Why It’s Them and Not Us

The Montreal Canadiens completed a spectacular comeback in game 7 against the Penguins (no doubt to the delight of Rangers fans). After two rounds they have ousted the presumptive best two teams in the East including the defending Stanley Cup champs. However, Montreal limped into the playoffs and had at best, a so-so regular season. Entering spring hockey The Habs were seemingly in a very similar spot as the Rangers. So… what is the difference?

Systems (point A – you’ll see what I mean later on…)

In my opinion, the main difference between The Rangers and the Canadiens has been the system. Each Hab this post season had a role and stuck to it. They all played within their system and its working. Crosby and Malkin were largely spectators this series thanks to the Canadiens focusing on shutting them down. At times throughout this year Ranger fans have bemoaned the fact Tortorella didn’t emphasise his system and the longer the season went on the more we were reminded of Tom Renney hockey – not Torts’ system. Well, success encourages belief and with the Caps series behind them every Canadien was on the same page. Next year from a Rangers point of view it is critical Tortorella gets his team to buy into his system. It’s equally important that he enforces it all year long and doesn’t revert to a plan B.

Contributions throughout

Dominic Moore (remember him?), Maxim Laperriere, Andrei Kostitsyn, PK Subban, Josh Gorges… Montreal got contributions throughout the line up as well as from their ’go to guys’. Knock one player down (Spacek, Gill missed time) another stood up to be counted (PK Subban). Parenteau aside, when loss of form or injury struck and the Rangers had to call up players, generally the call ups/replacements were not effective. Sanguinetti, Locke, Heikkenen, Byers, Eriksson and Potter totalled 31 games in call ups which amounted to 1 goal, 2 assists. That’s not good enough. Whether through more balanced ice time for the lines, contributions throughout the line up next year need to be there. It was only at the end we saw an effective (productive) 4th line.

Scott Gomez

Yes Scott Gomez. Im not bigging him up individually but the fact is Montreal has a center that is capable of getting the puck to their snipers. Gomez is around a point/game this playoff and they’re nearly all assists. Consequently Cammalleri leads the playoffs in goals and was huge against the Pens and Gionta also has 7 goals. Gomez will never earn his contract but this playoff (when comparing The Rangers to the Habs) he exposes our big weakness of no front line center. Neither Cammalleri nor Gionta are Marian Gaborik but they DO have help.

The D – and the right kind of D

Just like Gomez will never earn his deal, Josh Gorges and Hal Gill will never be Bobby Orr but the thing is, see point A. They have a role and they do it admirably. Gill was brought in for his size, his shot blocking and his defence first conscience. Gorges also has size and is more than happy to take a slapshot to the chest. Same goes for O’Byrne. Where are the Rangers equivalents? There aren’t any. Despite serious injuries on D the Habs haven’t panicked but have played within their system which has allowed individuals to play their natural games and cope with the losses. The Montreal D was constructed appropriately with roles in mind for each individual.

So….

The Eastern Conference playoffs have been personally frustrating if only for the fact the Rangers (atleast equal in pure talent, if not in possession of more than Montreal ) are being shown what is capable when a team plays to a plan while Montreal are showing the Rangers exactly how much the Rangers main deficiencies have really cost them. These days in a cap era you don’t have to be the 1975 Canadiens or ‘88 Oilers. There are opportunities even for teams with flaws. Would it be us in the Conference Final if we had a #1 center and a defensive linchpin? I hope you’ve been watching Mr Sather and Mr Tortorella.

Controling Their Own Fate

Last night presented the worst possible scenario for the Rangers. They lost, didn’t look good in the loss, didn’t get a point, and the Flyers won. Now, the Rangers are three points out of a playoff spot with three games to play. They play their game in hand on the Flyers tonight against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Rangers absolutely must get at least one point in this game, or their playoff hopes all but vanish, as they will not be able to catch the Flyers in the standings (they hold the tiebreaker in wins). Despite the urgency, the Rangers are in the rare position that they still control their own fate.

