GDT NYR @ Buffalo, 7PM EST, 3/8/2016, TV: MSG+, MSGB

[bunomatic]

What kind of asinine questions are they asking Bylsma? Is that Harrington? "Do you need him to make those stops to.................."

 

No you ###### idiot, the key to winning is allowing more goals. 

I agree. I wish the old adage ' ask a stupid question, get a stupid answer ' would apply in these situations. The way the media darlings can be the coaches should follow suit.

[Randall Flagg]

Is COR good at taking faceoffs? I'm trying to figure out why he was out there for that last power play

[hockeyhound]

If I was a legitimate 1st line NHLer and I was looking for a team that I could finish my career with and have a chance at The Cup I would definitely be tempted to sign with the Sabres.

 

Whoever decides to get on board with the Sabres now has a chance to be forever remembered as the Players that helped bring The Stanley Cup to Buffalo.

 

The laws of first mention. To be the water boy as a part of the Sabres organization when they win their 1st Stanley Cup will be amazing; however, to be on the 1st Big League team that brings the 1st Big League championship to the City of Buffalo, you will be immortalized for all time and eternity.

 

The stage is set.

 

For all those that have gone before us and all those who are to come.

 

Let's Go Buffalo!

Edited March 9, 2016 by hockeyhound

[SwampD]

Awesome game. Completely competitive and entertaining. Maybe one of the best of the year.

 

 

We still lost.

[JJFIVEOH]

I agree. I wish the old adage ' ask a stupid question, get a stupid answer ' would apply in these situations. The way the media darlings can be ###### the coaches should follow suit.

 

That's why I like Torts and Sutter. 

[Eleven]

Well, at least they made it entertaining once Johnson entered the game.

[Jsixspd]

Stop bitchin' about the icing call.  It didn't lead directly to the Rangers EN goal.

 

This game was lost by Pysyk on a blown PK assignment, and two Lehner softies.

I was blaming Bogosian's poor play in the 1st period that let the Rangers keep control of the puck, then foolishly shooting the puck into the stands.  He just looked outclassed.   And the resulting PP gave the Rangers their first goal. 

 

And of course, Lehner had a very poor game.  

 

 

[bunomatic]

I was blaming Bogosian's poor play in the 1st period that let the Rangers keep control of the puck, then foolishly shooting the puck into the stands.  He just looked outclassed.   And the resulting PP gave the Rangers their first goal. 

 

And of course, Lehner had a very poor game.  

 

 

Lehner looked distracted. Not sure he really knows how to hug the post. Looked like he didn't know what to do there.

[dudacek]

Where is Dudacek to tell me our defense isn't that bad? I know you're here somewhere! :P

 

I was in the bunker there for a while :blush:

 

Seriously, as much as Bogo and McCabe were lobbing up the puck like sticks of dynamite there for a stretch, how about Risto? Talk about your Good Old General Hand Grenade.

 

Don't blame Lehner for the third goal. Nobody stops a screened point shot above the pad just inside the post.

The first two were perfect illustrations of his biggest weaknesses: breakaways and that stupid Roman Cechmanek half-butterfly thing he does on shots from acute angles.

Needs to be coached on the latter. Not sure why he sucks on the former.

 

This team would be interesting with Ennis and ROR playing with Zemgus (who looked like himself tonight) instead of D-Lo and COR.

 

I'll take that Kane any day of the week,  goals or no goals. He seems to shaking off the selfishness. It's like he trusts Sam and Jack.

I'll call it maturity.

 

Jack Sam and Johan are doing exactly what I hoped they would with ROR down.

This is what we need to see down the stretch.

 

The Rangers are a good team and we were in a back-to-back coming in off the road.

Had to love the effort. Exciting game.

 

Growth.

Edited March 9, 2016 by dudacek

[thewookie1]

I'll take that Kane any day of the week,  goals or no goals. He seems to shaking off the selfishness. It's like he trusts Sam and Jack.

I'll call it maturity.

 

Jack Sam and Johan are doing exactly what I hoped they would with ROR down.

This is what we need to see down the stretch.

 

1. Maturity and I think he actually has been humbled a bit by both of their skill and ability. Remember anyone who was better than him in Winnipeg was at least 5 years older than him. Not to mention they are his first, aside from ROR, legitimate centers who are not only his equal but likely better. He no longer has to do everything by himself. Think Ennis from the few games he played this year and how he was struggling to find the median of possession and passing due to his need to personally possess the puck ultimately the last two years. Kane had to break out of about 5 or 6 years of that.

 

2. If we finish the season with this momentum and skill being shown by the youngsters, I don't care where we finish.  

[...]

I would like to see someone other that Cal O'Reilly up. He can't play with this team where Bylsma wants him to play.

[WildCard]

#1 is an excellent point Wookie, not only in regards to Kane but Ennis as well. I never thought about Ennis' adjustment, or Kane's in that manner

[spndnchz]

Only thing I have to say is that Lehner needs to keep his blocker perpendicular to the shot. On at least 2 of 3 goals he moves it and the puck goes gliding by.

[dudacek]

#1 is an excellent point Wookie, not only in regards to Kane but Ennis as well. I never thought about Ennis' adjustment, or Kane's in that manner

 

Agreed.

[Randall Flagg]

I was in the bunker there for a while :blush:

 

Seriously, as much as Bogo and McCabe were lobbing up the puck like sticks of dynamite there for a stretch, how about Risto? Talk about your Good Old General Hand Grenade.

 

Don't blame Lehner for the third goal. Nobody stops a screened point shot above the pad just inside the post.

