Reading the boards that i read, i have seen people coming down on Elias. Even to the extent of benching him. (perhaps it would motivate him...but better, the entire team)
It is interesting that in this new system, the Devils have yet to get Elias producing. It is odd, i think Elias would be producing something no matter where he is! I love this guy. BUT perhaps the effects of losing a pure passing, smooth skating center - Gomez, shows that Elias can't create his own opportunities?! I don't know. I expect that Sutter would mix lines up until they find someone to get Elias the puck in good situations.
Maybe Langenbrunner will get him going.
More to be seen - i hate New Jersey, but i like this guy. I hope he can turn it around without any benefit to the Devils! (that would be too good...and impossible.)
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Blown.
Rangers v Islanders
The Rangers had this game. Solid play for most of it...but when the lapses came they came big. Can't fault the Isles. They capitalized. That play by Comrie was nice*.
Overall, Lundqvist played well. The defense felt small and slow at moments. When the Isles
started it churning in the zone, the Rangers had problems.
It isn't all bad. The Rangers come away with nothing...this is certainly bad as the points are important. But it will be great to get this rivalry meaning something. And i think these two teams have a great chance to battle for the division.
Of course, i am not an optimist. So i doubt the Rangers will hold it tight. They had moments where they were making bad decisions with the puck in their zone. And often that cost them. In fact, i believe the 3rd goal by Satan was set up after the Rangers laid a weak pass behind the net with the other d-man not there. (i'll have to watch again to see if that was in fact what happened)
DiPietro came up big at the end. However, on the other side, the Rangers did put good pressure and had the tie in their hands there.
Lundqvist had some big saves before Satan netted his. A nice outlet pass by DiPietro caught the Rangers doing a full line change. Lundy stopped the breakaway shot by Sillinger.
It was a fun game to watch. Disappointing as it was.
* Isles 4 on 3 powerplay, Comrie passes the puck low to ???? who then passes it back to Comrie who skates across switching sides with another Islander. Comrie makes a nice little fake, as if dropping the puck to the passing d-man high. This pauses the Rangers. Fedotenko slips out from in front of the goal and sets up to Lundqvist's left. Comrie curves down on Lundy's right and lays a nice quick pass to Fedotenko who buries it. Nice play. Rangers pay for an accidental high-stick in a big way.
The Rangers had this game. Solid play for most of it...but when the lapses came they came big. Can't fault the Isles. They capitalized. That play by Comrie was nice*.
Overall, Lundqvist played well. The defense felt small and slow at moments. When the Isles
started it churning in the zone, the Rangers had problems.It isn't all bad. The Rangers come away with nothing...this is certainly bad as the points are important. But it will be great to get this rivalry meaning something. And i think these two teams have a great chance to battle for the division.
Of course, i am not an optimist. So i doubt the Rangers will hold it tight. They had moments where they were making bad decisions with the puck in their zone. And often that cost them. In fact, i believe the 3rd goal by Satan was set up after the Rangers laid a weak pass behind the net with the other d-man not there. (i'll have to watch again to see if that was in fact what happened)
DiPietro came up big at the end. However, on the other side, the Rangers did put good pressure and had the tie in their hands there.
Lundqvist had some big saves before Satan netted his. A nice outlet pass by DiPietro caught the Rangers doing a full line change. Lundy stopped the breakaway shot by Sillinger.
It was a fun game to watch. Disappointing as it was.
* Isles 4 on 3 powerplay, Comrie passes the puck low to ???? who then passes it back to Comrie who skates across switching sides with another Islander. Comrie makes a nice little fake, as if dropping the puck to the passing d-man high. This pauses the Rangers. Fedotenko slips out from in front of the goal and sets up to Lundqvist's left. Comrie curves down on Lundy's right and lays a nice quick pass to Fedotenko who buries it. Nice play. Rangers pay for an accidental high-stick in a big way.
Good games last night...
Lundqvist does it again. Well that is all anyone will see. The Rangers gave up 32 shots maybe...that is a good shutout, for sure. And Lundy played very well...i don't mean to take anything from him. I think he is a top echelon goalie. And i think with this coaching and system that he can keep it up long term. BUT the team is playing solid. They are clearing fromt he front. They are keeping shots from out high and to the side. Philly did get some creative breaks and Lundy came up big more than once. But the team is playing some very solid defense.
Also the offense...although they put up 40 shots...and Biron played equally solid...the offense was not so impressive.
Other games were good...Kipper made an amazing save. That guy is athletic. He reminds me of Felix Potvin, only good.
