The Math Doesn't Add Up
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
48 shots, 2 goals, and another loss (although it was in a shoot out) for the New York Rangers. I hate to beat a dead horse here, but I’m going to anyways. I’ve heard it from all angles now, “Get rid of Slats”, “Fire Torts”, “Lundqvist needs to play better”, “Get rid of the big salaries”, etc. one can debate and argue about all of the above. There’s no question about it. I’ve got absolutely no problem hearing an listening to passionate, hardcore Rangers fans. It’s your inherit right to assess and gripe about your beloved team.
Now, when I say I’m gonna beat a dead horse- here it is. It’s going to sound much like my previous blog entry! Scoring is a state of mind. To score, you have to be relentless and bear down with all you can- period. I did not see this last night and I have not seen it in quite a while. It’s ridiculous to lay blame at management’s feet. Management doesn’t put on a jockstrap, skate, or shoot. More importantly, management does not score for you. We can debate the players that have been brought in forever (and I know you all will) but how’s this? 88 goals for, 96 goals against. Not very good!
You can do the math anyway that you wish and it still stays the same. This, again, is a players only problem that was created by players and only players can solve it! With back-to-back games coming up against the rival Islanders, it’s critical that the Rangers find that elusive scoring touch that has yet again gone missing in action. If not, well, you know…
Sorry if I bored you with this one, but it truly fits (again). 48 shots and only 2 goals? Ugh! Over and out!
30 comments:
Couldn't agree more Big guy...It has become redundant with this team,no one can find the back of the net for them,they have to find a way to bury their chances.
Pauly D, This team is starting to make some of the teams I played with(Hartford/Toronto)look good offensively.
I don't buy it...
Management did assemble this crop of small, soft forwards that are afraid to get their nose dirty and get out-muscled in the slot.
I could have all the desire in the world to beat up Mike Tyson, but he'd still kick my ass.
im one of those on the sathers gota go band wagon, and id love to see his wagon get shoved down 33rd st, but not to long ago, the rangers didnt seem to be shooting enough, now they get off 48 on to a hot goalie. if they keep up the shots on goals numbers,of course the goals will go up....RIGHT ? LOL
Rob, In today's NHL? Nobody should be afraid of getting their nose dirty or out muscled.
Can't argue about being a tad soft, But once again 48 shots 2 goals unacceptable.
greg m, I respect any and all opinions. Fans have a right as to what they think.
You would think that if you pound the puck on a consistent basis goals will happen. Unfortunately it is not happening.
I think that 48 shot statistic is quite deceptive. Multiple shots were taken from bad angles with little chance of scoring and no one in front of the net for second opportunities. We have seen this pattern in years past as well. Some of the best scoring chances the Rangers had were the ones that never registered as shots on goal, with players firing way over the crossbar from the slot. For NHL players of this caliber, such misses are virtually inexcusable. It is amazing how you just feel the puck would end up in the back of the net when Gaborik has it on his stick and there is even a tiny opening (e.g., the PP goal Monday night). Do you really have that warm and fuzzy feeling when "two-on-oh" Higgins, "high stick" Kotalik, or "captain crunch" Drury is with the puck? I doubt it. With lack of natural goal scoring talent throughout the lineup, the Rangers ought to shoot the puck and crash the net. That way, they should not need 48 shots to score more than 2 goals. This should force the defense to collapse down low, which will open up the blue line and potentially create extra screens and deflection in front. Dumb down the game a little and good things may happen. Defensively, the puzzle gets a little trickier. I don't think we can get much more out of "huger" Redden or "slasher" Roszival. It was hilarious to see Kovalchuk fake out Rozi so badly that he just plain fell down. Sounds like a microcosm of the entire team, doesn't it?
In a perfect world we would just be able to do the following to the big contracts: Buy them out, Send them down, or Trade them away. Unfortunately, the damn salary cap will have none of that.
The problem is almost everything that you mentioned: the big money players are pathetic excuses for hockey players, Lundqvist has let in some extremely soft goals at times, the coaching (mainly constant line changes) has been suspect at times, and the team has been assembled poorly with said big contract players.
However, the real issue of all of this is... they are just not getting the job done. The Rangers aren't scoring when they need to, not making the big saves, not taking the body, not constructing the right lines, etc.
I would love to see some changes- at this point, who wouldn't? But for now, they have to deal with what they have. I still find it hard to believe that a team can be so dynamic for 8 games, then just fall completely apart...
The bottom line is: The Rangers find ways to lose. Night in and night out. That needs to stop. But I'm not so optimistic anymore.
Jason, You are so correct when you are talking about Gaborik. When he gets the puck in the offensive you do get that feeling good things are about to happen.
Talking with a former Ranger and teammate yesterday we both came to the conclusion that it's all about not bearing down on your shot. No other excuse.
