Coming off a game where the Rangers might have played their most complete of the season, they may have played their worst in the 3-0 loss to the Penguins. Lots of reasons/excuses (which I will get into throughout the blog) have been given, but regardless of which one (s) you believe or ascribe to, yesterday's performance was unacceptable.
Game Lowlights:
Each goal allowed by New York had some kind of issue associated with it. On the first one, beyond the great, top shelf short-side shot by Evgeni Malkin, I thought Hank was slow going from side to side and getting over to cover that side of the net. On the second, Neal was able to just dart in front with no interruption but give him credit for the deflection and Sidney Crosby for putting the shot right on his stick. On the third, poor play by Marc Staal in which he seemed to slow down going for the puck, tried to just play it one-handed with his stick instead of at worse putting it in the corner and another crappy line change leaving Simon Despres wide open in front. Hank wasn't particularly great on the play but Despres had all night in front. In addition, Pittsburgh gave a bit more evidence last night why many fans of other teams, including our own, hate that and view them as dirty. The tomahawk on Staal by Malkin and general chippiness by Crosby helped foster that view. The Rangers were not innocent either and gave it back to Pitt yesterday, which may be the one positive from last night.
Thanks to all for the phenomenal comments after last night's game. The passion in each of you is evident, but one piece of advice, step away from the ledge. I agree that the play to date has at best been uneven and at worse uninspired. The power play needs so much work it's scary. The lack of a sustained threat in any zone, especially on the forecheck, is apparent. The line changes have been plain offensive. The bottom six has basically been just the bottom. They seem lifeless and lethargic. Other than the GNR line and Taylor Pyatt, no one is producing. Same on defense others than spurts from MDZ and Staal. Hank hasn't always been sharp. All that said, do you all forget what this team did last year (51 regular season wins and 10 in post-season)? How Torts has molded this team? It's all too easy to rip on them when they play badly, and yes, they have played badly, which looks worse in a shortened season, but it's still way too early to get in a panic.
Some thoughts:
- Hagelin has been one of the better forwards. Granted, the end result and production haven't been there. But he has created opportunities with his speed while also hustling from end to end and showing better anticipation and willingness to get dirty on the ice . The questions we had the past two years and since he has been drafted with his hands and ability to score are still existent, but as long as he keeps hard and in the manner he has been to date, I am okay with that.
- Stepan. He needs to work with Barbara Underhill like Brian Boyle did to build his speed. He never will be a big scorer but if he gets the 20 or so we think he can along with a bushel full of assists, that's fine as a second center. Look at Mike Ribeiro, he has built a career as a set up man and not scorer and been fine. Yes, I know he has just one goal his last 32 games (thanks Jimbo) but he was aggressive last night, taking six shots, and when his line mates don't convert, then he as the center takes part of the blame. That's not to say he is absolved from blame, as he definitely needs to start producing, but for everyone, or many of us, to start writing him off as a bust is unfair. How many 22-year old second centers are in the league in general and have outproduced Stepan his first few years? I am not seeing him through rose glasses, as pointed out his flaws - goal-scoring and speed - above, but think he is fine as a second center and has room to grow. He is not going to use power to get past or through people, as he is more of a finesse player, but as others have written, he and his game should grow as a he matures.
- System. Two phenomenal posts yesterday that sums up a big part of the problem. "The wingers are way to low down trying to block shots and clogging up the shooting lanes . It doesn't lead to too many odd man rushes . The other team comes back along with the rangers and leaves little space for passing and to make plays . So all the offence come from cycles or five feet out and lower . There's no transition, the defense turns the puck over in the neutral zone too often. Maloney just said what has been obvious to me with this team, this year. The Rangers are lethargic with their efforts, something that has been a complete 180 from the last two seasons, especially. This system blows. Defensively collapsing doesn't leave any room for breakouts and after collapsing they are too tired from running around. The" bottom line about this is ...it shouldn't take 5 players to defend 3 in your zone."
