Comments on: Live Blog – Rangers @ Hurricanes

By: michael balter

michael balter — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 01:36:30 +0000

UBBULLS..maybe you didnt understand what i meant…i never said we should go out and get him…i mean if he was on this team right now we wouldnt have these problems.. so UBBULLS dont call me out

By: Michael

Michael — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 23:24:59 +0000

There’s no question that the chemistry isn’t right; the Rangers are essentiall divided into two teams: Americans/Canadians and Eastern Europeans. If you take a look at the great teams in this league, they’re either mostly comprised one of those categories or the other, but rarely a mixture of both (Detroit-mostly European, Anaheim-mostly North American, Pittsburgh-mostly North American, Ottawa-mostly North American, etc., etc.)

You made a great point about consistency, and it’s one that I’ve made as well in the past. Consistency is what separates mediocre teams like the Rangers from good teams like the Devils and Penguins. The Rangers have the talent to be on par with those types of teams, but they’re missing the consistent play.

I know you’re disappointed with Drury and to an extent, I am as well. Let’s be honest though. The Rangers signed him for one reason, and one reason only: what he does in the playoffs. I really don’t think they mind if he doesn’t produce as much as many people want him to in the regular season as long as he lives up to the playoff reputation he has.

In the end, I think talent will prevail and the Rangers will make the playoffs. From there, it’s a crapshoot because of the equality of many teams in the East, and the Rangers will need to make a strong run. If the Rangers get in, you’ll see a totally different team than the one we’re seeing right now. Frankly, I think this team is bored with the regular season just because of the playoff success many of their players have had. The key will be just to make the playoffs, and then like the Spurs in the NBA, what we’ll see then is a team who turns it on for the big games instead of the team who’s playing out the string in the regular season.

By: Steven

Steven — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 22:44:13 +0000

Michael, I appreciate what you’re saying and I would agree if the points about burying chances and being unlucky didn’t have to be made after seemingly every game. At some point you have to start thinking that maybe its not just ‘luck’ that’s the problem.

When it comes to the law of averages making it seem like the chances will start going in I have to disagree. It’s now 52 games into the season and the chances haven’t gone in all year. The chemistry just really isn’t right.

And on the point of intensity. If the Rangers played with the same intensity they played the first period for 60 minutes EVERY night, then they absolutely would make the playoffs. However, even last night that intensity dipped for a while and that’s really been a problem all year. The Rangers can’t seem to string together solid 60 minute efforts on a consistent basis and that’s suicide in this league.

You do make a valid point about mediocre still having the ability to go on a run during the playoffs…but mediocre has to get there first.

By: Michael

Michael — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 22:10:15 +0000

Steve, you know that in the e-mails I’ve sent I haven’t exactly been singing the Rangers praises, but even I think you’re being a bit too harsh with your criticism after last night’s game.

The effort was clearly there, the Rangers were just unlucky and got caught out a couple times when defensemen would join the rush, and it didn’t help that the Blueshirts couldn’t bury their chances.

Trust me, if they play with that same intensity for the rest of the season (especially what we saw in the first period), this team will make the playoffs. The chances they’re missing right now will start going in at some point because that’s just the law of averages. Do I think the Rangers are a legitimate contender? No, but I also don’t think they’re as bad you make them out to be. They’re mediocre, but in this era of parity, mediocre can still be successful come playoff time.

By: Steven

Steven — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 04:10:07 +0000

Read the post inferno and I just don’t agree. What I see out there is a guy that has lost all the confidence he had coming into the season. He may not be getting AS MANY of those “one-timer” and “second chance” opportunities that he got last year, but the ones that he is getting, he’s not burying…THAT’S what worries me!

By: UB BULL

UB BULL — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 04:02:40 +0000

It would be nice if Michael Balter read the injury reports before suggesting players for the Rangers. Nylander done for the season with surgery!

By: Inferno

Inferno — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 03:31:10 +0000

Steve.

Theres a post on the HFBoards i made about 30 minutes ago you should check out.

It’s called “Enough about Chris Drury”

By: Steven

Steven — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 02:51:22 +0000

“Cam Ward played out of his mind.” Sound familiar? “_____ played out of his mind” is what seems to be said after every game. It’s not a coincidence that EVERY opposing goalie seems to play well. It’s not them, it’s the Rangers offense!

And why will Drury step up? How long do you wait. We’re 52 games into the season and he’s been a complete joke and waste of money.

Oh and Mike…Mr. Nylander is out for the season (although he’d probably be better with one arm than half of this team with two right now).

By: michael balter

michael balter — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 02:45:51 +0000

I disagree big time…Cam ward played out of his mind…yeah drury hasnt stepped up like we thought but, he will, he needs to be back with shanny, these lines are not good avery shouldnt be playing with jagr…can anyone say MICHAEL NYLANDER

By: Chris

Chris — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 02:30:43 +0000

This team does nothing but break my heart. . .I’m so totally focused on Sunday, and what the Met’s just did that they should have just extended the all-star break. . .