N.Y. Rangers: Blueshirts Need To Overcome More Than Just Game One

From the desk of:   RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS

2012 - 2013

National Hockey League Playoffs

Round Two - Semi Finals

 

BOSTON LEADS SERIES 1-0

I - BOS 3; NYR 2*

*overtime

 

 

GAME TWO

 

NEW YORK RANGERS

vs.

Boston Bruins

FROM

Not The Old Garden
Northside of Beantown

NEW YORK RANGERS - Getting Pushed Off The Puck;
The Blueshirts Needs To Grow Some...Physicality By Game Two.


Now what?  You do not practice NOT taking penalties.  You just try not committing them.  Boston scored the tying goal on a power play.  But that third period shot by Torey Krug was not deflected, nor was Henrik screened on the play.  That's right, I'm going there.  Lundqvist had a clean look.  I'll leave it at that.  The simple solution is to remain penalty free like the Rangers did in Game Six versus Washington.  That's not realistic however, so we shouldn't be making that the issue of Game One against the Bruins.  There are currently more pressing issues conspiring against the Rangers.


Game Two is all about making corrections and adjustments.  So, I hope they learned something from Game One.  That would be to shoot the puck.  Boston out-shot the Rangers 32-20 in regulation time.  That's ponderous to me considering how physically compromised Boston's blue line is, minus three starters.  Even more disturbing, the Rangers were outshot by an absurd 16-5 in overtime.  And if you haven't noticed, getting woefully outshot in overtime has become an alarming trend.  The fact Henrik Lundqvist is 0-3 in O.T. this tournament doesn't concern me nearly as much as getting outshot 8-0 in Game Two, by a less severe 8-6 margin in Game Five against the Caps, and then again Thursday night.  That equates to a 32-11 differential.  On that, I have two points - first, this is a Rangers problem as this occured against two different opponents.  That points directly at Coach Torts.  Secondly, and obviously, your chances for losing skyrocket when you allow that many chances.


In all, Henrik Lundqvist faced forty-eight shots, versus thirty-five for the Rangers.  That's wholly unacceptable, and doesn't even take into account the times Boston hit the post.  Credit the SOG differential to an even bigger problem.  With Ryane Clowe and Darroll Powe out with concussions, it will be hard to match-up size wise against Boston.  Game One proved that, as the Rangers were out-hit, and got pushed off the puck.  As a result, the Blueshirts turned the puck over four times as many (17-4) as the Bruins.  The Rangers also lost the face-off battle, something they did very well against Washington.


If that's going to be the case, the Rangers better start optimizing their opportunities.  They need to keep creating chances like Carl Hagelin and Derek Stepan did in the third period, as the Rangers continue to generate offense from the dots.  This time the Blueshirts picked off a puck in the neutral zone, and as Hagelin arrived at the right circle, connected with Derek Stepan in the slot for their third period goal.  That's been a very successful formula in the playoffs for them.


Rick Nash truly is the 800-pound gorilla on the ice.  In Game One, he led the Rangers with six shots on goal, and by far has more shots in these playoffs than any Rangers forward.  Yet he remains scoreless.  If you recall, Nash had eight shots against the Caps in Game One, then was effectively shut down.  Defenses will target him, as they should.  The Rangers are now 4-4 in the playoffs.  Considering Derek Stepan now has three goals, Carl Hagelin two, and Brassard has nine points, one has to wonder how a few goals by Nash could have improved Blueshirt fortunes.  But as a coach, when you start trying to force feed your star unwarranted opportunities, there are bound to be ramifications and repurcussions somewhere else on the ice.  In Game One, that came in between Henrik's pads.


There was no reason to be double-shifting Rick Nash during overtime - None!  That's 100% on Coach.  As a result, Boston's game winning goal started back in the Bruins defensive zone with a horrible cross ice pass attempt by Derick Brassard trying to force the puck to Nash.  The pass was picked off by Chara and the play went the other way.  Enter Matts Zuccarello, who had little chance of covering Brad Marchand rumbling down ice.  The fact MattZuccs and Ryan McDonagh were switched out of position is another matter.  While something needs to be done in order to get Rick Nash started - agreed - however, I do not think double shifting Nash in overtime was the way to go. Was he a fresh skater?  Perhaps, as he was only appraoching twenty minutes for the game.  But you let the game come to you.  Sound familiar?  You do not force the game where it doesn't belong.  The only reason Brassard's pass was picked off was because Rick Nash was on the ice, and that was John Tortorella's decision to put him there.  That pass should have gone into the slot to Derek Stepan, like they've been doing sucessfully all playoffs long - like in the third period.  However, the coach's  mandate was on the left wing with his stick on the ice.


On a side note, MattsZuccs looked like he was trying to stay away from getting whistled.  Maybe he should have been more blatant by actually bringing Marchand down for a real penalty.  That's twenty/twenty hindsight.  But it could have been a smart penalty.




Mike.BTB

Rangers vs. Bruins - The Round Two Trolley Preview

From the desk of:   RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS

2012 - 2013

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE PLAYOFFS

Eastern Conference - Semi Final Round

 

 

SERIES PREVIEW

 

Boston Bruins

vs.

