Post-Game Talk: Blues @ Rangers Nov. 1

[kovazub94]

The adjustments are evident and the forwards are helping the D a lot more here. But having said that to me the biggest thing is mcdonagh Staal and Girardi are all healthy and had a full offseason to recover and train. With how deep we've gone year after year and the injuries these 3 have had to play thru no one has had time to have a normal offseason to get strong. That wasn't the case this summer. All three got healthy trained hard and look significantly better than last year. Girardi included. I've seen him railroad a few guys that just wouldn't have happened a year ago. Staals skating looks like he's 24 again. And mcdonagh looks like a Norris contender.

Like let's be honest we're 7-3 but should be 10-0. We've absolutely dominated every night. Goaltending was shaky if hank is back and from what I saw last night he's definitely on track, well man our D is more than sufficient to win a lot of games with this offense.

We should not overpay for any D man. If we can make a fair trade great but I'm not giving up miller AND skjei for trouba or anyone.

This. I was in the re-tool camp (vs. blow-up and rebuild) because there was too much of the upside to the roster from the continuous development of uyts and a full offseason for vets. Not arguing that the additions of Ziba and Vesey were significant but even without them (but we Brassard and Buch in top 6) we'd probably be close to where we are today. Everything else that Gorton so masterfully did this offseason was of a low key. On the other hand there'd be probably more impatient calls for the update to D.

 

[Kovalev27]

Other than like 5 or 6 guys is anyone actually making good money in the KHL? Recent reports suggest not.

He could make some money sure but 5 mil? I don't know. And if he thought he hated playing for an NHL team in Canada have fun playing for a khl team in Russia yikes.

I think he caves if chevy doesn't blink.

 

[aufheben]

Sounds naughty, auf.

Hah. Same with the Canucks. The game in Edmonton will be tough because we won't have last change, and our right-side defense is not exactly mobile.

 

[CincyRanger24]

All of these high scoring games... I'm gonna get fat with all of these Papa Johns 50% off coupons. Keep them coming!

I do a shot for every goal, they're turning me into an alcoholic

 

[Brief Candle]

Get this man a trophy!

Seriously though, great win. If we play like this all season, it's gonna be a fun one.

 

[kovazub94]

I really don't care about the Presidents Trophy but it would be nice to avoid playing Pens or Caps in the first round. A lot of regular season games left but I just don't see the Rangers lowering their performance across the board. Even with this early success there's still room for improvement for Ziba, Stepan, Zuke and Buch that could compensate for a slowdown from current overperformers.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

 

[eco's bones]

Someone asked AV a day or two ago on one of the team's on site videos and apparently the Rangers have made some kind of hybrid adjustment between man on man and zone which may be another reason why Girardi and Staal both look quite a bit better this year--along with they've both (particularly Girardi) have had a chance to get healthy. A man on man defensive scheme plays to their weaknesses. It actually played to McIlrath's weaknesses as well.

 

[Open Mind]

I have to give AV and the coaching staff a lot of credit. They've made nice adjustments, have the team playing more in units of 5 instead of two separate islands we've seen in prior seasons, and instead of forcing round pegs into square holes, have finally incorporated a system that does some things to increase strengths and minimize weaknesses.

The changes are long overdue imo, but then I also don't think it's easy for coaches to deviate from what they're comfortable with or what's worked for them in the past. So props to the coaching staff. The team looks really good, and game in and game out looks exceedingly difficult for opposition to play against.

 

[aufheben]

Does anyone know where I can watch a replay of this? TV finally kicked the bucket over the weekend.

 

[nyrage]

Let's not get too carried away with the adjustment kudos. During the Carolina game, I remember a couple of defensemen chasing a guy with the puck high in the face-off circle with an opponent standing in front of the net all by himself. I was thinking, "that damn man on man defense".

 

[FLYLine27*]

I literally almost had a heart attack when McD left the game yesterday. Could you imagine our defense is we lost Mcd long term? He's literally been the rock that has held the defense together for the most part...

 

[Raspewtin]

Let's not get too carried away with the adjustment kudos. During the Carolina game, I remember a couple of defensemen chasing a guy with the puck high in the face-off circle with an opponent standing in front of the net all by himself. I was thinking, "that damn man on man defense".

And like I said, kudos to AV for fixing a problem he had a large hand in creating. woo hoo.

He really did make some solid adjustments though.

 

[Lion Hound]

I literally almost had a heart attack when McD left the game yesterday. Could you imagine our defense is we lost Mcd long term? He's literally been the rock that has held the defense together for the most part...

That was such an akward play.

 

[GordonGecko]

lol, this is like textbook insanely perfect high level elite puck movement:

how is this even possible after living through the Tortorella years.... lol

 

[McRanger]

If only the Rangers had some finish. They would be scoring even more than 4 goals per goal.

 

[Filthy Dangles]

lol, this is like textbook insanely perfect high level elite puck movement:

how is this even possible after living through the Tortorella years.... lol

that was great. Those 2 consecutive touch passes from Vessey and Skeij had the PKers running around and dismantled that pk box.

 

[aufheben]

lol, this is like textbook insanely perfect high level elite puck movement:

how is this even possible after living through the Tortorella years.... lol

Poor Sam.

 

[Raspewtin]

Kreider, Stepan, Nash, McD, Girardi, Zucc, Klein, Staal are the only skaters from the SCF team still on this roster

Just noticed. Whoa.

 

[JohnC]

Kreider, Stepan, Nash, McD, Girardi, Zucc, Klein, Staal are the only skaters from the SCF team still on this roster

Just noticed. Whoa.

JT and Fast played 4 and 3 games, respectively.

JT got crosschecked into the goal post against Montreal and hurt his shoulder, otherwise he'd have played in the Finals I believe.

 

[Raspewtin]

JT and Fast played 4 and 3 games, respectively.

JT got crosschecked into the goal post against Montreal and hurt his shoulder, otherwise he'd have played in the Finals I believe.

Doesn't count HFUser John C.

 

[Lindberg Cheese]

I'm kinda diggin the roll 4 offensive lines mentality. As long as we have 5-6 PK Fs and everybody plays 3 zones, **** it.

 

[JohnC]

Doesn't count HFUser John C.

Willy...pls...

I'm just adding to your point

 

[ReggieDunlop68]

The adjustments are evident and the forwards are helping the D a lot more here. But having said that to me the biggest thing is mcdonagh Staal and Girardi are all healthy and had a full offseason to recover and train. With how deep we've gone year after year and the injuries these 3 have had to play thru no one has had time to have a normal offseason to get strong. That wasn't the case this summer. All three got healthy trained hard and look significantly better than last year. Girardi included. I've seen him railroad a few guys that just wouldn't have happened a year ago. Staals skating looks like he's 24 again. And mcdonagh looks like a Norris contender.

Like let's be honest we're 7-3 but should be 10-0. We've absolutely dominated every night. Goaltending was shaky if hank is back and from what I saw last night he's definitely on track, well man our D is more than sufficient to win a lot of games with this offense.

We should not overpay for any D man. If we can make a fair trade great but I'm not giving up miller AND skjei for trouba or anyone.

I agree with this, but I think their resurgance is not only do rest and healing, but also especially do to how mobile the forwards are now.

 

[offdacrossbar]

woah dude. chill...... like, i played well tonight man......