Ryan McDonagh Speaks Out About Team’s Performance
Today on NHL.com, the New York Rangers captain Ryan McDonagh spoke out about the team’s performance and what is needed to get back to their winning ways:
“I think we’ve been pretty undisciplined here all three of these games so far and giving teams a lot of looks on the power play… It starts with execution. We need a little bit of everything.”
On Sunday, the Rangers did not impress the locals with a devastating 6-3 defeat at the hands of the winless Toronto Maple Leafs. The first sign of doubts had to come in the first period. Shortly into the Leaf’s first power play of the game, defenseman Cody Franson was left wide open to the left of Henrik Lundqvist. He could practically skate in and say hi to the netminder. Franson unleashed a blistering shot that left the King at his mercy. For the Rangers, all the players on the ice were seen to the right leaving him with a wide open look.
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After, you could feel that things were not going to go the Rangers way that night. Writers everywhere are saying the same thing: the team looked “lost,” “the King did not play like the King,” and/or “our defense was atrocious.” Instead of getting bogged down with the negatives, let’s try and look at the glass half-full. Despite being outscored in the third period, the Rangers played to the last whistle. They even outscored the Leafs 1-0.
McDonagh spoke out for the team about the team’s performance. That is a good sign on many fronts. It shows he cares. He knows they can play better than what they showed last night. NHL senior writer Dan Rosen quotes McDonagh:
“We’ve got a lot of guys back and we went through a similar thing last year, but I think last year was more of a debacle than this year…I really don’t want to talk any more about last year because this is a new group and we’re trying to find our game, find our rhythm. It’s there in spurts, very little spurts, but as a whole we need everybody to get in sync here.”
The play has to pick up and he realizes it starts with him.
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Eyes On Isles
Bright spots for the team have been the play of Rick Nash and Anthony Duclair. For Nash, it appears he is trying to redeem himself from last year. So far, he has scored a goal in his first three games. He has five points and is looking strong. “Duke” as the Rngers faithful have nicknamed Duclair has garnered praise from his peers and broadcasters for his play on the ice. Through three games, he has two points, but it is what he is doing away from the play. He is keeping the puck alive, as was evident in a goal with teammate Lee Stempniak in yesterday’s loss. He has even played well defensivesly, stealing the puck away from the defender and leading to a one on one with the goalie. Though, he lost control of the puck at the last minute, it’s the simple fact that a young man may come into a big time situation and create the opportunity. Those types of plays are needed.
Though it is hard to realize, it’s only been three games into the season. Just like most Ranger fans, I am trying to temper my opinion. I had high hopes of this team starting strong, as compared to previous seasons. However, reality is setting in.
It falls on you and I to realize and accept that. The world has not ended just because of two consecutive losses.