Rangers Continue to Slide
Sunday, December 28, 2008
In what I felt was a critical game at this point of the season, the Rangers dropped a 4-2 decision to the much despised New Jersey Devils (Despised or not, they play some solid hockey). It all started wrong for the Rangers with a PP goal against, followed by a shorthanded tally by the Devils (Shorthanded... again?). From there, it was "chase the score" all night long!
Where do we begin with this one? I think I will start with the post-game presser by Coach Renney. Without names being mentioned, he let everyone know that he's not pleased with a certain few. I think we all know who he's talking about... and he's right! The so-called "stars" have not contributed like the Ranger brass or faithful had envisioned. If you, as a fan, believe otherwise - then you can easily be sold some ocean-front land in Kansas City!
When your 6-12 players show more heart and energy night after night (As my former teammate Dave Maloney mentioned) then you got a problem... and it's a big one at that! Along with the usual no scoring was again a lousy PP, giving up another shorthanded goal, and minimal physical play... it just compounds the problems even more when your top players are not playing very good. I heard from people that they want a change in coaching... sorry, but this is not a coaching problem. This is a player problem. No excuses, no stories, no dreams will ever make me believe different. The players got themselves into this, now they have to dig harder and find their way out.
One other thought, I never would have believed this but - Jagr, Shanahan, Straka, and even Sean Avery all look pretty good to me right now. How about you?
Also, I will be away for a while this week doing some more Quinnipiac Bobcat hockey games. The days that I will be doing the games are as follows: Monday, Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday. Feel free to check out the link below and give the games a listen. Over and out!
» Bobcats Link: http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x981.xml
15 comments:
“When you move the puck with speed, with good short passes, you make more space for yourself,” Elias said. ( N Y Times )
That quote is the answer to the Rangers trials and tribulations on the ice this year. If the Rangers can find a way to play together and string together 2 passes in a row, they will be a different team.
Contrary to many, dumping the puck in and chasing it is only 1/3 of north south hockey style. The Rangers inability to break out with passing the puck is the reason for the majority of turnovers. To dump the puck in from the red line is absurd.
The Renney Rangers are not capable of passing the puck to each other consistently. The RR's are a collection of robots who cannot see past their own two skates. That is noticeable every night on the ice by any hockey fan. The lineup that Renney supports is not capable of moving the puck down the ice without using the boards it seems.
Chico Resch stated last night while discussing the Rangers inability to move the puck that it was tougher to play the puck along the boards and that the Rangers needed to get dirty and start using the boards. That is nonsense. The gutsy and rewarding play is to move the puck in the middle of the ice. The middle of the ice is wher you gain the most high percentage scoring chances . Ans that is why a team who use the middle of the ice is tougher and is playing in areas where you must execute.
yea i agree, Shanny, Jags, Straks, Aves all look great right now! i miss them terribly. This season is not fun at all.
That game was pathetic last night. But now onto some bigger issues.
I am happy that Renney ripped into, although it was indirectly, the "star" players. They are playing terrible and it's unacceptable.
I've had about enough of Drury. All that guy does is score in bunches and 1/4 his points this season have been completely meaningless (Late in games with a lead already or down by a crap load and scoring).
Now, onto Gomez. More excuses came out last night with the revelation that he didn't like his "newer" equipment so he went back to his "older" stuff. Great. Awesome. So he had probably a top 5 worst performance of the season last night, so I assume he'll blame that on the "older" equipment or just breaking the stuff back in again?
The truth is, as much as they need to step up. They still aren't good enough. They are not that great of players even at the peak of their game. Their salary and contracts are atrocious. Gomez is a "playmaker" who constantly turns the puck over and has no shot to speak of - unless shooting the puck square into the goalies gut night after night is a good shot.
Drury has never been a "star" player. He thrived in Buffalo with tons of fast players and offensive talent around him. What, his season high for goals was 37 I think - the year before we signed him. If memory serves me correctly, Drury crashed the net a lot that year and had a fair share of rebound/putback goals. He's not a guy who's going to create on his own - never has been, never will be.
Also, booing Redden last night was pathetic. Yeah, his contract is terrible. Yeah, he's really slow and not a great player. But please, the real players you should be booing are the ones making over 7 million a year wearing the "C" and an "A". I've never seen such a non-emotional "leader" in my life. If the team/Renney had any balls they'd strip Drury of the C and give to someone who deserves it like Paul Mara. Someone who plays with an edge, plays with passion, and seems to take the games to heart.
Which reminds me, I'm also sick of Micheletti constantly making excuses for players like Drury over and over. Why in the hell where they seriously blaming Mara last night on that shorthanded goal? Yeah, he may of been out of position. But let's look this over for a second. Is Mara an offensive power house? No. Why is he on the PP? Because we've been giving up shorthanded goals left and right that Renney had to juggle the PP lines since early on in the season. Don't throw the blame on Mara when he's been one of the only players this season that has given a crap.
