107 thoughts on “Rangers 2, Canadiens 2. Then BCATHGE.”

  2. OK so I watched the whole game, except the BCATHGE, so I still don’t know who got the extant point for skills competition.

    My wife was shocked when I said ” ok you change the the channel” after the 3 on 3. But the game was fun to watch till then, so why bother with the BCATHGE

    Like

  3. The game gets progressively less like a hockey game after regulation. First the 3 on 3 which is entertaining but a bit of a farce and finally with the breakaway contest.
    What’s wrong with a tie? Teams get one point for the OT ‘loss’.

    Liked by 1 person

  4. Thought the D played one of their better games. One of the big challenges is dealing with Henk playing the puck. He is just too slow getting to make play and then usually making a poor one. It continues to be a problem.

    Like

  6. Special teams are becoming a big issue. If they can’t at least break even for the game it will cost them in the playoffs against good teams. PP is just bad execution right now. Their 5 on 5 is pretty good right now. The last two games are what the playoffs will be like. on the last one Kreider never got to the front of the net. He has to be there for them to make the PP work.

    Liked by 1 person

  7. Sometimes when you watch the Rangers they look very lazy on the PP, its like the 2mins is a chance for a bit of a rest when they should be moving their feet, establishing the zone, battling to create a screen – during this recent struggle its looked more like this and they’re more ponderous with the puck. Throw the damn thing around like its a hot potato then when you’ve finally pulled the defense and goalie out of position or created enough of a screen – smash the damn thing as hard as you can!! Simples!

    Like

  8. I did not get to see the game last night so as a result I can’t really comment. But I can’t stand the shootout! I wonder what the standings would look like without it if the games ended in a tie after the 3 on 3?

    Like

  9. Zucc is 1st in PP time and is last among forwards in PP Pts/60 and has only 2 primary assists
    Step is 2nd in PP time and has 1 PP goal all season, shooting 5.8%
    1st on team in PP Pts/60 is VC
    Discuss amongst yourselves…

    Liked by 2 people

  10. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: if we go with the assumption that they keep the silly shootout, etc., then make every game worth 3 points. 3 points for ROW win, 2 points for shootout win, 1 point for shootout loss. There is logical reason for some games to be worth 2 and some to be worth 3.

    Like

  12. I don’t get that upset about the shootout. Henrik was solid almost all night. I am surprised some people still try to deke Hank in the shootout.

    The Rangers probably could have won that game.

    I did notice a few things, like that power play needs to wake up.
    Buchnevich is still a young kid learning the NHL game and it shows.

    Zibanejad should be in prime shape as the playoffs come. He is still a bit rough from his long layoff, and fairly young himself.

    Our defense will sink us first or second round. I said this before the season started. Of course I also said we would be lucky to make the playoffs.

    Like

  13. I predicted the rangers would make the playoffs before the season started by getting one of the wildcard spots and that’s looking good but I’ve also been saying on here since the 2nd month of the season the rangers will not make it out of the 1st round with this d-corp. When the rangers dmen get pressured they crumble, turn the puck over and at times give it up for grade A scoring chances for the other team. Unfortunately, I don’t see Gorton fixing this problem at the trade deadline. Gorton might make one or two small moves that won’t have any bearing on helping improve the dmen.

    Like

  14. Three teams to watch at the deadline with the Rangers. The Blues. The Ducks. And the Preds. All could use some help up front. The Ducks, and the Preds may have Dmen available to move. The Blues of course have Shatennkirk.

    Like

  18. If we get Shatty in the summer then i’m all for that, i’m not for giving up what seems to be the asking price at the moment – 1st, top 6 fwd and top prospect – maybe more. If he so baldy wants to be a Ranger, offer him fair market value on July 1st.

    Liked by 2 people

  19. I really don’t see the Rangers doing much at the deadline other than a little tinkering to add depth at the least cost. I think they will bring in a d-man, but it doesn’t have to be a righty shot. Too much is made of lefty-righty d-men at times. Most lefthanded shooting d-men have played the right side at some point in their careers because there are more lefties than righties.

    As for forwards, if Gorton dabbles i would expect it to be for a fourth line center who is a big-time faceoff guy who can also kill penalties.

    The best trade the Rangers can make is to trade in their PP practice time for time in the video room watching what they were doing correctly earlier on the season and applying it in games. They also might want to make note of any big PP guys on the opposing team and make sure someone gets in their face every now and then.

    Like

  20. Fans love the shootout! They sure seemed to love it walking out of MSG of last night.

    One thing I noticed last night is the difference between a good puckhandling goaltender and a mediocre one is really amplified in 3 on 3. Montreal almost doesn’t need a D-man to stay back and can have them join the rush, if Price can play the puck cleanly and with enough time to make a good pass. Compare that to Hank who is clearly ineffective in that role, and it’s a huge advantage for Montreal. And Price seemed really good at it.

