Post-Game Talk: Rangers @ Caps Game 5: see you on sunday

[NYRSchrute217]

Im not pinning the entire blame on Lundqvist. Obviously the team in front of him has some issues.

The fact that some of you are claiming hes absolved of any wrongdoing is wrong.

Everybody shares the blame. Lundqvist for whatever reason is not a winning goalie when games go to OT.

Henrik (along with Leetch) is my favorite Ranger ever. He's not above the team and he has not had a typical Lundqvist series. Too many weak goals and too many rebounds. It's not his fault we're down 3-2, but at the same time he cost us big time in game 1 and he could have had the winner tonight.

 

[Holocene]

Rangers are 0-11 on the PP in the 3 games in DC. They convert on one of those and they probably would have stolen a game in DC.

Our inept PP has been costing us games for years now, it's just depressing at this point. We have the pieces to be better than we are right now. I really have no idea why Torts would say "Moore is running our PP" and then the next game have MDZ, Richards, Girardi and hell, I'm pretty sure I even saw Nash on the point once over Moore. What gives?

 

[Machinehead]

Our inept PP has been costing us games for years now, it's just depressing at this point. We have the pieces to be better than we are right now. I really have no idea why Torts would say "Moore is running our PP" and then the next game have MDZ, Richards, Girardi and hell, I'm pretty sure I even saw Nash on the point once over Moore. What gives?

I really want the percentages of our PP with Richards on the ice vs Richards off the ice. I'm willing to bet there's a more than modest discrepancy.

 

[NYRSchrute217]

Let's talk about captains.

Jonathan Toews. Claude Giroux. Dustin Brown. Henrik Zetterberg. Daniel Alfredsson. Joe Thronton (Right, Joe Thornton, look it up). Vinny Lecavalier. Believe it or not, Alex Ovechkin.

All of these fine specimens have two things in common: 1)Well the obvious, they're all captains. 2) They're all as good or better in the playoffs than they are in the regular season.

What about the Rangers? Oh yeah, Ryan Callahan. 0.56 PPG in the regular season. 0.41 in the playoffs. Significantly worse.

Maybe it's time to question whether Callahan is good enough when the games get important to be carrying that letter around.

His production is not my concern, but rather his tendency to be completely invisible in the playoffs. Callahan used to make his presence felt every game. Not the case this year.

 

[Machinehead]

His production is not my concern, but rather his tendency to be completely invisible in the playoffs. Callahan used to make his presence felt every game. Not the case this year.

I agree. Sometimes the belt tightens in the playoffs and production goes down in general. I get that. But he's nowhere. He wilts in big games. At least if he was making things happen and wasn't producing that's one thing. But he's not himself and that's a sign of a player who can't handle it.

 

[NYRSchrute217]

I agree. Sometimes the belt tightens in the playoffs and production goes down in general. I get that. But he's nowhere. He wilts in big games. At least if he was making things happen and wasn't producing that's one thing. But he's not himself and that's a sign of a player who can't handle it.

It's funny because he hasn't always been like that. The Devils series in 2008 he was fantastic. He was one of the few guys that showed up in the Caps series in 2009. Last year he wasn't good, but he was at least playing well on the PK, hitting and forechecking. Now he's just whining and taking dumb penalties. On Wednesday he was great on the forecheck in the last few minutes but aside from that the effort and consistency is not there.

 

[Balej20]

I agree. Sometimes the belt tightens in the playoffs and production goes down in general. I get that. But he's nowhere. He wilts in big games. At least if he was making things happen and wasn't producing that's one thing. But he's not himself and that's a sign of a player who can't handle it.

The only two players who have upped their games in this year's playoffs are Brassard and Stralman. Everyone else has been mediocre, poor or completely absent. Doesn't help that the coach's system is trash.

 

[Machinehead]

It's funny because he hasn't always been like that. The Devils series in 2008 he was fantastic. He was one of the few guys that showed up in the Caps series in 2009. Last year he wasn't good, but he was at least playing well on the PK, hitting and forechecking. Now he's just whining and taking dumb penalties. On Wednesday he was great on the forecheck in the last few minutes but aside from that the effort and consistency is not there.

