Boyle can't hit the broad side of a barn but he was good today, very noticeable and generating opportunities. His offensive production is disappointing but there was no chance he was replicating last season's success.
I really do hope our bottom 6 starts to produce more, though. Right now it's like having two 4th lines. Feds and Hags are the only ones capable of scoring. I don't foresee Rupp having many more 2-goal games.
Didn't appear to have a great game to me...but he's gonna take some time. Glad his minutes are on the rise.
Was at the game, Staal didn't look great a all--he looked distracted out there at times (not really in the flow of the game). But, he and Strålman were paired together for a number of shifts in the 3rd period--I was wondering if Del Zotto was hurt (or was too aggressive early in the game and Tortorella sat him for a chunk of the 3rd to remind him of what he needs to do to be effective).
I just got back from the game and the atmosphere was amazing. When they called the penalty shot in OT, the crowd went ****ing nuts. I'm 5-0-0 at the Garden this season.
For such a large crowd (it was a true sell-out tonight), it was really dead most of the game. Games like this are why I hate the the re-alignment the League wanted to impliment next season.
More games against teams the Rangers have never played in the playoffs (and will never play against unless it's the Finals)=more boring games during the season.
As for the game itself: the Rangers have to stop trying to make pretty passes through the crease and start shooting the puck in that situation. They were actually crashing the net most of the night and probably would have another goal or two on rebounds.
And the powerplay has to get a lot better for the playoffs.
"Tonight also marked Lundqvists 39th win in a shootout, moving him one win ahead of the Devils Martin Brodeur to make him the NHLs all-time shootout win leader."
Puck possession was fantastic, but the Rangers failed to get many quality shots on some of those shifts. Just a bunch of cycling and chips. The defense, aside from a few small breakdowns (one of course led to a goal), were very good and active.
POTG: Feds was everywhere tonight. I'll give him the odd vote.
Good: Everyone except....
Bad: Rupper and his giveaway that led to the goal was horrible. He was decent otherwise.
Redden: I constantly praise Sam and Joe for how neutral they are, and believe it's a fact that they are as good as it comes (who else interviews players of the other team so much?), but Joe was overboard with the Smith love. The guy had a good game, but he's not a good goalie. It was so obnoxious how often he was mentioned throughout the game.
Otherwise one of their more consistent efforts. I will admit I was freaking out in person after Mitchell and Richard's shot attempts. It's not missed attempts that annoy me, it's wiffing on a shot or losing control of the ****ing puck that gets me. I don't understand how they see Smith saving deke attempts no problem and they keep trying it. At least Stepan got it.
With 10 minutes left in the 3rd I did a twitter search for 'Gaborik'. Since the start of the game there had been 5 uses of Gaborik. One was some guy playing NHL12 as Gaborik. Two more were something like "I hope we can score on Mike Smith #Gaborik". I then did a twitter search for "Popsicle Sticks Cromartie" and still nothing about Gaborik.
I figured maybe Twitter users weren't watching the game so I tested that by searching for 'Hagelin'. Got about a hundred search results from the time the game started.
Another 2 points. This team eats 5 game winning streaks for breakfast. I ****ing love going into every game expecting a win, and of course the boys delivering...
12 points up on 8th place Pittsburgh with a game in hand. Keep rolling!
Great game from the boys. Only problem I had with today's game was the inability to beat Smith, who, to his credit, was simply phenomenal. Great puck possession, good passing, great work along the walls. Stepan in particular impressed me tonight. He made a couple of excellent passes and was very aggressive on the puck.
Of course, though, I missed the only goal the Rangers scored in regulation because my stream decided to **** me over, only to start working right at the moment Vrbata tied it. Still got to see most of the game, the OT was great. Still don't know how Smith made that save on Gaborik. Gaborik certainly didn't make it harder by lifting the puck maybe an inch off the ice. He made up for it in the SO, though.
An impressive defensive effort. It's something that this team continues to win games, despite an offense that sputters pretty regularly, through absurdly strong team defense and obviously exquisite goaltending.
The PP needs some work, and that need for another skill player is starting to become obvious. I mean, it's not the same glaring nightmarish hole that the team featured in years past, but it's hard to imagine that such an issue won't eventually begin to cost the team points, but their commitment defensively is something to behold.
Hagelin gets a star from me. The kid was EVERYWHERE tonight. Dominant on the puck, got to every loose puck and created a bunch of turnovers. The whole line was awesome.
True! His line really played their ***** off! Also think Stepan had a good game and I really like MDZ-Stralman together.
Interesting stat, Stralman with a game high 24:52 TOI. All at even strength too.
I don't know why Stralman doesn't get powerplay time over Girardi. It's one of the few things that bugs me about Torts. Stralman has more offensive talent and Girardi could use the rest anyway.
