Post-Game Talk: Sens @ Rangers: The misadventures of the Hobbit and the Lorax

[redfzn]

Stop watching them then. They played fine tonight. They're also missing their first line left wing and best overall player in McD.

Give me a break.

lmao Kreider?

non factor.

**** Neil. good game though

 

[17futurecap]

Brassard missing the open net sucked, but they had other chances, just couldn't put it in the net. I thought the D was real bad tonight, Sens seemed to have lots of 2 on 1 breakaways. Obviously need Mac back for the playoffs, hopefully he can get back before the regular season ends. Zibanejad just walking out of the face off with the puck and firing it in was awful.

Went to this one live, obviously Zucc was a force out there, thought Nash and especially Hagelin gave good effort tonight. It's not going to work out with Boyle, Richards and MSL, but Boyle really does give it his all on every shift. Guy is a 4th liner, who I hope can go back there because he is good there, but he takes so much crap from the MSG crowd, so annoying.

 

[fredrikstad]

I hate the Islanders and Flyers on pure principle.

I hate the Devils because of the rivalry.

I hate the Penguins because of Crosby and everyone on their knees in front of him.

But, I'm really not sure I don't hate the bush league Ottawa Senators more than any of those teams. A bunch of third-line ***clowns with speed. Minimal talent at best, but can certainly play world-beating style hockey on the world's crappiest ice surface.

And I strongly believe that the world's crappiest ice surface, is a big part of the reason The Rangers has a much better record on the road, then they have at home ice. (Seriuos)
I think the majority of The Rangers players learned their hockey abc in proper rinks, while teams like colorado and ottawa learned to skate in bumpy pounds and lakes, or something like that.
Or maybe The Rangers would have to get new skates to often because of the slush they have to play in most off all teams in the league (Not completely serious )

In a more serious way, maybe this is a big part of the wear and tear over a full season that "SignBluesOnBrodway" and "Bleed Ranger Blue" talked so much about past summer when they doubted Zucc's ability to contribute with 0.5 points over a full season. I guess it is much harder to skate in almost water in 40 games +,no? By the way,wasn't it this guy MSL the only midget in the world who could compete at this level?

 

[Rangers ftw]

Zuccarello was incrediable, hustlin all over the ice, one of his best games. Nash would've had a couple of goals with a bit of luck. Neil is POS, no news.

 

[Idlerlee]

..I love little Zuc but lets face he's a side show when things get nasty

A side show would be a dwarf riding a motorbike through the legs of chara while slapping salmons on his naked chest.

A guy barreling down the ice to help out his teammate and at the same time sends Neil flying, deserves a little more respect than being labeled a sideshow. At least in my opinion

 

[LORENZO]

Carcillo had a good game

 

[shoves]

I hope people see what this lack of retaliation is gonna do to our team. The hit on Staal had to come. Neil took runs at both Zucc and Staal earlier in the game without any response from Rangers. I knew that was gonna evolve to another hit.

These guys like Neil and Burrows is gonna do those hits if theyre allowed to do them. If we want to keep our key players fit, we cant let borderline hits be taken without any response at all. Thats like asking for more.

That being said, game wasnt too bad. Provided a lot of chances, several lines contributed. Goals conceded was too easy, atlest the Zibby goal. Way too easy

 

[tbonenc*]

I mean have you even looked at his stats the last 10 games?

Even more importantly, I've watched all of those games and replayed them on occasion.

He has had an occasional outstanding game/period, but he let's in too many questionable goals given his stature in the league, not to mention his contract.

I'm really getting nauseated listening to Sam and Joe praise Hank for every puck that he stops. Even routine saves get the praise. Newsflash, he is supposed to make the routing saves and even stop the tough ones. That is what great goaltenders do. Thus far, with the exception of a pre-Olympics stretch, I have not seen that from Hank.

 

[tbonenc*]

So, when his stats were poor it was indicative of his play. When his stats are excellent, its moot and not indicative of his play.

I completely, completely disagree.

On almost all accounts, including all negative aspects afterwards.

I think in 2014 his bad goals have been few and far between, and his play has elevated the team back into a comfortable post season position.

Relax about the forwards too. St. Louis will produce more moving forward. Nash, at some point needs to pick it up. It is not a bad thing that players like Pouliot are producing, its great that we have depth.

Henrik Lundqvist AND the New York Rangers are playing excellent hockey heading into the post season. Their record is indicative of that.

