Post-Game Talk: Rangers @ Bruins | 1/19/13

[Krams]

Hagelin was flying tonight but was incredibly overzealous. A lot of blind passes, but I think that will improve once this team plays together a bit more. Nash looked fantastic. Completely unimpressed with Stepan tonight. Also, can we win a ****ing faceoff once in awhile?

We'll be better tomorrow.

 

[Kreider Typical]

hagelin was just trying to do too much. he wasn't our only problem. he just needs to go back to being a puck chaser and let the rest come to him. puck chasing is what earned him top 6 minutes last season and what we need him to do this season.

i'd much rather see stepan or kreider on a 4 forward pp than callahan.

 

[PromNite]

Hey, at least there wasn't a "What happened to the Rangers?" thread on the main boards tonight... amirite?

 

[SnowblindNYR]

hagelin was just trying to do too much. he wasn't our only problem. he just needs to go back to being a puck chaser and let the rest come to him. puck chasing is what earned him top 6 minutes last season and what we need him to do this season.

i'd much rather see stepan or kreider on a 4 forward pp than callahan.

Callahan lead the Rangers in PP goals last year.

 

[Krams]

I would move Kreider up to the top line with Richie/Nash. He's got a higher skill level than does Hagelin.

 

[PromNite]

hagelin was just trying to do too much.

To me, Nash looks like he's trying to do too much on his own. He's gonna have to learn how to utilize his linemates better. This ain't Columbus... you can pass the puck, Rick.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

I don't want to go to sleep because as strange as it sounds complaining about the Rangers makes me think of them less than if I lay in bed and think about their play. I know I would get myself to state of sickness if I lay in bed thinking about the Rangers.

 

[Gresch04]

Logic doesn't apply to shortened seasons? They can't win them all.

Logic? How is it logical that an early season game is less important than a late season game? EACH game has the same value - so I never subscribe to the "logic" that it's only 1 game - 48, 84, or 200 game season.

I just figured it would be more obviously stupid to those who do given the 48 game season.

 

[Boruto]

This season, JCresty is introducing an all new feature:

The Rationalization Corner with JCresty.

As much of a bad night of hockey as it was, there are definitely positives beyond those already mentioned. With more mistakes and breakdowns than we've seen since games from over a year ago, it's hard to tread forward with something other than die hard spirit and rational belief in this team.

The flip side however is that a tough start will have this team come together in a way that will forge chemistry and resiliency beyond what flawlessness can create. Our success last year was owed to our identity and work ethic that we built through the years of mediocrity. Tonight's adversity will be the starting point of a team that will redefine commitment to each other on the ice and what must be done to reach the ultimate goal. There are battles with other teams but there are also battles within individuals and as a group internally. Hopefully tonight the team comes together and start building a team that is prepared to do what it takes to win. We lost one battle but started another battle early.

This concludes this edition of

The Rationalization Corner with your host, JCresty

 

[Gresch04]

There are teams who go 0-1 in the NFL and end up winning their conference. 0-1 in a 48 game season is meaningless. I guess you expected the Rangers to go 48-0? What difference is it if they lost today or a week from now?

It's a loss that looks very much like every other loss last year, and had all the elements of why the team couldn't get it done last year. So it wasn't really about 1 loss, it's about the fact that it's the same old ****.

And if you want to have an intelligent debate, don't pull this crap about 48-0, no one ****ing thinks anyone is going to go 48-0. Sheesh.

 

[Gresch04]

Overreact much? There are 47 games left. We'll be fine. Not that there weren't concerning signs tonight, but there's still a lot of season left.

Does every game mean more than usual? Sure. But I'm not going to freak out because we lost one game out of one game. @ being so upset over 2% of the season.

I'll say this one more time, even though it's an obvious sentiment held by MANY in this thread. For once it would be nice to see this team surprise us positively. ONCE. My fricken' daughter was in my wife's belly the last time this team amazed me. A daughter who is now in COLLEGE!

So excuse me for not drinking the gahd-damn Kool-aid that NOW we've got just the right recipe to win...again...finally...for what would be the 3rd time in 73 freakin' years. Whoop-dee-gahd-damn-doo! The Wings have 4 since our last - after their embarrassing drought. FOUR.

Tonight I was looking for something other than a prototypical Torts team loss. No scoring, sound defense, abysmal PP, and great goaltending. In case you haven't notices, that formula doesn't work. It's actually a cruel joke of a formula because it wins quite a few games but it fades late in the playoffs when scoring 3 friggin' goals is necessary.

So I was looking for a sign that things would be different - not the SAME old **** AGAIN. Irrational after 1 game? Hmmm, it's been over 1400 games since I last felt any joy over this team so perhaps I'm simply noticing more of the same and not feeling particularly excited about the future. But you go ahead and have hope that this is all going to work - because after all in 73 years luck, fortune, and success come our way soooooooo often, right?

Me, I'll hope my fricken' grandchild experiences a Rangers cup in their lifetime - that is assuming I can't convince them to avoid this painfully unfulfilling habit of following a hockey team that disappoints 97.2% of the time over the last 72 seasons and take up backgammon or some other **** that isn't so annoying.

