Good morning, boneheads!
I wish someone could review this great game. I can’t. Too bad. This one was against a better, more complete opponent who played very well. But our boys persevered, overcame a bad goal by Hank ( who was stellar afterwards) took a lot of hits to make plays, and got a timely GWG from their best all-around forward. That was hockey the way it was meant to be played.
83 responses to “Rangers-4, King’s-2”
I am annoyed reading this type of comment from Captain 27. Granted, he’s probably programmed at the factory to speak like this but this is, IMHO, the epitome of the problems this team has:
“When you’re playing a big team like that with a heavy style, you have to win a majority of the 50-50 battles to get something going offensively,” said Ryan McDonagh, stout without the puck and sharp with it. “That was the emphasis early and I thought we got better and better as the game went on, outnumbering them and coming away with the puck.
“We knew it was going to be a challenge. These are the games you get up for and want to make sure you’re prepared the best you can. I like the way we responded.”
So… you only “get up for” the games you think will be a challenge? At least it is out there in the open now as that sure seems to be the case. The Rangers have beaten every first place team this year, yet they continue to put up stinkers of periods or entire games against far lesser.
lol.. and a belated first! BTW, JT has a ways to go in his Grabner impression but its a start.
Got to watch the replay late last night but was too tired to post anything. Great to beat the Kings. Hank was the difference. Nice goal by Nash he needed that one. I understand the resigning Nash thing, but IMO it’s not the direction this team needs to go. Got to trade him at the deadline along with The Flash. Zucc and McD, only if the return greatly favors the NYR. Most complete player on the Rangers is Nash. Most complete poster on this blog the man with the colorful Tie that isn’t a loss! The only passenger last night, Bazooka Joe just don’t like that guy, never did.
I’m also over AV. I despised Tort’s roster mangling and asset mismanagement but he at least never let the guys take their foot off the pedal. AV has all the roster management skills of a retarded chimp, yet without any of the requisite motivational skills. So what is he really bringing to the table without those two things.? Those are arguably the ONLY 2 things a coach actually does. Anyway, just keep winning. Disappointment awaits in the Spring. 3rd in the Metro?
And there it is: wins like this reveal how the Rangers suck.
Exactly Norman. Wins like this (or non-losses if you prefer) reveal what the team is actually CAPABLE of doing. Then when we see an unmotivated, poorly executing team skate around again and again, we realize we have some suckage going on. Usually, a team either a team CAN or CANNOT. This team CAN but just DOESN’T.
Great review ilb, your best one yet by a mile 😉
A win like last night is frustrating for me as well, but not for the same reason as others. Over 82 games there are bound to be clunkers, and certain games the get up for. It’s frustrating to me because it shows that they can play with the big boys, and if Gorton would go get them some help maybe they become one of the big boys. They are doing by this with Hayes, Miller, DD, and Nieves at center. Zibanejad will be back soon. Don’t you think of you add a third line center they become that much better? I’m resigned to what’s going to happen with Nash, and Grabner. And I know deep down it’s the right thing to do. That doesn’t mean I have to like it.
Watching Zucc in the 1st period last night, I thought he looked over matched, but man is he resilient. He kept plugging away, and in the 2nd and 3rd he was much better. I’m no fan of his, but I was impressed with his will last night.
Fast,last night stepped up and gave Brown a heck of a hit. Really pissed him off. Brown was looking for him the rest of the night.
Delaware
I hear ya. A lot of posters here share that sentiment. Personally, I don’t expect the rangers to win every game, they certainly aren’t the best team in the league (the best jerry), but I do expect them to come out ready to play and give max effort on the majority of games (will not happen 100% of the time, but 90% if the time it’s expected).
That, imho, is a coaching issue. If they never did it, it would be a player issue because clearly they just couldn’t.
Tomorrow I go back to knocking Zucc, and Fast. Today neither deserves it. Actually I haven’t really gone after Fast much this year. Still don’t like him on the top 9.
Yep Wick. I agree. Coach doesn’t hold them accountable when they suck. AND doesn’t even reward them when they are good. (eg. See Buchnevich’s ice time…). Pick one, use the carrot OR the stick. AV uses neither. And the players’ performances show it.
Bdl
Agree re moves. I stated above why they aren’t prepared more often than not at the start of games imo, but this team can compete for a cup imo this season if they make the right moves and hockey trades.
13-5-1 since the turning-point game vs. Vegas. I’ll take that suckage any time. More of it, please.
