That was brutal. If only their offense could have played all game like they did in the 3rd. Caps were swarming the forwards all game they needed the D to jump up. Stepan missing that open net is pretty inexcusable.
Agreed, the Rangers had a few missed opportunities. I just hope they stay the better team come playoff time. Holtby allowing 3 3rd period goals was very uncharacteristic of him. Rangers had fight in them. Definitely a great 3rd by NYR.
When you're a terrible defensive team, it makes a great deal of sense to trade your best defenseman. Maybe they can also do McIlrath a favor and trade him to a team that will actually play him, an organization that preaches accountability. Is there any doubt the Rangers will trade their best defenseman plus another first round pick for Drouin, only to have him toil in bottom six/healthy scratch purgatory for the rest of the season?
But why is it that they, along with Nash CONTINUE to be the only ones who are criticized? For three consecutive seasons, Derek Stepan has scored less goals, and has a lower face-off win percentage than ANY FIRST LINE CENTER in the league. If you can't rely on your first line center to score or win faceoffs, what else is there left for him to do?!?! Just look at this fucking play.... He had THREE FULL SECONDS to slide that puck past Holtby. Instead, he hesitates, probably looking for a pass, and Schmidt makes a play. DISGRACEFUL. Just count the number of seconds that puck is on his stick!!! WHY does he continue to get pass after pass after pass?!?!?!
Especially after getting that deal, Stepan has been a joke. All he has to do is tap that puck in, lift it a little. Instead he does nothing
Surprisingly, we are winning more faceoffs this year than losing (Except for Stepan who has only won 45.6%). Stoll has won 57.9%, Moore is at 56.3%, and Brassard is at 52.8%. Much better than our four main centers last year (54.5%, 48.9%, 44.5%, and 36.6%).
Midseason Grades IMO McD- D all star spot that he doesn't deserve, shouldn't be Captain Girardi- F Terrible Staal- F Terrible Boyle-D should play forward Mcilrath- A- joke that he's not playing Klein- B+ Solid Yandle- B Solid Kreider- F Disappointing Miller- B- Coming on nicely, Kreider watch him Zucc- A Saviour, should be the Captain Nash- C OK defensively, but put the puck in the net Brass- B Streaky, better at faceoffs this year Dom Moore- B+ Reliable Stepan- F Terrible Stalberg- D Heating up lately Hank- C Hot start, mediocre right now Raanta- B Etem- F Garbage....bye! Stoll-B Dumb move letting a team leader go Glass- D Lindberg- B- Cooled off after hot start Fast- D Not a difference maker Megna- B- Based on the games he's played AV- F Poor coaching and descision making
http://www.hockey-reference.com/players/s/stepade01.html Derek Stepan - 6 years pro: Scored 20 goals in a season ONCE. Lifetime career Face off percentage: 44.2% . Lifetime career shooting percentage: 11.1 % This is a FIRST line center?
Did anybody else catch my buddy Derek Stepan fanning on an open shot int he slot right before the game winning goal?
