Here’s the John Tortorella transcript, from the NHL:
An interview with:
NEW YORK RANGERS COACH TORTORELLA
THE MODERATOR: Questions for Coach Tortorella.
Q. John, can you just look back to yesterday’s game and tell me some
of the positives you saw from your team?
COACH TORTORELLA: To be honest with you, not many. I thought we
played some minutes in the second period, found a way to score some
power-play goals; but other than that, we didn’t play enough minutes.
Q. Historically you’ve rewarded players that play hard with more ice
time and more responsibility. And conversely, players who don’t do the
things you want see less of that. What is the importance of sending that
message not just to the individual but the entire team?
COACH TORTORELLA: I think all coaches do it. You’re trying to put
players into situations that are going to try to help you to win games or
help you in certain situations and momentum swings. Conversely, some guys
when you just don’t think it’s working, they don’t see the ice or they
don’t get the minutes. So those are decisions that we make every game.
You guys like calling them benchings and all that stuff, but as
coaches we’re trying to find a way to win a hockey game, and we make
decisions accordingly.
Q. How do you address your team’s recent trend of not being able to
capitalize on those strong Game 1 wins in these three series here?
COACH TORTORELLA: We don’t spend too much time. You have a
short-term memory come playoff time. Playoffs are a whole different
animal. We don’t spend too much time talking about streaks. We just spend
time trying to make corrections in our game, trying to be better in the
things we think we need to be better for our next game and go about our
business.
Q. Throughout the three series it seems that it’s been one up and
one down for most of the time. Do you think that’s because there’s so much
parity among these teams?
COACH TORTORELLA: Well, when you’re in the playoffs, all the teams
are good teams. If you want to use parity, use it. Again, as I said
earlier, you throw out the seedings. These are good hockey teams that are
playing this time of the year, especially when you get to the final four.
The teams must be doing something right. We do play against another team.
We want to try to win a couple in a row. But the other team doesn’t want
to lose a couple in a row. You play and each team is trying to find their
way.
We didn’t last night. We moved by it. We learned from it, and
hopefully we’re going to be a better team come Saturday.
Q. How much at this point when it comes to bouncing back from a loss
is Xs and Os on the part of you and your coaching, and how much of it has
to happen in the hearts and the minds of the players do they have to just
do it like you’ve been telling them and do it better, or do you change the
game plan to any extent?
COACH TORTORELLA: Well, at least this team here feels we like the
way our team concept is. We have a way we like to play. I think in
situations it’s different. If you’re asking about Saturday’s situation, I
think it’s both. I think there are some corrections in our game we have to
make, but I also think at this time of the year I know everybody likes
talking about adjustments.
But it simply comes down to a little bit of will and a mindset.
Going into Saturday’s game, I think we fall into both categories.
Q. Which category is it more so with Marian Gaborik for you? Is it
will or executing a game plan?
COACH TORTORELLA: I’m not going to get into individual players. I
think as you go into Playoffs and you go into the momentum swings of
winning a game and losing a game, it’s not one individual guy. Certainly
in last night’s game, it wasn’t one individual guy that we end up on the
wrong side of that. There are a number of things that we have to be better
at as a team, and certainly, as you said, the two perspectives there. The
Xs and Os and the mental part both come into our play come Saturday.
Q. You’re not going to talk specifically about Gaborik, but when a
guy like him, a goal scorer gets robbed the way he did by Brodeur. In your
history with goal scorers, does that stick in their mind and affect them
later on in the game?
COACH TORTORELLA: It can’t, and I don’t think it does. I think
that’s the greatest thing about these games in the playoffs is handling the
surges, handling situations that don’t go your way. I think the teams that
are still involved in this handle those types of things very well or they
wouldn’t be here. So I don’t look at it that way at all. I speak for
our group. I think our group handles the surges and situations that happen
in games. Whether it be within the team or an individual very well, or we
wouldn’t still be playing.
Q. Everybody knows that hockey is a team sport. But when you look
at the playoffs every team has a guy that goes on a hot streak. You guys
have been playing some good hockey collectively, but are you looking
forward to getting, especially on the offense, getting somebody that could
get to the other gear and get something going on a more consistent basis?
COACH TORTORELLA: I think as you’re involved in the playoffs and the
further you go in it, you’re looking for big plays at key times. We have
found our way. One of the most important ingredients for us to be
consistent and to be able to play at this time of the year is really to
play as a team and not have any one specific guy be the guy.
