Post-Game Talk: Islanders @ Rangers 2/14/13 - "The Lincoln Tunnel"

[SnowblindNYR]

Just got in from the game, what a pleasure it was to watch Hagelin tonight, guy was all over the place. Biron had some big saves, a softie, and no chance in the SO, don't really blame him for the loss.

Nice game by Boyle, Richards was horrendous, and I know they scored on a power play, but that continues to be terrible.

Really thought Nash would bury the winner in the 3rd or in ot, but never came, oh well. Long wait until Sunday for the next game.

 

[Tawnos]

What does this post mean?

It means that Rangers/Islanders games take on a life of their own. It doesn't matter how good or bad either team is playing or where they are in the standings. You can't take any info away from them, in terms of how the teams played, because they just aren't normal hockey games.

 

[Killem Dafoe]

There are literally no takeaways from this game. Like any Rangers/Islanders game.

You can take away one thing from this game...

 

[Tawnos]

I noticed the hair tuft last game. Just weird.

 

[Killem Dafoe]

It's adorable.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

It means that Rangers/Islanders games take on a life of their own. It doesn't matter how good or bad either team is playing or where they are in the standings. You can't take any info away from them, in terms of how the teams played, because they just aren't normal hockey games.

If that were the case I think we'd be .500 against them. Before this game we won 8 in a row at home against them.

 

[ltsthinaz]

Wouldn't put Lundqvist in fjust for the shootout. What if he pulls a groin and is out for three weeks?

Problem with this game was Rangers forgot after the first period that the Icelanders are almost an NHL team who likes nothing more than beating the Rangers. They're eminently beatable, but you actually do have to skate and shoot. And maybe even hit the net (Boyle and Del Zotto could've had hat tricks if they could hit the net once in awhile)

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Wouldn't put Lundqvist in fjust for the shootout. What if he pulls a groin and is out for three weeks?

Problem with this game was Rangers forgot after the first period that the Icelanders are almost an NHL team who likes nothing more than beating the Rangers. They're eminently beatable, but you actually do have to skate and shoot. And maybe even hit the net (Boyle and Del Zotto could've had hat tricks if they could hit the net once in awhile)

Agreed for 25 minutes the Rangers seriously thought they were the 84 Oilers playing a bad ECHL team. They did nothing well. It's amazing the Islanders didn't score at least 5 goals. Then in the 3rd the Rangers played very well. Took the gas off the pedal in OT, but it's 4 on 4 and you can't really take away that much from it. We came back nicely in OT too. Not the worst game ever but this was the worst extended stretch of play since the Blackhawks game last year and that's the only game that is in the same zip code last year. The 3rd goal was a little fluky but the fact that we played 25 minutes like that with our back goalie and got a point is one of the few encouraging things to take away from this game.

 

[Tawnos]

If that were the case I think we'd be .500 against them. Before this game we won 8 in a row at home against them.

Which just shows that you don't understand what I said. The outcomes of the games have nothing to do with it. Rangers/Islanders games have a tendency to be odd, slightly chaotic affairs with huge momentum swings. Tonight's was no different. You can't take anything away from the performance of either team in games like that. What was strange was seeing the last game between these two, which wasn't odd, or chaotic. It was very low key.

Also, the Rangers were 1-1-1 against the Islanders in their building last year. They were 1-2-0 the year before. Which just makes the 8 in a row at home stat a statistical outlier, and being a statistical outlier is the only reason why it gets brought up at all. Anyone who watched those 8 in a row know that there wasn't dominance there on the Rangers part that should lead to that type of stat.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Which just shows that you don't understand what I said. The outcomes of the games have nothing to do with it. Rangers/Islanders games have a tendency to be odd, slightly chaotic affairs with huge momentum swings. Tonight's was no different. What was strange was seeing the last game between these two, which wasn't odd, or chaotic. It was very low key.

Also, the Rangers were 1-1-1 against the Islanders in their building last year. They were 1-2-0 the year before. Which just makes the 8 in a row at home stat a statistical outlier, and being a statistical outlier is the only reason why it gets brought up at all.

I don't see how it's an outlier. The Rangers like virtually every team in all of sports play better at home than on the road? Stop the press!

 

[ltsthinaz]

Agreed for 25 minutes the Rangers seriously thought they were the 84 Oilers playing a bad ECHL team. They did nothing well. It's amazing the Islanders didn't score at least 5 goals. Then in the 3rd the Rangers played very well. Took the gas off the pedal in OT, but it's 4 on 4 and you can't really take away that much from it. We came back nicely in OT too. Not the worst game ever but this was the worst extended stretch of play since the Blackhawks game last year and that's the only game that is in the same zip code last year. The 3rd goal was a little fluky but the fact that we played 25 minutes like that with our back goalie and got a point is one of the few encouraging things to take away from this game.

I'm OK with this game. We got a point, at times looked absolutely dominating with our back-up goalie, who reeks in the shootouts. He didn't look great in regulation on the second (maybe) and the third (definitely) goals, but he is a back-up. Lundqvist can't play 48 games and the team can't play full speed ahead every minute of every game - they'll have nothing left for the playoffs, like last year.

