Hey Hockey Fans-
Well, I think alot of my concerns and questions about these new look Rangers were at least addressed over the weekend. Since I am an historically glum fan (compliments of my father's sports pessimism) let's start with the negatives.
Maybe it has something to do with getting back into shape, maybe it was jet lag, or maybe it is just the process of getting their skates under them - whatever it is, the Rangers continue to take senseless and lazy penalties. Normally, because of what looks to be another quality penalty kill, I would look the other way on an excess of penalties. However, the Rangers are taking penalties in the offensive and neutral zones...again. And, again, it seems to be the result of poor puck possession between the blue lines. While over all, the Rangers seemed to skate fluidly led by the puck control of Scott Gomez, the stat lines show too many giveaways. These sloppy neutral zone turnovers lead to lazy recovery penalties and while our Penalty Kill looked sharp, let us not forget how badly Crosby and Malkin pounded us on the PP in the playoffs. Teams like Tampa Bay won't kill you - playoff teams and cup contenders will make you pay. Lastly, and I know I'm nit-picking, but how many times are we going to put up heavy shot totals only to play close games? This happened constantly last year, the Rangers would post 35+ shots and hold the opposition under 20 and yet we would barely escape and sometimes, inexplicably, lose. It seems as though, for some reason, when Lunqvist handles huge shot totals he is unbreakable - yet how many times can you remember him giving up four goals on seven shots (or something in this neighborhood)? The answer, my friends, is scoring chances. All shots are not good shots - 40 shots from the point are not as good as 5 shots from the crease area. This could be where my Jagr - attachment syndrome comes from. The idea that, when Jagr was here, for all he did wrong, you could always count on his strength to provide at least 2-3 hard scoring chances from point blank range. Alas, we're two games in let's stay positive.......
And there were many positives to be found. Let's start with Wade Redden and Marcus Naslund. The two new additions are bringing more than experience and leadership - they are bringing goals. Last time I worried about the offense gelling together without having to defer to Jamir Jagr - let's hope that we have seen the beginning of a multi-threat offense. If things go right, the idea of Gomez, Naslund, Drury and Dubinsky would be far above an average attack. Now add in Callahan, Dawes and Zherdev and you're looking at a team that can finally match highly powered offenses goal for goal. For the Tampa Bay Lightening the task of containment seemed daunting. The Rangers maintained stints of consistent pressure that we didn't see last season - especially, gasp! on the power play.
