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

[Hi ImHFNYR]

Conveniently ignoring the best season and post season we've had since 1994 in the analysis. Clever.

Even if you do include it the issue of consistency is more important in many people's minds. last season was an outlier which is very important in terms of analysis

 

[chosen]

I shouldn't be amazed after reading here for so long but if someone read all of these comments without knowing the score one would have thought they lost 5-0.

Every year the base picks out someone they hate and blames everything on them. This year it's Boyle. He's the guy outscoring our supposed top-end talent when it counts most, but he took a single penalty and in a lot of folks minds taking one penalty cost a team a game even though he scored that team's only goal that game.

Boyle has 1 penalty in 5 games. He has been one of our top offensive forwards in the series, yet he has been designated as the cause of the team being down 3 games to two.

Meanwhile, if the Rangers had won the game, this thread would be filled with insanely positive comments wondering whether the team might be going all the way.

 

[chosen]

Let's make one thing clear, if it is ONE thing this roster miss, it's an offensive punch from the blueline. All other flaws in relation to that one is purely cosmetic (crease clearing/shooting etc).

Hey, I agree with Ola.

 

[Callagraves]

Even if you do include it the issue of consistency is more important in many people's minds. last season was an outlier which is very important in terms of analysis

It will only be proven an anomaly if we don't achieve something similar in the next year or 2. That's the problem with analyzing statistics before they're complete. Before our terrible start, it seemed like a natural progression (After addressing the teams primary need, a 1C in Richards).

Teams rise and fall ALL the time. We've been consistently in the mix. The only time we missed the playoffs was by, quite literally, the smallest of margins: a shootout.

If we're being truly logical here, judging a team by playoff exits is nothing short of asinine. We saw 2 game sevens last season. A bounce in the other direction, and we could have been bounced in either the 1st or second round.

Another example: the Devils. They faced OT in game 7 of the first round, and if you remember, a Flordia player struck post. The Devils would go on to reach the cup finals, but we all know that they were a quarter of an inch from an embarrassing first round loss.

Can we really complete an analysis based on a quarter of an inch.

Heroes are made in the playoffs. Stories, legends, cups, memories, they're all a result of the set up, the drama; and don't get me wrong, I love it. But if you're going to ask me what sample i'm going to lend more weight to, it's going to be the 82 game season, not the 20 playoff games.

 

[AlwaysARanger]

#NYR have lost 10 of their last 12 playoff OT games dating to May 4, 2007---only 2 wins last spring vs. Caps - Jim Cerny @ Twittah

That sucks. We are 2 for 12 in OT in PO. That explains why i give up every OT nowadays, I have no belief in they get the job done.

In the reg season I think we are slight favourites going into any OT, but in the PO? I expect to lose. Hope he players think different, but I suspect they don't

 

[Jabroni]

Boyle took a dumb penalty, but he scored the only goal and looked pretty good out there.

No need to scapegoat him.

 

[Callagraves]

Boyle took a dumb penalty, but he scored the only goal and looked pretty good out there.

No need to scapegoat him.

Boyle's always going to be the scapegoat. He scored a goal and took a bad penalty. At WORST he was a wash tonight.

 

[Ola]

I mentioned them. In regards to next year.

Neither are ready, and both are a liability.

We could still win at home.

But this is hockey. I just saw France, a bottom level ECHL team, beat Russia (easily the most loaded hockey team right now on ice). But when we play the Caps away we are glad if we can come close early in the game and we aren't even on their planet from the half mark and on.

My point is just that we need to change something. It stinks, and is almost a ****** move, to take out Asham. But we just must roll four lines. All other teams do it, and it's obviously that we just don't have the stamina to go with 13-14 skaters 90% of the time...

Hags/Step/Cally were gassed late last night. Zucc and Brassard opened strong, but where then gassed.

You cannot compete in the NHL in 2013 with tired players on the ice. Torts don't play his current 4the line. Gamble on Miller and Kreider.

 

[Ola]

The Renney postseason teams looked better than any of the Torts postseason teams.

If they lose, that's 3 first round exits and a non-playoff season in five years. Torts would be the first Rangers coach to last that long with that kind of ineptitude.

Maybe the players do hate him. The lack of effort is mind boggling.

I am not a Torts fan, but I don't believe that the players isn't giving their all for him (not for a second).

But we play a style that takes an extreme effort on the ice. We roll 13-14 players 90% of the time. They can't take it, but instead of going with lesser players, Torts opts to go with tired players.

Torts has made media and fans his bi***. He talks tough and many are obviously afraid of him. Renney had 50% the roster and still wouldnt have lasted with Torts lack of results. I mean Renney had some really weak rosters (Dawes, Gomez, Prucha, Naslund, Drury on top lines), but was trashed for only winning 2-1. We hit alot more with Renney, but Torts is never called out for icing the least physically team -- by a wide margin -- in the POs. He talks tough, all that matters.

