And lastly the thing that made me upbeat the most was despite all the skill and guys appearing to be on their way to getting on the same page and playing as a team I though about #2 not even being out there and what the guy who is by far our best D if not played will add once he returns especially on the PP w/Kovie on the other point and Poti replacing AK on the 2nd unit while Leetch stays for the full PP.
i thought leetch and AK both play the LD side. if AK and poti have such great chemistry, could we just cycle the three for the PP? or even pair leetch with someone else? after all, two strong PP units wouldn't hurt.
First and foremost, any enthusiasm has to be tempered as this was only a preseason game and against a Triple A team at best. However, there were some good indications and one major bad one. First the bad,
1. WAY too many penalties. Simon is going to be a minor penalty taking machine this year. Some of them, I admit I do not mind. I think that the Eric's first penalty is the type that is ok every now and then. It was the one when he racked the other players face with his stick. It was a "mean" penalty and I don't mind those every now and then. Especially out of Lindros. If you want to be a big, mean team, then you are going to take mean penaties every now and then. Some of the others had to go. Bobo slashing right in front of the ref when the team is already down 2 players was outright moronic. Keep taking that many penalties a night and we are once again going to lead the league in goals allowed.
2. Dunahm played well. BUT, he has got to get a better grip on some of those rebounds.
The good:
1. Good to see Lindros playing a big, mean game. It really does look like he was on a mission.
2. Liked 2 things about the PP. I loved Kovie on the point and I loved BIG Holik in front of the net.
3. I admit I was agaist Rosie, but he DOES look like he has chemistry w/ Lindros. Unexplainable. IF he had not missed the net so much, he would have had 5 goals.
4. Ditto for Hlavac. I liked Jannae but thought him done after the stints in Vancouver & Carolina. But he DOES seem to have chemistry w/ Nedved. Unexplainable. IF his aim was better, he'd have himself a hat trick.
5. LOVED to see DeVo stick up for Poti. It's plays like that that will have him being cheered for.
6. Again, I know that it was against a minor league team, but the whole concpet of a team defense did not look bad.
7. Lundmark looks like a natural fit w/ Holik.
Again, it was only preseason and a B team at best, but there were positive indicators here.
3. Man, whats with Hlavac's shot? He missed the net by a wide margin several times on the powerplay.
He was really the only disappointment on the night. Could have been some jitters coming back to MSG, I dunno.
The Rangers needed a game like this against a weak opponent. Everyone gained confidence and got comfortable on the ice. It was a good way to pratice the system without a ton of pressure. The trick will be to build from that game.
He was really the only disappointment on the night. Could have been some jitters coming back to MSG, I dunno.
The Rangers needed a game like this against a weak opponent. Everyone gained confidence and got comfortable on the ice. It was a good way to pratice the system without a ton of pressure. The trick will be to build from that game.
It could also be that his stints in Philly, Vancouver, and Carolina were not an abberation. Time will tell.
Carter seemed to come alive tonight and even if he is a guy who feeds off of others he has above average passing ability, above average finish, gets to the net as he was doing all night tonight, and he may prove to be a really good fit on this line yet.
No disrespect, but I just dont understand the love affair with Carter. There was a sequence where Carter was right by the net, had TWO chances to bury it, but couldn't get it up off the ice. And that was only one shift of the nite. He has the shooting strength of a 10 year old and thats no joke.
"Above average finish" is just plain nasty. Seriously, Carter's hands are horrendous, whether it be shooting or passing. Carter's a strong skater, but not overly fast. I have no problem with him being on the first line, but IMO the points he has amassed over the years amount to nothing because that doesnt tell the whole story. Carter would get around 40 points if it wasnt for great players around him.
"gets to the net as he was doing all night tonight", lol, thats basically all he can do because hes limited offensively. Just stand there, let Rucinsky and Lindros handle the puck and he'll get his points.
he he.... I was hoping you guys would overlook that... no such luck
I said that halfway through the 1st period after 3 or 4 times he shot wide and didnt look that good.... really proved me wrong. I still hold that Simon blows tho
The line realy did look good. I know what you mean he had some great chance's. So far I am with you on Simon.
I'm sorry but Lindros had his stick up all night, if this is going to be a practice of his this year than it is exceedingly stupid considering both his own condition and the even more blatant fact that the NHL has said that they are going to be especially cracking down on head hunting. And despite JR's assertions, I was not especially impressed with Lindros' 'driving to the net'. He may have done it 3 times all game and he didn't do it once on the power play. He's still playing a mostly perimeter game, albeit now with his stick in other players faces.
You're right, Lindros played a real perimeter game and wasn't involved at all tonight other then those dirty plays with his stick up!!!!
The fact that you would go on whining about Lindros' performance last night and the main thing you choose to harp on is that he was getting his stick up against a lineup like they had in last night looking to make an impression by ringing somebodies bell in a meaningless preseason game really just says it all about you and your infinite negativity about everything, and at a time like this scenario with absolutely ZERO basis.
