The Negativity-**Only** Thread (A Place to go to vent) II

[drwpreds]

And like I said, if guys weren't lazy we wouldn't be giving up as many goals as we are and maybe winning some of the games we scored 2 goals in. There should be no reason we score 3 goals and lose. We scored 4 last night and lost. 2 of the goals Rinne let's in are on him so while the offense hasn't been stellar, Rinne and laziness from our forwards has cost us games as well.

This is what I have been saying all year- that our defense (goals allowed) has been our biggest problem, despite the offensive woes.

Sometimes you have to win those 2-1, 3-2 type games- heck even a 1-0 or 2-0 win. We used to win those games all the time when we had great goaltending/defensive team.

But we do not have that anymore. We are going to find a way to allow 3 goals almost every single night.

I maintain that if we had our usual defense and a normal Pekka Rinne, we would solidly in the playoffs even with our lack of goal scoring.

 

[SlapshotMe]

I know what you're saying but when you have an elite level goalie like we supposedly have or had in this case, you win scoring 2 goals because he only gives up 1, regardless of what's happening in front of him.

Not often, the best defense in the NHL still gives up 2 goals a game.

You making the point that we scored 3 in the third period I don't get though. The Jets scored 3 in the second period. It's not how many you score per period, it's how many you have at the end of the night, regardless of when they happen. Bottom line is we scored 4 and lost. That's unacceptable, especially when you're paying a goalie $7 million a season to stop pucks, especially easy ones. The wrap around goal by Buff was just as soft.

I don't disagree, the wrap around was especially bad.

But my point is that we have to look at last night with some skepticism. The Jets were up 4-1 before our comeback, we have to acknowledge that they let up a little and that contributed to us coming back.

Again, I'm just trying to provide some balance to these talks. The discussion has been all about Rinne but our offense is terrible as well. You're not winning many games scoring 0, 1, or 2 points, and 3 point games are a toss-up. Everyone not named Johansen needs to step the hell up and do something.

 

[Byrddog]

Rinne has been elite and carried this team for a long time. We did not expect his decline this soon but his window is closing faster than we projected even last year. His contract is heavy for sure, but it would be hard to find a team that would take the contract at his age. Buying him out would not be popular with owners at this point the team is on life support anyway. So we will hope he can get some of his game back. But boy last night he was scrambling the whole night. Its hard to be too critical of the guy because of what he did for the team in the past but he will need replaced much sooner than we would have liked.

 

[Pred303]

This is what I have been saying all year- that our defense (goals allowed) has been our biggest problem, despite the offensive woes.

Sometimes you have to win those 2-1, 3-2 type games- heck even a 1-0 or 2-0 win. We used to win those games all the time when we had great goaltending/defensive team.

But we do not have that anymore. We are going to find a way to allow 3 goals almost every single night.

I maintain that if we had our usual defense and a normal Pekka Rinne, we would solidly in the playoffs even with our lack of goal scoring.

last year we won 11 games when we only scored 2 or 1 goals. this year so far we have won 3 when we only scored 2 goals.

 

[SlapshotMe]

This is what I have been saying all year- that our defense (goals allowed) has been our biggest problem, despite the offensive woes.

Sometimes you have to win those 2-1, 3-2 type games- heck even a 1-0 or 2-0 win. We used to win those games all the time when we had great goaltending/defensive team.

No we didn't, the best team in the NHL gives up 2 goals a game. 2-0 wins are nice but they are pretty rare. You should adjust your expectations.

But we do not have that anymore. We are going to find a way to allow 3 goals almost every single night.

I maintain that if we had our usual defense and a normal Pekka Rinne, we would solidly in the playoffs even with our lack of goal scoring.

I don't know why you wouldn't prefer a balanced team. Dreaming of the good ole days when we used to win 1-0 snorefests might be fun for you but it's unlikely to come back.

I'd prefer more 4-3, 3-2, 4-2 wins. I definitely don't want us to give up 4 or 5 goals, don't get me wrong, but I also don't expect 1 goal wins.

 

[FossilFndr]

Well I guess it's time before the ledge gets crowded

 

[Drake744]

Here's some negativity for you: Eric Nystrom has more goals than

Colin Wilson
Mike Fisher
Mike Ribiero
Cody Hodgson

Four guys we look at on a nightly basis to contribute and score.

I know that's supposed to be an indictment on some of our top forwards (Hodgson? Really?) but Nystrom is weird. I think by and large he pretty much blows but he has at least some shred of offensive talent because he finds ways to score random goals more than any bad player I've ever seen. He scored 4 friggin goals in a game once and he actually averages 1 goal per 6.2 games throughout his career as a Predator. Even if you take his 4 goal game and change that to a 1 goal game he still averages a goal in under seven games. He can find ways to the back of the net at times, but he can't do much else.

 

[Pred303]

Nystrom has a knack for goal scoring. He will go to the hard places and actually has a decent shot as well. his problem is that he has zero ability to generate that shot himself. He might actually work some offensively on a line with decent offensive players that can put the puck on his stick.

now that doesn't change the fact he's awful in transition. last night twice he was hit when he was open and couldn't handle the pass at all. he's still slow and a defensive liability, but when he's with faster players they can cover up some of his shortfalls.

