Big Blue Huddle

Quote from: kartanoman on December 10, 2023, 11:48:32 AMYes, agreed. The Senators play a hard nosed game and the Rangers weren't up for the battle. The Sharks, for whatever reason, always play the Rangers close and never give up. So I expected those to be aggravating games for them. But Washington has improved since last year and would be a good Divisional test which they flunked completely. Seeing them supplant Jersey in the top four in the division is no longer a surprise.

Four tough games this week starting tonight with LA at home and ending at Boston on Saturday. If they keep playing the way they are, that lead in the division will evaporate quickly.

Not sure if they've hit a wall but they definitely look slower than in previous games. Also, I'm not satisfied with Igor's play despite his defense is letting jom down at times. Earlier in the season, both he and Quick alternated at much higher rate and that's when the Rangers were winning big. This was Igor's fourth consecutive game, I think, and it's not good when he's giving up goals in the first minutes of games. I'll be keeping an eye on how the team bounces back with Quickie in goal tonight.

I'm not so much worried as I am curious to see how the head coach addresses this slump. A very good team is coming in tonight and a win would shake off the effects of these two losses quickly (pun intended).

Peace!

Igor has looked bad to mediocre all year. I have not been happy with him at all. Let's face facts too, he wasn't nearly as good last year as the year before. It's not the best trend with him. Has he gotten complacent and happy with these bigger paychecks?

As for the rest of the team I don't get how they could have looked so bad yesterday after all this rest time. It's as if they all had the flu. They had better look like a different team tonight. No excuses whatsoever.

Big win. Nice contributions by fourth line players. Quick was tremendous. A friend of mine texted me with "we may have a goaltending controversy on our hands." My response was that I don't see it as controversial at all right now. Quick is the much better goalie this season. Maybe that changes at some point, but right now, he's clearly the number one goaltender. It's not even close.

Quote from: DaveBrown74 on December 10, 2023, 10:12:49 PMBig win. Nice contributions by fourth line players. Quick was tremendous. A friend of mine texted me with "we may have a goaltending controversy on our hands." My response was that I don't see it as controversial at all right now. Quick is the much better goalie this season. Maybe that changes at some point, but right now, he's clearly the number one goaltender. It's not even close.

The team plays harder for Quickie. The sample size is large enough now to where you are right to call it out. I haven't had the nerve to do so since this is Igor's team. But Igor hasn't been playing as well. But Quickie had something to play for tonight and he got the win over his old team which was wonderful to see.

The team bounced back and played with hustle, purpose and physicality. What a difference 24 hours makes!

Toronto coming up and another tough game.

Peace!

Quote from: kartanoman on December 10, 2023, 10:59:38 PMThe team plays harder for Quickie. The sample size is large enough now to where you are right to call it out. I haven't had the nerve to do so since this is Igor's team. But Igor hasn't been playing as well. But Quickie had something to play for tonight and he got the win over his old team which was wonderful to see.

The team bounced back and played with hustle, purpose and physicality. What a difference 24 hours makes!

Toronto coming up and another tough game.

Peace!

The way I look at it is it's a fluid thing. To say Quick is the better goalie right now is not the same as saying he's the better goalie period. We have seen Shesty play at an elite level for an entire season and in a number of postseason games, so we know it's in him. But the bottom line is it hasn't been there this year... not by a long shot. And last season wasn't nearly as good as 21/22.

Do I think he'll get through it and find his way again? Yes I do. But if you're asking me right now who I'd put in in a must-win situation, my answer would be Quick, and I wouldn't hesitate at all on it. I mean it seems pretty obvious at this point.

My hope is this will motivate Shesty and he'll be in top form by spring. I'm not sure what the issue is with him exactly, but something isn't right. He's letting in goals he should be stopping 999 out of 1000 times.

Quote from: DaveBrown74 on December 11, 2023, 07:31:18 AMThe way I look at it is it's a fluid thing. To say Quick is the better goalie right now is not the same as saying he's the better goalie period. We have seen Shesty play at an elite level for an entire season and in a number of postseason games, so we know it's in him. But the bottom line is it hasn't been there this year... not by a long shot. And last season wasn't nearly as good as 21/22.

Do I think he'll get through it and find his way again? Yes I do. But if you're asking me right now who I'd put in in a must-win situation, my answer would be Quick, and I wouldn't hesitate at all on it. I mean it seems pretty obvious at this point.

My hope is this will motivate Shesty and he'll be in top form by spring. I'm not sure what the issue is with him exactly, but something isn't right. He's letting in goals he should be stopping 999 out of 1000 times.

