Game Thread: Pittsburgh Penguins(1) vs. New York Rangers(2) | Round 2

[Gooch1034]

Would you ever consider that there might be reasons (which may still be bad reasons) he's not doing the things that you think he should be doing that have nothing to do with his effort?

Could you say that again, only slower?

 

[Cobiemonster]

Would you ever consider that there might be reasons (which may still be bad reasons) he's not doing the things that you think he should be doing that have nothing to do with his effort?

A guy that has the talent that he has, should be able to take over a game if he plays with more effort and enthusiasm - this is why Blue Jackets fans were glad when he was traded because he didn't bring it night after night - they're paying Rick Nash a lump sum of money to score freaking goals, not be a perimeter player - you're supposed to be one of the best players on the team, start playing like Crosby and Malkin when they go in front of the net to do damage - in the playoffs you'll never score from the perimeter like Rick Nash has tried to do - get dirty and want it more - it has nothing to do with the Penguins preventing him from doing those things - as good as they've been in this series, that shouldn't stop Rick Nash from getting to the net and at the very least creating chances that way - yeah he got a few chances tonight but were they legitimate chances? Not really because a lot of his chances have been coming from the perimeter

Rick Nash is leading by example and the rest of the Rangers(sans MZ and Hagelin) are following his lead - if he started going to the net like he should(which requires effort), the rest of the team would do it because they see one of the best players on their team doing it, which should give everyone else incentive

 

[DragonfromTO]

Could you say that again, only slower?

I'm suggesting that the actions that he's attributing to a lack of effort might be explainable by something else.

 

[Gooch1034]

I'm suggesting that the actions that he's attributing to a lack of effort might be explainable by something else.

Ah I know. I was just being a jackass. That is a good point though. I would guess he is playing injured rather than lack of effort but I haven't kept up on him enough to know how he plays night by night other than these last couple games.

 

[DragonfromTO]

A guy that has the talent that he has, should be able to take over a game if he plays with more effort and enthusiasm - this is why Blue Jackets fans were glad when he was traded because he didn't bring it night after night - they're paying Rick Nash a lump sum of money to score freaking goals, not be a perimeter player - you're supposed to be one of the best players on the team, start playing like Crosby and Malkin when they go in front of the net to do damage - in the playoffs you'll never score from the perimeter like Rick Nash has tried to do - get dirty and want it more - it has nothing to do with the Penguins preventing him from doing those things - as good as they've been in this series, that shouldn't stop Rick Nash from getting to the net and at the very least creating chances that way - yeah he got a few chances tonight but were they legitimate chances? Not really because a lot of his chances have been coming from the perimeter

Rick Nash is leading by example and the rest of the Rangers(sans MZ and Hagelin) are following his lead - if he started going to the net like he should(which requires effort), the rest of the team would do it because they see one of the best players on their team doing it, which should give everyone else incentive

Do you honestly think that there are a bunch of players that have worked hard enough throughout their lives to rise to the highest level of professional hockey, in Nash's case becoming the #1 pick in the draft and a perennial all-star, whose play affects not just their financial well-being and the well-being of their families but their reputations, their careers, their lives, their legacy, who have to go to work every day with all of those people that they've made that unwritten commitment to, who have made a conscious decision to not give their all? Does that seem like it makes much sense when you really think about it? Nash has nothing to gain and almost everything to lose by half-assing it. Why would he not be giving his maximum effort? These aren't minor peewees playing single A that we're talking about, in a situation like that I might believe that there were kids on the ice mailing it in for some bullshit reason. But at this level I find it hard to believe there's some league-wide epidemic of players not working their hardest... I think most of the time writers use it as an excuse to construct the narrative that they want to write about, or coaches and/or management use as an excuse it to keep analysis (and blame) off of what they're doing.

 

[DragonfromTO]

Ah I know. I was just being a jackass. That is a good point though. I would guess he is playing injured rather than lack of effort but I haven't kept up on him enough to know how he plays night by night other than these last couple games.

Could be injured, or he might just be reading situations out there differently (like I said, perhaps incorrectly/sub-optimally). I just think that "he's not trying hard enough!" is generally lazy analysis, as I alluded to before it's the kind of shit that I heard from Randy Carlyle all year as a preemptive deflection of criticism. If it's an individual effort problem, it's not a problem with Randy's systems and strategy and it's not something he can be primarily blamed for.

