A lot has happened since my last post. The New York Rangers got to within 2 wins of the Stanley Cup Finals and brought a lot thrills this past season. Unfortunately they lost to the hated NJ Devils in the Eastern Conference Finals and yours truly was on the losing end of an ill advised bet that ended with me donning a black and red jersey as punishment. As if that wasn't punishment enough, after my skin finished melting, we had to endure ANOTHER lockout that almost wiped out another season. This has seriously been the longest off season EVER.
However, it wasn't all bad news. Along the way, the Rangers acquired what many people feel was the final piece to the puzzle in Rick Nash. Nash has spent his entire career in Columbus and has basically been a one man team over in No-Man's land having made the playoffs just once in his 9 seasons with the Blue Jackets. But in those 9 seasons, he has scored 30 or more goals 7 times, and 40 goals twice. He, along with Marian Gaborik, gives the Rangers 2 of the premiere goal scorers in the league and makes their offense that much more dynamic. The other good news this summer was Henrik Lundqvist. The 3-time Vezina Trophy candidate finally broke through this summer and took home the hardware as the best goalie in the league after posting career highs in Wins, GAA and Save Pct. He will obviously will be the key as the Boys in Blue attempt to take that next step in a year where many are predicting great things for them.
Breaking Down The Team:
Forwards:
While the focus of the offense will primarily be on Marian Gaborik and Rick Nash, that is not where it ends. Brad Richards first season in NY was a success as the former Conn Smythe Trophy winner put up 25 goals and 41 assists in season #1 with the Blueshirts. He will get the task of centering Gaborik and Nash, as well as play big minutes on the Power Play for the Rangers. This is your # 1 line. After that, you have Ryan Callahan coming off a 29 goal season in his first season as Rangers Captain. He, along with 3rd year Center, Derek Stepan, both showed they are creative play makers and will provide secondary scoring beyond the top line. This will be key as they will not be counted on to be the key contributors next to Gaborik, Nash and Richards. Carl Hagelin will look to build on a a strong rookie campaign in which he scored 14 goals and saw time on the top line. After scoring 21 goals his first season in NY, Brian Boyle predictably came back down to earth, netting only 11. That is a more realistic number for Boyle. His role, along with Mike Rupp, Aaron Asham, Taylor Pyatt and Jeff Halpern is more to use size to wear down opponents and block shots. Another player to watch is Chris Kreider, who will be making his regular season debut after a fantastic post season for the Rangers.
Defensemen:
The top 3 are the key to the Rangers shot blocking game. Marc Staal, Ryan McDonagh and Dan Girardi are good defensively, block a ton of shots and are not afraid to join the rush. One season after being in the dog house, Michael Del Zotto had an excellent year and appeared to be the puck moving defenseman the Rangers hoped for. Anton Stralman, Steve Eminger, and Stu Bickel round out the defense, and Matt Gilroy is also now back in the mix.
Goalies:
What more can be said about the reigning Vezina Trophy winner? Henrik Lundqvist took his game to another level last season, establishing career highs in Wins, Save Pct. and GAA. He will determine how far the Rangers go in the post season more so than any other player on the roster. Martin Biron is a good back up, but had trouble closing up his five hole late in the season. He will give Lundqvist the necessary rest, but is exactly what his role dictates. As the back up.
Coaching:
John Tortorella has established a culture here. This team has bought into the concept of the whole being bigger than the sum of it's parts. It's in their blood. It's in their make up. And every player that comes here is expected to do their part in sacrificing their body when necessary. That includes Rick Nash. His job is to score goals for sure, but he MUST not be afraid to be responsible defensively. Torts is not afraid to bench people not holding up their end of the bargain. So, welcome to NY, Rick Nash. Now get down and block a shot.
Outlook:
This team is ready. They have the system. They have the depth. They have the goaltending, the defense, the scoring. And now they have playoff experience. There is no excuses. The Rangers time is now. The only thing that can stop this team from accomplishing it's goal is itself. And Tortorella will do everything in his power to make sure that doesn't happen. So buckle up Rangers fans..this could be a fun year!
Saturday, January 19, 2013
Monday, May 14, 2012
10 Tips to Surviving a Playoff Series When Your Significant Other Roots for Your Most Bitter Rival
Alright…for those of you who don’t already know, yes…I am married to a Devils fan. Yeah, I know...say what?? Look, she’s a great girl. Everything a guy could want in a lifelong partner. She’s my best friend and I don’t know what I’d do without her. But with all that said, she has ONE flaw. It’s not something I can’t get over. But it sticks out like a sore thumb…but hey, that’s what makes life interesting! And this upcoming series will certainly get interesting as the rivalry between the Rangers and the Devils will be kicked up a notch. We have gone through this before, as we had just started dating in 2008. But this will be our first since being married and living under the same roof!
Many of you have experienced this torture before. Yankees and Red Sox. Canadiens and Bruins. Giants and Cowboys. You all know what I’m talking about. And I’ll bet none of you ever thought of this when you started dating, or even married that cute girl in the enemy’s colors, or that handsome dude wearing the jersey of the “bad guys”. But unfortunately, the time eventually comes when you and the love of your life (die hard sports fans for your beloved teams) must draw lines in the sand, and deal with the horrible reality of a playoff series against each other.
This type of thing should not be taken lightly. Rival playoff series lead to trash talking, fights in the stands and most importantly, arguments amongst loved ones, which can lead to one of you sleeping on the couch. This can make for a very long 2 weeks over the course of a grueling 7 game series.
So, are you wondering how you can avoid all of this and just enjoy the series? Well, fear not! I am here with the top 10 ways to get you through this 7 game war, so you can still root for your team, and also get your fill of mindless trash talking that you shouldn’t be spewing after a bad loss, or better yet…rubbing a victory in someone’s face…as long as it’s not your spouse!
Tip #1: Say “I love you” as many times as you can throughout the day. This cannot be stated enough. There are going to be times during the 60 minutes (or more) of a game that you might not WANT to say it as your team may be losing, but remember, it IS just a sporting event, and your relationship IS more important, as is your sanity. Also, remember to say it after the game is over…particularly if you win.
Tip #2: Do not, I repeat, DO NOT touch ANY paraphernalia that may have the opposing teams colors on it, for two reasons. Number 1, you don’t want to jinx yourself and number 2, you don’t want to upset your significant other who, like you, believes that superstitions really do work (they do, I swear to you, they do).
Tip #3: Brown nosing can come in handy! Indeed it does. If you notice that something needs to be done around the house, just do it. It can only lead to good things…despite the outcome of the game! ;-)
Tip #4: Don’t be over zealous when cheering on your team if you happen to be watching the game together. Cheer when your team scores, clap if your team wins, but keep the hooting and hollering to a minimum. Save the big celebrations for when you’re on the phone with your friends, they’ll appreciate it a lot more than your better half will.
Tip #5: Place a small little bet. Nothing ridiculous, but just a little something to make things interesting and fun. For example, my wife I have decided that the loser of this series has to don the winner’s colors (a jersey and a hat), a picture must be taken and it must be used as a profile picture on Twitter, Facebook and the hockey forum that we post on for 24 hours, no more...but no less!
Tip #6: Try to avoid your own commentating during the game. If there is something that pisses you off about the refs, about a player for the opposing team, keep it to yourself. Rant on social media, text your buddy, but don’t whine about it in front of your significant other. Cause they will most likely disagree with your view, and that will only lead to anger on their end and who wants to deal with that?
Tip #7: Did I mention saying “I LOVE YOU”?!? I’m telling you…It’s extremely important. Before, during and AFTER the game.
Tip #8: If you notice your spouse ranting about your team on any form of social media (Facebook, Twitter or forums), do your best to avoid commenting at ALL costs, even in joking fashion. If they are in a bad mood, it can only lead to a snippy response on their end. Which leads me to my next point…
Tip #9: If your spouse is really ticked after a bad loss….GIVE. THEM. THEIR. SPACE.
Tip #10: Be compassionate to THEM if your team emerges victorious in the series. Celebrate with your friends, trash talk to your co-workers, but try and be nice to them. If you’re the guy…flowers go a LONG way...if you’re the girl, his favorite meal and a beer when he gets home from work the day after will take some of the sting away from this crushing defeat.
Bonus Tip: Gloating in front of your significant other is STRONGLY discouraged. While you may want to and feel that you’ve earned that right, it’s not a good idea. Whoever loses is going to need a few days to get over it, but the winner doing their part to let them know that they still love them will help ease the pain. Give it a few days, then gloat just a little…I’m sure at that point, they’ll at least crack a smile…hopefully!
While these tips are not fool proof, they can only help when dealing with the stress of a rival playoff series. My wife and I have decided to try and live by these rules to keep the anger and anxiety levels to a minimum. I know it seems impossible, and I’m sure there are some out there that will think I’m crazy saying all of this. And I’m sure even more don’t care if they tick their significant other off, and in fact may relish in it. And that’s fine, but just remember, it can lead to bad things. Sports fans are nuts in general when they DON’T know each other. When it’s someone you have to spend your days with, it can create A LOT of tension. And in the end, you need to remember that it’s a sporting event, your relationship should not be decided by the outcome of a game…or series!
Are you in an Inter-Rival relationship right now? Have you experienced this before and have your own advice for others going through this for the first time? Well, feel free to share! Might as well get your advice in now while you’re still thinking rationally…the puck drops in less than 10 hours!!
Oh...and while my better half is still in a good mood (at least until tonight)...LET’S GO RANGERS!!
Many of you have experienced this torture before. Yankees and Red Sox. Canadiens and Bruins. Giants and Cowboys. You all know what I’m talking about. And I’ll bet none of you ever thought of this when you started dating, or even married that cute girl in the enemy’s colors, or that handsome dude wearing the jersey of the “bad guys”. But unfortunately, the time eventually comes when you and the love of your life (die hard sports fans for your beloved teams) must draw lines in the sand, and deal with the horrible reality of a playoff series against each other.
This type of thing should not be taken lightly. Rival playoff series lead to trash talking, fights in the stands and most importantly, arguments amongst loved ones, which can lead to one of you sleeping on the couch. This can make for a very long 2 weeks over the course of a grueling 7 game series.
So, are you wondering how you can avoid all of this and just enjoy the series? Well, fear not! I am here with the top 10 ways to get you through this 7 game war, so you can still root for your team, and also get your fill of mindless trash talking that you shouldn’t be spewing after a bad loss, or better yet…rubbing a victory in someone’s face…as long as it’s not your spouse!
Tip #1: Say “I love you” as many times as you can throughout the day. This cannot be stated enough. There are going to be times during the 60 minutes (or more) of a game that you might not WANT to say it as your team may be losing, but remember, it IS just a sporting event, and your relationship IS more important, as is your sanity. Also, remember to say it after the game is over…particularly if you win.
Tip #2: Do not, I repeat, DO NOT touch ANY paraphernalia that may have the opposing teams colors on it, for two reasons. Number 1, you don’t want to jinx yourself and number 2, you don’t want to upset your significant other who, like you, believes that superstitions really do work (they do, I swear to you, they do).
Tip #3: Brown nosing can come in handy! Indeed it does. If you notice that something needs to be done around the house, just do it. It can only lead to good things…despite the outcome of the game! ;-)
Tip #4: Don’t be over zealous when cheering on your team if you happen to be watching the game together. Cheer when your team scores, clap if your team wins, but keep the hooting and hollering to a minimum. Save the big celebrations for when you’re on the phone with your friends, they’ll appreciate it a lot more than your better half will.
Tip #5: Place a small little bet. Nothing ridiculous, but just a little something to make things interesting and fun. For example, my wife I have decided that the loser of this series has to don the winner’s colors (a jersey and a hat), a picture must be taken and it must be used as a profile picture on Twitter, Facebook and the hockey forum that we post on for 24 hours, no more...but no less!
Tip #6: Try to avoid your own commentating during the game. If there is something that pisses you off about the refs, about a player for the opposing team, keep it to yourself. Rant on social media, text your buddy, but don’t whine about it in front of your significant other. Cause they will most likely disagree with your view, and that will only lead to anger on their end and who wants to deal with that?
Tip #7: Did I mention saying “I LOVE YOU”?!? I’m telling you…It’s extremely important. Before, during and AFTER the game.
Tip #8: If you notice your spouse ranting about your team on any form of social media (Facebook, Twitter or forums), do your best to avoid commenting at ALL costs, even in joking fashion. If they are in a bad mood, it can only lead to a snippy response on their end. Which leads me to my next point…
Tip #9: If your spouse is really ticked after a bad loss….GIVE. THEM. THEIR. SPACE.
Tip #10: Be compassionate to THEM if your team emerges victorious in the series. Celebrate with your friends, trash talk to your co-workers, but try and be nice to them. If you’re the guy…flowers go a LONG way...if you’re the girl, his favorite meal and a beer when he gets home from work the day after will take some of the sting away from this crushing defeat.
Bonus Tip: Gloating in front of your significant other is STRONGLY discouraged. While you may want to and feel that you’ve earned that right, it’s not a good idea. Whoever loses is going to need a few days to get over it, but the winner doing their part to let them know that they still love them will help ease the pain. Give it a few days, then gloat just a little…I’m sure at that point, they’ll at least crack a smile…hopefully!
While these tips are not fool proof, they can only help when dealing with the stress of a rival playoff series. My wife and I have decided to try and live by these rules to keep the anger and anxiety levels to a minimum. I know it seems impossible, and I’m sure there are some out there that will think I’m crazy saying all of this. And I’m sure even more don’t care if they tick their significant other off, and in fact may relish in it. And that’s fine, but just remember, it can lead to bad things. Sports fans are nuts in general when they DON’T know each other. When it’s someone you have to spend your days with, it can create A LOT of tension. And in the end, you need to remember that it’s a sporting event, your relationship should not be decided by the outcome of a game…or series!
Are you in an Inter-Rival relationship right now? Have you experienced this before and have your own advice for others going through this for the first time? Well, feel free to share! Might as well get your advice in now while you’re still thinking rationally…the puck drops in less than 10 hours!!
Oh...and while my better half is still in a good mood (at least until tonight)...LET’S GO RANGERS!!
Friday, January 20, 2012
Is Jim Dolan the Spawn of Satan?
Yes, I know…funny title, right? Well that's great, glad I could get a laugh out of all of you. I'll be here all week, by the way.
Unfortunately, I am not kidding.
Yes, by now most of us have heard or read the comments of one, James L. Dolan following the Rangers 3-0 shutout over the Nashville Predators on Tuesday night. For reasons unknown to anybody but himself, Jimmy Boy decided to interrupt Head Coach John Tortorella's press conference after the game and address the state of the team for the first time since before the NHL lockout in 2004. Basically the 2nd time to my knowledge he has EVER acknowledged the existence of the New York Rangers. In fact, I even wrote a blog for a website called Rangersmix.com almost 2 years ago in which I stated that I sometimes wondered if Dolan even remembered that he OWNED a hockey team.
