There. I finally saw it. That spark, that moment when you can see that expression on a persons face when they figure out a complex problem. An epiphany, or moment of clarity if you will. It happened tonight, and it happened when Jaromir Jagr reared back and fired a slapper that found its way into the net. From that point on the Rangers finally seemed to play….right. I don’t know how else to say it, but everything just looked in synch, and flowing properly. A puck found its way into the net, and you just sorta knew, the Rangers were going to be ok. So there you have it, despite playing a relatively “meh” first period, and a bad luck second period, the Rangers looked to be over that hurdle, to me, after the final horn.

I think part of it may be seeing Jaromir Jagr take a puck to the face, lose half a dozen teeth, and yet not miss a shift, and continue to play well, including a backchecking effort the surely saved a goal. I was all over Jaromir for his performance here in Atlanta, but since that game, he’s been great, I have no complaints whatsoever about him or what he has been doing out there. Really the whole first line has looked solid for a while now, and there is no way I would separate them. Marcel Hossa brings a solid defensive presence along with the ability to break up passes, to retrieve pucks, and to use his sizeable frame to create time and space for the smaller Scotty Gomez.

Chris Drury, Brendan Shanahan, and Nigel Dawes also seemed to get more comfortable with each other. Chris almost looks like defensive a left winger at times, with Nigel Dawes being the center who decides where the puck should go. Its an interesting dynamic for sure, and is something to watch for, but if it works, who cares, ya know?

Ryan Hollweg played pretty decent as well, he had a great drive to the net, and brought some speed and aggression to the third line, but I still think he is the wrong guy to have there. Lauri Korpikoski, who is playing in Hartford, has to be the guy in that spot right now. He’s about as fast, if not faster than Hollweg is, is bigger, stronger, has better hands, and plays better defense. Really, hes Marcel Hossa, for the 3rd line (at times). I still don’t understand why Hollweg is playing on the 3rd line, when he is tailor made for the 4th line as an energy player. Ryan better watch out, because if he doesn’t start to produce, it won’t be Lauri that takes his job, it will be Callahan, Straka, and Avery who do, because when those 3 come back from their injuries, the odd men out right now have to be Hollweg and Orr.

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What more can possibly happen to this team? I mean, seriously, what more can happen? How about Colton Orr who looked to hurt himself on a shift early in the period, and since then I really didn’t see him out there at all. How about the Rangers hitting a post and the crossbar twice in this game? Or how about Scott Gomez being all alone for a tap in goal and shooting it right into the pads of Holmqvist. How about Jaromir Jagr losing control on a breakaway? How about Ryan Hollweg taking the puck to the net with a brilliant move, only to, again, shoot it right into the chest of Holmqvist. No, not enough? Ok, how about a sharp angle shot by Dawes that flops all around the crease but never finds its way into the net. Snakebitten seems like the understatement of the year.

By the way, anyone notice how the Lightning managed to score their goal in the period? Rangers were caught with 3 men deep and the separation between the forwards and defenseman allowed Lecavalier to get in behind the D.

After that though, the Rangers seemed to notice what I was saying, on a few occasions they had 3 men deep, and each time the player (Drury and Hossa that I noticed) realized it and backed off to get into the slot.

Right now, all you can say is, just keep giving it your best boys, eventually they will go in……I hope…

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The strange thing about this period, is that I really didn’t like what I saw. I know, kind weird when you consider how poor their stats look on paper, and how they are finally leading a game, and how they finally generated a ton of offensive chances. The reason being is that there was a far greater separation between the forwards and defenseman than usual. Whether that’s by design or not, I don’t know, but what I do know is the Rangers are sending all 3 forwards deep into the offensive zone, leaving the defenseman to man the points alone, and are relying on their speed to get themselves back in defensive position if the play heads back the other way. Usually they don’t send that extra guy down there to try to get the puck, instead they rely on him to cover the slot or create a 3-man defensive barrier.

I’m not sure why the Rangers are doing this, I guess it could be to try to generate more offense, but against a team that is as high powered as the Lightning are, it probably isn’t something I would do as much.

I wouldnt be surprised to see a lot more odd-man rushes than usual against us because of this new found offensive pressure we are putting on. It’s the old ying and yang, try to put more offensive pressure on, and youll give up defense. Its a dangerous tight-rope to walk, let’s hope it works out.

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Rangers should have tied this one. They had 3 or 4 wide open nets that they just couldnt hit. I have no idea what the hell is going on with this team. They continue to play well (2nd period not withstanding) and yet the puck just won’t go in the damn net. I can’t even count how many glorious chances they had where the puck went wide, or was flubbed or mishandled or whatever the case may be.

At this point, the excuses need to stop. This team has to start scoring. They need to play more aggressive in the offensive zone, and need to start doing it in a hurry.

This is no longer funny. Its almost like watching the movie Angels in the outfield, but in reverse. Somehow the pucks just will not do what the Rangers want, and seem to do whatever the other team wants.