The Rangers, in short, need a miracle. This miracle begins and ends with tonight’s game against Toronto. Should the Rangers come away with at least a point, then they can clinch the playoffs by sweeping Philly in the home-and-home Friday and Sunday. This is the best case scenario, as it means the Rangers still control their own fate.

Should the Rangers come up short against Toronto, then they will need a miracle of biblical proportions. They will no longer be able to catch the Flyers, but they will still be able to catch the Bruins, with some help from the Northeast Division. Again, the Rangers would need to sweep the Flyers in the home-and-home, but the Bruins would also need to lose their remaining three games (vs. Buf, vs. Car, @ Was), while getting a maximum of one point in those games. A single win, or two overtime losses would spell the end of the Rangers season.

The Rangers still control their own fate, and three wins in a row would cement their standing in the postseason. That is no tall task though. The Leafs are playing much better of late, and will not just roll over for the Rangers. Then there are those Flyers, who are also fighting for their playoff lives. Those two games against the cavemen could get very ugly. For now though, the Rangers need to concentrate on Toronto, and two points.

Opportunity Knocks Hard

Last night, the Islanders took care of business against the Flyers, the Panthers shut out the Bruins, and the Thrashers couldn’t get it done against the Caps. Those are three teams that are all fighting for the playoffs, and none were able to get it done. The Rangers now sit just four points back of both the Flyers and the Bruins, with a game in hand against both. They also sit just two points back of Atlanta, with two games in hand there. Although the Thrashers are still in ninth place, the Rangers need them to lose as well.

Tonight, the Rangers start a back to back trip in Florida against the Lightning and the Panthers, both below the Rangers in the standings. Suffice it to say, coming away without a point in any of these games would be the nail in the coffin to the Rangers. They need at least three points in this trip to remain in contention. It would leave them within striking distance of the Flyers, whom they have a much publicized home and home against to wrap up the season. For those games to mean something, the Rangers need to take care of business this weekend.

Of course, the Rangers are going to need a lot of help to get to that point as well. They will need a struggling Montreal team to beat the Flyers in regulation tonight. That game means more in the sense that the Canadiens would be preventing Philly from getting points, which is also very crucial. Looking ahead to Saturday, the surging Maple Leafs will need to beat those pesky Bruins to give the Rangers even more playoffs hope.

The Rangers have been surging since that critically damaging loss to the Bruins (which by the way, a win there would have the Rangers in the 8 seed of the playoff race, holding the tiebreaker on both Atlanta and Boston). They have taken seven out of a possible eight points in their past four games, including impressive wins over the Devils and Islanders. According to Sports Club Stats, the Rangers can finish at 87 points and have an 80% chance of making the playoffs. That means finishing at 4-1-1 (80% chance of postseason play) or 3-0-3 (75% chance of postseason play). They can really just make it easy on themselves and bring a solid 60 minute effort for the remaining six games and just winning out. But these are the Rangers, we are in for one bumpy ride. Have your defibrillators ready.

Twenty Games Left

The Olympics are over, and the Rangers push for the playoffs will begin tomorrow in Ottawa. The Rangers currently sit in 10th in the East, with a record of 28-27-7 and 63 points. This puts the Rangers one point behind the 8th place Montreal Canadiens, with a game in hand. The Rangers will also have to leap frog the surprising Tampa Bay Lightning, who also have 63 points, but two games in hand on the Rangers.

In the next 40 days, our beloved Blueshirts will play 20 games. That is a possible 40 points to be earned by the Rangers in this stretch. Considering the way the standings sit, I am guessing that a total of 95 points to be guaranteed a playoff spot, but 93 points should be enough for the #8 seed. That means the Rangers will need to earn 32 points to be in, and 30 points to be on the bubble. That is no easy task.

Of these 20 games, a whopping 12 of them will be against teams currently in the playoffs. An additional two games are against teams just out of the playoffs, and only 8 of these games will be at the friendly confines of MSG. Putting these games aside for a moment, this means that the Rangers must, absolutely must, win all six games against the non-playoff teams (St. Louis, Islanders x 2, Toronto x 2, Florida). That gives the Rangers 12 points. Of the remaining 14 games, the Rangers will need 18 more points out of the possible 28 to just be on the bubble for the post season.

