Video(s) Of Day: Tyler Johnson stuns the Canadiens

Posted on May 7, 2015 by Derek

While the Rangers were finding another way to lose to the Caps, the Canadiens lost to the Lightning in the worst way imaginable. They one upped us losing to Tampa with a second left to fall behind 3-0 in the series.

Imagine being a second away from overtime in a game you fought back in and controlled. Imagine needing it after dropping the first two games on home ice to a opponent you can’t beat. You cannot make it up. With only 11 seconds left in a tie hockey game, a careless Canadiens turnover at the Tampa blueline allowed Ondrej Palat to come in transition with Victor Hedman, who found Conn Smythe candidate Tyler Johnson for the Game 3 winner at a wild environment in Tampa. How wild? Try this on for size.

Awesome fan reaction in the newly featured #MyPlayoffsMoment. These are fun to watch when they don’t involve your team losing. The Lightning are one win away from the Conference Final.

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Lack Of Adjustments From Coach Hurting Rangers

Posted on May 7, 2015 by Derek
Teammates surround Washington Capitals left wing Andre Burakovsky, from Austria, after his game-winning goal as New York Rangers defenseman Ryan McDonagh (27) skates nearby, during the third period of Game 4 in the second round of the NHL Stanley Cup hockey playoffs, Wednesday, May 6, 2015, in Washington. The Capitals won 2-1. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Caps mob Game 4 hero Andre Burakovsky following his second goal. Rangers captain Ryan McDonagh can only watch in disappointment. AP Photo by Alex Brandon/Getty Images 

In case you were living in a cave, the Rangers are officially on life support. Thanks to another frustrating performance, they’re now in the same predicament they were in this round last year. After falling to the Tort-Trotz Caps 2-1 on a pair of goals from 20-year old Andre Burakovsky (you can’t make it up), they face an uphill battle starting Friday.

No one likes funerals. Hopefully, the Rangers remember to bring some good twigs that include goals. More than one would be nice. At the moment, they’re running out of answers against a Caps team who has surrounded Braden Holtby by blocking every shot possible. On a night he made 28 saves, Washington blocked 25 shots. The Rangers out-attempted the Caps 66-49. The trouble is 37 never made it to Holtby who continues to outplay Henrik Lundqvist in a bizarre low-scoring series.

Facing a disciplined opponent that has continued to keep most of their chances to the outside, the Rangers have managed only five goals on 126 shots. They haven’t been able to get to Holtby who remains a brick wall. Sadly, Lundqvist has permitted seven goals on 113 shots. That hasn’t been good enough. It’s remarkable that he can perform well but hasn’t gotten enough support.

Every game the Rangers have played has been decided by one goal. The difference in this series is they’ve been on the wrong side three out of four times. Even worse, they’ve lost those in bad fashion. Whether it be with Joel Ward’s Game 1 stunner or Jay Beagle’s fluke goal from behind the net or Burakovsky coming out of nowhere to toast invisible captain Ryan McDonagh 24 seconds into the third, they’ve all hurt big time.

Why are they losing this series? Well, for starters Alain Vigneault is getting outcoached by Barry “Tort” Trotz. Yeah. I’m going to refer to him as that given how his team playing. They’re executing Trotz’ defensive strategy perfectly. Vigneault has had no answer. Outside of one lineup tweak moving Dominic Moore up to the Kevin Hayes line with Carl Hagelin while as predicted sliding J.T. Miller to the fourth line with Tanner Glass and James Sheppard, Vigneault has shown too much reluctance to make changes during losses.

The biggest question I have for the coach is how does he not double shift Rick Nash down the stretch while shortening the bench. What the heck was the fourth line doing out with five-plus minutes left? The sad aspect is Miller actually set up Glass for a quality chance with Holtby sliding across to pad away his low shot. At some point, you have to roll the dice. Vigneault hasn’t been willing to ride his horses. Even with Derek Stepan and Chris Kreider having bad nights, he never once tried Nash with them for a shift.

It is just mind boggling how Vigneault hasn’t been able to push the right buttons. That includes a power play so abominable, you wish they could decline it. They only had one and it came early with Karl Alzner off for tripping. Paging the coach. Why isn’t Nash on the top unit? How does he explain leaving his best scorer on the bench for the entire first half? Even if he’s not finishing, he’s a threat. More than you can say for Martin St. Louis, who despite playing another good game setting up their only goal is just shot. The effort is there but he is one dimensional. Sad to see from a great player who looks every bit his age of 39.

Vigneault finally threw the towel in on Keith Yandle quarterbacking the power play. That’s how hesitant he’s been. If it’s cause he’s still banged up, so be it. Yandle has been a colossal bust. He had a couple of good moments against the Pens but it’s been an awful second round. Even the Rangers’ best McDonagh has been pitiful. He was beat for Ward’s game-winner and was victimized by Burakovsky after just a brutal turnover to start the third when you knew one goal would be enough for the Caps to win.

The best chance they got was Hagelin awarded a penalty shot with 11:59 left in regulation after being hooked from behind by Mike Green. Unfortunately, his deke and backhand was snuffed out by Holtby, who snatched it with his glove preserving the lead to thunderous cheers from Verizon Center who chanted his name. He deserved it.

You can toss out the puck possession because like a broken record, it meant nothing. Something I’ve harped on. To all the fan bloggers who live and die with Corsi. It’s meaningless unless they score. The Rangers haven’t gotten to Holtby. Sure. They earned some rare second chances with Jesper Fast hustling to get off a quality shot that the Caps netminder handled. There were a few others but again, it wasn’t enough.

