Oh Torts, you're dumbfounded? Tell more how you're dumbfound about the team's lack of success.

Little things, like attention to detail and lack of depth, with these injuries to two forwards that were figuring to be prominent in the top nine rotation. The team looks sloppy, which they haven't in years and a lot of players have not taken that next step.
- MidnightMarauder

But this is correctable, yes?

Attention to detail - we are capable of paying attention, we have seen that before. Just gotta screw the head on straight.

Depth- Kreider and Cally will be back in a few games, which will help a lot. Also, some of our depth players are bound to break out. (like you said, attention to detail helps a lot)

So don't you think it is very likely we get this figured out before its too late?

Need to find some depth, all is not loss. Need to find players who are going to push some of these guys for roster spots. Everyone seems to comfortable out there.
- TPC

I am with you on that, too many Rangers know no matter how poorly they play they will keep getting their turn on the ice.

I am with you on that, too many Rangers know no matter how poorly they play they will keep getting their turn on the ice.
- MidnightMarauder

Yea last year with Zucc, Mitchell and what not always on the outside popping in from game to game, all players had to be playing hard at all times. If you are Rupp you look right now and see Bickel is your competition for a roster spot

I am with you on that, too many Rangers know no matter how poorly they play they will keep getting their turn on the ice.
- MidnightMarauder

It is really not unusual for a teams that have had great regular seasons, and have gone relatively deep in the playoffs, to sleep walk through parts of the next season. Just need to make sure that you don't sleep walk so much that you find yourself on the outside looking in when the games really count.

It is really not unusual for a teams that have had great regular seasons, and have gone relatively deep in the playoffs, to sleep walk through parts of the next season. Just need to make sure that you don't sleep walk so much that you find yourself on the outside looking in when the games really count.
- Pete V

With 41 games left, it becomes extra crucial

Oh Torts, you're dumbfounded? Tell more how you're dumbfound about the team's lack of success.


- tomburton99

Is that what he said? I stopped watching.

But this is correctable, yes?

Attention to detail - we are capable of paying attention, we have seen that before. Just gotta screw the head on straight.

Depth- Kreider and Cally will be back in a few games, which will help a lot. Also, some of our depth players are bound to break out. (like you said, attention to detail helps a lot)

So don't you think it is very likely we get this figured out before its too late?
- Rags2Riches

I think they can but so much of their success is based on their tireless work ethic and they already look like they are spent. Seven games in and they look like they have no legs out there. That's four games where they looked severely slower than their opponent(Penguins twice, Flyers last week and Boston opening night).

Tortorella has to figure out a good combination of lines but so few players producing, we can't expect him to make chicken salad out of chicken sh!t

And what would you say changed from last season when we won 61 games?

Why have we gone from a top team to borderline playoff team?
- Rags2Riches

What's changed...really? This looks like anything we saw last season? In 82 games they were never this lethargic, disinterested and flat and that's off an ECF appearance we should have won, you'd expect a contender that was hyped so proudly by the loyal idiots we are, to be more "hungry" right? They claim to be "hungry" well where is it, this team looks like they had their fill from an ECF appearance, it's day and night between what I've witnessed in at least 6 of 7 games then we saw all of last season, that's why the playoffs look like a pipe dream right now.

Is that what he said? I stopped watching.
- GioRock

Specfically about the alck of scoring, especially on the powerplay. to paraphrase.

"I don't know, to be honest. I'm dumbfounded"

look to (frank)ing idiot next to you and ask what the (frank) is he doing while you run the practice. Specifically the powerplay.

So do you start Biron Saturday against the lightning or Tuesday against the Devils.

This this the 4th time in 7 games the rangers have literally gone through the motions and come up with NOTHING. This team is not the same team. They lack depth. Minus Callahan and Lundqvist what other player has looked hungry like they look last year. Maybe they overachieved last season, maybe we place too much hype on them this year. But what about this team has looked good to you?


- tomburton99

Well, we lost Dubinsky, Anisimov, Prust, Fedotenko, Mitchell

Now these guys are really great at grinding it out. But let's be honest, we are not talking about a ton of offense lost. Thats an average of 9 goals 15 assists.

Now I agree the lack of depth is a problem. I agree some of the players we expected to step up have not done so yet.

But just based on past performance, don't you think some of the struggling players will improve? Don't you think the team will be sparked into a better effort when they lose games like they did tonight?

Again, its a streaky game and all the problems being mentioned are correctable and will be fixed.

It is really not unusual for a teams that have had great regular seasons, and have gone relatively deep in the playoffs, to sleep walk through parts of the next season. Just need to make sure that you don't sleep walk so much that you find yourself on the outside looking in when the games really count.
- Pete V

In a shortened season, as we all know this is, can't afford to piss away a ten game stretch. I think they can get hot, later in the year and head into the playoffs on a roll, but that isn't a guarantee. A lot of doormats(Isles, Canadiens, Lightning) from a season ago, look much more formidable at the start. And with perennial playoff teams(Bruins, Devils, Penguins) all playing a little to a lot better than the Rangers, there aren't too many more games that can be pissed away.