For those of you who are not aware of what Dolan actually said, and for those who feel the need to anger yourselves just a little bit more (such as me), I present the following from our fearless leader:
“I'm very proud of the organization. I'm particularly proud of Mr. Sather because all the way back to 2004 when things weren't going so well and we had a lot of free agents here and we decided to basically re-do the strategy, Glen and I made a pact.”
Sounds great so far, right? Yeah, keep reading.
"I gave him something," Dolan continued, "Which I won't reveal today, but I gave him something to seal the pact. I said 'You can't give it back to me until we win the Stanley Cup.' And I think we're pretty close to getting that thing back.".
So, what'd you give him Jim? A family heirloom of some sort? Perhaps your father's soul (which you undoubtedly had to rip out of him in order to gain control of Cablevision in the first place)…or maybe something more symbolic of Glen's tenure here...maybe his pink slip in a frame, minus your signature?
One has to wonder...why on earth would you make a statement like that Jim, in flipping January of ALL months? Have you NOT seen this team in years past once they hit the latter part of this month in to late February? Oh wait...stupid question on my part, you haven't acknowledged the team's existence in almost 8 years...OF COURSE YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THEM PLAY!!!
There's a few issues I have here folks. The first is the obvious. It was stupid, premature, and downright asinine for Dolan to make such a proclamation that the Rangers are close to winning a Stanley Cup. Yes, they have taken leaps and bounds this year. Yes, despite losing to the Penguins at the Garden last night, they have gone far beyond what I thought they would. Yes, they are still 1st place in the Eastern Conference, and 2nd in the entire NHL, and for the most part, have looked like a bonafide Stanley Cup contender this season. And yes, I have little to no doubt that this team can make a LOT of noise come playoff time. However, to say they are close to winning a cup in the middle of the season is setting yourself up for disaster, even if it may be true. They still need to get through (historically) their hardest period of the regular season: late January, through February. Anyone who watches this team on a regular basis can tell you that. If the way they have played the last 2 weeks is any indication (particularly after last night's debacle) they may not be as ready as people may think. But thank you Jim, thank you for attempting to start that annual mid-season slide ALL by yourself by opening your big fat mouth.
The second issue I have here is that the ONLY reason Dolan is even doing this, in my opinion, is to make himself look good. Despite the way I joke that he doesn't know the Rangers exist, he does. And he knows the team is starting to make noise, both in the NHL, and in this City. And he wants to be prepared to take credit for it, should the Rangers in fact DO the unthinkable, whether it be this season, or the next. He knows the Knicks are not going anywhere, anytime soon. He may be an incompetent owner, but he's not dumb.
But where was he in the years leading up to all of this? The years when he ignored Rangers fans pleas for Sather's firing, for a rebuild that didn't start until 4 years into his tenure here, and didn't really begin to take shape until just a few years ago? Yeah, the team looks loaded now, and built for the long term. But he hasn’t acknowledged the team in SO long. Does he really think he is fooling ANYONE? Even Tortorella looked like he wanted to put his head in an oven and turn on the gas the other day.
Do us all a favor Dolan, and continue ignoring this team. Write the checks, pay the bills, let Glen continue to have carte blanche, and go back to paying all your attention to the Knicks. Just because you may have finally realized what a joke THAT team is, don't think you can just waltz into Rangerland and that people are going to embrace you. We haven't forgotten the way you constantly put the Knicks before the Rangers all the time. From not being there on Draft Day back in 2005 so you could go with Isiah Thomas to recruit Larry Brown, to the Knicks constantly getting priority on TV over the Rangers, your sudden acknowledgement of the BETTER team in Madison Square Garden is not needed, appreciated, nor wanted. It's bad enough if the Rangers ever do the unthinkable in the near future that YOU'RE going to be acknowledged by Mr. "Head moving as I talk, let me make sure the microphone is on before I speak and get booed out of the building" Commissioner himself, Gary Bettman. But in the meantime, don't insult our intelligence. Don't try and make us think you actually care about anything having to do with the Rangers after pretending they haven't existed for so long.
Bottom line, You're not fooling anybody Jim!
Unfortunately, I am not kidding.
Yes, by now most of us have heard or read the comments of one, James L. Dolan following the Rangers 3-0 shutout over the Nashville Predators on Tuesday night. For reasons unknown to anybody but himself, Jimmy Boy decided to interrupt Head Coach John Tortorella's press conference after the game and address the state of the team for the first time since before the NHL lockout in 2004. Basically the 2nd time to my knowledge he has EVER acknowledged the existence of the New York Rangers. In fact, I even wrote a blog for a website called Rangersmix.com almost 2 years ago in which I stated that I sometimes wondered if Dolan even remembered that he OWNED a hockey team.
For those of you who are not aware of what Dolan actually said, and for those who feel the need to anger yourselves just a little bit more (such as me), I present the following from our fearless leader:
“I'm very proud of the organization. I'm particularly proud of Mr. Sather because all the way back to 2004 when things weren't going so well and we had a lot of free agents here and we decided to basically re-do the strategy, Glen and I made a pact.”
Sounds great so far, right? Yeah, keep reading.
"I gave him something," Dolan continued, "Which I won't reveal today, but I gave him something to seal the pact. I said 'You can't give it back to me until we win the Stanley Cup.' And I think we're pretty close to getting that thing back.".
So, what'd you give him Jim? A family heirloom of some sort? Perhaps your father's soul (which you undoubtedly had to rip out of him in order to gain control of Cablevision in the first place)…or maybe something more symbolic of Glen's tenure here...maybe his pink slip in a frame, minus your signature?
One has to wonder...why on earth would you make a statement like that Jim, in flipping January of ALL months? Have you NOT seen this team in years past once they hit the latter part of this month in to late February? Oh wait...stupid question on my part, you haven't acknowledged the team's existence in almost 8 years...OF COURSE YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THEM PLAY!!!
There's a few issues I have here folks. The first is the obvious. It was stupid, premature, and downright asinine for Dolan to make such a proclamation that the Rangers are close to winning a Stanley Cup. Yes, they have taken leaps and bounds this year. Yes, despite losing to the Penguins at the Garden last night, they have gone far beyond what I thought they would. Yes, they are still 1st place in the Eastern Conference, and 2nd in the entire NHL, and for the most part, have looked like a bonafide Stanley Cup contender this season. And yes, I have little to no doubt that this team can make a LOT of noise come playoff time. However, to say they are close to winning a cup in the middle of the season is setting yourself up for disaster, even if it may be true. They still need to get through (historically) their hardest period of the regular season: late January, through February. Anyone who watches this team on a regular basis can tell you that. If the way they have played the last 2 weeks is any indication (particularly after last night's debacle) they may not be as ready as people may think. But thank you Jim, thank you for attempting to start that annual mid-season slide ALL by yourself by opening your big fat mouth.
The second issue I have here is that the ONLY reason Dolan is even doing this, in my opinion, is to make himself look good. Despite the way I joke that he doesn't know the Rangers exist, he does. And he knows the team is starting to make noise, both in the NHL, and in this City. And he wants to be prepared to take credit for it, should the Rangers in fact DO the unthinkable, whether it be this season, or the next. He knows the Knicks are not going anywhere, anytime soon. He may be an incompetent owner, but he's not dumb.
But where was he in the years leading up to all of this? The years when he ignored Rangers fans pleas for Sather's firing, for a rebuild that didn't start until 4 years into his tenure here, and didn't really begin to take shape until just a few years ago? Yeah, the team looks loaded now, and built for the long term. But he hasn’t acknowledged the team in SO long. Does he really think he is fooling ANYONE? Even Tortorella looked like he wanted to put his head in an oven and turn on the gas the other day.
Do us all a favor Dolan, and continue ignoring this team. Write the checks, pay the bills, let Glen continue to have carte blanche, and go back to paying all your attention to the Knicks. Just because you may have finally realized what a joke THAT team is, don't think you can just waltz into Rangerland and that people are going to embrace you. We haven't forgotten the way you constantly put the Knicks before the Rangers all the time. From not being there on Draft Day back in 2005 so you could go with Isiah Thomas to recruit Larry Brown, to the Knicks constantly getting priority on TV over the Rangers, your sudden acknowledgement of the BETTER team in Madison Square Garden is not needed, appreciated, nor wanted. It's bad enough if the Rangers ever do the unthinkable in the near future that YOU'RE going to be acknowledged by Mr. "Head moving as I talk, let me make sure the microphone is on before I speak and get booed out of the building" Commissioner himself, Gary Bettman. But in the meantime, don't insult our intelligence. Don't try and make us think you actually care about anything having to do with the Rangers after pretending they haven't existed for so long.
Bottom line, You're not fooling anybody Jim!
Friday, January 13, 2012
Mid-Season Report Card and Second Half Preview
A lot has happened since the last time I wrote a blog. The New York Rangers went from being a good team to an elite team. In fact, up until their 3-0 loss to the Ottawa Senators last night (snapping their 5 game winning streak), the Boys in Blue were sitting first in the entire NHL in points. That loss, coupled with a victory by the Vancouver Canucks last night, has changed things for the time being. However, there is no denying that the Blueshirts have taken the next step that I talked about after last season. Therefore, let's take a look at just what has made the Rangers so successful in the first half, and what they need to do in the final 41 games in order to assure themselves not just a playoff berth, but a high seed as they head in to what could be a fun spring and summer for myself and fellow Rangers fans:
Defense: A
Yep, that's right. You would think with Marc Staal not even playing until the Winter Classic, and 2nd year player Micheal Sauer, also being sidelined (both with concussions), that this area might have taken the biggest hit. Especially with such "household" names (literally), as Stu Bickel and Jeff Woywitka taking their places. However, Dan Girardi slipped right into Staal's role as #1 defenseman, and played well enough to earn a spot on the NHL All Star team. Michael Del Zotto rebounded from a dismal season last year, to become one of the league leaders in plus/minus with a +24 rating, while putting himself in the top 15 in scoring amongst NHL defensemen. Meanwhile, Ryan McDonagh is right behind him, developing his own offensive skills in the early part of the season. These top 3 have led the way for the rest of the defense to settle in and just play their roles. Now with Staal back, and already playing well, and Michael Sauer hopefully not too far off from returning, the Rangers before long could have a top 6 that could be among the very best in the league. But even with injuries, they have already proven to be better than the sum of their parts.
Forwards: B
Marion Gaborik is back to being Marion Gaborik, Brad Richards has come here and been everything advertised, and Derek Stepan has started to develop into one of the better young play makers in the league. Meanwhile, since being named Captain before the start of the season, Ryan Callahan has taken his already well known status as the heart and soul of this team to a new level. He IS the New York Rangers, and so far is the best Captain this team has had, since Messier. Artem Anisimov has cooled off lately, but had developed instant chemistry on a line with Gaborik and Richards. It will be interesting to see if John Tortorella keeps that line separated for long, now that they have "dried up", as he put it the other day.
Brandon Dubinsky had a slow start in the goals department, but has picked it up of late. He will be pivotal moving forward in the 2nd half if the Rangers are going to consistently hit the back of the twine. Carl Hagelin has been a revelation since his call up, enough to earn a spot on the 2nd line with Richards for a time. It will be interesting to see what his role on this team is in the 2nd half, especially now with the return of Wojtek Wolski to the line up.
Brian Boyle has not scored like he did last year, but everyone expected that. He along with Brandon Prust, Mike Rupp and Ruslan Fedetenko have prominent roles on this team as the grunts, who will do the dirty work in the corners and protect their teammates, and they do it very well.
Goalies: A+
Is anyone really surprised by this? Henrik Lundqvist, always a Vezina "candidate" actually has a legitimate shot at the prized trophy this year, as well as the Hart, for league MVP. He has taken his game to the next level and is currently 3rd in the league in Goals Against Average and Save Percentage, but the man who is #1 is Boston Bruins backup, Tuukka Rask, so I consider him to be 2nd in the league in those respective categories. He is also 5th in wins, but he has also not played as much as the men ahead of him. And that is all part of Tortorella's master plan. To get his #1 goalie as much rest as possible during the regular season, so he is fresh for the real season. The one that starts in April, and (hopefully) ends in June.
Martin Biron has been an excellent back-up going 8-2, with a 2.06 GAA. He will undoubtedly continue to provide the King with the occasional rest through the final 41 games.
Special Teams:
Power Play: D
Unfortunately this continues to be a sore spot for the team, as the Rangers are currently 22nd in the league. You have to think at some point, with Richards, Del Zotto and Gaborik on this team, that will improve.
Penalty Kill: A
Thankfully, the penalty kill is as steady as ever, sitting currently at 6th in the league. The Rangers just do not allow opponents much. Blocking shots and pouring molasses over their own zone is this team's specialty, and when shots do get through, #30 is there to stop them.
Coaching: A-
John Tortorella reminds me a lot of Herb Brooks and what he did with the 1980 Olympics team. He has assembled a team better than the sum of it's parts, with an emphasis on extreme conditioning, hard work and outstanding goaltending, all with an eye on one goal: a championship. He critiques what the team could have done better after wins, and makes them leave the ice and come back out if he doesn't like the way they start practice. He is honest, but fair, and clearly this team is buying into it. They respond to him, and they work their butts off for him.
Outlook:
The Rangers need to be weary of the end of January, and most of February. Historically, the last few years, that is when they have problems. Suddenly Henrik cannot stop a beach ball, guys can't bury pucks into an empty net with a goalie on their back, and the team plays sluggish and hangs Lundqvist out to dry on a lot nights. This usually forces them to put the pedal to the metal come March just to make the playoffs. I expect a fall off at some point, but I also feel this is a different team than years past. One that is very well conditioned, has more confidence in themselves, and is just plain better. As long as they don't lose their focus, and Tortorella does not let up on them, I see this team finishing in the top 4 of the conference and securing home ice advantage for the first time since 1996.
Where they go from there?
Well, that is a blog that will be published after April 7th (along with many others before then), so stay tuned. In the meantime, the second half begins tomorrow night in Toronto.
Defense: A
Yep, that's right. You would think with Marc Staal not even playing until the Winter Classic, and 2nd year player Micheal Sauer, also being sidelined (both with concussions), that this area might have taken the biggest hit. Especially with such "household" names (literally), as Stu Bickel and Jeff Woywitka taking their places. However, Dan Girardi slipped right into Staal's role as #1 defenseman, and played well enough to earn a spot on the NHL All Star team. Michael Del Zotto rebounded from a dismal season last year, to become one of the league leaders in plus/minus with a +24 rating, while putting himself in the top 15 in scoring amongst NHL defensemen. Meanwhile, Ryan McDonagh is right behind him, developing his own offensive skills in the early part of the season. These top 3 have led the way for the rest of the defense to settle in and just play their roles. Now with Staal back, and already playing well, and Michael Sauer hopefully not too far off from returning, the Rangers before long could have a top 6 that could be among the very best in the league. But even with injuries, they have already proven to be better than the sum of their parts.
