Dennis Schneidler-Imagn ImagesWatching the Rangers play and then listening to their interviews post-game, The Maven is left with a pair of reactions:
1. They don't know what they're doing on the ice.
2. They don't know what they're saying to reporters post-game.
On the ice, we know that they got thumped by Tampa Bay 5-1 and that ruined a possible Ranger one-game winning streak.
Off the ice we listen to the players and wonder whether they know that they're simply full of applesauce with their analyses.
And if you don't favor applesauce then they are full of "persiflage," otherwise known as "light and slightly contemptuous mockery. Or banter."
Here's what I mean:
First, we start with the Blueshirts comments falling under the title: "Seems To Me I've Heard That Song Before."
Peter Laviolette: "We have to win games." By unofficial count, the coach has repeated that mantra, 4,310 times, give or take 100. (Not counting in his dreams.)
Artemi Panarin: "We've got to win games and we're not doing that." (At least Breadman gave us a little extra on which to nibble.)
More Breadman: "If we're playing like that – vs. Devils, Bolts – we'll miss that playoffs."(Now he's getting down to hard facts.)
Jonny Brodzinski: "We're not tying up guys in front." (Brodsy is giving his defensemen a needle.)
More Brodsy: "We've got to win out now. We need help too." (Now you're talkin', Buddy! But who's gonna help? Detroit? Don't make me laugh.")
Back To Pistol Pete: "We needed a second goal in the second (period vs. Bolts) and it never came." (Neither did the win.)
The Maven awards two wooden nickels to Brod and Bread for the Best Two-Word summation of their rudderless team:
Breadman: "It's terrible!"
Brodzinski: "It stinks!"
Perhaps the most accurate appraisal came by way of former NHL defenseman-turned-tv analyst, P.K. Subban discussing the Rangers' failed power play:
"The coach has to take responsibility!" And he doesn't mean Jon Cooper either!!