Post-Game Talk: Rangers - Kings | SCF | Game 4

[Nyrvana]

When players are playing hockey after the middle of May, I never judge an individual's performance until the playoffs are over and we find out what they were struggling through. People were all over Bergeron last year and the SCF ended and suddenly people were like "oh he had a broken rib and a punctured lung?" Same thing with Chara. "Why doesn't he skate harder?" then "Oh, hip flexor?"

If Girardi is hurt, why the hell would he still be getting the minutes he is?

 

[Tawnos]

Any defenseman does, but Stralman seems to make the least of our defensemen.

Nah, I disagree with that. They end up in the back of the net, sure. But he also faces the lesser of the competition compared to our main 3 guys. His Corsi quality of competition in the playoffs is significantly lower at 5 on 5. It was during the regular season too.

 

[bl02]

I'd be happy with Moore and McDonagh as the top PP pairing. Let McD set up Moore for one timers.

Absolutely! Unfortunately he only gets on for the final 30 seconds cause Richards plays the first 90 seconds of the powerplay.

 

[Tawnos]

If Girardi is hurt, why the hell would he still be getting the minutes he is?

Because a 75% Girardi is better in the situations he plays against who he plays than a 100% Anton Stralman. Also, we don't know the whole situation. If Girardi is hurt, it doesn't mean that Stralman isn't.

 

[Unpredictable1]

Girardi just looked super gassed tonight. He completely gave up on a few backchecks.

Well to me, looked like he was just depleted.

 

[Tawnos]

I'd really like to know who thinks Girardi's skating stride looks comfortable here.

 

[Nash Money]

Girardi just looked super gassed tonight. He completely gave up on a few backchecks.

Well to me, looked like he was just depleted.

At least the team has time to rest...

 

[Unpredictable1]

I'd really like to know who thinks Girardi's skating stride looks comfortable here.

A few strides with nothing left in the tank to me...

I dunno, I've been to that point - at a far less level lol

 

[ltsthinaz]

1. This is the kind of series Nash should be dominating. He has exactly zero goals and assists.

2. Actually, unless the whole team is out of gas, I think they play better on the road than they do at home. So while I'm still thinking we're not winning the Cup, Kings aren't chopped liver (but this series should be 2-2, it'll be a long time before I forget the refs gifted the Kings Game 2), I have some hope for Game 5, though I expect Kings to come out hard, and they will need more than they showed tonight to win

3. Girardi has been brutal this series. I like him, his contract is very reasonable, and we need his size, but going forward, why not try Klein with McD. I think that might be a very good fit.

4. Congrats to all you youngsters - I waited 40 years to see Lord Stanley raised in 1994 (despairing it would ever happen, I drove to Toronto the summer before to pose with the Cup).

 

[Tawnos]

A few strides with nothing left in the tank to me...

I dunno, I've been to that point - at a far less level lol

Staring at that for about 30 seconds, I actually think he's pushing much harder with his left than his right. Not getting much acceleration out of either one, but it almost resembles a limp to me.

 

[Pizza]

Girardi could very well surprise with a bounceback game. Another poster mentioned, and rightfully so, that Danny G. makes a lot of subtle unnoticed plays.
Unfortunately, the bad plays are noticed in direct ratio to the effect.
I'm a fan of Girardi. He needs to calm down, anticipate, and play well positionally. He is a veteran, he knows how to do this.

Yeah, I think your right. We need a very solid game from him on Friday. I hope considers using a wood stick.

 

[TheTakedown]

I love girardi but he needs to be moved down to another pairing... Hr cannot handle the kings top line...

Secondly Richards needs to get OFF OF THR ****ING POWER PLAY... Notice how we started getting shots on goal AFTER HE GOT OFF THE ICE? god AV.... Please just take him off..

I do commend AV for taking Richards off the 2nd line though. Moore was a bit of a spark plug on that line.

4th line played well...

I'm not sure what happened in the 3rd... 1 shot on goal is horrendous... Kings are learning how to run our guys out of gas... AV needs to even out playing time just a tad more...

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Anyone else worried that with how tired the team looked that was their last hoorah like Montreal's was in game 5 when they were tired in game 6?

 

[ltsthinaz]

Anyone else worried that with how tired the team looked that was their last hoorah like Montreal's was in game 5 when they were tired in game 6?

Probably, but you never know.

 

[trilobyte]

I love girardi but he needs to be moved down to another pairing... Hr cannot handle the kings top line...

Secondly Richards needs to get OFF OF THR ****ING POWER PLAY... Notice how we started getting shots on goal AFTER HE GOT OFF THE ICE? god AV.... Please just take him off..

I do commend AV for taking Richards off the 2nd line though. Moore was a bit of a spark plug on that line.

4th line played well...

I'm not sure what happened in the 3rd... 1 shot on goal is horrendous... Kings are learning how to run our guys out of gas... AV needs to even out playing time just a tad more...

