Against 90% of teams who either aren't talented enough and/or don't forecheck aggressively, we're absolutely fine.
Unfortunately, the other 10% of the league (see LA, Tampa, etc) understand our top 3 D aren't very good when pressured deep in their own zone. Plus we don't have a goalie that can play the puck. So they forecheck us hard and give us absolute fits. That's the recipe to beat this team and we've consistently seen it time and again for years now. McD is iffy with the puck when pressured. Staal is below average. Girardi is not very good. Sure, all three are great elsewhere, put playing the puck while pressured is a big weakness for all three.
Tonight's loss wasn't a product of having an off night. It was a product of a talented team taking full advantage of our largest weakness. And that's why tonight's loss is concerning. The blueprint on how to beat this team was on full display.
The good news is very, very few teams can actually do it against us. Just gotta hope we don't face those teams come playoff time.
I tend to agree, when the Rangers do not have time to make their breakouts because of pressure they are not nearly as good. They can not build up speed through the neutral zone and that is where most of their offense comes from, the rush.
They need to adjust some against teams who can force them, the chip off the boards, Torts thing is the most effective in getting the puck out but they do not have a lot of players who can proceed to go in and get the puck back once it's dumped in (if it not dumped directly to the goalie like it was last night for the whole game) Even the bigger or faster guys don't seem to be able to win many board battles, effort or just ability I am not sure.
I'd think they could make up some game plan based on the speed of some of their wings but it seems like LA has the ability to interfere with the players without the puck and not get called, much like Doughty jumping in front of whomever that was last night and making it appears he was just going for the puck in his lane. LA kept a defender back just in case all night long as there was no need for them to have a 5 man press as 3 or 4 was enough to give the Rangers fits.
LA has a bunch of good two way players, they move the puck quickly and the shots are not passed up. And on top of that they take advantage of their opportunities at a greater rate than just about any other team I have seen besides perhaps Tampa.
I don't think it's all doom and gloom, to be honest Talbot was passing to LA last night, McD, Boyle, and Staal were stick checking all night which has to be adjusted against a team like LA. And other than Zucc and a couple others hardly any of the forwards seemed to be sharp.
I have to give LA credit they are a well coached team who has a good roster. They have won cups by being just that. With some adjustment I think the Rangers could give them a better run than they did last year should they meet, but the Rangers best forward, best defenders and best goalie would have to come up pretty huge and last night none of that happened.