Forwards: B
Marion Gaborik is back to being Marion Gaborik, Brad Richards has come here and been everything advertised, and Derek Stepan has started to develop into one of the better young play makers in the league. Meanwhile, since being named Captain before the start of the season, Ryan Callahan has taken his already well known status as the heart and soul of this team to a new level. He IS the New York Rangers, and so far is the best Captain this team has had, since Messier. Artem Anisimov has cooled off lately, but had developed instant chemistry on a line with Gaborik and Richards. It will be interesting to see if John Tortorella keeps that line separated for long, now that they have "dried up", as he put it the other day.
Brandon Dubinsky had a slow start in the goals department, but has picked it up of late. He will be pivotal moving forward in the 2nd half if the Rangers are going to consistently hit the back of the twine. Carl Hagelin has been a revelation since his call up, enough to earn a spot on the 2nd line with Richards for a time. It will be interesting to see what his role on this team is in the 2nd half, especially now with the return of Wojtek Wolski to the line up.
Brian Boyle has not scored like he did last year, but everyone expected that. He along with Brandon Prust, Mike Rupp and Ruslan Fedetenko have prominent roles on this team as the grunts, who will do the dirty work in the corners and protect their teammates, and they do it very well.
Goalies: A+
Is anyone really surprised by this? Henrik Lundqvist, always a Vezina "candidate" actually has a legitimate shot at the prized trophy this year, as well as the Hart, for league MVP. He has taken his game to the next level and is currently 3rd in the league in Goals Against Average and Save Percentage, but the man who is #1 is Boston Bruins backup, Tuukka Rask, so I consider him to be 2nd in the league in those respective categories. He is also 5th in wins, but he has also not played as much as the men ahead of him. And that is all part of Tortorella's master plan. To get his #1 goalie as much rest as possible during the regular season, so he is fresh for the real season. The one that starts in April, and (hopefully) ends in June.
Martin Biron has been an excellent back-up going 8-2, with a 2.06 GAA. He will undoubtedly continue to provide the King with the occasional rest through the final 41 games.
Special Teams:
Power Play: D
Unfortunately this continues to be a sore spot for the team, as the Rangers are currently 22nd in the league. You have to think at some point, with Richards, Del Zotto and Gaborik on this team, that will improve.
Penalty Kill: A
Thankfully, the penalty kill is as steady as ever, sitting currently at 6th in the league. The Rangers just do not allow opponents much. Blocking shots and pouring molasses over their own zone is this team's specialty, and when shots do get through, #30 is there to stop them.
Coaching: A-
John Tortorella reminds me a lot of Herb Brooks and what he did with the 1980 Olympics team. He has assembled a team better than the sum of it's parts, with an emphasis on extreme conditioning, hard work and outstanding goaltending, all with an eye on one goal: a championship. He critiques what the team could have done better after wins, and makes them leave the ice and come back out if he doesn't like the way they start practice. He is honest, but fair, and clearly this team is buying into it. They respond to him, and they work their butts off for him.
Outlook:
The Rangers need to be weary of the end of January, and most of February. Historically, the last few years, that is when they have problems. Suddenly Henrik cannot stop a beach ball, guys can't bury pucks into an empty net with a goalie on their back, and the team plays sluggish and hangs Lundqvist out to dry on a lot nights. This usually forces them to put the pedal to the metal come March just to make the playoffs. I expect a fall off at some point, but I also feel this is a different team than years past. One that is very well conditioned, has more confidence in themselves, and is just plain better. As long as they don't lose their focus, and Tortorella does not let up on them, I see this team finishing in the top 4 of the conference and securing home ice advantage for the first time since 1996.
Where they go from there?
Well, that is a blog that will be published after April 7th (along with many others before then), so stay tuned. In the meantime, the second half begins tomorrow night in Toronto.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Derek Stepan..A Star In The Making?
We saw hints of it in the preseason last year, but we tried not to go too crazy over it. In fact, most of us just tried to blow it off as another rookie having a strong training camp. However, one could hardly ignore the fact that Derek Stepan had THE best camp amongst all the Rangers last year, tying for the team lead in goals and creating a certain buzz about him as he entered his rookie NHL season. But we tried not overreact, not just yet.
And when he scored a hat trick in his first NHL game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, he became just the fourth player in NHL history to do so in his NHL debut, and the second Blueshirt to do it in a season opener, joining Ron Murphy who accomplished the feat back in 1955. Yet we still tried to temper the enthusiasm, for the time being.
Stepan went on to record 21 goals and 45 points last season, becoming the first Rangers rookie to score 20 goals since Petr Prucha, back in 2005-06. Playing in all 82 games for the Boys in Blue, he earned a spot on the rookie squad of the NHL All-Star team this past January and competed in the skills competition. Yet we still tried not to set our expectations too high for the 20-year-old forward, not just yet.
However, so far this season Derek Stepan is making it hard to continue to ignore him. Hard to temper that enthusiasm surrounding him, and hard not to overreact to his excellent, steady, intelligent play. The 2nd year center seems to be coming into his own, and appears to be developing right before our very eyes. In this young NHL season thus far, Stepan is tied for second on the team in scoring with 3 goals and 10 points, has 7 points in his last three games, and nine in 5 of his last 6. However, that’s not what all the buzz is about. What has Rangers fans so excited right now is the chemistry he has developed playing with Marian Gaborik and Artem Anisimov. The newly formed “G.A.S. line” was responsible for all 3 Rangers goals in last night’s 3-2 victory over the Ottawa Senators at Scotianbank Place, and has accounted for much of the Blueshirt offense lately with 19 total points (six goals, 13 assists) in the last three games, and 7 points (three goals, four assists) in last night’s match alone.
But what has really stood out for me is how Derek Stepan has been in the middle of all of it, not only scoring goals of his own, but also making a few brilliant passes to set up goals by Gaborik and Eric Christensen the last few games. His play making ability is really starting to develop and that being the case, the Rangers may have indeed found a future star in the native from Hasting, Minnesota. It's not surprising though if you think about the fact that Stepan just happens to be a product of the prestigious Shattuck-St Mary's School hockey team, a boarding school with a history of hockey excellence and whose roster of former players includes the likes of Sidney Crosby, Jonathon Toews and Zach Parise.
The fact that Stepan has had success this early in his NHL career should come not come as much of a shock either, actually. In addition to his two successful years at SSM where he totaled 82 goals and 181 points, he continued to shine at the 2010 IIHF World U20 Championships, where he was the captain of the United States team and led the tournament in scoring with four goals and ten assists in seven games, leading the U.S. to their second ever gold medal over Canada.
It is also fitting that his success should come in a Rangers uniform, as Derek’s father Brad was also drafted by the Blueshirts back in 1985. He never played a game in the NHL, but apparently passed his hockey genes on to his son who now has a little over a season’s worth of professional experience under his belt, chemistry with a superstar player, and a ton of confidence and maturity. This can only mean good things for Derek Stepan and the Rangers as they move towards what could be a bright future together in the Big Apple.
But ya know, we don’t wanna set expectations TOO high for the 21-year-old from a hockey state, born into a hockey family, who went to that boarding school with a prestigious hockey background...
Not just yet!
And when he scored a hat trick in his first NHL game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, he became just the fourth player in NHL history to do so in his NHL debut, and the second Blueshirt to do it in a season opener, joining Ron Murphy who accomplished the feat back in 1955. Yet we still tried to temper the enthusiasm, for the time being.
Stepan went on to record 21 goals and 45 points last season, becoming the first Rangers rookie to score 20 goals since Petr Prucha, back in 2005-06. Playing in all 82 games for the Boys in Blue, he earned a spot on the rookie squad of the NHL All-Star team this past January and competed in the skills competition. Yet we still tried not to set our expectations too high for the 20-year-old forward, not just yet.
However, so far this season Derek Stepan is making it hard to continue to ignore him. Hard to temper that enthusiasm surrounding him, and hard not to overreact to his excellent, steady, intelligent play. The 2nd year center seems to be coming into his own, and appears to be developing right before our very eyes. In this young NHL season thus far, Stepan is tied for second on the team in scoring with 3 goals and 10 points, has 7 points in his last three games, and nine in 5 of his last 6. However, that’s not what all the buzz is about. What has Rangers fans so excited right now is the chemistry he has developed playing with Marian Gaborik and Artem Anisimov. The newly formed “G.A.S. line” was responsible for all 3 Rangers goals in last night’s 3-2 victory over the Ottawa Senators at Scotianbank Place, and has accounted for much of the Blueshirt offense lately with 19 total points (six goals, 13 assists) in the last three games, and 7 points (three goals, four assists) in last night’s match alone.
But what has really stood out for me is how Derek Stepan has been in the middle of all of it, not only scoring goals of his own, but also making a few brilliant passes to set up goals by Gaborik and Eric Christensen the last few games. His play making ability is really starting to develop and that being the case, the Rangers may have indeed found a future star in the native from Hasting, Minnesota. It's not surprising though if you think about the fact that Stepan just happens to be a product of the prestigious Shattuck-St Mary's School hockey team, a boarding school with a history of hockey excellence and whose roster of former players includes the likes of Sidney Crosby, Jonathon Toews and Zach Parise.
The fact that Stepan has had success this early in his NHL career should come not come as much of a shock either, actually. In addition to his two successful years at SSM where he totaled 82 goals and 181 points, he continued to shine at the 2010 IIHF World U20 Championships, where he was the captain of the United States team and led the tournament in scoring with four goals and ten assists in seven games, leading the U.S. to their second ever gold medal over Canada.
It is also fitting that his success should come in a Rangers uniform, as Derek’s father Brad was also drafted by the Blueshirts back in 1985. He never played a game in the NHL, but apparently passed his hockey genes on to his son who now has a little over a season’s worth of professional experience under his belt, chemistry with a superstar player, and a ton of confidence and maturity. This can only mean good things for Derek Stepan and the Rangers as they move towards what could be a bright future together in the Big Apple.
But ya know, we don’t wanna set expectations TOO high for the 21-year-old from a hockey state, born into a hockey family, who went to that boarding school with a prestigious hockey background...
Not just yet!
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Avery Back With Rangers, But Will Not Play Tonight
Get used to that Rangers fans, cause you'll probably be seeing it a lot. At least for now.
It was not a surprise to learn that after clearing waivers at Noon on Tuesday, and practicing with the Rangers yesterday, Sean Avery would not be in the line up tonight against the Anaheim Ducks for a 7 pm tilt at the Garden. And this really has nothing to do with Tortorella not liking him or me thinking he's not the answer. The bottom line is that Avery is not needed right now. The Rangers played their most complete game of the season the other night, with a 5-2 win over the San Jose Sharks. Tortorella is going right back to that same line-up, most likely with the exception of the goalie, as well he should. And not only do I agree with that decision, but Avery does as well. It just makes sense.
So, the pressing question in Rangerland right now, is when WILL Sean Avery play?
Most likely, and I could be wrong here, not until the Rangers get a little desperate. After they've lost a few in a row, or 3 out of their last 4, or something like that. After dropping their first 2 games at home, if they had played poorly on Monday against the Sharks, then you might have seen Avery in the line-up tonight. But the win against San Jose, coupled with the way the power play has started to come alive lately, negates the need for that at least for now. If they struggle in the next few games, that may change. But look for Avery to sit for the time being, either until such a struggle, or until a game against a big rival such as the Devils or the Flyers. We shall see.
In the meantime, the Rangers DO need to build on Monday's victory, and start developing some consistency. The win over San Jose exemplified every thing about the Rangers that we've grown to love about them the past few years. A hard working, blue collar team, that takes it's lead from Ryan Callahan. There's a reason why he was named Captain before the start of the season, and he did not disappoint Monday night, scoring 2 goals and adding an assist. The second of the 2 goals was an effort of pure hustle on his part as he knocked in a rebound from Brad Richards as he was falling to the ice after being checked by Sharks defenseman Andrew Murray. Derek Stepan and Artem Anisimov also came alive with goals, and Brandon Dubinsky, Dan Girardi and Erik Christensen had 2 assists each. Back up goalie Marty Biron was strong in net with 24 saves, picking up his 2nd win in two starts. Tortorella has not made it official just yet, but I expect Henrik Lundqvist back in net tonight, as the Rangers look to get revenge on the Ducks for their loss in Sweden back in the second game of the season. I also expect Avery to be sitting in the stands...at least for now. When he gets his shot, remains to be seen.
It was not a surprise to learn that after clearing waivers at Noon on Tuesday, and practicing with the Rangers yesterday, Sean Avery would not be in the line up tonight against the Anaheim Ducks for a 7 pm tilt at the Garden. And this really has nothing to do with Tortorella not liking him or me thinking he's not the answer. The bottom line is that Avery is not needed right now. The Rangers played their most complete game of the season the other night, with a 5-2 win over the San Jose Sharks. Tortorella is going right back to that same line-up, most likely with the exception of the goalie, as well he should. And not only do I agree with that decision, but Avery does as well. It just makes sense.
So, the pressing question in Rangerland right now, is when WILL Sean Avery play?
Most likely, and I could be wrong here, not until the Rangers get a little desperate. After they've lost a few in a row, or 3 out of their last 4, or something like that. After dropping their first 2 games at home, if they had played poorly on Monday against the Sharks, then you might have seen Avery in the line-up tonight. But the win against San Jose, coupled with the way the power play has started to come alive lately, negates the need for that at least for now. If they struggle in the next few games, that may change. But look for Avery to sit for the time being, either until such a struggle, or until a game against a big rival such as the Devils or the Flyers. We shall see.
In the meantime, the Rangers DO need to build on Monday's victory, and start developing some consistency. The win over San Jose exemplified every thing about the Rangers that we've grown to love about them the past few years. A hard working, blue collar team, that takes it's lead from Ryan Callahan. There's a reason why he was named Captain before the start of the season, and he did not disappoint Monday night, scoring 2 goals and adding an assist. The second of the 2 goals was an effort of pure hustle on his part as he knocked in a rebound from Brad Richards as he was falling to the ice after being checked by Sharks defenseman Andrew Murray. Derek Stepan and Artem Anisimov also came alive with goals, and Brandon Dubinsky, Dan Girardi and Erik Christensen had 2 assists each. Back up goalie Marty Biron was strong in net with 24 saves, picking up his 2nd win in two starts. Tortorella has not made it official just yet, but I expect Henrik Lundqvist back in net tonight, as the Rangers look to get revenge on the Ducks for their loss in Sweden back in the second game of the season. I also expect Avery to be sitting in the stands...at least for now. When he gets his shot, remains to be seen.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Richards Not A Number One Center, This Is A Bad Team, Bring Back Avery.