 

[Darkstone42]

The Rangers have two advantages over the Penguins: speed and goaltending. There's little they can do about the goaltending, save getting strong performances from Fleury, which they have.

They've mitigated the speed advantage by packing in the center of the ice. No stretch pashes means no speed. By evening that playing field, the Pens can let their raw skill be the difference.

 

[evolver115]

Geno deserves a big bowl of Borscht for that goal

 

[forty_three]

‏@DenisGorman 3m
Rick Nash was asked if this is the most frustrated he's ever been. His answer: "By far." #NHL #NYR #NYRangers #Rangers #StanleyCupPlayoffs

Wow. I'm not sure I've seen such transparency from a guy before a series ended.

Especially not that guy. He usually keeps his mouth shut.

This is why I've ignored all the questions about Crosby. He had some giveaways and is snake bitten wrt goals, but the ice had been heavily tilted in the Penguins favour whenever get steps on the ice.

I've said it the whole playoffs - just because he isn't putting the puck in doesn't mean he isn't performing well on the ice. He makes the opposition back up, he reads plays well, causes matchup nightmares and he can hit someone with a pass through a coffee can. He just didn't score a goal. He forces the opponents to wear out their best checkers, leaving room for secondary scoring to play and be successful.

Kinda like someone else in this series.

Could be injured, or he might just be reading situations out there differently (like I said, perhaps incorrectly/sub-optimally). I just think that "he's not trying hard enough!" is generally lazy analysis, as I alluded to before it's the kind of shit that I heard from Randy Carlyle all year as a preemptive deflection of criticism. If it's an individual effort problem, it's not a problem with Randy's systems and strategy and it's not something he can be primarily blamed for.

And maybe he's being asked to play a different role. Put it in the lens of him playing a more structured game and focusing more on D and grit than he has ever done, then just maybe it changes how you feel about his game this series. I mean, would Rick Nash ever come halfway across the ice to hit the opponents' captain before? Don't answer, it's rhetorical. I know he never would.

Nash is welcome back with open arms when the Rags buy him out.

All I can do is lament the first round matchup. I would have really loved to have faced this Ranger team instead of the Pens. The emotion would have been greater and the competition would have favored the Jackets' style more. They fought hard against the Pens, but ultimately it was like trying to tackle a hologram.

 

[element1286]

Could be injured, or he might just be reading situations out there differently (like I said, perhaps incorrectly/sub-optimally). I just think that "he's not trying hard enough!" is generally lazy analysis, as I alluded to before it's the kind of shit that I heard from Randy Carlyle all year as a preemptive deflection of criticism. If it's an individual effort problem, it's not a problem with Randy's systems and strategy and it's not something he can be primarily blamed for.

I definitely don't think laziness is the issue, he has been doing the 'little things' well enough, which usually require more effort.

Maybe the coach is putting a little too much pressure to do the little things right, and he isn't able to focus on working his own end, backchecking, AND being a dynamic offensive player.

Also, where is the St Louis criticism, is he even playing this series? The only time I see him is when he is getting flattened or turning the puck over.

 

[forty_three]

I definitely don't think laziness is the issue, he has been doing the 'little things' well enough, which usually require more effort.

Maybe the coach is putting a little too much pressure to do the little things right, and he isn't able to focus on working his own end, backchecking, AND being a dynamic offensive player.

Also, where is the St Louis criticism, is he even playing this series? The only time I see him is when he is getting flattened or turning the puck over.

Marty is a hero in New York so far. Because he wanted to play there and was good once.

 

[Johnnydollaz89]

Series over.

 

[dare2be]

Series over.

We will gladly accept your Forfeit in the Bank.

 

[evolver115]

Series over.

We will gladly accept your Forfeit in the Bank.

 

[tabascojet]

0 for the last 36 power plays.....

 

[Johnnydollaz89]

We will gladly accept your Forfeit in the Bank.

You can take it. This is embarrassing now.

 

[mattola]

Series over.

OVER?


OVER?

NOTHINGS OVER!

WAS IT OVER WHEN THE GERMANS BOMBED PEARL HARBOR!!!

 

[Johnnydollaz89]

We suck, can't get anything going.

 

[tabascojet]

We suck, can't get anything going.

#jayhawkfootballtime

 

[dash]

OVER?


OVER?

NOTHINGS OVER!

WAS IT OVER WHEN THE GERMANS BOMBED PEARL HARBOR!!!

Great reference Matty, but the young kids of today might not know it (lol)