Jan Levine: Game 12: BOS 3 NYR 2, OT, done in by the Rat, Panarin injured
Zib close to breaking out

Quinn cannot be blamed for our top 6 not producing ANY offense. Zibby can't convert his chances and he won only 4 out of 24 face offs!

However, as thin as this team is at the center position, how does Howden NOT get benched? I realize we don't want to give up too soon on a young player, but you have to EARN your ice time and Howden has been horrible! The only positive to his game tonite was he won 5 of 7 face offs. Fact is: Howden got nearly 6 mins more ice time than Gauthier and for that I DO blame Quinn.

WE HAVE TO FIND A CENTER ASAP!

There’s still something wrong with Zib, he looked better last night but he’s still not playing well.
Quinn can absolutely take blame for the ice time he gave out, it’s mind boggling the decisions he makes sometimes. Gauthier getting 6 minutes and PDG/Lemeuix/Rooney getting 10 when they were noticeable all night and Panarin was out almost the entire 3rd period. He keeps running the same guys out there over and over no matter how they’re playing that game, that’s on him. He needs to do a better job adjusting in game to what’s going on or else his time here might be up sooner than later.

There’s still something wrong with Zib, he looked better last night but he’s still not playing well.
Quinn can absolutely take blame for the ice time he gave out, it’s mind boggling the decisions he makes sometimes. Gauthier getting 6 minutes and PDG/Lemeuix/Rooney getting 10 when they were noticeable all night and Panarin was out almost the entire 3rd period. He keeps running the same guys out there over and over no matter how they’re playing that game, that’s on him. He needs to do a better job adjusting in game to what’s going on or else his time here might be up sooner than later.
- nyrangers9479

Zibs progression this season as I have observed:

Dazed and Confused, Strolling around the garden on Sunday --->
50% recognition he is in a hockey game --->
Skating around in circles during a hockey game ---->
Passing the puck randomly to any player --->
Starting to shoot the puck at anything --->
Getting scoring chances (last night)

I'll take some of that. What I see now is a player's timing and confidence is way off because of how long his brain took to recognize he is playing hockey. With those chances he got last night, he will start scoring. I would bet on it. I'm less concerned than I was at stage "Passing the puck randomly.."

Howden is absolutely awful and putting Laf with him is a joke. Chytil Kakko and Laf have to be a line when he is back from injury. Howden should be a taxi driver and nowhere close to the taxi squad.

Howden is absolutely awful and putting Laf with him is a joke. Chytil Kakko and Laf have to be a line when he is back from injury. Howden should be a taxi driver and nowhere close to the taxi squad.
- topshelf17

I’d like to leave Kaapo right where he is (although a stint with LAF while Breadman recuperates should be coming). But, a trio of LAF/Chytil/Gaut should be a smile-maker for a long time.

Quinn cannot be blamed for our top 6 not producing ANY offense. Zibby can't convert his chances and he won only 4 out of 24 face offs!

However, as thin as this team is at the center position, how does Howden NOT get benched? I realize we don't want to give up too soon on a young player, but you have to EARN your ice time and Howden has been horrible! The only positive to his game tonite was he won 5 of 7 face offs. Fact is: Howden got nearly 6 mins more ice time than Gauthier and for that I DO blame Quinn.

WE HAVE TO FIND A CENTER ASAP!
- TommyGTrain

This is the thing, though. And I am NOT defending Howden here. But, until someone else can learn how to win a (frank)ing draw more than by the law of averages, we are going to see a steady diet of Brett Howden.

The heat is definitely off of Quinn. They’re playing really good hockey, but just can’t seem to cash in on their strong play. That statement is getting old very quick, though.

Zib needs to try something out of the ordinary. See a psychic, smudge with sage, do some voodoo poop.

Been a big fan of Gauthier's play since he came in the trade. Fast, Strong and size, he’s very Kreider-Lite. Great to see him get his first. I wish DQ would play him. Guy is a 15 goals scorer if he actually had a franking role on the team!

This is the thing, though. And I am NOT defending Howden here. But, until someone else can learn how to win a (frank)ing draw more than by the law of averages, we are going to see a steady diet of Brett Howden.
- Tonybere

The solution to one problem can’t be a problem in itself. He’s essentially making that third line nonexistent. Sit him and call up another young guy. They can’t be worse.

That was a frustrating game. I thought Georgiev looked pretty pedestrian last night. Not sure how to feel about him right now.

Still not ready to hit the panic button. We have to remember after the awful start, we've still collected points in several of our past games. I guess it's safe to say that we don't know how many games will actually be played, but I feel like last year this team will be better the second half of the season. We've played the same number of games as the Caps and yet are only 4 points behind them for third in the division and they have the same goal differential for the season as us.

Quinn cannot be blamed for our top 6 not producing ANY offense. Zibby can't convert his chances and he won only 4 out of 24 face offs!

However, as thin as this team is at the center position, how does Howden NOT get benched? I realize we don't want to give up too soon on a young player, but you have to EARN your ice time and Howden has been horrible! The only positive to his game tonite was he won 5 of 7 face offs. Fact is: Howden got nearly 6 mins more ice time than Gauthier and for that I DO blame Quinn.

WE HAVE TO FIND A CENTER ASAP!
- TommyGTrain

omg, that's soooooo bad

That was a frustrating game. I thought Georgiev looked pretty pedestrian last night. Not sure how to feel about him right now.
- JRR1285

absolutely ZERO ability to save a breakaway

it's tough, we went through 15 years of having the best in the business at stopping them

Still not ready to hit the panic button. We have to remember after the awful start, we've still collected points in several of our past games. I guess it's safe to say that we don't know how many games will actually be played, but I feel like last year this team will be better the second half of the season. We've played the same number of games as the Caps and yet are only 4 points behind them for third in the division and they have the same goal differential for the season as us.
- 2sticks1puck

6 of our losses are 1-goal games. I'd say we're a good team that's on the cusp of being a really good team. Need to figure out how to win those battles, and it starts with goal scorers scoring when they get quality opportunities.

I think Strome bothered me more than anyone last night, the guy is such a goddamn ding dong

absolutely ZERO ability to save a breakaway

it's tough, we went through 15 years of having the best in the business at stopping them
- jimbro83

He just kinda slides backwards like a statue, full of openings.

I would take Hank as a backup right now honestly (if his current situation wasn't happening).

I think Strome bothered me more than anyone last night, the guy is such a goddamn ding dong
- jimbro83

The top 6 just needs a shot in the arm. Maybe try moving PDG, Rooney or Lemieux up to play with either Zib or Strome. Maybe in Rooney's case, put Kakko and Laf on his line (and actuall give them a good chunk of playing time). See if that in your face forechecking style generates more offense.

He just kinda slides backwards like a statue, full of openings.

I would take Hank as a backup right now honestly (if his current situation wasn't happening).
- JRR1285

Kinkaid could steal Georgiev's job eventually if this keeps up

I think Strome bothered me more than anyone last night, the guy is such a goddamn ding dong
- jimbro83

The cross ice passes while in a good position to shoot has me losing my poop sometimes. (frank)ing shoot for a rebound or something, don't just wing it right into coverage or bounce it off the boards when you miss the thread the needle pass. So many rushes are just lost possession once they crack the zone.

I'm still pissed because I wanted to be able to revel in that incredible defensive play Fox made in overtime this morning but Buchnevich blew it because he is afflicted with no-shoot-itis

Rangers management discussing Georgiev's nonexistent trade value right after the OT goal:

I'm still pissed because I wanted to be able to revel in that incredible defensive play Fox made in overtime this morning but Buchnevich blew it because he is afflicted with no-shoot-itis
- jimbro83

Yeah and that rat face bumhole picks up the goal.

I think Strome bothered me more than anyone last night, the guy is such a goddamn ding dong
- jimbro83

WTF was with hitting the breaks when he was going in all alone out of the box???????

The cross ice passes while in a good position to shoot has me losing my poop sometimes. (frank)ing shoot for a rebound or something, don't just wing it right into coverage or bounce it off the boards when you miss the thread the needle pass. So many rushes are just lost possession once they crack the zone.
- JRR1285

Cross ice passes and perimeter play

How about a high zone entry and come across the ice with possession.