GAME DISCUSSION THREAD

[bottlecap]

Here's some great comments from Ranger fans about last night's game:

 

http://rangers.lohudblogs.com/2009/12/12/post-game-notes-quotes-8/#comments

 

And the winner is: Peeling out in the Clutchmobile:

 

 

Cheer up guys! Captain Clutch had to make a SPECIAL holiday appearance because everyone is so depressed in here! What a leader!!!

After tonight, is there any doubt that Captain Clutch is the BEST penalty-killer in the league??? After our power play scored 2 goals, Coach Lunatic benched Kotalik, put Captain Clutch on the point, and the Rangers power play came to a complete halt! Our power play had no chance to score! Nobody can kill a power play like Captain Clutch!!! Ha-Ha!

 

Now Captain Clutch knows he was a -2 again tonight and was horrible in the defensive zone as usual, but you guys only remember that because Captain Clutch forgot to break out his new go-to move tonight! The “Block A Shot And Act Like I Just GOT Shot”! MSG shows replays of Captain Clutch’s blocked shots like 100 times! And when Captain Clutch goes down, Joe Micheletti talks about what a “warrior” I am and how much “heart” I have for the next 20 minutes! By the time the game is over you forgot Captain Clutch even did anything wrong!

 

Anyway, Captain Clutch hopes you guys aren’t letting these losses ruin your holiday season! Cause I’m sure not! Not only that, but Santa Dolan and his little helper Glen left Captain Clutch $7 million in his stocking this year! AND another $14 million under the tree for the next 2 seasons after this! It really is Christmas in New York!!! Ha-Ha!

/peels out in Clutchmobile

[wjag]

Here's some great comments from Ranger fans about last night's game:

 

http://rangers.lohudblogs.com/2009/12/12/post-game-notes-quotes-8/#comments

 

And the winner is: Peeling out in the Clutchmobile:

 

 

Cheer up guys! Captain Clutch had to make a SPECIAL holiday appearance because everyone is so depressed in here! What a leader!!!

After tonight, is there any doubt that Captain Clutch is the BEST penalty-killer in the league??? After our power play scored 2 goals, Coach Lunatic benched Kotalik, put Captain Clutch on the point, and the Rangers power play came to a complete halt! Our power play had no chance to score! Nobody can kill a power play like Captain Clutch!!! Ha-Ha!

 

Now Captain Clutch knows he was a -2 again tonight and was horrible in the defensive zone as usual, but you guys only remember that because Captain Clutch forgot to break out his new go-to move tonight! The “Block A Shot And Act Like I Just GOT Shot”! MSG shows replays of Captain Clutch’s blocked shots like 100 times! And when Captain Clutch goes down, Joe Micheletti talks about what a “warrior” I am and how much “heart” I have for the next 20 minutes! By the time the game is over you forgot Captain Clutch even did anything wrong!

 

Anyway, Captain Clutch hopes you guys aren’t letting these losses ruin your holiday season! Cause I’m sure not! Not only that, but Santa Dolan and his little helper Glen left Captain Clutch $7 million in his stocking this year! AND another $14 million under the tree for the next 2 seasons after this! It really is Christmas in New York!!! Ha-Ha!

/peels out in Clutchmobile

I guess Drury is their team's whipping boy. Funny how life works. If he had stayed in Buffalo, he'd probably be up on the BILLS Ring of Honor by now.. Captain Clutch, priceless... well actually not, 7M per is the price..

[Kristian]

I guess Drury is their team's whipping boy. Funny how life works. If he had stayed in Buffalo, he'd probably be up on the BILLS Ring of Honor by now.. Captain Clutch, priceless... well actually not, 7M per is the price..

 

Well, you gotta wonder why he's playing as poorly as he is, and whether he's unhappy, over the hill, or just suffering from the odd case of "fat contractitis".

 

At any rate, I certainly wasn't expecting this kind of decline in his game, this quickly.

