A Good Goal Is Hard to Find

There are a lot of statistics that can be used to assess a hockey team's performance. By some measures, especially on the defensive side of the ledger, the Rangers acquitted themselves well yesterday in Boston. But there is only one statistic that actually counts, and that is scoring more goals than the other team in any given game. And by that measure, the Rangers stood zero chance for success because they could muster up no more than zero goals. They didn't even get any more than zero real scoring chances in which a save had to be made by Boston's back-up goalie Manny Fernandez -- Jaromir Jagr didn't have his stick on the ice for an early gimme, the puck bounced over Colton Orr's stick blade with the net wide open, Brendan Shanahan missed way wide on a power play, Chris Drury fanned on a golden opportunity, etc. etc.

The Rangers' offense is so bad right now that they can't even score against some of the worst goalies in the league. They couldn't get anything against Fernandez, who came into the game with a 5.00 goals against average and a save percentage south of .800 -- Fernandez was counting his lucky stars after the game that he was never tested, not once, not even during the shootout when Shanahan shot right into his pads, Drury missed the net, and Jagr fumbled the puck. They couldn't get pucks past Atlanta's reeling back-up Johan Hedberg, pressed into duty during the game by an injury in their last game, either, not until they trailed 3-0 in the third period and then again 5-1 late in the game.

The burden lies at the top. Shanahan has one goal on 44 shots on goal through seven games. Jagr, also with just one goal (and both players' goals were garbage time goals), has had more shots blocked or miss the net (26) than on goal (23). If what we've seen from Drury and Scott Gomez is the best they have to offer -- and that really goes more for Gomez than Drury as the putative first line center who doesn't contribute as much on the other side of the puck -- then we're in for more than just one long season. It wouldn't be fair to point a finger at the younger guys in the line-up, but for all the good work they've done, Petr Prucha and Ryan Callahan haven't registered a single point since their opening night goals and Brandon Dubinsky is still searching for his first NHL point after 13 games -- the three need to stay together from here on out to change all that.

But for the team as a whole, it starts with the power play. The Rangers won one game with the power play, but having scored only three others in garbage time against the Thrashers, they have failed to win points with the advantage -- even more than that, their two shorthanded goals allowed have contributed to two of the losses. Even with the two bunches of power play goals, the unit still ranks no better than #22 in the league -- they are 0-for-27 in the other five games after going 0-for-6 yesterday in Boston. And that with a pair of 600-goal future hall of famers and a pair of $7 million men on the top unit.

If the power play looks disorganized, it's because right now it goes through Gomez, who has not shown an ability to control play in any zone. Coming up the ice, everyone tries to get him the puck, and those attempts seem to fail more often than not. Even when he carries the puck up, he goes one on four and fails to find open men (who, to be fair, are not giving him proper puck support). In the attacking zone, he fumbles the puck a lot and doesn't generate good chances even when he does control it.

The top unit needs to go back to the formula used in the past two seasons -- let Jagr control play from the right wing and use Gomez as an outlet when he's pressured, just as he utilized Michael Nylander for that purpose. That system had its problems too, by being too predictable in going to Jagr too often. But it was never as ineffective as this unit. Maybe that's the way this unit is supposed to be organized -- the truth is, it's hard to tell what they're trying to do. Similarly, whatever the forward lines are trying to do at even strength is impossible to discern -- forget about chemistry, right now these guys need to choose a system of play, practice it, and stick to it. They have forfeited the privilege of freelancing, at least for the time being.

No word yet on the status of Martin Straka's broken finger, sustained blocking a Zdeno Chara point shot while killing a penalty. The Rangers are off today, as they usually are on Sunday. They return to practice tomorrow, to action Tuesday in Pittsburgh.

Game reports: Daily News, Newsday, Times, Post, NY Sports Day, and NYR.com. Pre-game entries at the reporters' blogs: Blueshirts Blog and Blue Notes. Boston POV here, here, here, and here. Game notes from Newsday and USA Today. Other news: the Daily News on the Rangers opening next season in Praque (no, for the moment) and the Post's interview of Chris Drury. Hartford news: a 2-1 loss last night in Hamilton (see the Courant and Howlings), and more from Mitch Beck at Howlings here and (on Dale Purinton) here. At Prospect Park, Jess Rubenstein writes about Max Campbell and last night's amateur action.