Having said that, you certainly want big plays at key times. I think
that’s what’s going to—I think that’s what determines a lot of the
winning and losing. Who made that big play. It’s not always an offensive
play, it could be a defensive play.
So to answer your question, I think it’s not just one person that
we’re looking to get hot. We’re looking for the group of them to continue
to play under our team concept, but also someone step up each and every
period or each and every game or a key time to make a big play, and I think
that’s where you find your way.
Q. Would you agree with me that you basically got those big plays at
big times on your defensive side of the game? Your defensemen have given
you, most of the game, some great plays at key moments, and it’s more on
the offensive side that you were not able to get it?
COACH TORTORELLA: Well, I think consistency-wise, yeah. I think
we’re looking to get more consistent offensively, at least with our
forecheck to develop some offense going into these two games here in the
series. I think a pretty important play last night is really a defensive
play.
I thought the second goal they scored at the end of the period to tie
it up was a really big play in that game, and that’s not an offensive play,
that’s a defensive play and we get hurt there.
So it could go either way. But certainly, as you play in these close
games, would you like to get a couple of goal lead and all of that. Both
teams would like to do that. So you’re certainly looking for some
offensive people to make big plays at key times.
Q. When you were reviewing the video of the game last night, you
talk about not playing enough minutes. How much credit do you have to give
to the Devils for taking some stuff away. And how much was your team for
not giving you that next gear?
COACH TORTORELLA: I coach our team and that’s all I’ll speak on. We
look for what we do, and we didn’t do for a number of minutes. I’ll put it
to you that way. We just didn’t do for a number of minutes in that game,
and that’s something that needs to be rectified.
Q. I was wondering when you get to this point in the playoffs and
the focus of the entire sport is on you and three other teams, I was
wondering if there were any additional measures you took as a coach to
block out distractions either for yourself or your players to make sure
that your voice is the only one that they hear?
COACH TORTORELLA: I think it’s very important that we’re concerned
about our locker room and what goes on in there. It’s not just listening
to me, it’s listening to some of the experienced people that have been
through some of this stuff. A lot of our guys are new at this as far as
playoffs, let alone playing in the third round.
So I think it’s very important that they listen to their teammates,
whether it be in between games or within the game itself, in between
periods. So that’s what we try to do.
We’re concerned about our locker room. We’re trying to close that
down and just take care of business ourselves there. We really don’t spend
too much time worrying about what you guys are speaking about, and that’s
certainly not trying to be disrespectful, but we certainly don’t.
We have a lot of things that we have in our room that we have to fix,
that we have to deal with, and really block out all the other stuff.
163 Comments
This team misses Erik Christensen!
LGR!!
Amen. If we had Christensen we might be able to match the Devils skill
“We Want Wolski” [Clap, Clap, Clap, Clap, Clap]
Manny, you got carped!
Carp
did you transcribe this already?
can i hire you to do my interviews?
a weeee bit longer, like 20-45 minutes but still what a turnaround!!!!
btw,
carped
are those rooting against their own team
confused
and think that we’ll get a top 10 pick in the draft again?
Prust sayin’
Please go back and watch the GTG. Gaborik got a terrible pass from McD, which was more of a pass to the Devils D man. He does his best but loses the puck battle and it gets deep again. Puck then gets back to the Debbie D man his is supposed to cover, he is w/in 3 feet away in the shooting late, attempts to block it standing up like most people do when they are already in position. The shot goes around him and deflected in.
2 other points:
1. If he lays out, the D man skates right around him for a clear open play.
2. If Gabby manages to block in his shin pads, he is off to the races.
Benching Gaborik had to substance in my opinion and hurt the team’s chances of coming back. He nearly scored twice earlier…
REPOST:
How do the numbers not prove it? 162 top 6 goals vs. 142? The Devils top 6 scored more than the Rangers top 6 (I’m not even including Zajac’s whopping 2 goals since he didn’t have much of an impact at season’s end).
Plus just looking at the names on paper, who would you rather have as your set of forwards in regards to goal scoring?
Parise – Zajac – Kovalchuk
Elias – Henrique – Clarkson
or
Hagelin – Richards – Gaborik
Kreider – Stepan – Callahan
It was on purpose, ilb! We were all in the middle of a heated hockey debate for once! Not even arguing about Ben & Jerry’s or Blonde, White, Female Models! We were talking about hockey and now it’s all over….
