Nine Regulation Goals in Last Five Games
Let that sink in folks. We can talk about toughness, chemistry and coaching all we want, but if the Rangers don't start scoring they they have no chance of making the playoffs.
BTW, four of those goals came in Sunday's 4-1 victory over the Capitals. Meaning they've scored just five regulation goals total in four of the last five games.
The Rangers are 2-3-0 in those five games.
...i mentioned it in the comments section last night, a return of the Hags-Step-Nash would be nice right about now. And it looks like Torts might finally agree as he re-united them at the end of the third period. Have to wonder why he broke them up in the first place. One of many stange decisions Torts has made. See Gabby on left wing, Kreider head games, line-up changes during winning streaks. Jack Adams candidate, Torts is not this season.
...i also think the second line should look like this: Callahan-Richards-Gaborik. Get Gabby back on his strong side, have Callahan go to the net and let Richards do his thing in open ice.
...then the Rangers need someone, anyone to step up with even the slightest bit of offense in the bottom six. Maybe bumping Haley up to the third line with Miller and Pyatt. Nice mix of energy, size and skill.
...would love to hear everyone's thoughts on how to turn this around.
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I couldnt agree more with the nash step hags line and the 2nd line. Its baffles me that he broke up that line.
This is my main thought on Gaborik's inconsistent play this year:
When the New York Yankees brought in Alex Rodriguez (at the time considered the best shortstop in the history of baseball) did they move Jeter, the guy that had played there his whole career and carried the team for years, out of his natural position. The answer is no.
So why did Tortorella make Gaborik, the anchor for this offense, switch out of his natural wing as opposed to Nash. My only thought is that Torts has it out for the guy.... He has never liked him... Of course that can't be the reason but I still dont get it. In my opinion the reason for Gaborik's sub par play is the change in position, which I think was done in an ill manner....
Why does he play Boyle so much ?? Guy sucks. He try's real hard and blocks shots. That's it. Period. He is soft and has no skill. Jesus Christ. He plays waaaay to many minutes.
I would focus on 3 scoring lines with and Hags/ Step/ Nash as the Rangers top line.Gabby and Richards on the second line.Callahan and Miller on the 3rd line.The other forwards would be interchangeable for boardwork, grit, forechecking as needed per line or to enhance scoring on each line.
@trazjaxor I could roll with that, maybe Kreider with Gabby and Richards when he gets called up, and Pyatt with Cally and Miller
@slapshot13j Stepan is the key to the first line, he is playing great and both Nash and Hags will improve with him as center.
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@slapshot13j I'll tell you the difference my friend. Gomez was at that point of his career easily the most over rated hockey player in the entire universe. He had a good pair of skates and decent hands and that's all. No heart. And the Rangers traded Nylander, the only man in the universe who could play with the fickle superstar Jagr at that stage of his career. that tandem was a thing of beauty to watch. Jagr is hard to play with and they complimented each other like bread and butter. So when they traded the older Nylander for Gomez I knew that would be a recipe for disaster, oh excuse me it was not a trade, they signed Gomez and did not resign Nyl, but same thing really. So what happened? Predictably Gomez was ugly aweful, and even more predictably the baby Jagr stopped playing because nobody could get him the puck and he couldn't score 50 goals a season any more. At least Richards has something to back his hefty price tag. Not much but something. I thought he was over rated as well when they got him and had no hopes whatsoever that this guy would become Gabby's play making center. but he looked attractive on paper merely because he was the best pick in the weakest free agent market in years, but still better than Gomez, and last year he did pick it up, got 25 goals if I remember correctly, some of them very clutch and wound up with respectable numbers, but still a disappointment to most but not to the degree of Gomez, and even more disappointing this year so far. We'll see if that continues.
@Betweentheworlds I think this year he is to the same degree as Gomez, I agree last year he played average hockey but was clutch at times
Posted this on another thread....seems to fit better here topic wise...
Ok...time to play GM.
I nailed the Haley call.....he will become a fan favorite over time. Plays with energy, lays big hits...ferocious fighter...tough. Haley is just one small piece to a puzzle tho.....
When you hear people talk about the Rangers and Tortorella's style of play...you usually hear the same phrase...."a physical, grinding style of hockey"....but ask yourself...is that really the style of play your watching?
What team comes to my mind when I hear the phrase..."a physical, grinding style of hockey"?
The Boston Bruins.
Big...ultra physical. All around team tough. I heard an interview with Zdeno Chara the other day, in which he was talking about an upcoming game(I forget the team). To paraphrase Chara, his response was..."We know the team coming in is going to play a physical game. I know they can't out muscle or be more physical than us, so we will be ready for them". It's not just a system with the Bruins...it's a MENTALITY.
You know why the Bruins play well in the third period of games? Because they wear teams down physically from the constant hitting. And if you attempt to lay a hard clean hit on a Bruin....you will be challenged immediately.
That my friends, is "a physical, grinding style of hockey".
The Rangers do not play this style. They try, but it just doesn't click. They are like a hybrid...a grinding/pond hockey team. There needs to be some personnel changes......