    Like

  21. Crazy that there are more lefty shots than righty. Methinks it’s because when you start out skating as a yute, you balance yourself with your right hand on the stick because it is generally your favored side and you grip it up high right handed.

    Like

  23. I think the Rangers are in position to something big. There are three forwards who for different reasons are very trade able. In order of who I would move in the right deal. Zucc, Nash, Stepan. I would not trade any of, Kreider, Miller, Hayes, Vesey, and Buchnevich.

    Like

  24. I read somewhere they teach Canadian kids to shoot lefty and they teach American kids to shoot righty. Which I believe, because I’m left handed for everything, including baseball and golf, but have always held a hockey stick right handed.

    Like

  25. It’s all about whether it’s sustainable, of course, but the Ranger D has certainly rounded into form of late. AV’s patience with Skjei has paid off very well–Yandle’s numbers overall and 3rd in 5v5 assists? Anyone would have taken that at the start of the season. Girardi is playing well, Klein seems to be getting better, Staal has not fallen off that much from his hot start, same with Holden, and McD is heating up at the right time. I’ll say it again–possibly the best six-man rotation in the league. Now I’ll wait for a certain someone to deliberately misinterpret that to mean best D in the league 🙂

    Like

  34. To note, Zika is playing with Sideshow and THE, 2 of the least defensively responsible forwards to say nothing of Zucchini’s turnovers in neutral zone which will keep a center from pressing up. Still thinks he needs to produce more on the score sheet i.e. goals/points.
    .
    This team has too many top 9 forwards and not enough top 4 defensemen. Do the math
    .
    “Staal’s Hot Start” – funny!

    Like

  35. LOL… Zuccarello is 2nd on the team in points. Carp is right, our D isn’t as deficient than any other D group in the league. Sure, there are some teams (Chicago) who have two guys they rely on heavy minutes with. There are teams with flat out stud Defensemen, but it’s one a team. No one with the exception of McDonagh on the Rangers (D, or Fwds) plays more than 20 minutes a game on average. I liked the balance on this team. Right now we have teams playing their best D pair against our “perceived” third line. At some point that’s going to play out in the Rangers favor.

    Like

  40. Rob -“I read somewhere they teach Canadian kids to shoot lefty and they teach American kids to shoot righty. Which I believe, because I’m left handed for everything, including baseball and golf, but have always held a hockey stick right handed.”
    ———————————————————–
    I read somewhere that the reason that righties shoot lefty in hockey and vice-versa is that your dominant hand needs to be at the top of the stick for when you have to do something one-handed like a poke check. Makes sense.

    I’m a righty and play hockey left handed. It just feels more natural that way.

    Liked by 1 person

  41. Mile High – I was referring to Zika on the need to produce more on scoresheet, not Zucc but since you brought it up, I will spell this out again; production is relative to ice time. If you get the most ice time, you should produce more.
    Offensive Efficiency is a productivity measure for output relative to total ice time (per 60 TOI)
    .
    Zucc’s position compared to other NYR forwards (10) this season:
    7th in points/60 (all situations)
    10th in points/60 (PP)
    6th in points/60 (5v5)
    .
    http://stats.hockeyanalysis.com/index.php

    Like

  42. Carp, you make a good point about the teams you mentioned and you never know in the playoffs. I just don’t see the rangers doing much in the playoffs with the Dmen they have playing. I hope I’m wrong.

    Like

  47. Shortest review ever! 🙂 I didn’t like the goal on the wraparound that Hank gave up. I think that’s on him. Otherwise, he had a great game. And I’m in the camp of liking the way the boys are playing D right now. I also think that the PP is going to come around soon and at the right time!

    Like

  48. I am a lefty shot because I throw righthanded. When I was a wee lad and first started playing hockey I was the youngest. Naturally, they put in me goal. Since I throw righthanded I catch with the left – hence I became a lefthanded shot because my catching glove (an old baseball mitt) went on my left hand.

    Then again, if I had been a Villemure fan instead of a Giacomin fan who knows ….

    Like

  52. The Cup will end up in the Metro. They have to at least break even on the man up to compete with good teams. AV has to go to work on it but he has fixed bigger problems (Hank and the D). I wouldn’t say I’m optimistic but I’m not pessimistic either. LGR

    Like

  56. This is kinda weird.

    Courtesy of Blueshirt Underground Radio.

    Michael Grabner: Well, hold on to your hats kids. Michael Grabner has no career shootout attempts. Not one. I don’t know what this means exactly, but it seems strange that a guy who has played for 4 NHL teams over 8 seasons has never made a shootout attempt.

