This team is so close to being a very good team. You know how you can tell? The TV guys calling the game blow the other teams goalie every night. Every night we play against a team thats goalie is playing out of his mind..but the real case is that this team has the ability now with this system to create many chances on most nights it seems. It just has no finishers at all. This team needs 2 guys that can finish..thats it. I mean we have had more chances this year up to this point then we had almost all of last year. The shots on net are up dramatically...the power play is up in a big way. This team has the ability to create enough to win almost every night...if Hank continues to play this kind of hockey. Im not sure how to do it...but Sather has to find 2 guys that finish around the net. Period.
Wow, what a game, original 6 teams, end to end action, quality chances, 48-37 shots, oldtime hockey, a very exciting game to watch, especially because we won, definitely playing much better now, just like Jay says though, we can't finish...see Boyle, Hags, Steps...etc...
Would have loved to have seen that game. Replays looked great. No idea how Stepan found the net from that angle.
Just keep winning and let the others all fall into place. I havent really followed the race much. Just keep winning. Something we have not seen in years and years is taking place here and whether its a 10 game run or the Rangers and this system are on to something but I cant remember this amount of pressure...chances...PP success in a very long time and all without a top 20 scorer. Now the big question is whether or not this team is loaded with a decent bunch of B players which is needed to be a real solid team. Whether you want to make a Nash a A- player offensively..who the hell knows. Its the old Herm Edwards argument I used to have with Jet posters when certain posters would say the roster sucks and Herm Edwards sucked too. Now that couldn't be because the Jets were a playoff team under Herm. I used to argue the roster was indeed good..and Herm sucked. So whats going on here...this just isnt a normal run of the mill winning streak. This isnt just a goalie carrying a decent team. We are outshooting...out chancing...our PP looks at times dominating. Is it the system or the roster right now. Regardless, this is some of the best hockey OVERALL I have seen from this team in a very very long time. It could all go out the window any day now..or it just might not.
Good post Jay, we are dominating puck possesion, forechecking, Maclean commented on our teams improvement in speed, with Kreids, Zucc and Hags, 3rd in the league on the PP on the road and 7th overall. It took 1/2 a season but AV 's system is kicking in, Cam Talbot was great when we needed him yesterday and the top 4 dmen are the best quartet in the league...
Cam Talbot 1.62gaa, .940svpct, 10-3, 2 so's, yeah Jay, like a certain special ed poster (Jonny) said here, why are you worried about the backup goaltender...
The point, like many others, was lost on you and over your head No worries either way. So I really couldn't tell you who has done what in the last couple weeks. I can read everyone's posts about MDZ, so I guess he aint doing anything good although IM sure the "give-aways" that you guys mention are over blown. I know Hagelin hasn't done a thing and Cally doesn't score.......and zucc has been our best forward....any other notable mentions I should know about?
Marc Staal has remembered that he is a good hockey player. Girardi has really picked it up after a slow start. Charmin "ultra soft" Nash has picked it up. Richards is playing better. Stepan was good yesterday, and hopefully it continues. Kreider, McDonagh, Zucc, Talbot have continued their good play from earlier in the season. There aren't many guys not playing well right now. DelZaster and John Moore never play well. Pouliot has been asleep for a few weeks. Hagelin has been asleep all year. Callahan hasn't been playing too well. Otherwise, pretty good. Hank has been better lately as well.
Stat wise, yeah Jon...Zucc has been the best forward but everyone except the usual suspects seem to be getting chances. Again jon..this could be the run of the mill average team on a run. Seems every team in the top 20 go on one run a year at least..but there is something different about this run. Defenseman are dominating. Neil last night tried his best on 2 occasions to throw the Rangers off their game only to have his stick blasted from his hands buy Zucc and be charged by Moore. I mean for a team without big guns on the physical side, they are dictating every game...every game. The lost to Tampa was a bad 9 seconds with 2 goals by Tampa. Cant really answer your question. Cally although not scoring is actually playing like his old self hitting everything in site. The ice is wide open for Nash to do his thing. Pelloit? spelling is playing his best hockey all year. That line has played very well. The thing that has surprised me the most is that even though the offense with chances..chances..not goals scored yet for the most part..but with the chances this team gets every minute it seems, the defense has not suffered at all. Again..is this a 10 game stretch or does the roster FINALLY agree with the system. A few more even 25 goal scorers would really help.
good stuff there fellas. I did see yesterday's game. Im disappointed in JOhn Moore but you know IM stubborn when it comes to giving up on young defenseman If Girardi is improving, now is the time to trade him before its too late. I'd also listen to deals for Callahan if we can get a goal scorer. I think there would be a lot of interest there
It's amazing they've been such a good possession team this year despite not having the dynamic Dmen that AV's system usually requires. That's actually the #1 reason why they're such a poor even strength scoring team. This would require having a proactive GM. You know Sather needs his afternoon nap time.
Top 4 defensive quartet in the league, don't fuck with it, Delzaster sucks balls, Cally has been playing very well, you haven't watched the games but your clairvoyant, you're wrong as always...
