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: Glen Sather Pedalling A Vicious Cycle

From the desk of:   RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS


NEW YORK RANGERS - Can't Stop The Dominoes Once They Start Falling.


Hit the music and let's sing an old song...  Welcome to the continuing domino effect born of mindless reactive general managing.  The team's present situation could have been avoided if Glen Sather would have just signed Colton Orr.  There was, and still is no defending the decision not to re-sign Orr - not with the ill-advised deals Sather gave Donald Brashear and Derek Boogaard, etc..  Brandon Prust finally stepped into Colton Orr's old role, and did so admirably.


Many fans still can't grasp the duality of the Rangers fighting ways of last year, with overall physical toughness.  Brandon Prust didn't just fight.  He helped maintain the offensive zone.  He did so with hard work, and a strong physical effort.  Brandon helped possess the puck, while it was the more skilled players responsibility to crash the net, get a shot on goal, and score.  But yeah, fighting helps.  Fists embed doubt in opponents minds.  It sets a tone.  Fighting is an effective way to impose your will on the ice.  Not once, but twice, Glen Sather hardly found those type of unheralded contributions  worth the monetary price, and twice he paid for it.  He is continually having to correct mistakes.  Sather's latest gross miscalculation demanded he replace some of the toughness he let get away.


Last season, this team lurched forward with the power and grace of a big blue glacier, that grinded down all opponents in their path - up until they met the New Jersey resistance.  As recently as this past Tuesday morning, they've been a shell of last year's team.  Even with Rick Nash, the Rangers have somehow managed to score less than last year's team.  Fighting is down, scoring is down, and Marc Staal is down.  Something had to give.  Now that the NHL trade deadline has passed, this team looks even less like the one that went to last year's Eastern Conference finals.


But I've been through all this before.  I just don't want to sound like a skipping record.

January 19 - Four Points of Concern
January 20 - Bruins Expose A Fistful of Problems
January 22 - Not Re-Signing Colton Orr Still A Mistake
January 24 - Getting Pushed Off The Puck, And Getting Pushed Around
January 28 - THE SMURFS ARE BACK!


I knew from the very beginning, that after the Rick Nash trade, this roster needed major reworking.  I've said it many times.  The Marian Gaborik trade was a curious one to say the least.  I just hope it works out.  There were actually more reasons to pull off such a deal, than not.  Big money and paltry results were very troublesome.  Salary cap wise, the Rangers needed the cap space in order to retain some of their current young talent - cap space they would not otherwise have had.  On the ice, Gaborik was increasingly falling more and more out of favor with Coach Torts.  Marian's style, and the Rangers style under Torts became incompatible.  Gaborik was also increasingly being excluded from third period play.  If that is what his situation degenerated to, then why keep him?


Don't ask me to get caught up in what Ryane Clowe, Derik Brassard, and John Moore contributed Wednesday evening against the Penguins during a 6-1 Blueshirt victory.  I was there.  Yeah, it was fun.  At the moment however, being sandwiched in between the Islanders and Devils in the Eastern Conference standings with twelve games left is a bit distressing.  These guys need to learn how to play together quickly.



Mike.BTB