For sure. I once again admit I was wrong. He has upped his game and done one heck of a job. I never expected this. He has the Rangers at the top of the league.
Agreed Mess. I think he will play tomorrow night. Then give him 3 days off and play Skap at Buffalo again and Cam on Sunday evening.
Not saying that we don't need Hank back but this makes you think. Do you really need 11 milion dollar goalie to win the cup?
I have to think Step is trying to be crazy now...nothing else is possible...LOL. And thankfully we don't have an 11 mill goalie, his cap hit is 8.5 mill. And BTW...it doesn't make me think at all...
The reason I brought this up because it's been debated to death on the boards for years if you need to tie up a lot of money into a goalie. I want Hank back in the worst way possible but wouldn't they be considered a stanley cup favorite as much with Cam in net? Just based on the last 16 games they have played.
We would not be considered nearly the SC favorite we are without Hank. If Sather thought Hank was out for the playoffs he wouldn't have traded for Yandle IMO. As well as Cam has played, we are much better with Hank in goal. Hank is a top 3 goalie in the world. Cam is just learning to be a starter. Who knows how he'd react to the playoffs. Hopefully we won't need to find out.
Great game by the Rangers, especially by Cam. Watching the game again right now real quick and I noticed on the Isles goal, Lee actually was offsides when they entered the zone to start that scenario. So take that for what it's worth but we got the W at the end of the night and that's all that matters.
Been reading Islander Lighthouse notes. Isle players call Rangers "the smurfs"........you know.....the little blue people. Funny stuff. But so classless.
Again, Islanders played it like it was game seven of the finals. Rangers have another level of intensity that they haven't gone to yet. It takes 20 games to get AV's system down. Yandle after 20 games should be much better.
I like the Isles team overall, but they are starting to get to the point where they are being cheap shot artists instead of just playing the game, and the worst is Martin. I love when guys play good hard hockey, but you can see now he is turning into what the Flyers usually are. You saw it a few times last night. ALWAYS chirpping at the Rangers bench after the play. The cheap shot he put on Hayes after his goal. Other times when the play was over and he had to keep talking an hitting. The play by Cizikas where he took the penalty after the Isles goal. I love players who have some grit to them. Hit and play hard between the whistles. I am even okay with some of the after the whistle pushing. But when it happens play after play and the cheap stuff after a goal I think it becomes pathetic, and like you are trying to prove something. I have always thought stuff like that was a negative for your team not a positive. If I was on the other team I would laugh and say man you are pathetic, stop trying to be a tough guy and play the game. Last night was the first time I really got that sense from the Isles, and to me it shows they are starting to lose it. They see it slipping away and I am sure they think they can bully the Rangers, so this is their answer...pathetic to me. As dump said, as the games get bigger and the season gets later the Isles don't have that extra gear since all the games against the Rangers were game 7 of the SCF. The Rangers are getting better and blowing by them, so it is time to go cheap and see if you can intimidate them. Pathetic to me. Just play the game hard without the constant nonsense, but the Isles got away from that, and frankly I think it hurts them.
Great way to drop the curtain on the Mausoleum. After Cam made a nice poke check Miller lets Lee take the puck from him behind the net, then Boyle lets Lee push right past him to shoot the wraparound which Staal either kicks in or he kicks Cam's stick, would have been an easy save for Cam if he didn't have to battle Staal. I agree about the cheap crap but that's nothing new for the fishsticks, what's funny is for all the bravado by Martin he seems reluctant to fight Glass. Hopefully Boyle will improve offensively because he's a total liability out there defensively.
I think Kreider has been very good lately. Stepan does a lot of other things outside of just scoring. MSL is the guy I worry about. He's on his last legs IMO. At his size now that he has lost a step it hurts. I think in the playoffs he will have some big moments, that's who he is, but he cannot be back here next season for anything more than 2 mill or 2.5 mill tops. We cannot afford it. He needs to have a lesser role (3rd line) and be paid as such. Great guy and great leader here, but the time is close for him. And I am not knocking him either, he is 40 that is natural. Happy he is here this year, expect some big plays in the playoffs, but he is close now and against a team like the Isles struggles with their size. If we play the Pens I bet he has a good series.
I didnt get to see the game, had it going on the radio at the office, but Albert was saying Kreider was demoted to the 4th in the 3rd period. Was he having that bad of a game? MSL needs to have a big playoff run. I think he will and he's purposely making sure there's something left in the tank for that time of year (which is smart as his age), but he needs to show some signs of life then if we wants to be back next year at all.
Kreider didn't play well last night, no doubt. He made a lazy pass in his own end, which is one of the reasons he got knocked down to the 4th line I assume. But prior to last night I thought he was getting chances. Step does so many things. Have you seen him on the PK recently? He plays a big role on this team even when not scoring. And I agree on MSL. Smartly he is gearing up for the playoffs. At 40 he cannot go all out for 82 and the playoffs. Like I said, I expect a solid playoffs from him. Next year though to me he has to take a huge cut if he wants to be back.
