Archive for January 20th, 2007

Brodeuresque Performance-Thrashers@Rangers Post Game Thoughts…

Posted by inferno272 on January 20th, 2007

Its important not to do what I did. Dont think that the Rangers played a great game because they got a whole bunch of shots on net.? The opposite is actually true.? The Rangers played a pretty mediocre game because nearly all of their shots where from strange ass angle, with nobody in front, that where very easily stopped.? Lehtonen looked very very Brodeuresque making like 35 saves with really only about 3 or 4 good chances.

Henrik, who did play great for about 99% of the game gave up a softie there at the end, but I cant place this one on him, this team has scored a grand total of 1 goal in their past 2 games.? Sorry, but that aint ever going to get it done.? Really the biggest problems to me are the line combinations.? They just dont make sense.? Krog with Cullen and Shanahan?! Are you kidding me?? A waiver claim player, and a guy with only 9 goals playing an average of 16:47? on the 2nd line, and a guy who might be the heart and soul of the team.? How on earth does Renney expect that to do well?? Frankly NEITHER of those guys should be playing on the 2nd line.? And then a guy like Petr Prucha who plays about 4 minutes less per game, and has probably played about half or 3/4ths of the season on the 2nd line, but the rest all over the roster, has been consistently tossed aside as an afterthought.? That is poor coaching ladies? and germs.

The Rangers need a 2nd line center.? Its becoming an absolute team killer at this point.? Shanahan can not do it himself, hes not that kind of a player, he needs a guy who can create space for Shanahan to rip a shot.? Cullen can barely touch the puck without falling or tripping or being bumped off of it before anything can be set up.? Cullen should be on the 3rd line, thats where he belongs.

We need a change, and frankly, im still all for tearing the team down and inserting a ton of kids.? Just as ive said for the past decade.? Id rather fail with kids, than fail with Vets.

-Inferno

Its Not The Refs-Thrashers@Rangers Second Period Thoughts…

Posted by inferno272 on January 20th, 2007

I was pretty surprised that over on the HF Boards the general consensus is that the Rangers are getting shafted by some shoddy reffing.? I honestly am not sure that is the case.? I think the reffing has been fairly even to be honest.? The penalty shot call, while a bit iffy, appeared to me to be the right call, as were the calls on Jagr, Shanahan, etc.? You can complain about reffing all you want, and generally im the first one to say when its bad.? But today it doesnt seem to be a factor, Rangers are doing it to themselves.

With that said I thought the play of both teams seriously regressed in the second, probably moreso by the Thrashers, as they looked flat footed on many plays.

God bless Henrik, w/o him, this season is already over.

-Inferno

Rangers played a pretty decent period, with that said…

I know a lot of people whine about Marek Malik, and I agree, hes been bad this year. But that first period might have been the most putrid defense by a player ive witnessed since some of Bozolinsh’s performances down the stretch last year. Malik was just AAAWWWFFFUUULLLL in that period.? I cant for the life of me figure out why the hell this guy keeps getting free passes by Tom Renney yet a guy like Pock, who hasnt been brilliant, but has been pretty damn good, keeps getting the shaft.? Its VERY disconcerting to watch that level of hypocrisy from the team I? love.

Jagr had a good period, I counted three times he came all the way back to the goal line to play D.? THATS what I want Jags, keep it up buddy!? The Cullen-Krog-Shanahan line looks to have almost no chemistry when playing together in the zone.? They seem to generate some good rushes individually, but as a unit, they look terrible.? If there is any truth to the Forsberg to the Rangers rumor, I hope its made sooner rather than later.? While Forsberg may be oft injured, he is still one of the best centers in the game.

-Inferno