Jan Levine: Game 9: NYR 4 NAS 2, Lundqvist backstops Rangers to victory For one night, team can savor the win..

Numero uno! Nice to get a win, any kind of win so I'll take it thank you.

Now warming up in the bullpen for the Yankees.

🔫
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KgB-sI2H-c

Now warming up in the bullpen for the Yankees.



- RustyKuntz

At least now, the Mets have the same record as the Yankees. Oh, the new baseball season hasn't started yet, which is good news for Jan, I and some other Mets fans here.
If the Rangers had lost on Saturday as well, could you imagine Cranny here today? But he does have his football Giants to also worry about still, at least for now.

A win is a win. But Saturday's one was still less than a 60 minutes two way performance. Hank was stellar for 60 minutes, and the team as a whole played better for 60 minutes defensive wise.
However, they will not win many games playing as they did as a no show offensively in the 2nd & 3rd periods in registering only 6 total SOG, except for that great rush by Hayes around the Preds defenseman, Irwin, & to the crease on his game winning goal. Also deficient there was them not getting a single SOG on two close together, back to back power plays, as well as them not recording one on their following one later power play attempt.
It's a start, but one which may feature soon some change(s) in their player mix at some level of magnitude greater than trading Puempel to Detroit for yet, another d'man in Sproul.

Here I was thinking you guys are in tank mode!

The turnaround has begun!

Well, it was far a from a complete effort, but hey, we asked for improvement! Baby steps.
As I said last night, it was good to see Hank play like Hank.

Well, it was far a from a complete effort, but hey, we asked for improvement! Baby steps.
As I said last night, it was good to see Hank play like Hank.
- Tonybere

I was working so didn't watch a second for the first time this year & they won so you know what that means now?

Here’s one for Fenrir. This is what I was drinking while I watched the game:

https://imgur.com/a/irPOR

Edit: sorry, I’ve tried 3 times and can’t manage to get the picture to show.

#becomingmyfather

Here’s one for Fenrir. This is what I was drinking while I watched the game:

https://imgur.com/a/irPOR

Edit: sorry, I’ve tried 3 times and can’t manage to get the picture to show.

#becomingmyfather
- Tonybere

The Pros: Kevin Hayes and Jesper fast are playing well. Rangers need Hayes to play well. Henrik Lundqvist was good. I'n almost positive the win will help the Rangers mindset.

The Cons: Playing 11 defensemen is going to be a detriment more often than it will aid them. Getting out shot by 10 and only generating 14 shots on goal with a goalie in the net.

If the Rangers don't build off this win, then it will be for not.

The strategy was to play defense after they got the lead. Pretty simple, go back to basics. Trying to keep pushing has not worked well the first 7 games. I don't think its the best thing to do going forward but they needed the win and they needed to collapse and play defense. I'm sure this will change as the team gets a little more confidence, but for yesterday it was the best thing to do. They won.

Its almost like people on here want every game to be a blowout where we out shoot the opposition 50-1. The funny thing is people reminiscing about Torts, that yesterday was a Torts game.

The strategy was to play defense after they got the lead. Pretty simple, go back to basics. Trying to keep pushing has not worked well the first 7 games. I don't think its the best thing to do going forward but they needed the win and they needed to collapse and play defense. I'm sure this will change as the team gets a little more confidence, but for yesterday it was the best thing to do. They won.

Its almost like people on here want every game to be a blowout where we out shoot the opposition 50-1. The funny thing is people reminiscing about Torts, that yesterday was a Torts game.
- mdw7413

Not at all, but 40 minutes of a shell isn't an optimal strategy. It works, but as we have seen in the past, it is extremely dangerous.

Not at all, but 40 minutes of a shell isn't an optimal strategy. It works, but as we have seen in the past, it is extremely dangerous.
- airjan23

Over a season, yeah, its a bad strategy. I also don't think it was a shell for 40 minutes. The shots where 14-18 through the middle of the 3rd. I think they decided to concentrate on team defense, which for now is a great idea, seeing as there hasn't been any since the start of the season. I will bet this style changes but for now I'm ok with it. Let them all get some confidence and go from there.

Also agree with Tom, need to get 4 lines rolling. Drop the 7 defenseman thing.

The strategy was to play defense after they got the lead. Pretty simple, go back to basics. Trying to keep pushing has not worked well the first 7 games. I don't think its the best thing to do going forward but they needed the win and they needed to collapse and play defense. I'm sure this will change as the team gets a little more confidence, but for yesterday it was the best thing to do. They won.

