Jan Levine: Rangers issues on display again in 3-2 overtime loss to Penguins Earn five of six points on road trip

This team isn’t built for the playoffs. For as great of a player as Panarin is, he’s terrible 5 on 5 when the game becomes physical.

This team isn’t built for the playoffs. For as great of a player as Panarin is, he’s terrible 5 on 5 when the game becomes physical.
- nyrangers9479

The ranger players good 5v5 are chytl who has been in a slump and zib. Their top 6 consists of PP merchants and big names past their prime. Its the reality right now. They have to adjust their style of play. Gallant needs ti implement a system to help with that.

I think we can all agree that this team just needs to play better in just about every aspect of the game. Can they?

The pessimists believe that they can't, that they don't have the right players and cannot see a way to win. The pessimist usually hedge all of their stagements with "I hope to be wrong."

The optimist believes that they can, that they can find their game and build chemistry and head into the playoffs and make some noise. Most often the optimist is left heartbroken but they enjoy the ride.

The realist is something the pessimist pretends to be. The realist realizes that every team is an injury or a slump away from being bounced in the playoffs. That there are ebbs and flows to every team, season, game, player...constantly battling with other teams' ebbs and flows of their own.

I think we can all agree that this team just needs to play better in just about every aspect of the game. Can they?

The pessimists believe that they can't, that they don't have the right players and cannot see a way to win. The pessimist usually hedge all of their stagements with "I hope to be wrong."

The optimist believes that they can, that they can find their game and build chemistry and head into the playoffs and make some noise. Most often the optimist is left heartbroken but they enjoy the ride.

The realist is something the pessimist pretends to be. The realist realizes that every team is an injury or a slump away from being bounced in the playoffs. That there are ebbs and flows to every team, season, game, player...constantly battling with other teams' ebbs and flows of their own.
- climbdenali12

the makeup of this team seems off since the tdl. its not like it was last year

Definitely need to work on some poop that’s for sure. Saying this team is not built for the playoffs is wrong imo. They played like crap for two periods last night and still got a point. Let’s hope they can straighten out the problems before the playoffs start.

the makeup of this team seems off since the tdl. its not like it was last year
- nyrangers2

Ok...the team is different than last year. Do you believe the players they have are incapable of playing better than they currently are?

3 and 7 seeds are virtually the same so just avoid the 8 seed. Playing both the devils and canes is probably our path either way, just depends on who is the first matchup

Definitely need to work on some poop that’s for sure. Saying this team is not built for the playoffs is wrong imo. They played like crap for two periods last night and still got a point. Let’s hope they can straighten out the problems before the playoffs start.
- Bobd62

What about them says built for the playoffs to u? The lockdown defense they have? Their work along the boards? Their physical grind it out mentality? Their play in the neutral zone?

SATURDAY:

SUNDAY

So this is going well, eh? Getting outplayed B2B by team who:

: 1 of which gave up 10 goals in a loss their previous game.
: 1 of which blew a 3 -1 lead and lost in OT in their previous game.


Good stuff...

Ok...the team is different than last year. Do you believe the players they have are incapable of playing better than they currently are?
- climbdenali12

I do. I just don’t think it’s constructed well enough to win it all. Not good enough 5v5 or defensively as the top teams

So this is going well, eh? Getting outplayed B2B by team who:

: 1 of which gave up 10 goals in a loss their previous game.
: 1 of which blew a 3 -1 lead and lost in OT in their previous game.


Good stuff...
- tomburton99

Do you think Buffalo came into the game trying to play a hell of lot better or do you think they just mailed it in after the 10 goals against?

Do you think Pitt came out playing hard to make up for the loss...only to lose momentum like they did the previous game, before capitalizing on an undisciplined penalty in OT?

Do you think Buffalo came into the game trying to play a hell of lot better or do you think they just mailed it in after the 10 goals against?

Do you think Pitt came out playing hard to make up for the loss...only to lose momentum like they did the previous game, before capitalizing on an undisciplined penalty in OT?
- climbdenali12

I think those team put forth more of an effort, yes. I also think a team that has championship aspirations should play better against those two teams, teams who have flaws. And yet the Rangers can't. You know why, because they are the Rangers.

I do. I just don’t think it’s constructed well enough to win it all. Not good enough 5v5 or defensively as the top teams
- nyrangers2

And that is a fair assessment. I think they are also dangerous to be a problem for any of those top teams. Underdogs, to be sure. But, I think all the parts are there. It's just a matter of whether they can be fit together properly and how long they can stay there.