Comments

[Chris]

Renny is an idiot if he doesn't keep dubi,prucha,callahan together

I dont understand why Jagr seems like he just wants to quarterback the play from the board, rather than make the play and get into the slot like he did in 05-06

[Bob Merchant]

Maybe at practice they can put those targets from the All Star game in the net.
No one gets to go home until they break all four targets.
On second thought, they may be there so long that they miss the Pitt game.
Good write up and assessment Dubi. Blame goes to the front lines, all of them.

Dubi, any word on Avery and when he may return. Sometimes strange things happen with the return of one player.

[ivrydov]

Laraque is back after shaking an early season injury. Rousing fight with Brashear. He landed several shots early and Brashear almost went down, got to his feet, and landed a haymaker on Laraque, knocking him down. Orr had better be ready. (This may have nothing to do with winning or losing, but if Orr is not there, you could have a Fedoruk situation and in that case your guys turn into bowling pins.)

[oleosmirf]

I don't understand why Drury is on the point on the powerplay

[Chris QCT]

Who replaces Straka now?

Scatchard?

[rangerbill94]

Are we sure Straka has a broken finger? He got hit just above the cuff of the glove, so I thought it was a wrist. I read the report and clearly they said "finger", but...

[IITH]

let's be honest, this team misses sean avery a whole lot more than many of you are willing to admit. This team looks eerily similar to the one last year prior to the avery trade. This team won the first game with avery in the line up and since he has went down, has been able to forest gump its way to one other win only. Sure hope Sather did not burn that bridge in arbitration. The only other point I have to make is that just like last year, this team does not have the right player as captain, you need someone that leads by example and jagr clearly does not. He is a great player, but not a leader!!!!

[imitation]

DUBI you ddn't have much positive to say. Get ready for the JESS attack. But on a hypothetical note , if they won 1-0 in regulation or OT the mood would be alot different, but they didn't. Renney will figure out how to get them to start scoring, hopefully soon.

[Ryan]

I hope its not Chris QCT.. I hope it's not. Wonder what the lines will look like with Straka gone.

[imitation]

BTH without a doubt, Avery is a BIG missing piece. He sets the tone for this team.

[gravey09]

Agreed with almost everything in Dubi's post except his time-softened view of the effectiveness of last year's power play. My recollection is that last year's PP was ineffective for long stretches.

Quite frankly, Jagr with the puck in "his" spot has become one of my least favorite things to watch -- on the PP or not. It's a little like Shanny's shooting--it happens so much with so little result. Not particularly interested in seeing a return to that PP plan. I'd much rather see some bodies in front of the net.

The most glaring weakness or perhaps a better word is omission of the Renney-Jagr era is how rarely we see either a rebound goal or a deflected goal. If I had a nickel for every opposition rebound I've seen in the last three years that no Ranger was in a position to lay a stick on, I'd be making Dubi an offer for the BB!

I used to believe this was a result of the "new" NHL but when I think about it, that's crazy. With D-men unable to clear the crease like Ulfie did, these opportunities should be available all the time. THat's probably why I like Dubinsky so much. I can see him spending a lot of time at the net as his career moves on. And where is Drury? I mean when he's not on the point, but at even strength. I'm waiting to see him in front of the net. Isn't that supposed to be his game?

[baron34]

gravey09 -

I agree totally. No way they can go back to the horrible PP strategy from last year. It was even worse than what we have so far this year.

Jagr & Drury should be told to stand in front, to pick up rebounds on the PP. If JJ controls the puck, Drury takes the front. If Drury controls the puck, Jagr takes the front.

Get Roszival (who is playing even worse than Malik) off the PP completely. Get Girardi and Mara out there to bomb from the point. Then everyone crashes the net.

Not too difficult to do. If Jagr doesn't like that approach, then get him off the number one PP unit.

They should be splitting the PP time evenly between unit #1 and unit #2 anyway.

1st PP unit) Prucha/Drury/Jagr
Girardi/Mara

2md PP unit) Shanahan/Gomez/Callahan
Staal/Tyutin

[oleosmirf]

baron

i agree except i'd like to see more from Staal offensively before I put him on the powerplay

I would have Tyutin and Rozsival with Jagr and Girardi and Mara on the second unit

[Orr will hit youuuuuuuuu..........pretty hard.]

It is a broken finger. Straka knew it was once he got hit with the shot, he took a peak at his hand, believe me, when you break your finger you know is broken. This sucks, its to early for an injury to one of our best players.

NYR hasnt been a team that gets injured bad, and now we lost 2 of our best guys.

Who will replace Straks until Hoss comes back?? Bourret, Korpikoski, Byers??

