Post-Game Talk: Rangers @ Snes -- 10/23/21

[gravey9]

The schedule is rough. I'm guessing because the Knicks are home or something?

The Rangers always have a terrible schedule to start the year

I greatly prefer when the Rangers start mostly on the road. I really don't like it when they're home a bunch. A) because those corporate seats stay mostly empty at the start of the season and until the team looks like a winner. B) We are not the most patient fans and the first quarter of a season most teams are settling on their identity and structure and all the important building blocks. It's the kind of really important invisible stuff that makes a team great eventually. And I really don't think playing at MSG is the best place to figure all that out. Much prefer to be on the road where working out the tangles has less pressure.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

An interesting pattern to note. Foxy is started to do that thing that Brian Leetch did in his days. When the Rangers need someone to step up, especially in a 3rd period and make something happen, it's Fox who makes these really dynamic plays that often leads to goals. In part, it's his confidence and maturity going to the next level. But it's also the team structure. Aside from opening night, the team has kept itself in every game. Either due to Shesty or overall team structure and playing physical. When the games are more organized it allows difference makers to step up and be a difference maker. And now we have difference makers -- Fox, Shesty, Panarin and Zib. Hopefully Kakko or Laf eventually join that club. If so, this team can be something one day. But it's imperative as we add back Kakko and Strome, we do so in a way that doesn't alter the team structure/identity that's forming. It's okay if we become more offensively confident but not at the sacrifice of structure and D.

I see a lot of people on here saying we played like crap yesterday until the very end. I totally disagree. I thought our team structure was quite solid most of the game. The structure was strong. The PP and the offense's ability to get inside was not great. But the team really played well in the smaller areas of the game. We were not running around, making mistakes all over the place. We just didn't have much play inside the paint.

If we are a team that is known for keeping games close and surging in the 3rd period this season, that is an outstanding development. It breeds confidence through the whole lineup. It also gives the goalies confidence to know, we just need to keep the game even or close.

For those who remember -- this team is starting to feel like it can win games similar to the 2014 LA Kings. Are we as potent? No. Not yet. Not at all. But we have enough core pieces to build to that.

I guess whatever wins games but I hated watching those Kings teams. Still better than the Islanders the last couple of years.

 

[gravey9]

I guess whatever wins games but I hated watching those Kings teams. Still better than the Islanders the last couple of years.

The only people that liked it were Kings fans. But sitting through the finals in 2014, including one in person at Staples Center where we blew a multiple goal lead in the third and lost in double OT, I'm more than okay with playing that style.

 

[duhmetreE]

First we have no idea if Igor can stay healthy that long. Also they have indicated that the target is no more than 60

We need to find out because when we enter the playoffs, he's the guy. Either he can do it or he needs to be conditioned for it. We can't handle him with baby gloves just to have him pull a groin in the playoffs.

 

[Raspewtin]

re Norris and Murray

i don’t care about anything that happens to any player on any team besides mine. feels great to have the canadian tears flowing again

 

[Larrybiv]

I know we benefited from Murray getting hurt but this team loses this game 10/10 times under Quinn.
Stutzle drew 2 penalties with dives earlier in the game and the 3rd time he gets called. Not sure what he or the Ottawa fans expected. You can’t show up the refs like that.

Kreider has looked good even aside from the PP production. Awesome pass by Fox on the second goal. Great tip by Goodrow on the 3rd with good awareness to get the puck to the net by Blais. Yet again something that differentiates him from a lot of our players.

Fool me once ........shame on you
Fool me twice .........shame on me
Fool me thrice ........ 2 minutes in the sin bin.

 

[TJHKY]

 

[Brother Mouzone]

NO WAY Igor is playing 70 games. You’re setting yourself up for major disappointment if that’s your target.

Perhaps but yes that is what I am asking , Shesty is the type of goalie that needs playing time the more he gets the better he performs ...He gives us a chance to win every night , no matter what team shows up in front of him , he is 25 IMHO he can handle the load ..

 

[Fitzy]

I would just continue to give Georgiev the games on back-to-backs and against the very weakest opponents like Buffalo, Ottawa, etc.

He'll get close to 20 that way which is plenty.

 

[KevinFinnerty]

Strome and Kakko come on down to the 2nd best team in the NHL!! Nice little top 6 infusion. 2nd line C and top 6 PWF

 

[TominNC]

We need to find out because when we enter the playoffs, he's the guy. Either he can do it or he needs to be conditioned for it. We can't handle him with baby gloves just to have him pull a groin in the playoffs.

Or, they manage his games during the season as most teams do now and make sure he has enough for the playoffs

 

[TominNC]

Perhaps but yes that is what I am asking , Shesty is the type of goalie that needs playing time the more he gets the better he performs ...He gives us a chance to win every night , no matter what team shows up in front of him , he is 25 IMHO he can handle the load ..

Based on what? That you’d like him to? He’s never played that much and he’s been injury prone.

 

[Ola]

An interesting pattern to note. Foxy is started to do that thing that Brian Leetch did in his days. When the Rangers need someone to step up, especially in a 3rd period and make something happen, it's Fox who makes these really dynamic plays that often leads to goals. In part, it's his confidence and maturity going to the next level. But it's also the team structure. Aside from opening night, the team has kept itself in every game. Either due to Shesty or overall team structure and playing physical. When the games are more organized it allows difference makers to step up and be a difference maker. And now we have difference makers -- Fox, Shesty, Panarin and Zib. Hopefully Kakko or Laf eventually join that club. If so, this team can be something one day. But it's imperative as we add back Kakko and Strome, we do so in a way that doesn't alter the team structure/identity that's forming. It's okay if we become more offensively confident but not at the sacrifice of structure and D.

I see a lot of people on here saying we played like crap yesterday until the very end. I totally disagree. I thought our team structure was quite solid most of the game. The structure was strong. The PP and the offense's ability to get inside was not great. But the team really played well in the smaller areas of the game. We were not running around, making mistakes all over the place. We just didn't have much play inside the paint.

If we are a team that is known for keeping games close and surging in the 3rd period this season, that is an outstanding development. It breeds confidence through the whole lineup. It also gives the goalies confidence to know, we just need to keep the game even or close.

For those who remember -- this team is starting to feel like it can win games similar to the 2014 LA Kings. Are we as potent? No. Not yet. Not at all. But we have enough core pieces to build to that.

Great post! I agree all the way.

Teams like Ottawa and MTL may not finish high in the standings -- but they challenge you in different ways and when they play well its not easy. Ottawa got the lead and it suits them well to play with a lead. They did a great job for sure taking away the ice for us, and our roster right now don't have that over gear to throw in speed wise that can open things up.

Also thought of Leetch seing Fox push the offense late. Leetch late in games during those prime years, that might be the most exciting things I ever seen in a hockey game. I have some old games on tape. It is insane how he basically goes end to end on will with 3-4 minutes left on the clock when we are down by a goal.

 

[duhmetreE]

Or, they manage his games during the season as most teams do now and make sure he has enough for the playoffs

They are managing his games. 75-80% of the games should go to Shesty.

 

[TominNC]

They are managing his games. 75-80% of the games should go to Shesty.

That's if they need to overload him in a push for a playoff spot. No way is that their target.

 

[Embryo]

I've been watching highlights and Panarin seems fatigued or something, also making a lot of turnovers, which he did in the Ottawa game which led to the 2nd goal. He can't be 100% healthy.

 

[Embryo]

Lets give this guy some credit, totally surrounded by COVID and Ottawa fans. Still there for his team til the end after being down 2-0 with 5 min left in the third.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

So do you guys think Murray getting injured is overblown? Not like the two goals were scored on Forsberg were weak.

 

[smoneil]

It's very simple. I think the team will be better with him at RW. Barron will be the better option for 3C.

The teams success is more important than what Chytil wants.

I disagree, and we argued enough about it last year so I don't think we're ever likely to agree. I also think that what Chytil "wants" is also the best thing for the team's success (that phrasing is a bit disingenuous, as it makes it sound like the team is desperately trying to move him to wing and Chytil is lobbying to play C. The team has been on the record multiple times that they see him as a center, and other than a handful of games two years ago, that's exactly where they've played him). I just don't understand the insistence of the calls for a move to RW. It's not quite to the level of Bern calling for Nieves on the top line, but it is something that shows up at least once in every GDT. It just strikes me as odd since there is no indication that such a move is even on the periphery of the team's consciousness. I actually agree that Barron will be a better fit for 3C. Chytil will either make that jump to 2c or be out of the team IMO. I still have high hopes for the former.

Bro please just tag me rather than taking a cheap shot at me so I won’t notice.

Who cares what f***ing Chytil says. He sucks as Center and has continued to suck. It is way more than about being able to take faceoffs, thats a lame-duck comment. He has a low hockey IQ. Makes so many dumb decisions with the puck. His positioning is weak at both ends of the ice. He is incredibly inconsistent. How much longer do we use the excuse that he is young? This is his what, 3rd year in the league? 4th? When does it start to click for him? His defensive play hasn’t been all that great. And he always looks like he is about to cry.