Also the offense...although they put up 40 shots...and Biron played equally solid...the offense was not so impressive.
Other games were good...Kipper made an amazing save. That guy is athletic. He reminds me of Felix Potvin, only good.
Monday, November 5, 2007
Good slate of action tonight...
Rangers vs Philly.
Well this will be quite the reality check. The Rangers have been playing a quality
defensive style and Lundqvist has been holding down the net very solidly. Lately, against fairly weak offenses, the blueshirts have had just enough offense to get the two points. Philly will not be so easy to do this against. Philly is one of the better teams 5 on 5...so the great penalty kill of the Rangers will be even more important as will more timely saves and tight defensive commitment.
Hope they can pull this one out.
With wins against Devils twice and the caps and lightning once each and a loss to Toronto - i am not convinced that they are truly
turning the corner. The defense is tight and has been with the exception of that Toronto game and an earlier Ottawa game. So i do believe they can hold the Flyers to 3 or less. BUT can they score at least 2 to guarantee a tie...i don't know.
The flyers seem to be in a spot where they are still finding themselves. I hope this is an off night.
Other games to watch...
pittsburgh v new jersey - what is up with the O in pittsburgh? And has NJ turned a corner here? They seem to be playing a bit tighter in their zone. This game could be anything! From nj getting a shutout to pens winning a shoutout 6-5.
calgary v colorado - hard fought game. I would imagine lots of end-to-end action. Should be fun to watch.
Well this will be quite the reality check. The Rangers have been playing a quality
defensive style and Lundqvist has been holding down the net very solidly. Lately, against fairly weak offenses, the blueshirts have had just enough offense to get the two points. Philly will not be so easy to do this against. Philly is one of the better teams 5 on 5...so the great penalty kill of the Rangers will be even more important as will more timely saves and tight defensive commitment.
Hope they can pull this one out.
With wins against Devils twice and the caps and lightning once each and a loss to Toronto - i am not convinced that they are truly
turning the corner. The defense is tight and has been with the exception of that Toronto game and an earlier Ottawa game. So i do believe they can hold the Flyers to 3 or less. BUT can they score at least 2 to guarantee a tie...i don't know.The flyers seem to be in a spot where they are still finding themselves. I hope this is an off night.
Other games to watch...
pittsburgh v new jersey - what is up with the O in pittsburgh? And has NJ turned a corner here? They seem to be playing a bit tighter in their zone. This game could be anything! From nj getting a shutout to pens winning a shoutout 6-5.
calgary v colorado - hard fought game. I would imagine lots of end-to-end action. Should be fun to watch.
Sunday, November 4, 2007
Love seeing it...defense first has gone no where
Wow, love seeing these teams able to adjust and clamp the defense down. I think good defense is amazing to watch, although slightly frustrating. I guess my hope would be for this game style to drive away all the "fans" that love what the game could be, if...
...we had bigger goals, smaller goalies, no fighting, more scoring, smaller puck, bigger rinks, less players on the ice...
All these things, might initially increase scoring...but it will not change the simple fact that defense is an easier thing to count on than offense. the defensive zone, with five men all packing it in is more managable and reliable than offense. Ultimately, much less skill required to block a shot than to make a shot go where you want it.
Still props to Pascal Leclaire. 5 shutouts already. Nice for me too - more evidence that teams make goalies more than goalies make teams...a great team with a good goalie will always go further than a good team with a great goalie. AND clearly, a bad goalie can ruin any team.
Proud of Lundqvist too. But proud of that system even more. Now, can they open it up a little and still maintain that defensive tightness...to be seen. Certainly the talent is adequate.
...we had bigger goals, smaller goalies, no fighting, more scoring, smaller puck, bigger rinks, less players on the ice...
All these things, might initially increase scoring...but it will not change the simple fact that defense is an easier thing to count on than offense. the defensive zone, with five men all packing it in is more managable and reliable than offense. Ultimately, much less skill required to block a shot than to make a shot go where you want it.
Still props to Pascal Leclaire. 5 shutouts already. Nice for me too - more evidence that teams make goalies more than goalies make teams...a great team with a good goalie will always go further than a good team with a great goalie. AND clearly, a bad goalie can ruin any team.
Proud of Lundqvist too. But proud of that system even more. Now, can they open it up a little and still maintain that defensive tightness...to be seen. Certainly the talent is adequate.
Saturday, November 3, 2007
a visit from those impish ones....
New Jersey. I sure do hate them. However, at this point, i welcome them more than ever. They are very beatable.
So far, like 2minutes to go, 1 to 1. Good game. Solid play in every zone by both teams. Even the gaffes have been fairly well handled.