[Stoner]

And that whole play pretty much sums up why I'm so happy Kotalik's a Ranger these days.

 

He gets burned at the point, and completely refuses to backcheck.

 

Al's so far behind Kaleta he's in no position to swat away a possible rebound, or put his stick on Kaleta, even if Lundy makes the initial save.

 

Lazy, lazy player.

 

Also, I find it downright scary how much Drury's game has gone south in only two years. Wow....

 

Unfair comments on Kotalik. Talk about seeing what you want to see. Kotalik got caught flatfooted when the puck took a crazy bounce -- no shame in that. He did swat at Kaleta, but Kaleta was gone with speed. No one was going to catch him, but Kotalik still skated hard despite being at the end of a long shift. He's right there at the end had there been a rebound.

[SwampD]

Oh yeah? 24:39, edging Roy (22:30) by 2:09 and the next defenseman, Tallinder (21:49), by 2:50. :nana:

 

You beat me to it.

 

I don't know if it's true every game, but in the last couple of games Myers seems to look shaky on his first couple of shifts. He works through it, though, and it's then that I remember he's ONLY 19! It's like he has to remind himself each game that he's in the NHL and has to play at that level. Luckily for him (and us) he not only can play at that level, but excel at it.

 

...he's really good...

[Stoner]

You beat me to it.

 

I don't know if it's true every game, but in the last couple of games Myers seems to look shaky on his first couple of shifts. He works through it, though, and it's then that I remember he's ONLY 19! It's like he has to remind himself each game that he's in the NHL and has to play at that level. Luckily for him (and us) he not only can play at that level, but excel at it.

 

...he's really good...

 

He's making a lot of mistakes, too. But at his age, and with the team in first place, he's getting plenty of passes. He never lets those mistakes pile up though, which is a good sign.

[CallawaySabres]

I guess Drury is their team's whipping boy. Funny how life works. If he had stayed in Buffalo, he'd probably be up on the BILLS Ring of Honor by now.. Captain Clutch, priceless... well actually not, 7M per is the price..

 

NOTHING makes me happier!! Hope you are happy in NY!

[Eleven]

I guess Drury is their team's whipping boy. Funny how life works. If he had stayed in Buffalo, he'd probably be up on the BILLS Ring of Honor by now.. Captain Clutch, priceless... well actually not, 7M per is the price..

 

They just don't know how to appreciate intangibles in Manhattan.

[SDS]

And that whole play pretty much sums up why I'm so happy Kotalik's a Ranger these days.

 

He gets burned at the point, and completely refuses to backcheck.

 

Al's so far behind Kaleta he's in no position to swat away a possible rebound, or put his stick on Kaleta, even if Lundy makes the initial save.

 

Lazy, lazy player.

 

So, what you are saying is that you never put a pair of ice skates on in your life? Your assessment is beyond absurd. Kaleta had 4 strides on him because Al lunged at the puck. WTF was he supposed to do?

 

Lazy, lazy poster.

[SDS]

Unfair comments on Kotalik. Talk about seeing what you want to see. Kotalik got caught flatfooted when the puck took a crazy bounce -- no shame in that. He did swat at Kaleta, but Kaleta was gone with speed. No one was going to catch him, but Kotalik still skated hard despite being at the end of a long shift. He's right there at the end had there been a rebound.

 

Who said your cataracts are clouding your vision? You see just fine...

 

That's exactly what happened. In both regards.

[Stoner]

Who said your cataracts are clouding your vision? You see just fine...

 

That's exactly what happened. In both regards.

 

I got your back when Kristian comes back. He's tough. I'll be over here if you need me. Way over here.

[Kristian]

Unfair comments on Kotalik. Talk about seeing what you want to see. Kotalik got caught flatfooted when the puck took a crazy bounce -- no shame in that. He did swat at Kaleta, but Kaleta was gone with speed. No one was going to catch him, but Kotalik still skated hard despite being at the end of a long shift. He's right there at the end had there been a rebound.

 

May have come out a little hard, I agree.

 

He takes a swat at the puck yes, I think he should've taken an interference call instead, but the camera angle may be a little deceptive.

 

You're right, looking at it again he's clearly tired.

 

Tough play, and I'll admit when I'm wrong.

[Kristian]

So, what you are saying is that you never put a pair of ice skates on in your life? Your assessment is beyond absurd. Kaleta had 4 strides on him because Al lunged at the puck. WTF was he supposed to do?

 

Lazy, lazy poster.

 

Not that it matters, but I've put on skates more times than I can count. I was actually a servicable skater, but an awful stickhandler, and the less said about my passing the better.

 

That said, you can ready my reply to PA.

 

I was seeing ghosts, I'll blame it on lack of sleep.

 

Good to see I can still rattle your chain on occasion though, things were getting dull around here :thumbsup:

[matter2003]

Well, you gotta wonder why he's playing as poorly as he is, and whether he's unhappy, over the hill, or just suffering from the odd case of "fat contractitis".

 

At any rate, I certainly wasn't expecting this kind of decline in his game, this quickly.

 

Those Sabre teams were much greater than the sum of their parts...each player was much better playing with those other players and within that system than they were on their own...it is proven by looking both at Briere and Drury...

[Stoner]

Not that it matters, but I've put on skates more times than I can count. I was actually a servicable skater, but an awful stickhandler, and the less said about my passing the better.

 

That said, you can ready my reply to PA.

 

I was seeing ghosts, I'll blame it on lack of sleep.

 

Good to see I can still rattle your chain on occasion though, things were getting dull around here :thumbsup:

 

I'm disappointed. Do you not study Churchill? "Never give in. Never. Never. Never. Never."

[Kristian]

I'm disappointed. Do you not study Churchill? "Never give in. Never. Never. Never. Never."

 

I gotta tell you - I have no clue what game I was watching last night.

 

That first Ranger goal looked completely different today as well.

 

I blame the flu and drugs. AND lack of sleep :blink:

 

I'm sure there'll be plenty of occasions for us to disagree though B-)

[Hawk]

Great game on back to back nights. 4th line was fantastic!! Is Kaleta this generations, Spinner Spencer? I see a lot of similarities. One thing that bugs me about their play, is along the boards. I have seen a few players ( especially Stafford) while battling for the puck, turn their back to the boards and give up the puck. Also that drop pass to Connelly on the PP is getting old. Vanek is generally giving his all, and taking quite a beating. He may not get 30 goals this year, but I am generally pleased with his effort. Last point. I was a little disappointed that Avery was not up to his old tricks. I think he needed to give his team a little boost by harassing Miller a little more, resulting in getting his little face smashed.

[Kristian]

Those Sabre teams were much greater than the sum of their parts...each player was much better playing with those other players and within that system than they were on their own...it is proven by looking both at Briere and Drury...

 

I think Drury has been pretty much what I expected from him in his first two seasons with the Rags.

 

A little short on points perhaps, but given the changes in the game since 06-07, I think that's to be expected. This year though, he appears to really struggle.

 

Briere though seems to be playing better this year than his first two with the Cryers, though I admit I have't really kept up this past month or so.

[nfreeman]

I'm disappointed. Do you not study Churchill? "Never give in. Never. Never. Never. Never."

Speaking of great leaders do you think the Sabres look...y'know...well coached?

 

I was a little disappointed that Avery was not up to his old tricks. I think he needed to give his team a little boost by harassing Miller a little more, resulting in getting his little face smashed.

Avery got absolutely destroyed by Myers in either the 1st or 2nd period and it seemed to take some of the wind out of his sails.

 

I think Drury has been pretty much what I expected from him in his first two seasons with the Rags.

 

A little short on points perhaps, but given the changes in the game since 06-07, I think that's to be expected. This year though, he appears to really struggle.

