Or at the very least, make sure it’s a hard dump () with the off wing flying to retrieve it.

I’m also not down with the telegraphed east-west cross ice passes. They’re low percentage plays that teams know we’re trying to make. All they have to do to stop it is keep the center in the high slot, allow the wingers to creep down low.

It would be nice to see some variety...
- Bean_Dip

Hockey 101, no cross ice passes. Youre giving the defense covering the middle of the ice a gimme. Youre also creating an environment for guys to get their head taken off by a dman telegraphing the pass.

Its the one thing that always amazed me about Nick Lidstrom, never flashy, just made the simple play, always where he needed to be, almost effortless. He made hockey look so damn easy.

Coming from a devils fan, I think you guys are being to harsh on your team, you had 50 shots on goal, that's not a team that is playing bad, you were just up against a really good goaltender, but if you play like that against most teams you will win.

Coming from a devils fan, I think you guys are being to harsh on your team, you had 50 shots on goal, that's not a team that is playing bad, you were just up against a really good goaltender, but if you play like that against most teams you will win.
- cu45161

The shots were not high quality shots though. 3/4 of it was junk thrown at the net.

I don't know why they felt the need to change the defensemen 28 seconds into the damn game

frustrating game

Coming from a devils fan, I think you guys are being to harsh on your team, you had 50 shots on goal, that's not a team that is playing bad, you were just up against a really good goaltender, but if you play like that against most teams you will win.
- cu45161

I think there were some positives for the Rangers. But you guys did a good job blocking shots, clearing up any rebounds, not many 2nd chances, and Blackwood played really good. Plus Hughes, best player besides Blackwood yesterday.

I doubt we see Zib at practice today, wonder if they have any update or if its just the new usual no comment he is day to day

I doubt we see Zib at practice today, wonder if they have any update or if its just the new usual no comment he is day to day
- TPC

yeah, he did not look good

and before he got hurt, man, he missed some opportunities he was burying last february and March

yeah, he did not look good

and before he got hurt, man, he missed some opportunities he was burying last february and March
- jimbro83

That stuff usually regresses to the mean. He's probably snake bitten now, and was probably a bit lucky then. He keeps getting them, enough of them will start going in.

I'm hoping we didn't rush Zib back too quickly. Everyone has a different recovery rate, and if he's not 100% you might have to consider shutting him down a few games.

That stuff usually regresses to the mean. He's probably snake bitten now, and was probably a bit lucky then. He keeps getting them, enough of them will start going in.

I'm hoping we didn't rush Zib back too quickly. Everyone has a different recovery rate, and if he's not 100% you might have to consider shutting him down a few games.
- 2sticks1puck

the ice also looks horrendous at MSG - which is crazy since there is nothing going on there other than the knicks

I doubt we see Zib at practice today, wonder if they have any update or if its just the new usual no comment he is day to day
- TPC

Probably the old upper body injury if something does get reported

That stuff usually regresses to the mean. He's probably snake bitten now, and was probably a bit lucky then. He keeps getting them, enough of them will start going in.

I'm hoping we didn't rush Zib back too quickly. Everyone has a different recovery rate, and if he's not 100% you might have to consider shutting him down a few games.
- 2sticks1puck

Yea they can't rush him back. But if he is out for more than 5 games or so this team could be in real trouble. In such a short season this team won't last with their center depth without him.

Yea they can't rush him back. But if he is out for more than 5 games or so this team could be in real trouble. In such a short season this team won't last with their center depth without him.
- TPC

What you don't think we are playoff bound with Strome/Chytil/Howden/?

What you don't think we are playoff bound with Strome/Chytil/Howden/?
- mdw7413

Can they bench Strome yet? Man I wish they just walked away from his arbitration case last offseason. But nope gave him 2 years

Yea they can't rush him back. But if he is out for more than 5 games or so this team could be in real trouble. In such a short season this team won't last with their center depth without him.
- TPC

Same thing happened last year and it was what got the team going...

