Matador defense again.

[Ranger71]

Staal just isn't close to the same player anymore.

 

[chuckd3534]

It is frustrating, but when you have a 9th dman type in there like Kostka it isn't good. At best Hunwick and Allen are 3rd pair types. Having all of those guys in hurts. Kostka is out next game with Moore back. Another one is out I think Thursday when Boyle is back. So help is on the way.

To be honest though while both the Oiler goals were D lapses, we have 12 shots and 1 goal against a bad D team and a goalie with bad #'s. That is the bigger issue in this game...terrible O.

 

[chuckd3534]

Man, Hunwick was playing so well until last night, and now another terrible TO in our zone. Starting to see the warts on these lower dmen.

Oilers dominating right now, and now have a PP. Not good.

 

[kreidertime]

Lindberg with 2 more goals. Now 8 goals, 3 A in 12 games. Get that piece of crap Glass of this team and play Lindberg.

 

[Stepupstepan]

Call ups must be made after this game. I don't care who they call up. This team needs a wake up call stat.

 

[Stepupstepan]

and hank must make a save on that second goal. Weak goal to give up.

 

[Ranger71]

I read something today about Carolina inquiring about Staal but the Rangers want Skinner or Faulk. I think I'd rather have Faulk of the two but it would be tough to deal Staal with the lack of D as it is.

 

[chuckd3534]

If it wasn't for Hank it would be 4-1 Oilers. We have ONE goal and a handful of shots against the terrible Oiler D and goalie. There's your issue tonight folks...not Hank.

 

[Stepupstepan]

noone is saying hank is the issue tonight. Second goal was very stoppable, thats all. 0 shots in third period, 0

 

[chuckd3534]

Sounds good. I won't even mention his name unless it is to say thanks for keeping this team in the game tonight when we didn't show up and giving us a chance to win still. I will focus on the awful O. First shot on goal 11 minutes into the 3rd. Sad effort tonight from everyone except Hank.

 

[chuckd3534]

Hayes gets a lot of good chances. Hopefully as he gets more comfortable he will start to finish some of these chances.

 

[chuckd3534]

That's the 3rd line I like. Hags/Hayes/Duke. A couple of good chances.

This might be our worst game of the season so far. Still have a chance though.

 

[Stepupstepan]

nice to see stepan back and team stinks more than ever. You might think he would make a difference.

 

[chuckd3534]

LOL...that was sweet.

Not going to say much. That was a pile of crap effort tonight and we had no business even being within 1 goal, thank you Hank for giving us a shot.

With the Pens in two of the next three games we better get our shit together ASAP or we'll be out of the division race by mid-November.

Until last night I was really proud of this team doing well despite all the guys missing, well after these two...not good.

 

[Ranger71]

They have to be the worst with getting the puck back in the last minute.

 

[chuckd3534]

39-29 Oilers in faceoffs, continues to be a big issue.
12-5 giveaways us versus them.
21 shots against the Oilers...wow (33 against).

 

[Stepupstepan]

Tune in january when the team will be clicking on all cylinders as always.

 

[Messiah717]

Sleep walking through the early part of the season yet again.

 

[chuckd3534]

Lllllllloooooooonnnnnnnnngggggggggggg season...just need to start playing better...and not get swept by Pitt.

 

[Ranger71]

Hopefully they can tread water for another month. They need to find another forward with some size for some kind of slot presence.

 

[Ranger71]

I would look at maybe a deal including Staal/Kristo for Tlusty/Harrison/pick. Or a seperate deal for Boedkker.

 

[Stepupstepan]

Make some call ups, send duke to juniors, start building third, fourth lines and release Glass.

 

[panzerporter]

The longer the season goes the more apparent it is that Staal in not worth anything near the $5 mil he's going to want. Aside from the obvious softness and lack of offense he's playing stupid hockey. The second goal was on him more than Hank though I agree if Hank is hugging the post the shot gets stopped regardless of being deflected. This game showed how feeble our defense is aside from Girardi, nobody wants to take the body. Not going to work against Pitt, Philly or Boston.

 

[chuckd3534]

We have some issues, but we all (me included) need to keep things in perspective. We are 14 games into a long season. A lot of hockey left.

Getting Moore back tomorrow night and Boyle back Thursday or Saturday I believe, will be a big help and step in the right direction. That should help our D.

We also need to get our 3rd line straight. That is a huge key right now I think (the biggest key I think since we know help is on the way for the D starting next game). I like Moore and Stemp as a good start on the 4th line. I like Hags as a good start on the 3rd line. Now we need to fill in the holes. Where does Hayes fit and Duke and maybe Miller and maybe Lindberg and does AV continue to keep Glass here. We need to get the 3rd line worked out and then we'll be in a much better place as our D gets healthy.

Last night was a poor effort. I don't think that is the norm. We simply came out flat in the 2nd game of a back to back against a team I bet we thought we'd roll. Not saying it is good, just saying what I think happened. No excuse for it, but it happened. So you need to toss last night out and get ready for a big challenge tomorrow night at MSG. I would expect a strong effort tomorrow night at the very least. We'll see if it's enough.

 

[theProdigy223]

Like Chuck said the D is not a long term issue. Guys will be back. The issue is the bottom 6. We're a 2 line team right now. Here's my idea for a fix.

1. Tanner Glass get the fuck off my team.

2. Chris Stewart. Another report yesterday that Buff is sticking to their price of a pick and prospect. Pay it. Anyone not named Duclair or Skjei. Even McIltath who I really like but AV apparently has no use for. Stewart easily replaces whatever it was Glass brought to this team and is a great skater to play in AV's system. He even went with Lucic the other day and got some real good shots on him in. How long have we wanted someone to knock that goon around.

3. Call up Fast. Twice the PK player Glass is and 500 million times the offensive player. Put him on the 4th and second PK pairing.

4. Send down Duclair. "I really like him as a player and he's a clear part of the future. But in terms of what this team needs I think he's the odd man out and AV doesn't seem to fully trust him yet anyway.

5. Figure out who centers the 3rd line between Lindberg Hayes and Miller. I think Miller's game would go best with Hags and Stewart but he just doesn't seem to have the acumen for center. Hayes is good but so bad on face offs it's embarrassing. Give Lindberg 3 games there, make a decision and stick w it.

Hagelin-Lindberg/Hayes-Stewart
Fast-Moore-Stempniak