Statistically, whoever wins Game 3 will have a 68.75% chance of winning the series.
(Therefore, after running the numbers, I think we should win Game 3.)
No way Matt. No way does Gabby get a pass on that pathetic effort to clear the zone. No way.
Agree with you on the shot blocking part Matt, but disagree on the clearing attempt and the benching.
Jonny- Allow me to translate your lines
NJ Devils
All-Star-All-Star-Elite Scorer
Goal Scorer-Calder Finalist-100PIM, 30+ Goals
NY Rangers
Rookie-Conn Smythe-40G’s
Super Rookie-Sophomore-Mini Dustin Brown / David Backes
Gabby’s failure to block is debatable but beside the point, it was his soft play in failing to clear that is indefensible. Poor execution can be looked past but lack of effort cannot. Benching was appropriate.
Wow! Another late goal.
Looks like it’ll be SVK v CZE and FIN v RUS. Two good rivalries!
Thanks Manny. I hope all can understand what I was getting at.
Parise and Ilya Kovalchuk. I don’t think we really have anyone that can match either of those guys.
I thought they didn’t play with enough jam last night. It was disappointing. But, this team has earned my faith. I believe they will come out Saturday and we will see a much better effort from this team.
I was one of the people talking up Kreider before he got here. I had the good fortune of seeing him play in the 2010 beanpot tournament. He was so impressive there. I truly believed that his game and skill set was better suited to the pro game; because the kids he was playing with couldn’t really match his skill level. So far, he has been impressive. Thought he was the best forward out there last night for the Rangers! just amazing that he is playing at this level in the most pressure packed of situations. Just LOVE that he is getting power play time.
SHIFT BY SHIFT….
PERIOD BY PERIOD…
GAME BY GAME…
RANGERS IN 6!!!
Let’s go ahead and rank the top 6 forwards on each team.
1. Zach Parise;
2. Ilya Kovalchuk;
3. Marian Gaborik;
4. Patrick Elias;
5. Brad Richards;
6. Travis Zajac;
7. David Clarkson;
8. Ryan Callahan;
9. Adam Henrique;
10. Derek Stepan;
11. Carl Hagelin; and
12. Chris Kreider.
Doodie Foligno is as versed on hockey as Stan Fischler!
Manny, everyone knows that that is there strength. Rangers will win with D and Hank and getting timely goals.
Manny, Im sorry, but today’s Patrik Elias aint better than Richards. And Kreider has more talent in his left testicle than Clarkson could ever dream of having. Also, Zajac, I dont know what exactly he’s good at, if anything, but he is not better than a healthy Callahan.
I didn’t say the Rangers wouldn’t win. I am the guy screaming Rangers in 5! But in the last thread we were arguing who had better top 6 forwards. Obviously you can see who I think has the better 6.
I still think we will win because great defense stops great offense. Oh and we also have the best goaltender in hockey.
Tiki – Kreider has not played 1 regular season game. He hasn’t even played in the entire playoffs. You simply can’t rank him higher than last yet. He doesn’t have enough of a body of work.
Please re-order the list! I was trying to get the debate going.
Henrique and Zajac should be swapped.
Manny, I disagree. He’s already shown what he’s capable of, on the biggest stage. And he certainly has more talent than a lot of those on that list. And he’s been almost as productive, if not more, as Gaborik these playoffs. David Clarkson is a two bit bum.
... who apparently scored 30 goals this year.
In what universe is a piece of crap loser David Clarkson allowed to score 30 goals???
I must be having some sort of bad dream
So go ahead and rank them. The debate is super fun.
Clarkson had one heck of a year. 30 Goals and 138 PIM. That’s quite a combo.
And so far in this series: Clarkson > Gaborik
Is Zajac “all star” or “elite scorer”?
Zajac is above an all-star. He’s an elite all-star scorer. Also he hosts that Wheel of Fortune show.
I guess I over estimated his actual production.
I really like Zajac but … yeah. I’d have Callahan 6th on your list with that being the cutoff. Every guy below that line is flawed and you can start making arguments on potential and on-ice uncalculables and stuff like that. But I wouldn’t find a bottom halver I’d argue over a top halver.
(Clarkson is a “30 goal scorer” like Cheechoo is a “50 goal scorer”. Yes, it literally happened, but it was in the 100th percentile of his 100th percentile projections. I’d be pretty confident betting any part of my anatomy it won’t happen again. And that more of Clarkson’s goals went off parts of his anatomy than his stick.)