Very rarely does a player like Gaborik finesse a clean shot on goal. Usually he buries with blinding speed. Other Rangers prefer finesse.
As for the defensive end what can I tell you that you don't already know.
Wrath, I for one am very surprised at how the Rangers can't find the net. I truly thought this team would score. I was WRONG. As for the other problems not much argument there either.
In the end though without a major shakeup(Which is tough to do these days) This is the team they have and the players themselves have to find a way out of this jam.
Could it be that the players are too distracted by NYC? I give you a lot of credit, Kotsy, for keeping up your blog here (I enjoy reading it very much, by the way) when this team just plain sucks to watch. I really think these guys can't handle the big city. Could it be that simple? Kotzy, you played in that city so maybe you can shed some light on that aspect of it. Thanks.
grassrootsconservative, You could be on to something about playing in the Big Apple. Some can handle it and some cannot.
What NY fans expect most is a honest effort and hard work. If they see you slacking your done.
Honestly, I don't understand that you as a player would want to embarrass yourself playing in the greatest city in the world.
I played on some crap teams in my day but still took pride in not letting myself get embarrassed on the ice.
Hi Chris, my Leafs had a rough one last night, but you must give the Phoenix credit. Teams like the Kings,and Sabres are also playing very well up to this point. At this stage of the season i do believe that Ryan Miller is the best goalie in the league. There is lots of season left for my team.
Mr.Greek, Ryan Miller is the best goalie in the league. The Leafs are doing just fine.
Hello Chris, well it was ugly, not so much the game as the knowledge that the Newyork Rangers are no more, when my favirote team, my one constant passion in life my Rangers cant even get excited to play the Islanders, with no heart I can no longer support the leadership of this team from the owners right down to the players. That display last night was pure and simple a classic example of filling a roster for the Manhattan night life, this is not Rangers Hockey I knew of, fighting the curse, battling adversity, encountering bad luck often to overcome it all in 94. Since the win this franchise has not blossomed but steadily declined to mid level play..its time for an over haul...lets be soo bad for the next few years so we can get the high draft picks and build the New york Rangers once again and not witness this team I call the New york Strangers. When the heart is gone its time to fight back as a fan, this is unacceptable
Leatherneck, I've been hearing from many that echo the same sentiments. It's always easy to points fingers at all involved.
What I want to know is where is the pride? and passion? You as a player put yourself into this predicament no one else but you.
Looking for help elsewhere isn't going happen. So take charge of what you can do as a player and stop the feeling sorry for yourself.
I mean what are you supposed to do give up?
Chris, as a former Ranger and I as a former Marine you state often, once a Ranger always a Ranger, we both understand that bond with something bigger than ourselves. Pride, Commitment, Integrity are ways of life and not mere words ans all lacking in our Organization from top to bottom. one example, Brian Trottier was once named our head coach and you know I can think of many former Ranger Greats that could have been hired to coach this team. point is somethings odd about that, Sather trading Leetch and not letting him retire in our Jersey..our lad..a hall of famer...oye..not good...Sather has to go..this team is losing its identity in my opinion..we dont have to splash the news every summer with worthless signing in most cases..a lundqvist and Gaborik..two great returns of the sar=ther era does not justify the Bure..Robitaille..Lindros et al...all these players made their roots elsewhere...we need to start developing our own Gilbert...Greschner and Park an Leetch type players who bleed the color blue...all Sather has to do is look at the team across the Hudson to figure what the proper format is to build a team...how do the former players and yourself communicate about the Rangers? i cant see them being happy with what is as is...now
Leatherneck, You can be sure even I with only a single year playing for the Rangers(3 if you include the minors)that we do discuss the happenings of the Blueshirts.
We give are honest opinions back and debate with each other. Are we Happy all the time of course not. Nobody is.
I sometimes don't understand what's going on, But I do know one thing you can control how you conduct yourself on the ice as player. That my friend is the big problem at this moment.
truthfully there are a few players that are untouchable..another point..Brashear...last year clocks Betts, Betts is out Brashear is in, does that make sense?...no...i almost think it was a signing to get the Ranger fans to talk about that instead of focus on Sather...haha..seriously..what has Brashear done that Orr didnt do ..and better..heart of a lion gone for what?...Why did Betts and Orr pay that price? why was Redden and Roszival not waived..so we pay half the salary..better than paying the full salary and getting robbed by these guys...kotalik...lisin...brashear..what have these signings really done that say Byers..Korpokoski and Prucha or Dawes couldnt do..my pont is we make trades that really dont do a thing to improve us..either the same or worse...then..when we have stars like Savard, Nordstrom or Zubov we trade them away...ahhhhh..i am frustrated
Leatherneck, You are not the only one that's frustrated...There's an army of fans with you LOL.