If you throw aside the extra possession along with a strong first period, the Rangers got largely outplayed in the second. That was despite Nash making a great defensive play that led to St. Louis feeding an open Derick Brassard for a sweet finish top shelf with Alex Ovechkin lolly gagging. They even had golden opportunities to go up two with Nash coming close to beating Holtby followed by a bizarre sequence where the Hayes unit had Holtby down but never beat him. That about sums it up.

When you fail to take advantage of such chances, it usually comes back to bite you. As soon as the Caps turned it up, the Rangers were on the defensive. It’s Washington’s relentless forecheck that’s forced Lundqvist to make tougher saves than Holtby. That’s because they get inside and bring traffic finding rebounds. On one big shift, Ovechkin got two heavy shots on Lundqvist which he thwarted. One left a juicy rebound that was cleared by St. Louis.

Once again, it was the Caps third line which wreaked havoc. Game 3 hero Beagle along with hefty truck Troy Brouwer did the heavy lifting on a dominant shift. Dan Girardi tried to make the right play going up the wall to Kreider but he got outmuscled by Burakovsky who in one motion came off the wall and had enough room to beat Lundqvist unscreened to tie it. On the play, Stepan was taken down causing the Rangers bench to flip. But that’s besides the point. Kreider shouldn’t have gotten muscled off the puck and Lundqvist should’ve had it. Even on a night where he was ultra sharp, he gave up a crusher. This isn’t on him if they fail to come back. It’s about the team around him and a punchless offense under a coach who this isn’t supposed to happen under. Ironically, it happened to the Canucks when they won the President’s Trophy getting ousted by the bigger Kings.

Vigneault has his defensemen pinching at every turn. But the Caps have done a great job neutralizing McDonagh. He hasn’t much space when activated. Yandle’s struggles are well documented. As much as fans have killed him, Dan Boyle is the only defenseman who has been able to carry the puck up ice and gain the zone. For all his shortcomings, he has skating ability. it would be nice if he could actually keep pucks in at the point and get shots through. When Glen Sather signed him over Anton Stralman, I hated it.

Will the Rangers quit? They basically did with 34 seconds left. In just a mystifying sequence after tagging up on a delayed offside, they dumped the puck in and not one Blueshirt was close to any Cap allowing them an easy clear. That led to one final rush and then a pile up on the side boards that ran off the final eight seconds.

You have to wonder where they’re heads are at. When you have Brassard admitting that “they seem to have an answer for everything,” referring to the Caps, it is a ringing indictment.

Are they done? It sure seems like it. Is this the same group that rallied from a 3-1 deficit last year? Hardly. Gone are Stralman, Brian Boyle, Benoit Pouliot. Mats Zuccarello isn’t playing due to a concussion. They even miss Derek Dorsett and Dan Carcillo, who contributed a lot more than the current fourth line Vigneault constructed.

The Rangers are not as tough to play against. Sure. They can skate and when they control possession, they’re effective. However, they’re softer defensively and easier to forecheck. A defenseman like Stralman who was so good at coming out with pucks along the boards and either skating it out or making the right pass is sorely missed. A tenacious checker like Boyle, who always upped his game in the postseason now stars in a similar role for Tampa, who went up 3-0 on Montreal thanks to Conn Smythe candidate Tyler Johnson. Pouliot was a strong forechecker who teamed with Brassard and Zuccarello to form their most consistent line.

It’s not fair to judge kids like Hayes, Miller and Fast so early in their careers. They are still learning. I’ve liked a lot of what I’ve seen from Hayes and Fast. Their battle level has been excellent. Some of the Rangers’ best opportunities have been created by each. Miller is still a work in progress. He really doesn’t belong on the fourth line. Maybe it’s time to reunite him with Stepan and Kreider. Fast can shift back to Hayes and Hagelin.

As for Nash, it’s now nine games and he’s still stuck on one goal. The effort is unquestioned. He is around the puck more and is attempting more shots. His attention to detail is superb. He did help set up Brassard’s goal. You have to look at Stepan and be disappointed. He hasn’t been consistent. Neither has Kreider despite his physical presence. At this point, both should be performing better and need to for them to have any chance at a comeback.

So, what can the coach do better? Coach. Don’t be afraid to try different combos. He has nothing to lose. At this critical juncture, Vigneault needs to do whatever it takes to get his team to Game 6. That goes double for his struggling players.

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Keys For Rangers Tonight

Posted on May 6, 2015 by Derek

The Rangers are facing their first adversity of the playoffs. Up against a tougher opponent, they enter tonight’s Game 4 trailing the Capitals two games to one. They don’t want to return to MSG Friday in a 3-1 predicament. It’ll be harder to come back on the Caps than the Pens last year due to their physical grinding style.

So, what must happen for the Blueshirts to even the series? They must manage the puck better. The Caps are playing a disciplined defensive style by sitting back in the neutral zone and standing up at their blueline. The Rangers have been guilty of turnovers that plays into Washington’s hand and allows them to counter attack. Being a puck possession team means adjusting on the fly. Tape to tape passes and effective usage of the boards can aid their attack.

So can chipping pucks behind the Caps D and using their team speed to recover them and generate higher quality chances on Braden Holtby. When they have forechecked, they’ve been effective. However, there needs to be more traffic in front of Holtby. Defensemen need to shoot the puck when given the opportunity. There’s been too much hesitation due to the wall the Caps put up in front of their goalie. The same goes for the forwards.

Taking low shots through traffic should lead to second opportunities. The Rangers must do a better job driving the net and finding the loose change. Chris Kreider and Rick Nash have the ability to park their bodies in front of Holtby. There needs to be more urgency. Speedy grinders Carl Hagelin and J.T. Miller are capable of winning battles. Ditto for Jesper Fast.

