For all the pluses Sean Avery has brought to the Rangers, he was a minus tonight.
And to his credit, he stood up in the dressing room and took the blame.
Avery was out of position on Dan Briere's tying goal and made a knucklehead pass to the stick of Jason Smith after circling the Flyers net, an unforced turnover that ended with Mike Richards' winner at 2:16 of the extra session.
Maybe Avery, playing center in the absence of Gomez and Betts, shouldn't be out there on 4-on-4s.
You can also blame the loss of this point to suprise!---the power-less play---0-for-4.
Time to try Prucha and Callahan there?
The Devs of course, have scored just three goals in four games,
Anybody think Thursday's game at MSG against New Jersey---in which the Rangers, with a win in regulation, could tie the Devs for fifth---will be a barnburner?
Comments (66)
I hope the Devils will finally destroy us
Painful loss tonight. Backman looked awful, as did Mara... and Avery... well... enough said. I just don't get Renney putting the same guys out there on the PP that never get anything accomplished. It doesn't make any sense to me.
And how does Renney not call a timeout with a minute left in regulation and a face-off in the Flyers zone knowing how huge getting the two points in regulation would be?
I cannot understand the line choices or the PP units in this game. Breaking up Avery-Dubi-Jagr seems ridiculous, and then not playing Prucha on the PP? I don't get any of those decisions. I wish Renney would have a chat with the fans so I could at least get some sort of clue why he does what he does.
Anyway, it's not the end of the world, but they have to play tougher and basically win the rest from here on out.
Time for some sleep. I hope the Rangers get some too.
Relax.
Thor you are an idiot...mara and backman were the two best d out there...ask avery what the heck he is thinking...lets get a new look on the pp
how was backman awful?...this guy is never gonna get the benefit of the doubt here, you can tell already. you guys have it your head that you hated him when he arrived, now every game he sux regardless if he did or not.
the defense was stifling tonight, how many great saves did hank have to make?..3 or 4 tops... yet some here make you think we allowed 10 breakaways and 6 goals tonight. avery's TO in OT and the PP cost them tonight end of story. it wasnt backman, it wasnt renney.. it wasnt jagr (who vince said "sleepwalked" tonight) how is scoring the lone goal, drawing 3 penalties and controlling the puck all night, sleepwalking?..
you people drive me nuts...they have to win every game 10-0 for you to be happy, you'll never give the other team credit for anything. how bout for once saying (ie) biron had a good game?..he robbed shanny and dawes in the 3rd period or richards made a great individual play on the GWG.
they got a point, which no one seems to focus on..an OT loss, IS NOT a regualtion loss. i read before that we sat on the lead..both teams were playing no mistake hockey all game, they played patient boring hockey.
we missed gomez' speed tonight, yet no one mentions that. you realize how good he is when he isnt there.
..why do i have to shed light on everything, every game, all the time?????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Your not kidding they missed Gomez but they also missed betts,Hollweg looks freakin lost out there, they need to bring moore up and let him fill in. they have to fix the powerplay and fix it now cause now it's costing them points. callahan was palying hard tonight there's no reason he shouldn't have been on the power play as well as prucha. and would renney please put Avery back on the top line, why would you break up a consistent line like that, Straka can center shanny and dawes.
no gomez, rozsival and betts in same game??? gomez is speed and playmaker, rozsival is big shot and betts premier shotblocker -- lucky to get the point, take it and move on --
regarding backman, his first impression for ranger fans will always be all those penalties he took in his first two games, and a few led to PP goals for opposition, but since then he has been OK, he deserves some slack -- i still think he takes too many penalties because he doesn't move his feet, and has to hold up opposing forward to prevent them from getting behind him -- that will always get called nowadays
rangers will make playoffs and be a very tough out because of henrik, healthy gomez, experience of shanahan jagr, but it might depend of the kids dubinsky, dawes callahan, to see if they can not be intimidated and wilt from pressure of playoffs, who knows
no gomez, rozsival and betts in same game??? gomez is speed and playmaker, rozsival is big shot and betts premier shotblocker -- lucky to get the point, take it and move on --
regarding backman, his first impression for ranger fans will always be all those penalties he took in his first two games, and a few led to PP goals for opposition, but since then he has been OK, he deserves some slack -- i still think he takes too many penalties because he doesn't move his feet, and has to hold up opposing forward to prevent them from getting behind him -- that will always get called nowadays
rangers will make playoffs and be a very tough out because of henrik, healthy gomez, experience of shanahan jagr, but it might depend of the kids dubinsky, dawes callahan, to see if they can not be intimidated and wilt from pressure of playoffs, who knows
TJ,
"..why do i have to shed light on everything, every game, all the time?????????!!!!"