@HockeyStatMiner
not to pile on, but Rangers now have 1 regulation win in their last 12(!) games
7:07 PM · Mar 12, 2023

I think those team put forth more of an effort, yes. I also think a team that has championship aspirations should play better against those two teams, teams who have flaws. And yet the Rangers can't. You know why, because they are the Rangers.
- tomburton99

No. Because they are flawed. JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER TEAM. The only question that really matters now is can they put it together at the right time and for long enough? The answer is most likely no, which is just like every other season when chasing the hardest trophy to win in sports. But, it's no less likely than it is for at least 12 other teams in playoff position.
We don't have to be perfect, Tom. Boston is a juggernaut this season. We haven't seen their like in over 40 years. But, even they are not perfect.
All we have to do once the playoffs start is win 4 out of 7. Perfection is not needed.

No. Because they are flawed. JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER TEAM. The only question that really matters now is can they put it together at the right time and for long enough? The answer is most likely no, which is just like every other season when chasing the hardest trophy to win in sports. But, it's no less likely than it is for at least 12 other teams in playoff position.
We don't have to be perfect, Tom. Boston is a juggernaut this season. We haven't seen their like in over 40 years. But, even they are not perfect.
All we have to do once the playoffs start is win 4 out of 7. Perfection is not needed.
- Tonybere

I'll put my name to it. No, they can't/won't.

Edit: I refuse to speak for anybody but myself now. I'm not asking for perfection. I'm asking for above average 5 on 5. And yet they can't even do that.

No. Because they are flawed. JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER TEAM. The only question that really matters now is can they put it together at the right time and for long enough? The answer is most likely no, which is just like every other season when chasing the hardest trophy to win in sports. But, it's no less likely than it is for at least 12 other teams in playoff position.
We don't have to be perfect, Tom. Boston is a juggernaut this season. We haven't seen their like in over 40 years. But, even they are not perfect.
All we have to do once the playoffs start is win 4 out of 7. Perfection is not needed.
- Tonybere

No doubt. Every team is going to go through games and periods of time where they're not perfect. And just because a team loses a game prior by a big score, doesn't mean the next team is going to come in and roll them too. THERE ARE NO GIMMIES IN THE NHL!!

I saw a lot of people on Twitter say the Rangers only won one game in their last 12. And yet, they still have 12 points in that time frame. Sure, there are issues that need to be worked out. But amassing twelve points during a period of time when we are not clearly playing our best hockey is solid, IMO. Great teams find ways to steal points even when they're not at the top of their game. Yes, I want them rolling going into playoffs, so hopefully they iron out their issues. I still have plenty of faith come playoff time.

I think GG may have found something with 20-16-88. They looked great in the third period. Hopefully that stays together for longer than a period next game lol

No doubt. Every team is going to go through games and periods of time where they're not perfect. And just because a team loses a game prior by a big score, doesn't mean the next team is going to come in and roll them too. THERE ARE NO GIMMIES IN THE NHL!!

I saw a lot of people on Twitter say the Rangers only won one game in their last 12. And yet, they still have 12 points in that time frame. Sure, there are issues that need to be worked out. But amassing twelve points during a period of time when we are not clearly playing our best hockey is solid, IMO. Great teams find ways to steal points even when they're not at the top of their game. Yes, I want them rolling going into playoffs, so hopefully they iron out their issues. I still have plenty of faith come playoff time.

I think GG may have found something with 20-16-88. They looked great in the third period. Hopefully that stays together for longer than a period next game lol
- NYR11

That's .500, which is bang on average. Average in the NHL isn't good enough.

@HockeyStatMiner
not to pile on, but Rangers now have 1 regulation win in their last 12(!) games
7:07 PM · Mar 12, 2023

- tomburton99

Jan put that in the blog if u bothered to read it …..

Jan put that in the blog if u bothered to read it …..
- nyrangers9479

Saw it, wanted to hammer it home for the conversation.

I'll put my name to it. No, they can't/won't.

Edit: I refuse to speak for anybody but myself now. I'm not asking for perfection. I'm asking for above average 5 on 5. And yet they can't even do that.
- tomburton99

Fair enough.
Maybe I was projecting on you from the whole atmosphere here. But, what constantly irks me about this board is people female doging about every single mistake or missed opportunity. As if the players are supposed to be perfect playing against other really good teams. And make no mistake even the worst teams in the NHL are REALLY GOOD. The worst players in the league are still REALLY GOOD and have the potential to make REALLY GOOD plays at any given time.
One thing I noticed yesterday was that Pitt had the puck luck in their favour almost the entire game. Even when we pushed back, all the bounces were going against us. We only prospered when things went perfectly. That is not always the case. (ie, 12 points in last poor 12 games).

That's .500, which is bang on average. Average in the NHL isn't good enough.
- tomburton99

No doubt that's not good enough. Not for a team that has Stanley Cup aspirations. But the team was short manned for a good amount of those games, and I said they are not playing their best hockey at all. Hopefully, they can get this rut out of the way now before the final 7-10 games of the season. Either way, I agree they have to be better if they want to make a deep run.