New York Rangers Are Finally Headed Home
by Joe Fortunato on Oct 25, 2011 9:31 AM EDT
in New York Rangers Analysis
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PrintThe New York Rangers finally ended their grueling road trip Monday night with a 2-1 victory over the Winnipeg Jets. The Rangers finish with eight points in seven games, and are 3-2-2 heading into a six-game home-stand starting on Thursday.
I don't think anyone will argue the main reason the Rangers have been able to escape the West with a 3-1 record was because of the combined efforts of the depleted defense and the goaltending.
Although John Tortorella refuses to use the long travel as an excuse (or even talk about it at all) it's quite obviously taken a toll on the team. The Rangers simply look tired from the opening faceoff and that doesn't happen to any team seven games in a row.
The good news is that it's coming to an end.
Join me after the jump for more.
The Rangers will have three days to rest and get back into the swing of things on the East coast. When all is said and done the Rangers will be in New York for just over two weeks, which should be plenty of time to recharge and play John Tortorella hockey.
I understand the past seven games have been frustrating, and I understand that you expect quite a bit more out of this team. I truly believe a ton of the mistakes we saw this road trip were due to fatigue. And, in the end, the Rangers played awful hockey and are still 3-2-2.
If the trend continues throughout this home-stand then there is reason for serious concern. But until the Rangers finally play a stretch of normal hockey, I don't think we can take too much from what we've seen in Europe and on the Western road trip. Granted, there are still concerns, but I want to see how this team does when they're not traveling close to 20-thousand miles in just a few short weeks.
That's not an issue anymore, but playing a complete hockey game should be.
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“Although John Tortorella resumes”
Refuses*
by teknics on Oct 25, 2011 9:34 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
Be careful what you wish for……..
Playing at home has not been easy for our Rangers the last few years, and if they play this way at MSG, it could get ugly fast.
Rangers have Eight points using smoke and mirrors.
Has this team gotten over 20 shots (on net) this year during a game?
We have fantastic goalies and not much more so far this year.
good points
It’s true that home was worse for us last year, but I have a feeling that feeling hearing the garden crowd cheer for them for an entire 2 minutes and 30 seconds will help them a lil bit.
Take it to the net and keep jamming and jamming until somebody comes on you.
- Eddie Olczyk
by Scratch and Snif on Oct 25, 2011 5:50 PM EDT up reply actions
Why do we insist on the dump and chase?
We’d be much better off carrying it across the blue line, firing a shot on net, and looking for a rebound.
Agreed
But that’s not the Tortorella model for this team. The top 2 lines we’ve got should be carrying the puck as much as possible rather than trying to grind in the corners – leave that for Boyle, Feds & Prust. Play to your strengths! Let the skilled guys make skill plays, let the bangers dump and chanse and grind. Is it that complicated to understand this?
It will be good to see them get a home game though. I’m sure they’ll appreciate having 18,000 behind them.
Manning lobs it, Burress alone, touchdown New York!
For the empty net, Mark Messier... do you believe it?! Do you believe it?! He said we will win game 6 - he has just picked up the hat trick!
You can mix the two. It’s obvious that callahan, boyle, fedex, and prust would all be more comfortable dumping and chasing, but the skill guys should be able to carry it across the line.
Take it to the net and keep jamming and jamming until somebody comes on you.
- Eddie Olczyk
by Scratch and Snif on Oct 25, 2011 5:52 PM EDT up reply actions
ugly ugly ugly win but
the Rangers have the best goaltending in the NHL, and additionally with the young defense will keep the team in most or all games this season. However, the long trip has taken a toll and Torts and Richards say it in a round about way.
The one thing the coaching staff did last night that maybe they should keep doing is to keep Boyle on the PP. Positiong his 6 7’ body in front of the net and not to the freaking side will create some more scoring chances. I’m curious to see whether any of the young prospects will be called up by the time the winter classic comes around. Team seems to need scoring but they do have players than can score it is just a case of removing some dead weight of the team like EC and WW. Can Kreider come out any earlier??? joking, just watch the video’s on that kid, he could be something special playing with Richards.
growing pains
when we decided to rebuild a few seasons ago, it began a process—last season was the first one where the infusion of youth and homegrown players was tangible on the NHL level—and everything seemed to break our way—we were winning ugly, pretty, via the shootout, etc.—we all knew we had some problems with skill, but we were still winning with grit.
This season, it isn’t going as well. We have more skill and experience, but something is missing—the magic we all felt last season is not there, it’s the “same old Rangers.”
However, I’m saying there are a lot of different circumstances swirling around this seasons’ team than last year’s—Euro trip, west coast swing, 24/7, injuries, etc. We are learning to play together and still settling in. We are experiencing the growing pains now that we seemed to leap frog last season.
To be perfectly honest, we might miss the playoffs, but i believe that we will be of top playoff team-caliber by the end of the season. Let’s face it; guys that we have factored into our plans for a cup-winning team are still int he juniors/ahl/college. We’re still a few years away.
