In a game in which the Rangers once again likely outplayed their opponent, the result was a loss, this time 3-2 to the Capitals. Unfortunately, there have been too many contests in which a moral victory is the only type they have earned with nothing on the left side of the ledger. Friday was a similar event with the Capitals beating the Rangers 3-2, by guess what, another backup, though in the year of the #2 goalie, we should not be shocked by this.
I read the comments on the blog and find it interesting that we are back to dealing off everyone feasible save for a few choice players. We all know offensively the Blueshirts are offensive, as they are one of the few teams without a double-digit goal scorer, and as pointed out. players like Duncan Keith have more assists that the team's top point producer. On paper, it's easy to say just blow it up, trade almost everyone, in theory, as we know, not easy at all. I agree, the problem of scoring which existed in the past have migrated to a new coach and system that was counted on to if not make those problems in the past, at least remediate some of it. But all that has happened is that has perpetuated and maybe gotten worse.
Suggestions such as Buyout Richards and trade Nash, Brassard, Boyle and MDZ have been made. Understandable. But the former can't happen until the end of the year, Boyle is a free agent after the year and likely wouldn't bring much and are you willing to deal Nash for pennies on the dollar given how poorly he has played, especially lately, coupled with his contract, both in terms of years and dollars? If you make those deals, do you really think you are getting two-top six forwards back? I have seen trade Callahan, Girardi, maybe Staal when he comes back. All valid suggestions, but as we have discussed ad nauseum, ad infinitum, given where the team is in the standings, how they likely will remain in playoff contention all year and how the Knicks are not going anywhere right now - meaning that Dolan wants a team to make the playoffs - what's the likelihood of the trigger being pulled? If the season goes south and I mean really south and they fall from contention, then I can see a big deal getting done, if not, maybe one of the smaller pieces can and likely will happen, but not expected much more than that.
Last night, they outplayed Washington. I thought Dan Girardi was really good again. Michael Del Zotto stepped up when Anton Stralman went down and may have had his best game of the season. J.T. Miller was flying and creating chances while Derick Brassard was pretty good as well. Bobbyschmautz summed it up best: "One good finisher trumps a whole bunch of effort without any." The problem is those players who were expected to be finishers are acting as such. The bigger culprit has and is Nash. He was supposed to be the sniper the team relied upon to score big goals and goals and general. Right now, he is not doing. In addition, Stepan, as pointed out by several, is more of a #2 not a top center. You can use the argument that Richards has been in the past and still possibly can be a top-line center, but he too is struggling again, save for maybe on the power play, making a buyout likely.
Really, if you look at the current roster, who has overachieved or even achieved offensively? Overachieved - to me the only one up front is Mats Zuccarello and maybe Ryan McDonagh. Achieved - lately it's been Benoit Pouliot, who extended his point streak to six games Friday. Possibly Carl Hagelin, who has used his speed to create and as times, convert chances. Early on after his promotion, it was Chris Kreider, but lately, he too has hit the skids. Other that, there is no one else. Right there is the issue. It's the lack of any form of offense. Maybe a full-blown rebuild will help, because if the same thing happens year after year, it's not the system, it's the players, but as said above, that change isn't happening right away.
Beyond the offensive ineptitude, the big key to the loss last night was Cam Talbot. The first goal by Mike Green was a clear on slapshot from just inside the blueline that gas to be stopped. In addition, the last goal by Eric Fehr should also be one that Talbot saves, but he was off-angle and got beat. I give him a pass on the Backstrom goal, though one could argue that one too was savable. What this means is that Henrik Lundqvist has already been confirmed to start against the Lightning on Sunday. He will have a patchwork D in front of him, as Stralman won't play due to his injury and Marc Staal has not yet been cleared to return from his concussion, so Conor Allen, who has been the Wolfpack's best d-man, makes his debut. Expect to see lots of McDonagh and Girardi against the St. Louis line with possibly Moore and Allen as one pair and Del Zotto and Falk as the other. In addition, with Stepan and Zuccarello dealing with the flu, offensively, the Rangers could be even more challenged, if that's possible.
I hear and agree that with Nash and others struggling, a shakeup maybe needed. That likely won't mean a wholesale one, but bringing in someone with grit and the ability to score is grossly overdue and needed. The question is who to give up to do so. Based on the offers for Del Zotto, it won't be for him, but something probably has to be done and with the trade deadline about to be lifted, it should be done soon.