Don't freak out people...this is not MY statement, nor are these MY feelings 2 days after going to the Garden, excited for my first game of the year, only to watch the Rangers blow a third period 3 goal lead, and fall to the Ottawa Senators, 5-4 in a shootout.
No, these were the feelings of a Rangers fan on a hockey board that I frequent quite often throughout the season. One that has some pretty intelligent hockey fans on one hand, but also has some pretty over-reactionary ones as well. Guess which category he falls into?
Now...don't get me wrong, I am PISSED about that debacle on the ice Saturday afternoon. Pissed because of the fact that I trekked into the City on a Saturday afternoon, in the middle of one of the WORST snow storms I have ever seen (IN FREAKING OCTOBER!!). Pissed because after my buddy Nick and I parked in Secaucus, in an attempt to take the train into Penn Station, we found out they were shut down because of this freaking weather, and thus had to DRIVE into New York, where we paid $35 for parking (after already paying $7 at Secaucus). Pissed because once we got to the Garden, we ended up paying another $29 for two hot dogs and two beers (the latter, which gave me a headache...freaking Bud Light). And finally, pissed because as beautiful as the renovations were, after Wojtek "I assisted on 2 goals, but I still suck" Wolski missed on the final shootout attempt of the afternoon, Nick and I headed for the exit of the newly renovated Madison Square Garden, only to find that the escalators STILL don't work after a game.
All to watch that pathetic, disgusting display.
PISSED.
Highlights of the day? Well my wife (who had just gotten home from Phoenix) made an AMAZING beef stew, and had put brownies in the oven shortly after. Unfortunately, the power in our apartment complex went out, and those did not get cooked until the next morning. But she DID dig out a spot for me, and even guarded it with a shovel until I finally made it home from the Garden, two hours later. Wife of the year award, right there. ;-)
Oh...yeah, the point of this blog?
I am NOT happy with this team, nine games into the season. They look lost out there at times, lethargic at others. And after falling behind 1-0 Saturday afternoon, they looked so sluggish, and so passive…especially in their own zone (yes, Tim Erixon..I AM talking to YOU), that I just shook my head in between the first and second periods talking to a friend I had met up with and said to him, "What is wrong with this team?”.
But then they suddenly woke up, tying the game 6:24 into the 2nd period on a power play goal by Ryan Callahan, and then taking the lead 1:20 later on another power play goal from Brad "not a # 1 center" Richards. Then 4:53 into the third period, Marian Gaborik scored and Richards added another a little over 3 minutes later, putting the Rangers up 4-1, and making me, and about 18,199 other people say, "Ok, this team has FINALLY woken up".
And then just as quickly as they woke up, they fell right back to sleep again. I have no explanation for it other then they literally appeared to "stop playing", with a lifeless and absurd effort in the third period. Dan Girardi, who has played like an All-Star this year, looked so passive at one point when he could have very easily poke checked a puck away from an Ottawa player, didn't even challenge him. Wolski, who had 2 points on Saturday was sloppy in his own zone as well. By the time Milan Michalek put home his own rebound with 2:50 remaining in regulation, I was so stunned I just sat there with my mouth on the floor, not even sure what to say, but pretty much knowing the game wasn't going to end well. And it didn't.
But I am not ready to give up on this team, nine games in. And I am certainly not going to call them a bad team, or say that Brad Richards is not a number one center, because it's just not true in either case. The chemistry between him and Gaborik is taking some time to develop, but it is there. Gaborik assisted on both Richards' goals Saturday, and Richards had assisted on ALL of Gabs’ until this past game. The bigger concerns for me right now are Artem Anisimov, Derek Stepan and Brandon Dubinsky, all of whom have yet to score this season. I am not as concerned about Dubinsky, as I feel his game will come around. Stepan though, he may be encountering the dreaded sophomore jinx, and Anisimov has been invisible at times. All 3 need to pick it up, and soon. Also, this team is so desperately in need of a healthy Marc Staal, it’s not funny.
But I am sorry to say this Rangers fans, I don't think Sean Avery is the answer. Yes, he has been put on re-entry waivers, and assuming no one claims him, will probably be called up for the game against the Ducks on Thursday, but do you really think he's going to see significant playing time? Sure he had a great training camp, and should have made the team, but was waived anyway because Tortorella does not like him, and it is obvious. Also, as I have said time and time again, he has not been "Sean Avery" for quite some time now, and unless he turns back into that player, what role is he gonna play on this team? In my opinion, this is most likely Sather giving into the pressure of the fans who for the past two games have chanted, "We want Avery!" and even hung a banner Opening Night to express it. Well, you’re getting your wish Avery fan base, but what now? Are you gonna put him on a line with Richards and Gaborik? Good luck with that working out.
I am not ready to give up on this team. We're nine games in and there is a ton of hockey to be played. They are not a bad team, but are playing like one right now. Brad Richard IS a number one center, but needs a little more time to get comfortable here. Sean Avery is not the answer, but at this point may be worth at least getting a shot, but only if he gets playing time, and ONLY if he "re-discovers" Sean Avery.
Doesn’t get any easier tonight, with the Sharks coming to town. Marty Biron is getting the start over Henrik Lundqvist, who has been phenomenal, but could use a game to get his head straight after that crap on Saturday. Puck drops at 7 pm, and I’ll be tweeting throughout the game @TheGr8Tony. Enjoy the game folks, and as always..LET’S GO RANGERS!!
No, these were the feelings of a Rangers fan on a hockey board that I frequent quite often throughout the season. One that has some pretty intelligent hockey fans on one hand, but also has some pretty over-reactionary ones as well. Guess which category he falls into?
Now...don't get me wrong, I am PISSED about that debacle on the ice Saturday afternoon. Pissed because of the fact that I trekked into the City on a Saturday afternoon, in the middle of one of the WORST snow storms I have ever seen (IN FREAKING OCTOBER!!). Pissed because after my buddy Nick and I parked in Secaucus, in an attempt to take the train into Penn Station, we found out they were shut down because of this freaking weather, and thus had to DRIVE into New York, where we paid $35 for parking (after already paying $7 at Secaucus). Pissed because once we got to the Garden, we ended up paying another $29 for two hot dogs and two beers (the latter, which gave me a headache...freaking Bud Light). And finally, pissed because as beautiful as the renovations were, after Wojtek "I assisted on 2 goals, but I still suck" Wolski missed on the final shootout attempt of the afternoon, Nick and I headed for the exit of the newly renovated Madison Square Garden, only to find that the escalators STILL don't work after a game.
All to watch that pathetic, disgusting display.
PISSED.
Highlights of the day? Well my wife (who had just gotten home from Phoenix) made an AMAZING beef stew, and had put brownies in the oven shortly after. Unfortunately, the power in our apartment complex went out, and those did not get cooked until the next morning. But she DID dig out a spot for me, and even guarded it with a shovel until I finally made it home from the Garden, two hours later. Wife of the year award, right there. ;-)
Oh...yeah, the point of this blog?
I am NOT happy with this team, nine games into the season. They look lost out there at times, lethargic at others. And after falling behind 1-0 Saturday afternoon, they looked so sluggish, and so passive…especially in their own zone (yes, Tim Erixon..I AM talking to YOU), that I just shook my head in between the first and second periods talking to a friend I had met up with and said to him, "What is wrong with this team?”.
But then they suddenly woke up, tying the game 6:24 into the 2nd period on a power play goal by Ryan Callahan, and then taking the lead 1:20 later on another power play goal from Brad "not a # 1 center" Richards. Then 4:53 into the third period, Marian Gaborik scored and Richards added another a little over 3 minutes later, putting the Rangers up 4-1, and making me, and about 18,199 other people say, "Ok, this team has FINALLY woken up".
And then just as quickly as they woke up, they fell right back to sleep again. I have no explanation for it other then they literally appeared to "stop playing", with a lifeless and absurd effort in the third period. Dan Girardi, who has played like an All-Star this year, looked so passive at one point when he could have very easily poke checked a puck away from an Ottawa player, didn't even challenge him. Wolski, who had 2 points on Saturday was sloppy in his own zone as well. By the time Milan Michalek put home his own rebound with 2:50 remaining in regulation, I was so stunned I just sat there with my mouth on the floor, not even sure what to say, but pretty much knowing the game wasn't going to end well. And it didn't.
But I am not ready to give up on this team, nine games in. And I am certainly not going to call them a bad team, or say that Brad Richards is not a number one center, because it's just not true in either case. The chemistry between him and Gaborik is taking some time to develop, but it is there. Gaborik assisted on both Richards' goals Saturday, and Richards had assisted on ALL of Gabs’ until this past game. The bigger concerns for me right now are Artem Anisimov, Derek Stepan and Brandon Dubinsky, all of whom have yet to score this season. I am not as concerned about Dubinsky, as I feel his game will come around. Stepan though, he may be encountering the dreaded sophomore jinx, and Anisimov has been invisible at times. All 3 need to pick it up, and soon. Also, this team is so desperately in need of a healthy Marc Staal, it’s not funny.
But I am sorry to say this Rangers fans, I don't think Sean Avery is the answer. Yes, he has been put on re-entry waivers, and assuming no one claims him, will probably be called up for the game against the Ducks on Thursday, but do you really think he's going to see significant playing time? Sure he had a great training camp, and should have made the team, but was waived anyway because Tortorella does not like him, and it is obvious. Also, as I have said time and time again, he has not been "Sean Avery" for quite some time now, and unless he turns back into that player, what role is he gonna play on this team? In my opinion, this is most likely Sather giving into the pressure of the fans who for the past two games have chanted, "We want Avery!" and even hung a banner Opening Night to express it. Well, you’re getting your wish Avery fan base, but what now? Are you gonna put him on a line with Richards and Gaborik? Good luck with that working out.
I am not ready to give up on this team. We're nine games in and there is a ton of hockey to be played. They are not a bad team, but are playing like one right now. Brad Richard IS a number one center, but needs a little more time to get comfortable here. Sean Avery is not the answer, but at this point may be worth at least getting a shot, but only if he gets playing time, and ONLY if he "re-discovers" Sean Avery.
Doesn’t get any easier tonight, with the Sharks coming to town. Marty Biron is getting the start over Henrik Lundqvist, who has been phenomenal, but could use a game to get his head straight after that crap on Saturday. Puck drops at 7 pm, and I’ll be tweeting throughout the game @TheGr8Tony. Enjoy the game folks, and as always..LET’S GO RANGERS!!
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Back from Europe and Western Canada, Rangers Happy To Be Home, Ready To Rock "New" Garden
It's been 6 months and 7 days since the Rangers last home game. One that closed out the old version of Madison Square Garden in not so great fashion as the Blueshirts we're defeated in double overtime by the Washington Capitals, 4-3 in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. A game in which the Rangers led 3-0, and one in which the Garden faithful responded in true fashion to the comments of Caps coach, Bruce Boudreau, who earlier in the series had bashed the Garden, claiming that "It's reputation is far better than the actual building. "The locker rooms are horrible. The benches are horrible." and "It’s not that loud in there."
The fans made their presence well known that night, taunting the portly Washington coach with chants of "CAN YOU HEAR US?!?!" that rocked the old building on 33rd and 8th. But in the end, that was the only act of revenge that was extracted as the Rangers blew a 3-0 third period lead, and then lost 12:36 into the second overtime on a goal by Jason Chimera that was basically handed to him by Marian Gaborik who, instead of letting Henrik Lundqvist freeze the puck, tried to clear it out of the crease himself and swept it right to Chimera who put it past the King, ending the game, and effectively ending the season for the Boys in Blue.
When Mr. Boudreau makes his first visit to the building in February, he will most certainly have a different opinion as "phase one" of the 3 year plan to renovate the World's Most Famous Arena is complete. Some of the changes include the widening of the sixth-floor concourse which has also has been brightened and has new concessions. The eighth floor has been expanded as well, also with new concessions and open viewing areas so you still see the game while getting food. Half of the 10th floor concourse is open (and will eventually expand the length of the arena) with viewing areas behind each net, new concessions, direct views into the arena bowl and a ledge with barstools, so you can eat comfortably while watching the game.
In addition, the entire lower bowl has been re-done, with wider, darker and more comfortable seats and the in-arena walkways have been removed. Bathroom space has also increased by about 50 percent, and for those who can afford it, the Delta Sky360 Club has been opened and will accommodate about 800 season ticket holders who will be able to see (through a glass partition) the Boys in Blue walk from their locker room on to the ice. The Rangers locker room has been completely redone and is state of the art, not sure about the visiting one, but hopefully that will be upgraded as well...if for any reason, just to shut Boudreau up!
More changes are coming for the Garden in the next 3 seasons as the upper bowl will get a similar renovation as the lower. The seating will apparently be shifted an average of about five feet closer to bring fans closer to the action, and in essence, create more concourse space. Also new mid-level suites will be built, and two bridges will be put in and run the length of the arena on either side and have about 1000 seats on them. I think the bridges are an awful idea, are dangerous, and personally hope they will NOT be put in, but that's a blog for another day. Also on the horizon for the 2013-14 season is a complete remodeling and widening of the Seventh Avenue entrance and box-office area.
I am very happy about everything I have heard, and seen with the renovations so far. I love the Garden, but have admittedly grown a little disgruntled with it over the past few seasons. Mostly with the awful sight lines in certain areas, and how hot it always is in there, but also with the "one way" escalators that work on your way into the arena but shut down after the game, forcing you to either walk down them or pile into a very cramped, urine smelling stairwell. My hope is that the next few years that will be a thing of the past.
I am also very pleased Garden management has decided NOT to tear the arena down and build a new one. Yankees fans expressed how they never wanted the old Yankee Stadium torn down, no matter how nice the new one is, and I think most Rangers fans feel the same way about the Garden. Granted, our building doesn't have the same history as the one in the Bronx, but the bottom line is it's not that old, and is considered an iconic structure in New York. Why tear it down when in this day and age with all the modern technology you can just rebuild it from within and make it state of the art? I have been to the Prudential Center a lot over the past few seasons, and it is a beautiful building. And if what I've seen so far from the pics of the "new" Garden are any indication, in a few years, it will be just as beautiful as any new arena in the country. Yet it will still maintain some of the old feel and history that has made the Garden, "The World's Most Famous Arena". There's something to be said for that. Think of how Cubs fans feel about Wrigley Field, or how Red Sox fans feel about Fenway Park, that's how Rangers fans feel about the Garden.
Now, all that aside..we've got a hockey game tonight! The Rangers, after a LENGTHY 7 game road trip to start the season, finally return home tonight for a 7 pm tilt against the Toronto Maple Leafs AT the Garden. The Boys in Blue are coming off a 3-1 victory over the Winnipeg Jets this past Monday, a game in which they really had no right winning, but somehow managed to pull off anyway. The Blueshirts are 3-2-2 so far and begin a 6 game home stand in their "newly" renovated digs. This will also be the Broadway debut for newly acquired Brad Richards. Pre-game show starts at 6:30 pm, but cameras start rolling at 6 pm with a special "Blue Carpet" show which will probably be provide an inside look at the renovated Garden and will feature interviews with Rangers Alumni.
