Anyone know who the video guy is for the Rangers? They mention it on MSG all the time, but for some reason im drawing a blank. Well, whoever it is, someone needs to get in touch with him, tell him to cut out all the commercials from that 3rd, and show it in its entirety to the Rangers, their prospects, their coaches, their players, and anyone who ever puts on a Ranger jersey. Wanna know why? Because that 3rd period proves what I have been saying for years and years. That the best way to win a hockey game in the 3rd when you are leading by a goal is to NOT player the 1-4, but rather to continue your style of play (for the Rangers its the 1-2-2) and do not concede any of the zones without a tenacious forecheck, tremendous puck pursuit, and finishing all body checks.

If you haven’t read one of my many, many rants on the idiocy of the 1-4 defense, well here is a nice little recap:

Somewhere, sometime, Tom Renney sat his team down and said, fellas, if we go into the 3rd period with a 2 or more goal lead, we are playing a 1-4 defensive system. No more 1-2-2, its a straight 1-4. I can’t for the life if me imagine why this is a good way to play hockey. The Rangers are a PUCK POSSESSION TEAM!!!! We are NOT a team that is going to overwhelm you with our defensive game, we are going to overwhelm you by being responsible, by having 5 in the picture, and by controlling the puck more than you are. It’s a formula that works, it’s a formula this Ranger fan believes in and buys into 100%. But why the hell do you just give away 1/2 the ice to the other team when you have the lead? Seriously, think about it, except for empty net goals, you arent going to score a goal in that period about 99% of the time. And that odd 1% is usually because the other team took an offensive zone penalty which you capatilize on. Why play a brand of hockey that can not advance your score, and can only serve to keep you even, or down a goal.

It makes NO sense, zero whatsoever. It’s the prevent defense that any football fan will acknowledge is the most retarded thing ever invented.

If my team plays my style of hockey for 60 minutes, and gives a good effort, you will not hear me, nor any sane fan complain. But when you play periods like that, you are BEGGING for trouble. I couldn’t believe when Jagr readily acknowledged their change in philosophy in the 3rd and saying that he thought that was a good thing. A good thing?! Really?!

Look, I don’t want to sound like Mr. Negativity, but this crap just irks me the wrong way. It’s like cheering for the Devils for Gods sakes, I just can’t be happy when I see my team play like this. I think I might actually be allergic to the prevent defensive system. Wow, an allergic reaction from visual stimulation, that has to be a first!

Play the style that got you there, that’s all I’m saying.

So, as you can see, I am quite passionate about not playing that style of hockey when you have a lead. And finally tonight, I get to do a happy dance at the way the Rangers protected a lead. You have it right there in front of you, tivo it, study it, and memorize it. One day in the future children will be forced to watch that 3rd period and learn to protect a lead in the 3rd period, because that is how it is done.

The Rangers were absolutely relentless in the offensive zone, they wouldnt allow the Devils a single unobstructed pass, or a single easy defensive zone entry. They challenged the players, they threw their bodies, then held the puck in the offensive zone, and you know what else they did? THEY DREW PENALTIES!!!! When you play the 1-4, you don’t draw penalties, and penalties are free time to kill. You draw 2 penalties in a period, you pretty much know that 20% of the period will go by without you even being threatened with a scoring chance (for the most part). You also are less likely to commit infractions yourself because the play is in front of you, not behind you. It just opens up all aspects of the game that can help your team rather than hurt your team.

Give it up to the Rangers folks, they haven’t impressed me much this year, but that 3rd period had me cheering big time.

By the way, a little extra info for you guys. Here are the head to head results during the regular season for Brodeur VS Lundqvist when they play each other.

Rangers Review | Comments Off

Whatever happened to good goaltending? I mean, we’ve got 2 of the better, if not best goalies in the league in Henrik Lundqvist and Uncle Daddy, and between them we have 3 really really really soft goals. What the hell happened to these guys?!

I think the Rangers played about as well as they did in the first, unfortunately it seemed like the Devils definitely elevated their play big time. They look much more physical, and much hungrier. Still though, I wouldn’t say we are playing bad, I’d actually say we are playing quite well, but sometimes you get outplayed, and right now, I think thats what we are seeing, one team playing better than the other, despite the score.

Rangers Review | Comments Off

When both teams play very well, you get great hockey, and thats what we got. I thought the Rangers played a strong, tight game, and the Devils were just as good, possibly better. They certainly were the more physical of the two teams, and while I don’t like to see my team get pushed around, sometimes you have to take those hits to make the plays, and thats what the Rangers did. They played strong hockey, they played smart hockey, and they made the plays they had to make. They also got a little feisty, throwing some hits back the other way, but with not nearly as much force as what you saw the Devils throw.

It’s ok though, hopefully Uncle Daddy let’s in another softie or 2.

One more thing, keep an eye out on the Devils in the offensive zone. They’ve been using quite a few moving picks to create time and space for themselves, and the last time I checked, that was illegal.

Rangers Review | Comments Off