Try and say whatever you want but your probrably the ONLY one who would term Eric game last night as still on the perimeter.
What will you do if things did turn around this year??You'd have zero too add because you haven't had one positive or constructive thought yet about the NYR's on this board so I understand your still wanting it to remain a sky is falling situation.
The bottomline is that this is one of the msot bias posts I've ever seen here as it's just ridiculous to come out of that game with this stance.You want to try and say I got the rose colored glasses on but based on comments like these you don't even watch these games.
No disrespect, but I just dont understand the love affair with Carter. There was a sequence where Carter was right by the net, had TWO chances to bury it, but couldn't get it up off the ice. And that was only one shift of the nite. He has the shooting strength of a 10 year old and thats no joke.
"Above average finish" is just plain nasty. Seriously, Carter's hands are horrendous, whether it be shooting or passing. Carter's a strong skater, but not overly fast. I have no problem with him being on the first line, but IMO the points he has amassed over the years amount to nothing because that doesnt tell the whole story. Carter would get around 40 points if it wasnt for great players around him.
"gets to the net as he was doing all night tonight", lol, thats basically all he can do because hes limited offensively. Just stand there, let Rucinsky and Lindros handle the puck and he'll get his points.
I have no love affair w/Carter but when people like you want to go overboard and say his hands are "horrendous" or that 95% of any success he's had is entirely due to his linemates I just have to disagree and point out that it's simply not true.
The guy was a legit top 2 line player in Boston and had played well with them despite not being on Allison's line which was the only legit line they had when Anson was w/the B's.Maybe you don't remember how well he always played against us as well.
And the guy has put up very solid #'s in Edmonton and you don't live entirely off others when your the team leading scorer and also take into effect that Comrie had a poor yr last year and Smyth missed time and was under a PAG guy so who exactly did Anson live off of again to do 95% of the work for him???
Take the guy for what he is and what he can bring to a team.He does everything above average while not doing any one thing great.He brings alot of versatility to the table and can play all 3 forward spots on any of the top 3 lines in a pinch.Sounds like a guy who deserves bashing and should be run out of town to me allright.
If Anson puts up 25 goals and 55-58pts while also being a solid 2-way winger who can work the PK and bring the versatility he does then I really don't see how some people have such a hardon for this guy.
Since he's such a bum I'd love to hear who we should dump Anson to bring in to fill his current role.
No disrespect, but I just dont understand the love affair with Carter. There was a sequence where Carter was right by the net, had TWO chances to bury it, but couldn't get it up off the ice. And that was only one shift of the nite. He has the shooting strength of a 10 year old and thats no joke.
"Above average finish" is just plain nasty. Seriously, Carter's hands are horrendous, whether it be shooting or passing. Carter's a strong skater, but not overly fast. I have no problem with him being on the first line, but IMO the points he has amassed over the years amount to nothing because that doesnt tell the whole story. Carter would get around 40 points if it wasnt for great players around him.
"gets to the net as he was doing all night tonight", lol, thats basically all he can do because hes limited offensively. Just stand there, let Rucinsky and Lindros handle the puck and he'll get his points.
Carter is a quality hockey player. You make it sound like he is lucky to have a job in the NHL. Hes not an All-star but any team in the NHL would like to have him on their roster. If hes on your second line your not in bad shape at all. Hes a 25 goal guy and a good guy in the lockeroom.
<i>I</i> watch the play of the game, you prefer to think that Lindros getting his stick up against players 30 to 40 pounds lighter than him is a sign that he's 'turned it around'.
Ok, like I just said, the fact that this is the point you try to harp on and point out just goes to show how your infinite negativity domintaes every point you have and even twists it to the untrue in situations such as this.
If that's the only thing you saw Lindros doing out there you need to pay a hell of alot more attention or simply leave your personal bias aside when evealuating such situations b/c the harping on Lindros getting his stick up and the foolishness to suggest that's why people think he had a good, involved game is just to ridiculous to take.
Ok, like I just said, the fact that this is the point you try to harp on and point out just goes to show how your infinite negativity domintaes every point you have and even twists it to the untrue in situations such as this.
If that's the only thing you saw Lindros doing out there you need to pay a hell of alot more attention or simply leave your personal bias aside when evealuating such situations b/c the harping on Lindros getting his stick up and the foolishness to suggest that's why people think he had a good, involved game is just to ridiculous to take.
Well let's see what Lindros does this afternoon, You know he is trying to win back the fans so I expect him to play tenacious again. As for him getting his stick up against players 30 to 40 lbs lighter than him - 1st of all that is the Lindros of old; he's been doing that since he came in the league. Do you remember when he crossed checked Ulf Samuelson in the face? Lindros was a very chippy player, that's the way he used to play, so if you want him to play the way he did then your going to have to accept that. 2nd of all - half the league is 30 - 40 lbs lighter than him. I'm not saying that he is the way he was back in the 90's, but I do feel that he deserves a chance to redeem himself . So far I liked what I saw in the Columbus game BUT it's only 1 game.
