Ya almost knew last night was going to happen. Even if you tried not to think about it all day.
After posting 1-0 shutouts in 2 of their past 3 games, and scoring only 1 goal in the other, the Rangers got an unfortunate dose of their own medicine last night, losing to the Buffalo Sabres last night, by that exact same score, at HSBC Arena. The loss couldn't have come at a worse time either, as it allowed Buffalo to not only tie the Rangers in points at 87, but also slip past them back into 7th place in the Eastern Conference, due to the regulation wins tie breaker. And with Carolina beating Montreal, 6-2, it also allowed the Hurricanes to close to within 3 points of the now 8th place Blueshirts, but keeping them only 2 points back of the Canadiens for the 6th seed, with a game in hand. So, if there is a silver lining to last night, that would be it folks.
Not the way you wanted the night to go, if you root for the Boys in Blue.
It makes tonight's game against the Islanders at Nassau Coliseum, all the more important for the Rangers. After that, they will have only 4 games remaining. 1 against Philadelphia, whom they have beaten just once this season. And 1 against the Boston Bruins, whom, let's be honest, they will NOT shut out 1-0 again. After that the Thrashers come to town, and then there's the Devils, who at only 1 point away from elimination, would like nothing more then to deal a crushing blow to the Blueshirts on the last day of the season, at Madison Square Garden.
A win tonight is a must. No two ways about it. And don't expect the Islanders to lay down. They ALWAYS play the Rangers hard, and like the Devils a week from this coming Saturday, would LOVE to help trigger a Blueshirt collapse.
Win tonight, boys. Don't take the Islanders lightly, score more then 1 goal in a game, and don't even THINK of starting Chad Johnson.
Just win.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
With Playoffs in Sight, Rangers Look to Lower Magic Number...On Their Own
Thanks for nothing Washington.
After getting little help from the other teams last night, outside of Toronto beating Buffalo, the Rangers will have to help themselves tonight. They return to the ice after a well-deserved 3 day break, for a 7 pm tilt against those same Buffalo Sabres, at HSBC Arena. The Boys in Blue are in the midst of their best stretch of the season, collecting 13 out of a possible 14 points during a 6-0-1 stretch, and currently sit in 7th place in the Eastern Conference, with 87 points. They are 2 behind the Canadiens, who moved back into sole possession of 6th last night, after defeating the Atlanta Thrashers, 3-1.
Hopes of possibly clinching a playoff spot Thursday night against the Islanders, ended with Carolina also winning last night, keeping the Blueshirts magic # at 8. However, if all goes well the next few nights, they have a chance to wrap up a spot by this weekend, provided they beat the Sabres tonight, and Carolina loses to, hey, guess who? The Canadiens!
These games become more and more important with each passing day.
That is why it is extremely important that the Rangers don't let up now, and also not count on other teams to do their dirty work for them. Last night proves how quickly things can change. They went from a chance to move ahead of Montreal tonight and close within 1 of point of 5th place Tampa Bay, to back to 7th. A loss to Buffalo tonight will put them back into 8th. A win tonight, and some help from other teams, will put things back to the way they were yesterday morning. But first things first, take care of your business, and let the rest, hopefully, fall into place.
Henrik Lundqvist will make his 21st consecutive start for the Blueshirts tonight. The King is, once again, doing what he does best when it comes down to the stretch run...finishing strong. He has 2 shutouts in the last 2 games, adding to his league best 11, and has given up just 1 goal in the past 3 games. Don't think that Chad Johnson is going to see the ice for a start anytime soon.
This will be a tough one tonight. HSBC is going to be packed to the gills, the crowd will be antsy, and Buffalo is going to be hungry for a win after losing to the Maple Leafs last night. Nothing less than their best effort will get the Rangers the necessary 2 points they need tonight. Hopefully, they won't be too rusty after 3 days off.
The push for the playoffs continues tonight.
