After a four day break, the Rangers get back into action Friday against the Maple Leafs. New York ended their first 10-game block at 6-2-2, capping it with a 4-1 win over Calgary this past Sunday. The Rangers, after a heavy first portion of the schedule with 10 games in 18 days, are in the midst of a two-games in 11-day stretch. However, right after this little lull in the calendar ends, they play six games in 10-days, with a pair of back-to-backs mixed in.
Much of the talk in the media these past few days has centered on the point that while New York is 6-2-2 there is still much work to be done. From what I have written and your comments throughout the first part of the season, that’s pretty evident. From Rick Nash’s and Chris Kreider’s struggles to score. To the team’s inability to put together a full 60 minutes nightly. Dan Boyle’s continued regression and the lack of a physical response are just examples of those struggles. Some would appear to have what should be easy fixes while others will take longer to remediate.
First, Nash and Kreider. While all of us are up in arms by the lack of scoring, from what Larry Brooks wrote, it’s not due to a lack of chances. Nash leads the team with 17 “scoring chances… while Kreider is second with 14. From watching the games, and I think I speak for many of us, it has not been fully evident that each of them have had these kind of chances. Plus, the views that Nash may be snake bit while Kreider hasn’t used his speed and size to maximum effect seem more plausible than the normal of scoring chances. Presuming those numbers are correct and uptick in production from each should be coming in the near term. In addition, as seen from the practice lines yesterday, Nash has been reunited with Zucc and Brassard while Kreider is back with Stepan. As Brooks pointed out, Brassard’s first instinct and immediate field of vision is to his right as he looks up the ice. This, of course, is the opposite side from which Kreider streaks down the wing, putting himself in position to receive the off-to-the races headman feeds the right-handed Stepan delivered naturally and repeatedly. So restoring the lines makes a lot of sense.
Inability to play a full 60 minutes. The Rangers have ridden strong goaltending and spurts of quality play to the 6-2-2 mark. Maybe it is the post-season hangover, not just from this year but the last three. Perhaps it’s the integration of new personnel and line modifications or a combination of both, but whatever the reason, the team has maybe had one or two really strong, complete games in the first 10. The good news is that the players, especially Dan Girardi, realizes that the squad can and should be better. Admitting there is an issue is the first step to fixing it. Hopefully, the four days off allowed additional chemistry to be built in practice and enabled the team to work on some of the deficiencies, which clearing those up should go a long way to a better effort on the ice.
The Boyle situation. Carp wrote a great column the other day. This portion describes the situation best: “Boyle cannot be sent to Hartford. He can’t be traded without his permission. There probably wouldn’t be a team willing to take him anyway, even if the Rangers paid most of his salary. And the Rangers can’t just release him and get out of his cap hit ($4.5 million).…
We may want him gone and rightly think the signing was horrible. The problem is they are stuck. My view, and have said this before, if he truly is not helping on the ice, sit him. The cap hit is a sunk cost, so if that’s the case, and Raphael Diaz needs to be brought up or lost and/or Dylan McIlrath should play to avoid getting stagnant and regressing, then sit Boyle. If needed, just release him, take the hit, play Diaz and/or McIlrath as the sixth d-man and roll with it. I personally don’t think Boyle has been as bad as everyone has said, but if progress isn’t shown quickly, cut bait and move on before it has even further ramifications.
The lack of physical response. New York is not a true physical team, unlike the Torts days and when Prust, Dorsett and Carcillo were here. The lineup isn’t constructed that way. But you also can’t allow liberties to be taken. As such, this is where McIlrath can and should fit him, but when he plays, allow him to be that physical presence. Because if not, it’s a waste.
There are some positives. The play of the goalies, both Henrik Lundqvist and Antti Raanta. Oscar Lindberg seamlessly fitting into the third line. The improved performance between the dots, aided by the acquisition of Jarret Stoll, who is winning 65.6 percent (40-of-61) of his draws — the best in the league among those who have taken more than 20 faceoffs — while Dominic Moore is at 51.0 percent. They toggle between center and wing, which to me is perfect use of the pair and what should continue moving forward. As Brooks wrote Stoll has started 52 of his shifts in the defensive zone, 38.2 percent in the neutral zone — and just 9.8 percent in the offensive zone, which is likely to continue.
Lines:
Rick Nash-Derick Brassard-Mats Zuccarello Chris Kreider-Derek Stepan-Jesper Fast J.T. Miller-Kevin Hayes-Oscar Lindberg Emerson Etem-Dominic Moore-Jarret Stoll
Ryan McDonagh-Kevin Klein Keith Yandle-Dan Girardi Marc Staal-Dan Boyle
Henrik Lundqvist
Viktor Stalberg, who suffered a concussion last week against Philly, has been cleared, but Etem is back in the lineup again. Etem, following his strong game against Calgary deserves to play. It’s interesting that they are showing him videos of Nash and Kreider to help indoctrinate him further into the system. Remember back when we all thought AV eschewed the use of video? How wrong we were. If Etem continues to build on that solid game, who sits? Miller has been better on the third line, but would be a great fit on the second. Fast’s solid positional play has kept him in the lineup, so that will be a tough call.
McIlrath again a healthy scratch. See my comment above. The schedule doesn’t help since you can argue that all Boyle needed was a few days off and some on-ice practice to get back to his former self. I don’t believe that but you can say it. If he struggles tonight, what will the next excuse be?