These games are getting boring and predictable. Rangers get an early goal and either through an inept offense, overly cautious play and dedication to a defense mentality or all three, they lose. They lost 2-1 to a Dallas team who got the winning goal from Mike Modano after some sloppy play from Girardi and Kalinin, who were also on ice for the first goal scored by Brenden Morrow. Morrow tied the game with a "nasty and ugly" (his words) shot from his back during a power-play. The Rangers only goal was scored by Markus Naslund, a power-play goal. The Rangers put 29 shots on goal and the Stars threw 27 at Lundqvist.
The much ballyhooed return of Sean Avery produced a surprisingly large number of boos from the Garden crowd. I guess they believed the propaganda that emanated from the Stealth that it was all Avery's fault for leaving the Rangers and that he was greedy. Poor Avery. All he ever did for the Rangers was make them a winner. Just look up his record when he was in the lineup. But it was a quiet game for Avery. In close to 14 minutes of ice time there were no points, no shots but he dished out 5 hits and absorbed quite a few hits. Bottom line. Avery's Stars beat Clueless's Rangers. At the end it was the Rangers who deserved the boos, and Avery's team got the win.
The Rangers are 6-2-1 and still on top in the East, but for how long? Lundqvist remains a rock in goal, but for how long before his own defense does him in? The offense seems confused. Chris Drury seems to be in a serious funk. He started out slow last year but recovered. The Rangers desperately need him to start scoring and leading this team. The team needs scoring and the expectant scorers are not coming through. One wonders what a guy like Petr Prucha is doing on the bench while the likes of Rissmiller and Fritsche continue to get ice time. This clueless coaching staff has taken a player like Petr Prucha, a thirty goal scorer, and completely destroyed him. Spotting him every third or fourth game is not going to cut it. Trade the guy before his skills continue to erode. Let him play for some team that could appreciate and benefit from his talents. Could Shanahan and Sundin be in the Ranger future?
ICINGS: Another night of quite a few empty seats. I have yet to see a real packed Garden this year but they announce 18,200 every night. And the luxury boxes, forget it.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Another Boring, Losing Effort
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Mike,
I could not agree more. The Coach is back to get a goal and then keep four men back hockey. That might work with three minutes left (other than in Detroit or Pittsburgh) but not with three periods left.
We play to lose.
This team is fast. We could have won four to two with an up tempo game.
And, I hate what they have done to Petr.
Boring is the word. This was a good example of why NHL hockey is going to have a difficult time gaining big popularity on main street. All the celebrities and media show up for a big game and pooof... nothing happens.
Avery yaps and gives a few hits and takes a few. Neither team wants to or can muster any serious offense. Shots on goal are few and far between. This was a crap product.
Now the Rangers per game goal scoring is down to 2.44 (22 goals in 9 games) and dropping fast. Last year it was 2.50. They need 3 the next game to reach that old average.
They'll need scoring from somewhere.
section 335-When you play not to lose you wind up losing.
jb-Hang in there.They are going to raise the Jersey's of Graves, Bathgate and Howell. Maybe they won't raise them. Maybe they will put them on and start skating. Just maybe.
I'm back to the genuine puzzle that never gets answered...why such a difference in intensity from one night to another.
An awful lot of wiggle room is given this team under the cloak of being tired. It does not add up for me.
Listless and uninterested for periods 1 & 2 against the Leafs, and I heard about the heavy early schedule is catching up to them.
Next night against Detroit, they come out lethargic, but turn it around after half a period and skate like madmen for the rest of the game.
Last night after an in-between day of rest, they basically looked slow again. Not saying that teams don't get tired, but the Rangers don't really fit that description, at least in my view.
I don't get it.
blow-me-down-Its easy to get. Look at the coach. He's clueless.