[GerryD]

I'm sorry - I'm convinced Jagr is the problem with this team. He is a great individual player. He is NOT a LEADER! This team is going nowhere as long as he is allowed to call the shots

[oleosmirf]

noone will be called up unless Hossa cannot play then I would think Jessiman, Korpikoski or Bourret will get the call.

[Phill]

What the hell has Mara done all season to warrant power play time?

Absolutely nothing. Girardi with his limited power play time has already accomplished more than what Mara has.

How many shots on goal does Mara even have this season. I try to picture all the shot's he's taken thus far and all have missed the net.

Put Girardi in, leave Mara out, or at least put him on the second unit.

[oleosmirf]

Phill

i know he hasn't done anything yet but he has a big time shot and if he can get it on target Drury will finish.

[Godot]

Remember, the idea was to have Hossa in front of the net furig the pp--big body, decent hands. It worked until the hop flexor....

[Dunny]

I can't believe Sather went the Gomez route after being burned on Holik. I kept my mouth shut on Gomez until now, but he just may go down as the single worst signing in NHL history. Drury was a great signing at any price, he brings alot more to the table than Gomez. I realize Nylander is old but my god, why would you break he and Jagr up? How could you possibly fathom the Jagr line being any better? It was as good as it got, adding Gomez... Stupidity. Better to retain Nylander and then re-visit the situation when both he and Jags retire..

I realize it's extremely early in this season let alone his Gomez's contract but I just have a bad bad bad feeling about this... Have since the day he was signed.

The thing that has been lost this year is the fact that this team had success the past two years by being a DEFENSIVE team..

[pghas]

Mara may not have done anything to deserve PP time, but Roszival has done a ton to deserve to sit. He has been absolutely dreadful in every aspect. The Rangers PP right now is 5 guys standing around the perimeter while the 4 opposing players get in the shooting and passing lanes. They basically lay off the point men entirely because they know there won't be a one-timer or even a shot coming from there, and even if there is it will likely miss the net anyway.

Drury in front where he's made his living on the PP for the last 8 years, Mara or Girardi bombing away from the point. Do those things, and score a few like that, and guess what? Then suddenly Jagr and Shanny are open for shots at the dots. It doesn't take a genius to figure it out. Put Gomez down low near the net as well, have him scoop up the puck behind the net and re-distribute it. I mean, come on, how can it be so hard to tell this group of players to keep it simple, get back to basica and score a few freaking goals?

[Orr will hit youuuuuuuuu..........pretty hard.]

Ohhhh Shut up with the Gomez BS. He needs to play with Shanny, and Shanny needs to find his game. When Shanny gets his game back and Gomez plays with him then it will be better.

Gomez + Jagr = No Chemistry, just dislocated shoulders.

Enough of the Gomez Holik crap. Holik sucks. Gomez is better.

Yeah it is still early.

[Orr will hit youuuuuuuuu..........pretty hard.]

The PP should be Girardi and Tyutin on the points with Drury in front of the net, and Gomez working behind the net, and have Shanny or Jagr creeping around.

The Canes work from behind the net, we should do the same.

Its time Renney grws balls and works on the PP, not Jagrs version of the PP

Jagr's PP does not work at all, thats why we sucked the last game.

[pghas]

And Dubi, doesn't a lot of what you're asking really fall to the coach?

[Dunny]

Needs to play with Shanny? This isn't 1997 man.. Shanahan doesn't excatly have alot in the tank.. Consistantly the worst player on the ice vs. Buffalo in the playoffs.. it was nearly embarassing..

And say Shanny does find his game, and scores 30 on a line with Gomez, which isn't gonna happen, you just paid an average of 7 million for 15 goals and 50 assists. It's freakin assinine.

[Dunny]

Holik didn't suck until he got here.

Gomez sucked last year, and somehow signed one of the richest contracts in the league witha team that is infamous for doing exactly what they did.

Hope I'm wrong, but usually I'm not.

[Phill]

Gomez's stock rose greatly with his performance in the playoffs last season. Granted it was against Tampa Bay and their AHL goaltender, but it was a something like 13 points in 6 games?

Save Sakic and I suppose Crosby, how many centers nowadays actually score a ton of goals for their teams?

(Honest question, I don't know the answer and I'm not going to go do research to look it up haha.)

[Rich]

BTW is it me or has the league begun to allow more pick type plays again this season? They still call all the horizontal stick shaft stuff, but to me it seems that they are letting more of the clutch/grab and release type stuff go.

