Kreider Struggles, Mashinter Scores as Whale Win 4-1
In his first game since being assigned to the CT Whale, Chris Kreider went scoreless with a -1, one shot on goal and a minor penalty as the Whale defeated Portland 4-1. Christian Thomas had two goals.
Mini Mashinter Watch
Brandon Mashinter scored in the first period to break a 1-1 tie on a great feed from Kris Newbury.
Mashinter now has 4g, 5a and three fights in the 12 games since joining the Whale.
Here's video of Mashinter goal (1:20 mark)...
Steve Eminger was a -1 with one shot on goal in the first game of his conditioning stint.
...not exactly the performance Kreider was probably looking for, but I can't imagine his mind was completely in the game after getting the bad news of the demotion earlier in the day. So I'll give him a pass here, but he better step it up tonight and tomorrow to get himself back on track and recalled by the Rangers because for them to be a successful team they're going to need Kreider at his best.
...not sure what else Mashinter needs to do to get a call-up. Assuming he'll need Boyle to continue to play the soft style of game we're all used to, forcing Torts to make the move.
...Thomas is on an absolute tear right now with 3g, 3a in his last six games. Thomas is fourth on the team in goals (12) and points (23). He's making me eat my words from earlier this season that he might be too small to succeed at the pro game.
In other Whale news...
Contract extension for Rangers G Cameron Talbot 2013-14 $550 000 (2 way) 2014-15 $575 000 (one way)
— Renaud Lavoie (@RenLavoieRDS) February 16, 2013
...i like that the Rangers are going to keep Talbot around. He's kept the Whale in the playoff hunt this year and when Biron's contract is up next offseason, I would feel comfortable with him as Lundqvist's backup.
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Wow Kreider played poorly what a surprise... This is going to turn out to be a great move....(sarcasm).
Everyone needs to get back from the ledge with Kreider. Remember he is months removed from his JUNIOR year of college and now he is being paid alot of money to perform in the biggest city in the world in front of some of the most demanding fans in the world. It's ALOT to get your head around when everyone else your age has ZERO responsibility. Remember that Kreider was a relatively late bloomer in high school AND college (took til last year to finally show his promise). Also keep in mind he's dealing with a problem with an ankle and his game is speed.
Another thing to note: He's shown himself to be a humble, thoughtful, intelligent individual. While those are great traits to have it's probably not the best thing to be when you're a kid trying to break into the league. Tortorella, in discussing Miller, has basically said as much (talking about how it's easier to coach a kid who's kinda cocky, extroverted and has a swagger vs coaching a quiet kid). Perhaps that's why Miller seems like he's further along right now.
I know he set his expectations ridiculously high in the playoffs last year - but at that point i doubt he had a chance to sit back and think about anything. He went from playing championship college hockey to the pros with his confidence at a lifetime high. Nothing was knocking that down so fast.
In summary, give the guy a break, remember where he is in his life, and know that he absolutely has it in him to be awesome and achieve his promise. He wants to more than you want him to. So do his coaches, coaches that have shown themselves to be very good coaches who have developed many young players. I'm sure that said coaches understand what it takes to get him to where he needs to be WAY MORE than any of us do.
A lot of guys flash for a while and then fade. Maybe the playoffs were Kreider's 15 minutes.
I wonder why u keep making excuses for Kreider. He was lousy earlier with the whale and lousy with the Rangers. He was far from an elite player in college and in his two stints with the US World Cup team he was also lousy. Maybe he's a guy with physical ability who is a constant tease. He won't be the first. to go unrealized.
Thomas has the hardest shot in the entire Rangers system. His problem has been getting enough of them. The Rangers would be better off with him on the PP in the circle for a one timer rather than Stepan who has soft shot. Thomas' one timer could actually scare somebody.
@TheNYRBlog kid has to grow up & step it up & he'll be back with big club in no time, Torts seeing what he's made of...
@me295 That may be true but he needs more aggression and emotion to his game. That's on him.
With a name like Brandon (Mashinter), he's got to be good. Maybe he can get the #8 jersey from Powe. When I see writeups about him, words like hulking and grit are used... a lot. The Rangers could have used his physicality against Boston and these are traits that always are needed in general.
“@TheNYRBlog: Kreider struggles in first game back with Whale, while Mashinter continues to impress" #nyr >>>CK better get it together
@TheNYRBlog Mashinter is playing well. I wish @dylan_mcilrath was ready they really need a tough DMan badly.
