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Rangers Vs. Panthers: The Actual Glass Effect

  • We’re going to start with a few Tanner Glass notes. If you don’t want to read about these and just want to get on to the game stuff, skip ahead a few notes.
  • Glass finished the game with a goal and an assist (his first multi-point game as a Ranger and first since 2014). He also finished with a 52% corsi, a critical screen on the Nick Holden goal and played well. If he played HALF that well through his career in New York there would be no complains about him. But big props to him Tuesday night. If there’s more of that until Jesper Fast and Michael Grabner comes back then it’s a good thing.
  • On “hating” Glass. I don’t hate Glass. I doubt any of the credible bloggers who go after him do. This has always been about Glass the player, but even so it’s been more than that. It’s about Alain Vigneault and his blind spots. Yes, Glass delivered last night. Objectively you’d have to admit that 90% of the time (honest number) he hurts more than he helps. That shouldn’t be an insult to him, it’s the result of a ridiculously competitive league. The annoyance and frustration comes when guys who are younger, skilled and have a much more important long-term outlook are sitting in favor of him. It’s the same thing with Dan Girardi. It’s the same thing with (right now) Kevin Klein. Vigneault loves his veterans at an expense of better, younger players. This is a round about way of me saying criticism thrown at Glass is driven more at Vigneault than the coach. Or at least it should be. Point out that it worked Tuesday is like hitting with 20 on blackjack 100 times, busting the first 99 and then when you get the ace the final time screaming “I’M A GENIUS.”
  • I didn’t anticipate writing about him at all before the game. Like I said in yesterday’s notes: I’m not going to complain about his inclusion in this lineup so long as he’s playing for Matt Puempel and Brandon Pirri. The minute, however, it happens at the expense of Pavel Buchenvich and Jimmy Vesey? Then I have a problem with it. And I think you should, too.
  • By the way. Honestly and genuinely happy for Glass. Not even because he’s a Ranger. Can’t say enough about the kind of teammate he is and person. Plus, at one point his twitter picture was of him hugging a walrus.
  • Final Glass note: Watch this and enjoy. /
  • Anywho, the Rangers played a much more complete game than the disaster Monday night, although once again the goalie had to stand on his head. This time it was Henrik Lundqvist, who was just as good as Antti Raanta the other night. That toe save at 1-0 in the first? *kisses fingertips*
  • Rick Nash continued his beast mode self. Most of you heeded my warning of not complaining about him and I say thank you. Say thank you big-big. (I’m about 85% of the way through Stephen King’s The Dark Tower Series — which you should read -- and it’s infected my writing and thoughts.)
  • Chris Kreider — who scored on a deflection of a Steven Kampfer shot — was also in beast mode. Kreider had a few other breakaway chances that got stopped, but he’s adding to his career totals left and right. So is J.T. Miller, who had an assist on the first Glass goal.
  • Kevin Hayes scored another goal. His 16th of the year. Without Grabner Hayes and Miller have sort of had a drop off, but both of them had spectacular efforts against Florida Tuesday night.
  • On that (lazy) Hayes goal, Brady Skjei recorded his 29th assist. Skjei continues to prove me to be an idiot. Some Skjei notes: /
  • I think we’re taking for granted how good of a rookie year Skjei is having.
  • Lot of hate for Derek Stepan because he’s not putting up points but I really do think Stepan is a centerpiece for this team. “You don;t pay him that much for defense, blah, blah” but Stepan is a hell of a player. He does a lot and will still finish with close to 60 points this year.
  • Thank god Pavel Buchnevich scored the empty netter. With the way he’s played the past two games he’s earned that goal.
  • I have not noticed Brandon Smith at all since he came to New York. This is an enormous compliment. /

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