Will they make a lot of noise in the post season? No. Probably not. I am guessing they are eliminated in the first or second round. I'm fine with that too, because I did not expect them to make the Stanley Cup Finals. I think anyone who was expecting that, they had an unrealistic set of expectations. Sometimes you have to be happy with what the team is, and that is a top10-top15 team in the NHL that likely won't be able to go the distance. They are not built for it.

Do you people actually watch the games?

First off, I'm not saying that Hank is the problem with this team, but he isn't playing like a top 10 goaltender in this league. He needs to start making the saves that keep your team in the game more often. You know, like top goaltenders do.

I watch a ton of other teams and there are plenty of instances where goalies play poorly, but the top guys, like Rask, Price, Valarmov and Bob make the big saves where Hank doesn't.

Now, if Hank steps it up and starts making the big saves, I will be the first one here to say it.

 

[5 4 Fighting]

Let's face it, this team is going nowhere if Lundqvist isn't in top form for the playoffs. He sharpens up come crunch time- Olympics, playoffs, must win games he usually comes through. Yeah he's played poorly this season compared to his usual self, but make no mistake, we are only going as far as he's going to push us. We need to protect him and get tougher as a team, not individuals. First Pouliot in Columbus, then Moore and Staal tonight. When Ryan McDonagh comes back, we need to protect everyone from here on out.

 

[CharlieCharleschuk]

Rangers played really sloppy the first 30 minutes or so. Leaving pucks behind them, forwards breaking out before the D had the puck, defensemen chasing.

That's the basic root of the problem. Their zone has been a mess. But that's what happens when your best defenseman is out and you have guys playing the wrong side and playing the wrong match ups. The mental focus was just not there at the beginning of the game.

I also haven't really seen a group of players who lose track of the puck so much before. It seems like the Rangers, more than any other team I've watched, can't find the puck when it's sitting right between their legs. Are they afraid of looking around and being plastered by the other team? Lots of the time they're also looking up when taking passes so they miss a lot of bouncing pucks. It's weird.

It's hard to believe people pointing fingers at Nash and Lundqvist. Nash had several shifts where he controlled play in the O zone. Lundqvist had several huge saves on wide open shooters and big shots through traffic that could have totally blown the game open for the Sens.

Lastly, the Neil hit... what a charge. What a deliberate, fully aware late hit. I'm very happy with the Rangers' response, which was more heart than we've seen in a while. The hit was the result of the lax refereeing for the first two and a half periods. The scrum was the result of the Rangers finally having to police the game themselves. It's ridiculous that the Rangers suffer Neil's charge, attempt to stand up for themselves, get rag dolled by the much larger Senators, then endure the third man in penalty. That's an injustice in the way the rules are set up.

 

[OverTheCap]

MSL and Richards are getting a lot of ice time but the production isn't there and their play is underwhelming. Yet another game where Richards has the most power play time on the team. AV is giving them too much respect. Zucc outplayed them both but received less minutes than them.

The Rangers are sloppy and careless with the puck lately, which I'm sure has something to do with McDonagh's absence but I noticed this problem before he got injured. They aren't protecting the puck well, they aren't winning battles for loose pucks, and they are haphazardly flinging the puck to clear the zone without paying attention to where the opposing players are positioned. Definitely not encouraging to see this sort of play so close to the playoffs.

 

[AlternateSideParking]

Lundqvist had two bad months -- October and December. They were bad months by any standard.

Still, he's been Vezina-esque the remainder of the season. Granted, those two months represent a good chunk of his season (33pct of his season) but it didnt cripple or ruin the team's chances.

You can argue that had Lundqvist been consistent this season, they would have 50 wins. But you can also say had Richards, Stepan, Nash and MSL been consistent, the same 50 wins would be attainable.

I still take Lundqvist over any goalie for a 7-game series, and that includes Quick and Rask. Henrik is 3-0 in his last three Game 7's. He just needs the team to cooperate to get to a Game 7.

 

[Hi ImHFNYR]

Missed the game. Guess that was good. There is a lot of melodrama in this PGT though. Cringe worthy

 

[TeamStewie]

MSL and Richards are getting a lot of ice time but the production isn't there and their play is underwhelming. Yet another game where Richards has the most power play time on the team. AV is giving them too much respect. Zucc outplayed them both but received less minutes than them.

The Rangers are sloppy and careless with the puck lately, which I'm sure has something to do with McDonagh's absence but I noticed this problem before he got injured. They aren't protecting the puck well, they aren't winning battles for loose pucks, and they are haphazardly flinging the puck to clear the zone without paying attention to where the opposing players are positioned. Definitely not encouraging to see this sort of play so close to the playoffs.

They really need to get MSL away from Richards. He's like the Black Hole of Suck. Everyone around him gets sucked into his awfulness.

