I agree about the grit and it's really great to finally see after all these years. Imo knocking sticks isn't gritty - it's just dumb. Being gritty and disciplined aren't exclusive of each other.
I'm saying skating through a player's stick and them losing it to be called a penalty is a very soft call. He didn't knock it out of McCue's hand, he skated by. Just as soft would have been Swick falling down to get a trip call on the play. No call is the right call there. McCue "played" the ref and got away with it, as evidenced by how long it took for them to blow the whistle.
I thought it was a soft call too. Different if he slashed it out of his hand. I agree no call was the right call.
Totally agree. The vets in particular have to set an example. Swick did a couple of real dumb moves. He knows better. Jussi won't be happy with him. I'm sure he heard about it. Ranger fans have been treated to some great hockey this season so far. Just can't lose sight of the fact that they are suppose to be in a rebuild situation. It's great to be up at the top of the standings. Going forward if the plan is to build the team for a run the narrative will change if vets are traded at some point. Still it's exciting to see some quality young players contributing. Fans can actually see the progression.
Reffing crew consisted of 2 QMJHL and two OHL, apparently the two refs with minimal experience, puzzling decisions all night .
Although the " skating through the stick" in itself is a soft call he was definitely running a pick in that play so interference is the right call. London is by far the best team at the pick plays. Not any easy thing to do without being called. Be safe.
I agree. To tell you the truth coming back from a 4-1 deficit on the road last night to earn a tie showed me just as much as the winning streak did. This team has a lot of resilience for being so young.
No contact with player itself. Watching it in real-time and the one replay we got it looked very soft. Much more egregious contact happens every play without a player losing their stick.
I was sitting behind the net in the building and can confirm it wasn't a clean shot that beat him, 100% deflected on the way to the net.
What I like about their gritty play is that they do it, for the most, without taking over zealous penalties for crossing the line.
When you look at the pro game today grit , speed and skill seems to be the winning combination. Fighting is down overall but hard hitting gritty hockey is still there. Not sure how you coach a team to ride a line if you want the element of grit inserted into your game? Some coaches are better at it than others. I think it adds character and makes it more exciting to watch. Fans get into the games more. You can wolf down a large popcorn with extra butter while your jawing at the opposing squad and ref and not even realize you ate it.
May have to eat my words. Hlacar with back to back games with charging penalties and then the C takes an unnecessary cross check while already short. We weathered that storm. Can’t keep rolling the dice.
Doesn't work against good veteran teams for sure. Rangers on their 3rd game. It shows.
Ando complained about the call and he has a case. Cross check a guy across the shoulder blades and he leans back and throws his legs into the boards? Ok. Yeah.
But hats off to them. 3rd game of the weekend against a rested, superior team really. They showed well.
Great to see Campbell get his first as well. I thought he has looked much more engaged in the o-zone this year and maybe finally getting one in the back of the net will loosen him up to contribute more moving forward.
Oshawa has a veteran presence for sure. Impressed how the finish their checks in all three periods. Oshawa has a solid squad that could make an impact this season in the play offs. They are not a team any other team will intimidate. Ranger did a great job of keeping it close. Coach was satisfied at how they performed in this game. They hung in and came close to tying the game up at the end with Parsons pulled. Rangers younger players played with a lot of confidence. Romano and Reid look like seasoned vets already.
Could imagine the scouting report on that? "Andonovski, great leader, controls the back end, but he got beat this one time by Ritchie so he's trash now"
Actually we are discussing OHL talent on these boards. There is no comparison to any pro hockey league. Only one or two percent of CHL players make pro and some are lucky to get a cup of coffee in those leagues. To compare OHL players in this manner is pointless really. If you feel Oshawa was off their game maybe the Rangers system effected the way the game was being played. Romano blew past the whole Oshawa team and he is only in his second year. This is OHL hockey.