Its almost like people on here want every game to be a blowout where we out shoot the opposition 50-1. The funny thing is people reminiscing about Torts, that yesterday was a Torts game.
- mdw7413

Gotta give the other team credit too...they’re also a talented NHL team. They’re going to carry play for stretches of the game.

I do hate the defensive shell thing though. It burned us under AV against the Kings in the SCF...against Montreal/Ottawa last year...the Penguins this season already...and every season in between.

Over a season, yeah, its a bad strategy. I also don't think it was a shell for 40 minutes. The shots where 14-18 through the middle of the 3rd. I think they decided to concentrate on team defense, which for now is a great idea, seeing as there hasn't been any since the start of the season. I will bet this style changes but for now I'm ok with it. Let them all get some confidence and go from there.

Also agree with Tom, need to get 4 lines rolling. Drop the 7 defenseman thing.
- mdw7413

You should only play 7 d-men in the event of injury. That's not gonna work day in-day out.

The issues I have with the shell, while it worked, yesterday, it leads to fatigue. Constantly defending just grates on the body and mind. But again that's an AV thing and a Player issue. It's like AV can can only communicate on aspect of the strategy well and the players can only absorb one strategy well. Very odd.

Gotta give the other team credit too...they’re also a talented NHL team. They’re going to carry play for stretches of the game.

I do hate the defensive shell thing though. It burned us under AV against the Kings in the SCF...against Montreal/Ottawa last year...the Penguins this season already...and every season in between.
- rangerdanger94

I just think its a good thing to do for "now" because they were awful defensively. I'm pretty sure this wont be the way the rest of the season goes.

You should only play 7 d-men in the event of injury. That's not gonna work day in-day out.

The issues I have with the shell, while it worked, yesterday, it leads to fatigue. Constantly defending just grates on the body and mind. But again that's an AV thing and a Player issue. It's like AV can can only communicate on aspect of the strategy well and the players can only absorb one strategy well. Very odd.
- tomburton99

http://www.sportsclubstat...tropolitan/NYRangers.html


Well the good news is you only have to go 40-24-9 to get to that 95 point mark......

http://www.sportsclubstats.com/NHL/Eastern/Metropolitan/NYRangers.html


Well the good news is you only have to go 40-24-9 to get to that 95 point mark......
- smellmyfinger

EZ PZ.

Am I the only one here excited by the trade with Detroit for Sproul?
He is a big, right-handed defenseman that just a few years ago won the award for top d-man in the CHL.
He was developing too slowly for the Wings and is coming off of an ACL tear last year, but is the type of player who could truly be a hidden gem. Huge offensive upside.
I believe we can all agree that Matt Puempel did not have much of a future here so this is a no risk type of trade if Sproul doesn't raise his level of play. At worst, he is another addition to the WolfPack blueline.
Solid move by Gorts!

Am I the only one here excited by the trade with Detroit for Sproul?
He is a big, right-handed defenseman that just a few years ago won the award for top d-man in the CHL.
He was developing too slowly for the Wings and is coming off of an ACL tear last year, but is the type of player who could truly be a hidden gem. Huge offensive upside.
I believe we can all agree that Matt Puempel did not have much of a future here so this is a no risk type of trade if Sproul doesn't raise his level of play. At worst, he is another addition to the WolfPack blueline.
Solid move by Gorts!
- TommyGTrain

I said in the last blog that he was very good in Sault Ste. Marie. He's hit a wall in terms of the development. I mean, I don't totally understand the move. Because unless the Rangers experience as rash of of injuries, they'll be in Hartford all year.

Tom--

I have no illusions this kid will play in NHL this year. I think he is a possible "late bloomer" that still needs time to fully recover from ACL tear. I think he just enhances our AHL blueline now and gets full opportunity to make roster next year.
I just like the aspect of something for nothing that Gorton is trying here.

Tom--

I have no illusions this kid will play in NHL this year. I think he is a possible "late bloomer" that still needs time to fully recover from ACL tear. I think he just enhances our AHL blueline now and gets full opportunity to make roster next year.
I just like the aspect of something for nothing that Gorton is trying here.
- TommyGTrain

Or the Rangers trade Skjei++++ for Duchene. That's what worries me about this move. I full believe Gorton and Sakic are talking. Idk if it's serious, but the talks have happened.

Edit: Does hartford have enough forwards left now? Kovacs, Stromwall and Puempel are gone.