Jan Levine: Game 6: NYR-WAS, Finally A Familiar Foe Rangers kick off East Coast swing of road trip

Oh heavens. You want cooler heads to prevail? You want to be the voice of reason? You want patience?

I do wonder if some of the issue is the Callahan not having a full camp to get used to the new system and be in game shape and that Hagelin is still not back? It could be a reason and not an excuse.

lets not forget the 11/12 Rangers started 3-3-3 in their first 9, starting with an relatively awful West Coast trip. And that team finished 1pt off the Presidents trophy and through game 6 of the ECF.

Oh heavens. You want cooler heads to prevail? You want to be the voice of reason? You want patience?

I do wonder if some of the issue is the Callahan not having a full camp to get used to the new system and be in game shape and that Hagelin is still not back? It could be a reason and not an excuse.
- bodiva88

I think the thing is though, I have been watching this team for most of my 40+ years, I have never seen them look so bad in the first 5 games opening the season. Never.

Luckily, most of the Metropolitan division is having their issues too, so if the Rangers can figure out how to get a couple of wins before they finally get to play in MSG they won't be too far behind.

lets not forget the 11/12 Rangers started 3-3-3 in their first 9, starting with an relatively awful West Coast trip. And that team finished 1pt off the Presidents trophy and through game 6 of the ECF.
- JackBurton37

in the first 5 games they did not score 9 goals and give up 25 though

Oh heavens. You want cooler heads to prevail? You want to be the voice of reason? You want patience?

I do wonder if some of the issue is the Callahan not having a full camp to get used to the new system and be in game shape and that Hagelin is still not back? It could be a reason and not an excuse.
- bodiva88

Yes that is a big reason! And hagelin being out takes away some speed that serves AVs system well. However, Nash being out long term is the nail in the coffin for this team. Even if they start adapting to the system, they just don't have enough scoring punch to be a true contender. Many on here have said that the rangers need to play the youth more. They aren't going to be making crazy trades, so it's a great idea start growing the future now. They have a farm system that most other teams would die for. Not the best in the league but very solid. its time. Oh and Sather needs to step down before the cancer kills him. And good write up jan!

in the first 5 games they did not score 9 goals and give up 25 though
- jimbro83

No, but a loss is a loss, by 1 or by 7 or 10 ... it may not look good, but dropping two points is dropping 2 points, regardless of the score. If they still look this bad by the time they get to MSG, then we may need to close the windows on the upper floors.

I think the thing is though, I have been watching this team for most of my 40+ years, I have never seen them look so bad in the first 5 games opening the season. Never.

Luckily, most of the Metropolitan division is having their issues too, so if the Rangers can figure out how to get a couple of wins before they finally get to play in MSG they won't be too far behind.
- jimbro83

Rangers are certaintly being given the chance, as no one really besides the Pens started hot in their conference. This could be a blessing if they can manage to pull out a few W's. We need this one tonight for sure. So on that note LGR

Long believed Tortarella is an amazing coach that squeezes great result out of his roster. But it is a high stress model where players burn out just because of the intensity of his demanding nature. We saw it in Tampa where he drove the team to a Stanley Cup but over the next few years the team unravelled, gave up, tuned him out and became uncompetitive.

I fear the Rangers have replaced Tortarella with the worst possible choice. Vigneault is a players' coach, supportive, encouraging, a cheerleader. The players won, they got rid of Tortarella. But, you wonder if some might be having second thoughts?

Long believed Tortarella is an amazing coach that squeezes great result out of his roster. But it is a high stress model where players burn out just because of the intensity of his demanding nature. We saw it in Tampa where he drove the team to a Stanley Cup but over the next few years the team unravelled, gave up, tuned him out and became uncompetitive.

I fear the Rangers have replaced Tortarella with the worst possible choice. Vigneault is a players' coach, supportive, encouraging, a cheerleader. The players won, they got rid of Tortarella. But, you wonder if some might be having second thoughts?
- spatso

I love when opposing fans say I fear or I am afraid. No your not, your hoping and your happy. That's what being a rival fan is about. Vigneault is like the carbon copy of Capuano

I love when opposing fans say I fear or I am afraid. No your not, your hoping and your happy. That's what being a rival fan is about. Vigneault is like the carbon copy of Capuano
- mighty13duck

haha

haha

- jimbro83

Is it not the truth? As an isles fan I have to admit I hope you guys do bad and the Isles do well for once. Its the way it is. Some people have a problem with honesty especially on this site.

Is it not the truth? As an isles fan I have to admit I hope you guys do bad and the Isles do well for once. Its the way it is. Some people have a problem with honesty especially on this site.
- mighty13duck

you are dead on in this assessment

So I love the Rangers, but is a loss tonight the worst thing? It sounds like changes could be coming if they have another rough outing tonight. For the good of the season, maybe a loss tonight will help shake the lineup up and get rid of some of the dead weight. I Just think this lineup has some flaws and if Nash is out long term they need to make some adjustments.

But also I love the Rangers and don't have it in me to hope that they lose

So I love the Rangers, but is a loss tonight the worst thing? It sounds like changes could be coming if they have another rough outing tonight. For the good of the season, maybe a loss tonight will help shake the lineup up and get rid of some of the dead weight. I Just think this lineup has some flaws and if Nash is out long term they need to make some adjustments.

But also I love the Rangers and don't have it in me to hope that they lose
- TPC

I just want to beat the Devils on saturday

I just want to beat the Devils on saturday
- Mtlca66

Knowing my luck they will lose and no changes will happen....might as well just push forward and hope for the best.

Yea have to beat the Devils

So I love the Rangers, but is a loss tonight the worst thing? It sounds like changes could be coming if they have another rough outing tonight. For the good of the season, maybe a loss tonight will help shake the lineup up and get rid of some of the dead weight. I Just think this lineup has some flaws and if Nash is out long term they need to make some adjustments.

But also I love the Rangers and don't have it in me to hope that they lose
- TPC

Adjustments????
AV is allergic to those...

So I love the Rangers, but is a loss tonight the worst thing? It sounds like changes could be coming if they have another rough outing tonight. For the good of the season, maybe a loss tonight will help shake the lineup up and get rid of some of the dead weight. I Just think this lineup has some flaws and if Nash is out long term they need to make some adjustments.

But also I love the Rangers and don't have it in me to hope that they lose
- TPC

First, if there is a true need to shake up the lineup, a win tonight shouldn't make any difference. And if a shakeup is in the works, I think they have enough assets to keep it internal, or so I hope.

Long believed Tortarella is an amazing coach that squeezes great result out of his roster. But it is a high stress model where players burn out just because of the intensity of his demanding nature. We saw it in Tampa where he drove the team to a Stanley Cup but over the next few years the team unravelled, gave up, tuned him out and became uncompetitive.

I fear the Rangers have replaced Tortarella with the worst possible choice. Vigneault is a players' coach, supportive, encouraging, a cheerleader. The players won, they got rid of Tortarella. But, you wonder if some might be having second thoughts?
- spatso

Torts is a good coach, but he bought his own ticket out of town when he refused to adjust away from a style of play that was clearly not as effective as it had been the season prior. I just hope that AV doesnt suffer from the same ego trip

Torts is a good coach, but he bought his own ticket out of town when he refused to adjust away from a style of play that was clearly not as effective as it had been the season prior. I just hope that AV doesnt suffer from the same ego trip
- JackBurton37

I think that is the key point. Tortarella squeezes (in the good sense) every ounce he can get out of each player. Hell, they are going crazy in Vancouver worried that one of the Sisters is going to damage a toe trying to block a shot.

But players can only perform at that level of intensity for so long. When they grow weary of the excessive demands they start to let up. Rumors start up that the coach has pushed the guys too hard. They start to think that a player's coach with a more gentle touch might get a better result.

They fail to understand that Tortarella may have got a lot more from them than the sum of their parts.

Pure guess work on my part but I think Tortarella may have an easier job following Vigneault into Vancouver than the reverse demand of Vigneault coming into the Rangers.

