Post-Game Talk: L’s @ RANGER

[ohbaby]

This game had a special feel to it. Maybe it was the anticipation going in, with the few days off, making us a bit antsy,... going up against a grade A team that always gives us trouble. I'm not sure, but the way it played out, it couldn't have been more satisfying.

Of note:

Kreider ought to be shot after wasting that gorgeous feed from Zibad off the boards. Had he scored, that pass is all we would be talking about now.

Huge hit by McKegg laying out the Leaf's D-man, and finding Reavo in front, got us on the board when we needed something big. He's making it tough for Hunt to replace him.

That wasn't a shot by Lindgren, it was a pass to Strome. There would have been a follow through if it was a shot. Announcers got it wrong.

Pregame Reavo said,... "You gotta play playoff teams hard. Somethimes you gotta push them out of the building." We out hit them 31 to 12.

 

[GAGLine]

A note from game article in Toronto Star:"The Rangers are the only team this year to beat the Maple Leafs twice"

They should fire their fact checker. Pittsburgh has beaten them twice as well. I think the only teams that have played them 3 times this year are the Rangers and Sens. They've played several teams twice, but most of those are splits.

 

[KOVALEV022473]

Adam Fox, Ryan Strome and Coach Gerard Gallant post Game Interviews.

Nice work as always, ramp. By the way, love your Avatar!

 

[Ola]

A note from game article in Toronto Star:"The Rangers are the only team this year to beat the Maple Leafs twice"

I haven't seen a ton of hockey around the league lately, but I've caught some Toronto action. Beating Toronto is not that big of a deal, they have issues as usual.

But, they are usually very dangerous 5 on 5 and are able to create prolonged stretches of heavy pressure -- 5 on 5. It is definitely not usual that a team just strong arms them like we did last night.

 

[chosen]

I wish Kakko was half as good as Strome.

 

[will1066]

 

[Blais to Win]

Couldn’t watch the game so watched the condensed version on NHL.com.

Great win.

But I don’t get why folks around here are spitting mad about Nemeth? What did he do? On ice for 1 goal against, not directly responsible for it. Think our D is pretty solid, overall, for an NHL ice hockey squad.

 

[Mac n Gs]

I can't believe we were deprived of a Reaves hat trick after the Leafs blew a 3-1 lead. I think they would have had to fold the franchise

 

[Crease]

Couldn’t watch the game so watched the condensed version on NHL.com.

Great win.

But I don’t get why folks around here are spitting mad about Nemeth? What did he do? On ice for 1 goal against, not directly responsible for it. Think our D is pretty solid, overall, for an NHL ice hockey squad.

Now that McKegg and Chytil are playing well, we need a new whipping boy.

 

[mandiblesofdoom]

Outside of that dope ass touch pass to Strome in the neutral zone, Kakko was horrific again tonight. One rush in the first period where I watched his eyes the entire time he was carrying the puck through the neutral zone. Not ONCE did he look forward at the defenseman who was giving him time and space. Literally not once. His eyes were going back and forth between Panarin and Strome as they were going up the ice in a flying f***ing V and not for one minute was either of them a viable passing option.

So you guessed it.. instead of using his frame and puck skills to drive the defenseman, he yet again tries to defer to one of those other guys who are covered like white on rice and it results in a turnover. It's maddening to watch how little confidence this kid has right now and I'm legitimately starting to get worried. I have no idea how this team still wins games with two of their wingers arguably not playing at an NHL level 50% of the time. It's truly mind boggling

Well said - I'm yelling at the TV "just skate and STOP looking around!" I don't what the deal is.

 

[Anthony5967]

I understood they had just come off a long road trip, COVID issues with the team, and that the first would be sluggish and ugly. However, what a way to step up for the next 40. That's the sign of a good team. Gallant and the guys knew that first was putrid. Bottom-six has an identity all year, and that's to cycle, bang, crash. Laf back with Goody, who plays the game the right way and will have a great impact on him, and then you have the top-6 that's solid. Kakko needs to add more speed, though. His body needs to continue filling out. Shesterkin is all-world. Absolutely should not apologize about having him like some fanbases want us to. Something something this team sucks and is being propped up by Shesterkin, says the fans of other teams. Ok. You saw last night what a team with guts looked like versus a team that lacks them. Kick them in the teeth in the second and they wilt. Shesterkin>Campbell all day for the Vez. Also, everybody chill on the Laf's and Kakko's. These guys are gaining invaluable experience and this will be a big learning year for them. A year of Gallant's coaching and playoff-inspired hockey will go a long way. The skills are there. Just need to put it all together.

 

[Anthony5967]

26-10-4 bitches.

Or if you asked Leafs fans, only 26-10-4 because Shesterkin propping them up. We actually are a bad team, apparently.

 

[Anthony5967]

Well said - I'm yelling at the TV "just skate and STOP looking around!" I don't what the deal is.

When you are playing with two guys that good and being 20 years old, you sometimes force yourself to abandon instinct and just get those two the puck so you stay on the line and earn their trust, but those two guys want him to make plays. It's a hesitancy thing with these kids. Hyped kids coming to NYC where even after a 6-3 TEAM win, they are getting roasted for being bad again. Can't imagine what that must feel like. If only everybody wrote MacKinnon off early in his career.