I'm not going to comment on Jagr, Gomez or anyone's personality. What I will say is that from what I've seen so far this season is that there aren't enough pucks on the ice with both Jagr and Gomez on the ice at the same time. IOW they both want the puck so they can dictate the play. Jagr needs a winger who will retrieve the puck from the corner for him like Hossa can. Straka has been effective in that role because of his speed.

[Jess]

Imitation

Let me guess when Dubi says no attacking people you thought that meant everyone BUT yourself right?

Yawn grow up already

[david]

The only comparison between Gomez and Holik is that they both play for the Devils. They are not the same type of player. And Gomez is here with a totally different situation and atmosphere.

[Chas]

Baron, I agree

“Roszival (who is playing even worse than Malik) off the PP completely. Get Girardi and Mara out there to bomb from the point.”

“If Jagr doesn't like that approach, then get him off the number one PP unit.”

“1st PP unit) Prucha/Drury/Jagr
Girardi/Mara”

“2md PP unit) Shanahan/Gomez/Callahan
Staal/Tyutin”

The only thing I would add, bring Byers up.

[oleosmirf]

First off I can name plenty of centers I would rather have over Gomez

Crosby, Spezza, Jokinen, Thorton, Lecavalier, Sundin, Cammalleri, Parise, Elias, Briere, Savard, Sakic, Stastny, Marleau, Brad Richards, Brind'amour, Datsyuk, MacDonald Kopitar, Staal, Kessel, Toews, Sedin twin 1, both Koivus, and don't forget Nylander too.

And i'm sure I forgot others...

[Phill]

Oleo,

That list is pretty un-realistic. You named about 8 franchise players. And it looks like (I think) Cammalleri is the only center that is legitimately available.

Some of the players you mentioned; specifically, Sundin, Briere, Savard, Brind'amour, MacDonald, Kessel, Sedin twin 1, both Koivous and Nylander---I'd prefer Gomez over them for various reasons too long to go over. I would if I had the time.

Just my opinion.

[Matty]

I might be wrong but I believe that when Jess gets on people for their negativity, Imitation, he is most annoyed about the people who already seem to be throwing in the towel ... the ones who act as if the team has played half of the 82 games instead of just 7 games, the people who say "send Shanny to hartford, trade Jagr, Gomez/Drury aren't working out, fire Renney, we are doomed, what playoffs?" and so on and so forth ... I do not think he gets on people for having an opinion and making critiques of the things that aren't working which is clear for all to see ...

I mean you can't get away that there's truth to what he says ... the two times the Rangers have won so far this season not as many people post unless it is to gripe about the fact that this and this player didn't get the ice time they believed they should've gotten or played in the line they believed he should've played in ... I mean complaining seems to be much more fun for some

[oleosmirf]

phill

i never said the Rangers could get any one of them or that they should but I am just saying that those guys guys are better than Gomez.

[Phill]

Oleo,

Oh ok, my mistake--I thought you were just throwing out names you want the Rangers to have instead of Gomez, regardless of availability.

I think Gomez is better than a couple of the players you mentioned...

[Dubi]

I haven't forgotten the problems the PP had last season -- I wrote about it extensively during the season, and referred to it in this post. But it wasn't as ineffective as this unit. It's problems were obvious and correctable -- with the current unit, how can you correct something where you don't even know what the heck it's doing?

PG -- Of course a lot of it falls on the coaches. This is where they prove themselves.

[oleosmirf]

matty

you have a point but after the 1st 7 games Renney should look at the team and say Ok Gomez and Jagr didn't work, Shanahan got 40 shots on goal in 5 games with Gomez and 6 SOG with Drury in 2 games, and Dubinsky has looked better offensively than Betts.

To Renney's credit he is leaving Malik alone and moved Betts back to the 4th line but he needs to understand that Gomez did better with Shanahan and Jagr did better with Drury and fix that.

He also needs to realize that the power play isn't working and that maybe using 2 units is better.

Other than that no complaints and I still have have plenty of faith that this team will be a top 6 team at season's end.

[elsie]

Why was Montoya lifted Sunday night?

[Jess]

Matty

No you are not wrong but actually hit the mark 100%. Look at the post count when they lose and then when they win.

It is so frustrating to see basically the same people who look for reasons to complain. They say "Oh but I still believe in this team" and then rip on the team even more.

The greater majority of Ranger fans here and over the net know that this is a team that needs time to come together.

Most Ranger fans know that it is going to take some time for people to get to know how to play with each other.

Expecting instant chemistry, instant success and an 82-0 season is unrealistic.

