Good morning ‘heads! You have to admit whether you’re enjoying them win some of these last few games or not, this was a fun one as the boys completed the sweep of the really awful Buffalo Sabres. Georgiev impressed again with 43 saves and sniffed the shutout. Kreider and Zibanejad continued to score while Pionk scored his first NHL goal plus Jimmy Vesey had himself a three point night.
Seeing the level of play from Kreider and Zibanejad since Kreider’s return, I cant help but wonder how they’d look in the first round of the postseason with the two of them leading the offense the way they are right now. Oh well…
Once Carp’s review is up I’ll link it for you guys. ILB should be back this week to take over his inherited duties and rip Doodie and I for the ultra HAV while he was in Wickyland.
Carp’s Review:
https://theathletic.com/287149/2018/03/25/carpiniello-rangers-future-looks-bright-in-contrast-with-hapless-sabres/
114 responses to “Rangers-5, Sabres-1 (The anti-tank is alive and well) (UPDATED)”
First!
First good guy!
Had no feed to the game last night, but I did check out the highlights. Maybe the Rangers get lucky with Boy Gworge? I am finally feeling a bit better this virus is no fun ugh!
Eli – stay well, plenty of fluids, primarily non-alcoholic…
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Pee-ionk is the real deal, probably needed more seasoning in Hartford but glad they brought him up anyway…
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Sabres are exhibit #1 for the anti-Tank; top picks do not assure one of a contending team but got to wonder if they have 2 top 30 centers and an emerging stud Dman, why not more success. My two cents is ‘Eichel, Eichel’ is pretty soft and not a guy to build a team around.
Games against the Devils and Islanders are going to cause quite a problem. The Devils are in a fight with the Panthers so it would be nice for the Rangers to help put a dent in Jersey’s playoff chances. However, it means the Blueshirts put a dent into the tank.
Considering Rangers fans never want to lose to the Isles, that game is a headache. Normally, we wouldn’t have anything to fear because the Isles would put on their Game 7 pants and win, However, the boys from Lawn Gisland have proven to be quite good at the tank game.
Quite the conundrum, eh?!?
Simple: lose both!
—/
Just because some teams have picked the wrong players and/or failed to surround them by other good pieces via trade or free agency speaks more to poor management rather than against the strategy itself. However of course even many top draft picks never live up to expectations, sucks but it happens.
Norm,
You mentioned something about “The Pass” last night. Were you talking about Montana to Clark? Eli to Tyree? Big Ben to Holmes? Or maybe Flutie to Phelan? If it’s the one I think you are referring to, while a nice play, it was probably the 5th best pass leading to a goal last night. Certainly not a play worthy of a name.
SN,
According to some, these games are meaningless. Therefore, what Pionk is doing is meaningless. Same with George.
I was at a meaningless New Years Day game the Rangers played against the Russians. The Rangers called up a young goalie to play in the game. He stood on his head in a 5-1 loss. He stayed up because of his performance in that meaningless game. He ended up being a goalie who did something that had not been done in 54 years, or since.
What did Valley Cat do?
When is Hartford’s season over? Where are the flipping kiddies??
SN,
Andersson and Chytil are supposed to be up for there next game. Unless of course they come up wit some excuse not to.
So now the thought process is that Pionk and co are only playing well because the games are meaningless and so the pressure is off? wow…just wow
Hartford plays the exact system of the Rangers because AV insists upon it. Makes sense in that they (supposedly) makes the call-ups game-ready within the ‘system,’ but what if the ‘system’ sucks?
The system sucks man! Bring the power back to the people man! Fight the system man! Free Hewy man!
military industrial complexion
Imagine living in Buffalo? And then you have that hockey team to boot.
If they were smart they’d put Chytil at 2nd line center and anderson at 3rd line and give two of Hayes, spooner, Names a night off. Would force AV to actually play the kids and not sit them when mistakes are made (and they will be made) and it would also help ze tank!
BDL, capitalization and placement of quotation marks matter. “The Pass” [yours] is different than the “pass” [mine]. So you have conjured up something that wasn’t there.
Norm,
Are you becoming soft? Usually I would get a good argument out of you. Now, a grammar lesson.
I surmise that management had been planning to do its best to tank without looking like they’re tanking, but Kreider and the kids coming up didn’t hear the tacit order.
The Donner Pass. What’s for lunch?
Was in transit yesterday so missed commenting on the additional Stepan comments. Here are his per 60 stats. I still think they made the correct move given contract cost/term/clauses vs his level of play then and likely going forward.
