Cam was not good, both goalies gave up softies. Rangers were fortunate that the Leafs didn't show up for the first 40 minutes. And what the hell's up with Phil Kessel? http://www.torontosun.com/2015/02/10/live-coverage-leafs-vs-rangers
Another good road win vs Avs, Kevin Hayes goal was an amazing end to end rush, he had 3 more points...Boyle has had a tough season but now has 8 goals in 37 games
McDonagh intercepts..shoots toward the empty net...he scores!..."it's a powerplay goal!"....say goodnight Gracie. Cool to see McDonagh's proud dad exchaging a fist pump with a well-wisher. On a goofier note, that puck dribbling past Cam into the net a nano-second after the buzzer sort of took the steam out of the end-of-the-game / gather-'round-the-goalie celebration. Even if they (like with the Leafs) allowed another 3rd period comeback and even if the Avalanche are bottom dwellers in their division, it's 2 points won on the road. After tonight, the Rangers rank fourth in the NHL in goals per game (3.04) and goals against per game (2.38) this season, making them the only team to rank in the top 4 in both categories. Kevin Hayes - great game. Rick Nash - continuing his Charmin-to-Starch transformation. Gordie Zuccarello - I can hear echos of the Big Whistle: "Shoot the puck Barry, shoot the puck!"
Thoughts from last night's game: 1) Hayes has done much more than score a pretty end-to-end goal. He has established himself as a solid NHL player. 2) As much as I love the guy, Martin St. Louis has been terrible. He is my favorite Ranger, but that can not excuse him from how little he is contributing on the ice. 3) Could you believe how many Rangers fans were at that game in Denver? There was even a "Potvin Sucks!" chant in the first period!
1. Impressed with the burst as he entered the AVS zone, fast for a big guy...the pass to Boyle was beautiful 2. MSL will be alright, especially come playoff time
The success of this season (obviously judged by post-season success) is going to come down to two things IMO. 1. Hank will be back in time to re-find his groove prior to the post-season 2. McD and MSL get their heads out of their asses and also get into a groove come playoff time. If those two things happen, we really don't need a Vermette, Sekera, or a Hanzal. At most, a Santorelli. Hayes is blossoming before our very eyes. Even despite his face-off struggles, I'm not taking him off that center spot. Nash-Brass-Zucc Kreider-Stepan-MSL Hagelin-Hayes-Miller Fast/Santorelli-Moore-Santorelli/Fast I'd absolutely go to war with that lineup. So long as MSL starts playing like an NHLer at ES.
Stepan is criminally underrated by Rangers fans. His stats (both standard and advanced) blow guys like Bergeron out of the water this year, and have been at worst equal with him for the last three years. He is a legit top-tier #1C. Close to a PPG, and would be a lot closer if St. Louis had been playing like anything but an AHLer at even strength. Obviously, he is also phenomenal defensively. Brassard is also on pace for 65 points, and tends to step it up during the postseason. How many #2 centers in the league are on pace for 65 points? I'll wait. He's currently ranked 20th in scoring among centers, which puts him comfortably at #1C status. Low end #1C. Hayes is on pace for 40. For a rookie from college, that's phenomenal, and he's ever improving. All intangibles about being young aside, he's around 70th in scoring among centers. That puts him comfortably at high-end #3C status, exactly where he's being placed. Hayes is also someone that is literally improving more and more day by day. I think we'll see an even better Kevin Hayes come playoff time. This team isn't #4 in GPG for no reason.
Hayes has a good hockey pedigree, his brother plays for the Panthers and he has two cousins that played in the NHL for over 15 years
Hayes has been phenomenal. If he can actually keep it up and not hit the rookie wall (which unfortunately I think he will), Stepan-Brassard-Hayes-Moore is some tremendous center depth. McDonagh has been a little better recently but still not as good as he needs to be. MSL looks cooked, but maybe he'll find a little more magic for the playoffs. But of course, as we all know, as long as Tanner Glass gets regular minutes and destroys our ability to play four lines consistently, none of this really matters because we'll be a very quick out. And still, my greatest fear is Sather's laziness and inability to be proactive leads us to losing Zuccarello in the off-season in the same way we lost Stralman last year. If there's one positive to MSL's awful play, it's that even Sather might realize how Zucc must be the priority over him.
Agreed, Im a big Brassard fan. Guys the two moves we need to make at the trade deadline: -Trade Tanner Glass for whatever it takes - Acquire a faceoff specialist
Rangers 1st now in Eastern Conference in goal differential after 5-1 win over Yotes at +37...3rd in NHL in ROW...500 for AV
