Rangers 6, Islanders 5: Chaos, goals, entertainment, defeat

In hockey, as in all of sports, champions make their own luck. It says something that even without Mark, Ox, Jurcina, and Hunts and with AMac just in his first game back, the Isles still nearly beat the Rangers even with a Gaborik trick.

A little adrenaline

honestly he should have waited till after both games to see what happened. I won’t lie to you all: it brings me great joy to see that man struggle. But that’s what the rivalry is for.

I also won’t lie and say that he’s singlehandedly beaten us before as well.

He really is…..as long as they keep him healthy he would help any team

You know….a move like you suggest….and the return of KO in January….suddenly the isles have a feisty little group of forwards as well. A savy a move and some sustained health ajnd this team is gonna be a pain the u know what the rest of this season.

It would have been interesting to see him operate with Streit but such is the situation. I like the idea of making hima forward…its not a terrible idea.

I’d take Kommy or Beauch for a 2nd/RSH. It makes sense because we have the cap room, have trouble attracting free agents right now, and need some d help.

And based on who we ask for is based on what we want:

-HUGE Physical Shutdown d-man locked up for 4yrs(4.5mil/yr)-28yr old Komi.
-Physical above average sized offensive capable(not top-tier though) d-man locked up for 2yrs at (3.8mil/yr)-30yr old Beauch.

I’d want Komisarek no question. Younger, HUGE, Very Physical(something we don’t have), top-tier shutdown d-man(blocking shots and 1-on-1). Komisarek would be the best thing to happen to our defense defensively. I would bring him in without question, even if he is making $1mil~ or a little more then he should be making. Love this idea.

I really wanted to make a run at Komi when he was available. Thought it would make a storybook local angle, give us a banger to succeed Sutton. But when I saw the price, I was glad the Leafs turned to their Jason Blake playbook. Talk about selling low and buying high, criminy.

Komi benefited from something huge in Montreal: Mr. Markov. I heard some talking heads the other day discussing Komisarek and some others like him, wondering, “Are these the type of guys who make you salivate when they’re destroying people next to good D, but then when the destruction tapers off you’re left with nothing much?”

I thought maybe Streit could be Komi’s new Markov (which is why I didn’t think he should make more than Streit), but now I’m not so sure. And FOUR years left at that $4.5M per figure…don’t think I could trust it even if he came for nothing.

Did you not watch him last night?

:::rimshot:::

VEEEEERRRRRYYYYYY SSSSSSLLLLLLOOOOOWWWWW.

….he definitely doesn’t PLAY fragile…..yeah, I suppose what with the existing injury he’ll be vulnerable until some mass is added to those shoulders, though…..

The shoulder injury that happened in the WJC was a blatant cheap shot were his shoulder was rammed hard into the boards. The jury is probably still out on his durability, but I wouldn’t call him fragile. But your point is well taken.

I kind of thought the opening goal was weak. Why is Rick going to one knee there? Sure, Christensen has to make a great shot, but it was a poor approach – forget that he gave him the space upstairs without needing to, he also locked himself down in that stance – his blocker and stick are useless to him that way. Just stand up and the guy has NOTHING to shoot at, instead of that small spot he hit.

The third goal was deflected… but Rick could have given himself more of a chance by challenging that angle instead of hanging back so far. Then MacDonald probably hits it into him, or wide, or moves out his friggin way.

And the last goal – when Gaborik moves to Rick’s right, why isn’t Rick kicking out his pad? Why is he leaning over on his knee and trying to cover the lower net with his glove and arm? There is every hole to shoot for.

So – three goals that “aren’t his fault” but which, played differently, give him better chances to make good saves. The question really is, why did he approach those goals that way? And all of them look like they have one thing in common: the way Rick played each of those, minimized any risk of explosive lateral movement.

Goal 1 – the knee-down trades that real estate in favor of A) holding the post (rather than being a foot or two in front to kill the shooting angle) and B) making it easier to slide over (since his lead leg was already down to slide across, cutting off low shots on crossing passes).

Goal 3 – again, hanging back in the paint rather than challenging that long shot – it reduces the distance he has to move should the point man throw it to the opposite circle, but that’s where vision comes in… nobody was there, there was no need to play a pass there.