It has only been 7 games for crying out loud. There are still 75 games left in the season so we have not been eliminated from the playoff picture just yet.

There are all the signs of good things to come but it is a lot easier to bitch and moan about things rather than realize there is a lot of good things going on with this team that will pay dividends down the road.

[Jess]

oleosmirf

LOL OK so I suppose that a 2 complaints per person limit should be set then eh?

[Godot]

Jess, you're not only right about it only being 7 games, but again--considering they've lost three of our top nine forwards in those seven games, that they've not played regularly yet--so much time off is hard to work outof the snide, and surely hard to work through the problems. Practice is not a game situation--not in tempo, not in attitude, not in competition. This team needs to plays ot he coaches can see what's not working.... Relax people.

[oleosmirf]

Jess

I am not expecting instant chemistry, I am not expecting the Rangers to go 82-0 or even win 50 games or get 100 points but I do expect the Rangers to score against Manny Fernandez or at least make him earn it.

Come on Miika Wiikman or Chris Holt could have got a shutout for Boston that night.

I don't sit here and complain about Malik or call for Jagr to be traded or demand Shanahan be sent down.

Since your hockey knowledge is far superior to ours please tell us why Drury is on the point instead of in front of the net?

[Ryan]

Oleosmirf,

Pray tell where Jess claimed superior hockey knowledge over you? I've seen Jess point out things that he thinks the Rangers are doing wrong plenty of times, but he's just saying, and I've got to agree, that being overly negative at this point in the season makes no sense. I, as well as others, have said this plenty of times but I'll repeat it again - look at last year. Just give it time folks.

As for Drury being on the point I completely agree that it makes absolutely no sense. On the last thread I commented on how lost he looked there and that he was a defensive liability as well. We should definitely split our powerplay units into two seperate units. We just have to wait for Renney to realize that.

[LI Joe]

n the news article re opening the season in Prague - looks like both JJ and Straka want it. Straka was talking like he'd still be a Ranger if that happens. So - unless this injury is debillitating I think he'd come back if the team wants him (in my opinion with or w/o Prague as an inducement). Sounded like even Sather wants to play there.

[oleosmirf]

Ryan

I am not overly negative I had 3 problems with the team. Renney addressed one of them which was Betts not on the 4th line.

I have a problem with Drury and Gomez being on the same line and Drury on the point that is it. I feel that if left unchanged it will seriously hurt the team.

[oleosmirf]

Jagr and Gomez not Drury and Gomez

[david]

Why was Montoya lifted Sunday night?

Montoya was injured as he was run into by some Marlies.

He did not return to the game.

It will be interesting to read the report tomorrow.

[Jess]

oleosmirf

First off as Ryan pointed out I was not playing any "superiority" crap so please take one chill pill and call us in the morning.

I am not overly negative I had 3 problems with the team. Renney addressed one of them which was Betts not on the 4th line.

Hence my JOKE about if we should have a limit of 2 complaints per poster or do you not know that LOL stands for "laughing out loud"

Would it make you happier if I said no complaining period?

Do you not see how frustrating it gets to see people complaining while saying in the SAME POST I still have faith just like you did?

How come Matty, Ryan and Godot all say the same thing? They just like you want to see the team win and just like you they hate to see them lose.

You want to see Renney address your issues? You want to talk about saying I have a superiority attitude then look at what you said?

why Drury is on the point instead of in front of the net?

Ok here is what I think why:

Because Barry Beck is in Hong Kong coaching the Chinese (yes he really is). Because his shot can generate deflections and rebounds for others to get garbage goals. Because his shot is more accurate than most on the Rangers. Because Drury will shoot the puck every chance he can get because he knows the saying "good things happen when you put the puck on net" Because Drury had more goals last season than any other Ranger. Because Drury gets paid to shoot the puck. Because Drury plays a north/south game unlike many Europeans who look for the perfect play. Because Drury wants to win. Because too many others have shown repeatedly that they are not willing to shoot the puck from the point. Because the Rangers need someone willing to step up and be the PP QB. Because when you need offense you will try anything and everything to see if will work.

How was that?

[pghas]

I just don't understand why nobody would want to take point shots on the PP. I thought most defensemen loved doing that and that most hockey players loved scoring goals. why not park Drury in front and tell Girardi and/or Toots (who I think frankly would make great point men) to bomb away? Then stick Jagr at the left circle and have Gomez roam. Shanahan, Dubinsky, Prucha, Rozsival and Mara could be unit #2, or sub in Straka for one of the defensemen.