The first two were perfect illustrations of his biggest weaknesses: breakaways and that stupid Roman Cechmanek half-butterfly thing he does on shots from acute angles.

Needs to be coached on the latter. Not sure why he sucks on the former.

 

This team would be interesting with Ennis and ROR playing with Zemgus (who looked like himself tonight) instead of D-Lo and COR.

 

I'll take that Kane any day of the week, goals or no goals. He seems to shaking off the selfishness. It's like he trusts Sam and Jack.

I'll call it maturity.

 

Jack Sam and Johan are doing exactly what I hoped they would with ROR down.

This is what we need to see down the stretch.

 

The Rangers are a good team and we were in a back-to-back coming in off the road.

Had to love the effort. Exciting game.

 

Growth.

Agreed with all of this, especially at how poor Risto was tonight. He'll have games like this, with his age and consistent ice time/quality of opposition.

 

Gorges was the best defender in white tonight.

 

Love Wookie's insight there.

[K-9]

I was in the bunker there for a while :blush:

 

Seriously, as much as Bogo and McCabe were lobbing up the puck like sticks of dynamite there for a stretch, how about Risto? Talk about your Good Old General Hand Grenade.

 

Don't blame Lehner for the third goal. Nobody stops a screened point shot above the pad just inside the post.

The first two were perfect illustrations of his biggest weaknesses: breakaways and that stupid Roman Cechmanek half-butterfly thing he does on shots from acute angles.

Needs to be coached on the latter. Not sure why he sucks on the former.

 

This team would be interesting with Ennis and ROR playing with Zemgus (who looked like himself tonight) instead of D-Lo and COR.

 

I'll take that Kane any day of the week,  goals or no goals. He seems to shaking off the selfishness. It's like he trusts Sam and Jack.

I'll call it maturity.

 

Jack Sam and Johan are doing exactly what I hoped they would with ROR down.

This is what we need to see down the stretch.

 

The Rangers are a good team and we were in a back-to-back coming in off the road.

Had to love the effort. Exciting game.

 

Growth.

Good take here. As frustrated as I was with how they came out vs Toronto, particularly Eichel, I was that much more impressed with them tonight.

 

GO SABRES!!!

[nucci]

I will continue to demand more from Jack Eichel.

I'll let him know

[That Aud Smell]

I feel at odds with this entire board on 2 things that I keep trying to reconcile. I love the things that Eichel and Lehner do that everyone else loves. But I hate the things they do that most are just like "no worries that happens". Really though the important question is how much of a jump both those players can make from this season into next. If they jump far enough, dear god we will be electric to watch.

I get the concerns re Lehner.

 

But if you're watching Eichel (especially of late) and coming away ambivalent, then I think we need to plan a Team Sunshine and Rainbows (?) intervention for you.

[Huckleberry]

one thing that struck me was that you could even hear the crowd clapping and cheering for their team after a loss.

[darksabre]

one thing that struck me was that you could even hear the crowd clapping and cheering for their team after a loss.

That was all the Rangers fans.

[Huckleberry]

That was all the Rangers fans.

 

couldn't have been that many ?

[darksabre]

couldn't have been that many ?

The pro-Rangers contingent must have been 1/4 of the building last night. They were loud on the broadcast all night long. 

Only thing I have to say is that Lehner needs to keep his blocker perpendicular to the shot. On at least 2 of 3 goals he moves it and the puck goes gliding by.

Interesting observation. I'll have to keep an eye on that in future games. 

[That Aud Smell]

Interesting observation. I'll have to keep an eye on that in future games. 

 

I'm not schooled in the way of goaltender positioning, but, looking at that third goal again, I can see what you mean. The blocker is positioned with its short side facing down to the ice; chz is saying the blocker should have its the long side facing the ice, yes?

 

Also on that third goal: Lehner was almost perfectly screened, and the shot's placement was excellent for where the screen was. Carlo did not help out his goalie there, at all. That said, Lehner didn't seem to put himself in a good position to make the save.

[Eleven]

couldn't have been that many ?

 

There are a surprising amount of New Yorkers living here, and then you have to account for the fans who live across the border but have / had a favorite player on the Rags.

[darksabre]

I'm not schooled in the way of goaltender positioning, but, looking at that third goal again, I can see what you mean. The blocker is positioned with its short side facing down to the ice; chz is saying the blocker should have its the long side facing the ice, yes?

 

Also on that third goal: Lehner was almost perfectly screened, and the shot's placement was excellent for where the screen was. Carlo did not help out his goalie there, at all. That said, Lehner didn't seem to put himself in a good position to make the save.

I went back and looked at the video of all of the goals against Lehner and I'll be honest, I don't see what chz is talking about with Lehner's blocker. My concern on the 3rd goal is how deep he is in the crease when the Rangers enter the zone. He's back in the net too far and when the puck comes off the right wall back to the point he has to push off with his left foot to get square, but he's not on the top of the crease where he should be for a shot from that distance. You can see it in the screen cap. There's just waaaayyyy too much net, regardless of how good that screen is. He needs to be out at the top of the crease. 

 

 

I also have a really big problem with the second goal as well, despite the blown defensive coverage. He over-commits pushing to the left and has to lift his left leg off the ice to try to push himself back into position, which opens up that gaping five hole. When he drops that left pad to slide to the left, his skate needs to hit the post and he seals off the post with his glove arm. Instead he misses the post and just blows the whole save. 

 

 

Wrong wrong wrong. 

 

 

He got pulled for good reason last night and it's because he just wasn't sharp. His positioning was not there, and for a goalie like him, it's the most important part of his game.