They made the smart move, but Step and Donuts were our upscale Minny connection. We had a classy team, but ultimately not a winning team for some reason.
Carp brings up an interesting point in his review – why do they not suck defending on the PK but do 5-5? And if you are going to say its the goalie, then why does he suck 5-5 and not on PK?
John Rosasco
@JRNYR
Brett Howden scored 2 goals in Moose Jaw’s 3-2 OT win to even the series at 1. Howden has 3 points in 2 games. #nyrangers
BDL, if you have a point to make, make it. Otherwise an “oops” will suffice.
debbies coos!
No oops Norm,
You got excited about a Zucc pass. The other 4 primary assists were nicer. I didn’t see the same excitement from you about them.
http://whl.ca/video/highlights-raiders-2-at-warriors-3-ot
shows howlands goals
The system (sans a decent NHL caliber 4th line) has been scoring lots of goals, more than they scored with Nash, Grabby, JayTee, McDonuts, Holden, Shatty. What else is different? Kreider back from injury.
Coos, @10:31……finger sandwiches?
No, BDL, that’s not what I was talking about at all. Let me know when you learn how to read. Otherwise you will continue to debate yourself.
https://www.sny.tv/rangers/news/how-jeff-gorton-is-looking-at-different-draft-options-right-now/269286954
3/25/18 | Pierre LeBrun was on the radio earlier this week and said that he believes the Rangers are “far from done” and while they want to rebuild, they want to rebuild like the Bruins did. (Fan Rag)
He added, “I’d keep an eye” on the Rangers in the offseason. (Fan Rag)
(more from earlier days in above link)
PB,
Opportunities for guys who were stuck behind the traded players.
Sounds like we could possibly see Libor Hayek next year. How far is Brett Howden from being NHL ready? Year after next?
What is the record with/without Kreider?
24 games;
7-16-1 without
6-6-2 since return
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20-13-4 prior injury including the 1-5-2 beginning.
Kreider is good, but way too many other injuries to conclude he’s the key. He’s been much more consistent since his latest return, that’s for sure. Stud.
Hajek is indeed the defenseman, of all those not playing in the NHL or AHL, deemed by the NYR to be the closest to being NHL ready. He was their most important asset acquired at the deadline.
ICYMI:
what other injuries?
Zika stats w-w/out Kreider
with; 21-16-37 in 41 games
.
without; 6-3-9 in 24 games
What other injuries?! You’re kidding, right? But bottom line: The new, lighter Kreider (who had to have wondered if his career was over) is a much better version.
SN, what’s the reverse correlation? (Kreider stats w and w/o Zika) They are a good combo, esp. with Fast doing the other business.
what other injuries? not kidding
Krieder:
3-4-7 in 9 games w/Zika out of lineup
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12-17-29 in 42 games with Zika in
Cool stats–where do you get ’em?
Fast…lol
Henk’s NYR career summarized in 3 seconds.
https://twitter.com/hayyyshayyy/status/976269324733304832
Zucc sux
Fast is a 15-20 goal 3/4th line player. Penalty killer and energetic forecheckers.
Extra Effort winner this year – Book it.
So they had the better goaltender last night. Boy George may be for real. Will they be able to protect him in the expansion draft? The D continues to make long passes into the neutral zone that get intercepted and turned into scoring chances and long sieges in their end. It has been that way with different D for the entire AV era so it must be the system. Got to do what is necessary to win 3-2 and 2-1 games over the summer to be a better team next year. This team can’t do that giving up 40+shots every night. But they are playing harder and are more entertaining.
Fast…lmmfao
Hagelin likes playing with Malkin. Who knew?
Pens a mess
Wick, let us in on the joke?
Kreider, Mika and Buch were a good trio too before Mika’s concussion. Fast really should not be on the “1st” line, especially not at the end of a lost season
If the line is playing well, maybe as well as any line has played for the Rangers in at least 2 years, why do you care if Fast is part of it?
That’s a recency bias and the sample size is so small. Our best offensive players should be getting the most minutes 5-5 and young developing forwards in particular should be paired with other skilled players who are going to best aid their offensive development in the NHL. So sorry I think it’s shortsighted coaching to have had Vesey and Buch for instance playing with Desharnais recently while Fast was with Kreider and Mika.
The fact that fast seems to have this “love” from the fans tells you all you need to know about the rest of the roster.
Just looked at a mock draft and it has the rangers picking d men 5 of the first 7 picks…dumb
all depends where they fall with their 1st pick, but unfortunately the best available player if it’s in the 10 or later stage may be a defenseman. not sure about the back end of the 1st round. Tho agree we need offensive forwards, offensive forwards and righty D in that order
RE: Defending on the PK vs. 5-on-5 — I think the difference is that they are forced to be and play more disciplined when killing penalties. Whem you are shorthanded, you just can’t afford to not “play your system” because of the extra ice with only four defenders.