Incalculables would be the word I wanted there.
Yea I completely understand what you’re saying. I agree with it. I just ….I don’t know…..wanted to spark debate about the sport of hockey
So if we put Cally in the top 6 then we have 3 and 3. A Tie!
I have no idea when this whole debate about top 6 started at all. I was merely responding to Jonny D’s statement ( last thread, 2:13 pm) when he said: “The Devils are must (much, he meant) better than the Rangers when it comes to scoring”. The truth is, as a team, they are not. The Devils scored 228 goals vs 226 Rangers. What does it have to do with splitting it between forwards and D-men, or top 6? From a point of view of team scoring, it’s irrelevant. The goal scored it’s just that. It counts as the goal scored by a team at the end of the day, no?
I think we were just trying to take it a little bit deeper, ilb. Because we are all horrendously bored and wanted to discuss something because hockey games (that include our boys) are not until Saturday.
Manny, ummm, there IS a hockey game tonight, bud…..
ilb,
He said hockey games that include our boys. Y u no English?
So ilb is ignoring my post proving the Rangers scored more regular season goals than the Devils? Chico fan…
Don’t you start with me, Latona…I ain’t no Carp!
Admittedly, I may be able to read, but….
I saw it, LW….Even from my simplified point of view (puck crossing the goal line, and it counts), the difference still was negligible, 0.88%
And, again, the teams are tied 1-1. Rangers scored 5 goals, the Devils 3. Why would one not count an EN and the goal scored by a defenseman (in that case it’s 3-3), is puzzling. It’s still 5-3. Why don’t we discount a goal scored by Kreider too (rookies don’t count)?. Now it’s actually 3-2 Devils.
Borsalino!
Well, hello? Monologue time?
Because it’s fun getting you to say borsalino, ilb!
I think I’m going to take my wife to some good restaurants in Essex County over the next few days, maybe I’ll see a couple of NJ players so I can jinx them too.
I want Zach Parise on my team right now!!!
I’ll take Kopitar too!!
1. Chris Kreider
2. THE Kreider
3. Mats Zuccarello
4. hobbit wizard
5. Jerry York’s Golden Boy
6. Jesus Kreider Superstar
7. Frodo From Modo
8. Little Italian Kid From Norway
9. Jesus H. Kreider
10. Lord of the Rink
I don’t even know what that list represents…but I like it!
Maybe its me…but isn’t it amazing how much we talk about Bickel- when he plays so few minutes-(a lot happens in those few minutes- mostly bad)- but I got the feeling that Torts put Bickel on Clarkson to try and instigate a fight on the faceoff leading to the winning goal- Clarkson would have none of that (he probably has the numbers of the players he WILL fight written on his wrist and Bickel’s wasn’t there- its a short list both literally and figuratively) Perhaps next time you might want to put him out as a forward with such an assignment- especially in a tie game. Gaborik got what he deserved- I can’t imagine playing that soft-giving the puck away- and not doing everything I could possibly do to prevent a goal-if I’m supposed to be one of the leaders of the team. Compound that with giving up the goal to the fourth line- well… Game 2 isn’t the worst time to send a message to the whole TEAM that no one is going to be a passenger. If I can see the play watching on NBC sports net (where nothing is easy to see)- surely every guy on the bench saw it. Continuing to play him sends a message as well too…just not one you want you’re young kids to learn.
Love that torts tge jackwagon was the story today and not the thuddd of a game the boys played last night. Still thuddd and all they almost won. When we see the utter domination at the rock Saturday we will all breathe easier. This reminds me of 97 when the rangers got thumPed game one in Philly, eked out a win game two and then got exposed game three and four in Philly. Of course we all remember what happened to the phlys in the final against Detroit that year (nyr being phlys in this case).
Except games three and four were at msg—hence the devils being the home team is like us in 97
Uggghhh neither of those two comments were particularly uplifting. Man I am still totally bummed from last night
Apparently, Tom Renney is available. Rangers PR anyone? I think he would be very forthcoming with the media, to be quite honest with you.
Well, Torts seemed to answer a lot of questions in that call – I guess he just wants to do things on his own terms, and not when he’s ticked off after just losing a game.
I’m still bummed today too, PBR – losing to the NJD is always aggravating, but losing to them at home in the playoffs is even worse. Especially when we had a lead in the game, and winning last night might have shortened this series, though there’s no guarantee of that.
a quick hell
then back to work
and dinner
and work
Ilb,
You’re right. Renney was a great PR guy.
