Jan Levine: Game 6: PIT 3 NYR 0, Blow the Team Up? Fire Torts? Reality Check Time Panic setting in amongst fan base?

I say they need to make a big trade for a first line winger.

I say they need to make a big trade for a first line winger.
- jmatchett

You guys have your own worries to focus on

You guys have your own worries to focus on
- airjan23

Only on offense, defense, penalty killing, and powerplay. And we need some work on skating, shooting, passing, and stickhandling. Otherwise, we're unstoppable.

But really, I think you guys will be fine. Not having Callahan is huge, and Lundqvist looked a little off yesterday. It will work out in the end.

You guys are going to be fine. A little top heavy with the lines? Yes but still having the best goalie in the world will get you out of most slumps

I don't understand how a team can seemingly have a too many men on the ice penalty every game

Just a lot of stupid/lazy penalties every game so far

Two things:

1)With this shotgun schedule every team is having crazy ups and downs. Its league wide. Lets not panic here.

B) Although everyone was all excited when they got Nash and they were going to have a great first line and all that, but don't forget they didn't send away trash to get him. Guys like Dubs added a lot of value when he was there.

I don't understand how a team can seemingly have a too many men on the ice penalty every game

Just a lot of stupid/lazy penalties every game so far
- Scoot22

agree and for these, you can blame the coach along with the players.

Two things:

1)With this shotgun schedule every team is having crazy ups and downs. Its league wide. Lets not panic here.

B) Although everyone was all excited when they got Nash and they were going to have a great first line and all that, but don't forget they didn't send away trash to get him. Guys like Dubs added a lot of value when he was there.
- Buffalo--Sabres

Except he was stooopid

Edit: Nice blog Jan, definitely agree with everything you wrote.

You guys are going to be fine. A little top heavy with the lines? Yes but still having the best goalie in the world will get you out of most slumps
- Vukota

how are you man? Nice start for the Isles. I have another few years to be living 10 minutes from them and then, Hello Brooklyn. Nice to see them play well and JT playing like a elite center.

Except he was stooopid

Edit: Nice blog Jan, definitely agree with everything you wrote.
- Rags2Riches

thanks, and thanks for the solid comments yesterday

Stay the course, we'll be fine.

outsider looking in here:

All the Rags need to do is qualify for the playoffs. They have everything it takes to win it all: Goalie, Defense, PK. All they need is a somewhat effective PP and some luck or breaks to go their way and they will do damage in the playoffs if not win it all.

I don't think they system is flawed or this team isn't good enough. I do think that adding another quality forward at the dead line who can add some sandpaper to the line-up but also pot a few goals will be needed.

I see no need for panic in Ragsville.

how are you man? Nice start for the Isles. I have another few years to be living 10 minutes from them and then, Hello Brooklyn. Nice to see them play well and JT playing like a elite center.
- airjan23

Good brother and you? Yeah its a nice start and I like what I see for the most part but its still early. You might see them in Brooklyn as early as next year if some of the rumblings are true about buying out the remainder of the lease. JT is a beast!!

I'm not sure how playing TB what is it twice or 3 times this month along with some of the other teams = equals an easy month the Lighting have been tearing it up and I would be concerned about that schedual not trolling and I also think you guys will be fine although im hoping you wont everyone has a tough schedual and you cant look past any teams even MTL has looked pretty good to start the season and most picked them to be up there for last in the league lots of games to be played I understand but I really don't see it as being an easy month also I apologize for the rant and zero punctuation

outsider looking in here:

All the Rags need to do is qualify for the playoffs. They have everything it takes to win it all: Goalie, Defense, PK. All they need is a somewhat effective PP and some luck or breaks to go their way and they will do damage in the playoffs if not win it all.

I don't think they system is flawed or this team isn't good enough. I do think that adding another quality forward at the dead line who can add some sandpaper to the line-up but also pot a few goals will be needed.

I see no need for panic in Ragsville.
- ggunky

stole my thoughts. this season is all about getting in. i honestly don't care where they end up so long as they're one of the top eight. but the way they're losing games is still alarming. i know callahan is out, but they lost three games in a very similar way to last night when callahan was in the lineup.

