He was, that was the one thing that annoyed me last night. He made 1 mistake, but actually busted his ass to break up the play, unfortunately it went in his own net. I didn't see that as a benchable offense. He was skating & playing hard all night.
- mdw7413

Considering the team was already down two of their top forwards with the flu and with a hated rival coming up on the schedule AV shouldn't have benched anyone in the third. I thought Kreider was one of the few guys playing with any heart in that sorry first period. He was very physical most of the night and that is the Kreider I like to see even if he isn't scoring goals.

They will dig that one out of the vault once the series begins, if it begins, don't want to put the horse in front of the cart just yet. We might still play Columbus
- Blueshirts4ever

Never think of Duguay as a tough guy of course but he landed a couple of solid rights in that scrap.

Never think of Duguay as a tough guy of course but he landed a couple of solid rights in that scrap.
- gkmkiller

I don't remember Dave Poulin being a scrapper either.

Considering the team was already down two of their top forwards with the flu and with a hated rival coming up on the schedule AV shouldn't have benched anyone in the third. I thought Kreider was one of the few guys playing with any heart in that sorry first period. He was very physical most of the night and that is the Kreider I like to see even if he isn't scoring goals.
- gkmkiller

Exactly, why shorten the bench even more?? Made no sense. I just think benching him in that situation also has the effect of making him timid and worrying about being benched for what he might do wrong going forward. I think Kreider is one of those people who you just have to let play. Yeah he will make a mistake every once in a while, but he also has the speed, physicality & shot to totally change a game.

hey, Islander fans obviously know good defense. That organization is a defensive stalwart year in and year out.
- jimbro83

I believe most of us do and are aware that we don't have one

Never think of Duguay as a tough guy of course but he landed a couple of solid rights in that scrap.
- gkmkiller

I actually remember that fight when it happened, 11 years old and jumping up and down in my grandma's basement

Exactly, why shorten the bench even more?? Made no sense. I just think benching him in that situation also has the effect of making him timid and worrying about being benched for what he might do wrong going forward. I think Kreider is one of those people who you just have to let play. Yeah he will make a mistake every once in a while, but he also has the speed, physicality & shot to totally change a game.
- mdw7413

Not talking about Kreider in particular here, but personally, I think that when the games are this big late in the season, the team needs points, and you are locked in a tight game in the third period, if you think a young player is a defensive liability and you don't trust them, you need to take that account in doling out playing time.

I do generally agree with letting young players play to work out the kinks and learn from their mistakes, but not during money time. During money time you need to make whatever decisions you feel give you the best chance of winning.

Flyers Rangers happened all the time in the 80's, it was part of the springtime

it's about time for another one
- jimbro83

My first great Rangers memory as a kid was the 86 1st rd series w Philly. That was the spring I really got hooked on hockey.

Exactly, why shorten the bench even more?? Made no sense. I just think benching him in that situation also has the effect of making him timid and worrying about being benched for what he might do wrong going forward. I think Kreider is one of those people who you just have to let play. Yeah he will make a mistake every once in a while, but he also has the speed, physicality & shot to totally change a game.
- mdw7413

The only mistake Kreider made in that situation was missing the net on his shot with a defensemen joining the rush. As usually happens in those cases, the puck wrapped around the boards and led to a rush the other way. He still busted his butt to get back into the play but unfortunately his attempt to prevent the centering feed deflected the puck by Hank.

However if AV wanted to punish players who missed the net on wide open chances then he'd have to bench the whole team. I get so frustrated when I see wide open, quality chances blown because the shooter tried to get cute and pick the corner of the net. At least give yourself a chance by making sure to get the shot on goal.

My first great Rangers memory as a kid was the 86 1st rd series w Philly. That was the spring I really got hooked on hockey.
- B2B76

that was insane. TJ and I lived on Staten Island then and we didn't have cable. My dad was friends with the owner of the bar near us and would let us into the backroom to watch the home games during the Flyers and Capital series and let us eat all the chicken wings we wanted. Good times.

Not talking about Kreider in particular here, but personally, I think that when the games are this big late in the season, the team needs points, and you are locked in a tight game in the third period, if you think a young player is a defensive liability and you don't trust them, you need to take that account in doling out playing time.

I do generally agree with letting young players play to work out the kinks and learn from their mistakes, but not during money time. During money time you need to make whatever decisions you feel give you the best chance of winning.
- Pete V

Pete, I definitely see that side of it, and agree with that in a general sense. I just thought last night with Stepan & Marty not really able to play, and Kreider before missing the net, was our best forward outside of the 4th line, it wasn't such a great move to bench him. But we won, and that's what really matters, so I guess I shouldn't really let it bother me.

