One thing that has been completely overlooked in tonight's bash the team session is that these guys might just be totally gassed physically and mentally.
They might have absolutely nothing left to give.
As some of the rational posters have stated, they've played .700 hockey down the stretch, and lost ground to almost everybody. That has to wear on a team mentally.
Have the Hurricanes ever been in a position where they lost points when they weren't playing and didn't have a game or two to make it up? Seems like every Ranger win was countered in the game in hand either by Carolina or Buffalo and for a while, New Jersey.
I think everything from the style of play, the games in hand issue that they were fighting all year, the injuries, and the bad luck all together finally beat these guys.
Definitely a major part of it. They've looked fatigued for awhile now. Players like Boyle, Prust, Staal, Girardi, Stepan, McD have never played as many minutes as they did this year.
Some of these players shouldn't be playing so many minutes in the first place and are doing so because the way the team is structured. The fact that players such as EC, Wolski, and Avery have been so inconsistent and are unable to play regular shifts have really taxed the top 9. They need a better distribution of talent and consistent players up and down the lineup.
So what? We lost those games. Time to come back form fantasy land. This is planet Earth, where we suck and Detroit doesn't.
yeah, we lost those games, many of which because pucks went into our own nets off of sticks, skates, butts, legs, whatever. Rangers also hit god knows how many posts in that stretch. Remember where Gabby went 3 straight games of hitting a post? AA missed like 2 open nets in 1 game, Dubi too.
It's not like the Rangers were getting smoked out there, like they were tonight, those games were coin flips, they didnt land our way, and we're paying the price now because even though our record is rock solid this past month, we've lost ground.
This team DESERVES to be in the playoffs. Theyve played great hockey, theyve played consistent hockey, they just havent had ANY Breaks go their ways. like NONE.
how many pucks have opposing players knocked into their own nets this year. maybe like 5-10? I bet you the Rangers have put in about 30 goals into their own net, if not more.
This team DESERVES to be in the playoffs. Theyve played great hockey, theyve played consistent hockey, they just havent had ANY Breaks go their ways. like NONE.
how many pucks have opposing players knocked into their own nets this year. maybe like 5-10? I bet you the Rangers have put in about 30 goals into their own net, if not more.
Good teams make their own breaks. You're making too many excuses. This is two years in a row now.
yeah, we lost those games, many of which because pucks went into our own nets off of sticks, skates, butts, legs, whatever. Rangers also hit god knows how many posts in that stretch. Remember where Gabby went 3 straight games of hitting a post? AA missed like 2 open nets in 1 game, Dubi too.
It's not like the Rangers were getting smoked out there, like they were tonight, those games were coin flips, they didnt land our way, and we're paying the price now because even though our record is rock solid this past month, we've lost ground.
This team DESERVES to be in the playoffs. Theyve played great hockey, theyve played consistent hockey, they just havent had ANY Breaks go their ways. like NONE.
how many pucks have opposing players knocked into their own nets this year. maybe like 5-10? I bet you the Rangers have put in about 30 goals into their own net, if not more.
Ok I'll give you the deflections, we've had bad breaks there, but hitting the post and missing the net isn't bad luck. It's called failing.
I wanted Lavs at the time, too. Forgot all about that.
Yes, but . . . .
Quote:
Originally Posted by BlueshirtBlitz
And Laviolette coached a stacked Philly team.....to the 7th seed of the playoffs last year.
Listen, I can understand if you dislike Torts. But the team has been playing incredible hockey and nobody praises Torts for that. We lay a few turds that ****ing ruin the season and the same bunch of people always come out and bash Torts.
I'm not trying to be disrespectful to those guys, some of them are the most knowledgeable on this board, but I really can't find it in me to blame Torts for "not waking the team up" or "not coaching them right" when we missed 4 blatantly wide open nets tonight, and our ****ing captain limped out onto the ice with crutches next to Steven ****ing McDonald and they couldn't wake up.
This.
Quote:
Originally Posted by nyr2k2
I've acknowledged time and time again that Slats is the root of the problem. But he's going nowhere. That being the case, we're going to need to overachieve as a team to cover for his idiocy. I don't believe that we have overachieved with Torts, or that we will be overachieving with him any time soon.
What makes you think we'll overachieve with another coach? Why risk completely revamping the team and personnel when there's absolutely no guarantee that his replacement surpasses realistic expectations?
Slats is the problem. He has been the problem. But, you don't fire a head coach that has his pubescent, injured team in playoff position.
What exactly is wrong with Torts, if you don't mind me asking? Do you prefer the softer team Renney deployed? A team that tried to win 1-0? Should we re-visit some of the coaching deficiencies guys like Muckler, Lowe, or ****ing Trots possessed?
When I hear fans complaining about coaches, I think -- The fan's too stupid to identify the real problem with the team. He's blaming the coach, because he simply doesn't understand the dynamics involved in the game. Stupid people, make it difficult for the few fans that actually 'get it'.
You're not even close ,to being stupid. You can turn into an everyday crack/meth head, and your opinion will be at the top of my list. I view you as a guy that understands things.
