This, is New York Rangers hockey folks. I don’t exactly know what you all expected, with us scoring like 400 goals a game or something, but you’d be sadly mistaken if that is the case. What you should expect is a team which plays exceptional defensive hockey, clogs the neutral zone, and come back 5 strong into their own zone to protect the slot and their goalie. We played that game to a T.
With that said, we also played VERY good offensive hockey, getting 37 shots on goal, and many many many of them in high quality scoring zones. The truth is, they just didn’t go in. Hey, it happens. DON’T FREAK OUT! Through 3 games we have never allowed more than 2 goals. That is a major positive.
However there were a few negatives. As usual Marek Malik makes several, what the hell is he thinking, plays, and one of them burned the Rangers. I know that he does a lot of good things, but the thing that annoys me, is that if he just simplified his game, and DIDN’T do those retarded things that make you throw up, then he would be a very good defender. Its a shame considering Staal, Tyutin, Girardi, and Rozsival can all play that simplified game, and play exceptionally well, but a guy like Malik, who has the tools to be so much better, doesn’t. Also, Jason Strudwick continues to be a nightmare out there, constantly missing assignments, and confusing Staal by attempting to pick up guys Staal already has covered. Also twice Strudwick penetrated the zone deep to play offense, but weren’t we told he was there to be a calming factor on Staal? I’m sorry but leaving the 20 year old all alone on the blueline is not what I call calming.
Blair Betts was another negative in this game. His play, while rock solid defensively, was horrendous offensively. He continues to show an absolute lack of vision out there, and an inability to keep up with the offensive game the way the mighty midgets (Prucha and Callahan) do. Brandon Dubinsky shined every second he was out there. Unfortunately those seconds added up to the tune of 2 minutes and 46 seconds. Why is he even up here if that is all he is going to play? He has shown me definite signs of being able to play an offensive game, and Betts clearly has shown signs that he can play a defensive game. Here’s a thought, why not play the offensive center with the offensive wingers, and play the defensive center with the grinding wingers? It’s just a thought Tom, but it might be one worth examining, revolutionary, I know, but it just might work.
Other than that, I was very happy with the teams overall game. Building blocks folks, we took a giant step forward in this one.
P.S. Why do we have to see Hillary Duff every 10 seconds? There are a LOT hotter women out there.
P.P.S. Brian Engblom, get a freaking haircut.
-Inferno