The centers as a whole must be better. Outside of Derick Brassard, the production hasn’t been there. Derek Stepan needs to pick it up. He’s going to get paid this summer like a top line pivot. If it’s Fast with Stepan and Kreider, so be it. They have to do more and that falls on Stepan. He’s the smart two-way playmaker who determines what kind of game they have.

Kevin Hayes has been okay on the cycle but he can produce more as can Hagelin. They are key elements to the offense. In a series where scoring is down, the Rangers’ depth players must come through. That goes double for Miller who has been all but invisible. If he continues to struggle, perhaps Alain Vigneault bumps up Dominic Moore who’s an effective grinder that wins faceoffs and battles in the corners. Miller can be shifted to the fourth line if necessary.

Much has been made of Nash’s inability to finish. He has one goal in eight games this postseason. However, his five points are tied with Brassard for first in team scoring. Admittedly, Nash knows he must find the back of the net. He was better in Game 3 attempting 15 shots with seven reaching Holtby. If he continues to use his size and skating, it should come.

Martin St. Louis is without a goal in eight with two assists. He had his best offensive game Monday. He was more involved on the forecheck and had one of the best chances getting stopped by Holtby on a breakaway. He’s experienced enough to deliver. He must stay aggressive and look to shoot. That makes him a better threat.

Offensively, the Rangers blueline hasn’t done enough. Ryan McDonagh had a good first round totaling four points in five games against Pittsburgh. He hasn’t been able to make an impact against Washington. He’s their best defenseman and is looked upon as a team leader. The Rangers captain needs to deliver a big performance.

Obviously, Keith Yandle has struggled in this series. He isn’t creating enough offense and has been culpable defensively. If Vigneault decides to keep him with Dan Boyle, he must limit their starts in the defensive zone. They are offensive players who are most effective in the offensive zone. That means changing them on the fly if needed. Something that’s harder to do on the road. I would mix and match each with Marc Staal and Kevin Klein. Neither is strong enough on the boards. They need help.

The power play remains an enigma. Vigneault needs it to be more proactive. That means winning key offensive draws so they can effectively set up. It falls on Brassard and Stepan to win those faceoffs. If it means using Moore or Miller just to get possession, so be it.

The man-advantage needs to be think shot first. Being more aggressive will put the Caps on their heels. Having Kreider as the net presence on the top unit with Nash on his off wing, either Stepan or Brassard on the opposite side with Boyle and McDonagh at the points would give them more shooting options. If they use Stepan on the left side and have Boyle on the left point with McDonagh on the right, that makes it easier to one-time the puck.

Maybe try Brassard with St. Louis on one point with Yandle manning the other and have Miller and Hayes up front. Or maybe have Brassard run one point since he is more instinctive and not afraid to shoot. Of course, drawing penalties would help. Two power plays isn’t enough.

Henrik Lundqvist has been fine allowing five goals on on 83 shots. He still hasn’t delivered a money performance. You can make the argument in Games 1 and 3, he could’ve had both game-winners. He wasn’t set for Joel Ward’s stunner and did recover in time and cover the post on Jay Beagle’s bank shot off Yandle. He might need to be perfect tonight. Lundqvist has always responded well to a loss. Expect a big game from the Rangers’ franchise player who participated in a team record 100th postseason game Monday.

For the Blueshirts to prevail, they must show urgency for all 60 minutes. In Game 3, they did it at the start and with 10:00 left in the third. They must be relentless. Get pucks deep and finish checks. Work the Caps defense. They are working hard at blocking shots and keeping the Rangers on the perimeter. Make them work harder. By winning the board battles and driving the net, they’ll start to draw penalties and make life more difficult on Holtby.

They must not show panic. They’ve been here before. It’s time to meet the challenge.

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NHL Playoffs: Flames overcome disallowed goal to win Game 3 in overtime over Ducks

Posted on May 6, 2015 by Derek

The Flames were desperate for a break. Even a disallowed goal didn’t deter them from finding a way to come back and win Game 3 in overtime over the Ducks by a score of 4-3 at a thunderous Saddledome.

The story of the game was the Flames’ resiliency. Like they had done to the Canucks in the first round, they got up off the deck and climbed their way back in a tough second round series with the heavily favored Ducks. Anaheim dominated the first two games outscoring them 9-1 in two home wins.

After falling behind on two straight Anaheim goals including one from Corey Perry, they drew even thanks to a brilliant Joe Colborne shorthanded tally. Taking advantage of Anaheim defenseman Hampus Lindholm falling down at the point, he broke in and deked Frederik Andersen twice before tucking home a forehand to tie it.

But a strong Ryan Kesler forecheck and set up for Matt Beleskey put the Ducks back in front 3-2 after two periods of play. The Flames had to find a way back in the third. They didn’t want to fall behind 3-0 like the Wild did in a 1-0 shutout home defeat to Patrick Kane and the Blackhawks.

The goal controversy came when rookie Sam Bennett appeared to put the puck in past Andersen with 6:22 left. During live play, it was unapparent that he could’ve scored with Andersen kicking his pads out followed by the Ducks icing the puck. Once they showed replays, it was obvious that Toronto would need a lengthy review to decide it.

The crazy aspect is that it was a repeat of current Flames assistant coach Martin Gelinas having a goal wiped out in Game 6 of the 2004 Stanley Cup Final against the Lightning. In that scenario, he looked to have beaten Nikolai Khabibulin, who also made a kick save after the puck seemed across the goal line. Had it stood, Calgary would’ve led with under seven minutes left and would’ve had a chance to win the Cup. Instead, the game went to triple overtime before Martin St. Louis sent the series back to Tampa for Game 7 where they won the Cup 2-1 on two goals from closer Ruslan Fedotenko.

