Saturday, February 28, 2009

Rangers 6, Avalanche 1


Now that was fun, entertaining, old-time hockey at the Garden. The Rangers came out flying, scored 4 early goals, and ended the night with some good old fashioned butt-kicking that had the crowd on its feet.

Colorado came back to control the play for the second half of the third, but for some reason you just had a feeling this was not going to be the same as that Ovechkin explosion earlier in the season.

Everything went right yesterday, as most teams within reach of the Rangers lost. This will be a battle to make the playoffs. Despite the opponent yesterday, if the Rangers continue to attack like they did yesterday they will in good shape. Can you see another Rangers-Devils first round matchup with Sean Avery in the mix?...

Friday, February 27, 2009

Panthers 2, Rangers 1


The above is a tool that hockey players use to curve their sticks. The Rangers need to start using it.

Three wide open nets above the goalie's pad were shot too low and off the pad. Ryan Callahan and Scott Gomez had those opportunities, ones that had you ready to celebrate a goal only to have you scream, "how could you not lift that?" Throw in a failed 5 on 3 for around 45 seconds in the 3rd period that could not break the game open and you have yet another loss.

If you go by strictly wins and losses, the Rangers are now 31-32. The good start has kept them in the playoff race.

Honestly you can't complain too much about last night's effort. Just lift the puck please.

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Maple Leafs 2, Rangers 1, SO


If you simply look at the score, you would not think anything was different about this game, the first in the John Tortorella era. However, there were some good signs.

The power play quarterback we needed actually scored a goal- on the power play! Petr Prucha was on the power play. He even had more than 15 minutes of ice time.

Dan Girardi was finally free from playing with Wade Redden. There was a ton of ice time for the top four defensemen.

Torts said the team was gassed in the third period. Don't know what that means for the rest of this season. Perhaps you might see a couple of hard practices during that stretch of days off in the first week of March. Otherwise, you don't want to wear them out any more than they already are.

Aaron Voros, who was a healthy scratch, could return to the lineup today vs the Panthers. My guess is that Colton Orr (a shade over six minutes of ice last night) sits out his first game of the season.

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Hope Springs Eternal

The Rangers open up with a new regime tonight. The Mets open up their Grapefruit League schedule. Optimism abound.

Wade Redden has been signed to be our power play quarterback. Nik Zherdev has been acquired in a trade and should be one of our top goal scorers. Markus Naslund has been brought on to be our top line left winger. We have high expectations for youngsters Brandon Dubinsky and Nigel Dawes. It starts tonight.

It's a clean slate. Forget what happened the last few months. It's a 21-game sprint to make the playoffs. While they do count, consider the next three games an abbreviated pre-season. Who will make the team? Who will be the go to guys late in the game? Who will be on the power play? Should be a fun week.

Down in Florida, the Mets will be in actual game action. A 30-100 season from Carlos Delgado. Jose Reyes and Luis Castillo wreaking havoc at the top of the order, with on-base percentages pushing .400. Game over with a lead after 7 innings. Oliver Perez finding consistency. Johan Santana with 20+ wins. Ryan Church and Brian Schneider making that Milledge trade lopsided in our favor. What a great time of year.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Hello Brooksy

The Rangers picked the right guy for this season. Welcome back John Tortorella. Coming off of Tom Renney, this is a complete 180. No need to question accountability anymore.

Could we see something as drastic as Wade Redden getting sent to Hartford? If and when Sean Avery gets claimed off re-entry waivers, how will that circus play out? There's one thing for sure- the entertainment value just went up. Post game pressers will be interesting again. Maybe the Rangers will actually "go for the win" instead of settle for the shootout? If the results are not there, at least it will be fun again.

This next week is going to be like a tryout for the Rangers. The trade deadline is fast approaching and Torts has three games in four nights to see what he's got. Glen Sather has said the new coach will have a say in moves that could be made prior to the trade deadline.

