The Rangers did it again tonight. They let an ordinary goaltender, Vesa Toskala, look like an all-star in a 4-1 loss. They did this by missing open nets, fanning on set ups, over passing and missed opportunities on odd man rushes and totally embarrassing themselves.
Coach clueless had no answers except to put Jagr on the ice every other shift in the third period. Jagr had over 23 minutes of ice time. Jagr had opened the scoring at the 5:44 mark of the second period on a beautiful move on Hal Gill and a shot from the circle to the right of Toskala. It should have sent the Rangers soaring but less than three minutes later Kubina put in a slap shot from the point. Pohl scored when Lundqvist gave the puck away and Antropov camped himself in front of Lundqvist and Tyutin couldn't or wouldn't move him out so now its 3-1. Three goals in less than nine minutes and that was the game. The fourth goal was an empty netter.
The Rangers could not mount any offensive pressure against a team that had given up 41 goals in 11 games. Fortunately for the Leafs they were playing a Ranger team that had scored all of 15 goals in the last nine games.The Leafs average close to 4 goals per game and give up 3.75 per game. The Rangers score on average 1.6 goals per game and give up 2.1 goals per game. You do the math and you tell me who is going to win more games and who is not going to make the playoffs? So the irresistible force met the immovable object and the irresistible force won.
I'm sorry folks but more and more this team is reminding me of the 1997-98 team that had a dismal year and missed the playoffs after an exciting run the year before getting to the conference finals. The only good news is that the coach that year, Colin Campbell, was fired mid season. The other day Fox Sports published a list of coaches who were in trouble on its web site. Paul Maurice was number one and coach clueless was number two. Guess who just moved up to number one coach who is in trouble.
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Rangers Raked
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Didn't mount any offensive pressure? The Leafs were on their heels the entire night.
Please, when it's game 48 and they move to 10 games over .500, remember how sheepish you sound now.
anonymous-Not the way they are playing now my friend. Not the way they are playing now. Baaaaaaaa!
Hi Mike,
I've got to agree with anon... It's a little early to be writing this team/coach off. To be sure, they're buying into a system that, with the exception of last night, has them playing incredibly stingy defense (for a change, the low scoring games are not purely because of lundqvist).
There's too much talent for them not to start scoring, and Shanny's making that clear by putting everyting possible to the net. Anyone who's played hockey and been in a goal scoring drought knows that that's the only way to get out of it. If they keep playing tight defense, they'll start getting the bounces -- I give them another 10-12 games to see what they're made of. Plus, adversity breeds success in every sport, so this could be just the thing they need to bring them together for a true cup run.
We shall see.
az-j-Don't disagree with you but why load up with offensive talent and go into a defensive shell to win 1-0 games? If Lundqvist breaks down we will collapse. There are too many high powered offensive teams. We need to improve our play and our offense and that means scoring goals.
I'm not going to stop with my new mantra, "Renney has to go." He is incapable of handling and organizing the amazing talent he has. This team cannot win by the merits of Lundqvist and a tight defense alone.
*sigh* I hope I am wrong.
kaspar fan-You are right on target my friend. There are too many rose colored glasses sitting in the seats and on the bench. Its time for action and results, not talking.