Blown Out of All Proportion

There is no escaping it. In the end, the Rangers blew their biggest lead ever because Henrik Lundqvist could not stop two Alex Kovalev shots that should never have gotten through him. When a team loses a 5-0 lead in a little more than half a game, there is no way one cannot lay blame on the defense that let the goals in, on the offense that was unable to stem the tide with another goal after scoring five of their own, and on the coach for not being able to do one thing to change the way the game started to go after a bad change led to a three on two goal that Lundqvist had no chance to stop.

With 20-20 hindsight, once can now see that the move that would have changed the game was changing goalies -- and not just as motivation or as a change of pace. Yes, the Habs were coming in waves that seemed to be unstoppable over the last half of the game. But the truth is, those waves were crashing on defensive wall that was doing its job in its own end. Yes, Ranger fans, you heard me right -- the defense was doing its job. They limited the number of shots getting through to Lundqvist, even when they were unable to keep the speedy Canadiens from gaining their zone.

Although it may not seem like it, the Habs scored four goals on just seven shots on goal in a span of twenty minutes. Their two second period goals came on their only two shots on net over the last twelve minutes of the period. They scored twice on just five shots in the first ten minutes of the third period. After that, they needed just five more shots on goal to get the equalizer. Four goals on seven shots over a 23-minute span of time. Five goals on twelve shots in a span of less than thirty minutes.

The defense was handling the Canadiens over the first seven minutes of the third. They blocked nine shots in the period. The forwards got the puck deep consistently. The vaunted Montreal power play was easily repelled. Then Lundqvist let a shot trickle through him after he had initially stopped -- the third time in three games he has done that. And though we don't know what may have otherwise happened over the last few minutes of the period, with Montreal attacking so relentlessly, a goaltender has to stop an unscreened thirty foot slapper taken by a guy who's falling down. It was a great shot from a good scoring angle, but it was stoppable -- Lundqvist never had a bead on it, he was not properly set.

The offense was not lax either, at least not through the end of the second period. They were attacking right up until the first Ryder goal, missing several good chances, and they resumed their attack after the second Ryder goal, getting all seven shots on goal and drawing a pair of power plays. Their failure was one of not converting shots or advantages, not one of sitting back and relaxing. They did start the third period in a defensive shell, content to just get the puck deep. And it was working, too, until Lundqvist stopped a sharp angle shot by Kovalev but then let it trickle through his legs and over the goal line.

This was wild game with a lot of things happening on both sides -- both teams gave up five straight goals. The fans were a factor in a way Ranger fans long ago abdicated in their zeal to jump on their team when they're down, the officials were a huge factor in the way they abdicated their responsibility to call the rules as written, and the Rangers as a team were responsible for letting all these things and their own mistakes add up to a blown lead of proportions never seen before. But all those things aside, all numbers aside, you can't win in the NHL without a big save from your goalie negating the softie he let in.

Game reports can be found in the Daily News, Newsday, Post, NYR.com, NHL.com, CP, and Montreal Gazette. The latter also has one article on Jaromir Jagr and another article on Brendan Shanahan. Jagr, who earned second star of the night in the NHL for his four assists (although that only rated third star of the game in Montreal), was the subject of a couple of pre-game articles in Blueshirts Blog and the CP. Blue Notes also had a good pre-game round-up of odds and ends. Kenny Albert's entry at MSG.com may not read as well after this game as it did before it, but it's still worth checking out. Also at MSG.com, a new feature tracking Sean Avery's every move (hmm, where have we seen that before?).

Other reading from elsewhere in the organization, if you're not too depressed to do it: Bruce Berlet updates us on Marcel Hossa's stint in Hartford in the Courant; Bob Crawford reviews the Wolf Pack's week at WP.com; Jess Rubenstein rounds up other prospect action at Prospect Park, including a report on Ranger draftee Danny Hobbs, out with an undisclosed illness; and Mitch Beck has a feature on the American Amputee Hockey Association in Howlings.

Comments

[Jeff L.]

Dubi, great post. I couldn't agree more regarding Lundqvist. So many Rangers fans get so angry when Lundqvist is criticized, they get angry and insulted that anyone dare insult "The King". It's ridiculous, Lundqvist needs to stop at least, AT LEAST, one of those shots that got by him last night. There isn't much the rest of the team can do when the goaltender can't make a save. I hope Henrik really feels bad about himself, because he deserves to.

[Pavel]

Henrik Carey.

[Jeff L.]