Speaking of Sather, those calling for his head, get over it. Yes, he deserves to go. But it's not going to happen mid-season, it does not make any sense. You had to try to save this season, and replacing the coach was the best that could have been done. A new GM is not going to do anything with the trade deadline so close. Besides, Sather is not going anywhere until Dolan gets his head out of his behind.

Finally, will there be more encounters with Larry Brooks like this one?..

Monday, February 23, 2009

Renney Fired

Well, there you have it. It was time. As of now there is no word on a replacement, but it looks like it's going to be Jim Schoenfeld. Perry Pearn is out as well. Fire the coach and the one in charge of the power play. About time.

I liked Tom Renney, but it was clear a change like this had to be made. Hopefully he can find a gig somewhere else with a younger team, where no one is locked to a long-term deal and has to play even though they deserve to be scratched. Not making the players accountable was just not going to fly around here with these millionaires.

Maple Leafs 3, Rangers 2, OT


Different ceremony, same result. Another last minute goal to tie the game and salvage a bonus point, only to lose in the extra session.

It was a shame to see the empty seats for the Bathgate-Howell ceremony, but that's what you get when you do something almost 30 years too late. This should have been done not long after they were inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in the late 70's. You wait a generation later and only the diehards are interested.

The team continues its tailspin. It seemed like the effort was there last night, but there comes a point where you press too much, as Chris Drury did, going for the breakaway and failing to intercept the pass, leading to the Toronto goal that made it 2-1.

It does not look like Aaron Voros is going to get any respect in this league fighting-wise after jumping on Jamal Mayers while he was still trying to get his pads off. Then again, maybe Mayers should not have been doing that anyway, so they are even there.

On a personal note, I have not had a chance to catch the games on Wednesday nights recently. Why do I note that? The last two wins have come against Washington and the Islanders, both on Wednesday nights. The team has now lost nine straight when I watch. So there you have it, good news for the rematch in Toronto, which is this Wednesday.

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Sabres 4, Rangers 2


Winning streak? Who would ever think of such a thing? Not for these Rangers, who continue to struggle, losing an important game vs a team that is now tied with them in the standings. Six teams are battling for four playoffs spots, and if you go by recent play the Rangers are going to be the odd team out.

This game started out so promising. The team was hitting and looked liked they cared. Had a couple of scoring chances, including a post by Michal Rozsival. Then there was that silly cross ice pass towards the defensive zone that was deflected by Nigel Dawes, throwing off Marc Staal and creating a 2 on 1 vs. Rozsival. In his last game as #3, he commits to the passer, leaving Daniel Paille all alone for the score. It was pretty much over at that point (yes, at 1-0).

Down 3-0, Colton Orr takes another stupid penalty trying to start an altercation. You know the Rangers have been losing by a few goals a lot lately, because there have been plenty of these.

You don't wish for injuries, but the only positive thing that happened in this game for the Rangers was that Ryan Miller might be out an extended period of time after injuring his leg in a collision with Scott Gomez.

The Rangers are now only 3 points ahead of Carolina, who sit in 9th. Pittsburgh, who is getting hot, is only 4 points back in 10th.

*****

-At least there was some entertaining hockey on elsewhere. How about Mats Sundin scoring the shootout winner in his return to Toronto?
-The Islanders shut out the Devils 4-0??

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Rangers 3, Islanders 1


How about that, a regulation win? Finally. Petr Prucha was a goal away from the Gordie Howe hattrick. Sure, he had some defensive lapses, but what do you want from the guy? He provided a spark and set up scoring chances.

It was a game they had to win and they did. Next is a trip to the Niagara Falls area, come home, and go back to same area. Strange scheduling.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

"I Laid My Bed, Now I Have To Sit On It"


Unfortunately, we will have to hear all A-Rod all the time in the next few days. As if the Rangers of New York were irrelevant enough already. Even the Mets are enjoying a quiet spring, never mind K-Rod proclaiming they are the "team to beat." Like Brett Myers said, that's just a bad sequel.

