Photo Credit: AP / Jim Mone
Thursday is usually musings day, but it’s been a while since I’ve actually written one of these. I leave them to Chris, but he’s MIA at the moment. Since there isn’t much going on in Rangerland, today seems like a perfect day to bring it back.
1. There isn’t much for the Rangers to play for in the next two weeks, yet despite our calls to enjoy stress free hockey, it seems to be difficult to do so. Lineup decisions have been questioned, but none moreso than the repeated scratching of Pavel Buchnevich. In short, this is a terrible decision by Alain Vigneault. Buchnevich is better than half the forwards on the roster, and is the long-term future of this team at forward. He needs these games to grow and develop. Putting Matt Puempel and Tanner Glass in over him is folly.
2. As for the defense, that’s the one area that I’m not getting overly frustrated with. Perhaps I know I’ve been beaten, and I will not get what I believe to be the best group of six. Heck, I won’t even get the best deployment of AV’s preferred group of six. But AV has already said he’s sacrificing potential points in order to figure out his defense pairs for the playoffs. But until I see someone other than Dan Girardi (or Kevin Klein, whom I believe to be the odd man out) paired with Ryan McDonagh, I will have no faith.
3. It’s all about deployment, and we’ve beaten this to death. Dan Girardi needs to be sheltered. He cannot handle top pairing minutes anymore. I won’t get my wish that he’s scratched, so this is the next best thing. I’ll even bargain with you, AV. Keep Girardi on the top pair with McDonagh, but scratch Nick Holden for Adam Clendening. Put Clendo with Brady Skjei. That leaves Brendan Smith and Marc Staal. One of these options. I’ll take either one. Please?
4. The Rangers’ biggest strength is their scoring depth. The top guys haven’t been getting it done, and all seem to have hit a slump at the same time. However the bottom guys are at the moment. There aren’t many fourth lines in the playoffs that can match the Rangers (when Buchnevich is playing). But for them to win in the playoffs, they are going to need those top guys to score. Hopefully they find their scoring touch, or this is going to be a quick April.
5. Speaking of quick April’s, Henrik Lundqvist needs to get as much time as possible. He’s a little rusty, albeit still better than most goalies headed to the playoffs. He will need to catch fire and carry the defense in the playoffs.
6. It looks more and more like Montreal in the first round. The Rangers beat them in six the last time they saw each other in the playoffs, but that was without Carey Price. But much like the Rangers circa 2010-2013, the Habs are all Price. They have some good players, but the depth is not there. They can be exploited by fast teams. That’s a very winnable series. As is the potential next round against Ottawa or Toronto. But again, the forwards will need to outscore the defense.
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Question time:
- How far do you think the Rangers go in the playoffs?
- What are your ideal defense pairings in the playoffs?
- Who do you think should be playing (pick two): Buchnevich, Vesey, Glass, Puempel, Pirri?
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