Big Blue Huddle

Quote from: DaveBrown74 on January 03, 2024, 01:49:05 PMI don't know Kart. Making fun of 9/11 is about as low as it gets. Hard to give anyone a pass or any benefit of any doubt for that.

I understand where you are coming from, and the image, as well as the events surrounding that day of infamy, rock me to my core as it does you and everyone else here. For us having grown up in proximity to the now-hallowed Ground Zero, we are forever changed by the terrorist acts of the day. How we identify pure ignorance, and understand intent, and how we go about setting straight the creator of this offensive graphic, can be accomplished one of two ways: one, with a response as mature as the individual who created and posted it or, two, educate, then acknowledge their team's win and that they can be assured the Rangers will have their response ready to deliver first class the next time the two teams play.

It was in poor taste, to say the least, and down-right sickening in its misapplication to New York as it was an attack on the United States of America; meaning, it was also an attack on Charlotte, North Carolina and surrounding country bumpkin' communities and towns across that fine state.

But some still think the Civil War hasn't ended yet, if you catch my drift.

Peace!

Three of four points over the last two games, Othmann's debut, Trocheck and Panarin continue their magic, and a nice comeback from 0-3 last night to salvage a point in Montreal and their parochial home crowd made for a good end to the week.

Next up the visiting Canucks on Monday who lead the Pacific with 53 points. The Rangers, meanwhile share the NHL lead at 54 with Boston and the surprising Winnipeg Jets, who are on fire at the moment, with the Avs on their heels at 53, who were beaten down by Florida last night in a bit of a surprise. Vegas beat the Islanders last night but remain two points behind the Canucks at 51.

The Rangers still lead the league with 26 wins. The Canucks and a home and away back to back series with Washington are a good lead into the final phase of the gauntlet which is their Pacific Division road trip. It would be great to hit the road with a winning streak, but first thing's first with Vancouver.

Peace!

Last night was just a great hockey game. Montreal played tremendously well. We gave up too many quality chances (they hit a handful of clean posts), but we played with energy and had a lot of chances of our own. The crowd was intense. I didn't think it was a bad effort on our part at all. Just came up a little short in the end. It was not looking good initially when we were down 3-0, so we should some teeth to get back into it and force an OT.

Quote from: DaveBrown74 on January 07, 2024, 08:10:53 AMLast night was just a great hockey game. Montreal played tremendously well. We gave up too many quality chances (they hit a handful of clean posts), but we played with energy and had a lot of chances of our own. The crowd was intense. I didn't think it was a bad effort on our part at all. Just came up a little short in the end. It was not looking good initially when we were down 3-0, so we should some teeth to get back into it and force an OT.

I completely agree. I actually watched it on the Hockey Night in Canada feed on the NHL Network and they echoed your sentiments precisely. In many ways, it took me back to the early to mid 80s when I'd watch Hockey Night in Canada off an Ontario channel that came with our cable TV in upstate NY and the parochial crowds were just electric. So glad to know nothing has changed because it makes the game so much better in terms of atmosphere and excitement.

Montreal has played pretty well lately and they definitely came to play. But it really became electric after the Rangers tied the score and both teams were skating coast to coast in setting up chances for the winner which never came in regulation or the five-minute overtime. Both goalies completely shutting down the other team in the end was a clinic; however, the Rangers' luck was in play with their sloppy clearances which almost cost them several times.

I mentioned that I loved the Trocheck acquisition and watching he and the Breadman work their magic is becoming a league-wide attention-getter. Those two have been on a tear and other teams haven't figured them out just yet. You can bang Trocheck around, knock him down or push and shove him after a stoppage; however, he just keeps coming at them and his crafty face-off pass to Panarin who scored was as great a play as there's been in the league thus far in the season.

It's always good to measure your game against another division leader. Vancouver coming to the Garden should be a great test on Monday and the first of a number of huge spotlight games ahead.

They're not playing at their absolute best but they're still on top. But the gauntlet gets hard over the next 30 days, or so, and how they come out of it, and into the heart of their schedule of divisional rivals will tell a story of their toughness and resiliency. I also expect Drury to make an addition or two for the final run. It's anyone's guess as to whom he might pursue; however, I'm glad we're seeing some of the kids, like Brendan Othmann, getting their chance to earn a longer stay in the big leagues.