One has to wonder at what point this team makes a trade or some sort of a change of pace to shake things up.

Another thing that really hit home while watching this game, is that we are no longer a “wave” team, where each line generates offense. The fact of the matter is, we have 2 guys in this lineup who have no business playing where they are. First Jason Strudwick plays on the 4th line, to make an already ineffective 4th line, actually worse. Secondly having Hollweg on the 3rd line effectively neutralizes whatever game Prucha or Dubinsky can play, because the guy simply has no offensive talent whatsoever. Prucha feeds him a pass for the 2 on 1, fumbles the pass, Dubinsky sets him up with a point blank shot, hops over his stick and goes out of the zone. The guy just has no business playing with offensive players.

Shanahan is killing this team with those shots that are wide, and go completely out of the zone. it stops the rush, it traps all the forwards in the zone, and it deflates the whole team when a rush is wasted like that. Hit the net Shanny, or at least keep the play alive for a cycle by pulling back, or simply dump it in on goal low, and try to get rebounds. DO NOT miss with a snapper wide right, and have it go all the way out of the zone.

My solution: Bring up Lauri Korpikoski. He plays a speed game, plays both ends of the puck, and is a fantastic own zone player, and has limitless untapped offensive potential.

Of course, we could try to see if another talentless player in the mold of Jason Strudwick is available, it seems to be par for the course at times.

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*sigh* 20 minutes after I gushed about how brilliant the Rangers were playing, they go and take a dump all over my credibility. Goal number 1, all on Henrik, very soft goal that he should have had. Goal #2, all on Henrik, as usual the worst stick handling goalie in the league hurts himself by doing something dumb behind the net. I wish to God he would just stay in the net and never be allowed to play the puck back there. Can we remove the trapezoid and just make the entire area behind the net an unplayable area for the goalies…or just our goalie? The third goal was all on Fedor Tyutin, who released his man right in front of the net and played the wrong side. Instead of getting between the man and the puck, he freely gave that position to the forward and instead went to the other side of the goal. Why? I have no idea, it was just a horrendous play.

Maybe the Rangers got cocky after scoring that goal, or maybe they just had a few breakdowns that are natural when a team has been playing so well defensively for so long. Either way, you CAN NOT let crap like that happen.

On another note, why is it everytime we are on a breakaway or a 2 on 1 the forwards with the puck are offensively inept players? You never see Gomez and Jagr on a 2 on 1. Its always Hollweg and Betts, or Strudwick and Dee the sarcastic sister from good times. Its very strange, very strange indeed.

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Want to know why so many people picked the Rangers to be Stanley Cup Favorites coming into this year? This is why. When you have a team with superstar after superstar, who can and will actually play defense, you are going to win a lot of games. Look at the play with Jaromir Jagr. Here is a play with a guy notorious for not playing defense, who saves a breakaway by busting his ass back after being the deepest guy in the offensive zone seconds before. That, is why this team will win. When a team can hold the most potent offensive club to only 5 shots on goal, none of which were particularly impressive, then will win a lot of games. We more than doubled them in shots, and had a few chances. I know im being redundant here, but eventually, they will go in.

Great period by the Rangers.

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First and foremost, when I miss a game, you know its something serious. I had a family emergency so I wasnt able to watch the whole game. I did manage to watch the Rangers in 60 game, but its not at all like watching a full game.

From what I can tell, the Rangers basically played exactly the same way theyve been playing all year. Intelligent defensive hockey, fundamentally strong, doing the little things to win hockey games. Except tonight, some of their pucks went in.

Henriks numbers these 9 games… 2 2 2 1 3 5 0 1 0. thats ~1.78 GAA, and if you take away the Atlanta debacle, his GAA becomes 1.38. Scary good folks, scary good.

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I finally figured out why or offense can’t score. It is all the work of this man right here:

Ok, yes, that was a joke, and no, I wouldnt blame Torre….though I am happy he isnt the coach of the Yanks anymore. (another story for another day)

So, here is what I want to tell you. Are you ready?

Thats right, 6 of 8. In 6 of our 8 games this team has given up 2 or fewer goals. Do you know how friggin scary that is for other teams? Think about it, a team with Jagr, Gomez, Drury, Shanahan, Prucha, Straka, Avery, Hossa, etc etc have only given up more than 2 goals twice this year. If I am an opposing coach, I am scared out of my wits right now. Why? Because the Rangers are due. They just are. They are too damn good to have been shut out 3 (almost 4) times in 8 games this year. They are too damn good to be 0 for a billion on their power play. They are too damn good to have a record of 2-5-1 this year. They are too damn good for you guys to panic, I’m sorry, they just are.

I would be stringing up a noose myself if our GAA was something like 4.5 and we were putting up these anemic offensive numbers, but its not. Our goals allows this year are: 2 2 2 1 3 5 0 1, thats roughly 2.00, take out the game in Atlanta and it becomes 1.57. I’m not sure how many teams are better, but it can’t be many. Lundqvist is brilliant, the D is playing great, even Malik who had his usual brainfart in this one, played a solid game, and the forwards are playing 5 in the picture pretty consistently.

