Jan Levine: ECSF: Gm 2: OTT 6 NYR 5, 2OT, Rangers/AV snatch defeat from jaws of victory Player misuse and situational mismanagement contribute to loss

I know from a Rangers perspective the end of the third period was pretty ugly. Both goalies were shaky throughout the game with some highly doubtful moves. Anderson looked like his was trying to stickhandle a hand grenade behind his own net.

For Ottawa fans, the last half of the third period and overtimes may have been the most fun hockey ever. The Ottawa line up is loaded with local guys like Brassard, Methot, Borowiecki (injured), Ceci and, especially Pageau. They are playing really well and this, so far, has been my favourite playoff series ever.

I have no doubt the Rangers are coming back strong and there is a huge amount of hockey still left to play in this series.

Without knowing the ins & outs of player usage, if a team is in front wouldn't you keep utilising the rotations that got you to the front?

It's the old adage of if its not broken don't fix it.

Love to know what AV said about player rotations??

This blog is one hell of a rant. Who expected this outcome? Not me.

Thanks Jan. Took the words right out of my mouth.

Anyone see the presser after? Anybody grill AV about the player usage at all?

Nice work Jan, I think this is the end of AV and if not forget about ever winning with him, he's a slightly better version of Boudreau or maybe he's been carried by 2 hall of fame goaltenders, either way it's time to bring in a real winning coach although it might not matter with this group of failures, Stepan will be absolved by many for finally scoring but because of his slow and lazy backcheck allowed Methot to pounce on a rebound

There isn't any chance they comeback from this, the dam has broken and the season is on life support

I used to hate torts for playing 4 defense men alnmost an entire game along with rolling only three lines. Now we got this Bafoon who doesn't have a clue. This guy needs to go. And then there's the devils and flyers getting the 1st and 2nd pick in the draft...brilliant

Spot on Jan . Been saying since his hire he can't see who deserves ice during a game . AV Seems to be able to make adjustment between games but not on the fly . Let's hope they regroup in NYC .

Very pissed about loss. Unforgivable, especially after what happened in MTL in game two, BUT this series is far from over. If nyr wins Tues than our tune will change. I know its a big IF but every time I give up on this team, they prove me/us wrong. Let's hold it together until at least we see how game 3 goes.


Gonna be a lo oo oo oo ng two and a half days

Not gonna disagree, but basically absolving a goalie who gives up 6 goals on 34 shots, despite the team in front of him, doesn't seem fair to the coach, either.

Not gonna disagree, but basically absolving a goalie who gives up 6 goals on 34 shots, despite the team in front of him, doesn't seem fair to the coach, either.
- jmatchett383

I don't think I absolved him. I wrote: "Larry Brooks can call out Henrik Lundqvist for not being at his best, and maybe he wasn't, especially on Pageau's first goal and the one by Mark Stone. But any attempt to pin the loss on him is short sighted and misguided." I said he is at fault for a few goals but to say he was the cause of the loss is ridiculous. The fourth and fifth goals were on deflections just above the crease, caused by poor D in front and lack of puck possession, which was basically what happened the last 15 minutes of the game.

Not gonna disagree, but basically absolving a goalie who gives up 6 goals on 34 shots, despite the team in front of him, doesn't seem fair to the coach, either.
- jmatchett383

When he's been lights out for 7 of 8 games and that's 7 games where the dam was pressed to break and didn't yeah I can absolve him, not all 6 goals were his fault, where was this offense in game 1 where he stood on his head to allow them to win a game they probably didn't deserve to win but nope everyone forgets because he makes $8.5 million and is the only one of the high prices players on this team to earn his money or that he has a nickname, I've had it, yesterday falls more on the inept coaching of AV, his extension was prematurely given and he should be fired as soon as this series is over, Gordon needs to bring in Sutter and make some big moves, start with getting rid of Step, Holden, Staal and trading Miller for a top 4 Defenseman

Being a Ranger fan is likely signing up to getting constantly kicked in the nuts with steel toed combat boots. They definitely find spectacular ways to lose.

On to the next one and we will see what happens.

Being a Ranger fan is likely signing up to getting constantly kicked in the nuts with steel toed combat boots. They definitely find spectacular ways to lose.