That it basically was identical to the Gelinas no goal at the same end 11 years later is wild. Somehow, Toronto ruled no goal using the lame excuse that it was inconclusive. The reaction on Twitter was priceless. Even the official Anaheim Ducks feed thought it was a goal.

Following the controversy, Calgary got a reprieve when Sami Vatanen was called for delay of game handing the Flames a 5-on-3 with Karri Ramo on the bench. Coincidental minors prior is why it was 5-on-3 and not 6-on-4. Rushing up the ice, Johnny Gaudreau skated to the right circle and released a perfect shot that went short side on Andersen with 19.9 seconds left in regulation.

Johnny Hockey’s miraculous tying goal allowed the Flames to force overtime. In it, there was no doubt that Mikael Backlund scored the winner at 4:24 of sudden death on a delayed penalty. Taking a pass from Dennis Wideman, he patiently waited for traffic to form in front of Andersen and skated to the middle and fired a low shot far side through a screen to win Game 3 touching off a wild celebration.

As the Flames were celebrating, Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf voiced his displeasure to refs Kelly Sutherland and Chris Rooney. Feeling that his team got the short end of the stick after they let go of an apparent trip a minute earlier, he let them know about it. That’s not why Anaheim lost. They made costly mistakes and didn’t bury early chances in OT with Ramo denying Perry and Getzlaf.

With two days off until Friday’s Game 4, it should make for an interesting 48 hours. At the very least, the NHL’s buffoonery in Toronto didn’t cost Calgary. For that, they’re extremely lucky. Anaheim did enough to get the Flames back in the series. They still have looked out of place against the Ducks heavy forecheck and supremely skilled stars. It’ll take a lot for them to even the series.

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Martin St. Louis remains confident despite his struggles

Posted on May 5, 2015 by Derek
Martin St. Louis celebrates his overtime winner that sent the Rangers to a 3-2 Game 4 win over the Canadiens. AP Photo/Seth Wenig

Martin St. Louis celebrates his overtime winner that sent the Rangers to a 3-2 Game 4 win over the Canadiens last year.
AP Photo/Seth Wenig

One of the keys to last year’s run was the clutch play of savvy veteran Martin St. Louis. Acquired by Glen Sather in a captain for captain deal that sent Ryan Callahan plus first round picks to Tampa, the former Hart winner was brought to Broadway for his experience.

In the aftermath of his Mom’s death, St. Louis responded by scoring a goal in the Rangers’ Game 6 win over the Pens on Mother’s Day. He also set up Brad Richards’ series clincher in Game 7 helping his team rally from 3-1 down in advancing to the Conference Finals. In their six-game series win over the Canadiens, he was a factor scoring three goals and setting up two others in the first four games with this money OT clincher putting the Rangers up 3-1.

Even in the five-game Stanley Cup loss to the Kings, he scored twice finishing with 15 points (8-7-15) which tied him with Derek Stepan for second in team scoring behind Ryan McDonagh (4-13-17).

At age 38, St. Louis was a factor during that run. He became one of the team leaders. Following a dismal performance in Game 4 that put them down 3-1 to the Pens, it was St. Louis, Richards and Henrik Lundqvist who closed the door for a players only team meeting. They emphasized that it wasn’t over. A St. Louis Tampa team rallied from a 3-1 deficit to beat the Pens in 2011. That along with the Rangers rallying around St. Louis allowed them to have the right psyche to pull off their first comeback from 3-1 down in franchise history. They never trailed the final three games.

In the final year of his contract, St. Louis has been streaky. Despite the ups and downs, the 39-year old future Hall Of Famer still ranked tied for second in goals (21) and fourth in points (52). He returned from a knee sprain and performed well at the conclusion of the regular season with a goal and four assists the final week.

It’s been a different story for the elder statesman who’s playing for a contract. The finish hasn’t been there. In eight postseason games, he has two assists and remains without a goal. Goals have been hard to come by lately for St. Louis. He has three goals in his last 24 games. To be fair, he played a good game Monday. More involved, he got one of the Rangers’ best chances after blocking a John Carlson shot. St. Louis broke in on Braden Holtby but a hustling Brooks Orpik forced him to rush his shot which went right into the bread basket.

“You know what, though?” No. 26 asked rhetorically, telling New York Post writer Larry Brooks that he felt good. “I had the puck a lot and I played the game I wanted to. I felt good. It just didn’t happen for me.

“Personally, it was one of my better games in a long time. I’m coming out of this game with confidence going into the next one. I’m going to build off this game.”

He’s right. He was better offensively. Defensively, that remains problematic with St. Louis beat to a loose puck on Jay Beagle’s game-winner. He’s here for one reason. To contribute offensively. He knows this could be his last chance to win another Stanley Cup. So, you know he’s giving it everything.

St. Louis turns 40 on June 18. It would be nice to see him lift the Cup as a Blueshirt. I hate critiquing him because I’ve always been a huge fan of his. The way he responded to tragedy last Spring sealed it.

As a team, the Rangers must all perform better to come back and beat the Caps. That means more from everyone. The biggest game of the season is tomorrow.

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Nassau Coliseum ice removal end of an era for Islanders

Posted on May 5, 2015 by Derek
A truck removes the proud Islanders logo from the ice at Nassau Coliseum. Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

A truck removes the proud Islanders logo from the ice at Nassau Coliseum.
Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

On April 25, the Islanders played their final home game at Nassau War Memorial Veteran’s Coliseum. They defeated the Caps 3-1 in Game 6 at least winning one more time in Uniondale. Unfortunately, their season came to an end two days later with Washington prevailing 2-1 to win Game 7 and advance to the second round.