I think they can but so much of their success is based on their tireless work ethic and they already look like they are spent. Seven games in and they look like they have no legs out there. That's four games where they looked severely slower than their opponent(Penguins twice, Flyers last week and Boston opening night).

Tortorella has to figure out a good combination of lines but so few players producing, we can't expect him to make chicken salad out of chicken sh!t
- MidnightMarauder

Looks like he downloaded the Renney Line combo app, shyt will never gel because they will never have enough time too, Torts probably hates crazy glue because it takes 10 seconds to dry!

So do you start Biron Saturday against the lightning or Tuesday against the Devils.
- Mactruck

Start Biron against Jersey; Lightning offense is dynamite.

I think they can but so much of their success is based on their tireless work ethic and they already look like they are spent. Seven games in and they look like they have no legs out there. That's four games where they looked severely slower than their opponent(Penguins twice, Flyers last week and Boston opening night).

Tortorella has to figure out a good combination of lines but so few players producing, we can't expect him to make chicken salad out of chicken sh!t
- MidnightMarauder

That is definitely the challenge.

Maybe it is hard to replicate the intensity after going from an ECF to an early regular season game, like Pete said. Maybe they really miss the Torts training camp.

But when push comes to shove, I think they will wake up.

I mean, you never know, but way too early for me to think that our chances at the playoffs are at risk.

So do you start Biron Saturday against the lightning or Tuesday against the Devils.
- Mactruck

pick your poison. Do you want Brion in for Stamkos, St. Louis, Conachar, Purcell etc. Or do you want Biron in for Kovi, Clarkson, Elias, Henrique etc.

In a shortened season, as we all know this is, can't afford to piss away a ten game stretch. I think they can get hot, later in the year and head into the playoffs on a roll, but that isn't a guarantee. A lot of doormats(Isles, Canadiens, Lightning) from a season ago, look much more formidable at the start. And with perennial playoff teams(Bruins, Devils, Penguins) all playing a little to a lot better than the Rangers, there aren't too many more games that can be pissed away.
- MidnightMarauder

While I think they'll be fine, I agree that there should be a greater sense of urgency to get things turned around. They need to go out and get some players, because rolling out a third line of Boyle-Ferio (sp)-Rupp, and a second line of Stepan-Hagelin and Pyatt isn't going to get it done.

What's changed...really? This looks like anything we saw last season? In 82 games they were never this lethargic, disinterested and flat and that's off an ECF appearance we should have won, you'd expect a contender that was hyped so proudly by the loyal idiots we are, to be more "hungry" right? They claim to be "hungry" well where is it, this team looks like they had their fill from an ECF appearance, it's day and night between what I've witnessed in at least 6 of 7 games then we saw all of last season, that's why the playoffs look like a pipe dream right now.
- cranford93

ok, so like everyone else, you think the effort is lacking. Not going to beat the horse to death, but you gotta figure as the season goes on and games seems more crucial, the effort comes back.

Well, we lost Dubinsky, Anisimov, Prust, Fedotenko, Mitchell

Now these guys are really great at grinding it out. But let's be honest, we are not talking about a ton of offense lost. Thats an average of 9 goals 15 assists.

Now I agree the lack of depth is a problem. I agree some of the players we expected to step up have not done so yet.

But just based on past performance, don't you think some of the struggling players will improve? Don't you think the team will be sparked into a better effort when they lose games like they did tonight?

Again, its a streaky game and all the problems being mentioned are correctable and will be fixed.
- Rags2Riches

I'm tired about hearing that the guys we lost didn't score. The team we have now is scoring. Not only are they not scoring but that never say die attitude isn't their either. How do you fix that?

But yea I agree with a lot of you. This team will go nowhere unless Stepan, Boyle, Hagelin, and Kreider help chip in on offense.

Hagelin 36 games and counting since last goal
- TPC

Hagelin looks a lot better, Kreider's played 4 games but Stepan and Boyle better get going or bye bye, I'm not a big Boiler fan anyway.

Looks like he downloaded the Renney Line combo app, shyt will never gel because they will never have enough time too, Torts probably hates crazy glue because it takes 10 seconds to dry!
- cranford93

That team that got Renney fired was a disgrace, zero leadership from that veteran group.

ok, so like everyone else, you think the effort is lacking. Not going to beat the horse to death, but you gotta figure as the season goes on and games seems more crucial, the effort comes back.
- Rags2Riches

in 48 games season every game is crucial.

ok, so like everyone else, you think the effort is lacking. Not going to beat the horse to death, but you gotta figure as the season goes on and games seems more crucial, the effort comes back.
- Rags2Riches

Big if's from a team playing really small.

While I think they'll be fine, I agree that there should be a greater sense of urgency to get things turned around. They need to go out and get some players, because rolling out a third line of Boyle-Ferio (sp)-Rupp, and a second line of Stepan-Hagelin and Pyatt isn't going to get it done.
- Pete V

The good news is that in 2 weeks, the lines of

Gabby-Richards-Nash
Cally-Stepan-Hagelin
Kreider-Boyle-Pyatt
Rupp-Halpern-Ferriero

is going to look amazing in comparison.