The man is following his countryman’s tactics almost to the letter. ( Malik). He stands in front of his net, completely oblivious to the threats around him and does the gandy dance of trying to poke pucks away from the crease, all the while ignoring the Grendel like threat directly behind him ( Hossa this time) and instead of stopping him by stepping into him, he makes a (futile of course) swipe at the puck and then lets the winner in. He is shy about taking the body, refuses to use the slap shot on the point and so help me I cannot imagine Renney’s thinking of always keeping him on ice during a defensive critical situation. On the PP he is a cipher. Period. But he’s always out there. So – lay on Macduff and give it your best shots.

Drury is off to the worst start by an nidvidual in Ranger history. one point in 8 games (at this rate he’ll be outscored by – well, everyone), and a minus 4 with having lost his guy leading directly to 4 goals against in the team’s only 2 losses on a team that is 6-1-1. Can it get any worse?

Unfortunatley, our captain’s line was the worst again last night.

Looking over the stats I have on Mara (and the rest), his big plus is 17 hits, so far. Kalinen has 5, Redden 6, Rozy 5, Staal 13. Girardi leads D’s in this category with 21. So Mara is showing leadership and intensity, here.

Blocked shots, Mara has 6, Rozy 13, Redden 10, Staal 4, Girardi 4, Kalinen 8. This was Tyutin’s specialty and no one has stepped up to fill the gap, as yet.

In the takeaway-giveaway column, Rozy is 6-2, Girardi is 7-3, Mara is 1-1, Kalinen is 4-5, Stall 1-2, Redden 5-8.

Penalty minutes for and against, Mara is 0-4 = that’s right, he has not drawn an opposition (one-sided) penalty all year. Redden is 2-2, Rozy is awful at 2-8, Kalinen is 6-6, Girardi is 2-2, Staal is 2-2. This is an overall improved category for the team, with the departure of Backman, who was taking 2-3 penalties a game while drawing virtually nothing in return.

The best case for Mara, and any other Rangers D who might be deemed expendable, is that there is nothing on the farm to replace him/ them, right now. Much to my astonishment, Sanguinetti is a bomb at Hartford, so far, and Potter is also struggling. Brian Fahey is looking the best of D’s down there, but it is early, it will be another month before it is really sorted out.

My basic premise is that the Rangers D is looking like our Achilles Heel this year, on both sides of the puck, and I wish, somehow, the team could and would address that, and soon.

Anyone going tomorrow’s game vs. the Stars? I am, and I hope I’m not the only one who applauds #16. He wanted to stay.

1) The 4th line was the most consistent last night. Sjostrom is maybe the fastest guy on the Rangers next to Gomer. Orr can do more than just hit and fight now. Betts is always consistent.

2) How come we look asleep for half the game and wide awake for the other half. Is this just the ebb and flow of the game? Does Renney actually say to them, “Wake the F up!” Do the players just say to each other, “Come on, we are playing like a bunch of jerkoffs?” I mean at times they were asleep and at times they forechecked and hit like they were going to win the Cup. I don’t get it.

3) Love Voros. Renney should NEVER break up that 2nd line. Please tell me why the are not the first PP unit every time. Voros in front of the net is deadly.

4) The defensive zone play by the D (clearing the men out) and the forwards (watching the puck, not playing the man) is atrocious. This will be our Achille’s Heal this year. Was last year, will be this year. Mark my words.

5) Glad to see Cally and Dawes light the lamp. Nice work by Gomer last night too (best guy on ice, both teams). Peter Prucha-lovers….u see why his days on this team are limited?

6) Paul Mara is the best value sigining (along with Voros) of the offseason.

7) 6-1-1, 13 pts out of possible 16….nice start.

NICDIP – There had to be somebody touching the puck with an extra man out there for that to be called.