All those points are true as well as some of the comment about the lack of team speed, though players like Nash, Gaborik etc. clearly have the speed to get up the ice and quickly, but if pinned down low, to go 150+ feet and beat others up the ice is no easy task. All that said, this is the same system used - and used effectively - last year. Scoring was an issue last season, which is why Nssh was brought in. The system release on and needs maximum effort and the ability to grind down opponents requires tremendous conditioning, which is usually an area of strength and right now is somewhat of a weakness. The team was constructed with this style of play in mind, but it also needs the bottom-six to wear down opponents, which also hasn't happened to date. If you want to lay blame, feel free to do on Sather, as he is the one that constructed this team. Last year, Dubinsky, Anisimov, Prust, Zucc, Mitchell, Feds etc. provided Torts with options to plug and play when needed and also were able to help grind out wins. Right now, the lack of depth, exacerbated with Cally and Kredier out, means that there really is no competition for jobs. While I don't think that has an active impact on players, sub-consciously it might since you know that even if you don't give that extra effort you still will play. In addition, the current team seems to lack the ability to grind down an opponent and keep wearing on them until the Rangers can take advantage of chances that the created. It's that mindset of grinding and grinding and grinding, along with better execution, that they need get back to and quickly.
- Management. As I said above, we all know Torts style. This team was constructed to play this type of style and I don't see anything changing there. Mike Sullivan has not panned out in terms of teaching the PP, and maybe he needs to go. But to fire Torts, really? How quickly we all have forgotten the run last year. In addition, how many elite scorers are here? Gabby and Nash? Somehow Gabby scored 40+ goals twice for Torts in this system and now we all are complaining it's too draining and hard to play it? The team is struggling, no question. You want to take Torts to task for the four too many men on the ice penalties as that is a management thing, sure. For the overall lack of effort and attention to detail on the ice, I can see that as well. But to start discussing firing him, I think it's a bit much.
We all agree the bottom six aren't getting it done. Asham, Halpern, Bickel, Rupp etc. have contributed next to nothing. The minors has guys like Miller, Thomas, Hrivik, all of whom could get a look for third line duty. I don't see them as fourth line players, but their addition down the road, along with the return of Cally and Kreider will help the depth, especially on the lower two line. I think Sather should have tried to keep a Mitchell because of his flexibility and ability to produce a bit when needed. In addition, not offering solid ice time to Zucc, which caused him to go, and not having a true sixth d-man are also failings but other than that, does anyone have a major criticism of the roster, especially top lines?
- Schedule. Great post by Alex, which I am running below,
Rough starting month to the season, but we weathered the storm with a 3-4-0 record.
February - 12 games. 5 home, 7 road. Pretty easy schedule, no back to backs.
Figure they go 8-3-1, end up at 11-7-1 (on pace of 99 points in 82 games) at the end of the month.
If they continue to disappoint in February, especially since they faced Pitt and Boston each twice, which is four of the seven games against rough opponents, then we discuss how bad they are and if a major overhaul is needed about how bad we are. Plus, as pointed out, it is really not unusual for a teams that have had great regular seasons, and have gone relatively deep in the playoffs, to sleep walk through parts of the next season. In addition, with all the new pieces and no training camp, all of these factors may have contributed - and are not the sole reasons - for the early struggles.
So now what? For now, it's make due with what they have. Clean up the stupid mistakes. It's each player being accountable to themselves and their teammates. It's giving 110% effort for 60+ minutes if that's what's needed. Also, it's hoping they get back to full strength soon, because in about two weeks, the lines may be:
If that isn't good enough, they we really are in deep trouble.
As Alex quoted from 24x7: "Those who know the sport best will tell you that hockey has a certain rhythm to it. Every shift, every game and every season is inevitably packed with ups and downs. Teams are never as bad as they appear during their lowest points and never as good as they seem during their highest ones. The very best teams may not just be talented, but resilient. Not just hungry, but focused. Their sport demands it.” Right now, the Rangers are in a down period, a few good games in a row with solid efforts and we will be singing their praises.
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