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Post-Game Talk: NYR @ WSH Game I: An Implosion Of Modest Proportions

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McRanger said:
What part of it? The goaltending? The defense? The forwards? Special teams? Is the team devoid of talent? Lazy?

We have the best goalie in the league who looks average. A defense that is solid (even without Staal) that looks bewildered. Some of the faster players in the league who looks slow. A heart and soul captain who is invisible. A superstar who look disinterested. The PP is a mess. The PK can be just as bad. The team has problems getting out of their own zone. And worse problems gaining the other zone...

Its pretty obvious to me, and has been since last year. The Rangers get by the regular season because of individual efforts. From Lundqvist. From the members of our talented D. And from certain forwards, some more than others.

When the Rangers have to play a team that is not only talented, not only well coached, but has a chance to study the Rangers game plan, they are in trouble. Unless Hank or someone else takes over the game, or the Rangers seriously outwork the opposition, the Rangers lose.

Their inability to transition is horrifying. You don't need to be an all star to make a crisp pass. The Rangers never seem to know where their teammates are. If I had a nickel for every time the puck was swung around the boards (in either zone) to the no one, or a D man tried a mile long stretch pass to no one, or the puck was thrown across the ice to no one... I would be able to buy the team.
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Good post. Its a bit of everything. Last years team was a sum greater than its parts. This year's squad is probably underachieving a bit when you look at it on paper.

Im a bit concerned about Rick Nash, to be honest. His compete level last night was unacceptable. Maybe it takes a bit of time to wash off the stink of playing 10 years worth of meaningless hockey games - while his talents are undeniable, he needs to get more involved.
 
McRanger said:
What part of it? The goaltending? The defense? The forwards? Special teams? Is the team devoid of talent? Lazy?

We have the best goalie in the league who looks average. A defense that is solid (even without Staal) that looks bewildered. Some of the faster players in the league who looks slow. A heart and soul captain who is invisible. A superstar who look disinterested. The PP is a mess. The PK can be just as bad. The team has problems getting out of their own zone. And worse problems gaining the other zone...

Its pretty obvious to me, and has been since last year. The Rangers get by the regular season because of individual efforts. From Lundqvist. From the members of our talented D. And from certain forwards, some more than others.

When the Rangers have to play a team that is not only talented, not only well coached, but has a chance to study the Rangers game plan, they are in trouble. Unless Hank or someone else takes over the game, or the Rangers seriously outwork the opposition, the Rangers lose.

Their inability to transition is horrifying. You don't need to be an all star to make a crisp pass. The Rangers never seem to know where their teammates are. If I had a nickel for every time the puck was swung around the boards (in either zone) to the no one, or a D man tried a mile long stretch pass to no one, or the puck was thrown across the ice to no one... I would be able to buy the team.
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As a whole, this board overrates our set of forwards. If Nash is a superstar, then every playoff team has one. There is nothing extraordinary about Stepan, Callahan, or Hagelin. And our bottom six is the black hole of offense. It would also be nice to have a threat from the point. Frankly I'm kind of surprised there are still people out there that who are shocked by how difficult goals come by for this team.
 
Can someone explain to me, why is Girardi on the power play constantly? The man has no offense ability.
 
Bleed Ranger Blue said:
Thinking that this team might squeak by the Caps and lose in the 2nd round is "unwarranted pessimism?"
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If you expected anything but a close, hard fought series against the Caps you've been living in a cave the last 5 years. First round is a tough one, especially against the Caps we got the toughest match up in the east. Are people seriously more impressed with a 4 or 5 game drubbing of the Isles by the Pens?
 
Barbara Underhill said:
If you expected anything but a close, hard fought series against the Caps you've been living in a cave the last 5 years. First round is a tough one, especially against the Caps we got the toughest match up in the east. Are people seriously more impressed with a 4 or 5 game drubbing of the Isles by the Pens?
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I dont understand your point, other than it underscoring my point. The Rangers are a mediocre team playing another mediocre team in a hard-fought series. The Penguins are one of the best teams in the league and likely going to drub the Islanders. See how it works?

But I know, I know - "anything can happen!"
 
Bleed Ranger Blue said:
I dont understand your point, other than it underscoring my point. The Rangers are a mediocre team playing another mediocre team in a hard-fought series. The Penguins are one of the best teams in the league and likely going to drub the Islanders. See how it works?

But I know, I know - "anything can happen!"
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Except that isn't the point. Mediocre, mediocre, mediocre... I guess everyone is mediocre except the Pens? Because the Rangers and Caps are both better than Boston, Montreal, Toronto, and the Islanders. Ottawa is a solid team, the Pens are the best in the east, why not just have Ottawa and the Pens play each other in a single playoff round and call it quits? I am sure we can eliminate some teams from the west as well and get to the finals a lot quicker because you deem them mediocre.

My point since it is obviously hard to grasp is that these are professional athletes who play a competitive team sport where yes to use the cheesy phrase "anything can happen". Which isn't what I am clinging onto here either, I'm simply using the logic that dictates teams are never as good as they look and never as bad as they look. The Caps played at what I would consider their peak last night, while we played below average.