Peace!

Wow, Demco had an all-world game against the Rangers and the defense couldn't hang with Vancouver's big boys on offense. An outstanding effort by Trocheck (two goals) was wasted.

In reality, the Canucks were opportunistic and their goal scoring prowess was on full display for all to see. Seeing Igor literally turned into a pretzel on one of the goals left me a believer that their +/- goal differential is no fluke.

Not sure how to assess the Rangers' performance tonight. They were getting the puck on goal with some excellent chances. Demco played out of his mind tonight. In contrast, Igor lost his confidence early and was hung out to dry as his defense looked lost at times. But the truth is that Vancouver's offensive stars put on a clinic tonight and the Rangers tried hard to respond but couldn't.

Off to Saint Louis and another gauntlet challenge.

Peace!

Quote from: kartanoman on January 08, 2024, 11:15:38 PMWow, Demco had an all-world game against the Rangers and the defense couldn't hang with Vancouver's big boys on offense. An outstanding effort by Trocheck (two goals) was wasted.

In reality, the Canucks were opportunistic and their goal scoring prowess was on full display for all to see. Seeing Igor literally turned into a pretzel on one of the goals left me a believer that their +/- goal differential is no fluke.

Not sure how to assess the Rangers' performance tonight. They were getting the puck on goal with some excellent chances. Demco played out of his mind tonight. In contrast, Igor lost his confidence early and was hung out to dry as his defense looked lost at times. But the truth is that Vancouver's offensive stars put on a clinic tonight and the Rangers tried hard to respond but couldn't.

Off to Saint Louis and another gauntlet challenge.

Peace!

Demco was outrageously good.  That could have easily been a 5 or 6 goal game for the Rangers too.  Sometimes things just don't go your way.  I didn't think the Rangers played poorly but could not hang with Demco on that night. 

The goals the Rangers have been giving up are concerning.  Just getting skated around with guys allowed in uncontested.  Skilled teams like Vancouver expose the Rangers weaknesses very badly.  Drury needs to make some moves which definitely include a center to replace Chytil who's likely not coming back this season. 

I didn't watch the game because I was thoroughly engrossed in the NCAA title game. I'm going to just look past this Rangers' game. Sounds like Vancouver played lights out.

I will say this though: I can handle losing, but lopsided losses at home should be infrequent, and between Toronto, Carolina, and now this, we have now had three of them in a pretty short span. I hope this doesn't become more of a thing.

Quote from: Messiah717 on January 09, 2024, 02:11:41 PMThe goals the Rangers have been giving up are concerning.  Just getting skated around with guys allowed in uncontested.  Skilled teams like Vancouver expose the Rangers weaknesses very badly.  Drury needs to make some moves which definitely include a center to replace Chytil who's likely not coming back this season. 

I've belabored this point a number of times. Too much stick checking, and not enough body checking. If in close proximity put your shoulder into chest/shoulders of the puck carrier. If along the boards try to put them through it without any head shots. Knock them off balance, mess up timing, make them keep their heads up. PLAY MEAN HOCKEY, damnit. You can't give up your Blue Line without creating some sort of gauntlet.

Another rough performance against St. Louis.  You hate to overreact but things are unraveling here. 

Quote from: Messiah717 on January 11, 2024, 10:29:36 PMAnother rough performance against St. Louis.  You hate to overreact but things are unraveling here. 

They've lost too many players to injury. Last night even Mika didn't play though at least he just had the flu. Chytil may be out for the season I don't know what Kakko's timetable is but they need him back. When Vesey is skating with the top 6 you've got issues. They'll probably have to make a trade at the deadline.

Quote from: Gmo11 on January 12, 2024, 03:33:01 AMThey've lost too many players to injury. Last night even Mika didn't play though at least he just had the flu. Chytil may be out for the season I don't know what Kakko's timetable is but they need him back. When Vesey is skating with the top 6 you've got issues. They'll probably have to make a trade at the deadline.

