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Game 16: OTT 3 NYR 2, SO, More of the Same and My Thoughts on It |
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The Rangers' 3-2 shootout loss to Ottawa did little to pacify the masses calling for major wholesale, and even smaller changes. Some of the issues that have occurred all season to date were on display again Thursday, with the recommended solutions ranging the expected gamut.
The past few seasons, the Rangers were known as a blue-collar, hard-working team in which every shift against them would require maximum effort. To date, while there has been occasions that that style of play has occurred, it has been all too infrequent. Maybe the masses are right that the acquisition of Rick Nash and ascension of Carl Hagelin to the top line has changed the identity of the Rangers. All of us liked the Nash acquisition and Hagelin ascension, since he has been the team's best player the past several weeks. But, if you take those two with Derek Stepan and Marian Gaborik and Brad Richards, five of the top six are more finesse players. Nash has the capability and utilizes his physical strength, but Ryan Callahan is the only one with "jam." Please do not misinterpret what I am writing. In no way am I saying the deal should not have been done or changes made to the top-six not occur, but in this transition of styles, something has been lost in translation.
The bigger problem is how Torts manages this team. The shot-blocking style works with the bottom six, even when Kreider and Miller are on the third line. However, the top-six are now ill-suited to that style, which has resulted in too many shots getting through. In addition, if some are playing that style and others not, it leaves gaps in the D zone, which opponents have repeatedly taken advantage of nightly. The D is still best suited to that style, but if the forwards don't block shots and the D does, you have an imbalance, which has contributed to the failures lately. Opponents are open at the points as the D and forwards compress downwards too much, leaving open spaces, and when the puck is moved from side to side, the defense can't recover quickly enough. That, plus the scrambling in their own zone because they are going from side to side to recover after the puck is swung, leads to more openings and goals. That also leads to the lack of breakout passes and transition offense, leading to more offensive struggles.
We have discussed and over-discussed the PP. Movement. No movement. EXECUTE. The key is the puck should move faster than the man. Cycle the players, create some movement and open angles. Have traffic in front. The tic-tac-toe goal last Sunday was a thing of beauty, but that type of play has been the exception rather than the norm. The diamond that opponents play kill the Rangers. Movement of players, either up and down the boards or cycling from one side to the other and maybe some play from behind the net, at least one pass worth, to create angles for shots and passes seem to me to the solution, but maybe I am missing something.
The team as a whole is struggling. Injuries haven’t helped, but look at Ottawa last night and lately. They have tons of injuries but a consistent effort hasn't been there nightly. I know everyone wants to blame Torts and his style of play, but that's too easy an excuse. Maybe, as others have said, this is like 92-93 where nothing goes right. I can see some of the comparisons with Roger Nielson, Captain Video, and Torts, but I still Torts is a better coach. However, the job of a coach is to get the most out of his players and put them in a position to succeed. To date, and that may be due to their struggles, Torts hasn’t seemed to do that. As I said above, the current team construction may require a move back towards safe is death. At times, seen with MDZ yesterday, players are afraid to pinch and get caught. But, with the team struggling to score, more chances may be needed, knowing you have Hank on the back line. I am not advocating fire-wagon hockey or a 180-degree change in approach but some softening and modifications appear necessary.
When a game entered the third period the past few years, we all felt it was ours. Now, we wonder how will they blow it? It is that change in mindset that is the most upsetting. Maybe it's the lack of conditioning or closer mentality or the team's struggles that have caused this, but until that mindset and mentality change, the concerns will still remain.
The hope has to be eventually they will figure it out. The names and stats on the back of the hockey cards seem to indicate that this will be the case. If it is like 92-93 and last night, where posts are hit and shots at open nets slide wide, any change they make won't matter. In addition, as we have seen the past years, if you get into the playoffs you have a shot. Yes, expectations were raised and may not be fulfilled. But, if they get in, given the team's construction and they have the elite top end talent and back end goalie to make the run. Maybe in about 15 more games or so, that becomes the focus. But I am not ready to give up on the season as there is too much time left. But the clock is ticking and a reversal of fortune and attitude must take place before it gets too late.
Due to the Sabbath and a Jewish Holiday right after, I won't be able to get a blog before the game against Montreal. I expect Martin Biron to play as the Bell Centre is Hank's house of horrors.
Last, if you are going to comment on another team's players, two rules. First, make sure your team played against him the night before. Second, make sure the player is healthy before you call them out. If not, you run the risk of getting called out by your own readers for being petty and vindictive.
New York Rangers Blogger • 
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