It really isn't worth trying to sway you because you're mired in negativity and pessimism, which is your right, so by golly have at it.
 
Ryan McDonut said:
i dont see how that helps our main problem, offense, whatsoever.
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Clowe creates space and is good at cycling the puck in the zone. We need a big guy like him in the offensive zone. Washington has a clear advantage on size right now. Also, doesn't Clowe have something like 10 points since the trade deadline?

Boyle I agree with you. I think he will only help on defense.
 
Crease said:
As a whole, this board overrates our set of forwards. If Nash is a superstar, then every playoff team has one. There is nothing extraordinary about Stepan, Callahan, or Hagelin. And our bottom six is the black hole of offense. It would also be nice to have a threat from the point. Frankly I'm kind of surprised there are still people out there that who are shocked by how difficult goals come by for this team.
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The Rangers are not overly talented up front. But they have a few guys who can score, decent depth and a lot of guys who work hard. This isn't a matter of finishing. This isn't a matter of not making enough pretty passes. This is about playing an organized, mature game . Last night the team looked like someone spiked their waters with muscle relaxers. Despite being well rested they looked half asleep. They looked bewildered, having trouble completing even the simplest pass.

How many time a game are there two or even three Rangers right on top of each other? Sometimes moving through the neutral zone!

They NEVER know where to put the puck.

They are constantly pinned in their own zone, never seeming to know where there is an outlet.

Half the time they try long stretch passes that don't work. The other half they dump it in with no one having any momentum. The rare time they break into the zone with speed and numbers they seem confused as to how to proceed.

When the puck is in the O zone, they have three guys down low on one side and the D men are practically standing in Lundqvist's crease. The first 750 times a Ranger won the puck and swung it to the far side of the ice and there was no D Man to be found, I thought they were having a line change. How do you have a forechecking philosophy without serious support from your D?

This is the stuff that major junior players can do. You don't need to be an all star, hell you don't even need to be an NHL player, to follow a simple strategy. It's what players practice since they learn to skate. You know where your teammates are, and what options you have in what situation. To a well coached team, its second nature.

I won't argue that they need another offensive weapon. Sather needs to find a way to draft one. His inability to do so is a serious problem. And that might be the reason the team can't beat a team like Pitt in a series.

But its not related to THESE problems. The ones the team should not be having. It plagued us last year in the post season. And its going to torture us again.
 
Bleed Ranger Blue said:
No, its like saying why BS yourself when it comes to the likely outcome of these playoffs?

Blind hope doesnt make you any better of a fan.

"Anything can happen" is a nice thing to say, but anything usually doesnt happen with the Rangers. In my 25 years as a fan, the season ended just about where it should've.

(except 1992 - that team shouldve went further)
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I tend to disagree with you on most things, but on this point i agree. Can they win, sure. Do i want them to win, yes. Do they have some talent, absolutely.

However, at the end of the day and with all the injuries, this team just isn't very good. I think if we had Clowe, Staal, Boyle and Dorsett all in the lineup, with time to mesh, we'd be a much better team.

These pieces were thrown together with 13 games to go. They showed life that we hadn't seen since last year and gave us hope. At the end of the day, a team that has been together since day one, with with a few minor tweaks, is much more prepared for playoff hockey.

Of course I hope they overcome this and beat the caps and continue to grow as a team, but the shortened season was not our friend this year. Too many new pieces in too short of a time.

I think next year, with everyone healthy, is a year we can really go deep.

I hate to say this, but if we have any chance of winning this year, Hagelin and Kreider are going to have to be huge in the playoffs.
 
16 To Stanley said:
I tend to disagree with you on most things, but on this point i agree. Can they win, sure. Do i want them to win, yes. Do they have some talent, absolutely.

However, at the end of the day and with all the injuries, this team just isn't very good. I think if we had Clowe, Staal, Boyle and Dorsett all in the lineup, with time to mesh, we'd be a much better team.

These pieces were thrown together with 13 games to go. They showed life that we hadn't seen since last year and gave us hope. At the end of the day, a team that has been together since day one, with with a few minor tweaks, is much more prepared for playoff hockey.

Of course I hope they overcome this and beat the caps and continue to grow as a team, but the shortened season was not our friend this year. To many new pieces in to short of a time.

I think next year, with everyone healthy, is a year we can really go deep.

I hate to say this, but if we have any chance of winning this year, Hagelin and Kreider are going to have to be huge in the playoffs.
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Why? Placing the success of this team on a young kid who has had a bad season and is playing tentative ever since getting destroyed by Orpik is stupid to say the least.

If we have any chance of winning this year, Nash, Stepan, Richards, Hagelin, Callahan, McDonagh, Girardi, and Lundqvist are going to have to be huge. They are the guys that are counted on to be huge, Kreider, Zuccarello, Stralman etc just need to be good. Team needs to play a team game.
 