Can we get over this story please? It's over. Everyone juiced up in the late 90's-early 00's. It's was baseball's fault for not implementing a steroid policy early on. How do you erase these stats from the record book? While this was considered cheating, it was not illegal. You can compare it to stealing signs. Until there are rules in place, anything is fair game. Are you doing your body harm with steroids? Of course. That is the player's choice. Kudos to the clean players for playing an honest game.

Steroids or not, Alex Rodriguez is a championship away from cementing his spot in the hall of fame. Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens, hated as they are, belong there as well. They were dominant and would have been so even without the juice. Not 70+ homers dominant though- that single season HR record is another argument. The next clean player who breaks 61 HRs in a season should have all the accolades and fanfare received by McGwire and Bonds. Will there name be in the record book if they finish with 63? No. But they should get their due somehow. The same can be said for the next clean player who approaches 755. Let's move on.

Blues 2, Rangers 1


Did anything really happen in this game, other than the Rangers losing again?

Anyone watching knew Aaron Voros was in trouble as soon as he went at it with Cam Janssen. That was an ass-whipping. Again, what are you trying to prove? The crowd got fired up. St. Louis scores a couple of minutes later to take the 1-0 lead. And to think the goal was scored right after a Rangers timeout. Way to stop the momentum.

Lauri Korpikoski is seemingly scoring every game. Yet he gets rewarded with 8:36 of ice time. I'm at a loss for words.

It's time for a change. Yes, a lot of this falls on management, who put this roster together and has put us in salary cap hell. One would think you would learn from your co-tenants on the hardwood. But to continue rolling out the same guys shift after shift and putting them in key situations when they continue to not produce- that falls squarely on the coach. We need someone who will reward kids like Korpikoski with an occasional sniff of the power play. Heck, I would not have had a problem if the kid was out there in the final seconds with the goalie pulled. It's time for some accountability. It's time for a change behind the bench.

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Flyers 5, Rangers 2


What a brutal day at the Garden. Make it eight straight without a win in regulation, seven of them losses, with some bonus OT points sprinkled in.

Down 1-0 in the second, the Rangers had a 5 on 3, which is nothing but bad news. Bad news got worse, as Mike Richards pounced and scored shorthanded, down two men, to make it 2-0. It was the second time the Rangers have given up a 3 on 5 goal, both to Richards, adding to the growing list of shorties vs the Rangers this season.

Henrik got pulled after allowing the 4th Flyer goal, the third goal in a span of 1:49 that put this baby to bed in the second period. As much as he stole games for the Rangers this season, I have lost count of how many games he has been pulled.

Petr Prucha returned to the lineup and his line, along with Dubinsky and Zherdev, was the team's best in the third period, but too little too late. Who is on this team's first line?

Down 5-1 early in the third, Michal Rozsival coasts his way to touch up an icing by the Flyers. Can you please show a little hustle or desperation? This team is dead.

Paul Mara injured his shoulder in a fight with Aaron Asham and could miss some significant time. His arm was in a sling after the game and he did not make the trip to St. Louis with the team.

Carolina is beating Buffalo 2-0 with a few minutes to go in the third, so 9th place could gain some ground.

It looks as though unless there is a major shakeup, it's only going to get worse with this team. Raise the cap several million each year since the lockout and you have the team falling back to bad habits pre-lockout, putting us back in the Dark Ages (1998-2004) again. Pitchers and catchers have reported in Port St. Lucie and we have a season in a new ballpark to look forward to.

Gameday: Flyers at Rangers 12:30pm

Flyers 29-25(9)
Rangers 30-26(6)

If the Rangers want home advantage in the first round of the playoffs, they need a win, in regulation, today. Of course priority these days is to simply make the playoffs, with the way the team is struggling and everyone hot on the trail behind them. The team is in a virtual three way tie with the Canadiens and Panthers for 5th and Buffalo only a game behind them. There is a little separation from the non-playoff teams, with Carolina about two games behind the Sabres for the 8th spot.