Pete I would say all of our fowards fall under young and developing, including THE. That Fast has somehow played a role in the Mika Kreider explosion should be noted for what it says about the type of player the other two require on their line. Maybe that name is not Fast but Buchy isn’t it.
And this young lady realizes that any snow is better than none, regardless if it is Trump snow
Disagree there Beezle, that trio did well together last season and earlier this season. Yes Mika is doing well now, but lots of factors contributing likely, most important probably him being farther removed from his concussion.
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Different stages of development for the current crop of forwards tho and for the very young guys like Buch, should be put in the best position to succeed and rapidly develop when the primary concern is not and should not be getting 2 points no matter what
the number 1’s both called up
give Andersson the C
🙂
Cody McLeod – lock and load.
The reason Fast is on a line with Kreider is because he’s fast. See what I did there?
Keep your heads up kids. Timid Tom Wilson will be hunting you down.
I’m getting impatient waiting till they announce the NHL Draft lottery winnners. Last year all three tanks were screwed. Philly was 13th and got the #2 pick! Dallas was 8th and took th #3. Devils were like 5th and got the top pick. I like how it works now.
Quickie Mop.
6th Round pick, drafted for a player (himself) to be named later. He was a Fasth before he became Fast.
Love & hate. Lol.
Eyes wide open? Buch has trouble keeping pace with Kreider and Zibby.
And Fast doesn’t.
That’s very true PB.
Fast wins more puck battles than Buch. No contest
Buch has better hands, vision and puck skill. Fast is better without the puck by leaps and bounds.
Buch is the higher rated player.
After 21 games no doubt Pionk is now the top d-Man on the Rangers. Gorton has a job to do.
Spoon and Names on same line with Butch so not exactly McLoed and Holland.
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Butch should skate with Zucc and Haze for the Slow, Slower and Slowest line.
Georgette has guts
Buch, Zucc, & Haze “The Sedate Line”
Fast shouldn’t be doing this well, therefore he isn’t doing this well. Bonehead Logic 101.
Nothing against Fast and think he is doing great with this opportunity himself. All I am saying is the focus in this period is to heap minutes and responsibility on the guys who they think can develop into top 6 or top 4 defenseman, while scaling back somewhat the more bottom 6/bottom 4 types, even if the guys in that bucket aren’t vets. So great that they are bringing up Chytil and Anderson now and my hope is they get a lot of minutes and in high leverage situations, even if they make multiple mistakes or the game is close, etc. Essentially we should be in preseason mode as far as talent evaluation.
@NYRangers
🚨 1 for Lindgren!
(vs. Hershey)
Lias and Chytil officially promoted.
Over/under 6 minutes each for the rooks by all world greatest coach ever AV?
AV>Avoiding Victory!
Anthony, they can also ice it … so no stupid passes to the middle of the ice as they do with 5-on-5.
The future is near.
How long before AV glues these two to the bench so McLeod, Holland and Carey could get their regular shits?
Wicky’s type of woman:
scratch that … wrong link … sorry.
Try again. Wicky’s type of woman (fingers crossed this time).
“Get him Zach, get him!”
Priceless! LOL Go, Hyman Mom! 🙂
I think she’s saying “Hit him Zach. Hit him’. Not much difference. She wants pain delivered.
LOL. Her husband gives her the elbow.
We need this woman to run our D.
Or our entire bench.
Ryan Lindgren had himself a game today. A goal and an assist. Plus 5 shots on goal. I though he was supposed to a defensive Dman?
McLeod and Holland should sit. If anyone touches them everyone on the ice should respond. No designated first responder. Time for some team building. There’s no Dale Rolfe excuse for not jumping in.
Lindgren’s points were on the PP. Guess he took Smith’s spot. It would be nice to find one quality D. God knows they have quantity already.
Youse know this guy on the Wild, Joel Erikkson Ek? Pretty good player but shouldn’t his name just be Joel Ek?
Also this guy Carlo, on the Bs, did he think his little stunt….
Brad Marchand 32-46-78
Drafted 71st overall in 2006.
https://www.nhl.com/rangers/news/andersson-gaining-confidence-after-stint-with-wolf-pack/c-297315210
https://www.nhl.com/rangers/news/decision-to-stay-in-north-america-proves-positive-for-chytil/c-297315216
pageau
NEW POST
Playing on the ol banjo!