Less then 2 hours til Game time, and I can't wait. Let's hope the boys look as good tonight as the new center ice logo does:
LET'S GO RANGERS!!!
The fans made their presence well known that night, taunting the portly Washington coach with chants of "CAN YOU HEAR US?!?!" that rocked the old building on 33rd and 8th. But in the end, that was the only act of revenge that was extracted as the Rangers blew a 3-0 third period lead, and then lost 12:36 into the second overtime on a goal by Jason Chimera that was basically handed to him by Marian Gaborik who, instead of letting Henrik Lundqvist freeze the puck, tried to clear it out of the crease himself and swept it right to Chimera who put it past the King, ending the game, and effectively ending the season for the Boys in Blue.
When Mr. Boudreau makes his first visit to the building in February, he will most certainly have a different opinion as "phase one" of the 3 year plan to renovate the World's Most Famous Arena is complete. Some of the changes include the widening of the sixth-floor concourse which has also has been brightened and has new concessions. The eighth floor has been expanded as well, also with new concessions and open viewing areas so you still see the game while getting food. Half of the 10th floor concourse is open (and will eventually expand the length of the arena) with viewing areas behind each net, new concessions, direct views into the arena bowl and a ledge with barstools, so you can eat comfortably while watching the game.
In addition, the entire lower bowl has been re-done, with wider, darker and more comfortable seats and the in-arena walkways have been removed. Bathroom space has also increased by about 50 percent, and for those who can afford it, the Delta Sky360 Club has been opened and will accommodate about 800 season ticket holders who will be able to see (through a glass partition) the Boys in Blue walk from their locker room on to the ice. The Rangers locker room has been completely redone and is state of the art, not sure about the visiting one, but hopefully that will be upgraded as well...if for any reason, just to shut Boudreau up!
More changes are coming for the Garden in the next 3 seasons as the upper bowl will get a similar renovation as the lower. The seating will apparently be shifted an average of about five feet closer to bring fans closer to the action, and in essence, create more concourse space. Also new mid-level suites will be built, and two bridges will be put in and run the length of the arena on either side and have about 1000 seats on them. I think the bridges are an awful idea, are dangerous, and personally hope they will NOT be put in, but that's a blog for another day. Also on the horizon for the 2013-14 season is a complete remodeling and widening of the Seventh Avenue entrance and box-office area.
I am very happy about everything I have heard, and seen with the renovations so far. I love the Garden, but have admittedly grown a little disgruntled with it over the past few seasons. Mostly with the awful sight lines in certain areas, and how hot it always is in there, but also with the "one way" escalators that work on your way into the arena but shut down after the game, forcing you to either walk down them or pile into a very cramped, urine smelling stairwell. My hope is that the next few years that will be a thing of the past.
I am also very pleased Garden management has decided NOT to tear the arena down and build a new one. Yankees fans expressed how they never wanted the old Yankee Stadium torn down, no matter how nice the new one is, and I think most Rangers fans feel the same way about the Garden. Granted, our building doesn't have the same history as the one in the Bronx, but the bottom line is it's not that old, and is considered an iconic structure in New York. Why tear it down when in this day and age with all the modern technology you can just rebuild it from within and make it state of the art? I have been to the Prudential Center a lot over the past few seasons, and it is a beautiful building. And if what I've seen so far from the pics of the "new" Garden are any indication, in a few years, it will be just as beautiful as any new arena in the country. Yet it will still maintain some of the old feel and history that has made the Garden, "The World's Most Famous Arena". There's something to be said for that. Think of how Cubs fans feel about Wrigley Field, or how Red Sox fans feel about Fenway Park, that's how Rangers fans feel about the Garden.
Now, all that aside..we've got a hockey game tonight! The Rangers, after a LENGTHY 7 game road trip to start the season, finally return home tonight for a 7 pm tilt against the Toronto Maple Leafs AT the Garden. The Boys in Blue are coming off a 3-1 victory over the Winnipeg Jets this past Monday, a game in which they really had no right winning, but somehow managed to pull off anyway. The Blueshirts are 3-2-2 so far and begin a 6 game home stand in their "newly" renovated digs. This will also be the Broadway debut for newly acquired Brad Richards. Pre-game show starts at 6:30 pm, but cameras start rolling at 6 pm with a special "Blue Carpet" show which will probably be provide an inside look at the renovated Garden and will feature interviews with Rangers Alumni.
Less then 2 hours til Game time, and I can't wait. Let's hope the boys look as good tonight as the new center ice logo does:
LET'S GO RANGERS!!!
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Smart Offseason Needed For Blueshirts to Take Next Step
So, after letting the disappointment of the Rangers season ending loss to the Washington Capitals on Saturday afternoon seep in for a few days, I am now officially "over it", and am ready to talk off season moves.
Despite the fact that the Rangers struggled down the stretch just to make the playoffs, and bowed out in the first round, there were a lot of good things to come out of this season. The question now is what next? What do they have to do moving forward this off-season? How can they take that "next step", and go from a young team that barely made the playoffs, to an upper echelon team in the NHL? Do they stay the course as Glen Sather has continuously preached these past few years, and continue to build through the farm system? Do they explore the trade market, and try to trade some pieces for an impact player? Or do they dive into free agency, throw big money at another big name (let this read Brad Richards) and hope it works out?
I think we all know how well that last choice has worked out in the past. And while I don't think the Rangers should just open up the check book, and throw a king's ransom at another 30 plus year old player who has had big success elsewhere, I also don't think they should turn a blind eye to Richards either. Like many other free agents the Rangers have pursued in the past, he appears to be "the solution" to a lot of their problems. He is a legitimate # 1 center, a big time threat on the power play, and it does make sense to bring him here. The downside to all of that is, he is 31 years old, coming off a bad head injury, and has typical free agent bust written all over him for the Boys in Blue. That doesn't mean he can't be successful here, but the Rangers need to be very cautious in their pursuit of Richards and make sure that if they do bring him in they a.) don't hand out another ridiculous contract, and b.) give him the tools to be successful in New York.
The truth of the matter is the Rangers have done about as much as they can with rebuilding. All of the "home grown" elements are now in place. They have a top 5 goalie in the league in Henrik Lundqvist. Marc Staal and Dan Girardi are one of the best shut down defensive pairings in the league. Michael Sauer and Ryan McDonagh both had strong rookie seasons, and round out a very solid top 4 tandem, that are sound defensively, and very good at what they do. Brandon Dubinsky and Ryan Callahan have developed into the unquestioned leaders of this team, and from this point on should be consistent 23-27 goal scorers. Artem Anisimov, whom I thought might take a step back this year, actually progressed, and along with Derek Stepan, have the potential to develop into consistent 55 to 60 point players. The bottom line is the Rangers have produced more players since the lockout then in any period I can remember in recent memory, but at this point there really is nothing more that they can do through the farm system.
This team now needs difference makers.
They need to go out and acquire the players necessary to put them over the top and put them up there with the elite teams in the Eastern Conference, and eventually, the rest of the league. Teams like Washington, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia. These are the teams the Rangers need to be up there with, and in order for them to do that, they need a legitimate, #1 play making center, a legitimate power play quarterback, and most importantly, Marian Gaborik either needs to bounce back next season, or the Blueshirts need to trade for another legitimate scoring sniper, and get rid of him. That is most likely not going to happen, and in all honesty, it doesn’t need to. Get the right pieces in here and Gaborik can return to the 40 to 45 goal scorer he has been in previous seasons. So, as upset as everyone may be because he had an off year, and made that bone headed play in Game 3, get over it. When healthy, Marian Gaborik is an elite player in the National Hockey League, something not easy to come by, and a player the Rangers can’t afford to just give up on. Yes, he needs to stay healthy, but the Rangers need to help him out, and give him what he needs to be successful here.
They need difference makers, skilled players. Brian Boyle and Brandon Prust are grinding, balls out type players, who will do the grunt work, and provide a little scoring, but they’re not goal scorers. Boyle is more likely a 10-13 goal scorer, then the 20 he potted this season. Anyone else notice he hadn’t scored a goal since March 18th, and before that, February 25th? Cause I sure did.
Free agency is definitely a route, but trades are more what I am suggesting. Am I saying they mortgage the future? Not at all, but Glen Sather needs to be smart here. He has an awful track record with free agency, which has been well documented. For some reason however, he seems to do a lot better when it comes to trades, at least when it comes to getting rid of a big contract for an expiring one. So, instead of waiting until mid-season like he usually does, and trading a big contract for the Wojtek Wolskis and the Olli Jokinens of the world, perhaps he should explore the forbidden route of trading a few prospects for someone who is already established, but is still young and still in his prime. You can't hold on to every single piece in your farm system, and never take a gamble. And besides, not all of them are going to pan out anyway. They already have a nice established young core that is in place, and is very good.
But if the Rangers ever hope to be any higher than a 5th or 6th seed, and get past the 2nd round of the playoffs, they need to add to it. Last time I checked, Lundqvist is not getting any younger, nor is Gaborik. And as good as this current core is, they’re not difference makers. That’s not an indictment on any of them, it’s just reality. They need to get players in here that are going to compliment what they already have, and take them from a blue collar team, to a team that is a true Stanley Cup contender. Most likely, the farm system is not going to produce a player like that anytime soon.
So yes, get Brad Richards if you can. I’m sure all my fellow Blueshirt fans are already saving their pennies for a #91 home blue, or heritage jersey, and that’s fine (as long as it is not another a ridiculous contract). But more importantly, Sather needs to make some trades and get players in here who are REALLY going to make a difference. He can’t just open the check book July 1st, throw money at another big name, and say that’s it. That’s the reason free agents don't succeed here, because no one else is brought in to support them. Well, that’s not good enough anymore.
You have the pieces in the system to really improve this team Glen. So for once, be smart, and get some differences makers in here.
Despite the fact that the Rangers struggled down the stretch just to make the playoffs, and bowed out in the first round, there were a lot of good things to come out of this season. The question now is what next? What do they have to do moving forward this off-season? How can they take that "next step", and go from a young team that barely made the playoffs, to an upper echelon team in the NHL? Do they stay the course as Glen Sather has continuously preached these past few years, and continue to build through the farm system? Do they explore the trade market, and try to trade some pieces for an impact player? Or do they dive into free agency, throw big money at another big name (let this read Brad Richards) and hope it works out?
I think we all know how well that last choice has worked out in the past. And while I don't think the Rangers should just open up the check book, and throw a king's ransom at another 30 plus year old player who has had big success elsewhere, I also don't think they should turn a blind eye to Richards either. Like many other free agents the Rangers have pursued in the past, he appears to be "the solution" to a lot of their problems. He is a legitimate # 1 center, a big time threat on the power play, and it does make sense to bring him here. The downside to all of that is, he is 31 years old, coming off a bad head injury, and has typical free agent bust written all over him for the Boys in Blue. That doesn't mean he can't be successful here, but the Rangers need to be very cautious in their pursuit of Richards and make sure that if they do bring him in they a.) don't hand out another ridiculous contract, and b.) give him the tools to be successful in New York.
The truth of the matter is the Rangers have done about as much as they can with rebuilding. All of the "home grown" elements are now in place. They have a top 5 goalie in the league in Henrik Lundqvist. Marc Staal and Dan Girardi are one of the best shut down defensive pairings in the league. Michael Sauer and Ryan McDonagh both had strong rookie seasons, and round out a very solid top 4 tandem, that are sound defensively, and very good at what they do. Brandon Dubinsky and Ryan Callahan have developed into the unquestioned leaders of this team, and from this point on should be consistent 23-27 goal scorers. Artem Anisimov, whom I thought might take a step back this year, actually progressed, and along with Derek Stepan, have the potential to develop into consistent 55 to 60 point players. The bottom line is the Rangers have produced more players since the lockout then in any period I can remember in recent memory, but at this point there really is nothing more that they can do through the farm system.
This team now needs difference makers.
They need to go out and acquire the players necessary to put them over the top and put them up there with the elite teams in the Eastern Conference, and eventually, the rest of the league. Teams like Washington, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia. These are the teams the Rangers need to be up there with, and in order for them to do that, they need a legitimate, #1 play making center, a legitimate power play quarterback, and most importantly, Marian Gaborik either needs to bounce back next season, or the Blueshirts need to trade for another legitimate scoring sniper, and get rid of him. That is most likely not going to happen, and in all honesty, it doesn’t need to. Get the right pieces in here and Gaborik can return to the 40 to 45 goal scorer he has been in previous seasons. So, as upset as everyone may be because he had an off year, and made that bone headed play in Game 3, get over it. When healthy, Marian Gaborik is an elite player in the National Hockey League, something not easy to come by, and a player the Rangers can’t afford to just give up on. Yes, he needs to stay healthy, but the Rangers need to help him out, and give him what he needs to be successful here.
They need difference makers, skilled players. Brian Boyle and Brandon Prust are grinding, balls out type players, who will do the grunt work, and provide a little scoring, but they’re not goal scorers. Boyle is more likely a 10-13 goal scorer, then the 20 he potted this season. Anyone else notice he hadn’t scored a goal since March 18th, and before that, February 25th? Cause I sure did.
Free agency is definitely a route, but trades are more what I am suggesting. Am I saying they mortgage the future? Not at all, but Glen Sather needs to be smart here. He has an awful track record with free agency, which has been well documented. For some reason however, he seems to do a lot better when it comes to trades, at least when it comes to getting rid of a big contract for an expiring one. So, instead of waiting until mid-season like he usually does, and trading a big contract for the Wojtek Wolskis and the Olli Jokinens of the world, perhaps he should explore the forbidden route of trading a few prospects for someone who is already established, but is still young and still in his prime. You can't hold on to every single piece in your farm system, and never take a gamble. And besides, not all of them are going to pan out anyway. They already have a nice established young core that is in place, and is very good.
But if the Rangers ever hope to be any higher than a 5th or 6th seed, and get past the 2nd round of the playoffs, they need to add to it. Last time I checked, Lundqvist is not getting any younger, nor is Gaborik. And as good as this current core is, they’re not difference makers. That’s not an indictment on any of them, it’s just reality. They need to get players in here that are going to compliment what they already have, and take them from a blue collar team, to a team that is a true Stanley Cup contender. Most likely, the farm system is not going to produce a player like that anytime soon.
So yes, get Brad Richards if you can. I’m sure all my fellow Blueshirt fans are already saving their pennies for a #91 home blue, or heritage jersey, and that’s fine (as long as it is not another a ridiculous contract). But more importantly, Sather needs to make some trades and get players in here who are REALLY going to make a difference. He can’t just open the check book July 1st, throw money at another big name, and say that’s it. That’s the reason free agents don't succeed here, because no one else is brought in to support them. Well, that’s not good enough anymore.
