The Playoff Day Musings

Well today is an interesting day is it not? It’s the opening playoff game day and the first playoff game day starting at home in, oh, only about 15 years…. Let’s hit the musings.

My initial thought as I considered tonight’s game was that I wanted to see the Rangers come out strong, dominate and dictate the tempo. Play their game. If they can do that then force themselves on to Ottawa early it will bode well.

Rangers come in to the series losing two in a row. Ottawa have lost three in a row. Not ideal situations for either team even if the circumstances were different.

I’ve written 107 words before I typed Chris Kreider. That’s impressive, no? I loved listening to him talking to the media. He came across as focussed, within himself and knew how to answer certain questions. He didn’t commit or promise the earth. In all Kreider came across as a mature young man and if he’s mentally ready to go a long with his NHL ready body he could be a great addition.

More on Kreider: I, like Dave, think he plays. I think he’s a player Ottawa won’t have been able to plan for like they can the rest of the Rangers and while they may have seen Frozen Four footage or from the WJC he’s certainly more of a closed book. Could that be an edge?

If I had to pick my round one playoff MVP I’m going with the captain; Mr Callahan. There won’t be a facet of the game in this series that he doesn’t have an influence on.

Of all the other Eastern Series I worry the most for the Panthers and I fear the Bruins more than the Pens based on one thing: There’s a very good chance the Pens (if they even advance at all) get a royal beat down in that series – playoff grind.

I started writing this Wednesday night. I then started watching the Pens game. After the first period I went to bed. It was almost 2 am and I didn’t want to watch the inevitable, at 3-0. Consider me stunned (and highly amused) when I woke to see the final score.

I don’t think the Rangers PP needs to be great to beat the Sens. I do think the penalty kill does however. It’s far more crucial given Spezza and Karlsson’s presence.

Wager Time: I have a Canadian friend I met in New York in November. He’s a Canuck and we have a pretty cool wager: Whoever’s team goes the deepest; the loser must buy the winner an expensive bottle of whisky. Is my faith in the Rangers over the ‘Nucks misplaced? No. I’ve requested a bottle of Blue Label and after the Canucks loss in game one I’m highly excited for my prize!

Why does Torts always have to have an edge in his interviews? I mean, the club just signed a big prospect for the playoffs. I appreciate he wants to avoid distractions, expectations kept to a minimum but one or two short questions isn’t unreasonable. I love Torts for so many reasons but sometimes he’s a little too cranky.

I’m hard on him a lot but I really hope to see a strong response from Dubinsky after his regular season. First of all he needs a great playoff if he’s to remain a Ranger but secondly, an in form Dubinsky makes a deep playoff run much more realistic.

Questions:

• Which center will score more: Brad Richards or Jason Spezza?
• How many points will Erik Karlsson score in the series?
• Which NHL player (either conference) will lead the playoffs in scoring?
• How many games will it take for Chris Kreider to get his chance?
• Cheeky one: Who scores more playoff points this year; Kreider or Dubinsky?

I couldn’t be more excited for tonight’s game one. The playoff atmosphere will be off the charts.

Prediction Time: Rangers 3 Senators 1.

Thomas and McColgan look to make impact

Amid the hullabaloo of the President’s trophy race and the playoff shake down was the fact two Rangers draft picks played their first pro games this past weekend for the CT Whale. Christian Thomas, fresh from the Oshawa Generals, and Shane McColgan from the Kelowna Rockets both debuted in the 3-0 loss to Wilkes-Barre and will likely play out the AHL season dressed as members of the Whale.

While both players should benefit from the experience it (the end of this season, playoffs inclusive) could become a pivotal period for Christian Thomas. McColgan, drafted in 2011 has more time on his side. Thomas however, will have seen guys like Carl Hagelin establish themselves quickly in New York and won’t have missed the way the Rangers have pursued Chris Kreider for his contract signature.

