I thought we played much better last night. What really killed us was Biron. He was awful. And I will say right now I think we have an issue there. We started seeing it last season. He clearly was worse than the prior season IMO. Now I think he flat out stinks. When Hank gets his 15-20 games off this season, we cannot have this guy in goal. I think this could be an issue. Either bring up Talbot, or get Hedberg over Biron. No doubt in my mind Hedberg is better right now. As for the team, like I said I thought we were better. Still soft on coverage in our own zone at times, but better. Richards has been really good thus far. I thought the big 3 on D were better. I thought Fast played well, outside of simply leaving Backes on his last goal. So there were some positives for the first time, outside of the LA game, last night. We need Hags to get back in 5 games. We need to stop playing all these tops teams from the West. We are 6 behind Pitt already, so we need to start getting some points. You don't want to bury yourself division wise after 10 games. Some comments. Dorsett has to be scratched if he cannot stay out of the box. The guy clearly has an issue. I like how hard he plays. I like the attitude he plays with. But he has to stop taking dumb penalties otherwise we cannot play him. Richards and Cally have looked real good IMO. Pyatt has to go. I can live with Boyle on the 4th line, but Pyatt has to be off this team NOW. Let's get Miller and Kreider up here. No down side. Add some speed and talent. Get Pyatt and Asham out of here (once Nash comes back). To me I am putting this disgusting Western start behind me. I am almost viewing it as if the first 5 games didn't exist. Season starts back East on Wednesday at Washington. That is my view on this. Re-start on Wed. All we can do. The first 5 games were a total waste and a disaster. So let's start the season right on Wednesday night.
Our division looks like garbage right now which is good for the Rangers if they un-garbage themselves.
Yeah, outside of Pitt the division has been awful. Philly 1-5. Wash 1-4. NJ 0-2-3. NYI 2-2-1. CBJ 2-2. So that is a bonus. Bad division. Carolina is in 2nd at 2-1-2. That is a big plus. Season starts Wednesday night, so we'll see if we can get off to a good start. I would bring up at least Miller.
That game yesterday was 100% because of Biron. The goals he let up were pathetic. Rangers were actually the better team in every area but net with Biron.
Terribly soft goals by Biron last night really hurt this team. I understand wanting a better backup at this point but Lundy has played much better. He needs to find his game now if they want to salvage the last part of this road trip.
Better play especially on the PP (23.5% now) but Biron stinks don't know why AV played him with a 4 day break ahead, I agree with replacing him. Zuccarello is as uselessly one dimensional as Asham or Pyatt, would replace the 3 with Nash/Kreider/Miller. Amazing how every team we have played on this trip has their young draft pick playing and scoring while the Rangers continue to punish Kreider, no way is he not good enough to be on this roster. MDZ has been bad but no worse than Staal who twice again allowed opponents to glide by him untouched for easy goals (-7 already). Still way too early to give up on this year, hopefully last night was a turning point.
Too many untalented forwards especially with Nash out. They need Nash and Hags in the lineup ASAP. You also can't tell me Kreider and Miller wouldn't be better options at this point.
Never wanted Zuccarello back. The reality is you could have a kid like Yogan and Mashinter on this team and they would give you more with toughness than Zuccarello does with any part of his game.
You are wrong on Zucc. He's been one of the better forwards this year and plays with the edge. You need the skilled players like him. He just has not produced any points yet. I would like to see what Yogan can do playing on the fourth line in place of Boyle but not mashinter.
No, you are wrong on Zucc. He sucks moose balls. You are just buying into our moron announcers who go out of their way to praise him because he's a nice guy. He can't pass. His shot is weak. He sucks on the PP. He is easily out muscled by other teams forwards. He's below average defensively.
What this team really need is to kill penalties. There penalty killing unit is awful. They are 29th in the league and where top 5 two years ago. There bottom 6 forwards are doing nothing accept taking penalties. They can't kill anything off.
At the very least I will wait to evaluate this team until they play a game in their own time zone and maybe when they play a home game. It's a very long season guys. They look horrible right now and there are obvious flaws but you gotta let stuff play out. I am concerned they are going to be really far behind before playing a home game but lets see what happens. That said I do think upgrading the backup goalie position should be considered and its pretty easy to do