That's my point about captaincy. It's specifically since they put the letter C on his jersey. Perhaps the pundits were right when they said a heart and soul guy but ultimately marginal talent like Callahan was better off sticking with an A because that letter has changed who he used to be.

 

[NYRSchrute217]

The only two players who have upped their games in this year's playoffs are Brassard and Stralman. Everyone else has been mediocre, poor or completely absent. Doesn't help that the coach's system is trash.

I think McDonagh, Moore and Girardi have been good too. Del Zotto and Eminger are scaring me ****less. Brassard is developing into our #2 center for when we finally buy out Richards.

 

[Unpredictable1]

I think McDonagh, Moore and Girardi have been good too. Del Zotto and Eminger are scaring me ****less. Brassard is developing into our #2 center for when we finally buy out Richards.

I think Stepan has done considerably better his second tour of duty.

 

[Machinehead]

I think alot of guys have had a nice series. It's specifically Callahan and Nash I'm taking issue with. Your captain and best skater have to come up with big goals in a tight series. They have nil between them.

 

[NYRSchrute217]

That's my point about captaincy. It's specifically since they put the letter C on his jersey. Perhaps the pundits were right when they said a heart and soul guy but ultimately marginal talent like Callahan was better off sticking with an A because that letter has changed who he used to be.

I'm not sure that the C is the problem. He's a good captain because the way he was until this year is how I want my captain to play. Leading by example and just being balls to the wall all the time. He also scored 29 goals last year, and most of those were by getting to the front of the net. This year he's tried to be something he's not, and that's a finesse player. Not sure if the C is the reason for it, but his play must change.

 

[2Leetch_94]

Henrik (along with Leetch) is my favorite Ranger ever. He's not above the team and he has not had a typical Lundqvist series. Too many weak goals and too many rebounds. It's not his fault we're down 3-2, but at the same time he cost us big time in game 1 and he could have had the winner tonight.

Not sure how a shot that hits off a skate and deflects right to a Capitals' stick is a goal Lundqvist or any other goalie could of had.

 

[NYRSchrute217]

I think Stepan has done considerably better his second tour of duty.

Agreed. He's been good on the PK and he's scored 2 clutch goals by going to the net. He's had moments of invisibility though

I think alot of guys have had a nice series. It's specifically Callahan and Nash I'm taking issue with. Your captain and best skater have to come up with big goals in a tight series. They have nil between them.

And Richards, but we've all but wrote him off

 

[Machinehead]

I'm not sure that the C is the problem. He's a good captain because the way he was until this year is how I want my captain to play. Leading by example and just being balls to the wall all the time. He also scored 29 goals last year, and most of those were by getting to the front of the net. This year he's tried to be something he's not, and that's a finesse player. Not sure if the C is the reason for it, but his play must change.

Well that's true he was great last year. Maybe this handing the Cup to the Rangers in the media before the season started and all that pressure corrupted him but this isn't Callahan. This guy was like God to me. I don't even like him anymore. Something changed.

 

[2Leetch_94]

Richards, Nash, Callahan, and Del Zotto have been the biggest disappointments to me. I don't expect much out of Eminger, but without the four guys I mentioned not producing at all, it makes it difficult to win.

 

[Holocene]

Callahan can at least still PK like a boss, the others are just flat out useless all over the ice.

 

[Callagraves]

Let's talk about captains.

Jonathan Toews. Claude Giroux. Dustin Brown. Henrik Zetterberg. Daniel Alfredsson. Joe Thronton (Right, Joe Thornton, look it up). Vinny Lecavalier. Believe it or not, Alex Ovechkin.

All of these fine specimens have two things in common: 1)Well the obvious, they're all captains. 2) They're all as good or better in the playoffs than they are in the regular season.

What about the Rangers? Oh yeah, Ryan Callahan. 0.56 PPG in the regular season. 0.41 in the playoffs. Significantly worse.

Maybe it's time to question whether Callahan is good enough when the games get important to be carrying that letter around.