Thomas who was drafted in 2010, a year earlier than McColgan, needs to make an impact sooner rather than later to avoid possibly being the forgotten prospect. Many believe Thomas was a victim of the rulebook and that his year spent in the OHL last season slowed up his development. Due to league rules Thomas wasn’t able to go to Connecticut as hoped.

Thomas was considered ready for the AHL last year and the momentum he would have carried from his 50 goal junior season back then has surely gone. While he produced a solid year (just gone) for a middling Oshawa side he didn’t nearly have the same kind of success or impact.

Thomas could still be a quality player and a success for the Rangers. His main issue may be those prospects around him making the Rangers before him and reducing his chance to land in New York, making him expendable. It may already have happened. His perhaps tenuous position in the franchise is more likely a result of quality depth among prospects than it is about him personally.

Thomas has been held scoreless and registered one shot in his first two games as a Whale member. McColgan was -1 and hasn’t registered a shot and both players have another three regular season games to try and make an immediate impact for the Whale. It will be interesting to monitor the kids in the minors even when the big club is trying to make playoff noise themselves.

The Staal Factor

While this season the Rangers top defensemen have undoubtedly been the Dan Girardi and Ryan McDonagh tandem, perhaps one of the most key aspects of a successful first round series against the Ottawa Senators may be the play (and subsequent impact) of Marc Staal.

Without doubt Staal is and has been a number one defenseman but as everyone knows, injury has meant his play has taken a while to get close to his own high standards. Indeed, he’s still not the Marc Staal of old however his play has been steadily improving of late and how Staal handles the quick and tricky Senators offense could have a huge bearing on the series.

Every Ranger fan know of the team’s 1-2-1 record in the four games against the Sens this year and will be acutely aware of how the team has struggled to score against them.  Amid the 14 goals credited to the Sens in the season series it perhaps went unnoticed that Girardi was a -3 in those four games while Ryan McDonagh was -1.

Both players were also held scoreless despite providing the Rangers with solid offensive seasons with 29 and 32 points respectively. Clearly neither player has produced their best performances against the Sens and therefore how guys like Mike Del Zotto, but especially Marc Staal, cope in the series will be essential. The Rangers don’t want the top pairing munching 30+ minutes a night if they have realistic designs of a deep run.

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Game Preview: Rangers/Capitals

Standings: Capitals (41-32-8), Rangers (51-23-7)

NYR Leading Scorer: Marian Gaborik (41-35-76)
WSH Leading Scorer: Alexander Ovechkin (37-27-64)

NYR Goaltender: Henrik lundqvist (61 GS, 1.93 GAA, .931 SV%)
WSH Goaltender:  Braden Holtby (6 GS, 2.79 GAA, .910 SV%)

Rangers Lines (probable):

Carl Hagelin-Brad Richards-Marian Gaborik
Brandon Dubinsky-Brian Boyle-Ryan Callahan
Artem Anisimov-Derek Stepan-Ruslan Fedotenko
Mike Rupp-John Mitchell-Brandon Prust

Defense:

Ryan McDonagh-Dan Girardi
Michael Del Zotto-Anton Stralman
Marc Staal-Stu Bickel

Henrik Lundqvist gets the start

Probable Scratches/Injuries:  Mike Sauer (concussion), Mats Zuccarello (wrist), Steve Eminger (ankle), Jeff Woywitka (healthy), John Scott (healthy)

Preview: The Rangers play for home ice throughout  the playoffs in tonight’s matchup. Yes, the President’s trophy. There’s plenty at stake for both teams with the added intrigue of a preview for each club of their potential (likely) first round opponents. Derek Stepan figures to be a game time decision while the Caps are decimated at the goal tending position with Vokoun and Neuvirth both injured.

Not That Crazy A Thought: Marian Gaborik establishes a new career high in goals scored.

Flyers making Sather look good

With the recent signing/extension of Nicklas Grossman the Philadelphia Flyers achieved three things. First of all they overpaid for a good but not elite defensive defenseman, secondly they gave themselves potential cap headaches this summer with the likes of Matt Carle, Jaromir Jagr and Jakub Voracek to re-sign (headaches could disappear depending on the Pronger situation) and finally they made Glen Sather once again look like an astute general manager.