Not talking about Kreider in particular here, but personally, I think that when the games are this big late in the season, the team needs points, and you are locked in a tight game in the third period, if you think a young player is a defensive liability and you don't trust them, you need to take that account in doling out playing time.

I do generally agree with letting young players play to work out the kinks and learn from their mistakes, but not during money time. During money time you need to make whatever decisions you feel give you the best chance of winning.
- Pete V

It's a tough call between small and big picture though. In the small picture you have the two points and the importance of obtaining those. In the big picture you have a hated division rival coming to town, one with whom you are locked in a tight battle for playoff positioning and you have two of your top guys out with the flu. Even AV admitted that he forced guys to play too many minutes last night ahead of another important game and he should have rested MSL and Step. The same thing could have been said about limiting Kreider's minutes last night.

Also, the Rangers were behind going into the final period and didn't draw even until late in the frame. In that spot don't you want your most effective offensive players on the ice?

The only mistake Kreider made in that situation was missing the net on his shot with a defensemen joining the rush. As usually happens in those cases, the puck wrapped around the boards and led to a rush the other way. He still busted his butt to get back into the play but unfortunately his attempt to prevent the centering feed deflected the puck by Hank.

However if AV wanted to punish players who missed the net on wide open chances then he'd have to bench the whole team. I get so frustrated when I see wide open, quality chances blown because the shooter tried to get cute and pick the corner of the net. At least give yourself a chance by making sure to get the shot on goal.
- gkmkiller

Yup, Boyle on the 2-1 was probably even more of a glaring mistake. Or Marty not even shooting wide open in the slot. It happens, don't know why Kreider was singled out, but oh well. Just hope this isn't going to be the bar set for Kreider going forward, he makes a mistake, he sits.

It's a tough call between small and big picture though. In the small picture you have the two points and the importance of obtaining those. In the big picture you have a hated division rival coming to town, one with whom you are locked in a tight battle for playoff positioning and you have two of your top guys out with the flu. Even AV admitted that he forced guys to play too many minutes last night ahead of another important game and he should have rested MSL and Step. The same thing could have been said about limiting Kreider's minutes last night.

Also, the Rangers were behind going into the final period and didn't draw even until late in the frame. In that spot don't you want your most effective offensive players on the ice?
- gkmkiller

I would have had Kreider on the ice more, especially given the circumstances. But, I understand that the Coach, who is trying to win a game, is going to do what he thinks is best to try to win that game in front of him. I get that the Flyers are coming into town on Wednesday, and its an important game, but I think we also need to realize that the Flyer game would have been a hell of alot more important if they didn't win last night.

Was it a good decision to limit Kreider with a one goal deficit in the third? I don't know. I wouldn't have done it. But, at the same time, perhaps the coach is also concerned about going down two goals, at which point the game is all but over. So, in sum, I am not saying that I agree, but I understand the call.

Yup, Boyle on the 2-1 was probably even more of a glaring mistake. Or Marty not even shooting wide open in the slot. It happens, don't know why Kreider was singled out, but oh well. Just hope this isn't going to be the bar set for Kreider going forward, he makes a mistake, he sits.
- mdw7413

I don't think Boyle on the 2-1 was even close to the mistake that Kreider made. Boyle created the 2-1 opportunity with his speed, and just missed the net on the shot. He and Hagelin were the only two players up the ice. The Kreider miss was a huge mistake by a young player, because the defense was up the ice, he should have recognized that, and you just can't miss the net wide with a big slapper in the scenario. But, mistakes happen. Players aren't perfect, and Kreider is also not the only one making mistakes. I think he is singled out, however, because the coaches just don't trust his defensive game overall at this point. It will eventually come, but right now, they don't have the comfort level that they need with Kreider from a defensive perspective.

