Wow! Rangers Shutout at Home
Sunday, December 7, 2008
The New York Rangers were shutout at MSG by a score of 3-0 at the hands of the Calgary Flames. For a while in the 1st period, the Rangers played even hockey, for the most part. The Flames, however, scored on a terrible line change by the Rangers as Jerome Iginla banged home a rebound past Henrik Lundqvist.
I thought, "Okay, it's only one". But what I did not expect was that the Rangers biggest problem would creep up on them again: The lack of scoring. Which, anyone who's a Ranger fan knows all too well. Forget about the 2nd and the 3rd goal (Another short handed goal, by the way). The real problem here is the offense! With all of the changes made over the last 2 seasons and the high priced acquisitions that were supposed to be the bulk of the offense... all I can say is that: you get the most ice time, get payed the most, and get the most free passes from the fans and the media. Thus, when you aren't pulling your weight - you should take the heat. I will not name names, but it's obvious... isn't it?
Look, I love the Rangers and I want them to do well. But, what I've seen lately has me a little worried about the long run. I mean, how much can a goaltender take when he steps on the ice night after night and he thinks he has to stop everything? When are the players, who the Rangers desperately need to come to the forefront, gonna contribute? I'm sure that Glen Sather is wondering right now, along with Ranger fans.
I don't want to take anything away from Calgary, but jeez... can someone start scoring? Please? Over and out.
28 comments:
oooh boyyyy...well we knew these days were just around the corner..procrastinate..and this is what happens...Potter looked good...Kalinin..not...needs to be bought out..Gomez...whats up with him...and the Renney shuffle is not good...team needs a shake up...now..a few good players are on the market to be had..it is time..now..not tomorrow
leatherneck: Leatherneck, you and I knew this was coming. That was no secret. I want them to do well, but this has to be top priority (Find Scoring).
It's becoming alarming as to where the goals are going to come from. Is it possible we have overrated some of our acquisitions over the last 2 years? I think maybe.
There are some rumors out there on a couple of our D that could be had for next to nothing.
Potter now has his chance to prove that he is more than capable. I hope he does.
I don't know what to say, I'm very disappointed. I don't care about the loss, we can't win every game anyway. But to lose this way after we outplayed the flames for most of the game, wow!
When Redden will be back, I don't want to see Kalinin dressed again, we must stop the bleeding now. He has something like -15 in his last 13 games, enough.
Of course, bench him wasn't the solution yesterday, who cares about a goal allowed when on the other end, your players can't even score a single one. I wasn't expecting another Sunday shutout at the Garden. And for once, I wasn't totally against the boos against Gomez, why didn't he shot?
Something has to changed quick! I don't know, bring Shanny back, sign Sundin, fire Renney, whatever, but the players need a shake up. Despite the lack of scoring, this team has no life, no heart. I didn't understand the lines shuffle all along the third period. Renney seems to lose control of his team more and more. How long can we tolerate this? I'm ok to blame the players on one games or two, but not night after night for more than a month. Renney has to go, in my opinion. There are too many players struggling, not only a big contract or two. The whole team doesn't respond anymore, we must pull the trigger now. We will go anywhere with Renney this year or the coming years, and I don't care about his record, JJ was there...
jeff: Jeff, I really don't like to be critical of the players. As an ex-player it's not easy to do. In this case we as fans have been left with no choice. The players the Ranger brass believed in MUST step up!
Too many times I've heard the excuses for each and every player(especially the high priced ones). They must be held accountable and they are out of excuses.
The record of this team belies the problems. Can it be fixed ? certainly. From within the current roster, I'm not so sure.
I really don't want to see Sundin in a Ranger uniform, but if it helps with the scoring well.... why not?
Oh ya Shanny, Jagr and yes I'll say it! Sean Avery would look pretty good in the Ranger line up right about now.
Yeah..i still cant understand why Shanny has not been signed...and Kalinin waived and trading one of the 2 busts on defense as well...Roszi and Redden..they both are on RR....haha...a signing of Mclaren..in essence a McLaren for Kalinin exchange...Chris Gratton was waived...he can be of help in the grit dept on the 4th line and moving Sjo up as well..though that is not a complete solution
Rozsival deserves another chance, he played well recently, last night too. Redden is the question mark. Will he be able to step up? In any case, Potter will stick with the team for a while. Would be risky to go in California with only 6 dmens, we never know...
leatherneck: Leatherneck, I think Wednesday's game against Atlanta will be the tipping point. A win keeps it a status quo. A loss will bring change.
jeff: Jeff, Rozi played well last night. He's got to find his game on a consistent basis or he needs to sit. The same goes for Redden. Hurt or not hurt.
