Players playing well but all the coaches?

After the New York Rangers dropped game 5 of their playoff series with the Ottawa Senators 1-0; coach John Tortorella continues to say that he thinks the team is playing well despite being shut out 1-0.

Yes I will admit I am not now and highly doubt I ever will be a fan of John Tortorella and his coaching methods or his people methods. What is passed off as honest in-your-face "you know where you stand with him" is actually just a bully in a nice expensive suit.

Coaching is about leadership, as well as about being a teacher and a tactician. To myself John Tortorella is none of that and that's why I think Paul MacLean is flat out out-coaching him and Mike Sullivan.

Tortorella has watched the Rangers drop 2 straight games and yet at his post-game press conference when Tortorella wasn't publicly lobbying for Chris Neil be suspended for his hit on Brian Boyle; Tortorella wants the world to believe that:

''I feel better about the team after tonight's game than a couple of wins,'' he said. ''We go to Ottawa and have to play the same way and keep banging away and see if we can score some goals.''

Yes Ottawa goalie Craig Anderson has played well and yes, Ottawa's defense has played well so then it is up to the coaching staff to find ways to overcome Anderson and the Ottawa defense.

What John Tortorella is failing to see that "play the same way and keep banging away" is playing right into Ottawa's hands.you It's not working so you need to find something that will or you should not be behind the bench.

If the Rangers cannot come back and beat the Ottawa Senators in this series then maybe the Rangers have the wrong guy running this team. Don't think for a second that all the good that was built up by this 109 point season will turn ugly really fast.

There will be people upset that the Rangers didn't trade for Rick Nash (sure take another scorer and turn him into a shot blocker) at the trading deadline. Toss in all those people who are finding themselves relocated as well as being hit for a lot more money for next season and you will have problems.

And right now John Tortorella should not be comparing Chris Neil's. It on Brian Boyle as anything close to what Raffi Torres did to Marion Hossa. It was a hockey play and Boyle got caught with his head down after firing the puck.

I don't see anybody hurt but sorry the only ways that Neil can hit Boyle in his head would be (a) if Neil did leave his feet, which didn't happen or (b) Boyle was looking down, which is what did happen.

You can't even compare this hit to Carl Hagelin did so coach enough come up with a way to win game six and seven.

Or you can also update your resume.

Only one prospect in action on Saturday night as Steven Fogarty (NYR 2011 3rd) and his Penticton Vees won game 2 of the Doyle Cup 1-0 over the Brooks Bandits.

Our thanks to Frazier Rogers the Director of Broadcasting and Media Relations for the Penticton Vees for the following:

As in game one, the Vees opened the scoring on the power-play in the first period. Wade Murphy scored his second goal of the series at 5:48, as he finished off a pretty passing play in close. Steven Fogarty walked skated in from the corner before firing a pass through the defenders legs and out front to Murphy, who put his shot through the legs of Jan Obernesser; the goal would stand as the game-winner.

The win gives the Vees a 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven series as now the series will shift to Penticton for the remainder of the series starting Tuesday night, with game 3.

For Fogarty it was another day at the office for him as it was more than just his offense as he was key defensively in keeping Brooks off the scoreboard.

(Tortorella courtesy of the New York Rangers, Fogarty courtesy of the Penticton Vees)