The key to coach in NY = intimidate media.

 

[AlternateSideParking]

Conveniently ignoring the best season and post season we've had since 1994 in the analysis. Clever.

Yes. It was all coaching. Obviously last season was the exception.

Ted Sator and Colin Camble also made it to the CF. How long did they last?

 

[Block More Shots]

We could still win at home.

But this is hockey. I just saw France, a bottom level ECHL team, beat Russia (easily the most loaded hockey team right now on ice). But when we play the Caps away we are glad if we can come close early in the game and we aren't even on their planet from the half mark and on.

My point is just that we need to change something. It stinks, and is almost a ****** move, to take out Asham. But we just must roll four lines. All other teams do it, and it's obviously that we just don't have the stamina to go with 13-14 skaters 90% of the time...

Hags/Step/Cally were gassed late last night. Zucc and Brassard opened strong, but where then gassed.

You cannot compete in the NHL in 2013 with tired players on the ice. Torts don't play his current 4the line. Gamble on Miller and Kreider.

I agree with trying Kreider/Miller on the 4th line, particularly because they will add speed and offensive potential to the lineup. Unfortunately though, I don't think it'll happen.

I've seen wayyyyyy too many people saying that this team just does not care anymore. That's just ridiculous! They seem to hit a wall at one point or another (more noticeably on the road) and become tired. Chalk that up to the system or conditioning or whatever, but the bottom line is that we are not generating enough offense WHEN IT MATTERS. Not converting on PPs and quality scoring chances usually kills your chances at winning in the playoffs. Timely goalscoring is huge in the playoffs, something we sorely lacked for the most part last year (ex. Not having the killer instinct and extending our leads in all three rounds) and in our road games this year.

This series is not over. Win at home and give yourself a chance again in WSH. I expect a Game 6 win for the Rangers.

 

[Chimpradamus]

If you get crosschecked in the head while you're on the ice by that smug Ribeiro so that your ear starts to bleed, I can understand if Boyle had a real problem controlling himself. Also kind of interesting no refs noticed just how bad that crosscheck hit Boyle. Drawing blood with a high stick is an automatic 2+2, apparently not if you crosscheck someone in the head.

Now, if he would've been smart, he would waited until later and then sent him back two timezones. The Caps cheap shots and dirty play was a big part of their victory yesterday.

 

[pld459666]

You absolutely do. But I think the trade deadline's moves showed that Torts is here to stay, whether we like it or not. His system can work, but at the same time he needs to adapt and make adjustments, which he doesn't do. He also does not allow for offensive creativity half the time.

At the same time, who is available that is better than Torts? Also, I believe the problem is that Torts' system was perfect for last year's team, not this years.



It's less noticeable. As a team, we block less shots, so I suppose it seems like Callahan is part of that.

his system of working behind the net cannot and will not win consistently enough in the PO's where you HAVE to play in front of the goalie to score goals on a consistent basis.

his system of surrendering the neutral zone and 10-15 feet deep in their own zone cannot win.

The Rangers got every break imaginable last year and because we are not getting those same breaks, we are who we are which is a mediocore team that plays a timid, submissive and passive game.

I have no confidence in the style that is being employed by Torts. Still no balance in terms of offensive consistency, or strategy for that matter.

 

[LORDE]

This team is no threat on offense
No threat on the PP
It's only a matter if time when those two things are glaringly obvious. GLARINGLY.

As someone said above, I feel so bad for Hank... Allows one goal in the last two regulations in Washington and loses both games.

Sickening.

 

[qwertyaas]

Just imagine we had some semblance of a power play... Caps can take a penalty because we won't score. Similar to teams icing the puck on us to run the clock down - they know we suck at face offs.

 

[LORDE]

What a weird time for a hockey game. I can't ever recall seeing a game start at 4:30, even on a Sunday... 12:30, 3:00, 7:00, 7:30. Just strange.

Has a lot to do with The Players Champ being on NBC. If that wasn't the case it would be an afternoon game on NBC. The Bruins / Leafs game 7 is in Primetime and rightfully so.

 

[abev]

Teams rise and fall ALL the time. We've been consistently in the mix. The only time we missed the playoffs was by, quite literally, the smallest of margins: a shootout.

I like this. It's true. We forget all the time and somehow we look at other teams like they win all the time. But they have their share of mishaps or implosions.

When I see the overwhelming stats of how bad the Rangers are in Washington or how they lack success in playoff overtime it says just one thing to me: the tide will turn. That's not a optimistic view, that's just the ebb and flow of it. Teams dont consistently lose 90% of their road games.

I am not sure they can pull this series out. But I wouldn't be surprised if they find themselves in OT in Game 7 in Washington...and get a bounce.

 

[NHRangerfan]

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.