For Islander fans, the end meant the removal of the ice and everything Islanders from the Coliseum. The only arena they’ve ever known for 43 years is no more. At least not in the literal sense. With plans to renovate the arena, it’ll remain for other sporting and music events. The sad part is today the ice removal took place.

The rest of the photos can be viewed here on TSN. I decided not to put any more up out of respect for Islander fans. Old New York Hockey Report pal Gary Harding tweeted Islander fan Paul Kreischer’s take courtesy of Isles Section 317. One worth checking out.

When they relocate to Barclays Center in Brooklyn this Fall, it will represent the start of a new era. An odd one due to the Islanders not calling Long Island home. One that’ll take a while to get used to.

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Rangers Offense Missing Against Tough Capitals

Posted on May 5, 2015 by Derek
Rick Nash and the Rangers offense has gone missing against Braden Holtby and the Caps. AP Photo by Alex Brandon/Getty Images

Rick Nash and the Rangers offense has gone missing against Braden Holtby and the Caps.
AP Photo by Alex Brandon/Getty Images

For most of the season, offense wasn’t a problem for the first overall Blueshirts. They averaged over three goals-per-game finishing in the top five. In the playoffs, things have tightened up as they always do. With officiating going back to pre-lockout with refs swallowing their whistles, it’s allowed teams to get away with more tugging.

Indeed, the Rangers find themselves in a series against a tough opponent. In their two wins, the Capitals have taken away the stretch pass and clogged the neutral zone. They have also stood up at the blueline forcing the Rangers into mistakes. Washington coach Barry Trotz has done a masterful job adjusting his team’s style against Alain Vigneault who must adjust his team’s strategy for tomorrow’s critical Game 4. If that means more short passes and chips and chasing, so be it.

As has been a common theme throughout the playoffs, the Rangers played another one-goal game dropping Game 3 1-0 with Braden Holtby making 30 saves to blank them. All eight games have been decided by one goal. Unlike the first round when they had a distinct advantage on defense and up front, the Rangers don’t. The Caps boast an equally strong blueline and of course are led by the ever dangerous tandem of Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom. The difference is their support players have been a factor. Troy Brouwer’s hustle allowed Jay Beagle to score last night’s winner.

Trotz has his team playing a similar style to the one former Rangers coach John Tortorella had the 2012 club playing. Anchored by gritty vet Brooks Orpik, Washington’s D has made life difficult on the speedy Blueshirts. In particular Orpik, Matt Niskanen and John Carlson have been Capital pains. They are playing physical getting in the passing and shooting lanes. In Monday’s win, the Caps blocked 27 shots. Another 12 Ranger attempts missed the net. That means 39 of 69 shots never reached Holtby. Rebounds have been hard to come by. Something a few notable Blueshirts took away from yesterday. 

”We’re just going to have to keep throwing pucks at the net, and getting bodies there. Do our best to make sure he can’t see those shots and make sure we get some of those rebounds in front of the net,” Dan Girardi told reporters in the Rangers locker room following Game 3.

Henrik Lundqvist observed that the Caps have limited their second chances. The Rangers must do a better job getting inside position on Washington’s D. They’re not getting enough bodies in front of Holtby. He’s had it too easy. If there’s a area they can improve upon, it’s skating to the hard areas. Something a determined Caps have been more willing to do against Lundqvist. In both their victories, they outhustled the Rangers and made the most of their own breaks.

Through three games, the Rangers have totaled five goals on 97 shots. In their lone win, they were quicker to the puck and made it tougher on Holtby. On all three goals, there was a Blueshirt in front. Chris Kreider scored on a Jesper Fast rebound. Dan Boyle’s power play goal came due to Rick Nash screening Holtby. Derick Brassard’s game-winner was scored in front on a Martin St. Louis pass.

Without top right wing Mats Zuccarello, the offense is struggling. It can be argued that Zuccarello is their most consistent forward. He brings so much to the table. The Rangers must find a way to overcome his loss. That means better play from Nash, Brassard, St. Louis and Derek Stepan. Despite seven shots, Nash remains without a goal in the series. He has one in eight games. Brassard has been the team’s best source for offense but disappeared last night and took a bad penalty. St. Louis has two assists in the postseason. Hardly worth discussing. Stepan has one assist against the Caps.

The lack of production from the Rangers’ top forwards is killing them. I left out Kreider because he’s been noticeable. He finished in Game 2 and has been a physical force. He also only has one goal. Two points in eight games. Both goals. That doesn’t even take into account Kevin Hayes up and down play. However, he scored and set up Carl Hagelin’s series clincher versus the Pens and his shot banked in off Fast in Game 1. He still is learning in his first year.

Obviously, they’re not gonna get much out of the fourth line. For the most part, Dominic Moore, Tanner Glass and James Sheppard have been effective. However, with his team behind Vigneault shortened the bench in the third sitting Glass and Sheppard while giving Moore some shifts due to his faceoffs (8-and-5). As a team, the Blueshirts were miserable losing 42 of 60 including some key ones in the final minute with Lundqvist pulled for an extra attacker.

Aside from the forwards, Ryan McDonagh hasn’t done enough either. While he’s been splendid against Ovechkin with partner Girardi, he’s not making a difference offensively. The Rangers captain needs to put more shots on Holtby. Through four games, he has four shots and no points. That’s not good enough. He’s the one defenseman they can count on.

Keith Yandle hasn’t made an imprint. On for two goals against including deflecting Beagle’s backhand wrap in past Lundqvist, he hasn’t done enough to justify what Glen Sather gave up for him at the deadline. The power play remains frustrating along with Yandle’s insistence on passing the puck almost every time even when he has a clear look at Holtby.