Games behind you say? Isn't that for baseball? Look, you've already heard me complain about teams and broadcasters celebrating a certain position in the standings even if they are up a point on a team that has three games in hand on them. Games behind give you a more accurate picture, plus if I mention points behind you might confuse what I'm saying with the actual NHL standings. You're probably confused already. I could give you the points behind based on percentage for a specific number of games played, but you could see that on the right side. Look, just know that two games behind mean the team that is trailing would tie the team ahead if they won two games and the team ahead lost two games.

Back to the Phillies- I mean, the Flyers. Five of the remaining 26 games are against them. Hopefully Tom Renny will not play for shootout late third period in any of these games if they are tied. There's no sense in giving someone so close in the standings any extra points. Go for the win.

-Sean Avery was back on the ice yesterday, playing for the Wolfpack on assignment for Dallas. Why does everyone think it's such a given the Rangers will get him once he's placed on re-entry waivers? There's another team who lost against yesterday and could use a little grit, a shakeup, and just happen to be lower in the standings. The Penguins.

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Panthers 2, Rangers 1, SO


What do you know, another shootout. It's now seven straight games the Rangers have not won in regulation.

Henrik Lundqvist stole a point for the Rangers. He stopped three of four in the shootout, and that was not good enough. The Panthers continue their surge and should easily pass us before the end of the season. That's a team that's growing and getting better. All that talk of Jay Bouwmeester being traded should go away. It's now happening. At this rate, Florida has a good chance to resign him if they buck up.

We have the worst first line in the NHL.

The same guys continue to play the power play and continue to fail.

Free Prucha. If this continues I hope the Rangers trade him by the deadline.

Interesting question: Would you rather have Zherdev and Redden or just Prucha and Fedor Tyutin (who's about to hit career highs in points scored)?

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Rangers 5, Capitals 4, SO


It wasn't ugly, but it was not pretty either. Three times giving up goals within a few minutes after scoring their own. A horrific power play in the third period that should have put the game away. Check that- a good power play would have put the game away. Continue to throw out the 4th line and play for the overtime and shootout and you get a shootout victory.

Wade Redden played over 27 minutes and had another bad night. It just something you have to get used to, I guess.

As frustrating as he was, you can't help but miss Michael Nylander, especially when it was his turn in the shootout. Not that the shootout is anything to complain about with the Rangers this season.

Aaron Voros is trying to prove something, but I don't know what that is.

Great effort by Lauri Korpikoski and Ryan Callahan, but too bad they do not get rewarded with power play time.

Anyone notice Montreal lost again last night, 7-2? The Rangers are now actually in 5th. But watch out behind you- it's been a long time since we had to say that a game in Florida was a big game, but that's what the next one will be.

Monday, February 9, 2009

Devils 3, Rangers 0


Aaron Voros was on the ice with a few minutes left and the Rangers down 2-0. That about says it all.

Enough of this crap. What the hell is Tom Renney's problem with Petr Prucha? There's more than the "he wears down" excuse. The kid is one of the only ones on the team that makes things happen with hustle and effort in the offensive zone. Does anyone really give a crap about his defensive play right now? You have no offense!

Nigel Dawes- having a very bad season- but still has offensive talent. On the bench for most of the third period.

Drury-Gomez on a line does not work. Give it up please. For one shift, ONE SHIFT, we saw Naslund-Dubinsky-Zherdev together. That's a line you have to give an opportunity to play together and see what they can do. Naslund and Gomez are useless together. Separate them!

Scotty Gomez. He's been so god-awful most of this season, you might as well just put anyone he has NOT played with this season to snap him out of it. The answer (and I'll keep saying it until it happens): Sjostrom and Prucha.

Colton Orr knocked out Mike Rupp. So what? Look at the final score.

Versus HD in Time Warner sucks. I missed the damn fights because I started the game late using DVR only to see it crap out on me, missing the end of the first and entire first half of the second. Versus sucks. Although Keith Jones hit it right on the head postgame.

