Man, if only Kreider looked like that even 50% more of the time. And Hayes is looking like a better player than any of us probably thought. That signing could end up being a nice coup. As for the game that might have been the most quality chances all year. Even Staal didn't miss an open net.lol
Give Cam credit. He played a strong game at the Avs, and followed that up with a very strong game at Zona. He has played well the last two after struggling for a couple, good to see. Maybe he is settling in. The game at the Isles should show us a lot about Cam IMO. Not that a bad game means he is bad, but if he plays well again you have to start to feel positive about Cam. We all talked about it last week, the schedule is in our favor in the short term, and thankfully for us we won the games we should have won so far. After the Isles game they have 4 of 5 at home against teams they should beat IMO, and the road game is at Buffalo, another game they should win. So a good chance to win 4 of 5 after the Isles game I think. Then the schedule takes a really tough turn starting 2 weeks from last night at Philly.
As for Glass, I disagree cage. Saying he is a bust implies he was good and we expected him to be good and he hasn't played well, no one expected him to play well. The second that contract was signed we all hated it. Mainly because it was a 3 year deal, but either way it was awful. So he isn't a bust IMO, he is just bad and no one wanted him here from the start. Sad part is he ended up being a +1 last night, so AV will use that to say yeah he is playing well now, only a -16. As if he had any real role on the Hayes SH goal. And the Stemp goal was garbage time and Glass was just there. At any rate, I am going to get on AV now for playing him, not Glass anymore. If a player is awful and a coach keeps playing him, I get on the coach. That is the case here.
Yeah i don't know what AV is doing, or seeing there. Sounds like he's stuck playing nostalgic favorite or something.
Good to see the Caps lose as well. We are now 3 up on them and have 2 games in hand on them (and already own the TB as well). They play at the Ducks tonight, so good chance they could lose tonight hopefully. The Pens are at the Hawks on NBC today, so decent shot they can lose also hopefully. Could be a nice way to cap a good weekend if those teams lose today/tonight. Still see us/Pens (home ice TBD) and Isles/Caps round 1. We are destined to play the Isles in round 2.
The Islanders will not beat the Capitals in a playoff series. The Capitals are 1-0-2 vs the Islanders this year. No more of that 4 on 4 crap in OT in the playoffs. Ovechkin exposes pretender goalies. Halak is a pretender goalie. The Capitals are also a big team. Bigger than the Islanders. They have better goaltending and defense.
We'll see. No doubt the Caps could win that series. If it happens we'll see how it plays out. Since I believe we will add a forward at the DL, I still think we are the best team in the Met overall. Of course this assumes Hank is back by April to get ready for the playoffs. I would prefer to play the Pens in round 1 if given the choice.
As Cam moves to 4-1-1 fingers slide off the panic buttons as the realization that he's a good goalie sinks in. Now the crosshair moves to Tanner Glass, the guy who averages the least amount of time on ice besides McIlrath. I liked the Glass signing before the season started because he was a bigger, tougher and cheaper alternative to the smaller Dorsett. The +/- stuff is cause for concern but shouldn't be a surprise since when the Rangers signed Glass he was a career -57 playing on offensively talented teams. Tanner is doing what he was signed to do, hit people. Despite the limited playing time Glass is second on the Rangers in hits behind Girardi with CK moving past Klein for the third spot. I think that can be the only explanation for AV playing him all the time.
Hayes is a huge upgrade in size and talent to the highly overrated by some on this board Benoit Pouliot.
I actually smile as panzer tries to rationalize Glass' play. Good stuff panzer. HE IS THE ONLY MINUS PLAYER ON THE WHOLE TEAM. Not sure what else needs to be said when he is a -16 and no other regular is even a minus player. I don't care if he plays 2 minutes a game or 15, that doesn't mean sh*t IMO. He is 100% NOT doing what he is supposed to be doing. It is actually comical that we are debating this one. As for Cam, first off 1 solid game and 1 very good game against two non-playoff teams doesn't make him a guy we can count on for sure against good teams. BUT aside of that I will say what I said 4 days ago, I am concerned about Cam's ability to be the guy game in and game out as the season moves on. He let's in soft goals and has issues with rebounds. I hope I am proven wrong, but I am concerned. That is what I said. That is what Mess said. What that turned into on these boards is we think Cam is awful and will be a disaster. Which is NOT what we said. We both said he is a very good backup, we just aren't sure if he can be a # 1, which is what he is now being asked to be. And just like I said after the struggles against the Stars and Leafs, two games don't tell the full tail. That is still the case. Cam being ready to be a # 1 is still an open book. I am not ready to say he is a good # 1 goalie for us after two games against non-playoff teams, just like I said it is not written in stone he cannot be after a few shaky starts. Let me see him play well as the schedule gets tougher at the end of the month, then I will say that. Jury is still out.
Hayes on the other hand I agree with you on panzer. I have always liked Hayes. He appears to have now taken that extra step forward, which is huge for us. He is a big guy and has made some special moves the past few games. That to me says he is ready for more in terms of being counted on to add decent 3rd line production. Hayes is another reason why I am not concerned about dealing a pick for the forward we need this season. We didn't deal our 1st rounder last season, we "drafted" Hayes.
I also am looking forward to seeing Cam against the Isles tomorrow night. If he plays well in that game it would also say a lot to me. Looking forward to that one.
Not rationalizing Tanner's play Chuck, trying to rationalize why AV continually plays him (a question you've probably asked 100 times in your kick a dead horse campaign) big difference.
Exactly Mess. There is no rationale panzer. The only answer is AV has a thing for Glass. Sure in his head he believes Glass adds a physical element, but he does not IMO. And even if he adds a little of that it is washed away, and by a mile, by terrible play after terrible play in his own zone. AV is human just like we all are, people have favorites and could have a blind spot for certain people, CLEARLY AV has one for Glass. That is the ONLY rationale that applies here IMO. So I know why AV plays Glass, and this is the main reason. He has a thing for Glass. It is why he was signed, why he was signed for a crazy 3 years, and why AV continues to play him despite what we all see on the ice. No coincidence to me that our best streak of the season, Glass didn't play. Is what it is. I only get upset now when I see Glass make bad lazy plays like he did against the Avs on the tying goal, and like he did last night against Zona on the tying goal. Otherwise it is what it is at this point.
If Glass goes out and at least pummels Martin, Clutterschmuck or anyone from the Isles next game. I will be happy. Thats why he was brought in here. Now go out and do your job, Tanner. Get in their faces. To me, this will be the key to beating them.