 

[Kreider Typical]

Callahan lead the Rangers in PP goals last year.

that's basically because of where callahan played on the PP last season. we had 1 set play where you pass the puck around all day then pass from the left to the right where cally tips in or shoot and hope cally can find the rebound (but let's face it most were tap ins)

nash can do the same thing. nash brings WAY more to the table. we don't need callahan there. he doesn't bring anything else that we need to the pp. i'd much rather have a player who is a strong playmaker (stepan or to a lesser extent kreider). or brings another dimension. we're already stacking our 1st unit with all of our talent, may as well double up on the centers.

 

[BlueshirtBlitz]

The thing that changed this loss from "meh, we'll get over it" to something a little worse for me is just how god awful we looked on that 5 on 3. We have 2 40 goal scorers and Brad Richards...and they couldn't do ANYTHING. They looked like a beer league team. That goes beyond just one game, IMO.

Expecting a bounce back tomorrow, but to not even get ONE quality chance (one chance at all, even) on a 5 on 3 with the team we have now? That's really, really not good.

 

[Kreider Typical]

To me, Nash looks like he's trying to do too much on his own. He's gonna have to learn how to utilize his linemates better. This ain't Columbus... you can pass the puck, Rick.

a lot of that has to do w/ how good of a team boston is defensively. they'd be on top of him before he even turned around. ny as a whole needs to learn that you can't focus on forcing the puck forward.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

It's a loss that looks very much like every other loss last year, and had all the elements of why the team couldn't get it done last year. So it wasn't really about 1 loss, it's about the fact that it's the same old ****.

And if you want to have an intelligent debate, don't pull this crap about 48-0, no one ****ing thinks anyone is going to go 48-0. Sheesh.

I'm not one for using this argument but if that's not the ultimate strawman argument I don't know what is. Poster A: We sucked today Poster B: What you expect us to go undefeated? No one said anything about going undefeated. People have a right to be upset when a team loses, especially when they played like crap. You can use that 48-0 (or 82-0) argument after every loss. Then you can't hold up the team to a high standard. However, people like distorting arguments and creating the strawman, because it's easier than to say why the team DIDN'T play like crap or why it won't matter in the long run.

 

[BlueshirtBlitz]

that's basically because of where callahan played on the PP last season. we had 1 set play where you pass the puck around all day then pass from the left to the right where cally tips in or shoot and hope cally can find the rebound (but let's face it most were tap ins)

nash can do the same thing. nash brings WAY more to the table. we don't need callahan there. he doesn't bring anything else that we need to the pp. i'd much rather have a player who is a strong playmaker (stepan or to a lesser extent kreider). or brings another dimension. we're already stacking our 1st unit with all of our talent, may as well double up on the centers.

No, Kreider shouldn't be on the PP yet. He looked terrible.

Cally, on the other hand, a strong game everywhere except offense. I'd take Cally on the PP right now 9/10 over Kreider.

 

[NYRSchrute217]

Tonight I was looking for something other than a prototypical Torts team loss. No scoring, sound defense, abysmal PP, and great goaltending. In case you haven't notices, that formula doesn't work. It's actually a cruel joke of a formula because it wins quite a few games but it fades late in the playoffs when scoring 3 friggin' goals is necessary.

There is not one set way to win. You can win with a Torts system. He's a good coach that adapts to his players, as seen by his Cup win for Tampa Bay. Personnel in New York right now requires a defense first system, but I'll agree we have the talent to score 3 goals a game. By the way, the system we play right now is very similar to the 2011 Bruins, who won a cup of their own.

 

[IBleedNYRBlue]

Just finished the game on DVR.

Horrible offensive showing.

Hank was awesome, I liked what I saw from Nash and McD. Other than that, putrid. Richards was terrible besides his circus shot. Some of his shots were just terrible, especially on the PP. Poor passing.

 

[Blueshirt Believer]

The problem with the PP, in terms of player issues, is not Cally(despite some boneheaded plays from time to time). It's Gabs, Gaborik has always been a problem on the PP.

The guy doesn't know how to play with the man advantage. Gabs entire game revolves around skating fast, and loading his stick for a wrister. Whenever the game has anything to do with cycling, or offensive zone creativity; Gabs looks lost.

The bigger overall problem is the lack of a triggerman from the point. But there is nothing they can do about that at this time.

 

[BarbaraAlphanse]

Everyone looked sloppy tonight. Can't really single anyone out because everyone deserves criticism.

Hagelin shouldn't be on the first line. Richards was playing like a beginner's youth hockey player, slapping the puck around just to get rid of it. Nash made some great plays and also didn't seem to realize he had 4 other team mates on the ice with him.

Can Stepan win a face-off? Additionally, does he know how to take a shot? Gaborik looked like he was high the entire game. I saw minimal energy from him. As for Callahan it seems his game has transitioned to just throwing body checks at people.