You have the pieces in the system to really improve this team Glen. So for once, be smart, and get some differences makers in here.
Saturday, April 23, 2011
An Open Letter to the Rangers
Dear New York Rangers,
In the past 3 weeks, I have had the following unfortunate events happen to me:
I lost my wallet, and had to get a new license, ATM card, and Firestone credit card.
I had a nasty finger infection, that kept me in pain for a week, and eventually required me going to the doctor, and getting the sucker popped.
And finally, yesterday morning on my day off, while making breakfast with the wife, I rammed my foot into our washer-dryer unit in the apartment, and now I have a broken freaking toe.
I still have to finish updating all my online accounts with my new ATM card information, so my bills will get paid, and I will not get hit with late charges.
I still have a band-aid on my finger from the infection.
I have to constantly ice and soak my foot, and tape my 2 toes together.
And, I am tired as hell from the Tylenol Codeine that kicked my butt last night.
I AM MISERABLE.
Don't make it worse today.
JUST WIN.
GO RANGERS!!!
In the past 3 weeks, I have had the following unfortunate events happen to me:
I lost my wallet, and had to get a new license, ATM card, and Firestone credit card.
I had a nasty finger infection, that kept me in pain for a week, and eventually required me going to the doctor, and getting the sucker popped.
And finally, yesterday morning on my day off, while making breakfast with the wife, I rammed my foot into our washer-dryer unit in the apartment, and now I have a broken freaking toe.
I still have to finish updating all my online accounts with my new ATM card information, so my bills will get paid, and I will not get hit with late charges.
I still have a band-aid on my finger from the infection.
I have to constantly ice and soak my foot, and tape my 2 toes together.
And, I am tired as hell from the Tylenol Codeine that kicked my butt last night.
I AM MISERABLE.
Don't make it worse today.
JUST WIN.
GO RANGERS!!!
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Don’t Mess With the Garden Faithful
Seriously, don’t mess with the Garden faithful Boudreau.
In case anyone missed it, Bruce Boudreau, Head Coach for the Washington Capitals decided, after his team lost 3-2 to the Rangers on Sunday, to basically whine about everything. From bashing the visitor locker rooms at the Garden, to complaining about the benches being too small (gee, I wonder why), to the hit Marc Staal put on Mike Green on Sunday afternoon. And those are all fine Bruce. Whine all you want about the Garden, it’s not the most perfect building in the world, and Rangers fans know that. It’s old, the sight lines suck, the escalators shut down after games, and we all have to file out of the building either by walking down said turned off escalators, or down the urine smelling stairwell to the left. And cry all you want about a hit that was not even close to warranting a suspension. It just shows what a whiner you are, and how frustrated you are. And it also shows that you’re nervous. You know your job is on the line, and you know there’s a good chance that you will be fired, if you blow this series to the Rangers and bow out AGAIN in the first round.
But don’t mess with the Garden faithful.
Don’t say we were not loud enough on Sunday.
First of all, it’s not true. The place was absolutely rocking Sunday afternoon. From the drop of the puck, when loud, “Let’s Go Rangers” chants rained down from the rafters, to the eruption that ensued when Vinny Prospal put the Boys in Blue up 2-1 in the 2nd, to the pandemonium that engulfed the entire building when Brandon Dubinsky scored the game winner late in the 3rd, to the final buzzer that produced a mad, towel waving fury, the Garden was in typical playoff fashion on Sunday. It may not be what it once was back in the 70’s and 80’s, when rooting for an opposing team in the Blueseats could get you anything from a beer bath, to a jersey being forcefully removed, or even get you tossed over the balcony. It may be filled with a bunch of corporate yuppies down in the 100’s nowadays, and it may not be the mass hysteria that engulfs the Bell Centre on a nightly basis up in Montreal (what place is?), but we do not need any rooting tips from you Bruce.
Rangers fans are known as among the most loyal in all of sports, sell the building out when we suck (unlike Washington), and don’t need gimmicks like blow horns, or the jumbotron telling us when to make noise. And when it comes to the playoffs, we don’t need the Red C in Calgary, the White Out in Pittsburgh, or the Orange Crush in Philly. We’re Rangers fans. We’ve been around 85 years, and we can make plenty of noise. So if you think we weren’t loud enough on Sunday, you’d better bring a good supply of ear plugs tonight. Cause in case you weren’t aware, we have a long list of chants reserved for types just like you.
Chants for Dennis Potvin.
Chants for opposing goalies.
Chants for a large coach with an even larger mouth.
You name, we have it.
Don’t mess with us Bruce.
We weren’t loud enough on Sunday, you say? You have no clue what you’re in for tonight!
Garden faithful...kindly show Boudreau how loud 18,200 people can REALLY be.
Oh, and Blueshirts..please beat this team.
LET’S GO RANGERS!!!!
In case anyone missed it, Bruce Boudreau, Head Coach for the Washington Capitals decided, after his team lost 3-2 to the Rangers on Sunday, to basically whine about everything. From bashing the visitor locker rooms at the Garden, to complaining about the benches being too small (gee, I wonder why), to the hit Marc Staal put on Mike Green on Sunday afternoon. And those are all fine Bruce. Whine all you want about the Garden, it’s not the most perfect building in the world, and Rangers fans know that. It’s old, the sight lines suck, the escalators shut down after games, and we all have to file out of the building either by walking down said turned off escalators, or down the urine smelling stairwell to the left. And cry all you want about a hit that was not even close to warranting a suspension. It just shows what a whiner you are, and how frustrated you are. And it also shows that you’re nervous. You know your job is on the line, and you know there’s a good chance that you will be fired, if you blow this series to the Rangers and bow out AGAIN in the first round.
But don’t mess with the Garden faithful.
Don’t say we were not loud enough on Sunday.
First of all, it’s not true. The place was absolutely rocking Sunday afternoon. From the drop of the puck, when loud, “Let’s Go Rangers” chants rained down from the rafters, to the eruption that ensued when Vinny Prospal put the Boys in Blue up 2-1 in the 2nd, to the pandemonium that engulfed the entire building when Brandon Dubinsky scored the game winner late in the 3rd, to the final buzzer that produced a mad, towel waving fury, the Garden was in typical playoff fashion on Sunday. It may not be what it once was back in the 70’s and 80’s, when rooting for an opposing team in the Blueseats could get you anything from a beer bath, to a jersey being forcefully removed, or even get you tossed over the balcony. It may be filled with a bunch of corporate yuppies down in the 100’s nowadays, and it may not be the mass hysteria that engulfs the Bell Centre on a nightly basis up in Montreal (what place is?), but we do not need any rooting tips from you Bruce.
Rangers fans are known as among the most loyal in all of sports, sell the building out when we suck (unlike Washington), and don’t need gimmicks like blow horns, or the jumbotron telling us when to make noise. And when it comes to the playoffs, we don’t need the Red C in Calgary, the White Out in Pittsburgh, or the Orange Crush in Philly. We’re Rangers fans. We’ve been around 85 years, and we can make plenty of noise. So if you think we weren’t loud enough on Sunday, you’d better bring a good supply of ear plugs tonight. Cause in case you weren’t aware, we have a long list of chants reserved for types just like you.
Chants for Dennis Potvin.
Chants for opposing goalies.
Chants for a large coach with an even larger mouth.
You name, we have it.
Don’t mess with us Bruce.
We weren’t loud enough on Sunday, you say? You have no clue what you’re in for tonight!
Garden faithful...kindly show Boudreau how loud 18,200 people can REALLY be.
Oh, and Blueshirts..please beat this team.
LET’S GO RANGERS!!!!
Saturday, April 16, 2011
An Open Letter to Sean Avery
Dear Sean Avery,
Let me be the first to say to you Sean, that when you first came to the Rangers, I loved you. Loved the passion you played with, loved the way you got under the opposing teams skin, and I particularly loved how you made it a point to get under the skin of Devils goalie, Martin Brodeur. After that first Rangers-Devils game, when during a scramble in front of the net, you knocked the great Mar-tan on his rear-end, you won the hearts and affections of Rangers fans everywhere. And for a while, you pretty much could do no wrong. You became the most important player on the Rangers next to Henrik Lundqvist, himself. You would score timely goals, piss opposing teams off, get into fights. I even remember affectionately coining you, "the Little Bastard", and at one time was seriously considering getting a #16 jersey, personalized with that very name.
Boy, am I glad I saved that money.
And the reason for this Sean is because you have not been "Sean Avery" in a very long time. You've scored 2 goals this entire season, don't get under anybody's skin and you don't even get into fights anymore. You pretty much don't do anything you used to do. I mean seriously, when was the last time you had a "Sean Avery" type game? You know the type of game I'm talking about. Scoring a goal and doing that arrogant fist pumping celebration, getting in the goalie's face, maybe "accidentally" knocking him in the back of the head with your stick when you skate past him after a stoppage in play. How 'bout a little pre-game trash talking with someone during warm-ups, or saying something to a top player when you line up for the face-off? I used to LIVE for those moments, wishing I could be a fly on your jersey to hear what you said to them that would just completely unravel them seconds after the puck was dropped..when was the last that happened? Hmm?
For you to be affective Sean, you need to be a jerk. It's really that simple. Cause when you are, it elevates your WHOLE game. You score goals, your speed becomes an asset, and most of all..the opposing team wants to KILL you! You used to have that Sean. I still remember that playoff series against the Atlanta Thrashers a few years ago, where you threw Ilya Kovalchuk off his game so badly, he pretty much self-destructed trying to go after you, and it made that 4 game sweep by the Rangers that much easier. I also remember the next season in the playoffs against the Devils when your "screening" tactic against Marty resulted in a change of the unsportsmanlike conduct rule the very next day. Heck, it angered Brodeur so much he wouldn't even shake your hand at the end of that series. I mean, Rangers fans were sporting t-shirts that said the "Avery Rule" on the front, and the amendment to the unsportsmanlike conduct on the back..how cool was that??
My wife and I made the trip down to D.C. for Game 2 yesterday, after a long 5 hour plus car ride, just in time for warm-ups. During the day we had heard, via twitter, that you would be in the line up for the game. Now, if this was a few years ago, I would've been excited about that. But I gotta tell ya Sean, I was pretty ho-hum about it, cause you have given me no reason this whole season to be excited about you being in the line up. I was honestly a little ticked off that John Tortorella would remove a young, energetic player like Mats Zuccarello in favor of someone whom, right now, is a shell of his former self.
And seriously Rangers fans, get over the whole love affair with Sean Avery already. I really didn't get that whole scene down by the glass during warm ups yesterday. Here you have a bunch of Caps fans holding up signs that said, "Avery Sucks", and this one "Avery fangirl" is like, "Why do all these stupid Caps fans have 'Avery Sucks' posters? Do they really think that bothers him? He feeds off stuff like that".
Not anymore he doesn't honey.
Then this other young kid says to me right after warms ups ended and the Rangers headed off the ice, "We're gonna win tonight dude...we got Avery back in the line up..I can feel it!!"
I wanted to say to him, "No, we're really not...not because of Sean Avery anyway!"
Perhaps as an older fan I have become more cynical, or maybe just over the years I have gained that sense of perspective about the game that a seasoned fan eventually gets. Either way, there are times when you just know whether or not your team is gonna win, and truth be told..I had a bad feeling about last night. There also comes a time when you know a player is not "panning out" anymore, or when they have lost it. And that is the sense I have gotten about you Mr. Avery.
The bottom line is that if you are in the line up tomorrow Sean, you need to start acting like Sean Avery again. Otherwise, you are of little use to this team. You need to get under Alex Ovechkin's skin. You need to crash the net, and get in goalie, Michal Neuvirth's face. He's a young kid, he CAN be rattled. And who knows, if you actually start doing what you were brought in here to do, and what you've made a career out of, your offensive abilities may soon follow, and it may wake the rest of this Rangers team up. They need something, that's for sure. They're down 2-0 in this best of seven series, and you're one of the veterans on this team, Sean. You need to start leading, and you need to step up your game. Otherwise, you might as well just take a seat in the stands because your lack of "Sean Avery-ness" is killing this team!
Sincerely,
TheGr8Tony
Let me be the first to say to you Sean, that when you first came to the Rangers, I loved you. Loved the passion you played with, loved the way you got under the opposing teams skin, and I particularly loved how you made it a point to get under the skin of Devils goalie, Martin Brodeur. After that first Rangers-Devils game, when during a scramble in front of the net, you knocked the great Mar-tan on his rear-end, you won the hearts and affections of Rangers fans everywhere. And for a while, you pretty much could do no wrong. You became the most important player on the Rangers next to Henrik Lundqvist, himself. You would score timely goals, piss opposing teams off, get into fights. I even remember affectionately coining you, "the Little Bastard", and at one time was seriously considering getting a #16 jersey, personalized with that very name.
Boy, am I glad I saved that money.
And the reason for this Sean is because you have not been "Sean Avery" in a very long time. You've scored 2 goals this entire season, don't get under anybody's skin and you don't even get into fights anymore. You pretty much don't do anything you used to do. I mean seriously, when was the last time you had a "Sean Avery" type game? You know the type of game I'm talking about. Scoring a goal and doing that arrogant fist pumping celebration, getting in the goalie's face, maybe "accidentally" knocking him in the back of the head with your stick when you skate past him after a stoppage in play. How 'bout a little pre-game trash talking with someone during warm-ups, or saying something to a top player when you line up for the face-off? I used to LIVE for those moments, wishing I could be a fly on your jersey to hear what you said to them that would just completely unravel them seconds after the puck was dropped..when was the last that happened? Hmm?
For you to be affective Sean, you need to be a jerk. It's really that simple. Cause when you are, it elevates your WHOLE game. You score goals, your speed becomes an asset, and most of all..the opposing team wants to KILL you! You used to have that Sean. I still remember that playoff series against the Atlanta Thrashers a few years ago, where you threw Ilya Kovalchuk off his game so badly, he pretty much self-destructed trying to go after you, and it made that 4 game sweep by the Rangers that much easier. I also remember the next season in the playoffs against the Devils when your "screening" tactic against Marty resulted in a change of the unsportsmanlike conduct rule the very next day. Heck, it angered Brodeur so much he wouldn't even shake your hand at the end of that series. I mean, Rangers fans were sporting t-shirts that said the "Avery Rule" on the front, and the amendment to the unsportsmanlike conduct on the back..how cool was that??
My wife and I made the trip down to D.C. for Game 2 yesterday, after a long 5 hour plus car ride, just in time for warm-ups. During the day we had heard, via twitter, that you would be in the line up for the game. Now, if this was a few years ago, I would've been excited about that. But I gotta tell ya Sean, I was pretty ho-hum about it, cause you have given me no reason this whole season to be excited about you being in the line up. I was honestly a little ticked off that John Tortorella would remove a young, energetic player like Mats Zuccarello in favor of someone whom, right now, is a shell of his former self.