After getting little help from the other teams last night, outside of Toronto beating Buffalo, the Rangers will have to help themselves tonight. They return to the ice after a well-deserved 3 day break, for a 7 pm tilt against those same Buffalo Sabres, at HSBC Arena. The Boys in Blue are in the midst of their best stretch of the season, collecting 13 out of a possible 14 points during a 6-0-1 stretch, and currently sit in 7th place in the Eastern Conference, with 87 points. They are 2 behind the Canadiens, who moved back into sole possession of 6th last night, after defeating the Atlanta Thrashers, 3-1.
Hopes of possibly clinching a playoff spot Thursday night against the Islanders, ended with Carolina also winning last night, keeping the Blueshirts magic # at 8. However, if all goes well the next few nights, they have a chance to wrap up a spot by this weekend, provided they beat the Sabres tonight, and Carolina loses to, hey, guess who? The Canadiens!
These games become more and more important with each passing day.
That is why it is extremely important that the Rangers don't let up now, and also not count on other teams to do their dirty work for them. Last night proves how quickly things can change. They went from a chance to move ahead of Montreal tonight and close within 1 of point of 5th place Tampa Bay, to back to 7th. A loss to Buffalo tonight will put them back into 8th. A win tonight, and some help from other teams, will put things back to the way they were yesterday morning. But first things first, take care of your business, and let the rest, hopefully, fall into place.
Henrik Lundqvist will make his 21st consecutive start for the Blueshirts tonight. The King is, once again, doing what he does best when it comes down to the stretch run...finishing strong. He has 2 shutouts in the last 2 games, adding to his league best 11, and has given up just 1 goal in the past 3 games. Don't think that Chad Johnson is going to see the ice for a start anytime soon.
This will be a tough one tonight. HSBC is going to be packed to the gills, the crowd will be antsy, and Buffalo is going to be hungry for a win after losing to the Maple Leafs last night. Nothing less than their best effort will get the Rangers the necessary 2 points they need tonight. Hopefully, they won't be too rusty after 3 days off.
The push for the playoffs continues tonight.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Fortunes Reversed - At Just The Right Time
Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden had all the looks of a typical let down game for the Rangers. And with me in attendance, sitting in section 421 of the blueseats with my buddy Steve, we were both quite sure that was exactly what was going to happen. After all, I did have an 0-2 record in the 2 previous games I had attended this season. And Steve, well..he just had a bad feeling.
But this Blueshirts team is clearly different at this juncture of the season, then the one I saw take on these exact same Florida Panthers back on January 25, the last game before the All Star break. This is a team, with not only a playoff berth in it's sights, but one that is playing it's best hockey since mid-January, and has no desire to go back to that team of almost 2 months ago. The one who's brutal February, almost knocked them out of the playoff race. And when Brandon Dubinsky scored the only goal in the Rangers 1-0 victory Tuesday night, it was quite possibly the loudest I've ever heard the Garden for a game. Maybe it was because it's late in the season, and the Boys in Blue are making a sudden surge up the standings, or maybe it was because it was just such a frustrating game at that point, that it was more out of relief from myself, Steve and the other 18,198 Ranger fans in attendance.
Whatever the case, the minute Dubinsky buried Ryan Callahan's nifty little feed to the low slot past Panthers goalie, Tomas Vokoun, the building absolutely erupted in jubilee. And even though there was still over 12 minutes left in the game, the mood went from waiting for that bad deflection goal that would have sent us all to the shut down escalators of the Garden in a really bad mood, to the countdown to Henrik's league leading 10th shutout of the season. And it sent us all into the streets of Manhattan joyfully chanting, "Let's Go Rangers!" as the Blueshirts won their season high 5th in a row, setting themselves up to take another huge step towards the 6th seed tonight, as they take on the Ottawa Senators at the same Madison Square Garden, minus the 2 of us, unfortunately.
With just 8 games remaining, and just 3 points separating them from the Montreal Canadiens, the Rangers brutal stretch of late January to early March appears to be behind them. But Ottawa is now playing the role of spoiler, and would love nothing more then to deal the Boys in Blue a setback, just like we were all fearing against the Panthers, Tuesday night. Hopefully, they will keep this mind when they take the ice at 7 pm tonight.