However, the last time Renney was associated with anything that is New York Rangers, Nigel Dawes kept a job much too long, Petr Prucha’s career was frozen more solid than the box of Bubba burgers I just picked up (mmmm…) and Kevin Weekes was the starting goalie three times!. Yes, two separate injuries, and Renney insisted Weekes was “My guy” when he came back despite glistening stats posted by Hank in Weekes’ absence.
I don’t know how much I can handle anything Renney associated with any part of this organization
Id take Renney back in a heartbeat. Not saying to get rid of Torts though so dont crucify me.
i understand that the writers are looking for some quotes to put in a story
and/or blog entry
but
i really can’t blame Torts, especially last night when he was asked
such obviously dumb questions from all.
c’mon Stan!!!
yes, he was probably trying to make the story on that and not the team
at the same time he’s as angry about the game as we were
as far as being professional
would the media have give him nothing but praise if he ripped into Gabby?
same w/ other players?
which i think is basically what some of them wanted.
not the REGULAR media who have been following the Rangers during the year
and know what’s not worth asking and know that they’ll get more interesting
quotes from the players (as it should be)
as far as fans needing to know
i would have liked someone to ask Cally
why is it that the team doesn’t seem to get up for devils games as much as the
devils get up for Rangers games?
seems legit to ask based on last night and past games.
i’m not gonna get in the middle of the whole forwards discussion
but
i will say this
that our guys NEED to step it up.
period
end of story
we keep running into a gritty forward making that playoff type of score in
neil, chimera, clarkson
and
we NEED to be doing that on a more consistent basis.
as much as i’ve appreciated what they’ve done this season
i know what they’re capable of
and hope that they start making life more difficult in the devils zone
and making quicker and better decisions in their zone
I bet OvechCANT would love to be coached by a guy like Renney. Who knows, maybe even Semin would return. They can replace verbal abuse with light ass slaps and motivational words.
a quick hell? well, at least it was fast jpg :)
hockey talk? hockey talk! oh my!!!!
Good points, jpg – some reporters seem to only poke at Torts with questions that might get him to badmouth his team or the league – he’s done it vs. the league a few times, and it has cost him a lot of bucks.
I’m glad that he doesn’t badmouth the team or individual players that might not have had such a great game. He protects his team and its members – it’s not his job to provide juicy controversial quotes for the press corps.
Manny are you seriously saying Clarkson is better than Callahan? Are you on drugs?
From the talk on here and other places you’d think we were down 0-2 or on the brink of elimination.
“Apparently, Tom Renney is available.”
What about Pearn & Pelino? We need to reunite the Trifecta of Mediocrity!!!!
Renney could be the first-ever assistant coach in charge of post-game interviews.
RIP, Donna Summer!
i don’t know who did say that clarkson is better than Cally.
i’m not and i won’t
but
unfortunately Cally
like other Rangers needs to step up a bit more
i’m thinking that the extra day of rest should help.
btw,
if it is a broken finger
i’m wondering if it just keeps breaking each time he plays
or
why they don’t put him in a hyperbaric chamber to possibly
move things along a little quicker
(btw, i don’t know if that would work with bones or other parts of the body
but i do recall that either the stars or canucks used it and felt it helped.
any port….)
Renney for PR coach, lmao
i can see Renney giving PR lessons to Torts lol.
is Sullivan a serious candidate for Washington’s coaching position?
Is Cookie Monster a serious candidate for the Edmonton job?
jpg it is supposed to speed up healing . . . . so I would think it would help with bones but I think it is something done in repeated visits for a few hours at a time so they could be doing it already. . . or it could be to short a time frame to see a difference.
exactly! Jorek
don’t know if other teams started doing it
but unless there’s information to the contrary
i can’t see why they wouldn’t be doing that
especially during playoffs
when banged up players need to be “healthy” asap
ORR,
What implications will the passing of Donna Summer have on NYR?
CARP, please use this image (I made it) in your next post: http://postimage.org/image/shag49gdd/
Renney = Nice man. Not the worst coach but definitely not a guy with the stones to take a team to
the promised land. Much, much more focused on being liked and admired than winning.
And let us not forget, the biggest proponent within the or-gan-EYE-zation for the Hugh Jessiman pick, which was the equivalent of walking into a whorehouse (that 2003 draft) with a fistful of hundred dollar bills and finding a way to NOT get laid.
