The OT was interesting. If you watch the replay of the sequence leading to winning goal, it was a mess. They leave a guy wide open coming into the zone, then they lose a 2 on 1 battle in the corner for the puck (which should never happen with a 2 on 1 advantage in general but certainly not 3 on 3), and the capper is a 3 on 1 they lose and the lone Av player in the zone wins the battle and passes it to a wide open guy off the bench who makes the pass to Toews for the winner (go watch the replay - you'll see 3 Rangers and 1 Av in the zone as the other two Av players changed). As much as I don't think it matters anymore, and big picture losing games is probably better, it is still a shame to lose a game like that when they played well overall. To their credit, they have played better the past 5 games, but it is too little too late, I think. Hopefully Drury doesn't get sucked into the mirage and will still make some moves for next season and beyond. A core changing trade and trading away some of the FA's to be is the right course of action.
Plenty of blame to go around after that one, but Igor needs to be called out. 1 goal lead, 1 minute left, Blackwood pulled. Shesterkin had a clear sightline on that shot from Raantanen, from distance. Exactly the type of chance you are willing to give up when defending 6v5. Yet he couldn't secure it and left a brutal rebound right on the doorstep. A tap-in to tie the game while Lindgren flails around. Sorry, but the $11.5M goalie has to make the stop cleanly and give us a chance at the second point. That was a terrible goal on a shot he saw all the way. Then in OT, yes brutal defensive play but he needs to make that save. The highest paid goalie in league history needs to make the save with the game on the line. It was not a play he had no chance on. He got over, but lost his angle. He simply did not rise to the occasion and it cost us a second point. Sure the team in front of him stunk. But he is cashing those checks to cover that up. He needs to make the plays that are there for him to be made. Can't stop everything, but should have stopped those two. Meanwhile across the ice Blackwood - who just signed for less than half of Shesty's AAV - made some big saves in OT, including on a breakaway. Last 5 goal scorers, going back to the Devs game: Carrick - Edstrom - Trocheck - Carrick - Edstrom. Enough said.
You dumbasses are doing the same thing you did with Hank always blaming the goaltender. Blackwood is a scrub. Your highest paid forwards couldn’t beat him on high-quality chances. You’re starting goaltender held one of the best offensive teams in their building to two goals in regulation, and you’re bitching at him. Spare me on the rebound. It was howitzer from one of the premier goal scorers in the league on a one timer from 20 feet out. The last thing that’s a problem on this team is the fucking goaltending.
Wrong as usual dumbass. This might actually be the first post critical of Igor I have ever made. And I defended Hank more than anybody. So take your "always blaming the goaltender" bullshit and shove it you fucking moron. He left a rebound right on the doorstep in a one goal game. He is paid to be the best player on our team. He didnt play like it last night. You want to disagree then fine but you don’t get to make shit up and I am tired of your bullshit name calling.
You speak out of both sides of your ass…because all of your opinions and things you say are pure SHIT! Igor let up a terrible rebound. That’s on him. He can’t give up that rebound. Lindgren is washed up (yet you defend him and think he’s still worthwhile because as stated, the things you say are pure SHIT) and can’t even lift a stick or tie up a guy right in front of goal and instead just flails away like usual lately looking like a middle schooler playing against men. It’s ok dumpydump…in your brain you’re the only one that’s EVER right. You’re a fucking retard. You claim you block/ignore people yet I’ve never seen someone who has people on block/ignore been able to respond back to others posts as much as you have. You’re a fucking retarded ass liar who spews nothing but pure SHIT on this board. You have two brain cells left in that demented head of yours and they are both fighting for third place.
Panarin and Zibanejad and Kreider haven’t scored for jack shit even strength this year and Zibanejad and Kreider haven’t scored even strength for two years, but go ahead and blame the goalie.
Igor was paid a king's ransom to win games like these and he didn't get it done last night, defense held the Avs to 26 SOG, with the money comes the criticism. Game tying goal somehow squeezes through glove hand like Prod said on a clear shot from the top of the circle, overtime goal could have slid the lid from a Weber grill through his 5 hole. Another guy who got paid and seems to be flying under the radar is Laf, his lazy ass is going to have to work to match last year's point total.
You said Blackwood is a scrub. Well, Igor got outplayed by that so called scrub who makes half as much money as Igor does. I thought Igor wanted to get paid as the best goalie in the league. How about holding a team like Colorado to one goal? Is too much to ask from the best goalie in the world?