 

[triggrman]

If he's never on the pk again, I'll be happy. Leaving the zone last night before the puck is a cardinal sin I'd get on to high school pk units for, much less a NHL player. There was no need for him to try to jump up ice on that, none, inexcusable.

 

[Pred303]

If he's never on the pk again, I'll be happy. Leaving the zone last night before the puck is a cardinal sin I'd get on to high school pk units for, much less a NHL player. There was no need for him to try to jump up ice on that, none, inexcusable.

on that I totally agree. eckholm catches all the blame for not clearing the puck, but he cleared got it to a spot where Nystrom SHOULD have been.

 

[drwpreds]

No we didn't, the best team in the NHL gives up 2 goals a game. 2-0 wins are nice but they are pretty rare. You should adjust your expectations.



I don't know why you wouldn't prefer a balanced team. Dreaming of the good ole days when we used to win 1-0 snorefests might be fun for you but it's unlikely to come back.

I'd prefer more 4-3, 3-2, 4-2 wins. I definitely don't want us to give up 4 or 5 goals, don't get me wrong, but I also don't expect 1 goal wins.

I am not 'dreaming of the good ole days'.

I am not saying I want to, or that we should, win EVERY game 2-0 or 1-0. But if you want to be an elite team in what is now a very low scoring NHL, you have to win SOME of the 2-1 type games.

Go look at any of the top 10 teams in the league and look at their wins- guarantee you they have several wins where they scored 2 goals or even 1. I just looked up the Caps, the best team in the league- they are loaded with offense and they have EIGHT wins where they scored 1 or 2 goals- 8. That is why they have the best record in the league.

As PRED303 pointed out, we won 11 games last year when we scored 1 or 2 goals- we won't come anywhere near that this year.

 

[SlapshotMe]

I am not 'dreaming of the good ole days'.

I am not saying I want to, or that we should, win EVERY game 2-0 or 1-0. But if you want to be an elite team in what is now a very low scoring NHL, you have to win SOME of the 2-1 type games.

Sure, and you should also win some 4-3 games, some 5-3 games, some 5-2 games, but those aren't going to happen either. But all we're discussing on this forum is the lack of shutouts.

 

[hockey diva]

When is Poile going to can the goalie coach? He's obviously NOT helping Pekka.

 

[Pred303]

Sure, and you should also win some 4-3 games, some 5-3 games, some 5-2 games, but those aren't going to happen either. But all we're discussing on this forum is the lack of shutouts.

ideally you want to be balanced enough to where when you give up 3 you have a good enough offense to maybe go get 4, and to have a good enough defense when you can't score to have a good chance to still win 2-1.

slapshot, most on here have talked both improving the offense and shoring up the defense equally. I think you're just missed the we need better forwards talk that dominated here for 20 games.

 

[drwpreds]

ideally you want to be balanced enough to where when you give up 3 you have a good enough offense to maybe go get 4, and to have a good enough defense when you can't score to have a good chance to still win 2-1.

slapshot, most on here have talked both improving the offense and shoring up the defense equally. I think you're just missed the we need better forwards talk that dominated here for 20 games.

And as a perfect example of what I was talking about earlier about having to be able to win some ugly games. Tonight Winnipeg, on the back end of a back to back, after playing a grueling OT game vs Preds, goes into Minnesota and wins 1-0. They scored 1 goal and made it stick. That is something that we absolutely would not have been able to do. You HAVE to be able to win some of those types of games-

And of course that win sends us even closer to being last place in the division.

 

[Byrddog]

Need to point out Craig Smith is now on a 7 game pointless streak yet again.

 

[glenngineer]

Need to point out Craig Smith is now on a 7 game pointless streak yet again.

Phil Kessel has one goal in his last 11 games.

 

[Byrddog]

Phil Kessel has one goal in his last 11 games.

Craig Smith has scored in 12 games of the 45 games he has played this season.

 

[glenngineer]

Craig Smith has scored in 12 games of the 45 games he has played this season.

Dogs and bees can smell fear.

 

[Byrddog]

Dogs and bees can smell fear.

If a tree falls in the forest Al Gore still thinks it was global warming that caused no noise.

 

[Scoresberg]

Chicago tonight.

 

[jwhouk]

National TV tonight.

 

[sparkle twin]

Someone grow a pair and screen the damn goalie!!!


I guess I should specify, screen the opposing goalie, we're pretty good at screening Pekka.



Pekka, I love you buddy, but come on. Get your crap together! Pick up the phone and call up Mitch Korn, ask him to look at your games and what he's seeing. A second opinion from a set of eyes from outside the org can't hurt.

 

[klt2001]

Someone grow a pair and screen the damn goalie!!!


I guess I should specify, screen the opposing goalie, we're pretty good at screening Pekka.



Pekka, I love you buddy, but come on. Get your crap together! Pick up the phone and call up Mitch Korn, ask him to look at your games and what he's seeing. A second oppinion from a set of eyes from outside the org can't hurt.

LOL. That gave me a good laugh.

 

[PredsHabs]

I wish some of our players were playing for contracts again because they got paid and quit.