Furthermore, why in the world was no blame thrown at Drury for that play? SERIOUSLY, WHAT IN THE HELL DID DRURY EXPECT TO HAPPEN BY HIS AMAZING PASSBACK TO DUBINSKY?! Drury handcuffed Dubinsky, put him right up against the boards, with a defender closing in right on him.
Oh yeah, also, just wanted to throw a quick mention that Drury's lazyness cost us the game - potentially. Parise's goal that made it 4-2 late in the 3rd was Drury's fault. Being lazy, never taking the body, stick checking like there's no tomorrow, and letting Parise get right in front of the net for an easy goal. Thanks, Captain.
Also, don't forget his amazing clear towards the end of one of Jersey's PPs that never cleared. Leading to the 3 on 2 (I believe) when Zajac fired one over Hank's shoulder.
This team sucks. They are becoming like a chore to watch. Callahan, Mara, Dawes, Dubinsky, Staal, Sjostrom and (Sometimes) Girardi seem to be the only skaters lately that I notice night after night giving a solid effort.
Been ranting long enough, so I'll leave with this. Anyone see Hanks GAA lately? Terrible. But, how can you blame him? Some goals have been weak. But how can you stop 8,000 breakaways & giveaways each game? You can't. Poor guy.
johnM: JohnM, I agree with you on the premise of carrying the puck into the opposition's zone instead of dumping it in.
The Rangers roster is not filled with big, strong, crash the boards type of players, so dump and chase doesn't make sense. (Besides if you have the puck, the other team can't score)
In order for you to pass or carry your way across center ice, you have to have a solid understanding of where you are supposed to be as a player.
This is where the Ranger players IQ comes into question. To me the jury is still out on that.
DO WORK: DO WORK, It's clear to me that this team can not score on a consistent basis. Even Renney admitted as much in the press conference after the game.
I want these Rangers to do well and I hope they turn it around but the more I see the more I miss Jagr, Shanny, Straka, and Avery. Oh and one more Nylander. Oh well.....
wrath of sanity: Wrath, very impressive with your take on the state of the Rangers.
I believe we all as Ranger followers want desperately for the team to succeed. It's just not happening at this moment.
I wish I could find something to disagree with you on but the truth hurts.... ouch!!!!
Chris, I have a question for you.....As a player & while performing in MSg, does the fans positive or negative "electricity" affect you? Things seem to get ugly there lately & I'm wondering if the fans getting on the players could be an issue?
99sbookie: 99sbookie, Nice Name Ha Ha. First off I loved playing at MSG as a Ranger and I hate to say it as an opponent as well. It's got a feel like no other.
To answer your question, every player reacts different towards the crowd. Some feel the heat and it affects their play and others are oblivious to it.
If you are a "True Pro" you understand the positive and the negative of the home town crowd. (it comes with the territory)
That's how I feel and I hope I answered to your satisfaction. Interesting post.
i miss nylander toooo!
Drury is annoying with his dumb comments same as gomez.
The team is royally f'ed.
DO WORK: DO WORK, I really want the present Rangers to well. There still is hope for this team, trust me.
Drury and Gomez are the key to this team as it presently sits (As well as others). They need to step up and prove it on the ice.
When teams wade into the free agent market, no one knows 100% what they are getting in return for the big contracts you lay out. It's a gamble.
i cant take 1 more day of Kalinin...enough of this clown..this team is in serious trouble Chris....
a team...with many injuries...back up goalie...and not that good a team and we manage a 5-4 win...can you see throught the BS...illusion? 2 points yes..but is it a cure?...no...whats it gonna take to make the simple changes..ie..Potter in for Kalinin..Kalinin was signed for a year..and hes back in Russia...no NHL team will sign him...Potter is part of our future...play the kid already ...thoughts Chris?
New Year Hockey Wishes;
1. The NHL institutes a 2 minute penalty to any player dropping the gloves and NOT TAKING OFF HIS FACE SHEILD .
2. Abolish the instigator penalty.
3. Reinstitute the one league point system so the top 16 teams are seeded for the playoffs and anyone can meet anyone regardless of division or conference in the Stanley Cup Finals.
4. Take down the nets behind the goals.
5. Abolish the shootout and award 3 points for wins and 1 point for a tie after one 5 minute overtime of 5 on 5 hockey in the regular season.
Happy New Year!
leatherneck: Leatherneck, Didn't see one minute of the Rangers, Islanders. I was away doing the Quinnipiac Bobcats Radio.
I'll have to rely on my fellow Ranger fans for the scoops on the game.
JohnM: JohnM, Agree with NO.1,2,3,4, not sure about NO 5. Hey 4 out of 5 ain't bad.
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