I agree to an extent with the growing pains, but its not going to take that long for us to get it together for this season. And if we can escape with 8 points out of seven games while playing tired garbage hockey, this team has a very good shot at making the playoffs.
by CrazyRangerFan on Oct 25, 2011 11:39 AM EDT up reply actions
sorry but no way
yea sure theres gonna be growing pains, but you dont throw the money around (richards) that we did and miss the playoffs. we paid callahan to be our captain, we gave duby just as much money to be a secondary scorer. yea kreider and maybe a couple other guys are gonna make us bette when they get here. but this team making the playoffs is unacceptable. they have most of the players that we expect to contend for a cup in the next few years. kris kreider doesnt take us from 10th place to a cup contender. sorry.
I'm saying waht if the pack line played above their capability last year?
Look at how the pack line is playing—what if they are no better than a very very good third line? That means our first line left wing and entire/most of our second line is still in the minors. That doesn’t sound like a cup winning team to me.
Richards is signed for a long ass time—he will still be here when those guys are ready
We're less than 10% into the season
The second line has a ton of time to get better, and I’m sure they will improve over the next couple of weeks.
"Lopez wants it away, and it's hit deep to left center, Andruw Jones on the run, this one has a chance... home run!, Mike Piazza!, and the Mets lead 3 to 2!"
hey i'll be honest
I’ve been known to get caught up in Rangers sensationalism before. I’m just not ready to jump off a cliff if we end up having a bad season.
Yeah, I mean we, as a fanbase, tend to get really high when we're playing well and really low when we're not
However, I am with you on if we don’t have a great season.
I think the Rangers are better than they’ve looked in the last 4 games. Which would mean we are top 8 Eastern Conference team.
"Lopez wants it away, and it's hit deep to left center, Andruw Jones on the run, this one has a chance... home run!, Mike Piazza!, and the Mets lead 3 to 2!"
The Pack line are all at least 2nd liners. Dubi/Cally are certain 40 point players, which alone takes them out of 3rd line territory, before even looking at the fact that Torts buries them in competition the way he buries Staal/Girardi.
At least by Corsi, that line is currently the one dominating territory the most, strange as it may seem. (it’s more through shot suppression than shot generation). If they can pick up their offense, they’ll be just as valuable as always.
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by George E. Ays on Oct 25, 2011 11:05 AM EDT up reply actions
would you agree
that our second line is lacking a dynamic player, though? Seems it’s made of three grinders of above average skill—I’m not questioning their value to this team, it just seems like they are a roving line with no real definition.
Second lines on most elite teams seem to have at least one extremely offensively gifted player—I know our team right now doesn’t really have one to spare, but IMO the pack line will not be together on our cup winning team.
I think that’s the game they play. If put in an offensive system reliant on skill, AA could definitely be a dynamic player. We have seen it before.
But that lines game is to grind and grind and grind. Tire the other team out than score on a centering pass from behind the net.
Maybe in a few years we can have a more “dynamic” team, with the likes of:
Stepan Richards Gaborik
Dubinsky Anisimov Callahan
Kreider Borque Thomas
Hagelin Boyle Prust
But for now, with the team we have and with Torts as coach, we’re going to grind, so even players with good skill are going to struggle. (Besides BR and Gabs, who are allowed to play a skill game).
"Mr. Madison, what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul."
LET'S GO RANGERS!!!
I would agree that for now it lacks one, yes. Anisimov has the ability to be dynamic, but he hasn’t figured it all out yet, he only shows flashes. Maybe he never will, but his underlying numbers scream “future Datsyuk” as much as his boxscore numbers scream “future Antropov.”
I think they can be together on a cup winning team, but in some ways they’re their own worst enemy. They’re so good defensively that the coaching staff relies on them too much to turn them loose offensively. I don’t find it a coincidence that Boyle/Prust’s emergence as defensive specialists came with that line having their most productive seasons.
Now, as much as I say they’re 2nd line players, the Rangers might be their most successful if Cally becomes an elite 3rd liner here, behind Gaborik/Thomas (or even MZA). Projecting a 3rd line of Hagelin-Bourque-Callahan that can take the defensive responsibility off of Dubinsky/Anisimov (who clearly have more offensive talent) is probably when the team will be at it’s best.
As with everything, it’s quite difficult to project anything past a month, let alone the 2+ years before Hagelin/Bourque would be ready to take on such defensive responsibilities, but I think that’s where the potential for improvement lies.
Blueshirt Banter - Where Rangers' Fans Matter
Tracking the Rangers - Numbers don't lie. They just don't agree with you.
Twitter: RangerSmurf
by George E. Ays on Oct 25, 2011 11:29 AM EDT up reply actions
A lot like Kesler in Vancouver. Malhotra came along and freed Kesler to face weaker comp and bam…offensive explosion.
by NTB on Oct 25, 2011 1:25 PM EDT via iPhone app up reply actions
I completely agree.
I suspect that if the Rangers have offered Stralman a “low level” contract, they may be looking to deal for a “dynamic” player. I think one name that may pop up may be Rene Bourque in Calgary, and another may be Bobby Ryan (that is, if the Ducks dip any lower in the standings early).
My guess is, someone like Dave Steckel and David Moss are more likely to be added.
