In the first period, the Rangers were out-hustled, out-shot, and overall were out-played. Yet, they were able to get a goal when Tomas Vokoun gave Vinny Prospal a gift late in the stanza. The Rangers lacked puck control, they could not even enter the zone, and the defense allowed too many odd-man rushes for my liking, but thankfully Lundqvist stood strong and was able to hold the Cats off for at least one period.
In the second, the team came out flat again and allowed two consecutive goals to Steven Reinprecht and Jordan Leopold. However, the line of Avery, Anisimov, and Parenteau had a great shift in the last few minutes of the period and had some prime scoring opportunities. Somehow Avery ended up missing an empty net with Vokoun down and out, but unfortunately I could not see whether the shot was deflected or not from where I was sitting.
Now the third period where I really began to get frustrated and I will tell you why. The Blueshirts had a great surge heading into the intermission and were only down by a single goal. This is where Tortorella must get his team hitting the ice with a plan and with energy. Well, much like every other period in the game, New York had nothing. They were being beat to the puck, making low percentage plays when they actually had the puck, and then allowed Nathan Horton to sneak in and bury a rebound and bury the Rangers.
Marian Gaborik netted his sixteenth of the season but to no avail as the Blueshirts were unable to find the back of the net in the last minute and a half with Lundqvist pulled and an extra attacker on the ice. What a surprise.
I feel like I am watching last season all over again. The Rangers trail for a majority of the game and then begin to show urgency in the last three minutes or so to attempt to tie the game up. That is not the way to play hockey. You are not going to win games playing in spurts like that, but rather displaying a full sixty minute effort, something that we haven't seen since the seven game winning streak and even then it was not too common.
Secondary scoring continues to be a problem on this team and it is becoming more and more evident. Higgins had several chances, didn't bury them. Avery had several chances, didn't bury them and so on down the rest of the lineup. Once again it was Gaborik and Prospal putting the points up. I mean, it is getting to the point where Sather needs to pick his head up and face reality here. Something needs to be done because they cannot go on like this for another sixty games. There will be no playoffs at Madison Square Garden if that is the case.
Ales Kotalik probably had his worst game as a Ranger tonight, which is surprising being that he played on the top line. Another one of head coach John Tortorella's brilliant ideal fails right before his eyes. Tortorella's response to Kotalik's horrid game: "Kotes can't play there". Ya think?
I will say that the defense tightened up in the second and third periods, but even so, one misplay can cost you the entire game and that is what happened tonight. Neutral zone turnovers and the inability to clear the zone haunts this team, but at the same time, they show no sign of fixing it. As Al Pacino would say, one second too late or too early, you don't quite make it. One step too quick or too slow, you don't quite catch it. That is one of the many quotes that can be applied to this team.
The Rangers will now close their three game homestand on Monday when they host the Columbus Blue Jackets. This is a must win, because if they drop all three of three home games going into a road-trip, they are in trouble. Will have more in the morning.....
(Images courtesy of Reuters Pictures and AP Photo)
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4 comments:
Not to sound like a broken record, but I'll say it again... they lack toughness. They are such an easy team to play against, and as Brooks said the other day, every other team in East impoved over the summer. The Rangers made some improvements, but are a very easy team to play against. Guys like Travis Moen and Ian Laperriere would have been really nice offseason additions, and in my mind they should try and move all or some of the following; Rozsival, Lisin, Higgins and Voros for guys LIKE Moen, Laperriere or Raffi Torres (I'm not saying them exactly). Rozsival is inconsistant (at his best) on defense and does little to contribute offensively, so it would be nice to see them find a nasty bastard of a defenseman. And I don't just mean someone that can hit like Staal can, I mean someone nasty. I do understand Lisin has a lot of speed and potential, but I don't see this kid as being anything more than a 4th liner. I was really excited about trading Gomez for Higgins, but maybe trade Higgins while he has some value? No need to mention anything involving Voros. Keep Byers and Parenteau up and bring in some true grit and toughness.
Jayson makes some good points, but WHO is gonna take these guys? It's tough to trade from weakness rather than strength, and THAT's where we're coming from with ALL of the aforementioned. I'm afraid we'll have to give up YOUNG talent - our strength - to get any real talent back.
I liked some of the lineup moves last night like Avery on the 2nd line and trying Anisimov on the 2nd line as well. But BRASHEAR on the 3rd line??? Is Torts retarded? The fact that I despised the guy when he was with Philly notwithstanding, he flat out can't play. He has ONE purpose and one purpose only; fight.
I guess Torts is trying to teach somebody a lesson by showing nobody's position is safe. I'm all for sending a message, how 'bout IM'ing instead? All Torts' "lessons" and "messages" are costing us games.
It is very clear that the entire team is soft. They don't even stand up for themselves or each other. Built for speed, but lately we don't even have that. It is time to focus on some of the very unuusal roster decisions being made. The players not called. The constant rotation of line composition. These are management problems folks. Hate to say it, but maybe our guy doesn't live up to his rep.
You guys all make great points, but I think Tradershot hit the nail on the head. I was originnaly for Tortorella benching Higgins in the Montreal game, but I will admit that I was wrong. Higgins has only gotten worse since then, and the same can be said of Brandon Dubinksy, even though he is not currently playing due to injury. Tortorella has made way too many mistakes already.
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