|
I have no problems with last nights game.The effort was there, we carried the play from the start, dominated them at even strenght but were unable to get that all important 1st goal vs a team like the Ducks and the Ducks were able to get a soft goal off the long shot by Ozo that deflects off Poti.
The NYR's are actually taking small, positive steps into learning how to become a team that play as a team within a system naturally and that is a very positive sign.You need to be able to consistently win games such as last night and the NYR's did everything they needed to do to achieve that goal except put the puck in the net on one or two of their many chances but if the work ethtic and level of play stay constant as it was last night then the pucks will start going in and the bounces will start going our way through hard work.
The best news of the day was #2 particapating in practice to a degree.He along with Dunny are by far our 2 most important and best players on the team and I really think once Leetch returns to the ice he will have a major impact on every aspect of the game but especially the PP which has killed us thus far.Just 3 or 4 PP goals over 7 games, a very resonable # would have won us pribrably 2 games in this stretch.
With Leetch back there QBing the PP things will be much better and his game breaking abilities in these tight games will be a huge addition.
They very much remain on the learning curve of how to win consistently and within a system but they've shown some very encouraging signs that will only get better as we get key players back(Lindros-Leetch) and continue to grow under Renney's influence.
Games such as last night we will start to win the vast majority of the time.
One side note--Carter is absolutely killing me!!!I can't figure out how this guy can be THIS ineffective. :mad: And it's not just the scoring but him just being a total nonfactor in all 3 zones and every aspect of the game.It's mindboggling the slide he's taken since donning the blueshirt b/c this isn't a washed up Val Kamensky or Mike Keane move but rather he is a guy very much in his prime years and one that has been far more effective on his previous 2 teams with various linemates.
We can't even trade him as the return would be to little to justify moving or rather dumping him as that is what it would become.I just hope this guy does a gut check and starts doing SOMETHING, anything to help this team start winning consistently.
|