He’s a scrub. You’re whacking your dick over a 10 game period. Which the l dumbass avalanche overpaid him for. He’s always been a scrub. The Devil’s who had no goaltending couldn’t wait to get rid of his ass
I know Blackwood is not that good. I am saying that Igor shouldn’t be outplayed by him especially now since Igor claims he is the best goalie in the NHL
I think this back and forth on Igor actually proves the main point, which is NO GOALIE is worth the AAV and % of the cap Igor is getting. That's the takeaway here. Whether you say oh Igor is the highest paid goalie ever, so he has to win games and make those saves OR you say the team around him doesn't do their job just like with Hank, so what do you expect Igor to do, goaltending is far from the biggest issue on this team. Which is why many of us felt it was a mistake to pay a goalie, even the best, that much money. A goalie cannot stop everything, and it has been proven time and time again, you don't need the absolute best goalie, or a crazy high AAV goalie to win. You need a very good goalie, that is paid fairly and gets hot at the right time. I think the goalie sweet spot is $5M to $7M per (tops $8M). I think this whole discussion is an indictment on the signing of Igor/a goalie to such a huge contract, regardless of where you stand on the above discussion.
yeah maybe, but not every discussion on Igor needs to revert back to the merits of his contract, re-litigating that decision and indirectly criticizing Drury for giving it. It’s a game thread, we should be able to discuss his play in this particular game without having that argument again. The contract is done and dusted. Tuesday he did not live up to it. Let’s home he does so tonight.
The team hasn’t scored even strength for shit in two years and people worrying about the goaltender. Not to mention this general manager looks like he doesn’t know what the fuck he’s doing.
I hear you, but at the end of the day that is what it comes down to. Let's go micro game by game, that's legit of course, but overall big picture it is not a good contract, and no team should pay a goalie that much money. It will limit your ability to have a deep well-rounded team, and history has proven you don't need to have a goalie making that much to win. I think Igor will be very good, and a top goalie throughout his contract, but he will not be worth $11.5M, and no goalie is. As for the game, I think he was fine. Left a juicy rebound that you could tell from his reaction, he knows he shouldn't have left. The OT winner is a tough save moving East to West, I won't beat him up for that one. But the point you guys really are making is, fine isn't good enough, and if he wants to make so much money and be the highest paid goalie ever, he needs to make all those saves, and steal games often. And therein lies the issue, he makes too much money, and no goalie is worth it. So, talk game to game, that is 100% cool, but it will still come right back to that overarching point. Not sure how you can avoid it even when talking game to game. That will be the driver/prism of everything around Igor going forward IMO, not sure how you get around it. He makes so much money, he needs to stop that shot, he needs to stop this shot, he needs to be great, etc. And for the record, I'm not saying that is an unfair way to look at it, I get it. I think it's legit given how much money he makes. He wanted mega money, now he has the responsibility that comes with it.
If you look at some of the teams that have sucked for a long time, they were able to draft young centers and develop them properly. NJ did it. Columbus is going to be scary down the middle for years to come. Montreal, Seattle, San Jose and Anaheim are trying to do it. This team has been average to below average defensively since Shesterkin got here. Some of our dumbass fan base thinks because a player is highly paid he has to stand on his head every night and never have below average games. You're living in fucking fantasy land. The only reason this team has won playoff series is Shesterkin. Maybe the Washington series last year another goalie could have won. He's the best playoff player on this team by a mile. Same shit went on with Hank forever. Whenever something doesn't go right, blame the goalie. It was pathetic 10 years ago and it's pathetic now. This team has NO YOUNG CENTERS to build around with Lafreniere, Cuylle, Othmann and Perreault. It's the biggest problem going forward. It's hurting the development of Othmann in the AHL as he plays with centers who can't compliment his game. He's 22. Rangers need to get his ass up now before he's ruined. Zibanejad is one of the worst players in the NHL this year. Forget about just centers. Kreider was a good player for a long time but he's finally showing his age. Smith is a pro and a good playoff player. Lindgren can be resigned next season. Three of those guys you can trade. Zibanejad might be a douchebag so dealing him won't be easy. Only vets you're getting a premiere package for in return are Fox and Trochek. I don't see an easy way out of this for Drury. If you aren't going to get any decent returns for players they want to trade, they might give serious consideration to bringing back Buchnevich if possible with their new found cap room and hope he can fix gay lovers Kreider and Zibanejad. I'm not giving up any picks or top prospects for him. They have quite a few young forwards about to make the team. They will want to dump his salary. They are pretty ancient on defense. Robertson for Buchnevich might get it done. I don't think he has a lot of value right now. I also don't think he will be on contending teams lists to bring in. Nelson on the Islanders will get a lot. Lee will bring them back a nice package. Goodrow will probably be on the move again. I can see Tampa bringing him back.
