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.

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.

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.