Remarkably, Boyle was the one offensive threat from the back end in Game 3. He did a better job carrying the puck through the neutral zone and attempted three shots including one opportunity late that was deflected. Vigneault went with him the final minute and a half. He also battled harder in his end one on one. So, he’s not coming out of the lineup.

Since returning, Kevin Klein has been inconsistent. His defense one on one has been fine but he’s had a few shaky turnovers on forced passes. He did try to get more involved offensively in Game 3 but only registered a shot and missed the net three times. There’s no way Yandle and Boyle can play together. Vigneault must have Klein play with Yandle and keep Boyle with Marc Staal. Speaking of which, he also skated the puck up more and took two shots.

Offense from the blueline is important to the Rangers’ attack. Vigneault has them pinching. If they can’t get shots through from the point, it makes it easier on Holtby. Credit the Caps for taking away the shooting lanes. They have forced a lot of misses. Defensemen are hesitating more. There needs to be more decisiveness. Something that’s been missing. Puck possession is nice but if you can’t get good shots through and find the rebounds, it doesn’t matter.

Game 4 is about as must a win scenario as possible. The Rangers don’t want to come back to MSG Friday facing elimination. In past situations, they’ve responded well to adversity. There’s no panic. Unless the offense figures it out, it might fall on Lundqvist to be perfect. He’s yet to be these playoffs. Holtby’s been better. That can’t happen Wednesday. Neither can the Rangers’ best offensive performers being blanketed.

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Quote Of Day

Posted on May 5, 2015 by Derek

Today’s quote comes from Rangers defenseman Dan Girardi following a tough 1-0 Game 3 loss to the Capitals. Braden Holtby stopped all 30 shots for the shutout. Girardi talked about what they must do better to even the second round series.

”We’re just going to have to keep throwing pucks at the net, and getting bodies there. Do our best to make sure he can’t see those shots and make sure we get some of those rebounds in front of the net.”

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Holtby shuts out Rangers, Caps lead 2-1

Posted on May 5, 2015 by Derek
Braden Holtby was the story in Game 3 making 30 saves to shutout the Rangers 1-0. AP Photo by Alex Brandon/Getty Images

Braden Holtby was the story in Game 3 making 30 saves to shutout the Rangers 1-0.
AP Photo by Alex Brandon/Getty Images

It isn’t going to be easy. If they didn’t know by now, the Rangers definitely are in a tough series with the Caps. Braden Holtby stopped all 30 shots to shutout the Rangers 1-0 in Game 3 allowing the Caps to take a 2-1 lead in the second round series.

The difference was a fluke goal coming from third line forward Jay Beagle, who beat Henrik Lundqvist on a backhand wraparound that deflected off Keith Yandle’s stick and in at 7:31 of the second period. That was how tightly played the game was. The teams combined for 52 shots. The Rangers out-attempted Washington 69-59. But it was the Caps defense blocking 27 shots which allowed Holtby to see most of the ones on goal.

It wasn’t that they played badly. The Rangers got off to a good start. Forechecking from the outset, they had the first five shots. However, they failed to take advantage. The early pressure wasn’t enough to get to Holtby, who outplayed Lundqvist for the second game in the series. Similar to Game 1, he made one less mistake. That was enough to put the Rangers down 2-1 facing a big Game 4 Wednesday. They don’t want to fall behind 3-1. Especially the way the Caps are playing.

For the second time, Washington was able to limit the Rangers’ speed. Even though they were outshot, they kept most of the opportunities to the outside and didn’t allow many second chances. Through three games, it’s the Caps’ defense core of Brooks Orpik, John Carlson, Matt Niskanen, Karl Alzner, Mike Green and Tim Gleason that’s outshined the Rangers’ blueline of Ryan McDonagh, Dan Girardi, Marc Staal, Kevin Klein, Dan Boyle and Yandle.

The troubling aspect for the Blueshirts is how overmatched the third pair of Yandle and Boyle have looked. They have struggled in their end and been victimized by the opportunistic Caps. In Game 1, it was Nicklas Backstrom’s big hit on Boyle that helped Alex Ovechkin set up Joel Ward’s winner with 1.3 seconds left. On that play, McDonagh got beat too. In Game 2, Evgeny Kuznetsov took advantage of Yandle and Boyle to score while Ovechkin victimized McDonagh and Girardi. Monday night was no different with Yandle largely responsible for Beagle’s game-winner. He was out with Girardi when a Troy Brouwer dump turned into a circus.

To be blunt, Lundqvist misplayed it coming out way too far. After Andre Burakovsky recovered the loose puck behind the net for Beagle, Lundqvist never got back to his goalpost. That resulted in Beagle making a smart play just throwing the puck out and banking it in off Yandle and Lundqvist. It’s been that kind of scrappy play which has the Caps only two wins from the Conference Final. They’ve done the little things right.

When it’s played this closely, sometimes lucky bounces are what determine the outcome. However, the Caps have made the most out of those by being in the right place at the right time. They also have done a great job standing up at their blueline forcing the Rangers into mistakes. They haven’t shown enough willingness to adjust to Washington coach Barry Trotz’ strategy. Unless they make smart concise passes and chip pucks behind the Caps D using their speed to recover them, they could be in big trouble.

Another sore spot has been their discipline. Even though the Caps haven’t had many power plays, the Rangers have taken some bad penalties which killed momentum. In the first, Yandle got nabbed for tripping. Once they went to the man-advantage, the first period turned around. Even with Girardi cheating to Ovechkin’s side, he was still able to find room for a lethal one-timer that Lundqvist denied. He would later rob Ovechkin again following an ill timed Derick Brassard hold in the offensive zone. He got just enough of the glove on a tough wrist shot and then was able to stone Joel Ward.

