Team struggles against bad Western teams

As for Kreider, I don't think anyone would dispute he would be a big loss in the playoffs, especially against a big team like Philly, but that is NO excuse to lose to the 5th worst team in the NHL the Flames. Or the 2nd worst team in the NHL the Oilers. Or other crappy teams in our place like the Sens, Sabres, or Canes. No excuse to get beat in those games with or without Kreider.

And as for the Flyer series with no Kreider, again big loss, but no excuses. Teams have injuries, many more than us, we need to deal with it and move on. It would sure help if MSL and Nash did something...

 

Can't say it any better about missing Kreider and what he provides to our team. Right now St.Louis has to show some pride and balls and figuring out how to do the thing he's noted for(namely scoring goals) for the rangers. Don't quite understand why Miller is getting the Torts/Kreider treatment from AV. It makes no sense as the kid provides speed, grit and scoring ability and unless I'm blind has contributed to the team when he's been out there. I hate coaches that try and make an example of a young player so they can say their properly grooming them as a player. Bullshit, AV!! Wake up and get miller's ass in there.

 

Tonight will be telling on Miller. If AV plays Dorsett and Carcillo both and scratches Miller that would be very puzzling and make little sense to me. He should play Miller and go from there. I thought he was okay against the Flames, and had some solid chances.

As for Kreider, maybe we should shut down the season because he is out. I guess he is our heart and soul best player. Why even bother. Sure teams like the Pens and Wings have lost MANY more players and better ones, but we don't have Kreider, so let's get that excuse ready for why we lost to the awful Flames, and maybe the awful Oilers and so on. And if Philly beats us in 5 or 6 I can see the excuses already...LOL.

If this team can't overcome the loss of Kreider, who was important but had 7 points (4 goals) in his last 21 games, we were going nowhere anyway IMO.

 

Chuck, Kreiders importance is more than just goals as he tends to stop the cheap shots on his line mates as when anything is about to start he always seems to wrap one of his paws around the other guys neck and nonsense is diffused. As far as I remember Nash and Stepan hasn't been run since kreider became their line mates. He is a tough forechecker and when he has the puck no one takes it from him in the corners. He has set up a lot of his teammates for easy goals but unfortunately with the gang that can't shoot straight hasn't got a lot out of them. He is also the plus minus leader on the team. And to me the other players play more confidently when he is out there on the ice. And yes, we will have to persevere without him (we have no choice) but his loss is still a kick in the nuts. Still pissed the rangers still haven't announced what the hell happened to his hand and how long he'll be out yet.

 

I agree it is a big loss for the playoffs. It should not be a big loss against teams like the Flames, Oilers, Sabres and so on. That is my point. When we lose to the Flames, or if we lose to the Oilers I simply do not want to see oh if we had Kreider...BS.

Beat the Flames, beat the Oilers, beat the Sens, beat the Sabres, beat the Canes. All awful teams. No excuses there IMO. We somehow beat Philly without Kreider right? And O wasn't the issue against the Flames, our poor effort on D and a bad goal by Hank was the issue.

 

It's all good Chuck, I'm not down on the team at all, just noticing certain things that have been an issue most of the year(breakdowns etc), whether they've won 8 in a row or lost one it's there. I've been pleasantly surprised by them this year, I'll admit going into the season just looking at the roster I thought they'd miss the playoff cut. Losing Kreider will hurt some, but maybe they could squeak by Philadelphia and get him back from there. Boston either way will be tough but you never know.

 

I THINK, and honestly with this new playoff format who knows, that the Rangers wouldn't play Boston until the ECF if they both make it that far.

So it is Philly round 1 (a win tonight can help us get home ice). The the winner of the Pitt/WC series in round 2 I believe.

With or without Kreider those are two rounds we CAN win...and we also CAN lose in either round. Let's see how it goes.