For sure. Exactly what we needed. Sure we had some advantages tonight, back to back for them off an OT/SO game last night and their backup goalie played, but we took care of business. Florida is a hard working decent team, that hadn't lost in regulation at home for over a month as Sam mentioned during the game. Dallas was a tough game for us I felt going in, I am fine with a split in these two road games and we end 2014 winning 9 of 10 games which is awesome. Now take care of business at home against the Sabres Saturday night before we head out West for a crazy tough trip at Anaheim, LA, and SJ.
Good to see Kreider play well tonight. He got a couple of good chances, and actually buried one. He has started to play a little better the past couple of games. Hopefully his game is coming around. We certainly will need him as things move forward. Just needs to bury a higher % of his quality chances and he'll be in great shape. The Kreider/Stepan/MSL line is really playing well now. Added to the Nash/Brass/Zucc line and we really have two very good lines. I have said it a million times before, but if we can develop a solid 3rd line this team can go a long way in the playoffs. Not sure if that means Miller on that line or Duclair on that line or most likely, what many have been pushing for a while, a deal for another top 9 forward to complete the 3rd line, but if it happens this team can do a lot of damage this spring.
I was just looking at our schedule after the Buffalo game, and wow it is tough. At Anaheim, at LA, at SJ, Isles, at Boston, at CBJ, at Pitt We'll be lucky to get 5 or 6 points out 14 possible points. 6 of 7 games on the road. All good or very good teams. Crazy tough stretch. Couldn't get a more difficult stretch if you tried to set one up. Makes the Buffalo game really big. After Dallas I thought winning tonight and Saturday would be huge for this team entering into that crazy hard stretch with a couple of wins.
Of course they bounced back. That piece of crap Glass didn't play and Kreider stopped playing like a woman.
If Kreider played like that most of the time this team would hardly lose a game. However, that is one of the major flaws of this team. Kreider, Hagelin and J. Moore hardly every play up to their potential. Which is why the team probably needs to see if they can acquire a scoring forward and upgrade at defense.
I don't think they NEED a dman. I think they could use a big bodied physical guy on D for sure, but I don't think they NEED a dman. I do think they need a bigger top 9 forward though. Only way around that is if Miller is given a top 9 chance and takes off, or Duclair stays here and really takes off after the WJC's. But I find both of those unlikely so I do think we need a big top 9 forward for sure.
Need to see Hags show off the speed more like he did in the Dallas game, tough loss with the costly softy by Hank. Miller has clearly shown he belongs in the lineup full time. I can see AV rotating Glass/Fast it is what it is. The Rangers as a team need to be more selfish and shoot the puck there are too many good scoring opportunities wasted on low percentage pass attempts or blind drop passes to empty ice. I still think this year's team is better than last year's.
I agree panzer...I believe this team has more upside than last year's team talent wise. Step is better. Brass is better. MSL full year and comfortable here. Nash is clearly better. McD is better. Top to bottom I think the D is around the same. I like the 6th dman duo better than last season. Boyle better on O worse on D than Stralman, but we are still solid on D as always. The key deciding factor will be the 3rd line. If you call the Richards line our 3rd line last season, and production wise they were, we have some work to do in order to be as good on that line as last season. Hayes needs to continue to improve. Hopefully Hags does a little better than last season, although he is pretty much on the same exact numbers pace as last season. And then we have the 3rd spot on the line ?. If that gets answered in a positive way I do believe we will be better than last season. Then a 4th line of Miller/Moore/Fast or Stemp is better than the 4th line from last season, with more upside I think. All about the 3rd line really, but I agree the upside is there for this team to be better on paper.
