"It" also being the New Jersey Devils final-minute Game 7 upset to the Carolina Hurricanes, going from a commanding 3-2 lead to a shocking 4-3 defeat in the final 1:20.
Although the Devils finale may have been a bigger 'upset' the Rangers finale was more 'upsetting.'
If "it" has not fully sunk in, "it" will tonight at 7:30 PM for Metro-NY faithful when the Carolina Hurricanes, who the Devils shoulda taken down face, the Boston Bruins, a series that the Rangers shoulda played.
Sean Avery on his game and Tortorella:
"If the organization, my teammates and the coach are behind me, I have to play my game. For the first time I feel I have a coach who will make me a better player. I can't think of a coach I'd rather play for."
No kidding, Sean. We saw the dominant force you brought to Game 7. And we also know the Rangers are the team that turns Sean Bruce Banner Avery into the Incredible Hulk. (Avery has enjoyed career statistical years in New York, so far.)
Let's look at the numbers again, we have some time..
Rangers Record with Avery in the lineup: 61-26-17
139 out of 208 points in the standings (or average of 1.336 points earned per game(p/pg).
Now lets look at the Rangers record overall for the past 4 years:
Rangers 05-06: 44-26-12 (100 out of 164, 1.220 p/pg)
Rangers 06-07: 42-30-10 (94 out of 164, 1.146 p/pg)
Rangers 07-08: 42-27-13 (97 out of 164, 1.183 p/pg)
Rangers 08-09: 43-30-9 (95 out of 164, 1.159 p/pg)
This means that over the past four years, the Rangers have collectively taken on average 1.177 standing points out of each game (or about 96.514 points in the standings after an 82 game season).
Over Sean Avery's [hopefully] young 104-game career in New York, the Rangers have earned an average of 1.336 standing points out of each game (or worthy of a 109.552 point-season average).
I personally love the numbers game. With a large 'array' (like a 3-year campaign), we are able to really focus on what each cog brings to the Rangers machine. The Rangers have earned 13.5% more points in the standings from the line-up presence of Avery alone.
Sean might not be a super-star goal-scorer, but he is absolutely a winner, and the other backbone of this team (behind the King).
I mentioned in Center on Value that the blueprint to a successful team must be started from the foundation up. Foundation players being able to battle for pucks, protect the team, and give up less then the opposition can produce. After the foundation is set and the group is sturdy and confident with one another, then the luxuries can be added to rack up the goal count. These luxuries must compliment and be complimented by the foundation - otherwise you will just see single players attempting to win games (not possible, as we've seen, with this group of players.) The third element, that I did not really touch on, are the intangible players that don't really fit into either category.
These players include the pests and personalities of an organization. They are the players that can draw a double-team [leaving a man wide-open] merely by the number on their back. These are the players that will convince opposing players to lose their cool and take mindless penalties, get into their heads, and throw their games off.
These players will open up ice just by who they are. Sean Avery is at the top of the league in this 'statistic.'
Glen Sather managed to taint the Rangers image, didn't he, by pouncing on Avery's Contract immediately after Brodeur's nemesis was suspended, scolded, and waived by the Dallas Stars. The Stars are now responsible for a large portion of Avery's Contract, much like the (grrr) Washington Capitals were responsible for the bulk of Jagr's Contract during the majority of the Czech's superstar spotlight role on Broadway. Although it all worked out in the Rangers' favor (ie: costing the Rangers fewer dollars) to keep their statistically-biggest winner, Avery's Texas-antics covered up a group of MAJOR off-season mistakes by Sather in the summer of '08.
Let's hope the legendary NHL persona learned from his managerial mistakes last summer in the results he watched get boo'd on the Garden Ice all season. (Ie: keep Avery at all costs, and build scoring around our foundation players, damnit!!)
All Asics, Brooks, New Balance, and Nike Running shoes are 15% off! Huge selection!! Free Shipping!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment