Give Them Some Smelling Salt

Key Lime · Guru

Give Them Some Smelling Salt

Gravelbourger · Member

Ryder is one of my favorite players but he also the most predictable player too.....he never passes on an odd man rush. He seems to have lost his knack for loose pucks and rebounds. He needs an ugly goal to get out of his funk. Montreal's problem tonight was turning the puck over at TB's blue line. TB blocked 25 shots....start head hunting like Bouillion did and those guys won't be playing goalie long. Disappointing effort for such a big game. PP was powerless!

Key Lime · Guru

Gravelbourger wrote:

Ryder is one of my favorite players but he also the most predictable player too.....he never passes on an odd man rush. He seems to have lost his knack for loose pucks and rebounds. He needs an ugly goal to get out of his funk. Montreal's problem tonight was turning the puck over at TB's blue line. TB blocked 25 shots....start head hunting like Bouillion did and those guys won't be playing goalie long. Disappointing effort for such a big game. PP was powerless!

You're right and at the same time, a few other players need ugly goals to them out of their funk. They haven't been putting the puck in the net in their last three games but they have been getting scoring chances. Scoring chances don't neccasarily win you games though. We just don't capitalize on them. Like I said, this is cocerning. The Habs have the 3rd or 4th worst offense in their conference.

Desi · Senior Member

I think it's a mistake to pair up Ryder with Bonk and Begin. Ryder is a shooter. He works best for the team when the opposition has been drawn away from him by another forward, like a Koivu or a Kovalev. Ryder is great at getting open and firing off fast shots. He is not great at setting up scoring chances. When he is the only threat on the ice, he gets covered like an inflatable doll and smothered -- as he was in the TB game.

If we want Ryder to score, we need to pair him up with Koivu or Kovalev or Zednik or even Bulis. Otherwise, his offensive talents will continue to be wasted on what is essentially a checking line.

Les Canadiens sont la

habgirl · Guru

Even when Ryder gets open he seems to have brain cramps - shooting when on a 3 on 1???

He seems to have lost a lot of confidence, and I hope he gets it back. Yes, Ryder's a shooter but that move was crazy!

Desi · Senior Member

I don't blame Ryder for shooting in that situation. His only option was to pass to Bonk, who has no scoring ability. If I'm Ryder, I shoot before giving the puck away to Bonk. The other forward, Begin, was a little behind the play and partially covered. No way to get the puck to him. What I didn't especially like was that Ryder shot high, rather than keeping it low where a rebound might have occurred. But maybe he saw an opening up high and went for it.

Ryder is a true goal scorer -- one of the very few we have. I'll trust his judgment in these situations.

What I really want to see is Ryder put back on a line where his true talents as a shooter can be used. This business about creating four equal lines doesn't work in my opinion. By isolating one good player on each line and coupling him with two passers or checkers, all you do is make it easy for the opposition to stifle the one good shooter. Bonk and Begin, while they may be good passers, don't create openings for Ryder because they're not real scoring threats. As a result, Ryder is covered closely when he's out with them. No way for him to produce on that line.

Put Ryder back on a line with Koivu or Zeds or Bulis and you'll see his production go back up I think.

Les Canadiens sont la

Key Lime · Guru

Desi wrote:

I don't blame Ryder for shooting in that situation. His only option was to pass to Bonk, who has no scoring ability. If I'm Ryder, I shoot before giving the puck away to Bonk. The other forward, Begin, was a little behind the play and partially covered. No way to get the puck to him. What I didn't especially like was that Ryder shot high, rather than keeping it low where a rebound might have occurred. But maybe he saw an opening up high and went for it. Ryder is a true goal scorer -- one of the very few we have. I'll trust his judgment in these situations. What I really want to see is Ryder put back on a line where his true talents as a shooter can be used. This business about creating four equal lines doesn't work in my opinion. By isolating one good player on each line and coupling him with two passers or checkers, all you do is make it easy for the opposition to stifle the one good shooter. Bonk and Begin, while they may be good passers, don't create openings for Ryder because they're not real scoring threats. As a result, Ryder is covered closely when he's out with them. No way for him to produce on that line. Put Ryder back on a line with Koivu or Zeds or Bulis and you'll see his production go back up I think. Les Canadiens sont la

