11/28/2013
After 25 games, the New York Rangers stand at 13-12 with 26 points and are only second to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Metropolitan Division. Despite their favorable position in a mediocre group, the Rangers are the definition of an average team and have a lot of things to improve upon if they want to make the rest of the demanding 82-game NHL 2013-2014 season a success.
Lack of Scoring,
Again
Despite hiring an offensive-minded coach in Alain Vigneualt, the Rangers rank 27th in the league with 2.12 goals per game. Of the 25 games played, the team has been shutout five times. The Blueshirts were shutout a total of six times during last year’s strike-shortened season.
Despite hiring an offensive-minded coach in Alain Vigneualt, the Rangers rank 27th in the league with 2.12 goals per game. Of the 25 games played, the team has been shutout five times. The Blueshirts were shutout a total of six times during last year’s strike-shortened season.
The lack of scoring could be attributed on the absence of
superstar Rick Nash for most of the season, but the team simply lacks
finishers. Chris Kreider is a potential 30-goal scorer, but is still
developing, and the trio of centers in Derrick Brassard, Brad Richards and
Derek Stepan are more playmakers than snipers. GM Glen Sather signed Benoit
Pouliot as a reclamation project, and while he chips in a goal here or there,
he can often be found making a grievous defensive mistake or taking a bad
penalty. Both Mats Zuccarello and Carl Hagelin are resourceful players, but
they are better served setting up plays for someone else to finish.
With these types of players rounding out the top six, the
team relies on Rick Nash and Ryan Callahan to provide the scoring touch. Callahan,
who himself was out eight games, has six goals to add to Nash’s two. Sather
failed to address the lack of secondary scoring in the offseason and we may see
the Rangers suffer (again) for his inaction.
New Coach, New System
It was expected that it would take some time for the Rangers to acclimate to Alain Vigneualt’s system. Certainly this is a different team than the one slaughtered on the opening West Coast trip, but some adjustments need to be made.
It was expected that it would take some time for the Rangers to acclimate to Alain Vigneualt’s system. Certainly this is a different team than the one slaughtered on the opening West Coast trip, but some adjustments need to be made.
Even in the Rangers 5-2 win over the Florida Panthers last
night, mistakes were abundant. Players mishandled the puck throughout the game,
leading to turnovers that had to be expertly turned away by keeper Henrik Lundqvist. There was also a good amount of stick-checking in the game which
allowed some of the speedier Florida player to exploit Rangers defensemen to find
open space in the offensive zone.
Vigneault’s system is very heavy on puck possession and
requires skilled players who are cool and confident with the puck. In the
Rangers’ losses, and even in some of their more contested wins, players look
like they are afraid of the puck, playing hot potato with it until the opposing
team takes advantage.
Del Zaster
Michael Del Zotto was scratched last night and, with his
agent by his side, saw the Rangers defeat the Panthers. It is clear that AV
doesn’t feel comfortable with Del Zotto on the blueline, and no one can blame
him. It was expected that Del Zotto would flourish under the new coach, but in
19 games, the 23-year-old has 1 goal, 3 assists and is a -6.
The Rangers are looking to trade Del Zotto and get back
equal value, but they have had a hard time so far. His replacement, Justin
Falk, provides a physical edge, but lacks the offensive talent of the 2008
first-round pick.
The Rangers want to add a tough, right-handed defenseman who can play big minutes,
but so do all other 29 teams in the league.
Big, Bad Bruins
The Rangers more than held their own against the Boston Bruins on their November 19th meeting which saw New York losing 2-1, and tomorrow’s Thanksgiving Showdown will be a good test to see where the team is now that Rick Nash is in proper playing shape.
The Rangers more than held their own against the Boston Bruins on their November 19th meeting which saw New York losing 2-1, and tomorrow’s Thanksgiving Showdown will be a good test to see where the team is now that Rick Nash is in proper playing shape.
The Bruins are a championship team and it would be a big
statement if the Blueshirts come out and dominate play. It would show that they could make some noise in the playoffs.
Of course, the Rangers have been wholly inconsistent this
season, going 6-4 in their last 10 games. But this fan will take a
convincing win tomorrow coupled with the 5-1 beatdown of the Penguins as proof
that there is hope for this season yet.
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