Jan Levine: Game 27: NYI 4 NYR 2, Halak outplays Lundqvist, Special Teams makes diff. Plus other factors in the loss and recent poor play

backbreaking 2nd goal after swarming Halak in that late 1st period PP. He really steps up his game vs us, as the Islanders as a whole almost always do. Tough loss, tougher now that we're seriously banged up at forward.

Team is far too soft. I have never...NEVER seen a team take such a physical beating and not do ANYTHING, especially against a major rival like the Islanders.

Skjei looked terrible; couldn't handle the puck well all game. McD, was close to as bad.

Can AV please put Miller back on Hayes' wing? I don't get the constant mix-ups with player personnel. I get there are injuries, but only one line was affected; not all 4.

Hank needs to sit for a week....or two.

Team is far too soft. I have never...NEVER seen a team take such a physical beating and not do ANYTHING, especially against a major rival like the Islanders.

Skjei looked terrible; couldn't handle the puck well all game. McD, was close to as bad.

Can AV please put Miller back on Hayes' wing? I don't get the constant mix-ups with player personnel. I get there are injuries, but only one line was affected; not all 4.

Hank needs to sit for a week....or two.
- mames11

I thought Miller & Kreider were very physical. As a team no, that's not they're game. I was surprised someone didn't go after Brock Nelson after knocking Puempel out of the game. But as we've said before, its not the same game anymore & you can't have Tanner Glass (ironically he may be brought up now due to injuries) dress just to take a couple shifts & MAYBE fight someone. They do need a more team tough personality, we saw it in that Philly game, teams are gonna come at us more & we can't just skate circles around every team.

AV is losing me slowly with these line combos

Why is Girardi on the ice late in the game when they are trying to score?

This team has turned into a .500 team in their last 10 games or so. The alarms should be ringing and it should just be blamed on injury FFS

Team is far too soft. I have never...NEVER seen a team take such a physical beating and not do ANYTHING, especially against a major rival like the Islanders.

Skjei looked terrible; couldn't handle the puck well all game. McD, was close to as bad.

Can AV please put Miller back on Hayes' wing? I don't get the constant mix-ups with player personnel. I get there are injuries, but only one line was affected; not all 4.

Hank needs to sit for a week....or two.
- mames11

they were down to 10 forwards last night and they had a million powerplays, of course the lines were going to be screwed up

AV is losing me slowly with these line combos

Why is Girardi on the ice late in the game when they are trying to score?

This team has turned into a .500 team in their last 10 games or so. The alarms should be ringing and it should just be blamed on injury FFS
- mrn22

he may have been the only player late in the game who didn't look like absolute horsepoop though

I think I may despise Pirri to the same level as I despised Chris Higgins when he was here

he may have been the only player late in the game who didn't look like absolute horsepoop though

I think I may despise Pirri to the same level as I despised Chris Higgins when he was here
- jimbro83

Ya but his offesive acumen is well.. not so high dispite the 3 goals this year

and Pirri wont last on this team if the roster is fully healthy the way hes playing

Ya but his offesive acumen is well.. not so high dispite the 3 goals this year

and Pirri wont last on this team if the roster is fully healthy the way hes playing
- mrn22

I really felt like the Islanders know he sucks and last night they were purposely leaving him open on the powerplays as a strategy

AV is losing me slowly with these line combos

Why is Girardi on the ice late in the game when they are trying to score?

This team has turned into a .500 team in their last 10 games or so. The alarms should be ringing and it should just be blamed on injury FFS
- mrn22

I think that over the course of a year you are going to battle through some injuries, and you have to survive them until the team gets healthy. The Rangers are missing two top 6 forwards, including one of their Top 2 centers. At a minimum, right now they are treading water, staying around the .500 mark with these injuries. There is definitely cause for concern, but if they can just be average or good until they get healthy, they should be alright.

With that said, the Metro is looking real deep this year, so they can't afford an extended slump.

I agree with Jan that the goaltending needs to be better, especially right now when the Rangers are experiencing injury and depth issues. The tenders had unprecedented goal support early in the year. Now, the Rangers are going to have to find away to win some lower scoring games.

he may have been the only player late in the game who didn't look like absolute horsepoop though

I think I may despise Pirri to the same level as I despised Chris Higgins when he was here
- jimbro83

Him flailing away in those last seconds trying to blast a slap shot & falling down actually made me laugh as pissed off as I was.

I think that over the course of a year you are going to battle through some injuries, and you have to survive them until the team gets healthy. The Rangers are missing two top 6 forwards, including one of their Top 2 centers. At a minimum, right now they are treading water, staying around the .500 mark with these injuries. There is definitely cause for concern, but if they can just be average or good until they get healthy, they should be alright.

With that said, the Metro is looking real deep this year, so they can't afford an extended slump.

I agree with Jan that the goaltending needs to be better, especially right now when the Rangers are experiencing injury and depth issues. The tenders had unprecedented goal support early in the year. Now, the Rangers are going to have to find away to win some lower scoring games.
- Pete V

As annoying as this win one, lose one thing is, with the afore mentioned injuries Pete, we just want to avoid a significant losing streak. Lets see how they play tomorrow in snowy Winnipeg.

As annoying as this win one, lose one thing is, with the afore mentioned injuries Pete, we just want to avoid a significant losing streak. Lets see how they play tomorrow in snowy Winnipeg.
- B2B76

Hopefully, they can at least split these next two games. I would probably take that right now.

Hopefully, they can at least split these next two games. I would probably take that right now.
- Pete V

Raanta tomorrow?

Raanta tomorrow?
- B2B76

That's what Jan said. I am not sure if that is definitive, or whether that's just an assumption.

On another note, I do think Zibanajed's absence hurts the PP. I am not saying that he was lighting it up, but that right handed shot ripping one timers creates a threat that opens up other things.

Raanta tomorrow?
- B2B76

trade 4 Halak now....

Raanta tomorrow?
- B2B76

lets facking hope so. Hank has really pissed me off this year. No confidence with him in net whatsoever

lets facking hope so. Hank has really pissed me off this year. No confidence with him in net whatsoever
- mrn22

I often thought as each Isles rush was coming his way, "here comes a goal", I almost never get that bad vibe w Hank but ITS BEEN THERE A LOT this yr.

trade 4 Halak now....
- Ur Not Me

We'll give you Pirri.

We'll give you Pirri.
- B2B76

We have enough C's, team needs more 3rd line W .....

- eichiefs9

If AV continues to play Girardi in top minutes on the top pair then he has to go. Girardi played best in the beginning on the second or third pairing.

Henrik needs a few games off to clear his head. He has not been the himself all year and this is beyond the early season slump. Don't think he's "done" but he needs time off.

As for last night's game, NYR not used to playing on that shatty ice in Brooklyn that the Isles play on more. They are used to it where NYR may not be as ready for the bad bounces.

All that being said this team has too many flaws to go all the way. Changes are needed. Hope Gorton has something up his sleeve.

- eichiefs9

Great movie