Well I have waited till the quarter pole to evaluate my team. Here it is:
As of now, the attack style that was promised from the start of training camp left the building after the loss to the Sabers in October. It has been replaced by a revolving door policy of forward line combinations. Enough to make Scotty Bowman's head spin!!!
Many fans and experts blame the defensemen. I do not. I blame the passive , sit back and wait, first period strategy employed by this coaching staff. ( since the Saber game). Many fans and experts claim the Rangers do not have finishers. I disagree. The coach sends out the wrong players at the wrong time and too often. Those players by name are, Blair Betts, Colton Orr , Fred Sjostrom, Ryan Callahan and Michael Roszival.
The Power Play is supposed to revolve around Wade Redden and Paul Mara. It revolves around Scott Gomez and Chris Drury instead. Big mistake. Redden and Mara can shoot lasers. But they are not used properly. Voros stands strong in front and Naslund, Zherdev, along with Dubinsky play the best offensively when given the chance consistently. This is not happening.
john: John, you make some valid points about he so called attacking style and use of players. Can't argue with those points.
However, if the Rangers have finishers where are they? This has been a problem for 2 years now.
I BELIEVE THE FINISHERS ARE ZHERDEV, DUBINSKY, PRUCHA, VOROS,NASLUND, REDDEN, AND DRURY.
BUT THEY ARE NOT USED PROPERLY. THE ATTACK STYLE HAS TO INCLUDE 3 MEN IN DEEP TRYING TO CREATE FROM THE SLOT AT ALL TIMES WHEN THESE PARTICULAR PLAYERS ARE ON THE ICE.NOT ALONG THE DASHERS AND WINGING PUCKS FROM IMPOSSIBLE SCORING ANGLES BECAUSE THEY ARE WORRIED ABOUT GETTING BACK. I KNOW IT IS A TOUGH SELL WHILE THE TEAM IS BEING RIDDLED BY ODD MAN RUSHES . BUT IT HAS TO BE DONE WITH THESE PLAYERS ALL THE TIME FOR IT TO WORK. THE COACHES NEED TO ALLOW IT.
john: John < I hope your right about these players and I am wrong. I want what is best for the Rangers.
Will Renney allow the kind of play your looking for? Who knows. If there is a change in the style of play you may be right.
Until that happens I'll stick with my earlier thoughts. Good discussion though.
Tom Renney has me concerned Chris..with his practices..why in the world are they not covering the basics...and focusing on conditioning?? I see the writing on the wall..Mark Messier as the next coach with Renney moving up to the front office...Also any rumors of Sather shopping for a trade?
Kots---The guys who call the games finally called out the guys making the fishnagles and their lack of finishing!!!We heard how Dubi has to finish --How Gomez has to stop passing and chip in a goal every 3 or 4 paychecks that he cashes---How Drury MUST score once in awhile with all the chances he gets (LETS NOT FORGET THE ICE TIME THESES GUYS GET ALSO)---We heard ole Joe say that these guys are counted on to produce and have not come thru, although they still do all the other things that they are called on to do!!!!--I agree 1000%--but in my eyes if you play the defensive part of the game to the best of your ability but only score a goal every 5 to 6 weeks than guess what----YOUR A FOURTH LINE PLAYER---not a 1st or 2nd liner and you sure as hell should not be cashing checks the size of the ones these guys are cashing!!!Some of the comments that came in made me think--- Jeff you can't wait for Redden to return so Kalinin could be a scratch???---REDDEN??? I know your watching, but watch a bit closer and be careful what you wish for--- I agree Kalinin sucks,but why Redden ??how much less does he suck???--Dump Renney!!where are you going to get a better coach now??--pick up all these washed up guys who were waived by their teams!!!--they were waived, because they're usefulness is over---I don't know what the right answer is, but I feel that blowing it all up is not---I kind of got tired of hearing what a good game they played (and they did compared to Montreal)--That a few costly mistakes cost them the game!!! Yeah thats true, but does anyone think that Calgary played a flawless game??? They played a good road game with pressure in all the zones --but they made their share of mistakes the difference is ---they made us pay for ours and we looked to pass the puck into the net... AS I've been saying this is the way we've been playing all year---too many mental and physical mistakes without the good fortune of last second hero goals or the King saving our ass one more time----Oh and by the way did you notice that pass into the middle of the ice by Gomez that Lankow picked off on their second goal??? Nice ---your taught in midgets not to do it that way!!!---Another BIG -3 FOR GOMEZ---Whats that -7 in the last two games!!!---I'll fault Renney on that even though he keeps on giving the puck up with his unforced turnovers, he continues to get major ice time--So does Drury and even though Dubi sits once in a while, these guys get lots of ice time--enough to produce more than they have--There ain't no answer on the waiver wire--there ain't no coach gonna come in and know why these guys ain't putting it in the net---Just have to keep on playing in our zone (JUST LIKE LST YEAR) and try to put the body on the other team---I really think thats a big factor --too much easy space for the other teams to play in----After all I don't think that we're suddenly going to become a goal scoring machine---How can we, when we have two 2nd lines-and two 4th!!!