Thanks for using my quote, Jan...' 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." You Made my day.

This team can be better offensively without giving up too much defensively. Torts has them so scared to make a defensive mistake that they are afraid to get to deep on the offense. While I think teams need to be defensively responsible the same goes for offense. If he would let them play to their offensive strengths I think they will be miles better.

Jan Levine: Game 6: PIT 3 NYR 0, Blow the Team Up? Fire Torts? Reality Check Time
Panic setting in amongst fan base?
- airjan23

Obviously nothing drastic is going to happen, but I would like nothing more than Sullivan to be fired. Since 2009, the year Sullivan was hired the powerplay has gotten worse every year. I can't stand how he's is not mentioned by Torts as part of the problem. In 2009-10, the power play operated at 18.3% and finished the year at 13 overall. In 2010-11 it operated at 16.9% clip and finished 18th overall. Last season it nose dived to a 15.7% clip and finished 23rd overall. This year, it is operating at 10.7% clip and is currently 27th overall. How does Sullivan still have his job?

I'm not sure how playing TB what is it twice or 3 times this month along with some of the other teams = equals an easy month the Lighting have been tearing it up and I would be concerned about that schedual not trolling and I also think you guys will be fine although im hoping you wont everyone has a tough schedual and you cant look past any teams even MTL has looked pretty good to start the season and most picked them to be up there for last in the league lots of games to be played I understand but I really don't see it as being an easy month also I apologize for the rant and zero punctuation
- blizzzard

Should likely have said easier than playing Pitt and Boston twice each

Should likely have said easier than playing Pitt and Boston twice each
- airjan23

Yea I wasn't trying to nit pick or anything hope I didnt come off that way !

I think alot of fans are pushing the panic button a little too early right now. However the one area they NEED to explore on is finding a replacement for Asham. I have not seen him contribute one thing so far. If he was brought in as a "partial" replacement for the loss of Prust then what exactly is he supplying???? He has no willingness to finish his checks, block shots, or even put forth a solid effort to sacrifice his body on a play. I see his mentality as just being a guy who is playing for a paycheck and is past the days where he would put it all on the line. Horrible signing.

I think alot of fans are pushing the panic button a little too early right now. However the one area they NEED to explore on is finding a replacement for Asham. I have not seen him contribute one thing so far. If he was brought in as a "partial" replacement for the loss of Prust then what exactly is he supplying???? He has no willingness to finish his checks, block shots, or even put forth a solid effort to sacrifice his body on a play. I see his mentality as just being a guy who is playing for a paycheck and is past the days where he would put it all on the line. Horrible signing.
- nookie649

Rupp, Asham, Bickel and Halpern all are

They need to grab someone like Langkow to help at C, especially with Richards and Stepan doing basically nothing. Richards looks like he's aged 10 years since May. They can't afford to lose too much ground with Callahan and Kreider out in the next few weeks. The bottom six is awful, right now they honestly are one of the bottom five forward groups in the league. Maybe bring up a Bourque or Thomas temporarily to inject some speed and a little more skill into the 4th line. There's no reason both Rupp and Asham should be in the lineup together. Asham was a complete waste of a signing, they could just shuttle Newbury up from Ct. if they want a mirror image of Rupp from time to time. And if you're having to use a Stu Bickel at forward you know you have issues. He's bad enough on defense. I do like the energy Ferriero brings, he could be a useful 4th liner going forward. There's just not much to pick from in Ct. as I don't see them burning Millers ELC unless its towards the playoffs a la Kreider last year. Hrivik still needs at least another year and Yogan is down in the ECHL now for some reason.

the team is fine. I just can not stand the loud mouth coach. Never did when he was in Tampa.

From an outsider ...

No sense pushing the panic button. Your goaltending is among the best and your defense is solid.

Callahan being out last night didn't help. He does well against the Pens. His absence was noticed. Your secondary scoring isn't there, yet.

Too many new faces on the roster and only a week's time to mesh before the season starts. That isn't a good recipe. Stay the course. A significant trade sends another body or two out of town and you have more moving parts, which slows down the process.

Rags will be there in the play-offs and it doesn't matter at what slot.