ROFL,
It's tough walking around here keeping the cup half full with one hand while carrying the anti sky is falling umbrella in the other, eh tj?
NOW it's costing them points? It's been costing them points all season.
Man, if Jagr was having a typical season and the power play was in the top 20, this team would be in at the top of the division and top of the conference.
As for Backman, that kid had yet another solid game. Mara, so-so. What can you expect from a guy coming off an injurey.?!
But Avery, good game, one very bad mistake. HE should know better.
By barnburner, do you mean dreadfully boring?
its amazing, Jagr could have an entire team holding and grabbing him, and somehow the refs wont call anything. Touch Briere, and its a penalty
The news on Cherepanov isn't good. Would have been nice if the post provided a link too. The Rangers need to do everything in there power to get this kid to north america by training camp. Get on it Sather!
Scratch Hollweg please. We'd be better off with Prucha playing center on the 4th line while Betts is out.
The 4th line played the least amount of minutes it has all season last night.
Hollweg and Orr had about 3 minutes each, Sjostrom had 6 minutes.
Orr took a bad penalty, but I thought that was a weak call.
I am totally clueless.
Hate to agree with the Versus announcers, but Malik should have dragged down Richards (?) prior to scoring OT goal. From what I saw, it was not a clear cut breakaway, therefore justifying a penalty and not so much a penalty shot. Then again, Avery should have put the puck deep rather than look to make a pass. Ah well, mistakes are better now rather than playoff time.
Rangers were missing gomez, betts and rozi. no excuse, but still, their presence on the ice is well noted now.
One thing i am disappointed is, even though gomz might be down for a week or two, Renny should have kept Avery with Jagr and Dubi. They have been playing very well over the last month. Renny looked to another chech mate in Stratka to fill the void for Avery going back to 2nd line with Shanny and Dawes. Put Statka with Shanny and Dawes and keep 1st line in tact.
With 2 home and home series with NYI and PIT coming up, rest Henrik for 2 / 4 of those games.
I thought Backman was the best D-man we had out there tonight. I think this game comes down to our PP, we had 3 straight PP's and chances to make this game 2-0 and we couldnt get it done, there were some shifts that looked alot better, but overall, our PP is horrendous. its very frustrating. and was that staal i saw on the PP for a hot second last night?
I Feel that with 6 games left if we go 4-2 and especially beat he devils 2 times. We could slip into the 4th seed in the east. If not the 5th. What do you guys think. The division is still at hand. As long as the Islanders beat the pens and we beat the devils. Then if we beat PITT back to back nights we would be tied for the Division with 3 games left. Whats with the PP we r sooo bad its funny.
Meh, two 4 on 4 goals, one point, I'm not gonna get upset. Another positive was the penalty kill. I thought the Flyers might burn us on a couple PP's, but we stood them up good. Biron had a solid game for them as well. I think of it this way, if we get at least one point in every game from here on out, we're set.
Meh, two 4 on 4 goals, one point, I'm not gonna get upset. Another positive was the penalty kill. I thought the Flyers might burn us on a couple PP's, but we stood them up good. Biron had a solid game for them as well. I think of it this way, if we get at least one point in every game from here on out, we're set.
Maybe I watched the DVR of the wrong game but, Backman played pretty well last night. Mara at times looked like that cage was bothering him. Avery besides the mistakes looked pretty good especially on the faceoffs. The injuries are hurting the lines and chemistry that was flowing for a while there.
Gomez back tomorrow or No?
Some people still do need to lighten up though.
They got a big point last night, yes two would have been better.
But, if we can take one a night let these guys get healthy and make the playoffs that is good enough.
Let last night go. The team has showed they can and I think they will. Continue the domination of the Devils this year on Thursday and we are tied for fourth
Looking more and more like Devils or Ottawa in the first round.