Even though he only made 21 saves, Lundqvist came up with some dandies. The only fault you can find with him is that he’s yet to have that signature game. The Rangers probably need him to be perfect tomorrow and send the series back to MSG even. It’s hard to critique Henrik when he’s hardly getting any support. But he still must be better. If that means having to pitch a shutout, so be it.

When asked to assess his team’s offensive struggles, Lundqvist told MSG’s John Giannone: “We’re having trouble getting shots through,” while also noting that the Caps are doing a good job limiting second chances. Listening to him along with McDonagh and Rick Nash, who despite a team high seven shots was again held off the score sheet, they all emphasized needing to get inside more.

Following the loss, ESPN SportsCenter anchor Linda Cohn summed up the frustration best.

The problem as I see it is they have failed to match the Caps’ lunch pail work ethic. The way they’re playing, it reminds me of a combo of the Bruins and Kings grinding down our D and making life difficult on our smallish forwards. Basically, Trotz has taken a page out of Darryl Sutter’s playbook cutting the rink down to size while slowing the tempo. The Rangers aren’t having much success with those long passes. The Caps are sitting back looking for mistakes so they can counter.

Oddly enough, Washington’s style reminds me of how former coach John Tortorella had our team playing in 2012. They are defending so well in front of Holtby that passes are getting broken up and rebounds are dying in front of diving Caps who are sacrificing their bodies. The Caps had 27 blocks to the Rangers’ 12. They also forced 15 giveaways while dominating on faceoffs 40-18. Washington won every key draw including a couple of big defensive ones in the final minute to protect the lead.

The Rangers’ failure to win offensive draws at the start of power plays is hurting them. While the man-advantage remains a nightmare with Boyle continuing to struggle keeping pucks in while Yandle is a one trick pony, by not winning those faceoffs it’s allowing the Caps free outs which takes away precious set up time. Given how long it takes them to get anything done, it makes their power play so easy to defend against.

Another area that needs fixing is the Rangers reluctance to shoot. They are over thinking. It almost looks like Holtby is in their heads. There are too many instances where our shooters have hesitated. By pausing, it allows Holtby more time to get set along with his defensemen. It needs to be more instinctive. Simplifying their strategy makes sense. If a shot’s available, take it. They should be driving the net more.

It’s not so much a question of Nash struggling. He had seven shots and was more aggressive throughout looking for his shot. His best opportunity came on a cycle where a backhand forced Holtby to kick out a low shot. Nash also was in front on a tough point shot that deflected off his skates into Holtby during a late push. He just needs to find a way to finish. Nash also played with an edge delivering a thunderous check on Orpik that could’ve been penalized. The hit was similar to Backstrom’s on Boyle.

Martin St. Louis had his best game of the postseason registering three shots including a breakaway which Holtby gloved. He wasn’t able to get the shot he wanted with a hustling Orpik getting good back pressure. St. Louis was more involved offensively but also was on for Beagle’s goal.

Chris Kreider was effective again registering five shots while being a physical force delivering six hits including a couple of heavy ones. He is going. The Rangers need to play more like him. Kreider is doing everything. He’s using his speed and size to create havoc. He’s also hustling back defensively.

If there is an issue, it might be time for Rangers coach Alain Vigneault to tweak his lines. He sticks to his guns. Late in the third, he mixed things up sending Kreider out for a shift with Kevin Hayes and Carl Hagelin. To his credit, the changes in Game 2 worked with Jesper Fast setting up Kreider’s goal 38 seconds in. Fast had another effective game on the second line. With offense at a premium, Vigneault might want to consider loading the deck. If that means reuniting Kreider with Nash and Derek Stepan, so be it.

When they play Game 4 at Verizon Center Thursday, the Blueshirts must come with their best effort. It can’t be in spurts. There must be more urgency shown. They’re experienced enough to fight back. We’ll see what they’re made of.

BONY 3 Stars:

3rd Star-Henrik Lundqvist, NYR (21 saves)

2nd Star-Jay Beagle, WSH (game-winning goal-1st of playoffs, 10-and-2 on faceoffs, +1 in 12:59)

1st Star-Braden Holtby, WSH (30 saves for shutout)

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Lou Lamoriello relinquishes GM role in NJ after 28 years

Posted on May 4, 2015 by hasan4978

Well I certainly didn’t expect to come home to stunning Devils news on a sunny, hot Monday afternoon.   When I saw the tweet below from Tom Gulutti an hour ago I figured it would probably have something to do with Martin Brodeur returning to the organization now that his contract with the Blues is up, or maybe be about a new contract for Adam Larsson (a RFA this year), something of that nature.  In other words something innocuous and semi-expected…clearly it was neither.

1h1 hour ago

The Devils have scheduled a 4 p.m. conference call with GM Lou Lamoriello. No reason provided.

Obviously all good things must come to an end eventually – and so it was that on May 4, 2015 that Lou Lamoriello’s 28-year tenure as GM came to a sudden end with the announcement that Ray Shero would be the new GM, with Lou remaining upstairs as team president and head of hockey operations.  While Lou will oversee all hockey operations, ultimately Shero will have autonomy on everything from who the new coach will be to the scouting staff.  Even if Lou will still be a part of the organization, today truly is the end of an era in New Jersey.

