't broke don't fix it because they have won the past few games, but I think they will have to broken up at some point. Kreider may be best utilized on a line with Zucc. Like others have said, Hagelin-Richards-Callahan needs to be broken up, although if Cally gets traded then the situation will take care of itself.

 

[fredrikstad]

Boyle is the designated whipping boy, although it seems that honor has been moved onto Callahan (and deservedly at the moment).

Like I said in the GDT, can't understand why AV doesn't change Callahan with Zuccarelo?

 

[fredrikstad]

I put snowblind in the sinbin since his "Hank is not elite anymore" tantrum. Where is he now? You got a lot of crow to eat kid, lots!

IMO the same goes for Bleed Ranger Blue and SignBluesOnBrodway for the midget Zuke on and on.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Like I said in the GDT, can't understand why AV doesn't change Callahan with Zuccarelo?

I don't know, you run the risk of even Zucc not being able to help Richards and Hagelin and the Brassard line will definitely be hurting.

 

[chosen]

Kreider's line has to be broken up, I think.

Nash is controlling possession on that line, and Kreider passes up a shot too often for my liking.

Problem is, who do you beak up? Kreider won't be able to do anything on Richards' line. Zuccarello and Kreider could go great together, but do you want to mess with that line right now?

A solution worth trying might be telling Kreider to start using the body. This will open up more space for the entire line. If Kreider does not do it, nail him to the bench. That strategy has proven to be effective with him.

 

[Vickers8]

Nash +5, 2nd on the team, Kreider is an amazing +14

 

[fredrikstad]

Nash +5, 2nd on the team, Kreider is an amazing +14

But he wasn't a part of the team in the nine game road trip to start the season, where everybody got a lot of minuses to catch up with.

 

[Vickers8]

But he wasn't a part of the team in the nine game road trip to start the season, where everybody got a lot of minuses to catch up with.

Still pretty amazing, the kid is a game changer

 

[Idlerlee]

Nash +5, 2nd on the team, Kreider is an amazing +14

Yeah that is solely based on the fact that he was blessed with being too bad to make the team at the start of the season.

 

[SixGoalieSystem]

Like I said in the GDT, can't understand why AV doesn't change Callahan with Zuccarelo?

Because that line is working really well and contrary to popular belief, that's not all zucc.

 

[Glennsoe]

Another Strong game by Boyle..

He's growing on me..

 

[Pizza]

Staal is becoming the stand out performer for the D corps. Could not be happier for him. Ola's point about the kinds of plays our D men are allowed to attempt under Av's system is spot on. If we can retain Girardi's services and Hank stays healthy, this team will give the opposition night mares.

Zucc. Superlatives fail me. They have all been used. That play was absolute Gretzky...and I'm not hyping. Still I keep the lines the way they are. Very good balance. No opponent dare take a shift off against any of our top three lines right now.

Kreider is young, streaky and still very inexperienced. He concerns me not at all right now. He's becoming 6-3, 225lb, speeding bullet pest that irritates the hell out of opponents and gives them fits.

Hank is God the way Clapton was. Should be written all over the subway beneath the Garden.

 

[Vickers8]

But he wasn't a part of the team in the nine game road trip to start the season, where everybody got a lot of minuses to catch up with.

Gotta believe they would have been better with him in the lineup

 

[Alphacat]

Staal is becoming the stand out performer for the D corps. Could not be happier for him. Ola's point about the kinds of plays our D men are allowed to attempt under Av's system is spot on. If we can retain Girardi's services and Hank stays healthy, this team will give the opposition night mares.

Zucc. Superlatives fail me. They have all been used. That play was absolute Gretzky...and I'm not hyping. Still I keep the lines the way they are. Very good balance. No opponent dare take a shift off against any of our top three lines right now.

Kreider is young, streaky and still very inexperienced. He concerns me not at all right now. He's becoming 6-3, 225lb, speeding bullet pest that irritates the hell out of opponents and gives them fits.

Hank is God the way Clapton was. Should be written all over the subway beneath the Garden.

Yes, BR is scoring, but that line really isn't too great. Again, pointless to break it up when the Nash & Zucc lines are playing so well.

 

[Alphacat]

Gotta believe they would have been better with him in the lineup

Not sure....so many players looked out of place and confidence was really shot....especially with the goaltenders and CK can't fix that. Would he have provided a spark though? Likely.

 

[ArPanet]

Loving all the Times I see a d man in front of their net. Strahlman on the gwg, Klein right after the Islanturds got one.

Staal isn't just back to me, I think he's never been better. Eff trading him if he's going to be like this! He's looking lie future captain material

 

[Vickers8]

Not sure....so many players looked out of place and confidence was really shot....especially with the goaltenders and CK can't fix that. Would he have provided a spark though? Likely.

Thats what I meant a spark, he couldn't change everything himself

 

[Vickers8]

Loving all the Times I see a d man in front of their net. Strahlman on the gwg, Klein right after the Islanturds got one.

Staal isn't just back to me, I think he's never been better. Eff trading him if he's going to be like this! He's looking lie future captain material

Staal has the snarl back, most teams would kill to have our top 3 dmen

 

[BlueshirtBlitz]

Yeah, it's fantastic to see Staal come back and play at such a high level.

Now other fans can start crying that Rangers fans overrate Staal again.

 

[DelZottoHitTheNetJK]

Stepan is an absolute paperweight on that line with Nash and Kreider. Not on the same level as those 2

 

[kovazub94]

Reminded me of when Graves slashed Lemieux.

My only disappointment with the Rangers recently is that Kreider is back to gliding and has been for quite some time.

He is great at controlling the puck behind the net and he is a far better passer than anyone expected but he is almost utterly uninvolved physically, which is a crime at his age and with his body, and for all of the first line ice time he is getting his scoring has been a vast disappointment over the last 10-15 games.

I fully expect him to wake up, but in his last 7 games he has only gotten a point in one of them, while his linemates are putting up points.

Noticed this too. I think it started as a result of being from the game after an absolutely legal hit against Tyutin. Possibly explains his uninvolved play in recent games - being physical was one of the traits of effective and involved (and producing) Kreider.

Otherwise great game by everyone against play-off level desperate Isles. A LOT of positive take always from last night's game!

 

[chosen]

Stepan is an absolute paperweight on that line with Nash and Kreider. Not on the same level as those 2

Stepan has gotten a point in 5 of the last 7. Kreider got a point in one of those 7. Not sure what you have seen, but the stats kind of shoot a hole in your opinion.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Another Strong game by Boyle..

He's growing on me..

See what happens when we get a coach that uses him properly, i.e. not like a superstar?