If I was Sather, I would look for two big physical forwards.....one of which would be the Sharks' Ryane Clowe. I would also like to give Mashinster another shot as the other big forward......
We also need a nasty, physical defenseman. Offense not required. Someone when he's on the ice will make the puck carrier feel uncomfortable coming into our zone. Open ice hitter/ stand up the puck carrier at the blueline type of player. Someone who plays with a nasty streak. Someone who will have no problem with clearing the crease when necessary.
The addition of those those players...with Haley on the 4th line...and for real physical games...Haley and Asham on the 4th line.....the Rangers will be transformed into "a physical, grinding style of hockey" team.
@McPhee21 Why don't we just start playing a more up tempo, offensive style game, we have speed and skill to breakout and hank or biron to cover our ass. Imo the system is not working, its not the players, this is the third year in a row where our powerplay sucks and we can't score goals consistently. And nobody tell me we need a PP quarterback cause we have the offensive talent to have a good powerplay, the system just sucks.
@McPhee21 I have been calling for Clowe for awhile now. Brian Boyle is beyond expendable and throw in a second rounder and that should get the deal done.
What you are saying about the Bruins is true, but look at their team. The average size of a player on their team is 6'1" 207 pounds, I heard when we played them. Their GM built a team that simply is just bigger than the opposing team. Even when a player tries to hit one of theirs, they get tired trying too... It was a smart approach, and in a 7 game series that will wear you down.
@slapshot13j @McPhee21 Clowe is absolutely not worth Boyle and a second rounder. Boyle and a 4th rounder more like. just sayinn
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Hey Slap,
I'm in agreement with you on Clowe. But no way do the Sharks give Clowe to us for Boyle and a second rounder. I think the Sharks are looking for a 1st rounder...and maybe a prospect.
So, the Bruins are 6'1...207lbs......pretty big. The Rangers as a team...6'1...204lbs. Pretty much the same.
So you have the Bruins and the Rangers...both average almost the same size and weight....and both play a "physical, grinding style of hockey."
But in reality...the Bruins are better grinders....are much more physical...and are much more aggressive and nasty as a team.
So, why don't we play like them? Same size...supposedly the style of hockey.....why the difference?
It's the mentality of the players. The Bruins bring in players who have the mentality, the right attitude to play a physical, grinding type of hockey......
Round pegs....round holes. They bring in players that fit the system.
The Rangers problem is that they are trying to fit some square pegs into round holes. You have some players that would be better off in an "up and down" offensive attack game rather than the physical grinding game.
We need to start bringing in players who will fit the system. Clowe would be a good start. Mashinster would be another. We need to bring in big forwards who hit and grind.....and most importanly...they LOVE to play that way.
This team needs a CHANGE, I am not the GM or a coach or a player, so it is up to them to figure it out. But I will tell you guys one thing, these next three games they play are not against Buffalo. They will run us out of the building if we don't show up. 14 of our last 22 games are against playoff teams. We didn't perform well during the easy part of the season, which means the Rangers need to step up otherwise the Playoffs will be out of reach this year. If we get 0 points out of these next three games, consider it the beginning of the end...
and we don't have a first round pick so can't even look forward to being in the lottery for the first pick, but Columbus gets another chance at it....
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@kicker75 That is the hardest part of coaching. There is a line... how much the coach should or shouldnt be involved... Last year the players liked that about Torts. This year I honestly don't blame Tort's style of coaching because it clearly can work. What I blame most for this current Rangers season is the depth. It was an issue coming into the season, and it is the issue now. Plain and simple they cannot score. Whether it is Miller, Pyatt, Boyle, Halpern or Powe... they just can't score. So when the top lines do not perform we don't win. A good team, A great team is capable of winning games when their top player doesnt have their best game. The Rangers can't do that.
For example Pittsburgh against Boston on Tuesday. Crosby had arguably one of his worst games of the year, but other players were able to step up.... Suter that night, but it could have been 1 of 10 players and no one would have been surprised. That is why teams like Boston and Pittsburgh are better then the Rangers... Depth. We had it last year, but right now we have 0 depth
Gaborik is one of the keys to unpleasant situation. If Torts finds him proper role (instead benching him) in the line that fits his play everything could all of a sudden look much better. I mean, can it go much worse really? Jets game was practically 4 points game! I'm sure everyone at Blueshirts was aware of that and yet they blew it! Changes are needed big time!Btw, anyone interested - I'm running this Rangers Fan Site and I'm updating it daily - feel free to visit, vote for favorite player and comment at: www.squidoo.com/ice-hockey-accessories-new-york-rangers
Aron Asham not on the ice again, what a horrendous signing by Sather... Huge bust and he wont even be in the lineup when he is healthy
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Not to get off topic about the lack of scoring but am I only the only person who is SICK of seeing other team's forwards planting themselves in front of Lundqvist and our D allow them to stand there without so much as a cross check???? Aside from secondary scoring, this team really needs a big, bruising capable dman or 2 that will clear the front of the net or beat the hell out of any player who dares plant himself in front of our goalies. Both goals last night were a result of their forwards being allowed to freely stand in front of our goalie.