And seriously Rangers fans, get over the whole love affair with Sean Avery already. I really didn't get that whole scene down by the glass during warm ups yesterday. Here you have a bunch of Caps fans holding up signs that said, "Avery Sucks", and this one "Avery fangirl" is like, "Why do all these stupid Caps fans have 'Avery Sucks' posters? Do they really think that bothers him? He feeds off stuff like that".
Not anymore he doesn't honey.
Then this other young kid says to me right after warms ups ended and the Rangers headed off the ice, "We're gonna win tonight dude...we got Avery back in the line up..I can feel it!!"
I wanted to say to him, "No, we're really not...not because of Sean Avery anyway!"
Perhaps as an older fan I have become more cynical, or maybe just over the years I have gained that sense of perspective about the game that a seasoned fan eventually gets. Either way, there are times when you just know whether or not your team is gonna win, and truth be told..I had a bad feeling about last night. There also comes a time when you know a player is not "panning out" anymore, or when they have lost it. And that is the sense I have gotten about you Mr. Avery.
The bottom line is that if you are in the line up tomorrow Sean, you need to start acting like Sean Avery again. Otherwise, you are of little use to this team. You need to get under Alex Ovechkin's skin. You need to crash the net, and get in goalie, Michal Neuvirth's face. He's a young kid, he CAN be rattled. And who knows, if you actually start doing what you were brought in here to do, and what you've made a career out of, your offensive abilities may soon follow, and it may wake the rest of this Rangers team up. They need something, that's for sure. They're down 2-0 in this best of seven series, and you're one of the veterans on this team, Sean. You need to start leading, and you need to step up your game. Otherwise, you might as well just take a seat in the stands because your lack of "Sean Avery-ness" is killing this team!
Sincerely,
TheGr8Tony
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Pain - A Necessary Evil That Opens Door of Potential for Blueshirts
The New York Rangers fought, scratched and clawed their way into the NHL Playoffs this season, and it was not easy. It was an 82-game “grind” in the purest sense of the word. One that involved the Boys in Blue putting their bodies on the line on a nightly basis, with a defensive style that can best be described as painful. They had the 6th most man games lost to injury in the NHL, and towards the end of the season, John Tortorella was even questioned as to whether or not, this was the smartest strategy to employ, in order to secure victories.
The Head Coach balked at that mere notion that he should even think about changing the team’s style of play. This was the way the team played, this was who they were, and it wasn’t going to change. And in the end, it paid off with a post season berth.
As Brandon Prust put it after a game back in late January when asked if he was going to play after blocking a shot off his foot, “It’s just pain.”
That has been the mentality for this Blueshirts team this year. They are not the most talented group in the world, and they know it. The players themselves agreed early in the season that if they were going to be successful, this was how they would have to do it. They are not favored to win this opening round Eastern Conference Quarterfinals series against the Washington Capitals, which begins tonight at that the Verizon Center, and rightfully so. And if they do get through this series, they will be underdogs in the next round as well. But that is what this team does. They beat teams they shouldn’t beat. They win games no one expects them to win. And if any team is primed for a Cinderella run, it is the New York Rangers. They have that defense first mentality, they have a world class goaltender, and they believe in themselves. And they are willing to make the sacrifice with their arms, with their legs, with their ribs, and yes…even with their faces, in order to block a 99 mph slap shot from the point that is heading towards the net that Henrik Lundqvist can’t see, because he is being screened.
It’s just pain.
And if the Rangers are going to play deep into the post season this year, they will have to do it in the exact same fashion that got them here: By pouring molasses all over the ice, by fore checking, by taking the body, by fearlessly throwing their own in front of pucks, and by riding the coat tails of the King. And they will have to do all of this without the player most associated with this lunch pail, blue collar group, their captain in the making, Ryan Callahan.
It’s just pain.
But let’s also not be deceived here. If the Rangers are going to win this series, not only are they going to have to shut the Capitals down, they’re going to have to score. And that means Marian Gaborik, the man the Rangers are paying a lot of money to score a lot of goals, is going to have to shake off the cobwebs, and do just that. No small task considering Gaborik had no goals in the last 8 games of the regular season, and was benched in numerous 3rd periods by Tortorella. This cannot happen. He needs to put pucks on net, and he needs to finish. It’s just that simple.
The Rangers had no problem scoring goals in the season series against the Caps, outscoring Washington 18-6, and winning 3 of the 4 meetings, 2 of them by the scores of 7-0, and 6-0…the latter of those beat downs coming just 6 weeks ago. They also held superstar scorer, Alexander Ovechkin to zero goals and just 2 assists in the four meetings between the teams this season.
This will not be an easy series. It will be nasty, back and forth, will probably go at least 6 games, and possibly a seventh. The Capitals have been upset the last few seasons by lower seeds, have lost the last 3 of the last 4 Games 7’s in their building, and clearly have something to prove. Keep in mind also that the Rangers themselves took the Caps to a seventh game just two seasons ago, and blew a 3-1 series lead. That defeat is still fresh in their minds.
Breaking it down:
Offense: Edge to the Capitals
Defense: Edge to the Rangers
Goalies: Edge to the Rangers
Special Teams:
Power play – Edge to the Capitals
Penalty Kill – Edge to the Rangers
Coaching: Even
The potential for an upset against the top seed in the Eastern Conference is there, and waiting for the Blueshirts. And if they can get through this series, it will fill them with a lot of confidence. They already have tons of it. Brandon Dubinsky said the other day, "I think we're right there as far as Washington is concerned. We're a confident team and our group is not just happy to be in the first round.” Brandon Prust echoed those sentiments by stating, “We're not just satisfied with getting in. We want to make a move. The Stanley Cup isn't far off in our minds. It'll be a lot of work but it's attainable."
The potential is there, and the confidence is as well. But if the Rangers are going to do this, they will most likely have to endure a lot of pain in the process.
Nothing new for this team.
As Prust said, back in January:
It’s just pain.
The Head Coach balked at that mere notion that he should even think about changing the team’s style of play. This was the way the team played, this was who they were, and it wasn’t going to change. And in the end, it paid off with a post season berth.
As Brandon Prust put it after a game back in late January when asked if he was going to play after blocking a shot off his foot, “It’s just pain.”
That has been the mentality for this Blueshirts team this year. They are not the most talented group in the world, and they know it. The players themselves agreed early in the season that if they were going to be successful, this was how they would have to do it. They are not favored to win this opening round Eastern Conference Quarterfinals series against the Washington Capitals, which begins tonight at that the Verizon Center, and rightfully so. And if they do get through this series, they will be underdogs in the next round as well. But that is what this team does. They beat teams they shouldn’t beat. They win games no one expects them to win. And if any team is primed for a Cinderella run, it is the New York Rangers. They have that defense first mentality, they have a world class goaltender, and they believe in themselves. And they are willing to make the sacrifice with their arms, with their legs, with their ribs, and yes…even with their faces, in order to block a 99 mph slap shot from the point that is heading towards the net that Henrik Lundqvist can’t see, because he is being screened.
It’s just pain.
And if the Rangers are going to play deep into the post season this year, they will have to do it in the exact same fashion that got them here: By pouring molasses all over the ice, by fore checking, by taking the body, by fearlessly throwing their own in front of pucks, and by riding the coat tails of the King. And they will have to do all of this without the player most associated with this lunch pail, blue collar group, their captain in the making, Ryan Callahan.
It’s just pain.
But let’s also not be deceived here. If the Rangers are going to win this series, not only are they going to have to shut the Capitals down, they’re going to have to score. And that means Marian Gaborik, the man the Rangers are paying a lot of money to score a lot of goals, is going to have to shake off the cobwebs, and do just that. No small task considering Gaborik had no goals in the last 8 games of the regular season, and was benched in numerous 3rd periods by Tortorella. This cannot happen. He needs to put pucks on net, and he needs to finish. It’s just that simple.
The Rangers had no problem scoring goals in the season series against the Caps, outscoring Washington 18-6, and winning 3 of the 4 meetings, 2 of them by the scores of 7-0, and 6-0…the latter of those beat downs coming just 6 weeks ago. They also held superstar scorer, Alexander Ovechkin to zero goals and just 2 assists in the four meetings between the teams this season.
This will not be an easy series. It will be nasty, back and forth, will probably go at least 6 games, and possibly a seventh. The Capitals have been upset the last few seasons by lower seeds, have lost the last 3 of the last 4 Games 7’s in their building, and clearly have something to prove. Keep in mind also that the Rangers themselves took the Caps to a seventh game just two seasons ago, and blew a 3-1 series lead. That defeat is still fresh in their minds.
Breaking it down:
Offense: Edge to the Capitals
Defense: Edge to the Rangers
Goalies: Edge to the Rangers
Special Teams:
Power play – Edge to the Capitals
Penalty Kill – Edge to the Rangers
Coaching: Even
The potential for an upset against the top seed in the Eastern Conference is there, and waiting for the Blueshirts. And if they can get through this series, it will fill them with a lot of confidence. They already have tons of it. Brandon Dubinsky said the other day, "I think we're right there as far as Washington is concerned. We're a confident team and our group is not just happy to be in the first round.” Brandon Prust echoed those sentiments by stating, “We're not just satisfied with getting in. We want to make a move. The Stanley Cup isn't far off in our minds. It'll be a lot of work but it's attainable."
The potential is there, and the confidence is as well. But if the Rangers are going to do this, they will most likely have to endure a lot of pain in the process.
Nothing new for this team.
As Prust said, back in January:
It’s just pain.
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Superstitions Abandoned
You suck Atlanta.
Really, really suck.
Hope your pathetic franchise folds and you never make the playoffs again.
Screw it.
Going with the Callahan USA Jersey today.
They win, it's because it was meant to be.
They lose..it had NOTHING to do with what I wore.
Don't let us down today boys.
LET'S GO RANGERS!!!
Really, really suck.
Hope your pathetic franchise folds and you never make the playoffs again.
Screw it.
Going with the Callahan USA Jersey today.
They win, it's because it was meant to be.
They lose..it had NOTHING to do with what I wore.
Don't let us down today boys.
LET'S GO RANGERS!!!
Friday, April 8, 2011
An Angry, Irrational Look at Last Night’s Hockey Event in New York
Ok, so before I go any further, let me just say that superstitions suck.
Yeah, that’s right...after that nice long blog yesterday proclaiming that they work…I’m here to tell you that they suck.
And ya know why? Not because they don’t work, because they do. But ya know what else they do? Mislead you. Cause after you’ve had success with them, you get all caught up in them, and it causes you to over think the next round of good karma. And that’s exactly what I did last night before the game.
I had it all planned out when I got home. It was going to be such a good night. The wife had an interview earlier in the day for a new position within her company that went very well, so she picked up sushi for dinner, and a bottle of wine to celebrate. A little hockey on tap, a mini celebration because of the interview, all the makings of an awesome night. We put the game on, Ryan Callahan had come out on crutches before the drop of the puck, and got a huge ovation from the sold out Garden crowd, and I was so pumped. So excited. So hopeful.
If only I hadn’t done the stupid thing I did before the game.
I had it in my mind all day. I wasn’t going to wear any Rangers related items during the game. It had already been established yesterday that it was bad luck. But searching for “good luck”, and “good karma”, and completely trying to force the issue, I decided it would be a good idea to take one of my Rangers jerseys out of the closet and lay in on the floor in the bedroom. For I had this stupid, ridiculous, WTF was I thinking idea in my head, that with each goal the Rangers scored, I would take another jersey out of the closet, and basically make a path of jerseys from the bedroom, to the living room.
Really Tony?
REALLY??
#1..Ya probably don’t have enough jerseys to do that...it’s a long freaking distance from the living room to the bedroom. That’s the first thing.
#2..Laying a jersey on the floor is (with all due respect to Old Glory) probably the hockey equivalent of laying the American flag on the ground…YA JUST DON’T DO IT!!
#3..What a stupid freaking idea…WHY on earth would you do that???
And as if to show you how RIDICULOUS this asinine idea was...the hockey gods made sure the Rangers didn’t score ONE goal last night.
Not one.
And why?
Because you are an idiot.
And now because of YOU, the Rangers basically have a do or die situation coming up tomorrow, at the Garden, against the Devils. That thing you wanted to avoid all season long? That fear you’ve lived with for the past 2 or 3 months, that it would all come down to this last freaking game? Well, it's here. And all because YOU decided to force a stupid, unfounded, idiotic idea down the throats of the hockey gods. And they saw it for all its ridiculousness, bent you over the couch, and shoved it where the sun doesn’t shine.
Idiot.
Ok...so, moving back to reality.
I do realize that my actions last night (most likely…probably…I GUESS), didn’t have any affect on the play of the Rangers last night. No, the only ones to blame for that complete and utter no show, that 60 minute disgrace, in the biggest game of the year (until of course, Saturday’s), is squarely upon the shoulders of the Boys in Blue. They had nothing. Absolutely NOTHING, and how on earth they could come out and play like that against the freaking Atlanta Thrashers, who by the way WILL get destroyed by the Carolina Hurricanes tonight, after that emotional win on Monday against the Bruins, is BEYOND my capacity for justification. And after watching that garbage last night, I am not very optimistic about Saturday’s upcoming tilt against New Jersey. Could they surprise me? Sure. Am I expecting it? Not really. And if they do win, and somehow hold off the Hurricanes, I think it will be more of a relief than anything. But whatever...heaven forbid they don’t get in, all I’ve really done is saved myself from a beat down against the Capitals in the first round, right? RIGHT??
No, not really. The truth is, I still believe in this team. And deep down, I truly believe that if they do get in, the Rangers could actually do some damage in the playoffs, or at the very least, scare the living daylights out of a top seed in the East. They have that aura about them. They’re a low seed with a great goaltender, a blue collar mentality, and are primed for a Cinderella run. And yes, I am just talking out of pure anger right now. Cause I was expecting A LOT more from them last night. After that great win Monday night, after Ryan Callahan literally sacrificed his season to secure that victory, I honestly had bought in to the whole, “Rally for Cally”, “Us against the world” mentality. And for them to come out like they did, against a team that has NOTHING to play for, was a slap in the face to Rangers fans, and to Callahan, for that matter. They needed to do better. And they need to be better moving forward, plain and simple.
They have one more chance tomorrow afternoon. Whether Carolina wins or loses tonight, they need to come out against the Devils and give a MUCH better showing then they did against the Thrashers.
They owe it to themselves, they owe it Callahan, and they owe it to us.
Yeah, that’s right...after that nice long blog yesterday proclaiming that they work…I’m here to tell you that they suck.
