Where to begin? Well, I guess I will start with the goal allowed by the Rangers seven minutes into the first period of the tilt when Steven Stamkos found the back of the net behind Henrik Lundqvist to start the goal-scoring fest for the Bolts. The Blueshirts failed to clear the zone on the play, which were was essentially the story of the night for this club. Failure to get things done correctly, even little plays like moving the puck out to the neutral, ended up in their own net and buried the Rangers.
Later on in that same period Tampa Bay struck again with a goal from defenseman Kurtis Foster to put them up by two heading into the intermission. Once again, failure to clear the zone and like I said earlier in the season, that has a lot to do with this team's lack of physicality and grit. They almost make it easy for the opposition to control the puck on the forecheck uncontested.
Anyway, matters went from bad to worse for New York in the second when Martin St. Louis had all of the time in the world to set up on the side of the net, wait for Steve Downie to split the defense and enter the slot, and place a perfect saucer pass on the blade which Downie redirected past Lundqvist. Multiple mini breakdowns on this play by the Blueshirts. First of all, instead of pressuring St. Louis, the defenseman on the play, who I cannot remember at the moment (might have been Del Zotto) slid on one-knee to block the pass. St. Louis easily flipped it over his stick and into the slot. Secondly, Downie should not have just been given a free pass to enter the slot anticipating the pass. I mean, the entire arena knew it was coming, Downie knew it was coming, but somehow the Rangers managed to not pick up on it. I have no real answer why that is, but you know see how little mistakes always come around and bite this team in the behind.
Moving along, Paul Szczechura registered his first NHL goal on a flukey play to make it 4-0. The puck was in the slot, the Rangers mis-cleared it (again) and it ended up on the stick of Szczechura who's shot deflected off of defenseman Matt Gilroy's skate and past Lundqvist. This left head coach John Tortorella no choice but to pull Lundqvist to save him from enduring anymore of the disgusting play in front of him.
At that point the Blueshirts began to get some sort of forecheck going lead by P.A. Parenteau and Artem Anisimov. As a result, Parenteau and Anisimov received additional ice time from Torts and I applaud the move. They were a part of the very few who showed much of anything in this one and I believe that earns them the extra minutes.
About mid-way through the third it was Kurtis foster again beating Steve Valiquette with a shot off of the draw. It looked like Valiquette simply missed it with his glove--not surprising to me at all. Anyway, the Rangers started to pick things up after this goal and Anisimov's hard work eventually payed off when he made a spectacular play to feed Ryan Callahan the puck who turned and lifted a backhander over a sprawling Mike Smith. In addition to some pointless scraps and ridiculous penalties, that was the way it would end, a 5-1 blowout going into a home and home with the Pittsburgh Penguins starting tomorrow.
Do not get me wrong, I realize that Tampa Bay has been playing excellent hockey this year, but to lose to a team 5-1 that had the second overall pick in the draft this past July is pretty pathetic for lack of a better term. Although, it is not uncommon that we see the Rangers drop games to team such as the lightning as they have done it all season long and then some.
It goes without saying that this team lacked offense tonight, and that starts with the Bolts doing a great job of shutting down the league's top goal-scorer in Marian Gaborik. Higgins still can't find the net, Prospal did not do all that much, Kotalik did nothing, and these are all key players that are supposed to be a big part of the secondary scoring which was non-existent tonight.
The defense was disgusting and there is really nothing more to say other than that. Bobby Sanguinetti was quiet and wasn't anything special, but he played alright. He didn't make any real blatant mistakes which is pretty good being that his mates looked lost out there.
So now the things get worse from here as the Rangers will dive into a home and home with the Pittsburgh Penguins tomorrow night at Mellon Arena and Monday at the Garden. I really don't quite know how they will respond to this loss, nor do I know who will start being that both Lundqvist and Valiquette got playing time tonight. The good thing is there will not be a lot of time for the club to think and morn about this loss. Oh well, so much for three in a row....(Images courtesy of AP Photo)
Posts
2 comments:
You have it right; this was a true stinker, the first of the year. Any team can have a bad night where they just can't get untracked but I fear this is more. Notice now that everyone physically challenges the Rangers even when the situation doesn't require it because it is sort of like beating on your little sister. I am beginning to repeat myself too much but this team is inherently soft. Far too few of them go where the traffic is heavy with any frequency. Trying to score off the rush is low percentage, even when some of the wingers are fast, if that it always going to be your only option. They certainly will win a game or three, but they can't do it consistently. The NYR have slipped further behind their close rivals. For us old fans, it is going to be a long year, especially when Philly and Pitt are in town.
I agree with you, the team is very soft. It is hard to believe being that they have a hard ass of a coach. Oh well, just another area of the game this team sucks in.
Post a Comment
NOTE: As much as we do not mind readers expressing negativity in their comments, we would still like to maintain a PG-13 environment here on the blog, so please keep it clean and mature. If we feel that a specific comment is inappropriate or offensive in any way, it will be removed. Thank You. -NYR Blogger