I see we're a might testy this morning!
Cheer up, fellas. If we thought we weren't going to see this sort of stuff as the youngest team in the league we were being incredibly naive.
Some positives are blooming amongst the weeds!

I thought Miller looked good pretty well throughout. Fox is Fox, so that's good. Chytil and Kakko are both starting to play more like men. Not necessarily physical, but playing through contact and sheltering the puck better. I may get beheaded for this, but I actually thought Johnson carried himself pretty well. We are unlikely to see a mistake-free game from him, but he was just part of the play on most shifts.

Patience is the hard part, but necessary. We ARE moving in the right direction.

Can they bench Strome yet? Man I wish they just walked away from his arbitration case last offseason. But nope gave him 2 years
- TPC

Really they didn't have a choice. I don't think there were any centers available. At least that I remember

Can they bench Strome yet? Man I wish they just walked away from his arbitration case last offseason. But nope gave him 2 years
- TPC

Yeah, he did not look great. But honestly, even when that line was playing great last year, there's something about his game that I don't care for. Not even sure what it is. The lines he takes in his skating? IDK. That sounds weird, but something looks unnatural.

Really they didn't have a choice. I don't think there were any centers available. At least that I remember
- mdw7413

I am fine with moving Chytill to 2nd line, Howden to 3rd and giving Morgan Baron a chance at this point lol

Can they bench Strome yet? Man I wish they just walked away from his arbitration case last offseason. But nope gave him 2 years
- TPC

what they should do, and it's obvious, is take Strome off the first powerplay unit and put Kakko there, but I think Strome being a right handed shot is one of the reasons he's there

But, I think we have the Ryan Strome the Oilers had, he's back

What you don't think we are playoff bound with Strome/Chytil/Howden/?
- mdw7413

It's too early to start drinking the kool aid, I think if Zib was out long term something like the PLD trade happens yesterday. The money would balance out pretty nicely, and the team could always eke out a couple extra days for a bit of a cushion when Zib comes back.

Yeah, he did not look great. But honestly, even when that line was playing great last year, there's something about his game that I don't care for. Not even sure what it is. The lines he takes in his skating? IDK. That sounds weird, but something looks unnatural.
- Tonybere

Last night late in the 3rd period when he had the wide open shot and just stood there like a deer in headlights before trying to make an impossible pass to someone double covered in the crease. That was just unforgivable

I see we're a might testy this morning!
Cheer up, fellas. If we thought we weren't going to see this sort of stuff as the youngest team in the league we were being incredibly naive.
Some positives are blooming amongst the weeds!

I thought Miller looked good pretty well throughout. Fox is Fox, so that's good. Chytil and Kakko are both starting to play more like men. Not necessarily physical, but playing through contact and sheltering the puck better. I may get beheaded for this, but I actually thought Johnson carried himself pretty well. We are unlikely to see a mistake-free game from him, but he was just part of the play on most shifts.

Patience is the hard part, but necessary. We ARE moving in the right direction.
- Tonybere

At this point they need to put Tony back in. You don't bench the guy who was 4th overall in defenseman for points, can QB a PP with Fox and clicked with Panarin last year. Quinn wanted to make a point, fine. If they are going to bench people for playing awful, Trouba should be benched for a week after last nights abortion.

what they should do, and it's obvious, is take Strome off the first powerplay unit and put Kakko there, but I think Strome being a right handed shot is one of the reasons he's there

But, I think we have the Ryan Strome the Oilers had, he's back
- jimbro83

Yep totally agree was saying that last night. He needs to get off of that unit

I don't know why they felt the need to change the defensemen 28 seconds into the damn game

frustrating game
- jimbro83

Come on. We can't go nuts over every minute detail in hindsight. It isn't fair to the players.
Every team in the league tries to roll all 4 lines over in the 1st 2-3 minutes of the game. They have to make that defensive change there, because if they don't and they get pinned in their end while tired, the fans would go crazy that they DIDN'T change!
What they need to do is be smarter about it and not have guys not paying attention to where the puck is.