Rangers Fall in the 3rd

Friday, February 27, 2009

In a game that was very similar to the night before against Toronto, the New York Rangers looked like the faster team, more physical team, and the team that dominated in scoring chances. Unfortunately, the last thing, scoring chances is what did them in. The Rangers lost to the Florida Panthers by a score of 2-1 in a very critical game considering how tenuous the playoff hopes of the Blueshirts are right now.

David Booth and Nathan Horton scored for the Panthers exactly one minute apart to seal the deal in favor of Florida. Where do we start? The Rangers were, in my eyes, the much better team in most aspects of the game. Hustling, skating, hitting, all around effort, and shots (41 to 22 in favor of the Rangers). You would think that would make it an easy victory for the boys, but this is the Rangers - the team that's snake bitten and simply can't score.

I don't know what to say anymore. The chances are there, but the goals are not. Can we place blame on Lundqvist for allowing that soft goal on David Booth's backhand, or Scott Gomez chasing Zednik around the net while leaving his man (Horton) wide open in front of the net? Sure we can. But mistakes are what hockey's all about and if the Rangers could have found the net a couple of more times - the mistakes would be a moot point. The PP obviously still needs some major work as well. 49 seconds with a 2-Man Advantage while leading 1-0 is a chance to bury the opposition. Instead of extending the lead, the Rangers left the Panthers with a chance to hang around in the game.

It's a tough time for the Rangers right now and the players are feeling the pressure as well. With the trade deadline coming up, will some things happen? I don't believe this team can stand pat. Something needs to be done, and that's for sure.

I will be away in Boston this weekend doing some more games for the Quinnipiac Bobcats (against Harvard and Dartmouth). If you are interested in listening, the link is littered throughout previous posts and check in around 7PM EST. I will answer any comments when I get back! Over and out!

4 comments:

Wrath of Sanity said...

I feel like every time Dubinsky or Drury touch the puck, there is absolutely no way they can score a goal.

It's really sad how many times Anderson was on his ass last night and we only got 1 fricken goal the entire game.

This team needs a goal scorer. If there was an opportunity to get a Lecavalier, Kovalchuk, Etc... I wouldn't hesitate to trade anyone on this team aside from Lundqvist. That includes Staal, who at this point of his career, I feel is way too overrated by Rangers fans in terms of value (aka people usually have seizures when someone says "I'd put Staal up for trade if it got us a top forward").

Anonymous said...

Not sure we can afford to lose Staal. Rangers prospects are not legions, and we don't know at 100% how it will work for Sanguinetti and Del Zoto at the upper level. And I think Tortorella can help Staal to develop his offense. Staal is not overrated in my opinion. I just hope he will get a bit more physical in the future.

Besides that if the opportunity to land a Lecavalier or a Kovalchuk comes, would be hard to resist I agree with you Wrath.

We're in a scoring funk, like Torts said yesterday if I'm not mistaken, but there was some improvement in the last two games. We got better scoring chances while allowing less opportunities. That will pay at some point. Could take some time though...

Kotsy's Korner said...

Wrath of Sanity: I guess things got better against Colorado (Didn't see it).

Nice to see that they were able to score a few. Big win for the Blue Shirts.

Oh and I agree everyone but Lundvist would be available for the right price.

Kotsy's Korner said...

Jeff: you have to give up something to get something in return.

Staal is all about promise and while being the best the Rangers have, he would be made available for the right player(Kovalchuk,Lecavalier etc...)

Nice victory tonight. Huge two points.

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