The coach said he went with his stomach on the power play. How about going with his brain? How about going with some intelligence? The power play was 0-4 and got all of one shot in the eight minutes of power play time. They have only three goals in the last twenty six chances. He has guys at the point who refuse or can't shoot the puck. Pick out a couple of guys and STAY with them.
Zuccarello and Del Zotto are not point men. Zuccy don't have the shot and Del Zotto doesn't have the intelligence. How about showing some patience and putting Sauer and Staal at the point and STAY with them a while. It can't be any worse then what we have now.
Also, let's get some toughness up front on the PP. Guys like Avery, Boyle and Prust should be playing IN FRONT of the goalie. Shoot the puck and create havoc in front of the goalie. This perimeter game on the power play has got to stop. Joe and Sam were giving Montreal all kinds of credit for their penalty killing. C'mon guys. The Rangers power play is pathetic, any good Pee Wee team could stop this power play.
One more comment from the coach that is startling. "Should I just leave them alone?" Are the Rangers a product of over coaching? All the so called top players are now back and we are going in reverse. Is he tinkering too much? What was that chant in the movie? "Let the kids play."
There has been much noise about the Rangers going after Sheldon Souray or Tomas Kaberle and Bryan McCabe. There are plus and minuses for all three, but the Rangers can not be too picky as their season is slipping away and they have to do something. Their power play is killing them and the coaching staff doesn't know how to fix it. The other option is to stay the course, take the hit, give up the season and bring in a smarter coach next year.
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I've of two minds concerning Souray. I'm afraid if Sather doesn't take him he'll reach at the end in panic for another Ozolinsh or Backman. No question Souray seems to be fragile although you don't pick fights with Iginla just to get even. A lot of the bad press comes from the Edmonton management. There was a dispute over medical care and he spoke his mind. They are known for being cheap on things like skates and sticks. He's always been popular in the dressing room and where else are you going to get that booming shot from on the PP? As for the cap hit on re-entry waivers, if they don't go for Richards, they can work it out. If Tortorella has a better idea for the PP I'd like to see it. Otherwise why not?
I'd take Souray. Don't see much downside if he brings the heat that he had. But, I'm not sold on Richards.
Dov-I think you may be correct. That booming shot off the point is something I never remember the Rangers having. And whats the gamble, thirty games and maybe the playoffs?
Tortorella has no ideas when it comes to the power play, or anything else for that matter.
Wes-Sounds like it would be a good gamble to go for Souray. What can we lose, right?
For the Rangers PP how about getting this 27 year-old defenseman, Denis Kulyash, from Russia who just recorded a 110.3 mph slap shot at the KHL skills competition?
He's on the the Avangard Omsk team with Jaromir Jagr. Jagr could give a pretty good scouting report.
This Youtube video shows the shot and Jagr is watching.
Story: The Continental Hockey League says Russian defenseman Denis Kulyash has smashed hockey's hardest shot record.
Kulyash hit 110.3 mph at the KHL All-Star skills competition Saturday, easily topping the record 105.9 mph shot Zdeno Chara of the Boston Bruins registered last weekend during NHL All-Star festivities in Raleigh, N.C.
The 27-year-old Kulyash, who plays for Avangard Omsk in the Russian-based league, has 11 goals and 24 points in 46 games this season.
He was an eighth-round pick of the Nashville Predators in 2004, but has never played in the NHL.
Chara, a 6-foot-9 defenseman, has won the hardest shot competition during the past four NHL All-Star skills competitions.
jb-Maybe we could bring him back with Jagr. We need goals and who better right now than Jagr.
Not a bad combo. Would the Russians take a Wade Redden (Rangers will still pay his salary) for a Jagr and Kulyash rental? Probably not. I see that Jagr's team, Avangard Omsk, is leading the 23 team KHL with the best record!