Rangers flex their muscle
Posted by TimS on Fri, 10/10/2008 - 19:51
The second period was all Rangers, who used their size and muscle to go ahead 3-1 after a 1-1 first.
The Rangers were hitting and the Hawks got sloppy in the second. Keith, Skille and Bolland each had the puck on their stick before Voros scored at 5:15 to make it 2-1. Sopel and Keith didn't look good on Dubinsky's goal at 15:36.
It's way early, but against a big team from the Eastern Conference such as the Rangers, the Hawks look small. Rangers have five forwards 6-3 or bigger. Hawks have only Byfuglien.
Usually the only time he uses his size is when someone collides with him, or sometimes when he is in an offensive situation and is pursuing the puck. Once in a while he is near the net and his size is difficult to deal with by the opposing team's player. Big Buff is not going to ever help us much in the physical department. And never on the point on power play! His future bodes well if he can play with gifted offensive linemattes, since Byfuglien is capable of scoring goals. The additional speed in his skating this year is helpful but it is his lack of physical play that will likely prevent him from ever becoming a regual number one line winger. Here is a player with lots of skill and size but you only get a marginal return on his potential.
And Byfuglien playes like he's small.