 

Briere though seems to be playing better this year than his first two with the Cryers, though I admit I have't really kept up this past month or so.

Drury was great here, and the Sabres should've kept him, but he was also in exactly the right place at the right time to strike gold as a UFA. During his contract year, the Sabres had an offensive juggernaut and won the President's trophy and he had 37 goals (7 higher than his previous career high, and 13 more than his career high with a team other than the Sabres). I doubt he ever sniffs 30 again.

 

Briere, OTOH, will be a productive scorer for as long as he's in the league and can stay healthy.

[Mbossy]

Oh great, this is another one of those away games that we were promised would be in HD but of course isn't. :thumbdown:

 

Has anyone from the organ-eye-zation addressed this yet? I've heard zilch about it.

MSG Plus had it in HD.

 

Not sure about the technicality of whether that was boarding. When you're finishing a check that started well away from the boards, and a player is checked into the boards, is that still boarding? Yeah, it is!

 

I wonder about that icing on the Rangers midway through the third. Didn't Miller play the puck?

It went off the net, just missed the blue paint.

 

As good as Miller was, they have to give the first star to Kaleta.

I know he got 2nd star, who got Numero uno?

 

 

Great game on back to back nights. 4th line was fantastic!! Is Kaleta this generations, Spinner Spencer? I see a lot of similarities. One thing that bugs me about their play, is along the boards. I have seen a few players ( especially Stafford) while battling for the puck, turn their back to the boards and give up the puck. Also that drop pass to Connelly on the PP is getting old. Vanek is generally giving his all, and taking quite a beating. He may not get 30 goals this year, but I am generally pleased with his effort. Last point. I was a little disappointed that Avery was not up to his old tricks. I think he needed to give his team a little boost by harassing Miller a little more, resulting in getting his little face smashed.

 

I was disappointed someone didn't push him or something after he smacked at Miller's pads as Miller was pushed into the net.

[nobody]

Oh yeah? 24:39, edging Roy (22:30) by 2:09 and the next defenseman, Tallinder (21:49), by 2:50. :nana:

 

Solid win tonight. This team looks ugly at times, but for the most part effectively grinds through games. Definitely not the flashy team that we saw in 2006-07, but pretty darn effective.

 

Anyone catch the MSG Hockey Night Live discussion? First, they talked about how Kotalik is being asked to be something he's never shown that he can be, a true power forward. Well, duh. They said the Rangers should just rely on him as a PP specialist. We could have told them that. Later, they were talking about Marty Biron and Butch Goring said that he will probably end up back in Buffalo. Ken Daneyko (who I always think looks like Rob Ray's twin brother) responded that Lalime played a great game against Chicago, so he wasn't so sure. Boy, I hope Lalime gets another start or two before Biron hits the market, so that we can see if he can keep that up or will revert to form.

 

Edit: did anyone mention the questionable choice by Mancari to choose #12? Too much of a similarity with that #'s previous owner and Mark should definitely want to differentiate himself from big Al.

 

 

I can see Philly trying to get Marty back now that Emery is out for some time.

 

I'm glad to see Mancari not choose a 50 or 60 something number. :)

[carpandean]

I know he got 2nd star, who got Numero uno?

Miller.

[SwampD]

Speaking of great leaders do you think the Sabres look...y'know...well coached?

 

I will say they look "differently" coached. Which means even Lindy was unhappy with Lindy. :D

 

 

And say what you want, PA, about the crowd noise at HSBC, but that game was as dead as can be at MSG. It was so quiet that you could hear players shouting "Feet" whenever the puck was in someone's skates.

[cdexchange]

MSG Plus had it in HD.

 

 

 

What the heck is "MSG Plus"? I live in the Buffalo area and have DirecTV, do I have access to this?

[spndnchz]

What the heck is "MSG Plus"? I live in the Buffalo area and have DirecTV, do I have access to this?

 

http://www.msg.com/channellistings/sabres-channel-info.html