“which was the equivalent of walking into a whorehouse (that 2003 draft) with a fistful of hundred dollar bills and finding a way to NOT get laid.”
ABSOLUTE CLASSIC
Miami, that kinda looks like John Scott
Latona, we will be playing Last Dance when we send the Debbies home.
Nasty and Carp…LOL!!
Miami…..you are such a pimp :)
Anyone see the people standing during the game to clap? Save that crap for Carolina or Florida, we don’t need that stuff at MSG !
Rangers in 6…still!
CARP: Use my Cookie Monster pic (link above)
oh my goodness. I can’t worry about this now, but ultimately I may boudreau…..There are so many reasons why this ticks me off…..but I can’t worry about this now…..I am following the Yev way….
oops…..forgot link….duh!
http://tinyurl.com/79×8atn
Just had the pleasure of seeing FiveFootZero again at our daughters gymnastics. We were talking Playoffs when some guy came out of nowhere and goes on to tell us that he hopes both the Rangers and Devils lose and that he is a Bruins fan.I wish I could have Carpd the guy as soon as he opened his mouth. After he walked away I asked her if she knew him. When she said she didn’t, I went on to say what I really felt about his butting in to our conversation. We had a good laugh about it and both agreed that the Rangers still got this series.
It cracks me up to no end how you guys finally figured out who you were…..I think FiveFoot could have, and should have taken him on…..but not in front of the girls, I guess…..:)
I think she should have as well. The guy was a Grade A, D Bag. No other way to put it. He wandered from group to group the whole night making each of us a little bit dumber for having listened to him.
Ilb, I was talking about forwards, but you do make a good point. I just feel like you can rely more consistently on forwards scoring than d-men.
Also, torts doesn’t talk to the media because they are going to spin his words anyway. Carp isn’t guilty of it, but plenty of other guys (Brooksie and Gross) love to take what he says and spin it negatively anyway just to get a story.
If he says nothing, it’s up to them to find a way to make it negative. I know I’d be pissed if I was him too. You try to develop a relationship with these guys and no matter what, they throw you under the bus.
kings 5 yotes 2. series is over
the garden had a diff feel last night then game 1. something was missing right from beginning.
Devils fan at work looked smarmy today. I don’t think that win means what he thinks it does. By the way by devils fan I mean he is the one devils fan. Can the rangers just steamroll the next three please?
Hospodar go use that language somewhere else.
Carp, don’t you think it would be more efficient to just say “elsewhere”? Such diction may be too sophisticated for you, however.
Latona! Between her, and Kennedy killing herself, NYR’s screwed!
Carp, I hear ya and I am taking a ten minute misconduct.
Hospodar’s point was colorful and right on the mark. Jessiman was a mistake, now in hindsight.
ya think?
Latona, starting troube?
Best pick ever….Stefan cherneski.
Or al montoya
I know some folks out there get ticked by the Report language rules, but I for one love it!
if you don’t….take your hartnelling carcillo elsewhere!
ORR, really? Don’t go there on the Kennedy thing….horrible story….
and a cheap borsalino…..
I don’t want Renney the hyena anywhere near this team. I don’t want his influence on anyone. He was a brutal brutal coach who had no clue how to develop young players.
Said a whole lot of nothing without saying anything in 1000 words. His worst moment was when after the Rangers lost like 9-3 to someone, he said in his post game press conference that the Rangers gave that team something to think about. It was laughable. He was the worst snake oil salesman I have ever heard .
Prust sayin’
Oilers are going to be a damn good team soon enough. So much young talent, and they have a first overall pick. Lucky fuggers!
How about Christian dube
1-0 Yotes
KING ANZE KOPITAR!! WOW!
Like the ranking of forwards but honestly Manny if you’re going to go with “Clarkson has been better than Gabby in this series” then everyone is right not only should Kreider be higher on the list he should be #1 as he leads everyone in scoring. Also you are ranking Clarkson ahead of a now injured Callahan but when both are healthy Cally is a much, much better player and probably still is right now . Based on the regular season and the playoffs:
1. Parise
2. Kovalchuk
3. Richards
4. Gaborik
5. Elias
6. Callahan
7. Henrique
8. Stepan
9. Clarkson
10.
He’s so underrated
LOL! Morris just saved a goal without trying.