    Like

  59. Here is the whole thing from Blueshirt Underground Radio.

    After last night’s loss to Montreal in the shootout (more on that later), much was made about the shootout lineup the Rangers used last night. The Rangers deployed the following shooters last night against Carey Price:

    Mats Zuccarello (goal), Mika Zibanejad (Miss), Derek Stepan (Miss), Jimmy Vesey (Miss), and J.T. Miller (Miss).
    Some of you asked “Where was ___________ ? (insert your forward of choice here), with the most obvious name being thrown around by most being Michael Grabner and Rick Nash. Of course, one loss in Rangerdom means its time to fire the coach, so I thought I would give you some stats that will either back up your claims, or not. So let’s take a look.

    We’ll start with Zuke, everyone’s favorite Norweigian Leprechaun. It should come as no surprise to you that MZA is 3 for 4 on the shootouts this year, a terrific 75% shooting percentage. That should come as a surprise to no one, Frodo has been a shootout specialist since he arrived on the scene in NY.

    Our second shooter, Mika Zibanejad, is 0 for 1 this season on the shootout. For his career, Mika has a 46.4% success rate on the shootout. So we’ll put him in the “logical choice” column.

    Next up is Derek Stepan. Steps is 0 for 2 in the shootout this year, and at 33% for his career. He was 2 for 2 last season, so there’s that I guess. For now, we’re going to leave him in the “logical choice” column, subject to change as we move along.

    Jimmy Vesey is 1 for 3 on shootouts. Since he is a rookie, we’ll just say he’s an ok choice because he does have the skills that a player needs to succeed in the shootout.

    Last is Jonathan Tanner Miller. JT is 0 for 1 in the shootout this season, and has a 25% shootout percentage for his career.
    Ok, so looking at the lineup from last night, it is fair to say the lineup sent to the ice was a lineup that could be relied on in the shootout. I guess if there is anyone to scratch your head at, you could argue its Jimmy Vesey, because of his small sample size.

    So let’s look at some of the forwards who didn’t make the cut.

    Rick Nash: Nash is 36.5% for his career in the shootout. BUT, Nash has just 2 shootout goals since 2012 on 11 attempts.

    Michael Grabner: Well, hold on to your hats kids. Michael Grabner has no career shootout attempts. Not one. I don’t know what this means exactly, but it seems strange that a guy who has played for 4 NHL teams over 8 seasons has never made a shootout attempt.

    Kevin Hayes: Hayes is 1 for 1 this season, and 1 for 2 in his career.
    Chris Kreider: Here’s your head scratcher. Kreider is 55% for his career in the shootout, which includes a whopping 5 for 6 last year. So if you want to get on the coach for a lineup mistake, here it is. At least from a numbers perspective, Kreider should have been the second or third shooter, with Stepan further down the lineup.
    A couple of quick sidenotes:
    Brandon Pirri is 55.6% for his career in the shootout, but he was a healthy scratch last night. Pirri is also second in the NHL for all time shootout percentage amongst current players. Jakob Silfverberg of the Ducks is first at 55.9%. T.J. Oshie of the Caps is 3rd at 54.3%, Zuccarello is 5th all time at 51.4%.

    Matt Puempel, who was also scratched last night, has no shootout goals.

    Tanner Glass has no career shootout attempts. (For the Tanner Glass fans)

    So chances are this article will do nothing to sway your opinion. If you want the coach fired, nothing in this article will change your mind. If you’re like me, and just have to occasionally scratch your head at some of the things he does, well, there’s fodder for that as well. At the very least, you’re smarter than you were five minutes ago. Well, most of you.

    Finally on the shootout, it still sucks. Sure, it’s exciting to watch, and of course you want to see your team do well in it, but it remains an absolutely horrible way to settle a professional hockey game.

    Here’s a great website for looking at NHL stats of all kinds:
    https://www.sportingcharts.com/nhl/stats/player-shootout-statistics/2016/

    Like

  62. Your D needs to play 110+ minutes a game in the playoffs. You can do that with four studs and two drecks or with three and three. Quite a lot of that going around.
    The Pens won last year with one stud and six drecks. The Hawks with four plus many, Kings with three plus. The Kings year, the Rangers went with four and Klein/Moore. This year looks like McD/Holden/Skjei with the old guys rotating the bottom three. Pretty good hand to play if you ask me.