There are two separate stretches that will define the Rangers playoff drive, the first one begins tomorrow in Ottawa, where the Rangers begin a stretch of five games where the weakest opponent will be the Buffalo Sabres, who are securely in the playoffs. The second stretch begins on March 25, where the Rangers will play six straight road games, of which three will be against playoff teams.

The team is going to need stellar performances from Henrik Lundqvist, but will also need some quality starts from newly acquired Alex Auld. If the Rangers add some offense and a crease clearing defenseman at the deadline, then anything is possible.

Good win but where does that leave us?

A good win against the Lightning even if it, again, was devoid of a complete 60 minute effort.

The game perhaps left more questions than answers though;

• This 3 in 4 stretch. What does this make the Rangers come deadline day – buyers or sellers? you know my opinion (sell, sell, sell)
• Where is Christensen’s best place on the roster? top line, top 6? 3rd line? Clearly he has talent (as his 18 goal season in Pittsburgh proved) but to be a top 4 team in the East does it reflect on our depth if he’s permanently a top line player?
• Will Henrik get any rest as we battle for 7th, 8th? Clearly its going to be a scrap all the way. Does Torts have the guts to dress Chad Johnson for atleast 2 full games?The King will need a break at some point but we’ll need every point here on in.

Finally… this team really is at a cross roads and as a fan it’s very frustrating. Against the Pens in particular but also against Jersey and 40(ish) minutes against Tampa this team showed it can (should) be a top 6 team in the East…. but then you have the Nashville yawner inbetween. Dare I give him some slack, but this team isnt an easy one for Sather to gauge (though that is mostly his fault in the first place)…..

So what now?

After another listless, lifeless game where only really the King distinguished himself what next for the Rangers?

If there was one thing to come out of last night’s loss (and it wasnt the Rangers finishing ability) it was the fact that this loss should push the Rangers closer to being sellers. In my opinion, the right direction. Even though they’re still in with a playoff chance in the comparatively weak East, when we look at those teams around the Rangers in the standings it doesnt look great….

The Flyers in 7th, have 2 games in hand and are 4 points up on the Rangers. 8th placed Tampa have the same advantages as Philly and both have momentum and are playing well. Boston in 9th and back to winning ways have 2 points more than the Rangers and also 2 games in hand.

How bad is our form? In the East only the Islanders have as few points as the Rangers in the past 10.

Lets not forget the Rangers next go to Pittsburgh to face the Pens where 2 points are anything but a given and very unlikely (sorry, i am nothing if not honest). The game to close out league play prior to the Olympics against an in form Tampa squad is huge. Could the entire season (and subsequent roster moves) rest on that game or will Sather act before Sunday?

Here’s hoping Sather does the right thing.

1 Step Back To Take Several Forward?

Hi all! Just like to say im thrilled to be able to post here on Blueseatblogs, my favourite Rangers blog. I love the honesty and intelligence of the blog and it makes me keep coming back. I write for nasports.co.uk  which is a website aimed at North American sports for, in the first instance UK fans, but also anyone who enjoys the sports we cover. Anyway…..

In recent weeks rumblings are abound from Ranges fans that the Rangers should be sellers at the deadline or whenever the trade party gets into full swing. Hell, even the NY media are demanding the same thing. Are you, as a fan, willing to accept a losing season because we’ve blown up and started again? Personally I am. So long as it’s for the right reasons…

Its one thing to start, and then emphasise, a rebuild it’s quite another to be horrible for half a decade (take a bow Pittsburgh, Washington). I won’t accept being that bad and just taking it on the chin and I don’t see it as necessary. The Pens were very lucky that when they did suck there were generational talents available in the draft however if I was a Pens fan I would be saying to myself ‘you know what? We’re only good because we were that bad!’