Ha we have a new bonehead term here: non-losses. We now have 17 non-losses and 12 losses and 3 non-nons
Nash scores a superb game-winner against a top team and it’s: why didn’t he do that in 2014?
The Rangers beat the Kings and it’s: why didn’t they beat the Senators?
Is it even possible here to look at last night as a good thing?
beezle 2.o
That’s 3 Norms!
Nice win last night!
If we’re going for it, we’re that much closer to a playoff berth. If we’re sellers, Nash’s stock went up a little more.
So the Kings slash Grabner on the wrist in his last shift before he might get a shot an another empty netter. Rangers got an empty netter anyway without him in the ice.
Loved Valiquette’s take on Chris Neal after Trautwig gushed over Darcy Tucker’s congratulatory tweet. Valiquette said he’d played against Neal from juniors to the NHL Said he hated him. Unlike Tucker, he wouldn’t be sending him a tweet. Screw Neal.
Long, grueling, bruising season and it’s natural for certain guys to alternately take a night off here and there, hoping to sort of disappear and expecting others to bring it. One reason why you need a deep team and a head coach who constantly motivates and understands how to use and prosper with it.
AV is actually an amazing coach. It’s just that the players don’t understand anything he tells them with all than gum chewing. All they here is nom nom nom nom! 😉
Dan, are you by any chance implying that AV is a Juicy Fruit?
Excellent win against a top team. Nothing to complain about from top to bottom! Lalalalallalalalalalalalala Dilly Dilly!!!
Staal’s best game of the season by far.
Not sure how this team would fare with a heavy team like LA in POs but good home win.
Kings lost to Derbils 4-0 the night before as a point of comparison…
In face, be interesting to Pens or Bolts go thru Western Meat Grinder in POs.
Refs completely back to form with no more calls for stick to hands which LA specializes in.
Henk should have stopped first and gave up juicy rebound on 2nd but held on for win.
Need Zika back in the worst way.
Not only because of him, but players score 5v5 with JT as their pivot.
face = fact
I am fully in the must sign Grabber camp, after trading him at deadline however.
This team does not have the D to win more than one round in POs.
Staal biggest issue is his contract. He’s a steady stay at home Dman. The kind of Dman a team that thinks it could make a run would love to have. The contract kills that thought, and makes the kind of game he plays to expensive.
Peugeot
Grabber has scored 42 goals in 106 games as a Ranger.
He’s a plus 34.
Great on the penalty kill. (doesn’t play the PP)
He’s a world class skater and is only 30 years old.
He loves playing in NY for the Ranger organization.
I’m hoping they can sign him for 3 more years.
Zika back will be good, but for one night at least it was good to see the PP firing on all cylinders. Against the #1 PK team no less.
I’m still not convinced Grabner is going to bring back that much at the deadline. A contender is going to look at him as a 4th liner, and PKer. Teams don’t pay much for those. Best case a 2nd rounder.
Staal is dong a much better job moving the puck, which is major hole in him game. Still not reacting quick enough but he has started to join rush, hits net 25% of the time v. 5% in prior years. Could eyesight be improving?
Staal’ s contract is too big, so you can’t trade him. Buy him out or use him is the choice. Until you find a Staal upgrade in the system, he is not a bad option in the least.
If the plan is to trade Nash, they should start fielding offers now.
Great win against one of the top teams in the league. Mac makes a world class play as he know he’s about to be pummeled by two Kings and Nash does the rest. I’m solidly in Norm’s camp. You guys can armchair all you want but to me, hate on Nash, Zuc, Grabner, A , but with the division we’re in,the Rangers should NOT be selling.
I believe in the Carp rule on trades….evaluate every alternative and if it will improve the team, you do it.
TRS, Scarecrow, Shuffleboard Marc, Leadfooot, perpetually out of position, stinko. He’s not the only one.
Eljay,
Very few of us want to be sellers. We want to buy. But the word is Gorton is going to find out what Nash, Grabner, Zucc, and McD can bring back in trades.
Hey AV – Wake up and let the D coach do his job and then we will finally see what is what back there.
Unless he badly needs the (no doubt paltry) money, Ruff made a large mistake.
BDL
for the last year and a half Grabner has done quite well in a top 9 role.
Why do you think a team that traded for him would treat him as a fourth liner?
Maybe he has a gumada in NYC
He = Ruff
Norm
Staal can be traded after the season if we eat some of the money. Cheaper and shorter than a buyout.
Maria introduced him to an enchanting lady of the evening
Secretariat needs a Staal.