Guys, it will happen. I know I have been saying that since game 2, but it’s true, we will snap out of it, we will start scoring goals, we will start winning games, I’m not even the slightest bit concerned about that, not even a teenie tiny bit.

There are a few things that bug me though, and I might as well fill this space with that.

The consistent 3 best forwards on the ice all year long have been Petr Prucha, Ryan Callahan and, yes, Brandon Dubinsky. I know most of you won’t agree with me, which is fine, but Brandon, since the first game, has played a solid game, playing D, distributing the puck, and using his size and strength to cycle and create chances.

Their ice times tonight?
Dubinsky:11:50
Prucha: 12:35
Callahan:12:35

Its not terrible, not by a long shot, but I would like to see Tom reward them with a bit more ice time than this. If a line is working, and creating chances, and sustained pressure, then I believe you should reward them, even if it means a guy like Brendan Shanahan has to play 18:45 instead of the 20:15 he played tonight. I would like to see this trio get about 15-16 minutes of ice time a night. They deserve the opportunity, and the reward for their efforts.

Next, the constant tinkering by Tom has to end. Stop freaking changing the lines on the fly, stop it, just stop it. Instead keep what he did out there today, and leave it be for like 3 games. Also, the power-play lines need to change. You need to have Hossa out their on the first unit, and Dubinsky out there on the 2nd. They seem like the only 2 players with size willing to park their asses in front of the net (kudos for Prucha for doing it as well).

Also, I love Chris Drury (though not for his play so far this year, he has been a nightmare so far), but I dont think he should be wearing Strakas A. I think that honor should go to Michael Rozsival, who has played up and down this year (probably mostly down) but seems to be the leader of the defense, and is one of the longest tenured Rangers.

Finally my 2 biggest problems reside on the 4th line. Why, oh why, does Blair Betts continue to get playing time with prominent offensive forwards? A few times I saw him there with Callahan and Prucha and each time he did nothing, nothing at all, but play D. Blair is what he is, probably the best 4th line center in the game today. He is not, however, a good offensive center, hes not even a mediocre offensive center, he flat out SUCKS offensively. This I put on Tom, stop it Tom, for the love of God, stop it now. Next I dont know what the hell Orr and Hollweg are doing out there. I mean, serously, what the hell are they doing? Orr has played in 8 games this year, and has been in 2 fights to my recollection, one against McGratten, and the other against Exelby (who turtled big time). Orr needs to be in a fight each and every game. PERIOD. He needs to bloody some people up, and he needs to show that this team is tough, even if its more of a ceremonial thing than anything else. And Hollweg, my God, since he took the tomahawk to the face by Chris Simon, he has lost his will to hit. He was credited with 4 hits, but those are 4 of the most passive hits Ive ever seen. Seriously, where the hell has the Hollweg who used to play balls to the wall, hitting 4 guys per shift, who was borderline dirty on every single hit? If Ryan isn’t going to play that game anymore, then he needs to go. There is a young man by the name of Lauri Korpikoski who can bring an offensive and defensive element to the game, and still play a tough north american game sitting in Hartford who would be better suited than Hollweg at this time. If those 2 don’t pick up play, Id like to see a 4th line of Korpikoski-Betts-Byers up here pronto.

With all that said, let me say this one more time…….I’m not worried.

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Through the Rangers past 5 20 minute periods, and 1 5 minute OT they have given up a grand total of 1 goal. You would have to think with those kinds of numbers the Rangers would have picked up 4 of 4 points, or at least on their way to picking that many up. As it stands now the Rangers may only pick up 1 out of a possible 4 points, while giving up one goal.

1 Goal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What the hell is going on with the offense you ask? Well, I think part of the problem might be Tom Renney. It looks like he is still tinkering with the lines in game. Why Tom?! Why?! They are obviously struggling to find each others game, why on earth would you continue to change things up? Why on earth is Blair Betts, the worst passing center in the game today, playing with 2 snipers in Petr Prucha and Ryan Callahan?

WHY!?!?!?!

Good question, I hope some reporters out there have the balls to ask Tom after this game.

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If it’s possibly a penalty, it is a penalty. That’s what the moral of that first period was. 2 of the weakest calls ive ever seen were called on one Ryan Callahan, 2 minutes for holding, when hold he did not (he actually made a GREAT defensive play without a stick) then he got 2 minutes for….i dunno, wearing a Rangers jersey perhaps?

The Rangers played with fire in that period. Pittsburgh had the bulk of the better play, even strength, or on the powerplay. They generated traffic in front, and went behind the net to create offense. Its something the Rangers havent done since Nylander left. One would think that would be a great place for Gomez to set up, but he seems to not like playing deep in the zone very much.

Rangers did have quite a few chances, by Dawes, Prucha, and Drury had a few chances himself. I wouldnt change a thing, they look to be getting close.

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