I honestly don't think the Division is happening. My prediction is we are getting the Devils in the first round 4th and 5th place either way.
I would not look to rest Henrik much at all maybe once during the Isles back to back on a night the throw Joey Mcdonald in for the fun of it.
Entering the 3rd period the Flyers had all of 12 shots on goal. None of which was overly demanding so how does anyone come up with the take on D sucking or Rangers not producing any scoring opps. The first two periods were played predominantly in the Flyers end. The problem is very basic and simple the Rangers have not scored on the PP, once again a game ends up in OT that would have been over in regulation with a PP goal. This is exactly the reason why special teams are so important in the playoffs, for all purposes these are playoff games. The intensity of play the close checking, all show the pattern of a playoff game. The Rangers did not play poorly, they simply have not produced on the PP. Tomorrow night is going to be more of the same, the devils will play a stifling, boring, close checking game and th escoring opportunities will be far and few between, so the game will pivot on special teams play. The Rangers real alamo is simple now, they need to take two from the Isles and split with Pitt and Devils for 8 points. The fall back position is 6 pts in those 6 games, who and where they play in the playoffs should not be of any focus at this point. If they fall down against the Isles they will probably miss the playoffs entirely, can't afford for the Ises to turn into Florida north.
Blues-
I'd say rest up Gomez for a week. You'd be crazy to think some goon, especially NJ, won't throw an elbow into Gomez's side. Don't put it past any player from NJ to hinder Gomez, especially if they know NYR will be their first rd. opponent.
Also, I dont have to tell die-hard Ranger fans such as yourselves this, but Marty Broduer against the Rangers in any rd. of playoffs is plain scary! He rises to the occasion, period. Whether Rangers are 8-0 or 0-8 vs. Devs in reg. season, playoffs make Broduer foam at the mouth. Give me Sid the kid and Pens over Devs in 1st round.
The coaches have had all season to get the PP going and have failed. Sather had all season to get some depth on defence and did'nt. Malik, Mara, Backman and Rozsival are all train wrecks on the defencive side of the puck. Come playoff time Sathers failure to strengthen the defence at the deadline will be exposed. The Flyers had nothing last night and it should have been an easy win. All the blind sheep will be crying in their coffee come May.
The Rangers are woefully lacking in offensive firepower. Hell, the radio side was "celebrating" Jagr scoring his 20th+ goal for the 17th consecutive season. Just great, ranks right up there with a baseball batter hitting .250 with no power over a long career. This club can't beat Hartford, now.
Here would be my attempt to fix PP:
Unit 1:
Dawes - Gomez/Straka - Callahan
Drury - Backman
Jagr - Dubinsky - Shanahan/Prucha
Staal - Mara
The idea here is to get more PP talent on the ice and remove the Girardi's, Rozsival's, Avery's and Tyutin's.
Both Dawes and Callahan should be on one unit bc of there PP smarts. Put Drury on the point so he can shoot and replace any of the defensemen we use today.
The 2nd unit I would put Prucha in right now over Shanny. It kills me to say that but Shanny is having a tough time keeping up out there. the same goes for Straka but until Gomez comes back I would put him with Dawes and Callahan.
this may not be the best or most talented players but I think it adds hunger, snipers (Dawes, Callahan, Prucha) with big shots from the point with Drury and Mara.
Just my two cents.
I am so sick of tom "bulltits" Renney coaching for the 1-0 win. How many times this season is this going to burn us? We will never win a cup as long as bulltits is behind the bench.
The same people who blame Sather for not acquiring someone during the season to help on the blueline for the PP are the same people who would have ripped him if he dealt youth away for a quick fix.
These posts after tough losses always make it so much sweeter when they come back with solid wins.
It makes the "eff you" that much sweeter!
Imagine we had these hockey blogs during the 1994 season?
I recall a game during the 94 season, close to the deadline when the Rangers lost at home to the Blackhawks like 7-3.
Guaranteed, if this blog was around then, this group would have demanded everyone to be fired the next day, Messier and Leetch to be traded, demands to rebuild, demands to have the Ferraro brothers called up and put on the first line.
