Having time off between the return from the not-so-Swede trip in Sweden and the game against the Laughlanders could prove to be a remedy or a poison. Depends on how they use it.
Penalties were the killer in both games in Sweden. Well, one of the killers. They have to be a bit more conscious on the ice. Or at least make an attempt to do something stupid out of the view of the refs. 7 penalties in the game against the Kings, with the Kings only taking 2 penalties. Then, 9 penalties in the game against the Ducks on Saturday, with Dubinsky taking credit for 4 of those. Discipline kids, discipline. That was drilled into me from day one of my first practice.
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| "Discipline kids!" |
The other killer? A sloppy and slow 1st period. Anyone that watched the Rangers last season, knows they shone like the freaking North Star in the 3rd period. And sometimes even in the shootouts. But you can’t rely on that. Especially when the king of shootouts, Mr Erik Christensen, decides to shoot the puck instead of finessing his way. Which, wouldn’t be so bad had he actually had gotten the shot in the proximity of the net. Both games in Sweden started out with a slow 1st period by the Rangers, who seemed to be 5 steps behind the play, but then got better as the time went by. But, by that time it was too late to mount any sort of a comeback.
All that being said, they can’t rely on Lundqvist to play as stellar as he did in those two games every night. It’s a lot for one player to carry, or feel like they’re carrying. It all starts in front of him, having a solid D and a solid disciplined top 6.
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