And ya know why? Not because they don’t work, because they do. But ya know what else they do? Mislead you. Cause after you’ve had success with them, you get all caught up in them, and it causes you to over think the next round of good karma. And that’s exactly what I did last night before the game.
I had it all planned out when I got home. It was going to be such a good night. The wife had an interview earlier in the day for a new position within her company that went very well, so she picked up sushi for dinner, and a bottle of wine to celebrate. A little hockey on tap, a mini celebration because of the interview, all the makings of an awesome night. We put the game on, Ryan Callahan had come out on crutches before the drop of the puck, and got a huge ovation from the sold out Garden crowd, and I was so pumped. So excited. So hopeful.
If only I hadn’t done the stupid thing I did before the game.
I had it in my mind all day. I wasn’t going to wear any Rangers related items during the game. It had already been established yesterday that it was bad luck. But searching for “good luck”, and “good karma”, and completely trying to force the issue, I decided it would be a good idea to take one of my Rangers jerseys out of the closet and lay in on the floor in the bedroom. For I had this stupid, ridiculous, WTF was I thinking idea in my head, that with each goal the Rangers scored, I would take another jersey out of the closet, and basically make a path of jerseys from the bedroom, to the living room.
Really Tony?
REALLY??
#1..Ya probably don’t have enough jerseys to do that...it’s a long freaking distance from the living room to the bedroom. That’s the first thing.
#2..Laying a jersey on the floor is (with all due respect to Old Glory) probably the hockey equivalent of laying the American flag on the ground…YA JUST DON’T DO IT!!
#3..What a stupid freaking idea…WHY on earth would you do that???
And as if to show you how RIDICULOUS this asinine idea was...the hockey gods made sure the Rangers didn’t score ONE goal last night.
Not one.
And why?
Because you are an idiot.
And now because of YOU, the Rangers basically have a do or die situation coming up tomorrow, at the Garden, against the Devils. That thing you wanted to avoid all season long? That fear you’ve lived with for the past 2 or 3 months, that it would all come down to this last freaking game? Well, it's here. And all because YOU decided to force a stupid, unfounded, idiotic idea down the throats of the hockey gods. And they saw it for all its ridiculousness, bent you over the couch, and shoved it where the sun doesn’t shine.
Idiot.
Ok...so, moving back to reality.
I do realize that my actions last night (most likely…probably…I GUESS), didn’t have any affect on the play of the Rangers last night. No, the only ones to blame for that complete and utter no show, that 60 minute disgrace, in the biggest game of the year (until of course, Saturday’s), is squarely upon the shoulders of the Boys in Blue. They had nothing. Absolutely NOTHING, and how on earth they could come out and play like that against the freaking Atlanta Thrashers, who by the way WILL get destroyed by the Carolina Hurricanes tonight, after that emotional win on Monday against the Bruins, is BEYOND my capacity for justification. And after watching that garbage last night, I am not very optimistic about Saturday’s upcoming tilt against New Jersey. Could they surprise me? Sure. Am I expecting it? Not really. And if they do win, and somehow hold off the Hurricanes, I think it will be more of a relief than anything. But whatever...heaven forbid they don’t get in, all I’ve really done is saved myself from a beat down against the Capitals in the first round, right? RIGHT??
No, not really. The truth is, I still believe in this team. And deep down, I truly believe that if they do get in, the Rangers could actually do some damage in the playoffs, or at the very least, scare the living daylights out of a top seed in the East. They have that aura about them. They’re a low seed with a great goaltender, a blue collar mentality, and are primed for a Cinderella run. And yes, I am just talking out of pure anger right now. Cause I was expecting A LOT more from them last night. After that great win Monday night, after Ryan Callahan literally sacrificed his season to secure that victory, I honestly had bought in to the whole, “Rally for Cally”, “Us against the world” mentality. And for them to come out like they did, against a team that has NOTHING to play for, was a slap in the face to Rangers fans, and to Callahan, for that matter. They needed to do better. And they need to be better moving forward, plain and simple.
They have one more chance tomorrow afternoon. Whether Carolina wins or loses tonight, they need to come out against the Devils and give a MUCH better showing then they did against the Thrashers.
They owe it to themselves, they owe it Callahan, and they owe it to us.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Superstitions…Not Just a Sports Fan’s Hollow Ritual!
Superstitions. We all have them as sports fans, and we all follow them to a tee.
And they work. I swear to you, they do.
My wife, for example, will wear the same jersey, same jeans, same hooded sweater, same t-shirt, and even the same socks after a win for her beloved team from Newark. Sometimes she will not even wash them. Think of the implications of that after a long winning streak. That can be unpleasant.
I, too, have had my own superstitions this year with the Rangers. Ranging from normal (at least from a sports fan's perspective), to bizarre, to downright outrageous. And Monday night was when it reached that point for me.
For a long time, wearing Rangers gear has not normally been a good idea for me on game days. It would seem whenever I would wear a Rangers t-shirt, or a sweat shirt, or anything bearing the emblem of the Boys in Blue, they would lose. So at one point this season, I just stopped wearing Rangers gear on games days. I would not even sleep in a t-shirt with a Rangers logo the night before, if I knew they had a game the next day. However, it reached a point in February of this year, when NOTHING I was doing was working for me.
So one Sunday afternoon, after a particularly disheartening defeat the night before (in which I did not wear a single thing Rangers related), and another game to follow that night, I angrily proclaimed to my wife that I did not care anymore. And that I was going to wear my Rangers t-shirts, sweat shirts, sweat pants, whenever I felt like it, and if they won, great. If they lost, whatever. It had nothing to do with me, or any of my silly superstitions, which was what they were to me at that moment. So that night I watched the Rangers, wearing my Original Six t-shirt, which bore the logos of the 6 classic teams from that era, including a very tiny Rangers logo. And wonder of wonders, they won.
However, feeling that victory was the only one I could get out of that shirt, I quickly discarded it, and switched to a different one the next game. This time with a full blown Rangers logo on it. And they won again. I wore that same shirt a few nights later, just to test it, and they lost. I switched to another one the next game, and they won.
I proceeded to spend the next few weeks going through my ENTIRE Rangers wardrobe, never wearing the same thing twice. Wearing whatever felt natural to me at that moment. Such as my old school Rangers sweater one night when I was at my best friend's house watching the game, to my 80's style Rangers jersey a few nights later when I was at the Garden, both of which I do not wear very often. I was now fully locked into my routine, and the Blueshirts kept on winning. I was so sure of this formula for success, I wouldn't even tell my wife what I was doing.
And then I made the mistake of telling her one night, and they lost. And you better believe I blamed her for that loss. It was all her fault. I swear to you it was.
After that, I tried going back to the beginning of the wardrobe cycle again, but with mixed results. Some wins, some losses. And then my biggest fears became reality, as my wardrobe suddenly betrayed me again. They started losing whenever I would wear an item with a Rangers logo on it, going back to my original theory that wearing Blueshirt gear on game days was indeed, bad luck.
Don't believe me? I did not wear anything Rangers related when they played the Flyers this past Sunday afternoon, and they won. I started off Monday's game against the Bruins wearing that same Original Six t-shirt that started the 7 game point streak, and they were losing 3-0, for almost the entire game. So, with under 4 minutes to go, and the Rangers still trailing 3-2, I angrily removed the shirt, flung it across the living room, and sat there on the couch in just my boxer shorts. I did that half thinking it might help, half not even caring what the results were.
And then, Dubinsky scored, and tied the game.
I jumped up off the couch, screaming at the top of my lungs, and in mid-celebration, grabbed that evil Original Six t-shirt off the floor, ran into the bedroom, and SLAMMED it into the hamper, all to the complete befuddlement of my wife, sitting on the bed, switching back and forth between the game and another program, and watching me...with utter amazement.
But whatever..running back into the living room, I then proceeded to remove my boxers, and throw them down the stairs. I watched the rest of the game in my underwear. No lie.
Until of course, 51 seconds later, when Michale Sauer scored to put the Rangers ahead with less then 3 minute to go in the game. And then complete BEDLAM occurred in my household. And my poor wife was witness to it ALL!
See my point here folks?
Superstitions work. No matter how strange, how odd, or how jaw dropping to another person they may seem. THEY WORK. So, whatever I feel is going to help the Rangers tonight, as they take on the Thrashers at the Garden, I will do. They need this win more than any tonight, with Carolina just 2 points behind them for the 8th, and final, playoff spot. A win tonight, and a Hurricane loss tomorrow against those same Thrashers, and the Boys in Blue are in the playoffs. A loss, and it all comes down to that final game at home, against the Devils. I do not want that. For my sake, for my wife's, and for my best friend, whom I will be watching the game with at his house at 12:30, Saturday afternoon. Do you really think he wants sit to there with me, while I watch the entire game in just my boxers?? No, he doesn't. Nor does his wife, but if that’s what it takes, then so be it. So, Tod and Amy…you’ve been warned!
Superstitions. We all have them. So, fellow Rangers fans… whatever rituals you have out there tonight…do ‘em. If you don’t, but have a gut feeling about doing something, but you’re a little trepidacious, don’t be. Sometimes the weirdest things can make a difference. Who in the world thought me throwing a t-shirt across the room Monday night, and watching the rest of the game in my boxers would work?
But it did…I swear to you, it did. And you can rest assured, whatever magic I have to weave tonight, whatever ritual I have to follow, whatever weird gut feeling, or sudden urge I get, I will do. Anything to assure victory for the New York Rangers tonight, and set up the possibility of a playoff clincher before Saturday’s final game.
Cause superstitions work.
I swear to you, they do.
And they work. I swear to you, they do.
My wife, for example, will wear the same jersey, same jeans, same hooded sweater, same t-shirt, and even the same socks after a win for her beloved team from Newark. Sometimes she will not even wash them. Think of the implications of that after a long winning streak. That can be unpleasant.
I, too, have had my own superstitions this year with the Rangers. Ranging from normal (at least from a sports fan's perspective), to bizarre, to downright outrageous. And Monday night was when it reached that point for me.
For a long time, wearing Rangers gear has not normally been a good idea for me on game days. It would seem whenever I would wear a Rangers t-shirt, or a sweat shirt, or anything bearing the emblem of the Boys in Blue, they would lose. So at one point this season, I just stopped wearing Rangers gear on games days. I would not even sleep in a t-shirt with a Rangers logo the night before, if I knew they had a game the next day. However, it reached a point in February of this year, when NOTHING I was doing was working for me.
So one Sunday afternoon, after a particularly disheartening defeat the night before (in which I did not wear a single thing Rangers related), and another game to follow that night, I angrily proclaimed to my wife that I did not care anymore. And that I was going to wear my Rangers t-shirts, sweat shirts, sweat pants, whenever I felt like it, and if they won, great. If they lost, whatever. It had nothing to do with me, or any of my silly superstitions, which was what they were to me at that moment. So that night I watched the Rangers, wearing my Original Six t-shirt, which bore the logos of the 6 classic teams from that era, including a very tiny Rangers logo. And wonder of wonders, they won.
However, feeling that victory was the only one I could get out of that shirt, I quickly discarded it, and switched to a different one the next game. This time with a full blown Rangers logo on it. And they won again. I wore that same shirt a few nights later, just to test it, and they lost. I switched to another one the next game, and they won.
I proceeded to spend the next few weeks going through my ENTIRE Rangers wardrobe, never wearing the same thing twice. Wearing whatever felt natural to me at that moment. Such as my old school Rangers sweater one night when I was at my best friend's house watching the game, to my 80's style Rangers jersey a few nights later when I was at the Garden, both of which I do not wear very often. I was now fully locked into my routine, and the Blueshirts kept on winning. I was so sure of this formula for success, I wouldn't even tell my wife what I was doing.
And then I made the mistake of telling her one night, and they lost. And you better believe I blamed her for that loss. It was all her fault. I swear to you it was.
After that, I tried going back to the beginning of the wardrobe cycle again, but with mixed results. Some wins, some losses. And then my biggest fears became reality, as my wardrobe suddenly betrayed me again. They started losing whenever I would wear an item with a Rangers logo on it, going back to my original theory that wearing Blueshirt gear on game days was indeed, bad luck.
Don't believe me? I did not wear anything Rangers related when they played the Flyers this past Sunday afternoon, and they won. I started off Monday's game against the Bruins wearing that same Original Six t-shirt that started the 7 game point streak, and they were losing 3-0, for almost the entire game. So, with under 4 minutes to go, and the Rangers still trailing 3-2, I angrily removed the shirt, flung it across the living room, and sat there on the couch in just my boxer shorts. I did that half thinking it might help, half not even caring what the results were.
And then, Dubinsky scored, and tied the game.
I jumped up off the couch, screaming at the top of my lungs, and in mid-celebration, grabbed that evil Original Six t-shirt off the floor, ran into the bedroom, and SLAMMED it into the hamper, all to the complete befuddlement of my wife, sitting on the bed, switching back and forth between the game and another program, and watching me...with utter amazement.
But whatever..running back into the living room, I then proceeded to remove my boxers, and throw them down the stairs. I watched the rest of the game in my underwear. No lie.
Until of course, 51 seconds later, when Michale Sauer scored to put the Rangers ahead with less then 3 minute to go in the game. And then complete BEDLAM occurred in my household. And my poor wife was witness to it ALL!
See my point here folks?
Superstitions work. No matter how strange, how odd, or how jaw dropping to another person they may seem. THEY WORK. So, whatever I feel is going to help the Rangers tonight, as they take on the Thrashers at the Garden, I will do. They need this win more than any tonight, with Carolina just 2 points behind them for the 8th, and final, playoff spot. A win tonight, and a Hurricane loss tomorrow against those same Thrashers, and the Boys in Blue are in the playoffs. A loss, and it all comes down to that final game at home, against the Devils. I do not want that. For my sake, for my wife's, and for my best friend, whom I will be watching the game with at his house at 12:30, Saturday afternoon. Do you really think he wants sit to there with me, while I watch the entire game in just my boxers?? No, he doesn't. Nor does his wife, but if that’s what it takes, then so be it. So, Tod and Amy…you’ve been warned!
Superstitions. We all have them. So, fellow Rangers fans… whatever rituals you have out there tonight…do ‘em. If you don’t, but have a gut feeling about doing something, but you’re a little trepidacious, don’t be. Sometimes the weirdest things can make a difference. Who in the world thought me throwing a t-shirt across the room Monday night, and watching the rest of the game in my boxers would work?
But it did…I swear to you, it did. And you can rest assured, whatever magic I have to weave tonight, whatever ritual I have to follow, whatever weird gut feeling, or sudden urge I get, I will do. Anything to assure victory for the New York Rangers tonight, and set up the possibility of a playoff clincher before Saturday’s final game.
Cause superstitions work.
I swear to you, they do.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Set Back In Buffalo, Makes Tonight a Must Win In Long Island For Blueshirts
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.
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.
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.
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