Playoff Observations

[5 4 Fighting]

Just wanted to start this thread where we can post things about the team that we notice throughout these games.

I'll kick it off with our collapsing zone defense, it's a major problem against the Caps, we leave Carlson and Green on an island, and just stand around waiting for the shot. Unfortunately, not waiting for an adjustment in this department.

Another thing I've noticed is we are losing most of the 50/50 pucks in our zone, and their zone. Idon't know fi they're such a speedier team, but this needs to be corrected, initiate contact, win the puck.

What are other things you've noticed?

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[Blue Blooded]

Our zone exits are painfully predictable. We try to exit our zone along the boards 99/100 times and it makes it incredibly easy for the Caps to pin us in our end.

We are way too passive and immobile. Whenever there is a loose puck, it is a Capital that gets to it first at least 70% of the time. Our players always seem to be coming from a standstill while the Caps are always moving and having momentum in their skating. Even guys like Hagelin, McDonagh, and Moore are constantly getting beaten to pucks.

 

[NickyFotiu]

Our zone exits are painfully predictable. We try to exit our zone along the boards 99/100 times and it makes it incredibly easy for the Caps to pin us in our end.

We are way too passive and immobile. Whenever there is a loose puck, it is a Capital that gets to it first at least 70% of the time. Our players always seem to be coming from a standstill while the Caps are always moving and having momentum in their skating. Even guys like Hagelin, McDonagh, and Moore are constantly getting beaten to pucks.

The Caps are free to pinch the boards 80% of the time because we are so predictable.

 

[5 4 Fighting]

Very good points BB, Oates is telling the Caps to take the boards away because we don't use the middle of the ice. If the boards aren't there, just lift the puck out of the zone and try not to ice it. Does that sound like a winning strategy?

On the other point you bring up: I remember last night, there were 3 Rangers fighting for a puck in the defensive zone against Backstrom, guess who comes out with the puck? Unacceptable.

 

[Fanned On It]

It's true, our breakout is terrible. We DO force it up the boards way too often. We need to take a page out of the LA Kings playbook (watch their stanley cup run last season) when it comes to breakouts. They seem to ALWAYS have support in the middle of the ice for a short pass to the center who can THEN look for a streaking winger to move the puck up ice. Of course that pass isn't always going to be there, but it needs to be more of an option than it is now.

A big thing that plays into the breakout is how fast our defensemen/centers react when they get the puck. They have to be able to move that thing as soon as they get it. They can't pick up the puck, look over their shoulder, look the other way, and then FINALLY make a pass. All of that has to happen a lot faster than it is now. Us getting hemmed in our zone was the #1 thing that kept us from going farther in last year's playoffs, without a doubt.

Oh yeah and, where's Richards? Dead?

 

[Kershaw]

They were good ES puck possession team in the regular season, which gave me hope that they could make a deep run. But they've been absolutely dreadful at ES, so I don't have much faith with the way the team is playing. This is absolutely inexcusable since Washington was a very mediocre team in the regular season at ES. Rangers were top 10. Statistically, the NY Rangers have played like the worst team in the playoffs at ES.

 

[qwertyaas]

It all comes back to being immobile and horrible transition game.

They give their dmen all the time in the world while they just collapse and screen Henrik.

 

[5 4 Fighting]

What I don't get is with Carlson, and Mike Green on the points, why doesn't Tortorella adjust his defensive scheme to put pressure and play a tight point kind of game? Giving them any kind of room is just asking to be scored on. That's 2 goals for Green already in only 3 games this year...how many more times does he need to score for Torts to realize??

 

[Fanned On It]

What I don't get is with Carlson, and Mike Green on the points, why doesn't Tortorella adjust his defensive scheme to put pressure and play a tight point kind of game? Giving them any kind of room is just asking to be scored on. That's 2 goals for Green already in only 3 games this year...how many more times does he need to score for Torts to realize??

