Good morning, boneheads!
Didn’t see that coming. Five unanswered goals? Really? After this lethargic start and two goals down by the time it was barely over 4 minutes into the game? Raise your hand if you saw them pull this off.
Igor Shesterkin did his part after they went down by two, and that was the most important part of this comeback. He was solid. Didn’t have to be spectacular, but made so many important and timely saves. You know when he is on his game when he gobbles the pucks up without any rebounds.
Kaapo Kakko. Might’ve been his best game in NY yet. Even without the GTG ( an easy tap in off of a beautiful tic-tac-toe play between Panarin and Strome) he was a force carrying the puck in the O-zone, giving Washington defense all kinds of trouble and winning board battles. He is learning how to use his big body. And he is also thriving because he was given more responsibilities. I’ll give Quinn a lot of credit for understanding that. Maybe Lafreniere can earn that too, sooner rather than later.
Mika and Kreider both had a quiet night. But Zibanejad was very noticeable defensively. Though his FO% is still wanting.
Remember Pavel Bure and his frequent cherry picking? I think I’d let Panarin do the same, especially when the game isn’t close and they need a goal or two. I wonder how many Panarin breakaways end up in the net. Something tells me a lot. Panarin is also one of the better players I’ve seen who can avoid a check and who can steal pucks from almost anyone in any position. Oh, and he can pass even when there is no pass available. My goodness, his passes to both Strome and Fox were out of this world.
The more I see Strome play the more I think there is no reason to trade him. With all his shortcomings ( some are imaginary ) they are simply not getting anyone better who can replace him at the moment.
Chytil is still far from his pre-injury form despite that goal that started this come back. But it’s a start.
I’d like to know what Lindgren did/said that triggered Wilson’s outrage. I didn’t see it. Anyone?
Lastly, explain to me this. It’s all about NHL talent evaluation. Two most skilled players on the team. One was a third rounder and another one was undrafted. Why do they even have so many scouts all over the world?
Click here to read Carp’s game review.
248 responses to “Rangers-5, Capitals-2”
I’m sure as heck not searching that out those stats lol. At the end of the day they have little push back on this roster. And when Smith exits stage left this summer, they’ll have even less. So in the interest of not doing the whole revisionist thing, I am just going to say they better have a plan to add back some toughness instead of trying to win with that oh so effective combination of skill and Quinn’s brain power.
As for the standings, let’s say Boston wins today and Saturday against the Pens in regulation and the Rangers take 4 points from the Sabres. They’d still have to win twice in regulation next weeks against the Pens just to be 4 points behind the Pens in the standings. I don’t see how they make up that kind of ground. Especially with six games against NYI and NJD on the horizon.
I get your point, James. Id believe the case is not to be made through LeMieux, though. The hierarchy thought he was an answer and not a problem when the bought him in for Hayes. It took two years, but it’s obvious they no longer feel that way about him. The difference, it only took me about 20 games to come to that conclusion. If there was any hope that he was salvageable, would they have acquiesced without objection to his trade demand?
The only variables keeping him from being referred to as a journeyman / borderline NHLer? His lineage, his age and his willingness to fight.
As for the Blueshirts? It’s good riddance and next man up.
The Lemieux reality was that couldn’t show he belonged to top 9. Though initially he showed some promises of that. I’m sure they’d gladly keep him on the fourth line, but that wasn’t what he (and his agent dad) wanted. The way I look at it is that he doesn’t wear the uniform I root for anymore. Good luck, Pepe Jr!
I still see guys on Boston and other teams get crunched. Lindgren hit Pastarnak like three times a few games back and no one did anything.
Agree with JamesG, they’ll need to address it next year. And not only fourth liners.
Definitely going to need to replace some of Lemieux’s,(and Smith’s), toughness, but I think Pepe Jr. Is closer to Tanner Glass than a poor-man’s Gallagher or Marchand. Kind of a clown with all the embellishment and diving. Will he actually get more ice time in LA? Might take Lias’ spot.
Fact is in today’s NHL, you need tough guys that are still competent with the puck. I was also fine with Lemieux as 4LW, but he wasn’t so oh well.
LOL. He and his father didn’t see him as a 4th liner? Here’s the truth, he’s either going to be a late bloomer or an underage journeyman.
But this thought that other teams don’t get checked because they have tough guys is absurd. Lindgren popped Ovi. Most guys are still going to play their game. There’s no deterrents. You need guys that can play along the boards and win picks in the playoffs.
They should win pucks in the playoffs too, but if they can get picks, that would also be helpful 🙂
Gravy, so true.
And the rationale that Ranger players have all of the sudden become more vulnerable to aggressive attacks without LeMriux policing the ice is, not to offend anyone, ridiculous.
I remember checking the Jets blog to see what they thought of Lemieux and what I remember was comments like he isn’t a very good player, has no hockey skills, etc…
Wild Will Cuylle (R2 from Lias trade) should come up next year
Playlable toughness – check
I love Coolie!
Hopefully he amounts to something. They don’t need him next year. I assume he has another year of junior eligibility. No need to rush him. They have more wings than Hooters right now. They can sort some of that out next year.
Ill leave this here. https://twitter.com/nyrstatsinfo/status/1377742604889169922?s=21
So his heat map has improved?
In the either Stomeo or Mika question if only allowed to keep one; Stromeo is making a very strong case to get paid before Mika.
SN
Then who replaces Zibanejad?
Mika has 102 points and is +13.
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