They don’t need to change the lines….they need to adjust their game plan.

The players were well prepped for the first two games and executed their game plan flawlessly…

The Devils adjusted for game 3- and while they didn’t blow NYR away, they did manage to get NYR off what worked well the first two games AND they developed some momentum.

It’s the Rangers turn to adjust…but this has never been a strength of Gallant. Same thing happened vs TBL last year.

My guess is that the Rangers will find a way to survive this 1st round- but the coaches’ continued inability to make adjustments during and between games will eventually do this team in.

Yea agreed, but it seems like Gallant’s “game plan” is just mixing up lines haha

OR it's simply playoff hockey! Was & is an expected 6-7 game series. An extra day's rest will help us, another road W coming up...

Gallant can only coach them, he can't make them give 100% effort and play with the urgency and physicality needed to beat the Devils. That is on the players, and last night most of them looked like they didn't give a rats $#@ about winning or losing that game. Last nights loss is 100% on lack of team effort and unwillingness to play the style of game needed to win. They made life for a back up goalie as easy as possible and never got in his eyes or in his crease or in his face....meanwhile, how many times was Igor run into and flopped on by Devils players? If that's how they want to play, they better get the golf clubs ready to go.

But what coaching does he provide?
Mixing the lines to get better matchups? For sure that’s a part of coaching…but another part of coaching is recognizing what the other team is trying to do- and coming up with a plan to counter. He offers nothing of the such. After gaining the O zone with ease in games 1 and 2, NJD adjusted their D plan….as a result, time and again last night NYR had entries broken up at the blue line. So where is the Rangers’ adjustment? Or is it just to keep trying the same plays (that aren’t working) and yell at the players to try harder?

For sure the players deserve some blame. Especially the “stars” need to find a way. But I wouldn’t say they are not trying….it’s very easy to look listless when things aren’t going their way. But it starts with adjusting the plan. That’s on the coaches- specifically Gallant.

I'm not defending Gallant or the coaches, just pointing out that players need to perform. Gallant wants them to play a faster, more north/south game and a much more physical game than they have played the last two. All he can do is tell them to play that way, but if they don't listen and just do fly bys instead of finishing their hits, it's on them. Kreider looked like he was in hibernation last night. He cant score every night but the LEAST he could do is play physical. Jack Hughes was barely touched last night. How is that possible in a playoff game? He should be getting hit almost every time he touches the puck. Bottom line is the Devil players look hungrier and seem more willing to do what it takes to win the series. If a player can't self motivate for the playoffs, perhaps it's their own fault.

I do think Gallant makes awful decisions like taking Mika out of his spot on PP1

this is my point...he can demand faster play, more physical, more north/south, etc. But without changing the X's and O's of how to attack their deployed players where most vulnerable...the result is running full speed ahead into a Defensive structure which is ready to handle whatever you throw at them! The result? neutral zone turnovers and lots of frustration. Exactly what feeds success of the other team- especially a fast transition team like NJD.

As far as Hughes- I don't think it's lack of interest in hitting him. They covered him well the 1st 2 games...but NJD made their X and O adjustments to get him more space. The Rangers have yet to counter.

Agreed

Not arguing that, all of which is true. I am saying the Ranger players have shown a lack of the energy and effort needed the last two games IMO. They are not moving their feet enough and are getting out hustled, and as such are not playing with the physicality needed to beat the Devils. The Rangers biggest advantage is their physicality, when they use it. If the Ranger players need a coach to tell them to finish their checks and continue to hit and ware down the Devils, than they are in a lot of trouble. That should just be a gimmie.