I wondered if Boyle was the slowest skater in the league. Then I saw Taylor Pyatt. Even more head scratching is why our fastest skater is with the two players in particular who seem to have permanently dunked their skates in molasses.

Mike Rupp looked like he was a 50 year old goon on skates today. He did nothing with the puck, he did nothing away from the puck. He reminded me of one of those refs from EA sports NHL 2002 that seemingly skated in place trying to get from one part of the ice to the other. Lets not even talk about his fight. It completely ruined the Rangers momentum. I barely noticed Jeff Halpern but when he won that one face off I instantaneously wondered what it would be like to have him on our first line. Also, was Segal really the best option we had from Hartford? If so, we have some serious depth and talent buried away in our farm.

Girardi and McDonough, keep doing you.

Maybe Staal should stop day dreaming about playing with his brothers down in Carolina. Stralman seemed to pick up where he left off last year, which is both good and bad.

At least the Del Zaster resigned right? If one word could be used to used to describe his play tonight it was nightmare. At no point did I feel comfortable with him handling the puck. He might as well have just stood stationary on the ice, it probably would have been better than whatever it was he was doing. As for Bickel... ... no words. Maybe boxing is true calling.

Thank God we have Henrik though.

Piss poor effort by this team tonight. I'm wondering if an early season call up of Miller might be in order, similar to Hagelin last year.

 

[Blueshirt Believer]

At least the Del Zaster resigned right? If one word could be used to used to describe his play tonight it was nightmare. At no point did I feel comfortable with him handling the puck. He might as well have just stood stationary on the ice, it probably would have been better than whatever it was he was doing. As for Bickel... ... no words. Maybe boxing is true calling.

I have no idea what game you were watching last night, Del Zoto was far from a disaster.

 

[Kreider Typical]

No, Kreider shouldn't be on the PP yet. He looked terrible.

Cally, on the other hand, a strong game everywhere except offense. I'd take Cally on the PP right now 9/10 over Kreider.

while i agree on kreider and would much rather stepan over kreider-- i don't agree on your reasoning.

for one-- pp is all about offense. that's why we're using 4 forwards instead of 2 d. if you're going to give up a defenseman slot for a forward, it shouldn't be a forward who brings another side of the game, otherwise what's the point swapping out a defender?

as far as kreider goes, we know for a fact that he has been better when put around skill guys. i don't think we can write off his offense just yet. we know kreider has a different skillset than callahan. if there's a chance the PP can wake him up, i'd say it's worth it cause last night it was flat out disgusting to watch.

But yeah-- i agree that kreider isn't the best option. imo if we're going w/ 4 forwards stepan should be one of them.

 

[TriFF51]

Can't wait for the second matchup with Boston...clearly rusty as hell.

 

[LeetchisGod]

Everyone looked sloppy tonight. Can't really single anyone out because everyone deserves criticism.

Hagelin shouldn't be on the first line. Richards was playing like a beginner's youth hockey player, slapping the puck around just to get rid of it. Nash made some great plays and also didn't seem to realize he had 4 other team mates on the ice with him.

Can Stepan win a face-off? Additionally, does he know how to take a shot? Gaborik looked like he was high the entire game. I saw minimal energy from him. As for Callahan it seems his game has transitioned to just throwing body checks at people.

I wondered if Boyle was the slowest skater in the league. Then I saw Taylor Pyatt. Even more head scratching is why our fastest skater is with the two players in particular who seem to have permanently dunked their skates in molasses.

Mike Rupp looked like he was a 50 year old goon on skates today. He did nothing with the puck, he did nothing away from the puck. He reminded me of one of those refs from EA sports NHL 2002 that seemingly skated in place trying to get from one part of the ice to the other. Lets not even talk about his fight. It completely ruined the Rangers momentum. I barely noticed Jeff Halpern but when he won that one face off I instantaneously wondered what it would be like to have him on our first line. Also, was Segal really the best option we had from Hartford? If so, we have some serious depth and talent buried away in our farm.

Girardi and McDonough, keep doing you.

Maybe Staal should stop day dreaming about playing with his brothers down in Carolina. Stralman seemed to pick up where he left off last year, which is both good and bad.

At least the Del Zaster resigned right? If one word could be used to used to describe his play tonight it was nightmare. At no point did I feel comfortable with him handling the puck. He might as well have just stood stationary on the ice, it probably would have been better than whatever it was he was doing. As for Bickel... ... no words. Maybe boxing is true calling.

Thank God we have Henrik though.

Piss poor effort by this team tonight. I'm wondering if an early season call up of Miller might be in order, similar to Hagelin last year.

He's looked like that every game as a ranger excluding the Winter Classic. He is the epitome of washed up. Unfortunately we're stuck with him for another year after this. His contract is one of the reasons they let Prust go who is a much more effective player at this point.

 

[Kreider Typical]

He's looked like that every game as a ranger excluding the Winter Classic. He is the epitome of washed up. Unfortunately we're stuck with him for another year after this. His contract is one of the reasons they let Prust go who is a much more effective player at this point.

last season he was injured early. this season we were hoping the injury was the main* problem