Inconsistency with Staal

Michael Obernauer at the Blueshirts Blog reports John Tortorella spent a good long while talking with Marc Staal along the boards after the official break of practice, discussing defensive reads and where Staal can better position himself to make those reads.

On Staal's play, Torts said...

“there’s just been some inconsistency there.

“He’s too important of a player for us and we’re just trying to get him consistent on the most important part of the puck right now, and that’s the defensive side,” Tortorella said. “So we’re just gonna slow down the process - we’re not taking anything away from him.

"We’re gonna keep him off the power play for a little bit. We just want to focus on one part of his game where that is at a more consistent level. This is all part of a process of a defenseman.”

...lots of opponents roaming free in the slot lately. Nice to see Torts address this.

Obernauer also has a nice piece on Brain Leetch, who was in the house last night, and Michael Del Zotto.