Stewie's blogs are almost always great, love reading his stuff...just behind Jan as my favorite bloggers on here. Smooch smooch.
- B2B76

Praise will get you everywhere

He was, that was the one thing that annoyed me last night. He made 1 mistake, but actually busted his ass to break up the play, unfortunately it went in his own net. I didn't see that as a benchable offense. He was skating & playing hard all night.
- mdw7413

Agree to a point, he left forward get past him and then caught him rather than staying with him and avoid having to ach with his stick

I don't think Boyle on the 2-1 was even close to the mistake that Kreider made. Boyle created the 2-1 opportunity with his speed, and just missed the net on the shot. He and Hagelin were the only two players up the ice. The Kreider miss was a huge mistake by a young player, because the defense was up the ice, he should have recognized that, and you just can't miss the net wide with a big slapper in the scenario. But, mistakes happen. Players aren't perfect, and Kreider is also not the only one making mistakes. I think he is singled out, however, because the coaches just don't trust his defensive game overall at this point. It will eventually come, but right now, they don't have the comfort level that they need with Kreider from a defensive perspective.
- Pete V

And in Boyle's defense, he actually took the shot instead of bypassing what appeared to be a great chance by trying to feed the puck through a defender to a teammate. Also, didn't the defender get his stick on the shot, perhaps deflecting Boyle's shot wide? I know I scream at the TV when player's try to be unselfish by passing the puck to a teammate instead of taking the shot when they are in a good position. St. Louis did that earlier when he was dead center in the slot and wide open. I'm not going to start blaming players when they try to get a good shot on goal.

I don't think Boyle on the 2-1 was even close to the mistake that Kreider made. Boyle created the 2-1 opportunity with his speed, and just missed the net on the shot. He and Hagelin were the only two players up the ice. The Kreider miss was a huge mistake by a young player, because the defense was up the ice, he should have recognized that, and you just can't miss the net wide with a big slapper in the scenario. But, mistakes happen. Players aren't perfect, and Kreider is also not the only one making mistakes. I think he is singled out, however, because the coaches just don't trust his defensive game overall at this point. It will eventually come, but right now, they don't have the comfort level that they need with Kreider from a defensive perspective.
- Pete V

Yeah, agree with the coaches not trusting him. Would I want him out there with 2 minutes to go in a game where we are ahead by 1 goal, absolutely not. Just didn't think it was not smart to bench him for 1/2 the 2nd and most of the 3rd.

And in Boyle's defense, he actually took the shot instead of bypassing what appeared to be a great chance by trying to feed the puck through a defender to a teammate. Also, didn't the defender get his stick on the shot, perhaps deflecting Boyle's shot wide? I know I scream at the TV when player's try to be unselfish by passing the puck to a teammate instead of taking the shot when they are in a good position. St. Louis did that earlier when he was dead center in the slot and wide open. I'm not going to start blaming players when they try to get a good shot on goal.
- gkmkiller

If that's the case, I apologize to Boyle. The way I saw it, he missed the net by 5 feet from 10 feet away. Yeah he attempted the shot, but at this level in a close game, you have to at least hit the net. That's what I meant by a mistake.

If that's the case, I apologize to Boyle. The way I saw it, he missed the net by 5 feet from 10 feet away. Yeah he attempted the shot, but at this level in a close game, you have to at least hit the net. That's what I meant by a mistake.
- mdw7413

I'm not sure if that was the case or if I am mixing up plays. I do remember Hagelin appearing frustrated as he was wide open on the right side. I want to say the defender did somehow force the shot wide.

And in Boyle's defense, he actually took the shot instead of bypassing what appeared to be a great chance by trying to feed the puck through a defender to a teammate. Also, didn't the defender get his stick on the shot, perhaps deflecting Boyle's shot wide? I know I scream at the TV when player's try to be unselfish by passing the puck to a teammate instead of taking the shot when they are in a good position. St. Louis did that earlier when he was dead center in the slot and wide open. I'm not going to start blaming players when they try to get a good shot on goal.
- gkmkiller

As a general matter, I don't mind as much as other people when a player misses the net on a scoring chance (unless it's a Kreider type situation from last night, at which point you need to hit the net or do something else with the puck). It's tough to score on goaltenders in this league, and players try to pick corners to beat very good goalies. When you do that, you are sometimes going to miss, especially when you aren't a high-end offensive guy, as Boyle certaintly is not. Because at the end of the day, if the player hits the goaltender in the crest, we would be complaining about that as well.

man, if this team had been just a little better at home all year, maybe 3 more wins, we'd be in striking distance of the Penguins.

Now they lost Malkin til the end of the regular season.

man, if this team had been just a little better at home all year, maybe 3 more wins, we'd be in striking distance of the Penguins.

Now they lost Malkin til the end of the regular season.
- jimbro83

They are really scuffling here down the stretch it seems. Very up and down.

Notice he didn't exactly look thrilled in this Perhaps he was already dreaming of playing for the Rangers.
- gkmkiller

Kinda like Shattenkirk?

And side note....holy crap EK65 has 68 points in 71 games atm