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

[TheTakedown]

I wouldn't mind trying Klein with McD... just to see how it would work out

This... Klein is fresher, and has played less minutes, is a better handler of the puck...

Girardi is also comfortable with John Moore (Moore was moved up to McD's spot during McD's injury)...

At this point, anything is better than nothing.

 

[Fitzy]

NYR played their worst game of the series and won.

Strange things.

 

[FJB]

Did Nash get hooked on the empty net attempt?

 

[Fugazy]

Did Nash get hooked on the empty net attempt?

I didn't see it. I think I remember one of the announcers mentioning it though.

 

[TGWL]

I'm glad they pointed out LA cheating on the faceoffs. I was noticing that all night.

 

[BarbaraAlphanse]

The Nash hate is really unwarranted. He's not scoring goals but he's excelling in every other part of the game.

I know the argument - we're paying him 7.8 to score goals... but he's as well as rounded a forward as we've had in these playoffs, minus the consistent goal scoring.

I can't complain about him this series. I really can't. Obviously, I wish he could score more, but for whatever reason it just isn't going for him.

He's been a solid rock for us defensively, as a forward. He does every little thing right, from back checking, to pinning his guy and/or his stick, lifting sticks of players about to tee up slap shots, everything.

He's been a physical force to deal with for the King's as well. He's leveling anyone in his way. In game 2 and 3 he got a couple of their defensemen and he also took down quick a few times. Last night he crushed one of their players and the crowd went from their ineffective Potvin chant to standing and cheering.

He's kept plays alive offensively, plays that most likely no one else is able to keep alive on our team besides maybe Kreider. Our wingers have been getting bullied on the boards, Nash maintains the puck despite our other wingers being so ineffective in doing so.

He's doing everything else correctly.

 

[chosen]

Every time the Rangers chip the puck in deep, the Kings interfere with our onrushing player. That's Sutter's way of mitigating our speed advantage. The fact that the refs let them get away with it reminds me of the Dead Puck Era Devils. It's disgusting ********* hockey.

And that's all I got to say about that.

All Arbour invented legal interference.

 

[nevesis]

The Nash hate is really unwarranted. He's not scoring goals but he's excelling in every other part of the game.

I know the argument - we're paying him 7.8 to score goals... but he's as well as rounded a forward as we've had in these playoffs, minus the consistent goal scoring.

I can't complain about him this series. I really can't. Obviously, I wish he could score more, but for whatever reason it just isn't going for him.

He's been a solid rock for us defensively, as a forward. He does every little thing right, from back checking, to pinning his guy and/or his stick, lifting sticks of players about to tee up slap shots, everything.

He's been a physical force to deal with for the King's as well. He's leveling anyone in his way. In game 2 and 3 he got a couple of their defensemen and he also took down quick a few times. Last night he crushed one of their players and the crowd went from their ineffective Potvin chant to standing and cheering.

He's kept plays alive offensively, plays that most likely no one else is able to keep alive on our team besides maybe Kreider. Our wingers have been getting bullied on the boards, Nash maintains the puck despite our other wingers being so ineffective in doing so.

He's doing everything else correctly.

As unhappy as I am with him not scoring, everything you've said is 100% correct.

 

[BarbaraAlphanse]

Sutters way of mitigating our speed isn't interfering with our players. It was taking a 2-0 lead that made our forwards want to play conservatively.

Hagelin was interviewed last night and said that they didn't want to make any mistakes so that the Kings would capitalize. They collapsed and were afraid to take risks. They were afraid to take risks in game 3.

Limiting our speed only applies to games 3 and 4, where we played a hell of a lot more conservatively than we did in games 1 and 2.

Had we won one of those games, this wouldn't even be a discussion. They illegally interfered with us the first two games as well... didn't stop us from getting about 7 breakaways.

They're trying to shell up and beat the Kings through Hank. It worked last night, they can't do it again.

 

[Whiplash27]

Was definitely Nash on the EN. I think he was hooked a bit, but it looked like it was going to straight in and instead it curved ever so slightly. The guy is cursed .

 

[offdacrossbar]

The Nash hate is really unwarranted. He's not scoring goals but he's excelling in every other part of the game.