He's had a meh year by all accounts, but if they're giving out "C"s for offensive numbers, then it means absolutely nothing. And for what it's worth, Callahan was a Messier Leadership Award finalist in his first year as captain.

Toews is one of the best in the league at any given thing. He's pretty much the ideal hockey player. Giroux led his team to their worst finish in something like a decade, Dustin Brown is a good playoff performer, save for that one year he had 2 points and was eliminated in 6 games, Zetterberg, Alfie and Jumbo (a former 100+ point player) are all superstar players who are counted on more for their numbers than leadership, and are true veterans in the league.

Don't get me started on Ovi. He wears the "C" for show. If you want to know the two players that team follows, it's Backstrom and Brouwer.

If you want to attack anything from Cally, it's his offense. He was streaky all season, and he's struggling at the worst possible time.

Also, be careful when using Brown as a leadership example. 6 months before they won the cup, an easy majority of Kings fans would have told you he should never been made captain. Tune changed real fast though....

Cally's been disappointing, but there are two guys, one of which has an "A" on his chest, who both make around double what he does, and each have a single point.

 

[Machinehead]

He's had a meh year by all accounts, but if they're giving out "C"s for offensive numbers, then it means absolutely nothing. And for what it's worth, Callahan was a Messier Leadership Award finalist in his first year as captain.

Toews is one of the best in the league at any given thing. He's pretty much the ideal hockey player. Giroux led his team to their worst finish in something like a decade, Dustin Brown is a good playoff performer, save for that one year he had 2 points and was eliminated in 6 games, Zetterberg, Alfie and Jumbo (a former 100+ point player) are all superstar players who are counted on more for their numbers than leadership, and are true veterans in the league.

Don't get me started on Ovi. He wears the "C" for show. If you want to know the two players that team follows, it's Backstrom and Brouwer.

If you want to attack anything from Cally, it's his offense. He was streaky all season, and he's struggling at the worst possible time.

Also, be careful when using Brown as a leadership example. 6 months before they won the cup, an easy majority of Kings fans would have told you he should never been made captain. Tune changed real fast though....

Cally's been disappointing, but there are two guys, one of which has an "A" on his chest, who both make around double what he does, and each have a single point.

Well the tune changed real fast on Brown because he produced at a 100 point pace over a full Cup run. If Callahan ever did that I'd change real fast too.

He needs to be better though. It really bothers me that I don't love my favorite player like I once did and I really want to see him return to form.

I just worry about the pressure that letter puts on a player who's not counted on to score a **** ton. I'm worried he could change his game to conform to being the face of the team. Players do change to fit external standards and it sucks. Sometimes it's a big contract. Dubinsky got a payday and tried to become Mario Lemieux and has never been the same player. I don't wanna see Callahan down that road.

 

[RiceCooker]

I am sick and tired of this pathetic ****ing offence(2 goals in 3 games with 2 OTs in Was), I am sick and tired of this pathetic ****ing Powerplay, **** Cally, **** Nash, **** Beaver , **** MDZ(does this guy ever hit the net), all have been absolute no-shows in Washington. How in the world in such an important game do you score in the 1st minute and then be blanked for almost 3 full periods and OT(let's not forget being shutout in game 2 that went to OT).........oh wait it's the Rangers and Torts doesn't give a **** about offence !!!

 

[NYRSchrute217]

Well that's true he was great last year. Maybe this handing the Cup to the Rangers in the media before the season started and all that pressure corrupted him but this isn't Callahan. This guy was like God to me. I don't even like him anymore. Something changed.

Unfortunately that isn't something we're going to find out anytime soon. Callahan should be playing like he has before this year, and he isn't. He's not even really blocking shots anymore. The differences are alarming from one season to the next.

I'll tell you one thing though, if the Rangers lose this series, there will be a lot of questions to answer this offseason. Maybe it's a lack of training camp that did these guys in, but I'm afraid the problems may run deeper. This is a team where it should shock no one if they won the Cup, because of their incredible talent. But at the same time, they don't seem to have what it takes. It's just a weird team, probably the strangest I've felt about a NYR team in years. Most of the time, you know what you're getting.