They don't even need to have both wingers play tight to the point, just have the strong side winger play that point tight so the other team is forced to either make a harder pass to the weak-side point-man or not pass to the point at all. Also, this way, once their weak-side defenseman gets the puck he won't be able to make that D to D pass that ultimately leads to a shot against on a screened Hank.

Idk, I don't coach hockey but I play and I feel like this would make sense to at least TRY.

 

[gardenparty]

If we don't start putting more pressure on their point men, we're going to get scorched. The Capitals' defensemen are given way too much room to wind up and unleash bombs from the point, while everyone collapses in front of the net and screens Henrik.

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

Just wanted to start this thread where we can post things about the team that we notice throughout these games.

I'll kick it off with our collapsing zone defense, it's a major problem against the Caps, we leave Carlson and Green on an island, and just stand around waiting for the shot. Unfortunately, not waiting for an adjustment in this department.

Another thing I've noticed is we are losing most of the 50/50 pucks in our zone, and their zone. Idon't know fi they're such a speedier team, but this needs to be corrected, initiate contact, win the puck.

What are other things you've noticed?

Yeah, the Caps are pushing the Rangers D back into the zone, and the Rangers are allowing it. The gap control is way off, but i've seen that happen a lot this year for some reason. I think the forwards have to come back a little harder, but the Rangers need to stand up at the line a little longer. They are basically given the zone very easily and that needs to stop.

 

[The Gloaming]

Everyone here is talking about how the Caps are a faster team than us and are therefore beating us to loose pucks along the boards because of that reason. No.

The reason we lose every single race to the boards is because our skaters, (wingers especially) have to cover more ground in the race. While the Caps are along the boards anyway, our skaters are so collapsed in the slot and middle of the ice, that they will of course lose the race.

These races are not being lost because the players are lazy or because Washington is full of Carl Hagelins. These races are being lost because they are another example of the collapsing strategy failing, and showing once again that it is not an efficient way of defending. That is why we look like we are always running around after the puck.

Once again though, I'm not expecting any adjustments from the coaching staff.

 

[Ail]

They were good ES puck possession team in the regular season, which gave me hope that they could make a deep run. But they've been absolutely dreadful at ES, so I don't have much faith with the way the team is playing. This is absolutely inexcusable since Washington was a very mediocre team in the regular season at ES. Rangers were top 10. Statistically, the NY Rangers have played like the worst team in the playoffs at ES.

Even without looking at advanced stats they were noticeably better just watching them at ES this year. They had to be the PP was so dreadful at times.

They're still playing some of their best hockey down a man, imo. It's hilarious watching them create better chances on the PK versus on the PP.

 

[Jersey Girl]

Here are my observations:

1. The Caps have much more team speed than I thought. Johansen, Fehr, etc. are REALLY quick.

2. Ovechkin is such a presence on the ice...amazing.

3. I love how even-keeled Adam Oates is behind the bench. The Caps never panic because Oates is always in control. I liked Boudreau's drama better...it was bad for the Caps.

4. The Caps have four good lines.

5. Rangers did an amazing job on the 6-on-4 PK at the end of the game taking away passing lanes.

6. Holtby can be beaten. We just need to pressure him.

7. And we also need to stop with the ill-advised shots from the point with nobody in front of the net.

8. Switched back and forth last night between NBC Sports and MSG. NBC sports won the night hands down...better production, better announcers...but Sam's call during the last two minutes was pure vintage Sam and wonderful to hear.

9. Hopefully Staal gets his sea legs back and is better in game four. His timing was definitely way off.

10. I'm sorry, as much as it would help the Rangers, I just can't root for the Circus team from Long Island. If they win I think I'll puke. Heck, if they were playing a team from Mars and the fate of mankind hung in the balance...I say Lets Go Mars.

Don't need those stupid frontrunners telling me they saved the planet....

 

[NYRKindms]

A positive observation would be Moore's aggressive play from the point on the power play. It is an adjustment that seems to have paid off.

It does make me wonder if it was a trust issue vs. effectiveness.

 

[NickyFotiu]

3. I love how even-keeled Adam Oates is behind the bench. The Caps never panic because Oates is always in control. I liked Boudreau's drama better...it was bad for the Caps.