The refs SUCKED in the first and then have gone the opposite direction the rest of the game, calling nothing...
I think the Rangers have looked good, but more, i think the Devils are finding themselves. They've played more solidly than i have seen so far.
Points for each...go Rangers for the extra point.
YES. Grab that extra point. These are points that will be BIG come season end. Even more preventing this NJ team from getting that point.
I think both of these teams are turning their play around. Solid own zone commitment. Both will have trouble when they are down in games.
Go Rangers. Very nice goal by Prucha in the shootout.
So far, like 2minutes to go, 1 to 1. Good game. Solid play in every zone by both teams. Even the gaffes have been fairly well handled.
The refs SUCKED in the first and then have gone the opposite direction the rest of the game, calling nothing...I think the Rangers have looked good, but more, i think the Devils are finding themselves. They've played more solidly than i have seen so far.
Points for each...go Rangers for the extra point.
YES. Grab that extra point. These are points that will be BIG come season end. Even more preventing this NJ team from getting that point.
I think both of these teams are turning their play around. Solid own zone commitment. Both will have trouble when they are down in games.
Go Rangers. Very nice goal by Prucha in the shootout.
diversion #2: Boxing
I do love hockey unlike any other sport. But there is another interest that i will interrupt most anything for...Boxing.
Tonight: Calzaghe vs Kessler
I haven't seen Kessler fight before. But if he can stand with Calzaghe and match that speed...this should be fun.
I love good boxing and i will probably post on this fight after i watch it.
first two rounds...
Lots of feeling out. some decent exchanges toward the end of round 2.
Kessler has the best so far.
3rd round:
definitely more active.
Calzaghe is fast...
Kessler is good to match though...not as fast but fast still.
Kellerman is giving the 3rd clearly to Calzaghe.
Calzaghe had some moments where his right jab was getting through down the middle with ease.
4th round:
Kessler landed some early...nice flurry.
Landed a rocking uppercut on Calzaghe.
Calzaghe is handling it fine...not hurt really.
So far this is Kessler's round.
Calzaghe put some together at the end of the round but still Kessler's.
Let me say - i love Max Kellerman. The best boxing knowledge out there i think.
5th round:
small stuff - feeling each other out...Kessler waiting to counter...Calzaghe being more cautious.
Really good fight. A chess match, if you will.
Calzaghe maybe slightly...
6th round:
still cautious
Calzaghe is fast.
Kessler hasn't landed much, if anything really.
7th round:
more of the same.
Kessler less effective.
seems Kessler is changing it up some...attacking more. But not as much as Calzaghe..
Good round - maybe Kessler's.
8th round:
the best punch so far has still been an uppercut by Kessler.
When his land they are better - but Calzaghe is landing more and more cleanly.
Good round...fun last minute or so.
I think Calzaghe got that one...but a good flurry by both.
9th round:
Kessler landed a really good punch
Calzaghe does put some harmless flurries together...but they back Kessler up. So they look good on a scorecard.
Calzaghe is very good...to state what all the commentators have already said.
10th round:
so far to me...kinda like watching Kiltscho against Sam Peter. With more action and more skill in Kessler than Peter, and more in Calzaghe than Klitscho
Good exchanges here.
Still Calzaghe coming out a little better.
Kessler landed some nice punches at the minute mark.
Calzaghe SHOULD probably being playing it safer...love this guy, win or lose.
(Calzaghe broke Kessler in the second half of that round - M.Kellerman)
11th round:
more of the same...
Calzaghe is too quick.
Kessler is there though - these two HAVE TO BE the best in the class.
Calzaghe is crazy to keep stepping in...but he wouldn't be Calzaghe if he didn't.
Calzaghe gets that round although nothing much happened.
12th and final round:
unless something amazing happens by Kessler...Calzaghe puts another brick on the shrine he has built himself for the boxing world. He is truly a great fighter. Smart and fast. Very tough to fight.
Kessler, though, has proven to be worthy. I will watch this guy whenever i can.
Nice uppercut...Kessler could get lucky.
1:30 to go
Calzaghe unchanged, still bringing it...
Kessler still game...but overmatched slightly but clearly.
Big bombs thrown by Kessler but missing...
10secs to go...
the embrace after the bell...these two respect the hell out of each other.
Calzaghe just better.
Kessler needs to take it...and learn from it. He is good.
Calzaghe - Taylor
Calzaghe - Pavlik
Calzaghe wants Hopkins. Wow. I think Hopkins would have his hands full.
Nice fight.
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