NEW YORK RANGERS

 

 

 

Sizing Up The Blueshirts And "Weighing" Their Options.

THE SIX AND SIX FORMULA

Rangers versus Bruins, an Original Six match-up...Nice!  Aint nothin' wrong with a little old school for us old fools.   ...But some older than others.


I was too young to remember when the Blueshirts and Bruins last met in the 1973 playoffs.  The NHL was different when I was a kid.  Teams had to play out of their own division before meeting the other division winner in the Eastern Conference Finals.   I first became a Rangers fan soon after the blockbuster trade that sent principle players Brad Park to Boston in exchange for Phil Esposito, who not incidentally became my favorite player.  After Espo retired, I put myself in Ron Greschner's corner.  This match-up already brings back memories.  This series should be epic.


I have good news Rangers Fans, I think this is a great match-up for the Blueshirts.  The Rangers have the better goalie, I think they play better defense, and they are faster than Boston up front.  I have but two main concerns.  Will the Rangers match Boston's grittiness?  Second, I fret over Boston's ability to knock the Rangers off the puck, and crash the net.

Speed and Size

The key for the Rangers will be striking a balance between maintaining speed and size on the ice.  Let's call this a Six and Six Formula.  The Rangers have speed with Carl Hagelin, Derek Stepan, Ryan Callahan, Rick Nash, Derick Brassard and Matts Zuccarello on the ice.  These are the six who ideally need to score goals against the Bruins.  Coach Torts did well to open up the offense a bit, but they can't open things up too much against Boston.  While the Blueshirts were successful creating offense further up by the circles, their shots from the point are still relative duds - Not enough power in those shots.  Therefore, they need to remain a little closer to the dots, like they've been, and find the guy in the slot.


Boston likes to grind out games too.  That's where the Rangers Bigger Six come into play.  Generally speaking, the Rangers need to prevent themselves from getting pushed off the puck.  That won't be easy.  Everywhere you look, the Bruins have size.  They have six wingers who weigh over two-hundred pounds each.  The new Rangers might even enjoy a good grind.  So, in order to compete, the Rangers will need to maintain a physical presence on the ice and bang bodies.  Arron Asham, Taylor Pyatt, Brian Boyle, Ryane Clowe, Darroll Powe and Chris Kreider all need to throw their bodies around and thump with the Bruins, and when the offensive opportunities present themselves, crash the net with reckless abandon.


I would have never thought Arron Asham could be this important to the Rangers.  Yet, against the Bruins, he becomes even more important.  I guess timing is everything.  I wish other Rangers were as decisive with the puck as Asham.  Chris Kreider and all of his 226 pounds of mass needs to be on the ice.  Period!  In Game Seven against the Caps, he was throwing his body into every red jersey he saw.  Put him on a line with Taylor Pyatt (230 lbs.) and Ryane Clowe (225 lbs.), and let those guys go bang all night.  They are the Rangers three biggest players, and they have skill to boot.  A tough, skilled line like that can propel the Rangers throughout the series.


If you noticed, I made no mention of Brad Richards.  Why do you think that's so?  The answer is the same reason why Coach Torts should not give him any ice time.  He is horrible at the point, he is slow, and he's just an overall lagger.  That's right.  I said it - a lagger.


Boston eventually won their series against the Toronto Maple Leafs for the way they collapsed on Toronto's net.  They took booming shots from the point and cleaned up rebounds.  In Game Seven, they were all over Toronto's James Reimer like flies on crap.


Marc Staal's return is still questionable.  Dan Girardi, Ryan McDonagh and John Moore played outstanding hockey against the Caps.  Steve Eminger had a very good series as well.  They all need to keep the ice in front of Henrik Lundqvist free of Bruins.  The key player will be Michael Del Zotto.  First, he needs to stop the Jekyll and Hyde act.  He needs to be consistent game in, and game out.  The Rangers need the Del Zotto who lays big hits.  We've seen him do it before.  That's the Del Zotto we need now.  And the Rangers need his booming shot from the point.  He possesses one of the few booming point shots the Rangers have.


If you think about it, Henrik pitched regulation time shutouts in games two, six and seven.  In games one, three and four, he allowed nine goals.  So how many games will Henrik Lundqvist need to steal this round?  The consensus says, two or three....again.




Mike.BTB

N.Y. Rangers: The Smurfs Are Back

From the desk of:   RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS


NEW YORK RANGERS - Three Boarding Incidents Within The Last Seven Games Draw No Response From Blueshirts.

Fire John Tortorella?  Stop Yourselves!

Fire John Tortorella?  Is that where we're taking this?  If you're one of those saying that, do you really mean it?  Or, are you just upset with the way things are going so far?