I would trade him in a heartbeat if the right deal came along for a proven C. I would also move him to wing. Less responsibility. Let him be the “skill” player he wants to be. Put Goodrow at Center. Have Barron continue to develop at Center.

It wasn't a cheap shot--just an observation. Trust me, I wasn't trying to slip some insult in below your radar. If I want to insult a person, I'll just do it, haha. I'm also not looking to re-hash the arguments over and over again. As I said to dumetreE, we argued enough last year to make it fairly obvious that we don't agree about the player (I will say that your vitriol towards him here is so over the top that I wonder what the kid did to you). That's why I stopped responding to your Chytil posts--we were never going to change each other's mind (and I notice that a lot of Chytil boosters have seemingly made a similar realization). I mentioned faceoffs because I was responding to a post that cited faceoff percentage in one game as the reason Chytil "doesn't work" as a center--it's also one of the cudgels you two used last year to make the same argument. Objectively, he has been much better in that area thus far this season.

I just don't understand the persistent call to move him to RW when Chytil AND the team have said that they see him as a center and that's exactly where they've played him for the majority of his career. It's like a school announcing their lunch menu and complaining every day that they aren't serving pizza for lunch.

 

[gump116]

On Fox, there are a lot of comments about how he makes plays ‘only he can make’.

But to put that in perspective, I’ve seen a bunch of players do exactly what he does. It’s not even uncommon. I played 3-4 tier hockey in Sweden and Finland, and some qualification games against 2nd tier teams. Every now and then some experienced SHL player wound up on a 3-4 tier team for whatever reason. This type of hockey is exactly what you could see. You hear jokes like ‘Have you seen X play in the 3rd tier league? All he has to do to beat a defender is first raise his left eyebrow, second skate to the right’, I mean, that is how it looks sometimes.

Fox skill set isn’t dominant overall, but he has worked tremendously on exactly the right things. He does get a jump on a player in many situations because his edge work and first step is great. But more than anything, he is in total control and a step ahead most opponents. When you move on the ice your “posture”, in lack of better words, completely limits your alternatives. Ie if you lean to the left, it takes a second extra to get going to the right. When someone moves down 2-3 tiers, you get the same effect. Everyone coming at the player just advertise their intentions so clearly that the player just has to wait them out.

That Fox can do this at the NHL level is really special.

Fox kinds of reminds me of prime Lindstrom and it’s because of this. Style of play is very different but it’s that he seems to be playing a level or 2 below where he should, almost like when you see a parent playing with their kids. As you said that’s he’s doing this in the nhl, the best league in the world is ridiculous. Very small sample size but I’m very intrigued to see how he’ll do in the olympics against other top teams, which is really the only level above the nhl. Will his style of play work and will he still be dominant against in all star team like Canada or Sweden for example

 

[duhmetreE]

I disagree, and we argued enough about it last year so I don't think we're ever likely to agree. I also think that what Chytil "wants" is also the best thing for the team's success (that phrasing is a bit disingenuous, as it makes it sound like the team is desperately trying to move him to wing and Chytil is lobbying to play C. The team has been on the record multiple times that they see him as a center, and other than a handful of games two years ago, that's exactly where they've played him). I just don't understand the insistence of the calls for a move to RW. It's not quite to the level of Bern calling for Nieves on the top line, but it is something that shows up at least once in every GDT. It just strikes me as odd since there is no indication that such a move is even on the periphery of the team's consciousness. I actually agree that Barron will be a better fit for 3C. Chytil will either make that jump to 2c or be out of the team IMO. I still have high hopes for the former.

We all want Chytil to be a Center... just like we all want Laf and Kakko to be tearing it up. It doesn't mean he it's happening. I doesn't mean he can't be a Center down the road.

At this point in time, I dont think he's the best option. All the things he does well, he could still do them at wing. All the things he does poorly right now imo, are magnified at Center while they are minimized at wing..

Goodrow and Barron are both better options at 3C right now IMO.

 

[KevinFinnerty]

This is the kind of game that we lose last year, the year before and the year before that one. This team has some balls for sure. Very encouraged by this game and this teams first 6 games

 

[Fitzy]

That's if they need to overload him in a push for a playoff spot. No way is that their target.

75% would be 61 games, so I don't think that's pushing it at all for a starting goalie.

 

[Cmox]

Lets give this guy some credit, totally surrounded by COVID and Ottawa fans. Still there for his team til the end after being down 2-0 with 5 min left in the third.


View attachment 473761

I’m dying at the mascot. Same barber. What a chad.

 

[TominNC]

75% would be 61 games, so I don't think that's pushing it at all for a starting goalie.

It is for someone who has never played nearly that many