Zach Parise has 32 goals. Is that just about double anyone on the Rangers has? I still can't believe the Rangers had an opportunity to draft him.

Wednesday could be an ugly night at the Garden.

Gamenight: Rangers at Devils 7pm

Rangers 29-24(5) 63 pts
Devils 33-20(3) 69 pts

The reeling Rangers head to Jersey to face the Devils and see Brendan Shanahan for the first time on the ice since telling him "no thanks." Game is on Versus, which means we have to listen to either Emrick or Beninati. Unless you have a DelayPlay radio and can listen to Dave rip on the Rangers lackluster play.

The way the Rangers are playing right now, I'm sure some fans won't mind another loss with a Shanny goal sprinkled in. Get over it people. Yes, this is a boring bunch, but you might get your share of excitement if Sean Avery ends up returning in a couple of weeks. Plus the Rangers need to snap out of this funk and doing it against the Devils, who they trail by six points for the division, could be the start of something. It was not that long ago the Rangers owned the Rock. Although we hope to not see a result similar to the last game there.

As Beninati says, "likiti split!"

Saturday, February 7, 2009

Stars 10, Rangers 2


Wow. To think, the game was 3-2 with just a couple of minutes to go in the second period.

Look out behind you in the standings. The Buffalo Sabres and Florida Panthers are right behind, although there is a little distance from 9th, but even that's shrinking fast. Yet there are still right behind the Montreal Canadiens for 4th. What is all this going to do if they are destined for a first round loss anyway?

Not much to say about this one. You can say a team has stopped responding to its coach, but what's a new coach going to do with a cast that impossible to change?

Friday, February 6, 2009

Gamenight: Rangers at Stars 8:30pm

No Sean Avery as the Rangers invade Dallas. However, he is the big story, with Larry Brooks reporting that the team might be interesting in acquiring him on re-entry waivers after serving an AHL stint in Hartford. The Stars do not have an AHL affiliate, so their players are assigned all over the place. In the offseason he was too much to take on. But for half price? For a team with zero personality? Games might actually be fun to watch again.

Looks like the Rangers will be without Paul Mara, who's out with the flu. Corey Potter has been called up. In a span of a couple of games, the team has gone from having six defensemen to needing eight.

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Thrashers 2, Rangers 1, SO


This was a great night to be at the Garden. Until around 7:45 or so.

MSG, as usual, does these things right. It was fitting to see Adam Graves enter not before passing a parade of fans and those less fortunate, a fraction of those that receive numerous contributions from him. It was great to see the old teammates from Mike Gartner to Darren Langdon. Then there was the appearance by the cast of The Sopranos. I'm one in the minority who did not watch the show, but I thought that was very cool.

The speeches were well done. There were sure to be many friendly wagers among the crowd to see at exactly what time of his speech would Mess break down. And then Graves himself did everything in his power to credit everyone around him, even singling out each of his ex-teammates that were there alongside. Al Trautwig had to feel a little slighted though. A mention of Sam, Joe and JD, but not Al? I'm sure he'll let that pass.

As for the banner raising itself, find me a dry eye as that thing was going up and Adam finally broke down. If you did, you know that person did not follow this guy's career. Even his own kid was bawling.

If you were watching on MSG, did you notice pregame how Glenn Healy got screwed out of TV time while he was being interviewed alongside Tie Domi at the Theater? Sure, Tie kept rambling a little longer than he should have, but you gotta give more than couple of minutes to these two characters. Healy's awesome on TV and personally I wanted MSG to go after him when JD was leaving for St. Louis a few years back.

Speaking of which, it was nice to see JD. Running that team in St. Louis is taking its toll for sure, but I'm rooting for them. Except for the meeting later this month.



Oh, there was a game after that? First the Rangers tease us by wearing 1994-style white jerseys for warmup, only to turn to blue for the game. Is it too much to ask the Thrashers to bring their dark jerseys for the game?