Goal 6 – just kick out the leg! Or is Rick so worried about hurting a knee or hip that he chooses instead to stab awkwardly at it with his hands?

The point isn’t that Rick is bad, or even that these were soft goals… but they were the sort of goals that I would give up in my rec league, that NHL goaltenders ought not to. It’s why he’s there and I’m here. He took a bad approach each time, and even if all three shots miss, they’re not well-played.

…every goalie has an off night… and every goalie behind a weak team is goin got have a ton of them… but the goalie is the last line of defense… and HE is WEAK, as in NOT SHARP. The bumbling around hte net for FLIPS is ridiculous. The inability to control himself whenever the puck is within 20 feet of him without possession established is INSANE. He wants to be a part of the solution, and I respect that… but we are definitely watching two different people if you think he was a positive force last night.
I will give you the fact that he had looked better over the past few games, but last night he was the same childish, selfish DP… and he’s not gonna stop being that person until he goes through 10 coaches. The only way to stop him is by calling Jeff Gillooly.
Not every goal is caused by the exact moment the shot is taken… and there are definitely OTHER factors in the goals he gave up… but sharper goatenders are more aware of their surroundings, play better angles, and give their teammates more confidence.
I agree, Roloson may have given up every one of those goals if you put them in a snapshot from the moment the shots were taken… but I’d bet he’s talking to guys more, and getting defenders to cover what they can’t see more than “I’LL FIX EVERYTHING MYSELF” DiPietro. I amy be wrong… I probably am… but for 10 years it always seems as though the defense is more disjointed when they play in front of DP.

..that he is NOT.
Being drafted #1 overall is not his fault.
Being given a 15 year $4.5M per contract is not his fault.
Being an average NHL goaltender is all he is. That’s really not so bad, but given the first two FACTS he is not helping a bad situation. There are guys on this team that have worked their asses off to be where they are since they were in grade school… and he probably has as well… but because he has some charisma he’s getting away with MURDER.
Will anybody argue that the DP losses at the beginning of the losing streak were his doing, and most likely Gordon was forced to over-play him.
He’s become a JOKE. I’d like to feel sorry for him, but it’s hard to feel for a guy who’s making more than all the Islander fans in the building combined. He needs to have a private conversaton with Mr. Wang and say, “I need to be in the AHL…” because that’s the only way it’s going to happen.
They are currently in a position where they have three goalies in the AHL that need some attention. they have an adequate starter in Roloson… he needs to go. The spark they need to turn things around may be from HIS position… and it’s NOT HIM.

to get out of the net to play a puck. On Boston’s first goal, the guy amde a great read and saw the goalie cheating and snapped it on net.

to get out of the net to play a puck. On Boston’s first goal, the guy amde a great read and saw the goalie cheating and snapped it on net.

But I think he will be a really good player. Like I said…..he is soo much stronegr with the puck and on his skates this year…compared to last. I think if he had a St. Louis and/or a Lacaeuvier playing him he would be close…..he’d be close. Stamkos is looking unstoppable right now also so its unfair to compare anyone to him really.

He has such natural offensive instincts and that is really half the battle……The thing that you can’t measure with any young player really is his “character” or “work ethic” or whatever word you want to describe a players desire to be the best player he can possibly be.

I think most Isles fans on this iste will agree with me….WE LIKE WHAT WE DRAFTED.

to say nothing of the fact that he’s been playing without his PF linemate this year. He’s been compared to Espo and that is the kind of career I anticipate him having.

I think Comeau has found a good slot right now. Away from the top checking line (assigned to JT’s line) and the top scoring line (usually Frans’ assignment) . This is where we can gain a mis-match if there is one available.
Nielson and Grabner have some chemistry, and Capuano seems to have thrown away the common assignment formula because Konopka and Martin (sometiems with Gillies) seemed to be out against Mary and Sean an awful lot.
I don’t know if I’d mess with the Grabner/Nielsen situation, but I’d like to see what martin can do with Schremp and Comeau… a little slower, create space dynamic, rather than nielsen reading the ice along with Grabner to create opportnities. That’s where I’d like to see Rhett… because i think you’d create a defense with the threat of offense PLUS the just plain DEFENSE.

Grabner, DP starting to play better, and King Matt showing that he is very much for real.