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So, it was a must win game against a struggling team at MSG. A sure recipe for disaster, no ? No way we win this game. SURPRISE ! A win. A huge win in fact. Beating Boston 4-1 actually puts us in striking distance for that final spot. Can we now put aside that extra cash for playoff tickets ? Well, I for one have no desire to be disappointed for a sixth straight time.
I admit, if you asked me at the beginning of this season if we'd be in the 9th spot playing for our playoff lives I would have laughed at you. A lot of hockey "experts" had us winning the division. Hell, I had us going to the Cup finals. But sadly, if I was made to answer right this minute, gun to my head.....nope, we are not going to make it. The all too familiar "too little, too late" offsets the positives surrounding this club.
Now I'm not one to pee in your coffee here. It's still possible that enough of the other teams lose and that the Rangers continue to win. So by all means.....get all pumped up for the games and root like hell. Even I'm going to be doing that. And with some good reasons which I will list here in no particular order.
Alex Kovalev - Last night's goal is a perfect example of why he'll get his 7.5 mil per year from Slats.....and why he's worth it. He can sleepwalk through a game or even worse, play bad. Then, out of nowhere comes his little dipsy doodle and Whamo ! His goals are timely ones too.
Pavel Bure - Yes, the guy can flat out score. I get the feeling that we haven't even seen his best yet. If Pavel goes on a scoring tear....watch out.
5 on 5 Defense - Believe it or not....the Rangers play very well in this area. Continued stinginess here will go a long way in keeping games close enough to steal a few.
Mike Dunham - Look, I like Blackburn as much as the next guy, but the Rangers will only go as far as "The Dude" can take them. And I'm nervous about his play. Mike was directing rebounds into safe areas when he first got here. Now, the rebounds are as thick and juicy as a black angus steak, just off the grill. I can't tell if he's hurting or tired or perhaps both. What I do know is that during that split second when you have a chance to try and direct the rebound where you want, Mike is thinking about something else. I can tell you from first hand experience that just stopping an NHL caliber shot is hard enough.....putting the rebound where you want it is quite a feat.....but nothing less will get us in. On man down situations, this becomes even more critical. Here's to hoping that Mr. Rebound gets a handle on this or it's light's out.
Sather as coach - This is a bigger positive than I first thought. He has reduced Messier to a fourth line player and that has really worked out well. I think that Mark is even more effective now and frankly, it's how most of us saw him playing this whole year. Slats has also taken a few players to task in public and he didn't apologize the next day. He's also benefiting from the return of Leetch and Bure. You really have to like the current set of lines and that Slats rolls 'em out, all game long. Right now, there is no one else I'd rather have behind the bench.
Special Teams - Horrid until recently, the PK and the PP are both keys to success. Having a few guys back in the line up helps. If the Rangers can find a way to kill off the penalties and pop one or two on the power play in each of the remaining games......we'll be going to the playoffs.
Healthy Roster - This is as big as it gets. Had we not had all these injuries, this season could have been much different. No use crying, it happens to every team. The fact that we are healthy now is great, we must stay that way to have a chance.
Well, I'm sure there are a few more good reasons to think that a return to playoff hockey is a possibility. But make no mistake......it will only take one or two bad things and it's all over. I used to say, "No expectations, no disappointments". Honestly, I don't expect the Rangers to make it.....it'd sure be nice if they did though.
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I don't get a good feeling about Dunham's rebounds either. Do you think Danny Boy is up to the test now? They don't have the luxury of time to experiment. Any word on Richter?
Something that the Rodent said about Lindros was a real eye opener for me. About how the Rangers need to have him (or somebody) in the slot screening the opposing goalie, like when he was with the(ugh)Flyers. Unfortunately, I guess that job would be tantamount to being the center on a grind line on this Ranger team. He needs two grinders to dump and chase the puck and center it to him or to screen the winger. I feel really bad for him. He really has been working hard.
Why do some people equate 3 or 4th lines as less talented. Just because they do different jobs doesn't make one less valuable than the others in the grand scheme of things. Messier is willing to work hard on the third and fourth lines as a grinder with new kids, recent trades and older journeymen. His lines have been playing well and contributing. That counts for alot in my book.
Correct me if I'm wrong but most of the current roster are run and gun type players, Bure, Kovalev, Nedved, Dvorak, Barnaby. The problem with the current team, as I see it, is that the guns haven't played together long enough to develop the passing and set play skills like the Wings for example. Also, they never leave the grinders, Holik, Petro, McCarthy, Donato etc anywhere long enough to be effective.
Rolling out 4 lines is very nice but with so few games left they have little time to find themselves.
Success in the stretch run and the playoffs IMO depends on line matching and strategies that the Rangers only just seem to be developing with this group of players.
I don't see them making the playoffs and even if they do they won't get too far. With that in mind, I question why people are sooo worked up about them making the first round. To what end? 4 extra games? So What! Why bother if you don't have the wherewithall to go for the whole enchalada? I feel bad for the teams who work their butts off all season, finish at the top of their conferences and then get eliminated on a fluke by some unworthy team who just made the playoff. It devalues the game. Either condense the league or give the conference leaders buys.
I'm waiting to see what will happen in the off season as far a player movement. Will they come away with a core of players to anchor the team for next season or will they keep insanely trading people to make good headlines.
Sorry for venting. I'll close with a half-hearted Let's Go Rangers!
MHurley
Posted by: mhurley on February 28, 2003 07:40 PMRichter is out for the year and Danny will NOT be carrying us into the playoffs.
And, I disagree....if we do make the playoffs(that's a huge IF) I can see us making a real run. Let's face it....we have some of the best playoff type guys ever to play the game. This team was designed for the playoffs.
Too bad they make us play the regular season.
Posted by: bird on February 28, 2003 10:04 PMBird,
Oops, I forgot to ask how you were feeling. Better I hope? You'll need all your strength to watch the next few games.
I'll be there tomorrow. I hate routing for the Flyers to win but I hope they do, and Tampa too. Anyone but the Fishsticks.
You goin to the Icelander game?
M
Posted by: mhurley on February 28, 2003 11:39 PM
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