But this Blueshirts team is clearly different at this juncture of the season, then the one I saw take on these exact same Florida Panthers back on January 25, the last game before the All Star break. This is a team, with not only a playoff berth in it's sights, but one that is playing it's best hockey since mid-January, and has no desire to go back to that team of almost 2 months ago. The one who's brutal February, almost knocked them out of the playoff race. And when Brandon Dubinsky scored the only goal in the Rangers 1-0 victory Tuesday night, it was quite possibly the loudest I've ever heard the Garden for a game. Maybe it was because it's late in the season, and the Boys in Blue are making a sudden surge up the standings, or maybe it was because it was just such a frustrating game at that point, that it was more out of relief from myself, Steve and the other 18,198 Ranger fans in attendance.
Whatever the case, the minute Dubinsky buried Ryan Callahan's nifty little feed to the low slot past Panthers goalie, Tomas Vokoun, the building absolutely erupted in jubilee. And even though there was still over 12 minutes left in the game, the mood went from waiting for that bad deflection goal that would have sent us all to the shut down escalators of the Garden in a really bad mood, to the countdown to Henrik's league leading 10th shutout of the season. And it sent us all into the streets of Manhattan joyfully chanting, "Let's Go Rangers!" as the Blueshirts won their season high 5th in a row, setting themselves up to take another huge step towards the 6th seed tonight, as they take on the Ottawa Senators at the same Madison Square Garden, minus the 2 of us, unfortunately.
With just 8 games remaining, and just 3 points separating them from the Montreal Canadiens, the Rangers brutal stretch of late January to early March appears to be behind them. But Ottawa is now playing the role of spoiler, and would love nothing more then to deal the Boys in Blue a setback, just like we were all fearing against the Panthers, Tuesday night. Hopefully, they will keep this mind when they take the ice at 7 pm tonight.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Big Win Could Be a Springboard For Blueshirts
There was a moment last night during the Rangers 6-3 win over the Islanders, that they almost lost control. There was a moment when the season, and the playoffs, flashed at them, right before their very eyes. Kind of like the way one's life flashes before theirs when they have a brush with death. And that was what happened to the Blueshirts in the opening minutes of the 2nd period last night, at Madison Square Garden.
After taking a 2-0 lead in the first period on goals from Brandon Prust and Erik Christensen, the Rangers gave the lead right back to the Islanders on goals from Matt Moulson and PA Parenteau, in the first 4 minutes of the second period. All the momentum that the Boys in Blue had built, all the life in the building, had been sucked out.
But then the Rangers responded. And in the process, possibly saved their season.
About 8 minutes after the Islanders tied the game, Ryan Callahan, as he has all season long, put life back into the Garden, scoring his team leading 21st goal of the year, and putting the Rangers back on top, 3-2. The Rangers would go to score 3 more times in the final frame, on 2 goals from Marian Gaborik, and 1 from Bryan McCabe (his first as a Ranger). And as they put the final touches on their fourth win in the past five games, the Blueshirts moved back into sole possession of 7th place in the Eastern Conference, 2 points ahead of the Sabres, who lost to Carolina in Buffalo. The Rangers are now just 5 points behind the Montreal Canadiens, who also lost, and come to the Garden, Friday night, for a huge showdown that could not only determine seeding, but can either make or break the season. The Blueshirts have not beaten Montreal at all this season, so Friday would be a good time to change that. They also had not beaten the Flyers, before a 7-0 stomping over them, back on March 6th.
With just 11 games remaining in the regular season, this is the time for the Rangers to start putting space themselves and the other teams in the playoff hunt. They have only a 4 point lead over 9th place Carolina, who has a game in hand. But the 'Canes are not the problem here, the Devils are. And with another win last night, New Jersey is now only 8 points behind the Blueshirts, and moving up the standings virtually everyday. The Rangers need to do all that they can to ensure that the last game of the season (at the Garden, against the Devils), means nothing. Because if the Devils keep playing the way they are right now, it would not bode well for them.