I really have no clue what to expect from these guys.

 

[BBKers]

If we are eliminated Sunday...

this will be the biggest reason for this (excluding perhaps the coaching strategy incl the PP)

POINT PRODUCTION AFTER 5 GAMES

Richards - $12 M - 1 point
Nash - $7,6 M - 1 point
Callahan - $4 M - 2 points
TOTAL - 23,6 M - 4 points

Brassard - $3,25 M - 6 points
Hagelin - $0,825 M - 4 points
Zuccarello - $0,7 M - 3 points
TOTAL - $4,575 M - 13 points

Big name, big money guys really gotta step up now. Big time. Not as if they are not being paid to do so. If i had such an uneven distribution of production vs salaries in the company I run - heads would fly. Be so certain. And cut all the BS about all the intangibles these top paid guys provide - it will not fly

 

[Callagraves]

Well the tune changed real fast on Brown because he produced at a 100 point pace over a full Cup run. If Callahan ever did that I'd change real fast too.

He needs to be better though. It really bothers me that I don't love my favorite player like I once did and I really want to see him return to form.

I just worry about the pressure that letter puts on a player who's not counted on to score a **** ton. I'm worried he could change his game to conform to being the face of the team. Players do change to fit external standards and it sucks. Sometimes it's a big contract. Dubinsky got a payday and tried to become Mario Lemieux and has never been the same player. I don't wanna see Callahan down that road.

I'm mostly with you, I caught some replays from 2 years ago, and he's just a freaking mad man on the ice. I thought he played well in game 4, but it was still shades of "Cally". It was also the same time he forced himself onto the second line, and he was just lighting the world on fire.

If I had to guess, and because I don't know the man, I do, I'd say Callahan doesn't have the advantage of a short memory, the way some players do. If some players whiff on a shot, or screw up, or go a few games without a point, they can just almost forget it, get back to it, and back to normal.

I feel like you can read Cally's mind when he has the puck. "Here we go, gotta break this slump", EVERY, SINGLE, TIME. He needs to stop trying so hard to get that perfect opportunity, and get back to what makes him such a great player: Below the circle play.

I'm really not worried about Cally carrying the C. His first year with it he put up carreer numbers, his usual extra (paycheck) effort award, a Leadership award finalist, and had a good year. The playoffs didn't go so well for him, and I feel like he's STILL trying to shake that off.

 

[Machinehead]

Unfortunately that isn't something we're going to find out anytime soon. Callahan should be playing like he has before this year, and he isn't. He's not even really blocking shots anymore. The differences are alarming from one season to the next.

I'll tell you one thing though, if the Rangers lose this series, there will be a lot of questions to answer this offseason. Maybe it's a lack of training camp that did these guys in, but I'm afraid the problems may run deeper. This is a team where it should shock no one if they won the Cup, because of their incredible talent. But at the same time, they don't seem to have what it takes. It's just a weird team, probably the strangest I've felt about a NYR team in years. Most of the time, you know what you're getting.

I really have no clue what to expect from these guys.

I think if a team this highly touted gets bounced early you have to strongly consider a coaching change.

 

[Callagraves]

Unfortunately that isn't something we're going to find out anytime soon. Callahan should be playing like he has before this year, and he isn't. He's not even really blocking shots anymore. The differences are alarming from one season to the next.

I'll tell you one thing though, if the Rangers lose this series, there will be a lot of questions to answer this offseason. Maybe it's a lack of training camp that did these guys in, but I'm afraid the problems may run deeper. This is a team where it should shock no one if they won the Cup, because of their incredible talent. But at the same time, they don't seem to have what it takes. It's just a weird team, probably the strangest I've felt about a NYR team in years. Most of the time, you know what you're getting.

I really have no clue what to expect from these guys.

Everything but this sentence is completely accurate. Shot blocking is one of the few aspects of his game that have actually improved this year.

But otherwise, yeah. This team could miss the playoffs or win the cup. I have no ****ing clue what they're going to do.