I just can't agree with your outlook though. You don't fire a coach that has his team a number of games over .500. A coach that can't even give his starting goaltender a night off. Or his banged up, over-used 1st pairing dmen. A coach that has lost the fire to his team twice to injury this season. A coach that can't get his former 40G scoring winger in motion. Anyone blaming Torts, are just looking for the easy way out, imo. Or, they dislike him to the point where they don't care who replaces him. They think any type of change is going to have a positive turnaround.
Ok I'll give you the deflections, we've had bad breaks there, but hitting the post and missing the net isn't bad luck. It's called failing.
Dubinsky hit the post twice in 1 game and both were deflections...Deflected, and hit the post...im almost positive I remember a game where that happened and we lost...i wanna say it was against the Panthers...That's not failing, thats just bad luck.
Yup. Had chances in key situations and failed miserably. All this other talk of bad luck and curses is nice conversation but the PP is the reason this team is in the position they are in.
What makes you think we'll overachieve with another coach? Why risk completely revamping the team and personnel when there's absolutely no guarantee that his replacement surpasses realistic expectations?
Slats is the problem. He has been the problem. But, you don't fire a head coach that has his pubescent, injured team in playoff position.
What exactly is wrong with Torts, if you don't mind me asking? Do you prefer the softer team Renney deployed? A team that tried to win 1-0? Should we re-visit some of the coaching deficiencies guys like Muckler, Lowe, or ****ing Trots possessed?
When I hear fans complaining about coaches, I think -- The fan's too stupid to identify the real problem with the team. He's blaming the coach, because he simply doesn't understand the dynamics involved in the game. Stupid people, make it difficult for the few fans that actually 'get it'.
You're not even close ,to being stupid. You can turn into an everyday crack/meth head, and your opinion will be at the top of my list. I view you as a guy that understands things.
I just can't agree with your outlook though. You don't fire a coach that has his team a number of games over .500. A coach that can't even give his starting goaltender a night off. Or his banged up, over-used 1st pairing dmen. A coach that has lost the fire to his team twice to injury this season. A coach that can't get his former 40G scoring winger in motion. Anyone blaming Torts, are just looking for the easy way out, imo. Or, they dislike him to the point where they don't care who replaces him. They think any type of change is going to have a positive turnaround.
That's ****ing scary thinking right now.
Thank you for the kind words.
I really do plan on responding to this. Not right now though, I've had enough.
I'll get back to you tomorrow. I'm gonna go smoke a cigarette and go to bed...
Dubinsky hit the post twice in 1 game and both were deflections...Deflected, and hit the post...im almost positive I remember a game where that happened and we lost...i wanna say it was against the Panthers...That's not failing, thats just bad luck.
Since you're so busy screaming what great hockey this team has been playing, what do you have to say for the PP that's seen 1 goal for their last 27...something putrid like that.
Good teams make their own breaks. You're making too many excuses. This is two years in a row now.
its not excuses, its reasoning, and other than this same old rhetoric, i havent heard a single counter argument from you. What would you change? what would a different coach change?
Alright guys, well we still have a slight chance to make it.
If CAR loses tomorrow I think we will find a way to get one point at least against NJ.
However, I think if CAR wins, even though we aren't officially eliminated I think it's over.
So we are Thrashers fan hard tomorrow, make it to the playoffs and then I think we play our best hockey against the good teams in the league. There are no scrubs in the playoffs (except the Rangers ) and we play well against good teams so it would bode well for us to some degree.
Since you're so busy screaming what great hockey this team has been playing, what do you have to say for the PP that's seen 1 goal for their last 27...something putrid like that.
The Rangers have a better power play that the Philadelphia Flyers, Kings, Bruins, Coyotes, Canes, Penguins, and Predators.
Has it been bad of late? Sure. But its not the be all end all, and frankly with our personnel im not sure how to fix it.
We have no net presence a-la holmstrom, and having a big blast from the points isnt the only answer because if it was Boston wouldnt be where it is.
Tonight the PP looked good, and bad at times. of late id say its looked good about as often as its looked bad. Its just not converting.
On a positive note the steven McDonald situation really puts life in perspective.
I just think we couldn't have asked for more out of 5,17,18,22 and 24 this year. And most other people consider 30 to be a vezina finalist.
HM to 21,27 and 38
The problem is the rest of these guys are making the good guys work too hard and by game 82 it's easy to see the fatigue.
Alright guys, well we still have a slight chance to make it.
If CAR loses tomorrow I think we will find a way to get one point at least against NJ.
However, I think if CAR wins, even though we aren't officially eliminated I think it's over.
So we are Thrashers fan hard tomorrow, make it to the playoffs and then I think we play our best hockey against the good teams in the league. There are no scrubs in the playoffs (except the Rangers ) and we play well against good teams so it would bode well for us to some degree.
oh im going to the game tomorrow, and im going to wear a thrashers jersey that i have from my own hockey playing....they better win.
On a positive note the steven McDonald situation really puts life in perspective.
I just think we couldn't have asked for more out of 5,17,18,22 and 24 this year. And most other people consider 30 to be a vezina finalist.
HM to 21,27 and 38
The problem is the rest of these guys are making the good guys work too hard and by game 82 it's easy to see the fatigue.