Last night was huge. The Islanders always play the Rangers tough. No matter where they are in the standings. And the Rangers had a moment last night where they almost let the Isles take control of their season. A moment where their very playoff lives, flashed before their eyes.
But then, just as quickly as they had that moment where they almost lost control, the Rangers regained it very quickly, and possibly saved their season. We'll see if they can build off this, and start cementing their spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, come Friday night against the Canadiens.
After taking a 2-0 lead in the first period on goals from Brandon Prust and Erik Christensen, the Rangers gave the lead right back to the Islanders on goals from Matt Moulson and PA Parenteau, in the first 4 minutes of the second period. All the momentum that the Boys in Blue had built, all the life in the building, had been sucked out.
But then the Rangers responded. And in the process, possibly saved their season.
About 8 minutes after the Islanders tied the game, Ryan Callahan, as he has all season long, put life back into the Garden, scoring his team leading 21st goal of the year, and putting the Rangers back on top, 3-2. The Rangers would go to score 3 more times in the final frame, on 2 goals from Marian Gaborik, and 1 from Bryan McCabe (his first as a Ranger). And as they put the final touches on their fourth win in the past five games, the Blueshirts moved back into sole possession of 7th place in the Eastern Conference, 2 points ahead of the Sabres, who lost to Carolina in Buffalo. The Rangers are now just 5 points behind the Montreal Canadiens, who also lost, and come to the Garden, Friday night, for a huge showdown that could not only determine seeding, but can either make or break the season. The Blueshirts have not beaten Montreal at all this season, so Friday would be a good time to change that. They also had not beaten the Flyers, before a 7-0 stomping over them, back on March 6th.
With just 11 games remaining in the regular season, this is the time for the Rangers to start putting space themselves and the other teams in the playoff hunt. They have only a 4 point lead over 9th place Carolina, who has a game in hand. But the 'Canes are not the problem here, the Devils are. And with another win last night, New Jersey is now only 8 points behind the Blueshirts, and moving up the standings virtually everyday. The Rangers need to do all that they can to ensure that the last game of the season (at the Garden, against the Devils), means nothing. Because if the Devils keep playing the way they are right now, it would not bode well for them.
Last night was huge. The Islanders always play the Rangers tough. No matter where they are in the standings. And the Rangers had a moment last night where they almost let the Isles take control of their season. A moment where their very playoff lives, flashed before their eyes.
But then, just as quickly as they had that moment where they almost lost control, the Rangers regained it very quickly, and possibly saved their season. We'll see if they can build off this, and start cementing their spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, come Friday night against the Canadiens.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Tortorella Made Right Call Sitting Avery against the Sharks
All you Sean Avery fans out there, have a seat for this one. Cause as a long time defender of the man, I am about to throw him under the bus.
When the Rangers first traded for him back in the middle of the 2007 season, Sean Avery made an instant impact with the Blueshirts. He scored 20 points in 29 games, and his agitating style and ability to seemingly change the course of almost every game, fueled a 17-4-6 run that helped get the Rangers into the playoffs that year. And when he did the unthinkable, and got in the face of Devils goalie, Martin Brodeur, during a Ranger-Devil game shortly after the trade, it made him a crowd favorite. Night after night, there would be chants from the Garden rafters of, “Avery! Avery! Avery!”, and #16 became the most important player on the team next to Henrik Lundqvist, as the Rangers went on to the 2nd round of the playoffs that year, and Avery was a major factor in the Rangers 4 game sweep over the Atlanta Thrashers. He only scored 1 goal and 1 assist, but was constantly under the skin of Ilya Kovalchuk in that series.