Henrik Lundqvist: The $7mil Flopper

[Dubi]

Regarding Renney's remarks about the fans, I know him well enough at this point to say without doubt that he was not taking a backhand slap at Ranger fans, even if it certainly can be read that way.

Also, I don't want to jump on the bandwagon of the Rangers not being able to mount a comeback like that -- remember the 6-4 loss to Ottawa last season? Down 5-0, four third period goals in less than ten minutes, and as close to getting that fifth goal as the Habs were on Kovalev's equalizer. But the refs incorrectly reversed a delay of game call that would have given the Rangers a power play, and Ottawa got an empty netter at the end.

[Tony V]

Good recall about last year's Ottawa game. I was thinking of the same thing.

The positive from last night's game was the fact that the Blueshirts scored 5 goals, Jagr had 4 assists and the first line is on fire.

Every season there is a head-scratching game like this. Last night reminded me of a vaunted pitching match-up where neither pitcher lasts more than 5 innings and the game ends up 8-7. The test is how the Rangers respond in the next game. They need to defend the blue line on defense and they need to keep the offensive pressure on.

My feeling is that Malik demonstrated last night a need to trade him for someone more agile.

Overall, there have been many more positives lately so I am hoping last night was an aberration.

[Godot]

Someone said we should trade jagr--and blamed the loss on him, because he didn't score in the shoot out. Remember last year when he conceded that he didn't like shoot outs, that he wasn't good at them. And the fans jumped on his case for that. So if he had abdicated that moment to Gomez (who I wished had gone in Jagr's place), and Gomer didn't score, I bet everyone would have asked where Jagr was--he should have been in the shootout.

Here's the skinny: Jagr is a great player, and he plays against the biggest and most aggressive Dmen of the Rangers' opponents and he takes the beating and...gives out 4 assists.

The loss was Henrik's. Sorry. He lost focus because of the big cushion.

[saget]

if every game has to come down to "one" thing, every loss will come down to one save the goalie didnt make.

[Jeff L.]

actually, this one comes down to six saves the goalie didn't make.

[D]

Dubi I agree with you all the way. The team may have not played solid after they felt like it was going to be an easy win but Lundqvist has to make some of those stops. He needs to play like a top goaltender and he has been nothing but inconsistant as much as this team, and that we can not have from our "Franchise Goaltender!"

[paul]

nothing to do with the game... but shannys comin back next season... saying it now so when it does happen i can be like... told you so... and this isnt no eklund crap... with letters and numbers that mean nothing... its a prediction which was made official with his actions early last week outside of the team...

cant really say much more than that....

as for the game... this should be an easy one to forget with the next 3 games comin up...

[spkaceswild]

it seems everytime this team loses, the common refrain from some on this board is "all things aside, it's Henrik's fault."

sorry, don't buy it.

[Anthony M.]

The loss falls on 19 players (Valiquette gets a pass because he didn't play) and the coaching staff. After the way the Rangers rallied from a 3-0 deficit the last time they in Montreal, there is no way they should have folded the way they did. John Dellapina was on with Joe Benigno on WFAN and he sees the Canadiens as a major stumbling block for the Rangers should they meet in the playoffs.

[spkaceswild]

Anthony M

But you forget, if not for Lundqvist, this team would be unbeatable.

If not for some bad calls in last year's playoffs, we would have beated Buffalo and wiped out Ottawa and Anaheim.

[RobZ]

Dubi, I'm hearing Jagr didnt leave with the team last night, I'm hearing it. Do you know what thats about, if it is indeed true?

[spkaceswild]

Jeff L

I have to agree. The NYR pretty much played a flawless game except for the six goals Lundqvist let in.

[Adam]

Wow, amazing how things can turn around that quickly..All I have to say is this, as disgusted as I am now towards their unbelievable lack of committment to a 60 minute hockey game, I think what really irked me was their inability to even respond. This game was huge, it really was, and the team failed miserably. Look, everyone can blame this or that, what matters is a team that would be competing for the stanley cup would NEVER pull what the Rangers pulled yesterday. A team in a race for a playoff spot with 20 games left wouldn't just stop playing after a 5-0 lead. This team will not win as it is, end of story. All Ranger fans here have to know deep down that at any point in any game, this team can dissapear, and that's scary.

If it's the players, then blame them, but how can this coach only get this Ranger team to play a full 60 minute game a handful of times through the 62nd game of the year? Has Renney done a good job? Eh, some of the youngsters have gotten better under his tootelage, I think its dispicable that every opponent we play has their best players on the ice with 1 minute left in each period, yet all we ever have is Blair Betts. Renney might be a good x's and o's guy, but personally, I think his in game coaching leaves a lot to be desired. There was a reason Messier hated him in Vancouver.