On another topic, what does everyone think of Miller? I think he is a future legitimate NHLer, but I would send him down. It's not worth wasting a year of his ELC if he's just going to bounce around, play the odd shift and ride the pine in OT and the third period. It's a short season, and I think Kreider is more NHL-ready.

 

[Cmf1125]

I wouldn't say Biron was "great". At best it was a mixed bag.
The 3rd goal was a bad one and he looked over-matched in the shootout.

Honestly I don't think it matters that he was bad in the shootout. Gaborik and Nash didn't score anyhow. To win a shootout, your players gotta score too....

 

[Tawnos]

I don't see how it's an outlier. The Rangers like virtually every team in all of sports play better at home than on the road? Stop the press!

Right. Except they were 3-2-3 in the 8 games before that. Before the 8 game streak, they were 7-6-3 against the Isles at home since the 04-05 lockout. 8 games in a row was a fluke. Just like beating the Flyers 6 straight last year was a fluke.

 

[Inferno]

Birons 5-hole is awful, but he wasnt why we lost. our PP was why. I dont care that we scored a goal, that 5 on 3 just KILLED this team.

 

[Breaded Fox]

So much meh....

 

[SnowblindNYR]

I'm OK with this game. We got a point, at times looked absolutely dominating with our back-up goalie, who reeks in the shootouts. He didn't look great in regulation on the second (maybe) and the third (definitely) goals, but he is a back-up. Lundqvist can't play 48 games and the team can't play full speed ahead every minute of every game - they'll have nothing left for the playoffs, like last year.

On another topic, what does everyone think of Miller? I think he is a future legitimate NHLer, but I would send him down. It's not worth wasting a year of his ELC if he's just going to bounce around, play the odd shift and ride the pine in OT and the third period. It's a short season, and I think Kreider is more NHL-ready.

Well this wasn't the worst game of the season (the 1st Flyers game takes the cake). We played well 0 minutes in that one. However, those 25 minutes I couldn't figure out what I was watching. I think to call it domination by the Islanders is giving them too much credit. It was ridiculous. I can't be ok with any game where we play like that almost half the game. I'll take the point though. Neither team deserved a point today. Both looked dreadful for long periods of time. However, we're supposed to be a contender, that shouldn't happen to us.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Right. Except they were 3-2-3 in the 8 games before that. Before the 8 game streak, they were 7-6-3 against the Isles at home since the 04-05 lockout. 8 games in a row was a fluke. Just like beating the Flyers 6 straight last year was a fluke.

Except the Rangers had a lot of changes over the years, as did the Islanders. So bringing up 8 game streaks dating back to 04-05, which had all different players and coaches except Lundqvist is silly. Maybe we should go back to the 80s.

 

[ltsthinaz]

Also, despite the fact that we scored a power play goal, it is still killing us.

 

[Ryan McDonut]

i love how whenever we're on the rush our player can skate right in but instead they slow down, stare at the defender until they have no space, and then dump it in.

 

[Tawnos]

Except the Rangers had a lot of changes over the years, as did the Islanders. So bringing up 8 game streaks dating back to 04-05, which had all different players and coaches except Lundqvist is silly. Maybe we should go back to the 80s.

Well, the same applies to the initial 8 game streak. Only 5 skaters are still here from the first game of the streak (6 if you include Gilroy, who isn't really "still here"). Plus Lundqvist. Almost two thirds of the roster has turned over. Point being, that 8 game streak doesn't matter any more or less than any other one.

And also, none of this applies to my original point. The way teams play within a Rangers/Islanders game has no bearing on anything outside of that particular game.

 

[Doctor King Schultz]

Also, despite the fact that we scored a power play goal, it is still killing us.

Our last 2 power play goals haven't even been the result of a good power play set up. One was a breakaway and the one tonight was basically another breakaway. Both were one man efforts.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Well, the same applies to the initial 8 game streak. Only 5 skaters are still here from the first game of the streak (6 if you include Gilroy, who isn't really "still here"). Plus Lundqvist. Almost two thirds of the roster has turned over. Point being, that 8 game streak doesn't matter any more or less than any other one.

And also, none of this applies to my original point. The way teams play within a Rangers/Islanders game has no bearing on anything outside of that particular game.

I don't know. No matter how unpredictable these games are that 25 minute stretch was inexcusable. It might have no bearing on other games, but it's incredibly disappointing that the team would completely stop playing for 25 minutes. If they were playing the Penguins they would have lost 8-2.

 

[mcsauer2738]

I really think it's time to bring Haley up. Obviously he wont solve our PP problems but he is a great forechecker, and an extremely underrated hockey player, fits torts mold to a tee. I'd love to see a 4th line of asham haley and powe, great energy line. Hags-step-nash, gabby-richards-cally, miller-boyle-pyatt, asham-haley-powe

 

[Tawnos]

I don't know. No matter how unpredictable these games are that 25 minute stretch was inexcusable. It might have no bearing on other games, but it's incredibly disappointing that the team would completely stop playing for 25 minutes. If they were playing the Penguins they would have lost 8-2.

HUGE momentum swings are pretty standard for these games. You say disappointing. I say I wouldn't expect any different.

 

[PromNite]

Don't think it was the alcohol. I vaguely recall something like that, as well.

Right, I think Sykora scored in the shootout for the Rangers.