Avery had a similar affect in the playoffs against the Devils the next season, as the Rangers defeated the Devils in the Eastern Conference Quarter Finals. Once again making his presence known, Avery scored 3 goals in the 5 game series victory, and employed his now infamous screening technique against Brodeur, while the Rangers were on a power play in Game 3, at the Garden. This led to the NHL issuing an interpretation of the league's unsportsmanlike conduct rule the next day, stating that any similar actions in the future, would result in a minor penalty.
But that was as good as it would ever get for Avery, who in all honesty has never been the same player since that series. Maybe he realized even he went too far in that game against the Devils. Or maybe it was the “sloppy seconds” comment the next season, when he was a member of the Stars, and the fallout that resulted in him being released by Dallas, and coming back to the Rangers, after he left as a free agent. Whatever the case, when John Tortorella made the decision to make Avery a healthy scratch for the first time this season, prior to Saturday’s 3-2 shootout victory over the San Jose Sharks, I, for one, applauded that decision. Avery has pretty much been invisible all season. And while he hasn’t hurt the Rangers, I can’t remember the last time he had a Sean Avery type game. He’s having the worst offense season of his career, and he is never in any goalie’s face anymore, and he hasn’t really pissed anyone off all season long.
Meanwhile, after being a healthy scratch for the past 2 games, Erik Christensen scored the game tying goal, late in the 1st period on Saturday. Clearly, Christensen took his time sitting in the stands to heart. Will Avery’s benching have a similar affect come tomorrow night, against the Islanders? We shall see.
If he’s not wearing a suit again, that is.
When the Rangers first traded for him back in the middle of the 2007 season, Sean Avery made an instant impact with the Blueshirts. He scored 20 points in 29 games, and his agitating style and ability to seemingly change the course of almost every game, fueled a 17-4-6 run that helped get the Rangers into the playoffs that year. And when he did the unthinkable, and got in the face of Devils goalie, Martin Brodeur, during a Ranger-Devil game shortly after the trade, it made him a crowd favorite. Night after night, there would be chants from the Garden rafters of, “Avery! Avery! Avery!”, and #16 became the most important player on the team next to Henrik Lundqvist, as the Rangers went on to the 2nd round of the playoffs that year, and Avery was a major factor in the Rangers 4 game sweep over the Atlanta Thrashers. He only scored 1 goal and 1 assist, but was constantly under the skin of Ilya Kovalchuk in that series.
Avery had a similar affect in the playoffs against the Devils the next season, as the Rangers defeated the Devils in the Eastern Conference Quarter Finals. Once again making his presence known, Avery scored 3 goals in the 5 game series victory, and employed his now infamous screening technique against Brodeur, while the Rangers were on a power play in Game 3, at the Garden. This led to the NHL issuing an interpretation of the league's unsportsmanlike conduct rule the next day, stating that any similar actions in the future, would result in a minor penalty.
But that was as good as it would ever get for Avery, who in all honesty has never been the same player since that series. Maybe he realized even he went too far in that game against the Devils. Or maybe it was the “sloppy seconds” comment the next season, when he was a member of the Stars, and the fallout that resulted in him being released by Dallas, and coming back to the Rangers, after he left as a free agent. Whatever the case, when John Tortorella made the decision to make Avery a healthy scratch for the first time this season, prior to Saturday’s 3-2 shootout victory over the San Jose Sharks, I, for one, applauded that decision. Avery has pretty much been invisible all season. And while he hasn’t hurt the Rangers, I can’t remember the last time he had a Sean Avery type game. He’s having the worst offense season of his career, and he is never in any goalie’s face anymore, and he hasn’t really pissed anyone off all season long.
Meanwhile, after being a healthy scratch for the past 2 games, Erik Christensen scored the game tying goal, late in the 1st period on Saturday. Clearly, Christensen took his time sitting in the stands to heart. Will Avery’s benching have a similar affect come tomorrow night, against the Islanders? We shall see.
If he’s not wearing a suit again, that is.
Friday, March 11, 2011
Consistency Needed
Much like the New York Rangers, I lack consistency. I am a good writer, much like the Rangers are a good team. But I could be so much better, if I would write more, stick with one website, and maintain a sense of consistency.