Personally I don’t see why the Detroit (and more recently the Sharks) model cant be followed. A core roster, solid drafting, timely additions and good personnel – as a fan I’d take much more satisfaction out of that. This is why I don’t think long term pain is necessary for the Rangers as I see some very important parts already in place. The Rangers have a good young core (think Henrik, Gaborik, Staal, Del Zotto, Callahan and Dubinsky) and in the past 3-4 years they’ve made good draft picks including; Stepan, Bourque, Grachev, Anisimov etc. It’s the (free agent) additions that Sather gets wrong. Do we have a good staff? Well their track record says so. Are they right for NY? I say give them time. Bear in mind this team or the core of it is very young - patience is required - but we all appreciate patience is at a premium in NY and with Sather is around.

Back to my point. To what depths will you watch your team go to and at what cost?

Remember the move New Jersey made when they shipped ex Ranger Malakhov’s deal to the Sharks for a 1^st rounder?  It cost them a very good pick but they rid themselves of a major headache. So would you be willing to accept, for example, Sheldon Souray for Wade Redden Michael Roszival AND a 1^st round pick plus perhaps a 2^nd? It’s a lot to give up (and that kind of deal may cost more) but the team rid themselves of a lot of cap and get a 1 year deal coming back. Its only theory but I use it as an example.  Do you have any ideas?

I want this team to take a clear direction. Lose and don’t stack up (a la Antropov last year) and instead sell. Win and stay pat; back the team already on the ice. Don’t move picks or prospects for a quick fix. Take what comes.

If we don’t make the playoffs this year I wont be (too) disappointed so long as I see the youth on the team develop. A good boxer can take a hit and comeback. One bad season wouldn’t destroy us. I really want a high pick this year. I want the team to move more players, get more picks. I want what’s best for the New York Rangers.

Quick heads up; i’ll be posting my thoughts on the Olympics here at BSB so hope you’ll stop by read and contribute!

I Hate When I’m Right

I really do. Watching Crosby hoist the Cup hurts. At least he didn’t win the Conn Smythe.

By the way, Gary Bettman is a tool. Can you promote Cindy Crosby more? “You will be the youngest captain to hoist the Stanley Cup?” Really? Who cares? He’s a great player, sure, but was the necessary?

I’m bitter. Ugh.

Fleury’s Redemption

What a game by Marc-Andre Fleury. I mean, wow. He followed up his abysmal performance in Game 5 with theis stellar performance last night, and stole Game 6 for the Penguins. You could tell he was on his game early, and that breakaway save on Cleary, that would have tied the game, was huge. This really have been an exciting series, and we all knew it had to go to Game 7.

True to my prediction, I think the Pens will manage to win Game 7, at the Joe. I can’t imagine an entire Finals where the home team wins all seven games. But the fact that the home team has won all six games so far just highlights the brilliant coaching done by both Babcock and Bylsma. Hockey is the only sport where home-ice is actually an advantage, because it’s written into the rules: the last line change. This series has been a series of matchups, with the home team always winning.

Game 7 is Friday at 8pm. You should be watching. This will be a fantastic game.

Wings Put Pens on Brink

This is a day late, but I was traveling all day yesterday, so I didn’t have time to update the blog at all. Anyway, the Wings destroyed the Pens on Saturday night, and Fleury looked like a peewee goalie. Those were some extreme softies. As alarming as Fleury’s play was, it was just as alarming how much of an effect Datsyuk had on the Pens. He leveled Malkin, who had been red hot, and really set the tone for the game. He is such a complete two-way player. He did it all; two assists, drawing penalties, and shutting down the other half of the Crosby/Malkin combo.

The Pens are in trouble, but I still stand by my prediction earlier that the team that wins Game 6 wins the series. Fleury needs to make up for his awful performance on Saturday, and steal Game 6. It’s quite obvious that Crosby cannot solve Zetterberg, and it looks like Malkin won’t be able to solve Datsyuk, even though his line controlled a good portion of the first period.

And how about that Cindy Crosby and the vicious slash he took at Zetterberg? Considering how often Crosby whines to the refs, how about showing some restraint and professionalism and not take a cheap two-handed slash to someone who is clearly shutting you down? If you want the calls to go for you, then you can’t be giving cheap shots like that.

Game 6 on Tuesday will be a dogfight. If you haven’t been watching the series, you should tune in.