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.