 

[AHB*]

I don't think Kreider is a world-beater at this point, but it's actually shocking to me that some people don't realize how important he is to this team. Sure he's streaky as **** right now, but he's easily our best LW.

Guess you guys think Carcillo/Boyle/Dorsett are equal to him though.

Also, people who don't think we'll make the playoffs......are you serious. You don't think in the 7 remaining games for the Devils and Rangers that the Rangers will either get one point or the Devils will lose at least one? Sure it's not IMPOSSIBLE, but it's so unlikely.

 

[AHB*]

Do you people actually watch the games?

First off, I'm not saying that Hank is the problem with this team, but he isn't playing like a top 10 goaltender in this league. He needs to start making the saves that keep your team in the game more often. You know, like top goaltenders do.

I watch a ton of other teams and there are plenty of instances where goalies play poorly, but the top guys, like Rask, Price, Valarmov and Bob make the big saves where Hank doesn't.

Now, if Hank steps it up and starts making the big saves, I will be the first one here to say it.

Lundqvist has been unreal down the stretch and if you think last night was a bad performance, you should rewatch the goals. They were literally ripping shots from in the slot, he stood on his head. Also, I think the game against Colorado was his second best performance of the entire season.

 

[SupersonicMonkey*]

Henrik has been good.

Allowing opponents to get prime shots from the slot is not good.

 

[ImIdaho]

Lundqvist has been unreal down the stretch and if you think last night was a bad performance, you should rewatch the goals. They were literally ripping shots from in the slot, he stood on his head. Also, I think the game against Colorado was his second best performance of the entire season.

Really? Wow. Because I thought he should had those 2 first goals. The third one I'm not pinning on him because:

1.) ******** that the ref saw the puck and I've had enough of this taking quick whistles or putting the whistle away on plays like that;

2.) Why the **** was a Sens player allowed to hack away at Lundy without being drilled down on the ice?

Overall, there is a problem when your #1 points getter is Zuccarello. Not saying or implying Zuccs is a fringe player without talent, but there are other players on this team who should have more. For starters, I thought our "superstar" had close to 60 points. I find out he had 38. Sure, he missed a bunch of games, but even with that said, only 38?

 

[AHB*]

Really? Wow. Because I thought he should had those 2 first goals. The third one I'm not pinning on him because:

1.) ******** that the ref saw the puck and I've had enough of this taking quick whistles or putting the whistle away on plays like that;

2.) Why the **** was a Sens player allowed to hack away at Lundy without being drilled down on the ice?

Overall, there is a problem when your #1 points getter is Zuccarello. Not saying or implying Zuccs is a fringe player without talent, but there are other players on this team who should have more. For starters, I thought our "superstar" had close to 60 points. I find out he had 38. Sure, he missed a bunch of games, but even with that said, only 38?

Nash has had a **** year. It is what it is. HOpefully he and MSL are leading the team in points next year, as it should be. With Zucc, Steps, Kreider etc providing secondary scoring.

That being said, and I'm no Hank apologist, I'll call him out when he deserves it, that Zibanejad shot was ripped from about 8 feet out. It's extremely difficult to react on that. No player should ever be shooting from there.

He made a ton of big saves and kept us in the game. He let in at worst, one goal he could have stopped. But it wasn't a "bad" goal by any means.

He did his job, with no help from the D and without our best player. It wasn't a bad game. The TEAM played for 20 minutes last night. End of story.

 

[SupersonicMonkey*]

Rick Nash only has 38 points because he doesn't have the guts or the conditioning to play the game he should be playing.

It looks like his diet consists of cakes and donuts. He looks fat and out of shape.

He should be controlling the pace of the game when he's on the ice. His size, his reach, his hands, there is no excuse for the floating and perimeter play. He got hit, ok, suck it up. Staal had a couple of worse concussions and a major eye injury, i don't see him using that as an exuse or a crutch.

 

[mcsauer2738]

Video of Staal vs. Neil

I was driving during the 3rd period and I cannot find a video of it anywhere. Anyone have a link?

 

[AHB*]

Rick Nash was our best player last night. Better then Zucc.

 

[SupersonicMonkey*]

People said Gaborik's game should be sneaky so him being invisible was expected. Ok, fine. But Nash's game should be bulling his way to the net.

 

[ImIdaho]

Rick Nash was our best player last night. Better then Zucc.

I disagree. Outside of those two goals, Zucc was the one that made the pass to Brass who had that open net. Plus, there was one hit where Zuccs drilled a player into the boards.

Outside of taking shots on goals, there were more than a handful of stupid passes that Nash made.