RANGERS REPORT
Rangers-Senators in review; Live Chat Friday at noon
REMINDER: Live Chat Friday at noon. Be there. Should be, um, interesting.
At 0-0, it was a decent road game. At 1-0 a bunch of you guys said it was over and I didn't believe you. But, holy cow. As it transpired, could it have gotten any worse? … Can this team possibly have more games like this when their offensive players just continually let them down, and when their secondary players contribute their usual zero? 2) And I still believe it will have to get a lot worse than mediocrity for coach John Tortorella to be in trouble, and these Rangers are mediocre and still have as good a shot as any of the mediocre teams bunched up in the middle of the East to make the playoffs. But a lot of this has to be on him, especially now that the special teams have nose-dived. I thought the PP's failures last night were more execution than plan, because Ottawa's PK didn't even allow them to set up. But the power play and the penalty kill cost them a game here, big time.
Tortorella has to take a lot of the blame here, not just for the special teams … for players saying the effort wasn't good enough at this stage, especially. Personally – and I really try to not coach, a lesson learned long ago from one of the great writers ever, Mr. Red Smith – I think the players leaving their feet to block passes or shots is creating a ton of opposition chances and not preventing nearly an equal amount. The Senators PK was unbelievably good, pressuring all over the ice, while remaining on their skates.
The style the Rangers play, trying to win wall battles, worked last year. It doesn't work this year because this team's forwards are softer. They are.
I really, really wish I could uncover what's going on in Henrik Lundqvist's head, because he's clearly angry, annoyed, frustrated and disappointed. And he is their best player, their fiercest competitor, and one of their top leaders. And I'm sure he will let his teammates know it. But I don't think he'll do it publicly.
That all said, their troubles are mostly personnel-related. It's a flawed group, and will continue to be flawed if two of their top three offensive players can't provide, you know, offense. And while a ton of that deservedly lies on Brad Richards and Marian Gaborik, the new No. 1 line played horribly in Ottawa. Terribly. Start to finish. All three of them.
I give J.T. Miller a lot of credit for playing with a bad wing. But the kid also had a couple of beauts in terms of D-zone lapses.
Speaking of bad wings, Denis Potvin on Ottawa's TV feed said he saw that Rick Nash had a wrist injury – remember that slash he took in Philly – that he (Potvin) wasn't supposed to see.
Don't know if it's because he just got back from Russia, or if it was because he hadn't practiced with the team, or why Mats Zuccarello was scratched. But after seeing those power plays, my goodness, he has to play now, right?
I know this is sacrilegious, maybe, but captain Ryan Callahan was pretty awful last night, too.
Good to see that the refs got the reminder that Chris Neil is not allowed to be called for anything. Seriously, though, the guy really beats the daylights out of the Rangers' d-men and nobody – other than Del Zotto – ever does anything about it.
Can we stop making Paul MacLean out to be Scotty Bowman until his team finishes in the top four, or wins a playoff round, at least? I mean, it's admirable that they've hung in with those injuries. They're not the Penguins.
Why the hell, with an extended post-game show now, does MSG Network cut out on Tortorella's press conference after two questions? Because we need more Bill Pidto and Ron Duguay?
My Three Rangers Stars:
1. Ryan McDonagh.
2. Dan Girardi.
3. Henrik Lundqvist.
RangerJHW's Three Rangers Stars:
1. Henrik-Best Ranger...but 2nd Best Goalie tonight.
2. Derek Stepan-why not?
3. Nasher-hey, it feels like Columbus-right?
HM-Sam and Joe for trying to convince us they cared about Neal...really now!
Strahlman--those double runner skates are slowing you down!
My imagination..or does Neal look like Sean Avery on steroids?
MZA- after watching the game he headed back to Norway by boat! ************************************* Your poll vote for Three Rangers Stars:
1. Henrik Lundqvist (18.09 %).
2. Martin Biron (15.96 %).
3. Kris Newbury (11.7 %).