I know the argument - we're paying him 7.8 to score goals... but he's as well as rounded a forward as we've had in these playoffs, minus the consistent goal scoring.

I can't complain about him this series. I really can't. Obviously, I wish he could score more, but for whatever reason it just isn't going for him.

He's been a solid rock for us defensively, as a forward. He does every little thing right, from back checking, to pinning his guy and/or his stick, lifting sticks of players about to tee up slap shots, everything.

He's been a physical force to deal with for the King's as well. He's leveling anyone in his way. In game 2 and 3 he got a couple of their defensemen and he also took down quick a few times. Last night he crushed one of their players and the crowd went from their ineffective Potvin chant to standing and cheering.

He's kept plays alive offensively, plays that most likely no one else is able to keep alive on our team besides maybe Kreider. Our wingers have been getting bullied on the boards, Nash maintains the puck despite our other wingers being so ineffective in doing so.

He's doing everything else correctly.

saying all that and then agreeing nash isnt scoring, means he has become ryan callahan.

look how that worked out.

all i hear is comments that are nothing but cover for his failing to produce. we dont need rick nash to be brian boyle. let brian boyle do that.

see to me it isnt so cut and dry. its not like hes making great scoring plays or sniping posts and crossbars. he isnt a scoring threat ever. i only notice him when hes doing whatever hes doing not involving any offense. hes a glorified grinder now. a 7 million dollar grinder.

his shots at the net are beyond weak. his "snipes" are flubs. he never elevates the puck. hes easily tied up near the net- where he should feast and his ability to finish is non existent.

its as though he isnt even trying to score- when we all know he is but cant. his overall offensive game has left the building.

its really kinda sad.

 

[chosen]

This series is depressing.

If these games were reffed like a regular season game, LA would have been on the PK the entire game.

This has been, by far, the most obstruction-filled series we've played. And with a a team that relies on speed like the Rangers, it's completely unfair to call the games this way.

The only adjustment LA has made is to obstruct the entire game.

Since the first two games, L.A. has looked like the much faster team. Kreider's speed has been neutered and Hagelin is still playing well, but is no longer giving them fits.

The Kings seem to be getting stronger as the series goes on. Hopefully the pendulum can swing back next game.

 

[OverTheCap]

The way some people talk about Nash, it's almost as if they're describing Dubinsky. What was supposed to set Nash apart from Dubinsky is his gamebreaking ability, and we haven't seen that nearly enough.

 

[MrEctions]

It still drives me nuts how they get away with the obstruction interference on the dump ins. Our biggest advantage is speed in on the dump, and they take it away by picking/holding/interfering and the refs let them. Its completely dead-puck ******** and was supposed to be out of the game. It's literally EVERY single dump in they have a hand up on the forechecker.

 

[chosen]

Why can't AV put Moore on the first powerplay unit??? Get Richards off of there. Moore probably has the best shot from the point. Could have had another powerplay assist on a nice shot/pass that i believe Brassard redirected but Quick made a nice save.

This is the single biggest mystery of the series. Every fan and announcer knows that Richards should not be on the power play. Why can't AV figure this out? I don't think he's as bright as some of you believe.

 

[BarbaraAlphanse]

saying all that and then agreeing nash isnt scoring, means he has become ryan callahan.

look how that worked out.

all i hear is comments that are nothing but cover for his failing to produce. we dont need rick nash to be brian boyle. let brian boyle do that.

see to me it isnt so cut and dry. its not like hes making great scoring plays or sniping posts and crossbars. he isnt a scoring threat ever. i only notice him when hes doing whatever hes doing not involving any offense. hes a glorified grinder now. a 7 million dollar grinder.

his shots at the net are beyond weak. his "snipes" are flubs. he never elevates the puck. hes easily tied up near the net- where he should feast and his ability to finish is non existent.

its as though he isnt even trying to score- when we all know he is but cant. his overall offensive game has left the building.

its really kinda sad.

Maybe. I don't think his skill has left the building. It's a fact that players play their best when their confidence is at its highest. The guy can't get any breaks. He's trying to make his own breaks. I looked at the EN attempt last night, it was him, it looked completely on line the entire time, and then it curved left.

