Jan Levine: Game 45: DAL 7 NYR 6, Furious third period rally falls short Defense was optional in this game and New York clearly opted out

There are worse things that could happen!

Not going to say much..... HANK is a top goalie ,he will find it again....
will it be next game? D is shaken...Not sure if another rook Graves will
helpp or hurt overall D.... Mac has to rally D ,when he went out in 2nd
it looked like the "ATTACK" flag was waved at Dallas they went wild to finish 2nd period .. must find a stop gap on D or when is STaal back ?
I would have Vesey w/Hayes & J T ..Grabs can play 4th w/fast & Oscar ...
Pirri can sit thurs

That could have been a game right out of the 1980s playbook. Def got a jolt of adrenaline from that 3rd period rally, but it came up short & even if we somehow overcame that deficit & won it would not mask the defensive shortcomings & the reality that at almost 35, Henrik Lundqvist's best days may be behind him.

Hank def should have been sharper but its been a shooting gallery on him. Deflections are one thing and the wrap around was all him. But how many times was someone in front with no one covering? I lost count. McD on one goal looked like Poke Check Poti as three guys slid over to the puck carrier and Dallas broke in. Too many times 2 or 3 players go behind the net leaving numbers in front of the net. I think the D is more shaken than Henrik to be honest. They forgot how to play the basics. I'm starting to wonder if Beuk's system is to fault? Almost same group from last year and they are ALL playing poorly. Just a thought.

Just from the quotes in the blog (I don't go looking for the Rangers quotes after games etc), sounds like everyone are little kids (including the coach), & Lundqvist is some downtrodden human being everyone is feeling sorry for? Wtf? If he has to be better, why is everyone sucking his Richard (figutively speaking of course). Man up H tell your teammates not to make excuses for the goals against & get on with it!!

Glad to see Dinger (Clendenning), getting some ice time.

Just from the quotes in the blog (I don't go looking for the Rangers quotes after games etc), sounds like everyone are little kids (including the coach), & Lundqvist is some downtrodden human being everyone is feeling sorry for? Wtf? If he has to be better, why is everyone sucking his Richard (figutively speaking of course). Man up H tell your teammates not to make excuses for the goals against & get on with it!!

Glad to see Dinger (Clendenning), getting some ice time.
- Aussiepenguin

Not that it's right but for the better part of 10 + years Hank has carried this team with at times a putrid offense & subpar defense, he was the team. He covered up a lot of the D's deficiencies but that's NOT happening anymore. Guys like Girardi, Staal, D men who have been here with him almost that entire time know how much he covered they're asses on a regular basis. NO way they take shots at him now when he didn't take shots at them for years.

Not that it's right but for the better part of 10 + years Hank has carried this team with at times a putrid offense & subpar defense, he was the team. He covered up a lot of the D's deficiencies but that's NOT happening anymore. Guys like Girardi, Staal, D men who have been here with him almost that entire time know how much he covered they're asses on a regular basis. NO way they take shots at him now when he didn't take shots at them for years.
- B2B76

It's not so much throwing him under the bus, it's just not making the excuses for him they all seem to be doing. It's as if they're all publicly apologising to him which is extraordinary considering most here believe he has to be better. I wonder if Raanta was in goal they would say the same thing? Not sure saying all that will give him assurance or weaken his resolve further seeing his team make excuses for the goals against (which of course don't always mean the goalie played shyte). Will be interesting next game against a shoot first & last minded team.

oh man, I would be lying if I said I wasn't terrified

Usually try and stay on an even keel and remain positive, but wow, that was frightening to watch last night

Hank def should have been sharper but its been a shooting gallery on him. Deflections are one thing and the wrap around was all him. But how many times was someone in front with no one covering? I lost count. McD on one goal looked like Poke Check Poti as three guys slid over to the puck carrier and Dallas broke in. Too many times 2 or 3 players go behind the net leaving numbers in front of the net. I think the D is more shaken than Henrik to be honest. They forgot how to play the basics. I'm starting to wonder if Beuk's system is to fault? Almost same group from last year and they are ALL playing poorly. Just a thought.
- jnyfive

Actually this proves how bad the D group is

I think Clendening has looked pretty good in this stretch

oh man, I would be lying if I said I wasn't terrified

Usually try and stay on an even keel and remain positive, but wow, that was frightening to watch last night
- jimbro83

Same here, usually glass half full, but this is hard to accept right now. Only positive is we were bound to have a slump & lets hope this is it! That's why it was very crucial to have such a strong start, as at least we're still 12 games over 500.

I think Clendening has looked pretty good in this stretch
- mrn22

He's been as terrible defensively as the rest, the wrap around last night he just stood there and never read the play, offensively he's been good but that's not the glaring weakness of this team

He's been as terrible defensively as the rest, the wrap around last night he just stood there and never read the play, offensively he's been good but that's not the glaring weakness of this team
- KreiderBomb

Ya actually I can think of that play and another last night where he was a culprit. He does contribute on the offensive side like you said tho.

Still disgusted by the defense, Hank and overall the entire team for their lack of a spine throughout the game, Jamie Benn really had a free night at the Garden, I don't remember a player chirping so much without the any pushback, at no point did any Ranger say that's enough

anyone see this

oh man, I would be lying if I said I wasn't terrified

Usually try and stay on an even keel and remain positive, but wow, that was frightening to watch last night
- jimbro83

oh man, I would be lying if I said I wasn't terrified

Usually try and stay on an even keel and remain positive, but wow, that was frightening to watch last night
- jimbro83

It was like watching all-star game defense in front of a goalie who clearly has no confidence right now. Obviously, if they don't tighten up and Hank doesn't get it together, the team isn't going to succeed in the playoffs (assuming they get there). I actually thought McDonagh and Holden were the worst of the lot last night.

If I can take one positive from last night, it was the Nash, Zibanjed and Buchnevich line. That line could be a real force. But, again, none of that will matter unless the Rangers get things sorted out in the back.

on a bright note...

How bout Buch and Mika

Buch is going to be a star

It was like watching all-star game defense in front of a goalie who clearly has no confidence right now. Obviously, if they don't tighten up and Hank doesn't get it together, the team isn't going to succeed in the playoffs (assuming they get there). I actually thought McDonagh and Holden were the worst of the lot last night.

If I can take one positive from last night, it was the Nash, Zibanjed and Buchnevich line. That line could be a real force. But, again, none of that will matter unless the Rangers get them sorted out in the back.
- Pete V

Pete they looked very good last night

Agree on Mcdonagh thought he looked like shyt as well

It was like watching all-star game defense in front of a goalie who clearly has no confidence right now. Obviously, if they don't tighten up and Hank doesn't get it together, the team isn't going to succeed in the playoffs (assuming they get there). I actually thought McDonagh and Holden were the worst of the lot last night.

If I can take one positive from last night, it was the Nash, Zibanjed and Buchnevich line. That line could be a real force. But, again, none of that will matter unless the Rangers get things sorted out in the back.
- Pete V

I thought Brad Skjei looked like this all game

Well I thought Kreider had a decent game

Pete they looked very good last night

Agree on Mcdonagh thought he looked like shyt as well
- mrn22

Can't really argue too much about Stepan and Kreider either. I thought they played well.

What amazes me about the games after the bye is that you would think the defensive zone coverage would be better after having all that time to work on it presumably. A lot of this stuff isn't getting beat physically, it's blown assignments and terrible positional play.

I thought Brad Skjei looked like this all game


- jimbro83

Yeah, he was the other one.