I'll be honest, don't know if it was the late start or just the snooze-fest that this game was, but I was asleep midway through the third period. I awoke to find the game in overtime and learn that Markus Naslund scored with about 10 seconds left to tie the game. The boos rained down after the second period for a 0-0 score. usually that's reserved for the Rangers trailing or having a bad period. That's the sign of the times lately with this team. They are very tough to watch. I'm surprised there were no "boring" chants, like you hear at those wrestling shows for the undercard matches.

Maybe it's good that the Rangers lost in a shootout. Maybe that will teach them not to play for it all the time. Sure they have an advantage. But to throw defensive-minded players out there in overtime against a team that's at the bottom of the league in goals against?

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Gamenight: Thrashers at Rangers 8pm- Graves night 6:30

Thrashers 17-34(5), 39 pts
Rangers 29-22(4), 62 pts

Tonight is all about Adam Graves. One more magical night of 1994 highlights on Gardenvision. Gravey will probably be the last number up there from that team. Was there any doubt this night was happening before Brian Leetch announced it at his own ceremony a year ago? The Rangers of today would love to have someone like Graves in his prime. Someone with a nose for the net who plays in all situations and who's willing to scrap for his teammates.

Artem Anisimov has been called up from the Hartford Wolfpack and will make his debut tonight, moving Brandon Dubinsky to the wing. We will also see the Rangers debut of Erik Reitz, filling in for Dmitri Kalinin. A bit of a different look for the Blueshirts tonight, in a game they should win.

The Thrashers have a poor record and their marquee player is not even on the line you need to worry about tonight. The Little White Russian has been the top performing line for Atlanta this season, featuring Bryan Little, Todd White and Slava Kozlov.

Smart thing for the Rangers to start the ceremony at 6:30. Things seem to be scheduled a little better this time around. It's the 4th one in the last five seasons, you would hope they'd get it right by now.

Monday, February 2, 2009

Ollie's back


The Mets have reached a deal with Oliver Perez, pending a physical. It's three years for $36 million.

This is a good deal. It's no more than three years, which is the key, for a reasonable amount of money. It was not the reported initial offer of $10 mil per season, but what do you expect? You know what you're getting. Derek Lowe wanted more than three years. Watch the Braves wish they did not hand out that contract come 2012/2013.

If you're scared of which Perez shows up which game, think about this: starting with the June 29th game vs the Yankees, his 3rd start after Dan Warthen took over as pitching coach, Perez had an ERA of 3.50 and a WHIP of 1.32. I think you'll take that consistency any day.

NHL Regulation Standings, thru games of Sunday 2/1





























































































































































































































































































RANK TEAM RW RL O PTS PCT
1 SJS 30 7 11 71 0.740
2 BOS 32 8 11 75 0.735
3 CGY 27 14 7 61 0.635
4 DET 24 11 14 62 0.633
5 WSH 26 15 10 62 0.608
6 CHI 22 13 13 57 0.594
7 NJD 21 15 14 56 0.560
8 PHI 18 14 17 53 0.541
9 MTL 20 16 14 54 0.540
10 EDM 22 21 6 50 0.510
10 FLA 19 18 12 50 0.510
12 PHX 23 22 6 52 0.510
13 BUF 19 19 12 50 0.500
13 NYR 18 18 15 51 0.500
15 MIN 20 21 8 48 0.490
16 ANA 20 22 10 50 0.481
17 CAR 19 21 11 49 0.480
18 VAN 18 20 12 48 0.480
19 DAL 16 18 14 46 0.479
20 CBJ 18 21 11 47 0.470
21 LAK 17 21 10 44 0.458
22 PIT 17 22 12 46 0.451
23 TOR 16 23 11 43 0.430
24 NSH 17 24 8 42 0.429
25 TBL 14 23 13 41 0.410
26 OTT 14 24 10 38 0.396
27 COL 15 26 9 39 0.390
28 STL 13 24 11 37 0.385
29 ATL 13 29 9 35 0.343
30 NYI 11 29 9 31 0.316