 

[Anthony5967]

Petition to rename Four Legs McEggs to McMuffin from here on out.

RYAN f***ING REAVES. God I love that dude.

DRURY IS RUINING EVERYTHING GORTON DID! GRIT DOESN'T WIN! REAVES SUCKS! Funny how all those people love both Reaves and Goody now. Maybe try giving moves a shot first. That's the one problem I have with fans.

 

[mandiblesofdoom]

Toronto play in their zone was miserable last night ... Reaves' first goal they left him alone in right in front of the goalie. Fox's first goal they blew the zone exit and from that point on didn't cover anybody - Strome was completely open & Fox was not picked up. Kreider's goal he was left alone in front of the goalie as well.

If this is typical for them they are beatable.

 

[HonestGabe]

Idk if it's been discussed already but Mika looked like a different player out there last night. He was flying and making a ton of great plays off the rush and breakout that led to chances.

It's becoming a trend with him that he takes time to get going but once he finally does, he explodes and stays at that level.

 

[Anthony5967]

It's on Turk.

He finally got going and the Panarin Strome Kakko line was buzzin'... Ever since that change it's been downhill. This is now the worst he's looked since his Rookie Season.

The problem is once he got hot on that line, Turk moved him up to get K and Z a playmaker, something similar to Buch. They needed the puck and more space and thought he could get it with Kakko. I prefer him with Panarin and Strome because he knows his role. Top-line Kakko with K and Z isn't it.

 

[Synergy27]

When you are playing with two guys that good and being 20 years old, you sometimes force yourself to abandon instinct and just get those two the puck so you stay on the line and earn their trust, but those two guys want him to make plays. It's a hesitancy thing with these kids. Hyped kids coming to NYC where even after a 6-3 TEAM win, they are getting roasted for being bad again. Can't imagine what that must feel like. If only everybody wrote MacKinnon off early in his career.

We need to stop with this MacKinnon curve crap. MacKinnon scored 24 goals and 63 points as a rookie. He had a sophomore slump where he still put up well over 0.5ppg. He is also possibly the best skater in the league. Comparing our kids to MacKinnon is utterly nonsensical.

These kids need to play better. Bottom line. It's year 3 for Kakko now. He should be more assertive. He should be making plays. I'll forgive the lack of overall points given the lack of PP time, but I will not continue to excuse hesitant, vanilla play. It's on him to find his confidence and improve.

 

[Kovalev27]

Couldn’t watch the game so watched the condensed version on NHL.com.

Great win.

But I don’t get why folks around here are spitting mad about Nemeth? What did he do? On ice for 1 goal against, not directly responsible for it. Think our D is pretty solid, overall, for an NHL ice hockey squad.

he didn’t do anything wrong played 20 solid mins. If anyone wants to jump on a dman jump on Lindgren. He was atrocious all night

 

[rangers1314]

KK was at his best with 10-16.

I know he's been on a bit of points streak, but I haven't been overly impressed with Fil on that line. Just flip KK and Fil.

 

[Anthony5967]

We need to stop with this MacKinnon curve crap. MacKinnon scored 24 goals and 63 points as a rookie. He had a sophomore slump where he still put up well over 0.5ppg. He is also possibly the best skater in the league. Comparing our kids to MacKinnon is utterly nonsensical.

These kids need to play better. Bottom line. It's year 3 for Kakko now. He should be more assertive. He should be making plays. I'll forgive the lack of overall points given the lack of PP time, but I will not continue to excuse hesitant, vanilla play. It's on him to find his confidence and improve.

Kakko and Laf do not have the explosiveness you'd typically want a high-end prospect in today's NHL to have. They need to work on skating this summer. It's imperative. As far as finding confidence, I mean, yea, some of that is on the player, but a lot of it is the coach finding the right mix. He had it when he put Kakko with Panarin and Strome, and then he canned it.

 

[mandiblesofdoom]

Yowzers. Their coach is pretty harsh on their team.

well-deserved. If they don't learn to play defense they are going nowhere.

 

[mandiblesofdoom]

Odds makers put the Rangers at better than 95% in making the playoffs. It's almost a foregone conclusion two weeks before the all-star break.

I break it down here.... This is a good hockey team

Definitely a playoff team. This team has flaws, but as we saw last night, other "good" teams do too.

 

[romba]

GOD DAMN the crowd was great! Partially because the crowd was great, and partially because other broadcasts let you actually feel the energy. Anyone know why MSG dulls the crowd? It's very often not the loudest place to begin with, and then they mix the sound to make Sam and Joe sound like Gods Voice at Sinai with hushed overtones of the crowd as background noise. Lame.

Side point- that minute with just crowd noise was sick, I would hope they would eventually have that as a broadcast option for subscribers. The issue is that they then can't really justify the salaries of all the PBP production ppl. At least for highlights, I'd love a PBP and PBP-Free version to feel the energy.

 

[CupSeeker]

the 4th line made me look foolish. I'll take it. LGR!