CARP … USE THE POWER OF THE COOKIE MONSTER IMAGE IN YOUR NEXT BLOG:)
Great. Second intermission. Tied 1-1. Now they can further discuss the Torts press conference and the Gabby benching.
Guys, you are on national tv yourselves. Talk hockey. Forget the BS already.
What Nasty said!
Kings! 2-1 King!
I hate these two days off…
What Nasty said is true…total weirdo. I have never seen this guy (and my daughter has been going there for 3 years). He comes up to us like he knows us and says “so you guys are probably talking hockey”. Turns out hes like the Bruins…weirdo.
If he was holding a shoe, then it was probably Milbury.
I’m looking at the Kings and I just don’t see the Rangers passing this round, unfortunately. The whole “finding a way to win” deal will only take you so far, IMO. At some point or another, gonna need some skill. This is a sad realization.
Poor “Rangers west” – they can’t seem to do anything right in this series..
Nice DDT by Doan
Wow, some luck for them RangersWest indeed
The Rangers are going to need some rest to beat the Kings.
Assuming they make it that far of course
ORR, DDT?
Man, Alyssa Milano still lookg pretty damn good.
Ugh! Channing Tater. His movies are awful. I liked our “celebs” better.
Jimbo, it’s a wrestling move.
MA-donn!! Break up the Kings!!
Wrestling, ORR? Pro or college?
Alyssa still looks very good! Always a hottie!
Wow! Vrbata slashed that guys stick after the puck went passed him. Dumbass.
Jimbo, the one where they wear tight spandex and have funny names, and are overly dramatic.
Kings win! Poor Yotes
Unreal! Just unreal!
Kings stole our streamers! Bastards!
That last three minutes by LA was just something else. That wouldn’t happen to the Rangers would it?
Oh, ORR – OK – that’s the only kind I ever watched (the other one creeps me out – looks too much like they’re groping each other!) but I never saw a “DDT”...
Amazing playoff performance by this Kings team..
Anybody seriously believe this team would be where it is right now – seven wins from holding Lord Stanleys cup -without Torts at the helm?
It’s that move the drug addicted wrestler with the snake used to do!
I don’t dig any sport where you’re allowed to put your fingers inside a guys poop loop. That’s apparently legal! Gross!
Nope, not me educator. It’s Torts that brought this together.
Kings really look good.
OY!!! ORR – too much information! I didn’t need to know that!
Ah – “Jake the Snake”..I do remember him…
JR—“Phoenix has LA where they want them”
Tippett in the postgame – what’s he gonna say?
Dave Tippett—“we’re not generating enough” Really? Isn’t 8 SOG in the last two periods good enough?
Dude, you’re cooked. Get the golf clubs ready.
He clearly doesn’t want to get whomped with fines like Torts…
Unfortunately, for the NHL, this west series sucks. After such a great first round, a very good second round, this is anti-climactic.
Yep, Jimbo, Torts he ain’t.
So, LA will have a week off to watch the eastern conference series.
Uh, let’s be real.
Correct, Matt – he did say something there, though – but he couched it in empathy for the officials, not being able to tell a real offense from embellishment…
Seems like the whole league has been watching Mary-O Lemieux tapes and tricking those wascally wefs! (as Lou LAM would say..)
Torts is the Billy Martin of Hockey. Young players accept his screaming and criticisms (for a couple years,) bust their butts and improve – wealthy, talented fat cats either tune him out or won’t even sign here. Richards was offered so much money, he would have played in Iran for that paycheck.
Iran!!! That may be an embellishment, too!! ;-)
>>So, LA will have a week off to watch the eastern conference series.
That’s what happens when you have the talent to take care of your business early.
Can the Rangers sign Pah Ray-Z before Saturday’s game? I’ve heard he has serious street cred.
>>I hate these two days off…
I hate how American television gets to dictate when matches are played.
Is it specifically American television? I’m not disputing the statement, I just don’t know the answer.
I’m bummed out that they have to play on Saturday afternoon – I have two commitments to get through on Saturday afternoon, so I won’t be able to see the game. :-(
Occupy the pebble.
Espo, he took less money to come here…...
I think Torts is the Torts of hockey. From what I’ve read there seem to be a lot of players who would like to play for him. I’m sure their are players who hate or would hate to play for him—but that just like anything else. It takes all kinds.
No matter what you all say, if they don’t do something about their horrible passing game, it’s gonna be end of the line.