Sunday, March 11, 2012

Re-cap of Hawks Games and Look ahead at Isles tonight

      All those connected to the team, all the bloggers, reporters, commentators, etc will tell you that the rangers played an excellent 40 minutes and basically a poor 10 minutes out of the 3rd period. I am not so sure I can see it that way as I guess with this team I am seeing things half empty..
      The start of the game against the Hawks looked like a replay of the game a few weeks back when Hossa scored really early, and in this game he had another chance 15 seconds into the game and Hank came up really big up high.. Continuing in the period, Gabby had some great chance early, Boyle had a chance from the slot and neither could convert. Hank looked much better in the first then he had in previous games. We had a PP late which I thought looked very good, but we couldn't convert which is a shocker.. AA scored late in the period off a good play by he and Mitchell defensively and we ended up the period 1-0.
         The second started with some good end to end action from both teams. Hank made a super play off the boards after a wild shot bounced off the back boards and Hank made an over the shoulder catch, one that the New York Mets could use in center field. Rangers had another PP and it did not look at good as the one int he first. Chicago I thought took it to us in parts of the second, beating us at our game, grinding, fore-checking, etc... which eventually lead to a goal from the point, it was deflected so I guess we will give Hank a pass.  Hank played really well again in the second and again it looked like he had gotten over the last three performances which were suspect at best. On to the third.
      The third period starts with some similar play like the second, end to end with excellent speed and creativity. A really nice play from prust and the crew in the o zone and Mac takes a shots from the point and Pruster buries it. 2-1 Rangers, we feel good, we can lock it down and take the two points to the house right? Wrong.. A give a way from Cally and Boyle leads to a beautiful passing play from Kane to Hossa to Sharp for a world class goal, nothing Hank could have done.. The one that Hank will want back is the 3rd goal which happened 60 seconds later on a  nice move from Johnny Oduya at the point, he then takes a big slap shot and beats Hank over the pads and under the glove, the seven hole which he will tell yo he should have stopped, no deflection, no screen, just slapper against the goalie.. We pulled Hank with 2 minutes to go which is shocking from Torts who usually does not do anything like that, and this time we would say it didn't pay off. Chicago scored an empty netter with 45 seconds to go to secure the game. BR scored a goal a few seconds later to make the final 35 seconds interesting, but it did not help

- 3rd Straight loss in regulation
-Hank had given up 14 goals in last 4 starts
- Pens four points out of 1st place and Thursday night against the Pens will be huge..
- We have Isles tonight and Carolina on Tuesday, we need to get all four points, bottom line. Shall we give up any points and Pittsburgh continues to do its thing and Sid comes back, then we are in serious trouble.
- Bottom line is we must take the two points from tonight, Isles games are always tough, but we need to fight through it and win.
- I am sick of all the players saying that we need to do this and we need to do that, play our games, etc. SHUT UP AND PLAY AND WIN HOCKEY GAMES..  We know you are trying hard and are in a funk, so do what you have to to get out of that funk and stop talking until you do....
- Early signs this Sunday morning is that Delz is not on the ice at the morning skate and therefore will not be playing tonight, however Dubi is and I would assume he will be playing. It also appeared that Cally was out of the morning skate. I have to agree with the masses, if ever there were a time to give Erixson and MZA a shot to get some playing time with the big club, get some confidence while some of the top players are injured it would be right now.. The isles and canes are not overly physical teams and we don't need the three goons( Rupp, Bickell, and Scott) in the lineup at the same time. We know the isles are talented and the canes can be when fully healthy so players like Erixson and MZA with a little bit more talent and skill than Scott and either Bickell or Eminger... Give them a shot...

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