By Derek Felix
I’m finally back from the Garden after that wondering why we went. Was that uninspired performance really the best the Rangers could offer? Token resistance against a much better and hungrier opponent who looks to have worn our team down mentally and physically.
The scoreboard said Caps 5, Rangers 3 but may as well have read Caps 12, Rangers 3 because that would be a more accurate reflection of what took place at a deflated Garden. With their routine Game Six win, Washington has erased a 3-1 deficit outscoring our team by a scary 9-2 margin. Their three wins in this series have been identical 4-0 scores and 5-2 today meaning they’ve hammered us 13-2. The goal differential has a similar feel that the 2001 World Series did which the Yankees eventually lost to a better Diamondback team in dramatic fashion.
Should we expect the Rangers to even show up for Tuesday’s do-or-die Game Seven at hostile Verizon Center? It will be the first deciding game this franchise has played since the 1993-94 team got it done against the Canucks to win the Stanley Cup. Unfortunately, there aren’t any Messiers, Leetchs, Graves, Richters or Beukebooms on this roster. Instead, we’re stuck with a handful of players who barely competed with Jim Schoenfeld basically calling them out afterwards during a very revealing postgame on ESPN 1050.
So, instead of doing a traditional recap, I’ll give this game exactly what it deserves. A player by player assessment of who showed up and who didn’t even bother.
Antropov-was one of the few to finish his checks but there were shifts where he floated around doing little. Is that worth re-signing?
Avery-back from the doldrums, yes he did try but also steered clear of anything reduced to an unaggressive waste which the NHL wanted. They must’ve loved that.
Betts-played only two shifts due to a blatant cheapshot from thug Donald Brashear whose disgusting elbow was conveniently ignored. I ran into Adam Graves and he said it should’be been a major penalty and game misconduct. How sad. And you can bet other blogs won’t even mention or show video evidence of how bad the late blow was probably concussing our best penalty killer. The game was over right there. It figures that goon would pull those antics with Colton Orr a healthy scratch. He wanted nothing to do with Orr last game but picked on Dubinsky. That kinda player shouldn’t even be allowed on the ice.
Callahan-the glue of the team of course competed scoring a goal and letting Ovechkin know he was there. You can always count on Cally to show.
Drury-our captain who’s playing with a broken finger tried as hard as he can getting three shots and even managing to go 10-7 on draws. If only other overpaid teammates had his desire.
Dubinsky-another young kid who will be part of our nucleus that doesn’t dog it. The boarding call they got right. Even if he also got an extra rough and 10 minute misconduct. That of course they wouldn’t miss.
Girardi-gave solid effort though partner Staal struggled. Notice that most of the players who played like they cared are younger. Coincidence?
Gomez-managed to tie game on nice PP redirect but otherwise was too much on the perimeter as he’s been most of this series. It’s awfully hard to justify keeping him but who’s taking that contract?
Korpikoski-really played hard and got rewarded with more ice-time. I really like this kid’s spunk. He needs to have a bigger role.
Mara-gives his all every game but the writing is on the wall that his time is up here with more promising blueliners like Gilroy on the cusp.
Morris-had horrific giveaway which allowed the Caps eventually to score. He’s been alright but today was his worst game. UFA who will probably leave.
Naslund-has competed harder this series with some early good results but hasn’t been noticeable last two.
Redden-has been a predictable bust but actually gave a decent effort today assisting on Gomez goal and blocking four shots. So, I can’t kill him.
Rozsival-the other half of the worst expensive pairing in NHL history also competed throwing the body around more than his Ranger career even getting a good cruncher on Ovechkin. Imagine if he’d hustled back on Bradley’s shorthanded goal last game. Needs a change of scenery.
Staal-always gives solid effort but had a rough day including getting victimized by Kozlov on the Caps’ fourth goal. It’s a learning process.
Sjostrom-is one of our most competitive players and part of the No.1 PK. Somehow, he wound up plus-one with a helper. Amazing what a strong work ethic can do.
Voros-in place of Orr, he showed up and took the body. Give him credit. He could’ve sulked after basically becoming the odd man out but he’s worked hard in his three games.
Zherdev-just pathetic effort from a lazy Russian who is afraid of physical play. Has immense skill but just dogs it. His miss of an open net that could’ve made it 3-2 led to the Caps scoring the other way dashing any hopes of a comeback. Symbolic. No points in this series and deserves a one-way ticket to Siberia.
Lundqvist-if it’s true he was the story early in the series, then what’s happened the last two? Goals like Bradley’s second the other night never should happen and shows that as talented as he is, he still lacks total focus. Today, he gave up identical unscreened shots high glove side to Jurcina and Green. Alright. Let’s excuse the latter cause he has a laser and was due. But allowing that goal to Jurcina was awfully deflating. If he wants to be considered one of the best, he needs to stop those sorts and steal a game. He’s got one game left to make a statement.
Valiquette-let’s see. Perfect in two relief outings against a juggernaut even if the Caps turned off the switch.
There ya have it. A summary of what’s wrong with our roster. My Dad said it best when we were coming back home about how it’s always the same guys who put out maximum effort. And that’s a big problem for this franchise moving forward no matter what takes place two nights from now. How does that get fixed? Does anyone truly believe this poorly constructed team was better than the Panthers? Our goalie covered a lot up to get us the 3-1 lead. Now, they’re on the verge of making the wrong kind of franchise history.
Is it a surprise? No. Because the Capitals are the superior team and were just not finishing early in the series. The fact this is even going seven is a miracle of epic proportions. When former MSG target Tom Poti morphs into Bobby Orr scoring a goal and three assists, it speaks to the general nature of what’s so wrong. Funny but he would be our No.3 here. How could you not chuckle?
A lot’s been made of the Rangers being physical with Ovechkin, who basically is the hockey version of Drago with players just bouncing off him. And yes. They have done a good job against Green, who until today had done nothing. But what about laying the body on Backstrom, Semin or Poti? How come not one Ranger went after Brashear? What about sending a message? Should it just be centered around the Caps’ two biggest stars? Of course not.
Watch the Devils and Canes later tonight. Neither team backs down and both finish every check. That is what is severely lacking with our team. Moving forward, they do got some nice pieces but being able to surround them with players who give a damn will go a long way to where this franchise is down the road.
Kudos to the Caps for forcing the dreaded Game Seven. But they weren’t even forced to work that hard. At this time of the season, that should never be the case.
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