Those opening goals against were killers and you don't give teams you should beat a leg up to start the game. Igor did not once but twice last week.

But, to your point, Quick has been more effective and, at a minimum, I would go back to the way the head coach platooned the goalies earlier in the season. I think you need to get Igor some time out there. But I don't know if putting him as #2 is the right answer even now. I don't have that feeling it's the right thing. Quickie is 37 and we don't want to wear him out before March. But if springtime rolls around, and he's still getting it done, but Igor isn't, then maybe it's time to make a decision.

I have a feeling Igor will be back between the pipes for Toronto which will be another good matchup of playoff bound teams. We'll see who the coach picks for Tuesday.

Peace!

Shesty has not been on his game much this year.  Flashes but certainly not consistent.  Quick has been on top of his game basically the entire season.  No doubt that if the playoffs started today they'd have a serious decision to make and if they went with Shesty he'd be on a seriously short leash. 

Having said that, Quick is 37 as mentioned.  It's reasonable to worry about him starting to break down a bit as the season goes along if they over work him.  The Bruins are a fairly decent team and their goalies operate at almost a 50/50 split.  Something like that might be in order until Shesty returns to form. I'm sure he'll get there but he's not there yet.

Quote from: Gmo11 on December 11, 2023, 10:30:01 AMShesty has not been on his game much this year.  Flashes but certainly not consistent.  Quick has been on top of his game basically the entire season.  No doubt that if the playoffs started today they'd have a serious decision to make and if they went with Shesty he'd be on a seriously short leash. 

Having said that, Quick is 37 as mentioned.  It's reasonable to worry about him starting to break down a bit as the season goes along if they over work him.  The Bruins are a fairly decent team and their goalies operate at almost a 50/50 split.  Something like that might be in order until Shesty returns to form. I'm sure he'll get there but he's not there yet.

I hope Shesty plays tomorrow night against the Leafs. I want to see how he responds to Quick's performance and the ongoing love-fest. If he has fire in his belly he'll come out and put up a strong performance. If not, then I'm not sure what to think.

Quote from: DaveBrown74 on December 11, 2023, 12:12:03 PMI hope Shesty plays tomorrow night against the Leafs. I want to see how he responds to Quick's performance and the ongoing love-fest. If he has fire in his belly he'll come out and put up a strong performance. If not, then I'm not sure what to think.

I think he needs to play tomorrow. He has to work himself out of whatever funk is going on right now that's keeping him from being his absolute best.

I was reading someone's take online this morning that we may be hard on Igor because we're expecting him to play to his 2021-22 level and he hasn't been able to achieve that on a consistent basis. But the fact remains the Rangers still have the best goalie tandem in the league right now and it's up to the team to rally around Igor to help him build back his confidence which is clearly been ripped down a notch or two. Also, getting the crowd into the game chanting "I-gor! I-gor!" certainly wouldn't hurt either!

This is a tough couple of weeks with some of the best teams in the league, as well as teams that get under the Rangers' skin (i.e. Ducks), so they need both goalies performing to give the team the best chance to stay at/near the top of the league.

NOTE: would love nothing more than to see the Rangers do to Boston at Boston Garden what they did to them at MSG. Unlikely, as those guys have that game circled, no doubt. But first things first. Toronto is going to be a tough game for them and the Leafs beat them pretty effectively last season.

I still have faith in Igor!

Peace!

Quote from: kartanoman on December 11, 2023, 01:10:22 PMI think he needs to play tomorrow. He has to work himself out of whatever funk is going on right now that's keeping him from being his absolute best.

I was reading someone's take online this morning that we may be hard on Igor because we're expecting him to play to his 2021-22 level and he hasn't been able to achieve that on a consistent basis. But the fact remains the Rangers still have the best goalie tandem in the league right now and it's up to the team to rally around Igor to help him build back his confidence which is clearly been ripped down a notch or two. Also, getting the crowd into the game chanting "I-gor! I-gor!" certainly wouldn't hurt either!

This is a tough couple of weeks with some of the best teams in the league, as well as teams that get under the Rangers' skin (i.e. Ducks), so they need both goalies performing to give the team the best chance to stay at/near the top of the league.

NOTE: would love nothing more than to see the Rangers do to Boston at Boston Garden what they did to them at MSG. Unlikely, as those guys have that game circled, no doubt. But first things first. Toronto is going to be a tough game for them and the Leafs beat them pretty effectively last season.

I still have faith in Igor!

Peace!