Yup, they don't have their full lineup which is definitely taxing them.  That being said Igor hasn't been the goalie of the last two years and their defense has been atrocious.  Again guys just allowed to float around which nothing but weak stick checks. 

Agree with all of the comments. Injuries/unavailability are definitely a factor, but it's not the only factor. We have seen them play like crap with more guys healthy, and Chytil has been out forever including during a prolonged streak where they looked great.

Igor just isn't the player he was in 2021-22. It felt like he had turned a corner in December, but now he's back to being pedestrian (at best) again. Guy is a bit of a head case I think. Just not consistent.

Trying not to get overly alarmed but generally under this coach when they have one terrible game they bounce back with a better effort in the next one. I hate that that didn't happen last night.

Sometimes I feel like this team gets into a phase where they're kind of robotic and lack intensity. We saw that a lot under the previous two coaches. They're talented enough to be a top 3 seed in the East (this assumes Igor can still be what he was in 2021-22, which is starting to really look uncertain). But sometimes they just look like they're not fully into it.

I think Lavvy is an intense coach and should be able to whip them back into shape, but man, it's not pretty right now.

Quote from: DaveBrown74 on January 12, 2024, 06:52:56 AMAgree with all of the comments. Injuries/unavailability are definitely a factor, but it's not the only factor. We have seen them play like crap with more guys healthy, and Chytil has been out forever including during a prolonged streak where they looked great.

Igor just isn't the player he was in 2021-22. It felt like he had turned a corner in December, but now he's back to being pedestrian (at best) again. Guy is a bit of a head case I think. Just not consistent.

Trying not to get overly alarmed but generally under this coach when they have one terrible game they bounce back with a better effort in the next one. I hate that that didn't happen last night.

Sometimes I feel like this team gets into a phase where they're kind of robotic and lack intensity. We saw that a lot under the previous two coaches. They're talented enough to be a top 3 seed in the East (this assumes Igor can still be what he was in 2021-22, which is starting to really look uncertain). But sometimes they just look like they're not fully into it.

I think Lavvy is an intense coach and should be able to whip them back into shape, but man, it's not pretty right now.

My previous post "I've belabored this point a number of times. Too much stick checking, and not enough body checking. If in close proximity put your shoulder into chest/shoulders of the puck carrier. If along the boards try to put them through it without any head shots. Knock them off balance, mess up timing, make them keep their heads up. PLAY MEAN HOCKEY, damnit. You can't give up your Blue Line without creating some sort of gauntlet."  I wish there was a way to instill in each Ranger a New Yorker Ranger fan attitude. Meaning f u. All over the ice. I want a team no one wants to play against. Zib(his line) needs to have a Right Wing that can score and create. It's been lacking for way too long.

Quote from: files58 on January 12, 2024, 09:38:16 AMMy previous post "I've belabored this point a number of times. Too much stick checking, and not enough body checking. If in close proximity put your shoulder into chest/shoulders of the puck carrier. If along the boards try to put them through it without any head shots. Knock them off balance, mess up timing, make them keep their heads up. PLAY MEAN HOCKEY, damnit. You can't give up your Blue Line without creating some sort of gauntlet."  I wish there was a way to instill in each Ranger a New Yorker Ranger fan attitude. Meaning f u. All over the ice. I want a team no one wants to play against. Zib(his line) needs to have a Right Wing that can score and create. It's been lacking for way too long.

I hear you but, apart from a handful of players, these guys aren't built that way. What they were doing well, early on, isn't working and that happens when you are 1. playing short, 2. have an inconsistent starting goalie and 3. are at the tail end of the gauntlet of your schedule and you're a little beat up and worn down right now.

This, then, lies ahead for the new head coach to do something different than his predecessors in order to take the next step. Nearly every other team has gone through their slump; now, the Rangers are going through theirs after holding on for a long time. It's part of a season and they have to manage and work through it without going into the ditch.

They have a home and away back-to-back with Washington matinee to shake off the funk before the final leg of their gauntlet schedule where the reigning champs and the California teams would love nothing more than to get even with the Rangers from their MSG debacles.

Call it their first gut-check of the season. Hopefully it won't require too many Quickie reverse-scorpion saves to get back in the win column.

Peace!