That is why, after 2 years (and writing for various websites), I am returning to my roots for the third time, which will hopefully be a charm for the The Gr8 Blue Blog. I opened this site a few years ago, with the hopes of getting my name out there, establishing a following, and taking that 1st step towards my writing career. However, a lot of variables led to me not sticking with it. Time was the biggest reason, also lack of a laptop to write whenever and wherever I wanted was another. Plus, I had just started a new job, was going through some life changes, and a lack of response to the blog discouraged me. I know, I know...any other excuse I can think of?? Anyway, so here we are 2 years later, I have the laptop, I have the time, the job is going well, and all the life changes are behind me. Plus, I am no longer writing in hopes of making my writing career take off. Now, I'm writing just to have some fun. So, no more excuses...let's just see where all of this takes us!
Ok...now that the long, drawn out re-re-RE-introduction is out of the way...let's talk some hockey!!
The Rangers...ahh yes, the Rangers...my passion, my drug, my poison...the team that will probably put me in the grave way before it's my time to go, return to the ice tonight, for a 10:30 pm (yeah, you heard that right..the night before we lose an hour of sleep, due to Daylight Savings..nice job schedule gods!) tilt, against the San Jose Sharks. The Boys in Blue are coming off a 5-2 loss to the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday night, and after an eye opening first half, in which they established themselves as a lunch pail, win at all costs group of overachievers, have hit hard times. They are hoping to get back on the winning track tonight.
Since they beat the Vancouver Canucks (who had the best record in the NHL at the time) back on January 13th, the Blueshirts are 9-14 over that span, have dropped from 6th to 8th in the Eastern Conference, and right now, are holding on to the final playoff spot by the skin of their teeth. With just 13 games remaining in the regular season, what was once a secure playoff birth, is now anything but.
I'm not gonna bore you all with stats, or keys to the game on this first blog. Not today. The bottom line is the Rangers needs wins. They need points. And they need to find consistency if they are going to avoid missing the postseason, for the second consecutive season. And it's not just one team they have to hold off, it's about 5, as they are now tied in points with Buffalo, with Carolina, Toronto, Atlanta, and the Devils (yes, those same Devils that were 27 points out in the beginning of January) all breathing down their necks. The sense of urgency could not be any higher, and the need for consistency, could not be any greater. The Rangers need to take the first step towards all of that, tonight at 10:30.
While most people will be rushing to get to bed tonight, for fear of not getting enough sleep, due to the clocks being turned ahead an hour, I, like most other Blueshirt fans, will attempt to conquer Mr. Sandman. Most hockey games take about 2 1/2 hours to complete, making the end time on a normal night for this game, around 1 am in the morning. Because the NHL decided to schedule this game tonight, this game will end around 2 am. I didn't last past the 1st period the other night against the Ducks, so who knows if I will make it tonight. All I know, is if I go to sleep with another loss, or wake up tomorrow and find out they lost, I will be a very miserable person. Do me, and my wife, a favor Rangers, please WIN.
Consistency. Something the Rangers lack in their game. Something I lack with my writing. I am attempting to establish mine starting with this blog, on this website, TODAY. Let's see if the Boys in Blue can do the same on the ice tonight, with the Sharks.
For those of you who are familiar with this site, I welcome your feed back. For those of you who are not, I welcome yours as well. My only request is that you please leave it in the comment section of this blog, not on facebook, and not on twitter. Look for announcements on when the blog is updated via twitter, and facebook. The next installment will include keys to the game, match-ups, links, probably me ranting and raving about something...all that fun stuff. But I just wanted to write today, get back in the swing of things with this blog, and share my feelings on the game tonight. And my feelings are, they better freaking win!!
Puck drops at 10:30 pm tonight, enjoy the game, and as always...LET'S GO RANGERS!!!
