Is that a serious comment? Paying too much attention to results? I mean I understand your point, but come on. I don't care if we look like the friggin' Soviet Union teams, if we continue to lose games that we should win it makes no difference.
In sports like hockey and baseball, you can't pay too much attention to results in the regular season...
In baseball, the best team is going to lose a 3rd of their games.
In hockey, it's not all that different. You aren't going to win much more than 2/3 in regulation.
Assuming those facts, you know the better team doesn't win every time. So then all you have to look at is the big picture. The Rangers outplayed the Devils, gave up 2 bad goals, and one goal from a horrible angle. The Rangers outplayed and outshot the Devils by a good margin, and also missed how many open nets?
And the Rangers had Del Zotto out there which is almost like an extended powerplay for the Devils.
Well, not so serious on the last part, but that's the big picture. Rangers keep playing better than the opposing teams and they'll be fine. Especially as guys like Dubinsky get sharper. Because right now, Dubinsky is not his best. Neither is Callahan despite his results.
You guys just can't focus on goals so much... It doesn't tell the whole story.
Just because the team is losing after 40 minutes doesn't mean we "didn't show up"
We play an agressive forechecking style. Sometimes that requires tiring the other team out and winning in the 3rd.
We're not good enough to simply "turn it on" and win in the 3rd.
This team works hard and never gives up, when was the last time we had a team come from behind as much as this years team?
You have been making some great posts the last few minutes, and I agree fully. We grind it out behind the net and along the boards, and with the way team defense is taught nowadays, this usually results in goals later in the game with the D tired out. The Devils team and defense as a whole have very active sticks in the defensive zone - but we're not talented enough to adjust to that. So, we just have to keep pressuring and tiring out the opposing team so we can open shooting and passing lanes for ourselves. And it works the most in the 3rd, evidenced by our league best "trailing after 2" record.
This team right now would be lucky to make the playoffs with the way they've been playing.
meh they have missed empty nets and have 3 of there top 6 forwards coming back from injury. They will get in the playoffs. They got a break with the Canes and Thrashers losing 2nite too. Every game is a big game but need to beat Montreal for sure on Saturday, 4 pt swing
Because, as I said, we haven't been in step all season. Even when we're winning games, how often do we not show up for the first 40 minutes? It's something that occurs even when we're healthy.
And because as I said we are NOT a 1 seed we HAVE been OVERPERFORMING I'm not sure how else to spell out that we have won games we should not have won i.e. I agree we have consistently not showed up BUT we still won..when we were healthy and in a groove. This is a team that knows how to win, got extraodinarily beat up and is now getting huge key players back after a month+ layoff. Again I don't know how anyone can actually argue that this team does not need time to get back into step. 40 mins 60 mins 10 mins idc let's just get the team healthy and playing for a few games and then start worrying if we're 1-8-1
This team right now would be lucky to make the playoffs with the way they've been playing.
You guys are downright comical. The team would make the playoffs right now pretty easily considering they are in right now.
ANd they outplayed the Devils that game (who are playing well to be honest) with Hank letting in two laughers.
Rangers keep playing like that and they ARE making the playoffs. Which is exactly why the WILL make the playoffs. What they do in the playoffs, I have no idea because hockey is SO MUCH about getting hot at the right time.
Thankfully calmer people are showing up later in this thread though... All the team can do is show up and play well. If your goalie or the bounces don't go your way, you aren't going to win, no matter how much you dominate. You can play well and lose. Just keep playing well because it usually works things out.
Just because the team is losing after 40 minutes doesn't mean we "didn't show up"
We play an agressive forechecking style. Sometimes that requires tiring the other team out and winning in the 3rd.
We're not good enough to simply "turn it on" and win in the 3rd.
This team works hard and never gives up, when was the last time we had a team come from behind as much as this years team?
Arte you honestly telling me you're satisfied with our effort on a consistent basis? I understand that our forechecking is a mechanism to wear out the other team, but we have to do better. Too many times we can't even begin to establish our forecheck.
I'm not asking the team to "turn it on" in the third and win the game. I'm asking the team to stop falling behind early on such a regular basis.
I love that we don't give up, I really do. I'd rather we not have to come back every single ****ing game. I know we're not the most talented bunch, but I don't believe for one second that we're so reliant on a "wear them down" system that we have to continue to concede the first goal against crappy teams and battle our way back.
I've been a fan of this ****-show for damn near three decades. I make no apologies for asking for a decent 60 minutes once in a while.
meh they have missed empty nets and have 3 of there top 6 forwards coming back from injury. They will get in the playoffs. They got a break with the Canes and Thrashers losing 2nite too. Every game is a big game but need to beat Montreal for sure on Saturday, 4 pt swing
I am not sure, the only reason right now, imo, that we are in a playoff spot is because we have played more games than a lot of the other teams.
If we keep playing like this I really am not sure if we are going to make the playoffs.
Del Zotto was being played in an attempt to help our PP, obviously it is not working. before the break when Girardi went down Torts said he didn't want del zotto up here, not he is playing 2 games in a row and even after numerous bad passes and an lazy play which led to a penalty he is still on the PP? him and zucc are both passers only, no reason to have them on the point.
we will get someone who will shoot from the point on the PP