Can anyone tell me this isn't true?
man, even a moron like Ron Low knew how to get good offense out of his team:
http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/leagues/seasons/teams/0000482001.html
now look at what your precious Renney accomplished this season
http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/csl.php?tid=48
even Low would be able to get a team into the playoffs if he was given a better team, better goaltending and new rules(shootout)
I really don't understand that post bob
Bob,
that wonderful Rangers team you spoke of under Ron Low gave up 290 goals and was fundamentally the worst defensive Rangers team I can recall.
This year's current Ranger team has given up 186 goals.
186 to 290
We have defensemen named Malik, Mara, Strudwick, Roszival and Backman who people continue to rip on an almost constant basis.
What was your point again?
I am clueless.
This latest bob posting about Low is even too stupid for me to believe it was actually the real bob.
I think this one was an imposter bob trying to make him look even dumber than normal.
It certainly worked.
you don't take Girardi off the PP when he has 5 PP goals.
Jagr and Shanny don't work together on the PP.
PP lines
Prucha Drury Jagr
Callahan Roszival
Dawes Gomez Shanny
Straka Girardi
And a surprise a 3rd unit.
Drury Gomez Jagr
Girardi Straka.
PP line 1
The Prucha Drury Callahan line has some success 5 on 5.
We all know how Roszival gives the puck to Jagr as much as he can.
Callahan on the point because he might have luck getting the puck through traffic.
Prucha Drury to clean up the mess. Jagr draws the attention.
PP line 2
Gomez will have all the fire power he needs to feed the puck to.
Straka seems to have success getting the puck through traffic. Girardi has the talent to put the puck on net through traffic.
PP line 3
Changes up everything and overloads the defense. Crash Crash crash the net Drury and Jagr. Gomez feeds the points. The points fire in. hard, quick simple plays. Shoot, crash. Shoot crash again.
That's what I'd do.
Herb Brooks 81-84/85, playoffs all four and a half years.
Abunch of coaches filled the gap until Roger Nielson. All making the playoffs once or twice. Stator, Webster, Espoito, Bergeron.
Bergeron missed the playoffs 87-88 and was canned and replaced with Roger Nielson who took the Rangers to the playoffs for four years until 92-93 when they did not and he was fired and replace by Ron smith
Keenan was here one year took us to the cup.
93-94, 112 pts.
Colin Campbell took us to the playoffs 3 years straight:
94-95, 48 Game season, lost in conference semis to Flyers
95-96, 96 pts, lost in conference semis to Pens.
96-97, 86 pts, lost in conference finals to Flyers.
97-98, Fired and replaced with Muckler - 68 pts.
DID NOT MAKE PLAYOFFS AGAIN UNITL...
Renney has taken us there two years in a row going on three.
05-06, 100pts.(third highest since 91-92 season)
lost in conference quarters to Devils.
06-07, 94 pts. (fifth highest since 91-92 season)
lost in conference semis to Buffalo
07-08, ??pts (can be among the top five again since 91-92)
Basically the point is as long as we make the playoffs Renney is here, get used to it. Also, he is running up the lists of records for Ranger Coaches and building on a career in NY that will be compared to any other one day...
WHY ARE WE ARGUING THIS AGAIN?
BECAUSE WE LOST A GAME TO PHILLY IN OT LAST NIGHT?
Take a look back a few months ago when the playoffs didn't even look half way possible. The season was all but over it looked like. Now we are watching a team that has been one of the best in the NHL for about 2 months that the 30 games maybe. Yes, there is issues I agree.
But, I am not going to get down on this team.
If they make the playoffs it's another good year in my book. If they make it to the Conference finals this year and get bounced it's an improvement. The bottom line is one team of the 30 holds the cup. It may not be the Rangers, and if it's not I'll be OK.
How bout you Dude?
She would grab your shoe laces if it's not the Rangers? LOL
Dealing Amonte and Weight in 1994 was sheer genius, according to Dude / Explanation Point!, our resident hindsight pontificator.
Making the round of 16 in a 30-team league is not an accomplishment, it is a default qualifier. Organizations thinking they had a good year because they finished 6th in the Conference and got bounced in late April are sick and keep going back to FA signees who just hold-up the NHL career of younger, more talented, and lesser costly system players. One hell of a blueprint for success(actually mediocrity) that is, but so long as they have a specious rationale for raising season (and playoff) ticket prices, they are happy. And we idiots out here take their smokescreen quotes from the coach, and their ups and downs seriously. And why doesn't the GM ever come out of hiding to communicate with the fans through the press, not that anything coming from his coffee and cigarette-stained teeth would be founded in truth or logic.