Follow me on twitter at:
http://twitter.com/#!/TheGr8Tony
Follow me on Facebook at:
http://www.facebook.com/people/Tony-Grater/1485975918
That is why, after 2 years (and writing for various websites), I am returning to my roots for the third time, which will hopefully be a charm for the The Gr8 Blue Blog. I opened this site a few years ago, with the hopes of getting my name out there, establishing a following, and taking that 1st step towards my writing career. However, a lot of variables led to me not sticking with it. Time was the biggest reason, also lack of a laptop to write whenever and wherever I wanted was another. Plus, I had just started a new job, was going through some life changes, and a lack of response to the blog discouraged me. I know, I know...any other excuse I can think of?? Anyway, so here we are 2 years later, I have the laptop, I have the time, the job is going well, and all the life changes are behind me. Plus, I am no longer writing in hopes of making my writing career take off. Now, I'm writing just to have some fun. So, no more excuses...let's just see where all of this takes us!
Ok...now that the long, drawn out re-re-RE-introduction is out of the way...let's talk some hockey!!
The Rangers...ahh yes, the Rangers...my passion, my drug, my poison...the team that will probably put me in the grave way before it's my time to go, return to the ice tonight, for a 10:30 pm (yeah, you heard that right..the night before we lose an hour of sleep, due to Daylight Savings..nice job schedule gods!) tilt, against the San Jose Sharks. The Boys in Blue are coming off a 5-2 loss to the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday night, and after an eye opening first half, in which they established themselves as a lunch pail, win at all costs group of overachievers, have hit hard times. They are hoping to get back on the winning track tonight.
Since they beat the Vancouver Canucks (who had the best record in the NHL at the time) back on January 13th, the Blueshirts are 9-14 over that span, have dropped from 6th to 8th in the Eastern Conference, and right now, are holding on to the final playoff spot by the skin of their teeth. With just 13 games remaining in the regular season, what was once a secure playoff birth, is now anything but.
I'm not gonna bore you all with stats, or keys to the game on this first blog. Not today. The bottom line is the Rangers needs wins. They need points. And they need to find consistency if they are going to avoid missing the postseason, for the second consecutive season. And it's not just one team they have to hold off, it's about 5, as they are now tied in points with Buffalo, with Carolina, Toronto, Atlanta, and the Devils (yes, those same Devils that were 27 points out in the beginning of January) all breathing down their necks. The sense of urgency could not be any higher, and the need for consistency, could not be any greater. The Rangers need to take the first step towards all of that, tonight at 10:30.
While most people will be rushing to get to bed tonight, for fear of not getting enough sleep, due to the clocks being turned ahead an hour, I, like most other Blueshirt fans, will attempt to conquer Mr. Sandman. Most hockey games take about 2 1/2 hours to complete, making the end time on a normal night for this game, around 1 am in the morning. Because the NHL decided to schedule this game tonight, this game will end around 2 am. I didn't last past the 1st period the other night against the Ducks, so who knows if I will make it tonight. All I know, is if I go to sleep with another loss, or wake up tomorrow and find out they lost, I will be a very miserable person. Do me, and my wife, a favor Rangers, please WIN.
Consistency. Something the Rangers lack in their game. Something I lack with my writing. I am attempting to establish mine starting with this blog, on this website, TODAY. Let's see if the Boys in Blue can do the same on the ice tonight, with the Sharks.
For those of you who are familiar with this site, I welcome your feed back. For those of you who are not, I welcome yours as well. My only request is that you please leave it in the comment section of this blog, not on facebook, and not on twitter. Look for announcements on when the blog is updated via twitter, and facebook. The next installment will include keys to the game, match-ups, links, probably me ranting and raving about something...all that fun stuff. But I just wanted to write today, get back in the swing of things with this blog, and share my feelings on the game tonight. And my feelings are, they better freaking win!!
Puck drops at 10:30 pm tonight, enjoy the game, and as always...LET'S GO RANGERS!!!
Follow me on twitter at:
http://twitter.com/#!/TheGr8Tony
Follow me on Facebook at:
http://www.facebook.com/people/Tony-Grater/1485975918
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