Management here made a large mistake in evaluation and judgement in jettisoning Erik Staal. Large.
AV has a gum ada.
Alex,
The key word there is contender. A team fighting to make the playoffs may very well view him as top 9, like the Rangers, but a cup contending team would see him as a top 4th line player. Just my opinion. I’m not looking to insult Grabner in any way.
Ice all over the driveway. I was out there earlier chipping ice with a six foot spade.
BDL
But who are the true contenders. Of the 16 who would make the playoffs most could use Grabner in a top 9 role.
At the deadline most teams overpay as they are in go for it mode. That’s true whether it’s a pure rental or a deal for a guy with one year remaining like we did with Yandle.
Alex, no question of Staal being here next year, unless he finds some fountain of youth–I’m talking about this year’s potential run.
Face it – Grabner has been our MVP two years running now. No trade!
Staal couldn’t find a fountain of youth if he slept with Ponce de Leon.
Was at game. The two hits on McD, especially the first by Martinez, were YUGE. The Martinez hit was the worst I’ve ever seen him take in person. I love how LA plays. They’re big but importantly they know how to use that size. McDermid is the bumble. Their supposed added speed wasn’t as evident as their great puck control and board work. Always men in front. NYR though was opportunistic in transition, and better goalie for this night. May have been a different game if refs called McDermid for slash or n Nash’s first miss
coos, there are times when I swear to God it seems almost as though you maybe don’t think so highly of Staal.
Grabber is not a 4th liner, in fact for most ‘contenders’ he will be a top 9 steal, a solid PKer who can play in Ozone. In fact, be able to find few ‘contenders’ who have wingers with more goals on their second line. I know, ENGs and all that, but a goal is a goal is a goal.
FG – the Red Wing after T-giving and last night seemed to be among the best 2 home games this season.
Crowd into it?
Should we buy or should we sell?
Red Wing ‘game’
great attitude
JR: ‘Zdeno Chara has a great altitude.’
SN – crowd was ok considering it wasn’t crowded
I hope you guys are right when it comes to Grabner. I hope he brings them back. First, and a good prospect. Because of Grabners contract, he is someone you can trade now. Unlike Nash, who they are going to have to wait till close to the deadline to move.
Who could we possibly get back for Grabs who is better than Grabs?
Your not going to Coos. It’s about futures when it come to Grabner and Nash.
Again, I find it odd coming off a game like last night, one which shows that the Rangers can play with anyone, that almost the first thought is about 3-4 years from now, when the first-rounder(s) from Nash and Grabner kick in. The Rangers are a good team right now.
Of course they are a good team right now, and if they make the playoffs headed for a 1st or 2nd rd exit. Book it !
Those who know little about History are condemned to repeat it. Again.
Grabs still has futures. I’m a Grabby Guy.
Those who know little of history probably cut history class in HS.
I cut gramma and spelling. Who ? Whom? Who(m) gives a truck!
Wow. Hank again today. AV goes from never letting him get into a flow last season to playing him every game this season. Not sure why Pavelec doesn’t get a shot here after his last 2 starts. Middle ground?
Wow. They don’t seem to have a lot of faith in Pavelec. Hank gets the start today in Boston.
Well, there is the consideration that Lundqvist is a much better goalie than Pavelec.
I am not for selling. I want to buy. I too believe they are a good team that just needs a little help. But it does not sound like what Gorton and the Rangers are going to do. I would keep Nash (ducks), and try to re-sign him. I think Grabner will, and should test the FA market coming of what looks to be, two good seasons. So it makes sense to see what his trade value is.
That’s true Norm, but less than 24 hour turnaround? I think it’s a little strange. Maybe Pavelec’s sick?
Lundqvist has played how many back-to-backs in his career? 22 hrs. vs. 24? Not sure any fuss is in order here.
Keeping Nash is a controversial idea? Might not be doable but sure worth exploring.
No fuss really Norm. Hank usually excellent in back to backs. But Pavelec was really good in his last 2 starts. Guessing AV uses him vs the Ducks Monday. Hope Hank’s 35 year old legs hold up against the Bruins…
I’d keep Nash only at a substantial reduction in cap hit. He’ll get more money elsewhere.
I’m a Grabner guy too. As long as he is in top 9 role.
I can see Pav playing tues vs Anaheim
While we are trading everybody.
‘
Didnt Carp just say on this blog that Nash , Grabner and Zuc were gone and ownership has bought off on it? Sure.
I drink before noon on holidays
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