Don't think MDZ has played any different in the PO's..he has been as inconsistent as ever.

And I was a huge MDZ defender last season preaching patience...I'm starting to doubt he can take another step.

 

[NHRangerfan]

There was one stretch bridging the first and second periods during which the Blueshirts recorded four shots in 19 minutes. Then there was the first 17:49 of the third, in which the Rangers had one shot.

http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/range...ontent=Rangers

Painful, still think they force a game 7, just have no confidence they can win down there. Prove me wrong Rangers!

So much for the Boyle penalty changing the momentum of the game...facts are stubborn things

 

[cd211]

Boyle's always going to be the scapegoat. He scored a goal and took a bad penalty. At WORST he was a wash tonight.

you can't blame him when our PP goes 0-5... we've played one complete game this playoffs in game 4 other then that we've played ok but nothing crazy... if we had a PP wed be onto the next round already.. thats what the issue is not brian boyle in the heat of the moment doing somehting stupid.. its easy to pinpoint that, but all it does is hide the real issues..

richards, dz, step, callahan nash= no PP goals.. thats a serious issue!! cant go 0-5 and expect success!!

last nights game we gave them the win.. the 3rd and ot was a disgrace.. our d were effective pinching in the entire game and then in the 3rd we stopped.. i dont get how we can't play balls to the walls an entire game.. it bothers me bc there is no tomorrow.. every shift should be played like your last in the playoffs..

 

[NHRangerfan]

I shouldn't be amazed after reading here for so long but if someone read all of these comments without knowing the score one would have thought they lost 5-0.

Every year the base picks out someone they hate and blames everything on them. This year it's Boyle. He's the guy outscoring our supposed top-end talent when it counts most, but he took a single penalty and in a lot of folks minds taking one penalty cost a team a game even though he scored that team's only goal that game.

Boyle has 1 penalty in 5 games. He has been one of our top offensive forwards in the series, yet he has been designated as the cause of the team being down 3 games to two.

Meanwhile, if the Rangers had won the game, this thread would be filled with insanely positive comments wondering whether the team might be going all the way.

End of thread/

Great post...not only is he tied for 3rd for PO points on this team he's only played 4 games...and he's outscoring Ovi 3-2....not saying that will extropolate to him being Ovi but as posted above Brian Boyle and his penalty were not the reason we lost.

 

[Nac Mac Feegle]

I am not a Torts fan, but I don't believe that the players isn't giving their all for him (not for a second).

But we play a style that takes an extreme effort on the ice. We roll 13-14 players 90% of the time. They can't take it, but instead of going with lesser players, Torts opts to go with tired players.

Torts has made media and fans his bi***. He talks tough and many are obviously afraid of him. Renney had 50% the roster and still wouldnt have lasted with Torts lack of results. I mean Renney had some really weak rosters (Dawes, Gomez, Prucha, Naslund, Drury on top lines), but was trashed for only winning 2-1. We hit alot more with Renney, but Torts is never called out for icing the least physically team -- by a wide margin -- in the POs. He talks tough, all that matters.

The key to coach in NY = intimidate media.

I still don't get how a guy who is barely 5-foot-7 and 150 pounds and a barks like a little chihuahua can intimidate the media, especially a room for of New Yorkers.

Hell, little Larry Brooks stood toe to toe with him a few years back and all Torts could do was drop a few F-bombs.

 

[haohmaru]

Blaming this on Boyle is idiotic. Seriously. The guy has been one of our best forwards from top to bottom the entire series. Draws, physical play, hustle, scoring, PK'ing, etc...

The problem here is with the sentence that precedes what he's doing well:

The guy has been one of our best forwards from top to bottom the entire series

We should be saying that about guys like Nash, Richards, Callahan, & Stepan. We're down 3-2 because we can't say that about any of them.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Boyle's always going to be the scapegoat. He scored a goal and took a bad penalty. At WORST he was a wash tonight.

I'm sorry, just because a guy scored a goal doesn't give him the right to take a SELFISH penalty like that. Not a wash. A wash would have been if he screwed up defensively. Taking a selfish penalty trumps scoring a goal.

 

[roseyrangers]

So many feels for Brassard.

Best player in the playoffs, and seems like Torts killed him because of the turnover.
That's how he ruins players. If they make a mistake, he demoralizes them so hard

If Crosby didn't come back on D Torts would bench him too. Coach has to go. He's good when he has a bunch of mediocre players and gets them to play team D and makes every game close (as long as they only lose by one he's happy). But once he gets actual players, he doesn't know how to use them. Can Richards, Gaborik, Nash all suddenly stink when they come to the Rangers ? You can see Del Zotto is playing scared and before he ruins Brassard, Kreider, Miller and all the other prospects he has to go. Why did they have a great push at the end of the season ? Because the new players actually played hockey before they got "assimilated" by The Borg coach.