On to the next one and we will see what happens.
- Pete V

So hard to have any confidence right now. Blown leads in games 1 and 2. Could so easily be up 2 nothing in this series

So hard to have any confidence right now. Blown leads in games 1 and 2. Could so easily be up 2 nothing in this series
- TPC

Sens win most games by one goal. Very seldom do they ever score 6. It was a very different game from what Sens fans expect.

Absolutely could be up 2-0 a bad pinch and a double deflection. Let's calm down if we can't hold serve at home we don't deserve to win anyway. I really think we can still win this in 6,

I can't stop shaking my head, the feeling of being destined to fail is so present, down 2-0 to a team that's really hasn't earned a 2-0 lead, yes they came back but was their effort really that tremendous? Rangers did their fair share in allowing the Sens to hang around, AV, Hank, the defensive lapses, turnovers, they are correctable mistakes that keep happening

Let's face it, they aren't going to win 4 out of 5 games. It seems that if they could just use AV during the regular season and bring in a whole new bench staff for the playoffs,we may go far. AV will never win the Cup. Jan is right also on the Beukeboom front. He is a terrible coach. It may be time to Pegula this staff and also get younger and faster on the ice. 42-76 need to be the 1st pair next game. Can't get any worse.

Good blog Jan.
I read your rant in an angry voice, just like you meant it.
How the hell does AV bench the guy that scored 2 goals in the game? The same guy that was incredibly solid defensively? And his partner?
Also not deploying your best defensive forwards at the end of the game?
Twice blowing 2 goal leads. Knew they were coming out soft in the 3rd.
Unbelievable.

I can't stop shaking my head, the feeling of being destined to fail is so present, down 2-0 to a team that's really hasn't earned a 2-0 lead, yes they came back but was their effort really that tremendous? Rangers did their fair share in allowing the Sens to hang around, AV, Hank, the defensive lapses, turnovers, they are correctable mistakes that keep happening
- KreiderBomb

I can't stand crap like this. Same thing we heard from Bruins fans. "Sens don't deserve to be winning" well then WHY ARE WE? Give credit where it's due, yes the rangers messed up pretty bad giving that game away, but Ottawa dominated them from the third period on.

Absolutely could be up 2-0 a bad pinch and a double deflection. Let's calm down if we can't hold serve at home we don't deserve to win anyway. I really think we can still win this in 6,
- Bobd62

Totally agree. This series is far from over. Still can't believe they battled back and won. Shocked that AV didn't give Skjei more ice time. Dude was a beast and was one of the best players all game.

Let's face it, they aren't going to win 4 out of 5 games. It seems that if they could just use AV during the regular season and bring in a whole new bench staff for the playoffs,we may go far. AV will never win the Cup. Jan is right also on the Beukeboom front. He is a terrible coach. It may be time to Pegula this staff and also get younger and faster on the ice. 42-76 need to be the 1st pair next game. Can't get any worse.
- Pitch4

why not? If they win the two games at the garden it's a best 2of3 no reason why that can't happen. If they lose one at the garden it's over.

Totally agree. This series is far from over. Still can't believe they battled back and won. Shocked that AV didn't give Skjei more ice time. Dude was a beast and was one of the best players all game.
- SENS 613

Full marks to the sens for sticking with it. Once you tied it in regulation kinda knew we weren't gonna win in ot.

I can't stand crap like this. Same thing we heard from Bruins fans. "Sens don't deserve to be winning" well then WHY ARE WE? Give credit where it's due, yes the rangers messed up pretty bad giving that game away, but Ottawa dominated them from the third period on.
- Halfday77

When the Sens deserve it they'll get it, I saw more battle from the Habs, series isn't over by a long shot despite how (frank)ing irate I've been for the last 19-20 hours, Rangers are very capable of pulling it off it's just a question of will AV be a good enough coach for 4 wins

AV's explanations for his decisions are flat out garbage, I've lost all faith in him as a coach, can not continue to make the same mistakes, if Game 2 in Montreal didn't teach you anything about your personnel and how to deploy them you don't deserve to keep your job, I will not watch this team if he's still coach and let's face it he will be because he gets the Rangers to the playoffs and Jim Dolan makes his money, Sather was allowed to fail for 15 years because the seats were still full, the organization is doomed to eternity