The Kings are doing what they do, interfering at a level that is accepted. Most of that stuff be penalized in the regular season, and also in earlier playoff rounds. The refs have made a decision, one that is in the Kings favour. They are trained and practiced in obstruction.

 

[Loff]

**** yeah.

One at a time, boys. One at a time.

 

[Kokoschka]

What I've noticed is some kind of "trickling up effect". Let me explain. Our 4th line has a much harder time wearing out LA's big bodied defenders than they did wearing out MTL's. That's one of the reasons why those guys appear a lot fresher playing our top 9. I want Kreider and Nash to go hard after those guys. Boyle and Dorsett can't handle this on their own. Nash has appeared to be willing to do some damage by his standards. Looking at how much of an obnoxious ****** (I mean that in the best possible way of course) Kreider can be at the rink, he has to do it a lot more.

Anyway, I like what JMoore did on the powerplay. Just shoot the ****ing puck. If you're John Moore, that's no problem, because if your opponent blocks that thing, your speed is going to get you to the loose puck first 95 times out of 100. That's the biggest reason for Richards playing like dog poop on the PP as well. If he shoots it into a defending forward, it's a breakaway for LA most of the times. He just looks uncomfortable back there, afraid to make any kind of play at all, if you're taking out the alibi pass to McDonagh or the aimless dump along the wall.

The biggest issue for next game will be to find ways to get into the Kings' zone with speed. We didn't do that at all this game.

 

[Inferno]

I'll take the win...but it was easily our worst game of the series if not the entire playoffs.

Unbelievable luck tonight. It evens out. Maybe 1 more lucky win, and then see what happens?

 

[MillerTime79]

Staring at that for about 30 seconds, I actually think he's pushing much harder with his left than his right. Not getting much acceleration out of either one, but it almost resembles a limp to me.

100% agreed. He's pushing hard with the left and just bringing the right leg along for the ride. Must have some type of right knee/leg injury.

 

[tomobson]

I don't care if it's Moore or Stralman, but the less minutes Richards plays the better off we are. Let him use whatever gas he has left for even strength fourth line time.

 

[theJUMPER]

Anyone else worried that with how tired the team looked that was their last hoorah like Montreal's was in game 5 when they were tired in game 6?

The only fatigue i'm seeing is from Girardi and Richards. I'm for cutting their minutes.

Especially giving Girardi 3 or 4 minutes, and having Staal take some D1 pairing time.

 

[theJUMPER]

I don't care if it's Moore or Stralman, but the less minutes Richards plays the better off we are. Let him use whatever gas he has left for even strength fourth line time.

I'm for giving Brad, Mike Richards time. 12-14 minutes/game.

 

[The Lunatic Fridge]

At the minutes he plays against who he plays against, his game is still better right now than Moore or Klein or Stralman's would be in the same situation.

I disagree.Its not that he has been "terrible" he has just gotten caught on basically the same play a few times now. I don't blame him for the broken stick play or anything. I just think a guy like stralman is playing with a TON more confidence right now.

 

[vippe]

I cant explain how nervous I was for this one.. and the Rangers isnt even my first team to cheer for so I cant imagine how you guys feel. Things I take from this game:

Hank - Was brilliant and for the first time in this series he had some luck on his side. He will need to play like this for the rest of the season for the Rangers to win this one. Not an easy task.

Strålman - While McDonagh was absolutely brilliant against Montreal and the last few games against the Pens I believe he has been the best D for the Rangers this post season. Signing Girardi before Strålman might bite you in the ass. Nice save today!

Girardi & Richards - There are no words, all they do right now is suck. Girardi giving it away AGAIN for the Kings to score. I am not sure at this point but Richards and Girardi have a combined 4 give aways leading directly to goals so far in this series. And they have several other give aways that just arent forgettable. With 1 minute to go Girardi has open space to pass to a linemate but decides to do his game 1 move again and throwing it against the other side. Doesnt he have a back hand? Richards just look empty.

MZA & MSL - Small guys best forwards on the team. Marty seems to be the only forward finding the net on a consistant basis while Zuccarello looks good for the most part but not really getting paid.

Nash - Worlds most expensive checking forward. Plays well in his own zone but we want more. He's not costing the rangers any games but absolutely not winning games either. Is that what we want from a forward of his calibre?

 

[The Lunatic Fridge]

Girardi & Richards - There are no words, all they do right now is suck. Girardi giving it away AGAIN for the Kings to score. I am not sure at this point but Richards and Girardi have a combined 4 give aways leading directly to goals so far in this series. And they have several other give aways that just arent forgettable. With 1 minute to go Girardi has open space to pass to a linemate but decides to do his game 1 move again and throwing it against the other side. Doesnt he have a back hand? Richards just look empty.

Can't blame Girardi entirely for this one. His stick broke. hard not to turn it over with no stick. But he did play poorly regardless.