When Boston's Milan Lucic boarded Rick Nash, and when Ottawa's Chris Neil took a run and boarded Brad Richards, and when Montreal's Max Pacioretty took another run against the Rangers and boarded Ryan McDonagh, at no time did a Rangers player stick up for their team mate.  Not one.  No response.  When the Canadiens crashed Marty Biron - nothing.  At least Mike Rupp would have answered.  And you know what I already think about losing Brandon Prust.  The Pruster would have fought anyone and everyone.  By now it is well known the Rangers led the league last season in fighting majors.  But did you know the Rangers led the league in getting into fights within five minutes of the start of a game?  It's true.  That's what you call setting a tone.  That's what you call sending an early message to your opponent that the Rangers aren't getting pushed around.  But that was last year's message.  This season the Blueshirts are getting pushed off the puck like a house dog gets pushed off the sofa.  Yeah, I'm still hung up on Brandon Prust because he's what this team needs.  His work on the forecheck, and being physical enough to not get knocked off the puck, and maintaining possession have very real value to me.  Just not to Glen Sather.  Additionally, J.T. Miller, Darroll Powe, and Chris Kreider find themselves in an unfortunate condition.  At the moment they are not the ideal players that can camp in front of the net.  That's on Glen Sather.


John Tortorella has made a big adjustment this season.  Problem is, it did not come on the ice or behind the bench.  It came in front of a microphone.  Torts is being much more tolerant of the media, and has even offered them coherent post-game analysis, minus his disgust for fielding questions, and impatience for what he perceives as hockey ignorance.  But in truth, I would rather have the grumpy Torts back, if he would please make adjustments to his style.  An equal reason the New Jersey Devils are in first place this season is because they can play two, and three different styles of hockey, and still beat you.  You can talk system all you want, but on this side of the Hudson, the Rangers have  only one style of hockey.  John Tortorella wants his team to play one way - like grunts.


Style and implementation - it is time for John Tortorella to play with set forward lines.  He takes his six top forwards of the game, and rides them through the night.  I said his six top forwards, not his two top lines.  He did this in Tampa as well.  He rode Lecavalier, St. Louis, and Brad Richards into the ground in order to win a Cup; not relying on too many other skaters along the way.  So this is old hat for Coach Torts.  But it is indeed time for Coach to set lines, and let them grow accustomed to one another.  He must be a little more tolerant of mistakes, and slow the traffic of players coming in and out of his dog house.  Sometimes, you just have to win games by a 5-4 score, or a 4-3 score.  Sometimes you just have to let your guys play, and outperform their mistakes.


John Tortorella gave two waves of young Rangers prospects a system to work with.  But the coach has skilled players now who need to be released like hounds.  I don't believe Rick Nash, Brad Richards, and Marian Gaborik were meant to be grunts.  It is a very limited system to play in which one costly mistake can ruin a whole game's effort.


A change is clearly needed.  But firing John Tortorella is not the answer.  Coach is part of the solution.  But yes, he needs to evolve his thinking, and make philosophical adjustments.  Make them quick, for the Rangers forecheck has all but faded away.  They also consistently over-commit behind the red line in their own zone and get burned time and time again for it at the other end.  And the power play is 7 for 63 this season.  That kind of stuff is on Torts.




Mike.BTB

N.Y. Rangers: Blueshirts Going Without Rick Nash Versus Habs

From the desk of:   RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS

TONIGHT

 

Montreal Canadiens

vs.

NEW YORK RANGERS

From

MADISON SQUARE GARDEN

33rd Street and 8th Avenue

NYC

 

 

Sunday Final

Capitals   1

Rangers   2

 

NEW YORK RANGERS - Hello Pruster!  Good To See You.

RICK NASH TO MISS TONIGHT'S GAME

Darroll Powe is going to miss time with a concussion.  He left the ice in the second period of Sunday's game after coming together with Washington's Matt Hendricks, then hitting his head on the ice.  He found favor with Coach Torts since being acquired from Minnesota in the Mike Rupp deal.  Rick Nash is also scratched from tonight's game against the Canadiens.  He played Sunday against Washington after missing practice, but apparently still has a lingering issue.  The club has made no comment.


The Rangers will now be relying on recently recalled Chris Kreider and Brandon Mashinter to fill in.  Brandon Mashinter was acquired from the Sharks last month and offers the Rangers size on the wing.  And Lord Stanley knows the Rangers need it.  A reminder of that will be in the building tonight.  Hello Brandon Prust!!  It will be good to see him again.  This is Brandon's first game back at Madison Square Garden since accepting Montreal's offer in the off-season.  Brandon led the Rangers in fighting majors last season.  The physicallity he brought to the ice is clearly lacking in the Rangers game this season.


Carl Hagelin continues to be the Rangers top forward.  He now has five goals in his last four games. Derek Stepan's goal came on a power play.  It was the Rangers sixth power play goal of the season. Henrik Lundqvist was sharp Sunday against Alexi Ovechkin and the Capitals.  He faced twenty eight shots, stopping all but one.  The Rangers on the other hand, unleashed forty shots on goal against Braden Holtby, but only came away with two goals.


The Rangers enter tonight's game against the Northeast Division leading Montreal Canadiens with a record of 7-1-2 in their last ten games.  They scored twenty eight goals over that time for an average of 2.8 per game.  With Sunday's win, the Rangers broke a tie with the Philadelphia Flyers for third place of the Atlantic Division.  The Rangers now have seventeen points this season, only five games back of the New Jersey Devils.




Mike.BTB