I think Oates seems like a very good coach from a distance. I think it probably helps his players that he does not look disgusted and upset 90% of the time.

 

[Thirty One]

I liked Boudreau's drama better...it was bad for the Caps.

Me too. Then Torts one-upped him and threw a water bottle at a lady in the stands and we lost that series...

 

[TankLarkin]

my observation is ....

if by some miracle we advance, we are royally F***ed.

I'm usually very positive, but with Nash and Beaver disinterested in playoffs....

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

my observation is ....

if by some miracle we advance, we are royally F***ed.

I'm usually very positive, but with Nash and Beaver disinterested in playoffs....

Why? Ottawa beats Montreal, they play Pittsburgh and we end up playing Boston or Toronto...

 

[NYRKING30]

my observation is ....

if by some miracle we advance, we are royally F***ed.

I'm usually very positive, but with Nash and Beaver disinterested in playoffs....

Me too man. I am usually one of the most positive fans around but I have been telling everyone I know that the Rangers would be lucky to win a round. To me its mainly because of the coach. Every game including the playoffs since 2009 we get pinned in our own zone continuously that turns into a 5 on 5 pp. Our forwards collapse so far down by the time they get to center ice or dump it in they are to exhausted to go get the puck. Most teams have figured out our dump and chase where the opposing goalie will go out to play the puck when we dump it in (ECF last year vs Devils). That makes it amost impossible to sustain pressure in the offensive zone. The powerplay with all that passing they do you think someone would not be afraid to make a one timer. It is mainly coaching, Torts is a good coach but he just isn't the right coach for this team anymore. I wanna see pretty much 90 percent of this roster with an offensive minded coach.

 

[cd211]

Moore has elevated his game, and is counted upon in key minutes..

I think defensively we're not playing to bad.. I think we shut down there top fwds very well..

We can stop caps well and win the series if...

-we stay out of the box
-our fwds play higher and cover the d a lot better.. they get all of there goals from defensive shots..
-OUR PP has to be A LOT BETTER... as bad as we're playing and not living up to expectations, if we had a better pp we'd easily be up in this series..
- our fwds play a lot better defensively in our own zone..
-Hank always making key saves.. he hasnt stood on his head but hes made timely saves!!! (its ok if hes our best player night in and night out, hes all world, noone is better)

-X factor has to be nash and richards.. they need to be part of everything..

 

[The Gloaming]

How many more goals must be scored because Green and Carlson got the puck to the net before Torts realizes that collapsing doesn't work against them?

How many times must we fail at clearing the puck out of the zone by ringing it around the boards before Torts realizes that the Caps are taking that away?

 

[JayQueensNY88*]

5 on 5 Caps are better. Really nothing else to say. This team looks pathetic out there

 

[Machinehead]

The Rangers are so scared of what the Caps can do on the rush that they're backing up way too much and it's allowing the Caps way too much possession. The Rangers need to force the issue more than they have. If you get caught a couple of times, so be it. You just have to hope Hank comes up with the big saves. But it sure beats letting them enter and control our zone at will

There's a big difference between playing conservative and playing scared. The Soviets were so unbeatable back in the late 70's because everyone was so afraid of their skill that they would play an extreme collapse and allow the Soviets to have the puck the entire game. The US beat them in 1980 because Herb Brooks told his team not to be afraid of them.

 

[Crazed Beaver]

I was a pond hockey kid so I'm prob dead wrong but this is what I've seen:

Torts actually has managed toi very well thus far and maybe we see a benefit as this series moves along.

Zucc is a favorite of mine but not strong on the puck so he lost ice time but think he just needs the right mix and he could help big time.

Our d needs more support from the wings. They need much better backcheck support which keeps them fresher/better abled to pinch and support in offensive zone.

Cally doesn't pass - its to the point it's cringe worthy with some of his decisions.

Miller needs to play on fourth line. See no reason why he couldn't pk and is more skilled than powe.

Delzotto is a poor skater