This was a total team collapse, and it is disheartning that Lundqvist just cant get an ounce of consistency going. He was horrible last night, and after being paid as the #1 goalie in the NHL, he better pick his game up.

MAKE A TRADE ALREADY...My god, how long do we have to watch this same thing happen game in and game out? So we get lucky and play well for two games over the weekend. We respond with the worst loss in franchise history for a regular season game. It's clear the coaches dont get through to the players, and the players can't seem to wake up and play a full game. What does it do for us to continue to not make changes, not fire coaches? SAME THING GAME IN AND GAME OUT...Personally, I'm getting tired of it.

[alex]

Dubi,

suffice to say, i disagree with your placement of blame. i put as much on jagr as on hank, for the wondrous disapearing act he pulled in the third period. where was the captain leading his team out of its hermit like defensive shell in the 3rd? where was the one shift on which he dominated and broke the fierce momentum of the canadiens? where was the will that most captains have, to not allow their teams to lose a 5 goal lead. yes, jagr was GREAT with 4 assists. but like the whole team, he only played 35-40 minutes. the last 20 he sucked balls, and everyone followed his lead.

Nevermind this though.

What I am absolutely astonished at is that you blame Lundqvist for the last Kovalev goal. As if any goalie in the league could stop a rocket one timer blast from inbetween the hash marks. that was a goal scorers play and a goal scorers goal. what the hell are you talking about man?

[saget]

Anthony M:

I'd love to see a Rangers-Montreal series this year. First of all, I think the Rangers will win it. Second of all, if every game was as exciting as the last two, it will be a great series.

[spkaceswild]

It's funny how now we bring up Lundqvist's salary to criticize the fact that he's not playing like the best goalie in the league.

Yet we don't hold Gomez and Drury to the same standard. We paid them like they were elite forwards when they've never been more than very good in their careers.

[spkaceswild]

Alex

it doesn't matter how the rest of the team plays, when the Rangers lose, it is Lundqvist's fault.

In fact if there wss no score at the end of OT, it's Lundqvist's fault because he should have scored a goal himself to win it.

[Dubi]

Rob, I haven't heard anything. None of the reporters on site have said anything about it. It may be significant, if true -- or, with the Rangers having today off, it may just mean that he returned to New York on his own due to other commitments. Just speculating on possible scenarios. I can't imagine it has anything to do with the game last night, but it could be significant if he was traded.

Alex, you're entitled to your opinion, but in reviewing the replay, Hank was not focused properly when Kovalev took the shot, and Kovalev didn't really get that much on it. Ryder ripped a screamer under the crossbar on a play in which Hank had to move across -- I don't fault him for that at all, as I wrote. But if a goalie can't stop an open shot that he's facing squarely in a critical situation like that, you're gonna lose more often than not.

I notice you didn't take issue with the other Kovalev goal -- if that one doesn't go in, it remains 5-2 and the Ranger D smothers the Habs the rest of the third period. That was the real killer right there -- the third time he's allowed that exact goal in the last three games.

But you want to let him off the hook, even after five goals on 12 shots, and would rather blame Jagr, who had four assists and who did nothing bad in the third period -- he had two full shifts before Hank let the softie in and nearly scored on one, he had three full shifts before the game winner, doing some good defensive work on one shift and getting the puck in the offensive zone on another... but yeah, it's his fault, blame him.

[spkaceswild]

I think we should have traded Lundqvist after he let in the late goal against the Sabres last playoffs. If not for that goal, we'd have won the Cup.

He's absolutely horrible!

[spkaceswild]

dubi

it isn't about letting him off the hook, it's about holding the whole team accountable for an embarassing loss.

with all due respect, I strongly disagree with your characterization of how the team was playing when Montreal scored those goals.

I also disagree with your calling this team potentially unbeatable.

[stevek]

The Rangers are so fustrating this year. They are more volatile than the stock market up and down...
I am just starting to believe that after the season, the Rangers must do every thing possible to trade for the number one pick in the draft and get Stamkos or Tavares (if they allow him to be draft eligible).
I do believe one of these guys is what they need. Look what Crosby, Malkin did for Pitts, Ovechkin for Washington, and Jagr did for the Rangers a couple of years ago, Thornton for San jose. The defence will follow into place when you have a dominant player. The Rangers have enough prospects (not all will play for the Rangers, not enough roster space) and besides Lundquist, Gomez+Drury who have no trade contracts, I think everyone is expendable even Staal, if we can get one of those guys above.
Yesterday's 5 goals by the Rangers was an aberation. I think Lundquist is mentally burned out this year with his father, new contract, and who knows whatelse Grinding teeth, migraine ect. He'll be back to form next year. I don't think the Rangers will go far in the playoffs this year, assuming they make it. They just don't have it this year, and I can't see any trades that can help them this year.