Dan Girardi has played an All Star calibre season, has been an absolute rock on the blue line and is once again close to a 30 point season proving he is effective at both ends of the ice. With that all considered, comparing his deal to Grossman’s new deal of $3.5m, Sather managed to produce a bargain with the Girardi deal.

Girardi’s deal comes in at $3.25m for another couple of seasons and his deal in addition to Marc Staal’s (a very reasonable cap hit of $3.9m when health and form allow) are blue line reasons why Sather won’t struggle to reward the likes of Mike Del Zotto and Brandon Prust this summer.

Cap Geek list Dan Girardi as a comparable to Nicklas Grossman but really comparing Girardi to the Swede in anything other than price tag is doing Girardi a disservice. Girardi is a much more rounded player than Grossman. He out hits, out blocks and out scores Grossman and very few players in the entire league play the same minutes as Girardi. Who’s worth more? Girardi without question.

Next season including Pronger, the Flyers have over 20 million committed to their blue line – quite a chunk. The Rangers, without factoring in a raise for Del Zotto and adding another defenseman ‘only’ have approximately 10 million committed to their blue line. I know which blue line I would rather have right now. Keep up the good work this summer Mr Sather.

Musings; Playoffs anyone?

It’s late and for that I apologise. On to the Musings.

The way Brad Richards has taken his game to a higher level recently is why the Rangers gave him the big dollars. He’s peaking at the right time heading in to the playoffs and the Rangers have a (legitimate) first line for the first time since the Jagr-Nylander-Straka years.

Ryan Callahan deserves a 30 goal season; hopefully he bags one in the next two games. If you could re-do the 2004 NHL draft there is no way he’d last in to the fourth round. He’d be a nailed on first rounder.

Rick Carpiniello recently discussed the Rangers passing ability. I think it’s underrated and has clearly improved this season. The Rangers may not be as skilled as the Red Wings or the Penguins but they don’t get the credit they deserve in regard to their skill level.

Hopefully fans (the team sure won’t) don’t overlook the Capitals should they be the first round match up. They have underachieved all year but are remarkably talented and could easily go deep. They’re a huge potential banana skin for the Rangers.

If the Rangers make some noise in the playoffs they’ll do so because Marian Gaborik is scorching hot. There are very few players in the entire league playing better right now. His pace makes people back off him and he has the talent to back it up. Right now, it’s an absolute joy to watch him on the ice.

Can you imagine how dangerous the Rangers could be if Artem Anisimov and Brandon Dubinsky ever find some offensive consistency?

Ryan McDonagh: Within the next five years he’ll be a Norris Trophy candidate. That’s how good he can become.

NHL.com recently tipped Jon Quick to pip Lundqvist for the Vezina. While he’s a quality goalie, he’s the beneficiary of a stingy system and doesn’t have to face the ridiculously deep Atlantic division so often like Lundqvist has. If Hank doesn’t win it this year he may never get it; how good does he have to be?

Wonder if any of Woywitka, Eminger or Stralman will be back next year?

Question Time:

• Yes or No: Does Lundqvist retire as a Ranger? Does he get his number hanging from the ceiling?
• Will Marian Gaborik have a 50 goal season as a Ranger?
• Will the Rangers bring back Jon Mitchell next season?
• Brand Dubinsky or Anisimov; which will be an ex Ranger sooner?
• Who will be the Rangers highest scoring defenseman in the playoffs?

Rangers take on the Pens today. I’m expecting fireworks. Not a bad game at all to rest Lundqvist.

Should the Rangers get the Caps, it could add a huge dollop of intrigue to game 82 of the regular season. Do the teams try and beat each other up ahead of their series? Do the teams rest players, starting goal tenders or change up the special teams personnel? An interesting game to coach…

Rangers on the road; would It matter?