I'm not hitting the panic button. You can't realistically expect to take the first two games on the road. As long as you take one game on the road control of the series is in your control. As bad as the Rangers were that loss was one loss. Nothing more and nothing less. Win game two and pressure is on Washington. Obviously if we lose game two that's a real problem. But let's address that only if we get to that point.

LGR win game 2!
 
Bleed Ranger Blue said:
Lots and lots of excuses.

Its much easier to admit that this team just isnt very good.
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Its not that our team isnt good, the caps are just on fire right now. Their defense was suffocating last night. We had very few chances to properly set up in the offensive zone. Gotta prepare and get at the next one.
 
Kreider's worst enemy was his good playoff run last year. Too many high expectations placed on a kid for reasons only god knows
 
Barbara Underhill said:
Why? Placing the success of this team on a young kid who has had a bad season and is playing tentative ever since getting destroyed by Orpik is stupid to say the least.

If we have any chance of winning this year, Nash, Stepan, Richards, Hagelin, Callahan, McDonagh, Girardi, and Lundqvist are going to have to be huge. They are the guys that are counted on to be huge, Kreider, Zuccarello, Stralman etc just need to be good. Team needs to play a team game.
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Of course those guys need to be good. I wasn't saying they get a free pass. But please tell me one cup team that didn't have an insane run from a 3rd/4th liner.

We will need that this year especially.

Nash, Lundqvist etc, are obvious. But if we're going to win, we'll need big contributions from unexpected guys. Especially with this team.

I'm hoping it can be Brass. He looked great last night, as did Hags.
 
May as well change the thread title to "WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA" seriously....

Its utterly embarrassing some of these posts in this thread, but I'm glad most people have given up on this team and say we suck, we won't win, we can't score, our defense sucks, hank sucks. Can't wait for game 2 or even game 3 when we win an all of you babies come crawling back.

Believe in your god damn team, jesus judging my some of the posts it would seem we got outshot 60-15 and had no offensive chances. Not the case, relax people.
 
I still can't believe the Rangers attempted 79 shots last night, and most of them were either blocked or missed the net. Absolutely unacceptable and is indicative that this team does not have enough offensive talent.

The shot selection needs to be better and they have to stop picking corners. Shoot low and hope for rebounds. Seeing the likes of Zuke, Richards, etc. attempt to snipe goals was laughable.
 
Hank gave up two bad goals, no doubt about it. But it has to be a two-way street. If not for a lucky bounce the Rangers get shutout last night.

If the Rangers expect to score 1 goal on the Capitals and win, they might as well pack up their bags and give up. They have to score more than 1 goal a game if they want to win this series.

I don't think they played poorly. Had some good chances, but they just need to execute on the PP, stay more disciplined and finish their chances 5 on 5.
 
16 To Stanley said:
Of course those guys need to be good. I wasn't saying they get a free pass. But please tell me one cup team that didn't have an insane run from a 3rd/4th liner.

We will need that this year especially.

Nash, Lundqvist etc, are obvious. But if we're going to win, we'll need big contributions from unexpected guys. Especially with this team.

I'm hoping it can be Brass. He looked great last night, as did Hags.
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Gotcha, I thought you were saying Kreider was pivotal to our success, he can't be dead weight but as long as he can play decent away from the puck and those guys I listed play up to their ability we can hang with anyone. Unfortunately I Kreider has looked pretty lost and tentative although he did throw a few big hits, hopefully he feeds off the atmosphere and gets really jacked up. He could be a game changer I'm just not counting on it.

We are in a really tough spot because the two guys we need the most are Clowe and Dorsett, yeah we could definitely use Staal I know that and hope he is back soon, but Clowe camping out in front of arrogant ass jedi goalie Holtby, and Dorsett pounding the defense on the forecheck especially against the Caps would turn this series around in a heart beat.

We played really physical the first half of the game, then we kinda laid off probably because we didn't want anymore BS penalties called on us, and Washington started pushing us around. They shouldn't be pushing us around. There D was scared in the first period, having a guy to bang Green every time he goes behind his own net will quickly put him back in his shell. I can't remember who it was last year, maybe Prust, maybe Boyle? That literally jacked him up 2 or 3 times in one game and you could see it in his face that he didn't want to leave the bench.

Not only that but playing Ovechkin physical is the best way to neutralize him, we saw it in the 1st period last night, we weren't laying him out with huge hits and breaking his body down, but if there is one thing Ovechkin enjoys more than scoring goals and drinking vodka it's retaliation. His head hunting on Girardi while on the powerplay instead of hugging the boards allowed us to clear the puck with ease at one point. McDonagh sees him coming every time and just moves out of his way and plays the puck, it's actually really funny to watch.

I've said this a billion times but the Caps have always been a very weak team mentally, we need to capitalize on that.

I guess this can be taken as a positive or a negative but Backstrom, Ribiero, Brouwer, and Erat all looked pretty pedestrian last night. If we can neutralize the supporting cast and get Ovechkin looking for retaliation and Green afraid of touching the puck we'll be golden, given we can score goals which may be the biggest if out there.
 
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