I think that is the key point. Tortarella squeezes (in the good sense) every ounce he can get out of each player. Hell, they are going crazy in Vancouver worried that one of the Sisters is going to damage a toe trying to block a shot.

But players can only perform at that level of intensity for so long. When they grow weary of the excessive demands they start to let up. Rumors start up that the coach has pushed the guys too hard. They start to think that a player's coach with a more gentle touch might get a better result.

They fail to understand that Tortarella may have got a lot more from them than the sum of their parts.

Pure guess work on my part but I think Tortarella may have an easier job following Vigneault into Vancouver than the reverse demand of Vigneault coming into the Rangers.
- spatso

you may have a point there ... but rather than waering thin, my point was his being to stubborn to alter his game plan. When something isn't working, you need to change it up ... lines, styles, whatever ... he just refused to do so. 5 games may be too small a sample, but when the changes are needed, i just hope AV can make them

Adjustments????
AV is allergic to those...
- I-own_da-Northwest

Well we have management that won't stand by for Vancouver failure, we'll be just thanks

I think that is the key point. Tortarella squeezes (in the good sense) every ounce he can get out of each player. Hell, they are going crazy in Vancouver worried that one of the Sisters is going to damage a toe trying to block a shot.

But players can only perform at that level of intensity for so long. When they grow weary of the excessive demands they start to let up. Rumors start up that the coach has pushed the guys too hard. They start to think that a player's coach with a more gentle touch might get a better result.

They fail to understand that Tortarella may have got a lot more from them than the sum of their parts.

Pure guess work on my part but I think Tortarella may have an easier job following Vigneault into Vancouver than the reverse demand of Vigneault coming into the Rangers.
- spatso

"Squeezes" is obviously you clever way at a continuous shot at our roster, If you want to talk about squeezing lets talk about Randy Carlyle, I won't mince words, the Leafs are very over rated outside of the top line

in the first 5 games they did not score 9 goals and give up 25 though
- jimbro83

it was 2 games that really did them in for 25 goals. we need to stop overreacting about those 2 losses. to expect them to give up 6 to 9 goals every single night for the next 70+ games is ridiculous.

it happened. it's over. it was 1 game (well technically 2 games back to back where they let up 6+). it won't happen consistently for another 70+ games.

yea it looks bad...BUT IT WAS ONE GAME! (not yelling at you, just in general).

if we won 9-2 and then 6-0 would we be expecting to automatically win out the rest of the season and be 1st in the entire league? we just need to keep our emotions in check right now which is tough during a rough start but almost everyone here was pretty confident this team would be a mess for the first 15 games and said they wouldn't panic but the complete opposite is happening.

i understand the passion and whatnot but let's please stop acting like we're going to give up 6-9 goals every single game for the rest of the year.

I think that is the key point. Tortarella squeezes (in the good sense) every ounce he can get out of each player. Hell, they are going crazy in Vancouver worried that one of the Sisters is going to damage a toe trying to block a shot.

But players can only perform at that level of intensity for so long. When they grow weary of the excessive demands they start to let up. Rumors start up that the coach has pushed the guys too hard. They start to think that a player's coach with a more gentle touch might get a better result.

They fail to understand that Tortarella may have got a lot more from them than the sum of their parts.

Pure guess work on my part but I think Tortarella may have an easier job following Vigneault into Vancouver than the reverse demand of Vigneault coming into the Rangers.
- spatso

i too think that torts is having an easier job going to vancouver than AV is going to NY. in vancouver, the players have been instinctually coached for the past 7 years to be a good passing, puck-possessing, skill team that is now being forced to work harder and put more effort in all 3 zones. in NY, the players have been instinctually coached the past 4+ years to literally just dump and chase and collapse and block shots. seeing the open man and passing him the puck, wheeling the puck around the zone, transitioning from defense to offense, etc. in the NHL is pretty new to most of the players who have only been coached by torts at the NHL level and it will take longer for them to instinctually use their skill and hands than just dump and chase the puck or cycle it in the corner.