Game Thread Nashville at Rangers

[chuckd3534]

You nailed it dump. Me, Mess, Prod are all crazy because we think the D is good based on YEARS of evidence. But you and 71 are dead on that our D sucks and the team sucks because after 21 games we sit at 16-3-2 and the D hasn't been perfect...LOL.

Yes dump our heads are up our a**es...LOL.

 

[chuckd3534]

As for you 71...Prod LITERALLY JUST SAID: I don't think anybody here is saying the D is playing well

I LITERALLY JUST SAID: No one is sitting here saying the team is dominant, or perfect, or a SC lock (that doesn't happen in the NHL...this isn't the NBA). No one is saying we don't have things to work on.

But yeah clearly that means the D is clicking on all cylinders.

What it means is the team is winning, we are 25% 25% 25% 25% 25% 25% through a regular season that really doesn't mean s*it to the Rangers, AND we have YEARS of evidence that our D is very good and we don't think you forget that after 21 regular season games.

 

[theProdigy223]

AV's teams are never clicking this time of year, even going back to his VAN days. I really don't know what you guys were expecting. The only difference this year is that Hank has been god-like. This team will, just like the past two seasons, be playing much better hockey 2 months from now. I don't know why some people refuse to believe that will happen when it's happened every year under AV. And when it happens, if Hank keeps this play up, watch out.

 

[kreidertime]

Chuck is a good poster and fan. All fan bases should have fans that care that much about their team as people here. That being said. Team is not built for the playoffs. The defense may not look old but Staal and Girardi are 28 to 30 going on 40. Lot of miles. IMO, if they could move one and Boyle also, get a defenseman more physical and play McIlrath, it's not a bad move. A defense with that salary should not be giving up those scoring chances and 30+ shots every freakin game.

 

[chuckd3534]

For a team not built for the playoffs they seem to make long runs and win a lot of series.

As for the D, yes through 21 meaningless regular season games (during which they have a 16-3-2 record mind you) they haven't been at their best. Clearly that equals they suck and they are not built for the playoffs despite the years of evidence. I agree.

 

[Rangers94]

For a team not built for the playoffs they seem to make long runs and win a lot of series.

As for the D, yes through 21 meaningless regular season games (during which they have a 16-3-2 record mind you) they haven't been at their best. Clearly that equals they suck and they are not built for the playoffs despite the years of evidence. I agree.

If these 21 games are so meaningless like you keep saying then it really doesn't matter what our record is and you should look at the team as a whole and ignore the wins and losses. If you do that, objectively you can see that there are issues. Yes it's super early in the season, but there's nothing wrong with being objective and noting that this team is surprisingly struggling defensively with shots against and scoring chances against. That is not what this team has struggled with in the past. It's always been offense. Offensively we look good at times and lucky at others. Overall, despite the record, we've been outplayed in a lot of those wins and if not for just dumb luck and Hank playing OUTSTANDING, you can OBJECTIVELY say that we should have at least 5-7 more losses. I'm happy as a pig in shit that we don't. I love to see the team win, regardless of the time of year. However, this team has been predicated on its defensive foundation for the better part of a decade and as of right now that defense is abysmal. Yes, we're #1 in GAA, but we are also #3 in SOG against. Eventually some of those shots that Hank is making these incredible saves on will find the net and we will start to lose....unless the defense can tighten up and take away some of these great chances.

Chuck, you keep taking this critiquing by the fans as if we aren't happy with these wins. I'm pretty sure almost ALL of us are. But there is nothing wrong with pointing out the elephant in the room. Our defense, for how great it typically has been for the past decade, is struggling mightily CURRENTLY. I'm assuming that it will get fixed, but if it doesn't it 100% will be the reason the Rangers don't win the Cup. And isn't that the goal every year? Isn't that what every team builds itself for and hopes to achieve? So, as fans, it's only natural to look at the team and say "X is looking great, but if Y doesn't get fixed then Z won't happen." Stop taking it so personal. Keep enjoying the wins in these "meaningless regular season games," as am I, and keep hoping that Hank can continue to stand on his head and bail out this team. If he hits a rough patch, hopefully it's soon and not near playoff time though because with this team giving up 35-40 shots a game, it will be a miserable playoff if he gets hurt or struggles in the playoffs. I'm betting though that the defense will figure it out.

 

[chuckd3534]

That's the thing, I don't think there is any elephant in the room. As Prod pointed out AV's teams always start slowly. Happened the past two seasons as well yet we ended up okay...right?

For a win now cup or bust team like the Rangers, the regular season is meaningless in the sense that I do not believe it matters where we finish, just get in. I also don't believe a team that has accomplished everything outside of winning a cup the past few seasons gets up big time for game 18 of a LONG 82 game season. Yet with that all said they continue to win.

As the season progresses I think the team overall will get better and better as they have every season under AV. And I would also expect McIlrath to be mixed in more and more to give some dmen a rest.

But again if you guys want to write negative post after negative post about a 16-3-2 team that has accomplished what the Rangers have the past 3 or 4 seasons, go for it bro.

F all the results and evidence we have that this D is very good, and let's focus on 21 early regular season games to draw all our conclusions. Makes perfect sense to me.

 

[BigDaddyAl1973]

There is something to be said about teams finding ways to win.
You do hope that in 3 months staal danny g and mac improve their overall game. ..to the point we all come to expect and not take a turn for the worse.
Funny how its not me wearing the Ranger rosey glasses...i only put those on during the playoffs

Sent from my SM-G920P using Tapatalk

 

[chuckd3534]

Right Al. And if the D's questionable play continues all season then we are F'd come playoff time, so that will be what it will be.

I just choose to believe that this is a sluggish start from the D, just like the past few seasons, and they will eventually "play up to the back of their cards", just like every other season, rather than say oh slow 21 game start = they are done and suck. But that's just me...maybe I will be wrong and they will suck all season and playoffs.

 

[Messiah717]

Tough one tonight against Montreal. Look at it this way. Last year after 21 games the Rangers were 9-8-4. We were all up and arms while some pointed to the second half. They went on to win the President's Trophy. This season they're 16-3-2 after 21 games and it seems like it's the same up and arms attitude.

 

[chuckd3534]

Tonight will be a tough game. Hopefully they step up like they did against the Caps at MSG earlier in the season. Looking forward to watching the game. I'd love to get a W tonight and put as the clear # 1 team in the East for now.

 

[mrmel29]

Tonight will be a tough game. Hopefully they step up like they did against the Caps at MSG earlier in the season. Looking forward to watching the game. I'd love to get a W tonight and put as the clear # 1 team in the East for now.

Caps game, caps game... hmmmmmmm that was with big mac in there. Sorry chuck, I couldn't resist.

 

[chuckd3534]

All good Mel McIlrath...LOL.

 

[mrmel29]

All good Mel McIlrath...LOL.

Ok, then I guess you are chuck boyle. LOL

 

[chuckd3534]

Yes, that makes sense except for the fact that I have said many times if I were the coach I would play McIlrath over Boyle a lot more. Let's not let facts get in the way though mel....

But yes...I don't despise Boyle and want him dead like 95% of the board so that = I like him I guess. Makes perfect sense...LOL.

 

[mrmel29]

I don't want him dead just watching from the press box

 

[chuckd3534]

. I agree with that...certainly more often at least.

 

[kreidertime]

wrong thread