While Lou is publicly saying the decision was his and his alone, I didn’t think it would be long before speculation came out to the contrary and it was provided by EJ Hradek (and later confirmed by TG):

 · 9m9 minutes ago

Despite Lamoriello’s comments today, new owners Josh Harris & David Blitzer “strongly encouraged” him to move in this direction

Of course if Lou was nudged upstairs, nobody’s going to want to admit it publicly to sully the legacy of a HOF GM (not to mention the new owners don’t want to risk the Jerry Jones firing Tom Landry type publicity).  It does appear that after three straight seasons of missing the playoffs even the job of the most decorated GM in the league was eventually put on the griddle.  While I’ve had many criticisms of Lou’s last several years as a GM I felt with the way he’d remade up our defense and goaltending in recent years that he deserved at least one more year to accellerate the retooling and finally be able to address the offense with three high draft picks this year.  At least new ownership let Lou pick his successor, that much seems to be agreed upon.  And Shero’s a ‘family member’ given his dad once worked for the organization as a color commentator.

Maybe tomorrow or later in the week I’ll have a seperate blog on Shero and my concerns over his hiring, but the story to me today is Lou.  Ever since I first became a casual fan of the Devils during the ’87-88 playoff run, Lou was the GM then and has done things for the organization and pro/college hockey far beyond winning three Stanley Cups.  I won’t speak to his days at Providence College since that was way before my time, though he’s about as respected at the college level as he is at the pro level.

Certainly Lou was a pioneer in helping bring Russian hockey players to the US in the late ’80’s legally with his role in signing Slava Fetisov, Alexei Kasatonov and Sergei Starikov.  Many of Lou’s trades that set up the Devils’ run of success from 1994-2003 are already well-known, like trading defenseman Tom Kurvers for what turned out to be the #3 pick and Scott Niedermayer.  Or trading down in the draft and picking some French-Canadian goaltender named Brodeur.  Lou also had an edge to him that he was going to toe the line for what he wanted, like when he went to court to get an injunction for then-coach Jim Schonfeld to go behind the bench after the infamous shouting match with referee Don Koharski during the 1988 Eastern Conference Finals.  Not to mention holding out for defenseman Scott Stevens as compensation from the Blues when they were found guilty of tampering with Brendan Shanahan.

Despite all of that, perhaps his best move was convincing Jacques Lemaire to come and coach the team in 1994.  And in typical Lou fashion, nobody got wind of Lemaire coming before he was introduced at the presser.  While the Devils had been for the most part a perennial playoff team during the first several years of Lamoriello’s tenure they hadn’t yet come close to matching their Cinderella playoff run of 1988.  During Lemaire’s first season the Devils became a serious contender in 1994, taking the eventual Cup champ Rangers to a Game 7 OT in the Eastern Conference Finals – then won it all in 1995 during a run that arguably saved hockey in New Jersey during the midst of all the rumors of an impending move to Nashville.  That was the team that got me and I’m sure countless others into New Jersey Devils hockey.

By the time the Devils won their second Stanley Cup in 2000, ownership had changed hands for the first of what would be several times during Lamoriello’s last decade and a half but through all of that, and all of his coaching changes – some controversial, some completely out of his hands – he and his beloved goaltender Brodeur remained the constants of the team for an entire generation.  Although the Devils haven’t won the silver chalice since 2003, and defensive mainstays Stevens (retirement) and Niedermayer (FA) both departed the team kept on winning division titles and piling up 100-point seasons.   While the end of 2009-2010 and the beginning of 2010-2011 provided the first blip on Lamoriello’s tenure, the team rebounded to finish strong in 2011 and then made a run all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2012, beating both its bitter rivals in the Flyers and Rangers after squeezing out a Game 7 OT win at Florida in the first round.  It seemed as if Lou had done it again and provided the foundation for the next generation with a deep forward core and a prospect pipeline filled with defensemen.

However, the financial issues under Jeff Vanderbeek’s ownership combined with the sudden dual departures of star wingers Zach Parise and Ilya Kovalchuk crippled the forward core, and while the team has been integrating its young defensemen in the lineup the last couple of seasons – and even found a successor for Marty with the 2013 draft day trade for Cory Schneider – the dual losses of Parise and Kovalchuk (combined with losing many other players to age and attrition) proved to be the straw that broke the camel’s back, and the organization hasn’t made the playoffs since.  The Lou naysayers get to have their day I suppose…if you keep speculating about someone being gone long enough, eventually you’re going to be right.

Certainly Lou wasn’t always fan-friendly with policies that restricted player access and availability (no Twitter, no open practices, being secretive about the most minute details like injuries) and wasn’t always an object of affection by certain jaded members of the fanbase even in the good times because of all that and his gruff nature during the glory days, so when things turned south the last three years those ungrateful fans were the quickest and the loudest to complain about a GM that while he certainly had his issues, also had a record nearly unmatched in the last 25 years of hockey.  To the end Lou was true to his nature:

38m38 minutes ago

Pretty amazing how none of this leaked out. Then again, it would have been amazing if it had.

Yes nobody gets a lifetime pass because this isn’t the Supreme Court, Lou himself proved that with the trade of Schnieder to replace Marty.  Whatever you may think of Lou personally or his last few years though, if you have any soul you’d better give thanks tonight that the man has given our organization 28 years, many of them good-great ones.  For the ones crying for change the last few years, well you got your wish – let’s see how it goes.  If you were hockey fans during the beginning of Lou’s tenure perhaps you’re familiar with how Bill Torrey got forced out on Long Island after his own distinguished HOF career in 1993 after some down seasons.  The Islanders are still looking for their first playoff series win since 1993.  Don’t take any success for granted.  Hopefully the fanbase will be a little less spoiled now, but I’m not counting on it.

Just remember these numbers…3 Stanley Cups, 5 Eastern Conference Championships, 9 division titles and 21 playoff appearances.  If Shero or any other future GM tops those numbers not only will we be incredibly fortunate but I’ll be very old by then.

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