We are 5th in the league in goals per game at 3 gpg. 7 of our last 8 we have scored at least 3 goals. And in 3 of those 8 we have scored 5 goals. This isn't the same old Ranger team that struggles to score. It is also why I still think this team can be dangerous. You have to figure Hank gets better as the season moves on, he always does. You have to figure our D is due to stay healthy, and McDonagh will get it going, which hopefully started last night with a goal and a + 4. So Hank and the D should only get better and goals against should come down...it really should (we are 17th in the league in goals against at 2.7 per game). The PK is also due to get better I think. Right now we are 16th on the PK, and I bet that ends up closer to 10th when it is all said and done. The PP is 24th, but I don't expect that to take off all of the sudden. I am sure we will end the season around 20-25, so that shouldn't change much I don't believe (unless Boyle suddenly finds his game). So I still see upside here. Maybe we have found a way to get solid production from our 3rd and 4th lines, and that will only make us even more dangerous. And as Hank and McD round into form this team will be dangerous. I truly believe that.
Last night was a solid effort all around. That's two in a row over Pitt and Vancouver which hopefully starts a long winning streak.
Glass out of the lineup was the first and most important fix. Second, Miller back up and Kreider moved to the 4th line was the next fix. I think the third fix will be to package McIlrath, Lindberg and J. Moore for a very solid, left handed defenseman. Sekera is a name brought up here. I don't think he's nearly as good as some here think but he's an upgrade over Moore. I've accepted the fact that McIlrath will never play for AV and Lindberg will be blocked by D. Moore who seems to be ageless.
The Oiler game tonight is interesting. They have lost 14 of 15 since they beat us at MSG. We played last night and they didn't. And we are trying to finally get on a roll and win a few in a row. This is the kind of game we have been losing recently when we've had a chance to get a good streak going. I assume Talbot will be in goal tonight, but either way this is a game we need to win against a bad team, and to get a good streak going (we have only won 3 straight once all season).
yea but they have been losing games 4-3, -5-4. Defense needs to tighten up and play consistently. Also, i think they should get a 3rd line center and move Hayes to RW, sometimes he losses 12/15 faceoffs.
Couldn't agree more, and that was exactly my point. We score goals now, and I fully expect Hank to get better as he does every season. And I fully expect the D to get better now that we are healthy back there. So I agree 100% and that was excatly my point. We score, now if Hank does his usual and gets better as the season progresses, and the D improves now that we are healthy, we are dangerous.
I say again though, watch out for CBJ. 6 straight W's now. I know dump is not a fan, but I am and think they have good talent. Now that they are healthy they are playing very well, which is no coincidence.
I can see them losing to the oilers like 2:1. They always stink against that crappy team with so much young talent. Speaking of stats, the isles d is 24th and PK is last in the league so they score a lot of goals but their d stinks. Halak is not that good either so the isles will come down to the mid pack soon.