He really does look down on us as scum.
the comparison of renney to ron low, may actully send me to the moon..only a bryan trottier comparison would make me kill myself.
that post cannot be serious or realistic, someone please tell me it isnt
Weight wasn't dealt in 94, he was dealt in 1993, but don't let a little thing like the facts stand in your way.
Knowing what you are talking about hasn't held you back before, so by all means, continue to make facts up as you go along.
Besides Renney playing for the tie all the time there is one thing from the last couple of games that kind of pisses me off. Gomer gets hurt so we need a center so what does he do take Avery off the hottest line we have and put him at center. Forget about avery hasn't played much center since he came to the Rangers but we have a guy who has played it quite alot for Renney and that man Straka.Now please someone explain why he would do that? Now I figured it out and I'm no genius coach but by doing that it doesn't make renney look like a genius coach either.Now he has made a couple nice calls with regards to the line up but that one just yells stupidity.Avery made 2 bone head plays now I'm not saying he wouldn't do that from his regular pos. but being out of his norm might have helped in his bad plays. What ever they were really bad ones which to his credit he said just that. Even jagr took a little shot by saying making players play out of pos might not be right but "it's the coaches call" so that makes me believe it wasn't him asking for Marty but Tom just making a stupid move.
tj trottier can't coach midgets let alone anything else!
"He really does look down on us as scum."
and it is obvious that at least 75% of us ARE scum.
Bob who are you talking to? I hope it's not me because I have no idea who he is. I tried to stick up for you but if all the bob posts are all from you I cannot do it any more because they just aren't any good sorry bob.
I'm not going to get into details but, I have followed and supported this team for a long time as a fan and $ sing in the eyes of the evil GM monsters that have come and gone. If the $ was a concern I would watch it at home on the TV oh well. None the less my attitude and how I support my team don't change. For me personally I look to the players of every team I root for. Not the GM and the coach and for me especially not Sather and Renney. They have made things much brighter in the last few years then I can remember in a long time with our New York Rangers.
I have met Sather many times in the halls of MSG. Hello, How are you, fine, good job with the team, thank you and all of that. No big deal I could really care less. I can also care less about whether or not he "addresses" us or the media. Really, what does it matter?
I think it is an accomplishment to make the playoffs because when 16 teams do make it 14 don't. I also think that the organization has done a great job of not just throwing money at FA's like they did in the past. Yes i know Gomez and Dury this off season and maybe another this year. But, to me they were solid moves that solidify the core of this team for a while. As for holding up youth come on man? the announcers last night were talking about the amount of youth and rookies on the team this year and the last couple. To me if you still want more youth at this point in the year then arguing is a lost cause. Maybe next year another guy or two will get their shot.
My point I guess is I like what I see.
I mean fans like Dude, Up in the Blues, and the rest of Renney and Sather appologists.
To be truthful, I have no idea what I'm talking about.
"ROFL,
It's tough walking around here keeping the cup half full with one hand while carrying the anti sky is falling umbrella in the other, eh tj?"
--------------------------------------
505,
lol, so true man. you would think we're in worse postion then the isles ;)--
just messin man
saw okposo play a bit vs. pitt...he's a keeper
bob,
were apologists how?...we just realize what great shape the org. is in....your clinicaly insane, so ill never take anything you say seriously.. but can you, in your warped mind, at least acknowledge the fact that they are in better shape post-lockout, then pre-lockout.
Look at this putz, trying to differentiate the 93 portion of the 93-94 season as a distinctly separate season. He could work for Renney as a towel boy and be challeged.
ummmm, nope, wrong again!
The Rangers traded Doug Weight in March of 1993 for Esa Tikannen, that would be the 1992-93 season putzy boy.
You, my friend, are 100% wrong everytime you post! It is hysterical!
Still trying to find the wikipedia article saying Milan "Cucic" was called up from the OHL in mid December, could you post the link?
DO NOT LET THE FACTS GET IN YOUR WAY
Please, feel free to continue to make stuff up as you go along.