@TruBluEsp Something that infuriated me about the WPG game was how easily Nik Antropov got to the front of the goal, and McD was the only one trying to get him out. Antropov is huge, 6'6 240 lb I believe, NO WAY McD was getting him out. God, I can't wait for McIlrath to jump to the NHL, no crease will be safe.
Back on topic. I have a feeling that the top 2 lines might look like this against the Pens:Gabby-Stepan-NashHagelin-Richards-CallahanI have no issue with a 4th line of Halpern-Powe-Haley. I love having Miller on the 3rd line but enough is enough with Boyle and Pyatt. I like Pyatt and he's better than Boyle but you cannot expect much from Miller with those 2 playing with him. I like Powe but boy does this team miss Prust!
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@TruBluEsp The thing is Pyatt and Boyle play the same game, but Pyatt is doing it much better right now in terms of controlling the boards and working the puck. We need another 20 goal scorer down there like Clowe, which will also help Miller. Not Brian Boyle
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@slapshot13j If that's the case, I'd pull the trigger on a deal for Clowe in a heartbeat. Wouldn't bat an eyelash or hesitate.
@TruBluEsp I just want Ryan Clowe himself haha, and he is available is the word on the street. Brian Boyle and a second round pick would get it done. We would be taking on the extra cap...
@slapshot13j Couldn't agree more. I'd much rather have Pyatt than Boyle but 2 things working against that. Torts and his mind-boggling decision-making doesn't want Miller playing center. Would rather him on the wing and Boyle in the middle. And 2, not many Clowe like players out there or available. Morrow or Cole would look great on that 3rd line but I'm sure that's a pipe dream.
@TruBluEsp Yea, Mcilrath will be the guy hopefully next year that will take care of the trash in front of Hank. For now they dont have much unless they bring someone in
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Finally someoe else realizes last yar was a fluke! The team was Hank and a prayer! Last year they scored a average of 2.7 goals a game this year so far it's 2.5. It actually went down with the addition of Nash. The Rangers play a boring style of hockey that demnstrates a complete lackof a plan by the coach and his staff. The PP has gotten progressively worse but as admitted by the great Tortorella I don't work on it I let the players handle it! WHAt? A good coach has a team prepared and has a plan, great coach has that and plays to his players strengths and not to the coach's ideoogy! He has moved Gabby off his prefered right wing and wants a 40 goal scorer to become a grinding in your face forward, ain't gonna happen! He has killed Gabby's confidence and probably Krieders as well. He wants the team to play his style and you must be perfect about it. Last game JT MIller had a give away, imagine a 19 year old in a dozen NHL games got checked and gave up the puck, so what happens? He gets benched then put on the 4th line. Great way to teach and motivate! Get this asshole out of here! The Rangers will NEVER win the Cup as long as this clown is behind the bench!
@TheNYRBlog this is what I think strongest lineup is Nash\/step\/hags Cally\/rich\/gabby Kreider\/miller\/Boyle Pyatt\/powe\/halpern or Haley
Avery? Come on, man, that ship has sailed! I here with letting Prust slip through our mitts, but Dubi and Arty weren't doing too many good things when they were Blueshirts. This team has lost its heart--Cally needs to become more vocal!
We also need some secondary scoring. Something I haven't heard anybody mention is how Taylor Pyatt has quit scoring goals. He has 1 goal in his last 22 games and only 3 points in those 22 games. With the way he started, I would have hoped that he was gonna provide some decent secondary scoring, but his play has fallen off dramatically since the first few games of the season. I remember in those first few games his play was very noticeable, but lately you have barely noticed that he's been on the ice.
And I agree with everybody else. Gaborik needs to get his shit together and start putting the puck in the back of the net.
A goal or two from a defenseman and somebody NOT on the first or second line wouldn't hurt either.
@TheNYRBlog That's the bottom line truth! IMO, Gaby =Houdini, but 40+ due next season and Nash not at his best with the dump\/grind offense
Boyle and Pyatt cannot skate. How can Miller do anything by himself. I say call up Kreider and put him with Miller and Hags or Callahan.
@supermaz Generally speaking in the hockey world the term "lead foot" is not a compliment, nor does it imply speed
I said this yesterday. Lundqvist is getting so frustrated its sad. The guy a champion and he needs the cup. our lack of scoring is killing us. Like I said before Nash is the man. Hes great. but I still dont think he was worth anisimov, dubi, and prospal. i mean dubi alone brought more heart than any new guy. and loosing pruster was a heavy load. they need to call avery back to spark the team. if the team sees them call avery, they will know some shits about to go down. haha
@TheNYRBlog 100% on torts to get this right. Nash can play LW or skate w\/Stepan. Torts has weapons. He has to figure it out.
Torts is losing his grip somewhat on the team. His coaching isn't carrying like it used to.Players have to step up but it seems more than that this year.