Do the media and Box office have too much influence over the NHL?

Led by Rick Carpiniello at his Rangers Report blog, rumours are beginning to circulate that the Rangers are considering (somewhat) giving up home ice advantage due to contractual commitments (concerts) at the Garden, the condensed NBA season schedule and of course, NBC’s television scheduling demands.

If true, this will create quite a stir amongst Rangers fans and crank up the negative feelings towards NBC whose prime concern is being able to show both the Rangers series and the Pens – Flyers (surely a big ratings draw). The initial rumour/suggestion can be read in Carpiniello’s blog and would see the Rangers still retain game 7 at home if needed.

Rangers fans shouldn’t necessarily see it all as a negative however. Change can be a good thing, even if it is temporary change. At the end of the day, we’re still discussing the second best road team in the NHL starting on the road. This isn’t exactly the 11 win Columbus Blue Jackets giving up home ice to Vancouver.

If the Rangers did end up starting on the road for two, before apparently three straight at home, and they could just split that pair it could even be advantageous given the team’s strength at home this season. What this all does suggest however is the league’s desperation to get in bed with NBC and hints at their attempts, regardless of the means, of increasing exposure to the league. Sometimes that’s a good thing sometimes that’s a bad thing.

…..Or is it just an April Fool’s joke?……

Boyle on the rise – playoff key?

In his first two seasons in New York Brian Boyle seemed to run out of steam towards the end of the season, at least offensively. This year he’s getting better as the Rangers approach the regular season finish line; as 3 goals in 4 games and an increased physical presence would suggest.

Boyle is looking more physically engaged, is a reliable faceoff performer and all of a sudden is beginning to flash his offensive side again. He’ll never be a good finisher – in fact he is anything but – however Boyle can create offense simply by using his natural attributes by using that massive frame of his and getting to the net as much as possible. His goal against the Jets Wednesday night was all about Boyle being up close and winning battles.

The most exciting thing about Boyle returning to some kind of offensive consistency is the mismatches he can then create. For the most part this season, teams haven’t given his line much (if any) respect in regard to what they can do in the opposing end and teams would therefore stack their talent up against the Rangers best. This would naturally increase the difficulty for Gaborik and company.

With Boyle suddenly getting hot his line could be a key side-note of a successful playoff run, and not for their defense. Tortorella recently bemoaned the frailties the Boyle line were showing defensively. However if they are better offensively, almost by default they are more secure defensively. The big Boston man won a key faceoff before his goal, evidencing that he is a key performer in the circle and should his offense draw more attention he won’t just be getting draws in the defensive zone as has been the recent trend.

Teams often have success in the playoffs because of their depth and the ability of the unsung types to step forward when goals become increasingly scarce. If Boyle can sustain some kind of offensive consistency he could just become that unsung hero the Rangers look for in the playoffs.

Rangers Outlast Jets – Recap

Excuse the briefness of the recap today guys, Dave had the audacity to be out on his birthday and none of us could see the entire game from the beginning so here’s just a few thoughts from yours truly from what I did see.

The importance of discipline? The Rangers were not good in the first period but those penalties really did turn the tide and momentum all in the Jets way and that was exhibit A for why this team has to stay disciplined going forward.

That said, the penalty kill had an immediate opportunity to atone for the night in Minnesota and did so remarkably well. Consider the Penalty kill back on its game.

We’ve almost run out of superlatives for Ryan McDonagh yet it’s scary to think he has only recently passed 100 career NHL games. In his first full year he has a 30 point season which is evidence he has great ability both ends of the ice. If he carries this rate of development up he may be Sather’s best acquisition as Rangers GM and there have been many good ones.

Why should you be excited about this team? It was the second of back to backs, the momentum was all against them against a team strong at home and they were two down middle of the second. It clearly didn’t faze them. They found a way to win. They showed desire. If this team can continue to have this kind of back bone it bodes so well for the future.