I think the point about it not being fair to hold Igor to the 2021/22 season might have been reasonable to make last season, when he was serviceable/respectable but not elite, but not this season. This season he has not even been serviceable. He has been mediocre at best. Especially lately. There is nothing unfair about the criticism IMO. He has not done well at all. My expectations are way higher than what he has done on the ice this year. I hope he figures it out. I think he will at some point, but I don't know when, and overall I'd like to see him be more consistent than this. He may be a bit of a head case.

With high school and youth hockey season in full tilt here is Wisconsin, Iam driving to or at a Hockey rink most nights and almost all weekend.

It is nice to read your posts on the games I have missed.

I did catch the 1st 1/2 of the Capitals game...it was bound to happen sooner or later.

Missed the Kings but glad to see them rebound.

RE:Igor
He certainly is off, no doubt. Tracking the puck with a clear site line and missing glove side is all on him.  However, there has been some tremendously poor puck luck for him as well.

Furthermore, when a goalie makes the 1st and 2nd save, the 3rd and up shots lead to a goal in that is on the defense.

The team is winning and their top player is struggling, patience can be applied.  His motions look real good though and sooner or later the puck will start to grow and his tracking will look like it has in the past and Igor will be standing on his head again on most nights, IMO.


 

Perhaps some goals he shouldn't have allowed but the Rangers defense hasn't been good.  You can let skilled players skate around without anyone going near them.

Shesty's play has been completely unacceptable all year. It is really getting out of hand now. You simply can't win NHL games with this caliber of goaltending.

I'd consider an extended benching of him of 3-4 weeks. They need to send a message. Call up the best farm goalie we have an give him an opportunity for a handful of starts, with Quick starting 2/3 of the games. They can't just keep continuing to put up with this.

A 7-3 loss on home ice is never a good look.  They have now dropped three of the last four in pretty ugly fashion. I expected some regression so don't want to panic.  That said we're seeing some bad habits forming.

Quote from: DaveBrown74 on December 12, 2023, 09:43:12 PMShesty's play has been completely unacceptable all year. It is really getting out of hand now. You simply can't win NHL games with this caliber of goaltending.

I'd consider an extended benching of him of 3-4 weeks. They need to send a message. Call up the best farm goalie we have an give him an opportunity for a handful of starts, with Quick starting 2/3 of the games. They can't just keep continuing to put up with this.

The defense hasn't done him any favors but too many bad goals are being allowed.

Quote from: babywhales on December 12, 2023, 08:35:32 AMWith high school and youth hockey season in full tilt here is Wisconsin, Iam driving to or at a Hockey rink most nights and almost all weekend.

It is nice to read your posts on the games I have missed.

I did catch the 1st 1/2 of the Capitals game...it was bound to happen sooner or later.

Missed the Kings but glad to see them rebound.

RE:Igor
He certainly is off, no doubt. Tracking the puck with a clear site line and missing glove side is all on him.  However, there has been some tremendously poor puck luck for him as well.

Furthermore, when a goalie makes the 1st and 2nd save, the 3rd and up shots lead to a goal in that is on the defense.

The team is winning and their top player is struggling, patience can be applied.  His motions look real good though and sooner or later the puck will start to grow and his tracking will look like it has in the past and Igor will be standing on his head again on most nights, IMO.

I appreciate where you're coming from as I, too, am a coach (soccer, a little different species but in the same genus of sport).

Last night's loss is starting to solidify a trend that is a bit concerning. You've hit some good points but here's others that are harder to get our arms around.

1. Early goals given up. Last night was the third or fourth time Igor has given up a goal early in the game. You just can't do that and start handicapped. Against a contender like Toronto, who will bury you, as they did so well last night, you have to stay focused.

2. Rangers puck handling. For the second time in three games, the team's general inaccuracy in passing the puck killed some nice looks at goal. Very similar to the Washington game, they looked like they were outskated by their opponent.

3. Toronto's big play makers were just better last night. Matthews and Marner ate them up last night after Nylander and Jarnkrok carved them up. They put on a clinic in passing to leave Igor out hanging to dry on multiple occasions. Completely outclassed the Rangers' defense last night.

4. Does Lavoilette acknowledge Igor's slump? It's clear that Igor is off his best right now and Quickie is having this insane run of not having lost a game yet. The Quackers (formerly) from Disneyland come in Thursday which is always a loss for the Rangers (look it up, the most bizarre jinx I've ever seen). You have to put Quickie in goal to end this jinx, once and for all, but to get the rotten taste of the Toronto game out of their mouths, and then ask the question, who do you put in goal Saturday against Boston?

Now I hope folks will understand what I mean when I've said all along this is a gauntlet and it doesn't get easier next week as they go on the road. Can they bounce back this week before hitting the road for the holidays?

Long way to go and their first self-examination begins now.

Peace!