Ok but he should be placed alongside Pleks and Bulis not with Koivu and Higgins, Zednik should complete that line.

plouf · Guru

Desi wrote:

I think it's a mistake to pair up Ryder with Bonk and Begin. Ryder is a shooter. He works best for the team when the opposition has been drawn away from him by another forward, like a Koivu or a Kovalev. Ryder is great at getting open and firing off fast shots. He is not great at setting up scoring chances. When he is the only threat on the ice, he gets covered like an inflatable doll and smothered -- as he was in the TB game.

If we want Ryder to score, we need to pair him up with Koivu or Kovalev or Zednik or even Bulis. Otherwise, his offensive talents will continue to be wasted on what is essentially a checking line.

Les Canadiens sont la

I don't necessarily mind 4 lines depending on what kind of players you have, but I do agree that a guy like Ryder needs to be paired with a skater/stickhandler type like Kovalev or Koivu, even Zednik who creates space. I think Ryder needs to be on the top 2 lines to be effective, whereas Zednik, for example seems to do ok with Bulis and Plekanec. But I can see why Gainey must be frustrated by Ryder lately, missing everything....of course he's not alone (Zednik, Koivu, Bonk, you name it....there are a few guys in goal-scoring droughts)

heet_150 · Guru

plouf wrote:

But I can see why Gainey must be frustrated by Ryder lately, missing everything....of course he's not alone (Zednik, Koivu, Bonk, you name it....there are a few guys in goal-scoring droughts)

Can you name three players not in a drought? lol

Key Lime · Guru

heet_150 wrote:

plouf wrote: But I can see why Gainey must be frustrated by Ryder lately, missing everything....of course he's not alone (Zednik, Koivu, Bonk, you name it....there are a few guys in goal-scoring droughts) Can you name three players not in a drought? lol

I can name you one Simpson

heet_150 · Guru

Key Lime wrote:

I can name you one Simpson

Tough to be in a drought when you're not playing, eh?

plouf · Guru

heet_150 wrote:

plouf wrote:
But I can see why Gainey must be frustrated by Ryder lately, missing everything....of course he's not alone (Zednik, Koivu, Bonk, you name it....there are a few guys in goal-scoring droughts)
Can you name three players not in a drought? lol

Yikes....good question.
I guess Souray, Ribeiro and Higgins? That's a pretty sad little list.

Go Habs Go!

Key Lime · Guru

heet_150 wrote:

Key Lime wrote: I can name you one Simpson Tough to be in a drought when you're not playing, eh?

Being sarcastic...cause there's any players who are hoe besides Huet and Higs (eventhough he calmed down too)

heet_150 · Guru

Key Lime wrote:

heet_150 wrote: Key Lime wrote: I can name you one Simpson Tough to be in a drought when you're not playing, eh? Being sarcastic...cause there's any players who are hoe besides Huet and Higs (eventhough he calmed down too)

I was playing along with your sarcasm. Take a look at Spidey's game post for the who's hot/not. Little bit scary as to how Les Boys are playing in front of Huet these days.

Key Lime · Guru

heet_150 wrote:

Key Lime wrote: heet_150 wrote: Key Lime wrote: I can name you one Simpson Tough to be in a drought when you're not playing, eh? Being sarcastic...cause there's any players who are hoe besides Huet and Higs (eventhough he calmed down too) I was playing along with your sarcasm. Take a look at Spidey's game post for the who's hot/not. Little bit scary as to how Les Boys are playing in front of Huet these days.

I never read Spidey's game post before. Maybe I should from now on

heet_150 · Guru

Key Lime wrote:

I never read Spidey's game post before. Maybe I should from now on

He puts everything in. If you are a stats nut, those are the posts for you.