Ryan Callahan is the best captain in the NHL. If he’s not the best, then there are very few that can match him. He literally does (and did) it all for the Rangers. He deserves a 30 goal season merely for the added recognition it will give him and his offensive ability.

Brad Richards is truly buzzing on the puck lately. His confidence level is off the charts and is actively taking people on with the puck and creating space and opportunities all the time; great timing with the playoffs looming.

The powerplay looked good against the Jets. The second goal was a result of great movement and puck retention. The Jets looked exhausted before the puck broke to Stepan who has an underrated shot that he should use more.

Michael Del Zotto has 38 points in 72 games, as a 21 year old. I’ll say no more. If you follow me on Twitter you know my feelings on the haters and whiners.

Dubinsky is running out of time isn’t he? If he hasn’t already.

Final Thought:

The Jets had their moments and the Rangers struggle to handle guys like Evander Kane while Blake Wheeler and Bryan Little give the Jets some legitimate offensive potential but whether it was the Rangers conditioning, their superior depth or their greater desire, they deserved to win this game. It was a character building game and keeps the Pens at arm’s length. A great win on the end of a back to back.

Three Stars:

• Ryan Callahan (who else?)
• Brian Boyle (two way threat when he wants to be)
• Mike Del Zotto (a difference maker)

Next Up: Montreal at home, a very winnable game for your Rangers. 

Will Kreider vault straight on to the top line?

Rick Nash. Sorry, couldn’t resist. Some people didn’t want Nash at the deadline and those fans got their wish. Until he lands somewhere else however, he will be intensely linked with the Rangers and should they indeed land the uber-talented power forward he’ll be the Rangers de-facto left winger for half a decade.

Enter Chris Kreider. He may have something to say about Nash. In fact, the more big games Kreider has (like the two goal game against Air Force) the less likely it is Glen Sather revisits a possible Nash acquisition. Certainly, the buzz around Kreider in regard to his immediate NHL ability is growing by the game.

Kreider is a man-child that will physically cope with the NHL from day one. However, the Rangers opportunity to win is opening earlier than many anticipated thanks to this season and it’s a legitimate debate to ask what Kreider can bring from day one (and I don’t mean as a guest star in this season’s playoff production).

Look around at some comparables. James Van Riemsdyk and Chris Kreider are both physically similar in stature, both have been strong college performers and both have been hugely anticipated entering the pro ranks. Yet it took van Riemsdyk quite a while to adjust to being a regular contributor at the NHL level and you can argue he joined a more talented team when he joined the Flyers. You could also argue ‘JVR’ still hasn’t quite lived up to his billing consistently.

So what can be expected from Krieder next season? Does the mere presence of world class speed make the difference between his ability to thrive immediately compared to Van Riemsdyk’s entry to the NHL? Will that speed singlehandedly land him a top line assignment and render the Nash debate unnecessary?

Another comparison may be Phil Kessel (bear with me here). Kessel is another player that was strong in the college game and possessed crazy speed as he entered the NHL. Although one dimensional compared to the player Kreider projects to be, many anticipated Kessel’s speed would be the X-factor. It wasn’t and he struggled through an 11 goal, 29 point rookie season.

Kreider appears more mature at this stage of his development. He’s done things his way, at his pace and appears ready for the Rangers. He’s physically better than Kessel and faster than Van Riemsdyk. He’s played at every stage showing improvement and don’t underestimate how his senior internal experience (13 games at World Championships, five points) will help him cope with the pro ranks.

The thing that needs to be remembered however is while Kreider appears ready the Van Riemsdyk and Kessel examples prove that it may not be an overnight success for Kreider. The expectation is huge, the lust after the Cup is growing and Kreider will likely hit some speed bumps along the way.

Is Kreider ready to take over a top six spot on the Rangers? Despite many people expecting it, in all honesty it’s still far too early to tell. So don’t expect the Nash rumours to stop any time soon and let’s not scream mercy the first time Kreider has a two game scoring slump.