    Like

  65. Norm

    some can be skewed by the 3 on 3 ot where the older guys don’t play. Also the amount of pps vs pks as skjei is more likely to play pps and less likely to play pks than the “old guys”

    Like

  68. But Norm, functionally, it is. If Staal had missed one extra game, we wouldn’t qualify. We’ve been extremely lucky as far as the health of our defense goes. You think the Islanders wouldn’t have made that list if Hamonic doesn’t have the injury issues he’s had this year? Or the Predators with Subban? Or the Panthers with Petrovic? I’m sure there are many others but those three come quickly to mind.

    Bottom line: most teams would be in that boat if their defense can actually stay healthy. We’ve been lucky.

    Like

  69. So I’m listening to cerny you podcast today and we all get the fact we need a rhd, I just don’t see how moving a rhd in a deal for a rhd helps this team (he said move Klein for a righty). That just makes zero sense. I get it that Girardi is past the best by date and Klein is having a bad year, but you have to move a fwd or lhd (Holden or skjel) to upgrade the right.

    Like

  75. And would he have those assist numbers on a lower scoring team? Not a chance. We can point to stats (all stats lie) and say oh wow, but reality is he’s a product of the scoring of the team. If he’s on the lowest scoring team in the league, he doesn’t have those numbers (obviously).

    Like

  76. To learn if “most teams would be in that boat if their defense can actually stay healthy”, all you have to do is go to stats and slice the data by D, games played, anything you like. You will find the Rangers, Caps, Isles, Preds, Panthers having the potential to play 6 when healthy…and the Rangers actually doing it. That they have reached their steady levels is to their credit, not discredit. If it were some anomaly that McD, Staal, Girardi, Klein and Holden were to play 70+ games this season, that would be one thing. They are workhorses, each one. And why Skjei keeps getting it in the neck here, I have no idea.

    Like

  77. Skjel, that offencive juggernaut, is 106th in the league in goals by D men..106…behind offencive stalwart D men with the last names of gudas, polar, and gulp…Klein (the worst D man in the NHL).

    Like

  78. Karlsson, Hedman, Burns, Keith, Ristolainen, Krug, McDonagh, Shattenkirk, Byfuglien, Schultz, Letang, Niskanen, Werenski, Hamilton, Skjei, Yandle. I like seeing Skjei on that list, and I think it reflects well on him. 5-on-5 shows Burns, Karlsson, Skjei 1-2-3. Even better. I’m not sure why, Wick, you see his accomplishments as a negative.

    Like

  85. My point is simply this…it’s great to root for the guy…I like the guy, but let’s not anoint him the next Brian Leetch or give him the Norris just yet. Mcdonut isn’t exactly karlsson with his assists every year and he is having an up year with his numbers. I would take skjel’s numbers (and mcdonut’s) a bit in stride and chalk it up to more overall team scoring and a bit of an individual aberration.

    Like

  88. Sorry, Wick, to have misinterpreted your mockery of Skjei as a negative thing. And to have implied that by possibly being the third Ranger D he is the next Brian Leetch.

    Like

  92. Norm
    It’s not just you, it’s the overall skjel overrating, you just happened to bring him up.
    –
    Everyone loved le duke and raved about him after his trade…how’s he doing this year.
    –
    I’m simply saying, let’s not get too carried away with him just yet.

    Like

  93. I’ve never once said I hated skjel. Kids got a lot of learning to do about playing in his own zone and winning wall battles, but he’ll get there, he’s young.

    Like

  94. Fwiw, you list him with burns and karlsson (that’s what the stats say…I get that) like he is their equal…1,2,3…you typed that in your post. You implied that he was in that category, which he is not. So please reign in the sensationalist implications is all I’m saying.

    Like

  96. i’m not talking about down the road or who has better value vs contract. The way the league salary structure is the younger guys usually give more bang for the buck.

    Like

  97. I’m stating, not implying, Wick. He’s precisely in that narrow category, 5v5 assists, no more, no less. And it’s a good thing, not a bad thing. If implying anything, it’s that he’s a legitimate (rather than LMAO) candidate for third D on the Rangers. That his 2nd-place point production may put him ahead of Staal, Girardi, and Klein. Not Orr, Coffey and Lidstrom.

    Like

  98. Norm
    Quite honestly he’s a 3rd pair d man on most teams (as he should be at this point in his career) and overall all around game is 5th or 6th best on this team (stronger in some aspects than other ranger D and weaker in some aspects).
    –
    Your stats are misleading due to the overall offencive game of this team. As I said, if he’s getting the same 5 v 5 time and is on the avs, he’s not in burns and karlsson company. So you might want to get just a bit of perspective.

    Like

  102. Alex, if Skjei skates at #6 and 2nd PP in the playoffs, it wouldn’t surprise me, nor would I disagree with it. Nor would skating him #3. He’s improved immensely over the course of the season, may keep improving, may tail off. Nice problem to have, that’s for sure.

    Like

Leave a comment