He has an empty net in game 3 to cut the lead to 2-1. Doughty severely hooks him at the last second. He has a breakaway about to happen in game 2. Muzzin (or Martinez) football tackles him from behind. Hes had wide open nets throughout the playoffs and somehow something always seems to happen at the last moment. And then you look at someone like Williams who gets a wide open breakaway with our defense on its ass to win game 1....

His confidence isn't high. If he were to hypothetically score a hat trick in the next game, i'd imagine he'd be the forward that was toughest to handle in the following game.

 

[Fletch]

Since the first two games, L.A. has looked like the much faster team. Kreider's speed has been neutered and Hagelin is still playing well, but is no longer giving them fits.

The Kings seem to be getting stronger as the series goes on. Hopefully the pendulum can swing back next game.

this is what I've been focusing on. How will the Rangers get their legs back? AV needs to figure out what to do to inject life into the lineup. Girardi and McDonough continued to play top minutes, as did Staal. Kings just seem to be getting bigger and faster; or the Rangers slower and smaller.

 

[McRanger]

Sometimes being conservative is counter productive. The Rangers have kept their D back in reserve on opposition breakouts since the playoffs started but the separation seems to be even greater now.

They need to start breaking up more plays in the neutral zone and at their blue line. Or at least disrupt the transition game. Hope for some offense off a turnover.

You can't let a team like the Kings walk into your zone and set up.

 

[BarbaraAlphanse]

This is the single biggest mystery of the series. Every fan and announcer knows that Richards should not be on the power play. Why can't AV figure this out? I don't think he's as bright as some of you believe.

It probably has to do more with his unrelenting faith of players to figure it out moreso than not understanding the situation.

But i'm sure that a guy who has made it to SCF and won the presidents trophy in a tough conference another year is "not as bright as we believe".

 

[Vickers8]

Demoting Richards to the 4th line is stupid, he can't play with 2 grinders, however Dom Moore played well on the 2nd line, he should have been scratched and Carbomb should have played on the 4th line....take him off the god damn PP, John Moore created some great chances on the PP from the point

 

[LORDE]

here's the pretty amazing and fairly new york-centric cbc opening montage from tonight ...

To pearl jam's "(i'm still) alive"

so

good

 

[BarbaraAlphanse]

Didn't LA do this to Vigneault when he was coach of Vancouver the year that LA won it all?

Up 3-0. Vancouver wins game 4. The next game goes to OT and Vancouver loses.

Hopefully the hockey gods reverse this fortune for him and for us.

 

[BarbaraAlphanse]

Demoting Richards to the 4th line is stupid, he can't play with 2 grinders, however Dom Moore played well on the 2nd line, he should have been scratched and Carbomb should have played on the 4th line....take him off the god damn PP, John Moore created some great chances on the PP from the point

Honestly, I'd want Miller on the 2nd line and Moore back on the 4th line. We need more offense. Not more grinding.

 

[offdacrossbar]

Maybe. I don't think his skill has left the building. It's a fact that players play their best when their confidence is at its highest. The guy can't get any breaks. He's trying to make his own breaks. I looked at the EN attempt last night, it was him, it looked completely on line the entire time, and then it curved left.

He has an empty net in game 3 to cut the lead to 2-1. Doughty severely hooks him at the last second. He has a breakaway about to happen in game 2. Muzzin (or Martinez) football tackles him from behind. Hes had wide open nets throughout the playoffs and somehow something always seems to happen at the last moment. And then you look at someone like Williams who gets a wide open breakaway with our defense on its ass to win game 1....

His confidence isn't high. If he were to hypothetically score a hat trick in the next game, i'd imagine he'd be the forward that was toughest to handle in the following game.

my criticism of this guy isnt new. its isnt a surprise to me that hes disappeared.

hes a supremely talented guy who has size speed and strength to simply dominate games and take over shifts stat to finish.

he never does. its like he doesnt care. zuke has heart. msl has heart.

imagine rich nash with that kinda motor.

such a waste.

 

[Vickers8]

Honestly, I'd want Miller on the 2nd line and Moore back on the 4th line. We need more offense. Not more grinding.

I thought Dom Moore played well