Hello Chris, Hope all is well and life has you in awesome spirits, frankly not sure what you made of my last two posts, but seriously this team has lost its identity, but I have wondered often if this game lost its, when bettmann too over it was no longer the Patrick Division, it became the Atlantic division..and such...Marketing as is = greed and thats not a good thing. Why is it so important to save the Coyotes in Phoenix? There has been some good by his regime as well and give credit where it is due, This new age NHL do you like it or do you catch yourself like me often hoping for the glory days of the 70's and 80's..lets see..Brad Park to Ron Greschner to Barry Beck to James Patrick to Brian Leetch to ???? (Granted it that Beck was drafted by the Rockies but his real career was with the Rangers). It has been very hard for me to identify with the Rangers since the mid 90's to now..interestingly all this came out to my fore fron the night we lost to the Islanders a couple of days ago at MSG. I was looking at my hockey cards a collection of Rangers cards going back to the early 70's to present..and i can only relate to 1 player since Lundqvist, then i see the ghosts of players past...Savard, Nordstrom and a few others and then the ones who should have been and never was like Getzlaf instead of Jessiman...Mike Green instead of Al Montoya and Laurie Korpokoski...Can you now see the pattern? I dont want to be a fan living on the ghosts past, I want to be a fan seeing the birth of stars, I want a passionate Rangers team and not a team collecting a pay check
Leatherneck, Unfortunately the greed as you put it not only affects the fans. It also affects the owners, management and players.
Owners want to fill their pockets and use their teams for the write off tax wise they need for other business ventures.
Management is forced into a win now at all cost's attitude because they have to deal with free agency and the cap.
Players have no allegiance to one team anymore because of the increased salary's. Frankly I cannot blame them for that.
What has happened to the NHL is you have no more bitter rivalry's to get pumped up for.
I think you know where I stand on this New Age NHL....I didn't like the changes they made then and I don't like it now.
ok..I am not one to be politically correct...this new age NHL..is it because of the Euro players that have emassed in the NHL? Thats what I think it is and my feelings are..they need to head back home..players like Marion Hossa are a classic example...1) they have as Milbury puts it so eloquently "pansified" the game and 2) an organization has become a means to an end..a paycheck..Is their talent and skill worth the trade off...as an old fan..for me...no...how do you feel as a former player playing in the days of the chicken swedes..lol
Leatherneck, I believe the league has changed many of the rules because of the "Euro Style of Hockey". I can respect a player with super skill and skating ability just like the next person.
However hockey is more than just skill and skating. It's tough, physical and intimidating. That's where the the league has messed up and most of the people I talk to can't stand what they see.
Kotsy and Leatherneck, I agree. You both bring up great points but I don't hold European players responsible. There have been Europeans in the league since the mid '70s, I believe and the game wasn't changed until Bettman took over. If you ever get a chance, watch an old game from the '70s and '80s on youtube and the games were so great. So much better than these days. Right up until the mid '90s I think the game started to suck after the Devil's clutch and grab NZ trap game won them the cup. When they did that viewership went down and the rules were tweaked to the ridiculousness we have today; specifically the rule that says if a player's stick is ever parallel to the ice, it's an automatic penalty. Also, the goalie not being allowed to shoot the puck out of the rink, things like that. It's almost like it's trying to be a women's league. I don't often agree with Mike Milbury but he was right when he said the game is pansified.
PS. I have a heck of a time signing into this place for some reason.
PS. That comment I just made about the games being different sounded like I don't know Kotsy played in the league. I am mentioning watching old games to compare the crap product we have to look at today. I didn't want to seem ignorant of who runs this blog. LOL!
snowcloud, Yes there were Europeans back in the day, but the league was called the NHL then and they had no influence on the rules.
Today's mish mash of changes are directly related to the style of play that they brought.
Again, I can appreciate highly skilled, smooth skating hockey players. I also cam appreciate the hard nosed, strong, physical grinding type player.
That player doesn't always come with the same skill and skating ability. What he does possess is the ability to test the highly skilled players grit and toughness.
The more the rules change the less you will see of that kind of player and the fans will follow suit.
Well boys..it is obvious by the attendance downturn in all the sheik NHL cities ..aka Phoenix, Nashville, Colorado etc..that the Eurozone rules and the new age suppliers of equipment , especially sticks , that the majority of these changes have kept more people away from the game. Add an economic downturn to an already out of control leveraged system, and you have no way out!. Just like a stupid cap!.
JohnM, It's that obvious? Just kidding LOL. There's plenty of blame to go around, but most should fall squarely on the shoulders on those who run the NHL.
Hi Chris we will see how we do against the Islanders tonight. The Leafs cannot beat the Sabres for some reason, we proved that again Monday night. I hope that Christmas is good for you and your family, all the best to you.
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