leatherneck: Leatherneck, I am not privy to what goes on in practice. Conditioning is not the problem, scoring is.
I don't know of any trade talks, but I do know there are rumors of a couple D that I have mentioned to you that could be had for next to nothing.
I think tomorrows game is a big one pertaining to the future of this team.
Leatherneck, I've heard some rumors that we want to deal either Redden or Rozsival. Although, who would take on their contracts is the question? I would do it in a heartbeat if there was a suitor, even if we got nothing in return.
Link Here: http://thefourthperiod.com/news/nyr081207.html
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Also, not sure if this has anything to it but Mats Sundin had a contest on Pokerstars.net (if you've seen the commercials with him). The winner gets to have dinner with him at MSG in a luxury suite during the Rangers Vs. Hurricanes game.
Link Here: http://www.pokerstars.net/poker/promotions/matsusa/
mr.hockey: Mr.Hockey, It's not that we want the Rangers to suck. I think as fan's we expect more out of our "Top Guns" plain and simple.
I believe everyone has the right to discuss the Rangers in any way shape or forum. We have to make honest assessments. If it hurts someone's feelings... Oh Well.
You make a lot good points and add a little comic relief to it as well.
Mr Hockey: Don't worry, I watch the games close enough, wish I could be in NY sometimes tho... ;) I have my ideas on this team, my feelings, apparently not the same as you, but that's what I'm feeling right now. Kalinin's positioning on the first goal Sunday made me sick. I'm looking for an answer on a short term basis. And I want to see more from Potter as a Ranger.
Redden has not showed up yet and his 40M$ are a joke regarding what he have done so far, I agree. But like it or not, Slats didn't gave him that contract to get rid of him after 30 games. We have to deal with it. Like it or not... Mara and Girardi looked great teamed up again, so why not give a try to Redden and Potter? Rozsi and Staal staying together. As to see more of Potter, the obvious call for me is to bench the Kalinin(-15) for at least a couple of games, not Redden(-4).
And for Renney, well, I agree to blame a couple of overpaid players because they didn't performed for a couple of games, but when it becomes more and more obvious than the whole team is collapsing night after night, the system and most of all the guy(s) in charge have to be questioned.
To tell in recent post-games interviews, "we played well" and to give the guys another day off (3 in 10 days!) the day after, doesn't make me very confident on the answers brought by this staff to solve the issues.
I don't know who could step in to replace Renney. I'm just a simple Ranger fan realizing Renney won't lead this team anywhere with his defensive and harmless system.
I'll light another candle tomorrow night before the game...
Peace.
wrath of sanity: Wrath, I am almost ready to wave the flag for Sundin key word ALMOST.
Let the chips fall where they may.
Jeff: Jeff, It would be great for you to see a game at MSG (it's the best trust me). Someday.
hi Chris...so who could be had..in a trade that you mentioned in an earlier post?
leatherneck: Leatherneck, Rosival and Redden like Wrath of Sanity had mentioned.
Tough to move with the salary these guys have. Stay tuned Sundin is coming to town for his poker stars tour. Could this be?
haha..no i meant..for us..what players from other teams are available to us
leatherneck: Leatherneck, hows this sound - Rozival, Dubinsky, Grachev for Schremp, Chorney, Gibert, Smid (Oilers) Just rumors.
I dont like it...Dubi and Grachev are 2 of our best prospects..PREFER Dawes instead of Grachev..
Ugly win..well now they can pretend everything is ok...because they won a game...frankly..a team in the bottom 3rd tier in goals against,,and we only get 2..and kalinin...just about had it with that guy...why would renney sit Potter instead of a now -17 kalinin who has no idea how to clear the zone...his dumb passes and atrocious positioning...i feel for Mara...really do...Renney has me concerned with his choices and decision making...i honestly would have prefered a blowout loss to get the neccessary changes done...and now instead we can all sit and pretend all is well again...NOT!!!
leatherneck: Leatherneck, that's the rumor and you are right about tonight's game.
A win yes, But...... we all know.
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