It is HIGHLY entertaining.
EP i guess you need another person to point out how dumb you are.
the 92-93 season weight was traded (for tikkanen, you might remember the oilers played the rangers that night, they just had to swap dressing rooms)...the 93-94 season amonte was traded for noonan and matteau (you remember matteau, he won the devils series for us in route to us wining the cup)..by your comment earlier, you disagreed with those deals..this proves your a moron, and we need not explain why.
so to state the facts, which you are clueless to, it was two SEPERATE TEAMS in two SEPERATE YEARS...capiche?
the lesson here is..stfu!..cuz your overconfident ways make you foolish time after time and day after day.
tj,
I can't wait for a another post from this guy, he is wrong EVERYTIME!!! (3 EXCLAMATION points, LOL)
it is pretty much awesome.
i just think hes pulling your lariet now tho...grrrrr
Not sure anyone who can see what the Rangers have become should have to suffer by being called an apologist for Sather and Renney. Not sure how success has to be apologized for. The Rangers are presently on the way to 3rd playoff in a row and the youth is lined up real well for the future. The goaltending is set for a potential decade and the team is well balanced, not sure why anyone would have to apologize for this. Sure the coaching staff could use a primer on PP philosophy and open up with the man advantage, but other then that this organization is well set for the future and I certainly wouldn't want to change it.
PS the Giant blog was full of the same nonsense about mgmt, coaching, Eli sucks etc...They also were heading into the 3rd successive playoff appearance and everything was how quickly they would be eliminated. I guess we all know what happened there don't we?
oh man, I could imagine
and if the Giants start out say 1-2 next season, I betcha all those dooshes will come out of the woodwork saying Coughlin shouldn't have gotten an extension and Eli was lucky.
well said 4ever.
i just wonder if these dopes just egg us on just to piss us off. its hard to tell if they really are stupid or are just having fun at our expense.
but regardless, i will always defend the team i root for..im a true blue fan and have my whole life
Of the things I have been called I am not sure which I like best out of these two...
MSG Employee
or
Apologist
What do you guys think TJ, DUDE?
Again, the lackeys for the organization here contort and distort my premise that trading expediently is foolhardy and short-sighted. It is my contention that by keeping the Weight's, the Amonte's, the Zubov's, and, in more recent times, the Mark Savard's of the world, you get a shot at more than just one Cup.
So many times, in fact, this "strategy" of bringing in older, experienced stopover players does not work, but everyone forgets that, and just conveniently cites examples when it works, which is rarely. The Rangers missed the playoffs seven straight years, as we know, because of a knee-jerk, short-term patching trading and FA signing GM.
A very successful businessman, Al Davis, built the Oakland Raiders into a power and Super Bowl champion(s) by NEVER trading young players for older players, and always trading older players for younger players. So that he built his team slowly on a foundation of talented youth, to the point where the team matured together, developed cohesiveness, and won Super Bowls.
The Rangers need to get beyond the FA and the old-boy network trap. Look at how Jagr and Shanahan, expected to lead the team to glory this year, by many, have hit the career brick wall, to where P.R. has to "celebrate" Jagr reaching the 20-goal total in late March. It is so lame (with an explanation point).
Do you realize that every young player you mentioned in your little nonsense was traded by Neil Smith, not Glen Sather?
Just wanted to make sure because I do not believe you ever know what you are talking about, just want to make sure you are aware that Neil was fired in the year 2000, Marc Savard was traded at the draft in 1999.
How do explain Ryan Callahan, Nigel Dawes, Brandon Dubinsky, Marc Staal, Henrik Lundqvist, Dan Giradi and Fedor Tyutin when talking about the "old boy network trap"? Is this another question you will ignore?
I guess now you know that Doug Weight was traded in March of 1993, so do you admit to being a putz about that NOT being the 1993 half of the 1993-94 season?
Still waiting for the link about "cucic" called up in mid December to the Bruins from the OHL, when can I expect that?
lol @ EP yet again!!
why in the world would you bring the oakland raiders of all teams in to defend your argument?..cuz right now there the laughingstock of the NFL. and "way back" when they were winning, FA didnt exist so you had no choice but to keep your youth.
again your proven to be moronic