The Rangers have to do what the Boston Celtics did, a few years back they made the playoffs and then their GM redid the roster believing they reached their peak, and now they are the best team in the NBA (read wikipedia if you are interested)

[Effigy of the Forgotten]

spkaceswild: saying that whenever the Rangers lose, its Lundqvists fault is pretty.... dumb.

this is a team game. Perhaps if the D did not consist of Malik, Strudwick and Mara .... all of whom are usually 1 step behind, maybe Lundqvist would get more wins.

[spkaceswild]

Effigy

First, I think you need to learn to detect sarcasm

Second, you need to read all posts

[JohnM]

All in all. Its great to see the Rangers offense come through huge in the last 3 games. 12 goals in 9 periods of hockey is exciting to see finally. Dubinski, Calahan, Dawes, and Stall are beginning to contribute positively every night. That is a great sign for me. The bigger minutes defense corp of this team is M I A nightly as Henrik struggles to stay on his feet longer and not flop around as much. It makes the goalies job a huge amount more difficult. That being said, 12 goals in 3 games helps the defense and the goalie quite a bit. I will bet if the Rangers keep scoring at this rate , they will make the playoffs and they will go far into the playoffs as well. There is no antidote for more goals on the scoreboard than your opponent has. It always results in a win. While there will be a night like last night here and there. The prospects for winning are greatly enhanced when the Rangers are scoring a lot of goals.

[i]

Dubi there were plenty of guys not focused for the second half of the game, including the coach. That's not a game to blame 1 guy, it was a TEAM lack of effort leading to a butt kicking.

[onetimer]

I've searched the above posts and didn't see anything (only got hits for sORRy and hORRible) but does anyone know the reasoning behind Orr being a scratch last night? I thought since that Flyers game in 06-07, Renney was determined always to have Orr in the lineup, esp given the previous Mtl-NYR game.

[ralph]

saying lundqvist stinks is the dumbest thing anyone can say. bottom line rangers need to get rid of studwick first then malik and mara while were at it. defense is horrible on this team. thats the problem not henrik

[NYRanger4Life]

Orr was scratched due to the FLU.
Agreed - we need to make a MOVE ASAP for a Defensemen or two...

[roc]

What is Glen Waiting for! Make a trade!

[ANT]

Orr had a flu.

[Ros]

What a convenient scapegoat Henrik Lundqvist makes. Just fresh off signing his big money deal, is the last player the puck beats for the 6 straight goals, it seems almost too easy, no? I'm sure you guys can think of something more original. Hey, I say this is ALL Perry Pearn's fault. We need to trade him! Let's get Montreal's assistant here! Why not? That'll do the trick. It seems totally rational to blame a catastrophic collapse like last night on a single person/player... makes much sense.

Maybe a few days of silence on this board would be good after yesterday's Nuclear-Bomb-of-a-game, 'cause right now nobody is making much sense it seems.

[Sean Levchuck]

The blown lead was everyone's fault. Hockey is a team game. The team needs to accept the responsibility for the outcome. Poor goaltending, slow defense and under producing offense all fall under the umbrella of the team. This to shall pass.

[ANT]

Im not saying blame Hank but if u think that Hank wasnt a major reason for thaT loss maybe u the one who should take a time out

[ANT]

Blame hank completely***

[rangerbill94]

I'm going to add a thought that I have not seen posted yet, but may have been. When the third period started I would have had Avery all over Kovalev, yapping, bumping and generally just being Avery. The best way to turn momentum is distraction. Get the Canadians focused on Avery and all would have been fine, IMO.

[emscam]

Blaming HL is just too easy. Rangers never changed there game when the game had changed and that is a big part of why they lost.

[ORR Says "Trade to get Cheechoo" !!]

If last nights loss isnt any indication. This is why the team needs a veteran D man, because thats what happens when half of your D is under 25 or 26, and the other half just plain sucks. Now i expect Sather to do something big on D. Because after last night, im just flat out embarrassed to be a Ranger fan. This one will stick for a long time.

