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New York Rangers Blogger •
When John Tortorella took over as coach last year from Tom Renney, much was made about the change in style from a dump-and-chase to puck control fromat. In addition, the defensemen would be more involved in pinching at the blue lines while forwards would have additional backchecking responsibilities. Torts indicated that he was not able to fully implement his style last year due to the team's construction and lack of conditioning, but this method of play was at the forefront of what was worked on in training camp.
That style was in effect and was working fairly well - with some reservations due to the lack of depth up front, which got exacerbated when two main components, Chris Drury and Brandon Dubisnsky, who have the two-way skills needed to play in this format, went down November 7. As today's NY Post writes: "Since then, with the team's lack of depth up the middle exposed, the Blueshirts have been forced to play more defensively, resulting in seven goals scored in four games and just one win, which came in a shootout. "
So what happened Thursday, out goes the puck control, in comes the old dump and chase format, hmm wonder who used that before hand and was derided for playing too safe? That's right Renney. So early in the year, puck control and more responsibility for d-men, where they rush the zone and get involved in the play, was in, now like yesterday's fashion, it is out, because we lack the depth up front - wonder whose fault that is - to handle the puck control and backchecking responsibilities and our d-men haven't been great in pinching, paging Mr. Staal, it's back to the old style.
On the one hand, this protects an already weakened lineup by not requiring so much up and down, limits the possibility to be exposed on the counter-attack, see Redden, Wade and Gilroy, Matt from the other night - but it places overreliance on Henrik Lundqvist to keep it close and PP to be the difference maker, a formula that failed many times last year. Plus, teh pressure of the top line, which now includes all of our best forwards, increases since no one else can get the job done, think that the opponents will be playing the macthup game all night long knowing no one else can beat them.
It may be somnabulent at the Garden but at least the games will be close. Hopefully we come out on the right end of some 2-1 and 1-0 scores. On and by the way, as others have mentioned, call back up Dane Byers, give him some quality ice time and lets see what he can do.
Also, Drury went to see another doctor Thursday after having what Tortorella called, "a few good days in a row." It is doubtful Drury will play Saturday against the Panthers, but a few more good days could get back on ice and action hopefully sooner than expected. That said, post-concussion syndrome can linger so temper your expectations until he has a few solid days in a row following on-ice activity and contact.
Last, Larry Broos wrote in Thursday's paper something all of us have been saying, that besides the alck of depth up front, there is a lack of toughness and willingness to stick up for one another. This is why I wanted either Mike Kommisarek or Jay Mckee this offseason - yes, I know of the cap restrictions - but as Brooks wrote, who the hell do we have to clear the front or bang in the corners or behind the net defensively? In addition, Rosie needs to be waived or demoted just to bring some fresh life into the locker room and on the ice and remove dead wood. Call up Sanguinetti, maybe Heikkinen or someone cheap until you can acquire a defenseman of that ilk, because right now, Rosie on the ice is subtraction by addition for our opponents as they gave a plus and us a minus every time he is on the ice.
That style was in effect and was working fairly well - with some reservations due to the lack of depth up front, which got exacerbated when two main components, Chris Drury and Brandon Dubisnsky, who have the two-way skills needed to play in this format, went down November 7. As today's NY Post writes: "Since then, with the team's lack of depth up the middle exposed, the Blueshirts have been forced to play more defensively, resulting in seven goals scored in four games and just one win, which came in a shootout. "
So what happened Thursday, out goes the puck control, in comes the old dump and chase format, hmm wonder who used that before hand and was derided for playing too safe? That's right Renney. So early in the year, puck control and more responsibility for d-men, where they rush the zone and get involved in the play, was in, now like yesterday's fashion, it is out, because we lack the depth up front - wonder whose fault that is - to handle the puck control and backchecking responsibilities and our d-men haven't been great in pinching, paging Mr. Staal, it's back to the old style.
On the one hand, this protects an already weakened lineup by not requiring so much up and down, limits the possibility to be exposed on the counter-attack, see Redden, Wade and Gilroy, Matt from the other night - but it places overreliance on Henrik Lundqvist to keep it close and PP to be the difference maker, a formula that failed many times last year. Plus, teh pressure of the top line, which now includes all of our best forwards, increases since no one else can get the job done, think that the opponents will be playing the macthup game all night long knowing no one else can beat them.
It may be somnabulent at the Garden but at least the games will be close. Hopefully we come out on the right end of some 2-1 and 1-0 scores. On and by the way, as others have mentioned, call back up Dane Byers, give him some quality ice time and lets see what he can do.
Also, Drury went to see another doctor Thursday after having what Tortorella called, "a few good days in a row." It is doubtful Drury will play Saturday against the Panthers, but a few more good days could get back on ice and action hopefully sooner than expected. That said, post-concussion syndrome can linger so temper your expectations until he has a few solid days in a row following on-ice activity and contact.
Last, Larry Broos wrote in Thursday's paper something all of us have been saying, that besides the alck of depth up front, there is a lack of toughness and willingness to stick up for one another. This is why I wanted either Mike Kommisarek or Jay Mckee this offseason - yes, I know of the cap restrictions - but as Brooks wrote, who the hell do we have to clear the front or bang in the corners or behind the net defensively? In addition, Rosie needs to be waived or demoted just to bring some fresh life into the locker room and on the ice and remove dead wood. Call up Sanguinetti, maybe Heikkinen or someone cheap until you can acquire a defenseman of that ilk, because right now, Rosie on the ice is subtraction by addition for our opponents as they gave a plus and us a minus every time he is on the ice.
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