"The winner of the Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award is Number Eight, Brandon Prust!"--Ofc. Colin McDonald, NYPD, April 7, 2011
"I'm a doctor, not a barber, Jim." Dr. McCoy to Captain Kirk
"Thanks, Chris. Enjoy your retirement."
by Danz10 on Oct 25, 2011 10:50 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
that was a reply to Town
and i meant: this team NOT making the playoffs is unacceptable
Hey guys
Sorry if its bad to post this here,
I’m from PPP,
I’m doing a project for a Communications class on the NHL re-alignment,
I would love it if you could fill out this quick survey (seriously, its quick)
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ZGT3DHY
Thanks!
Also, glad to see you guys get the win last night. Hopefully its a turnaround.
Rangers offer Contract to Anton Stralman
Im trying to create a fan post about this but I cant get it to work damn it. Here is the link to Andrew Gross’s Blog
http://blogs.northjersey.com/blogs/rangerrants/rangers_offer_contract_to_d_anton_stralman/
~R.I.P. Derek
~Those Caps fans sure think they can make some noise.... too bad their team can't.
Home Stand Predictions
I think we take 4 out of next 6, and the opinions around here change to the positive.
We win against Toronto, Ottowa, Montreal, Winnipeg.
We come close but lose to San Jose, and Anaheim.
Also, our team gels together more, the PP comes to life, and Dubi puts a few in the net.
"I went to a fight the other night, and a hockey game broke out."
- Rodney Dangerfield
I hate predicting games we win games we lose. Hey we beat Vancouver but lost to Edmonton. Certainly if you asked me I woulda flip flopped and said we will lose to vancouver but beat edmonton.
We are going to go to Philadelphia... and we are going to win.- Glen Sather
by RichieToGabbySCORE on Oct 25, 2011 4:18 PM EDT up reply actions
Why is anyone down on this team?
Look guys, the only city that throws their teams under the bus is BOSTON Teams!! Red Sux did not go to the playoffs, they cried and whined and threw everyone under the bus…Celtics did not go far in the playoffs, threw their players and coaches under the bus…ARE WE BOSTON…Hell No, WE are NY. We WIN, We Lose, WE SUPPORT them. So if ur a boston person, whine all u like!! But this soldier is from NY and i dont put my team down….WHO IS WITH ME?….CAN YOU DIG IT?
I lived in Boston...once.
I am with my Rangers, 110%. My issue isn’t with the whole team; in fact, for once I am happy with Sather’s progress. The organization has never looked more stocked.
My issue, right now, is that there’s a player missing from the top six that will impact the forecheck, and hold up the defensive end of things.
"The winner of the Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award is Number Eight, Brandon Prust!"--Ofc. Colin McDonald, NYPD, April 7, 2011
"I'm a doctor, not a barber, Jim." Dr. McCoy to Captain Kirk
"Thanks, Chris. Enjoy your retirement."
by Danz10 on Oct 25, 2011 10:59 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
people have to calm down, we have 8pts, currently 7th in the East and 6pts out of first. We only played 7 games and all of them on the road, and only two of them we didn’t get points. Why is everyone so mad? we should be grateful we didn’t play ourselves out of the race already. We are still in the thick of it, things are only going to get better from here, and we will have a tremendous season.
Funny how the guy who was on the ice the most; sixty minutes plus; every game...
….except last night, has been the least fatigued out of everyone. Lundqvist must be a superhuman, perhaps one of the lost X-Men.
Anyway, Ranger fans tend to be the most impatient of any group of people. The Ledge-jumpers have to realize the loss of Staal and Sauer has thrown the team into slight disarray; and yet our goals against has not suffered all that much. The Ledge-jumpers also have to realize that the power play is going to take time to get into sync; we’re working in Richards and Del Zotto and other new faces and its quite obvious we’ll be dangerous soon enough. The power plays against the Atlantapeg Threts showed me we are getting there.
My major gripe with the team, is as follows:
I’ve hesitated from griping this because I am not a Stanley Cup winning head coach of an NHL franchise. However, I think that madly shuffling the lines when things aren’t going well is amateurish, grasping-at-straws chaotic crap and I’m tired of it. Artem Anisimov has started terribly. Fine. Is putting him in between Mike Rupp and Kris Newbury really going to help him snap out of it?!?!?!?
I sometimes think John Tortorella is out of his mind. Leave the ’Pack line alone and let them work their way out of the Schnied. shnide? slump whatever..
I want consistent lines and I want them now.
Honestly that’s my main concern too, putting AA on a line with no skill isn’t going to make him start scoring. When he was on that line he started playing harder but then he had to rely on Rupp and Newbury to keep it going and they just can’t.
Leave the lines alone torts.
by teknics on Oct 25, 2011 7:01 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Averaging about 22 shots a game is not going to do it for this team.
I could see it if it were high quality chances…but they are not. Very rarely this season have we seen sustained pressure in the offensive zone. Like the Jets did to us right before Callahan’s (fluke) goal last night. Goaltending has won these games. If we play the eastern conference teams like we did the first seven games, we will be eaten alive. Maybe it will take a little time to start clicking, but from what I have seen it’s not good.
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