As far as Renney goes. i just dont understand this guy, i just dont. Why do you put Dru, and jagr in the shootout, when they havent scored a goal? I dont care who's on a hot streak, it was a dumb move. Its great having Jagr try to save the game, its pefect for the Habs, cause it never happens. It shoulda been Shanny - Dubi - Dawes, or even Avery.

That loss will not go away. The only good thing is we ot points in 5 straigh, but we coulda have had an extra 2 points with 2 games we should have won.

[ORR Says]

Hank is half to blame as well. But i dont blame him fully, some of those goals were freak goals.

[czechthemout!!!!!]

As Dubi said earlier,it's all my fault for finally believing that Tom Renney got the team to play consistant 60 minute hockey.I apologize to each and every rangers fan who posts here.I can assure you all,it will NEVER happen again!Renneyade to me is the equivalent of poison now,so rest assured,you won't be able to kick me around anymore.

All together now:

FIRE RENNEY!,FIRE RENNEY,FIRE RENNEY!!!!!!!

[nic]

trade the plugs and bring in dan boyle

[Jasper]

I agree that Renney should take a majority of the blame for the outcome of the game. Pulling Hank came to my mind more than once throughout the third period. That would have been the correct move and it would have been the move of a coach who was more interested in winning than being a good guy. It reminded me of the Red Sox coach who insisted on sticking with that pitcher who was blowing the game against the Yankees four years ago. That Red Sox coach was promptly fired wasn't he?

It was the same nice guy mentality that made him decide to put Jagr in the shootout. I was almost certain that Dubinski would be one of the shooters. It would have been nice to see Jagr actually attempt a shot rather than shove the puck into the goalie. Same goes for Shanahan, BTW. What the heck was he trying to do?

[czechthemout!!!!!]

I will tell you that one of the things Renney should have done is sent Hollweg to go after Begin.This guy was running guys all over the ice.Most of his hits were very questionable to illegal.He left his feet to jump and throw checks sveral times,against Rozy,Malik,Staal and others.If you can't get someone like Hollweg who is useless as a player to take care of that type of stuff,why is he then in the lineup?Why was someone like Strudwick a player who is probably one of the slowest in the game playing forward instead of say a Greg Moore who at least has the legs to keep up with the Habs.These are just some of the questions I was hoping would be asked by the media of Renney,sadly I don't think anyone in the press asked them.

[czechthemout!!!!!]

I also believe that Blair Betts' numbers would be better if he had someone who at least understands what to do with the puck a little.He did score 8 and 9 goals the last two years playing with Ortmeyer.

[rangerbill94]

You guys are unbelievable. Renney pulls Hank at 5-3 or 5-4 and the Rangers loose, this place would be up in arms. Should'a, would'a, could'a, what a bunch of looses. We got 1 point in a very bad game. Get what you can out of this and then move on. I didn't see Renney out there taking penalties, leaving guys un-checked, not getting square to the shooter, not back checking hard and not finishing checks. If half of you guys were on a team, the locker room would be a place of doom and gloom and your team would be in last place, hoping for a lottery pick to help you out. The help is in the room. Yes, maybe a 5th defenseman needs to be added, but the way some of you are carring on, that will just be a futile move...we're doomed!

We play BUF and FLA before the trade deadline and need to get 3 or more points from those games. This roster can do that. The next 8 games also should not be a big challenge. If Sather has added a solid D'man (Kaberle, Boyle, Weber, Ballard or Sauer) he will have a few games to get into the system before the crunch starts. March 18 begins the real pressure cooker. From then on we play NJD 3 times, Pitt 3 times, Philly 2 times and NYI 2 times. There will be 20 points available in this stretch and if we want a division lead we will need almost all of those points. I do not believe we we can get that many IF we stand pat at the deadline. At the same time, I'm not willing to trade very good, youthful players for that needed D'man. We will play 3 back-to-back games during that stretch. If we've done the job prior to 3/18 we will be in good shape for a playoff spot. If not, ???

[Dunny]

I was ran of the board the other day for calling Hank 'brutally average'..

Now, I'm here to say calling him Hank 'Carey' or something of the sort is rediculous.
Did anyone see the goalie in the Montreal net? Henrik Lundqvist is Cristobal Huet! They're freakin clones! Shoot low and get stoned, shoot high and score score score some more..

That's why is Hank's average.. He's not terrible by any stretch!

[Dunny]

Infact, it was RangerBill himself taking the high road and making fun of my nickname..
He's a really smart guy.

[onetimer]

thanks Ant and life for the clarification on orr. I think Straka would have been a good choice for the s/o, too. It was a situation ripe for Hossa, had he been in the line up.