This really isn’t going to be easy in any way, is it? Not for the Canadiens. Not for the Baby Buffaloes. Not for the Hurricanes. And certainly not for the Rangers.
These teams all seem to win every time they have to win.
As you know, Montreal defeated Chicago in OT last night, and the Baby Buffaloes beat Tampa Bay, and the Rangers—after learning they’ve lost their leader, their soul—fell all the way back down to eighth.
The Magic Number remains at 3.
Tonight the Hurricanes play at home against Detroit in the only game relevant to the four-team chase for three spots. Want to bet the Canes win and force the Rangers to win both of their games to get in?
And, given the way it has gone, and given the way the Rangers have responded this season, they probably will win both if they have to win them.
The remaining schedule involving the four teams:
Wednesday—Detroit at Carolina; Thursday—Atlanta at Rangers; Montreal at Ottawa; Friday—Philly at Baby Buffaloes; Carolina at Atlanta; Saturday —Devils at Rangers; Montreal at Toronto; Tampa Bay at Carolina; Baby Buffaloes at Columbus; Sunday—none.
—————————————
I was talking to Sean Mayer—who, by the way, I want to thank for pinch-hitting on the Ryan Callahan news yesterday while I was unavailable—and came to the realization that losing a key player isn’t necessarily fatal in the playoffs. In fact, teams often rally around the adversity.
Some quick examples, and if you can think of others, please share:
1991-92: Adam Graves breaks Mario Lemieux’s hand in the second round. The Penguins fall behind the Rangers two games to one. And they rally to win that series and the next and, after Mario makes an early return, the Stanley Cup, not losing another game along the way.
1992-93: Dale Hunter cheap-shots Pierre Turgeon out of the playoffs in the first round. The depleted Islanders go on to shock the two-time defending champ Penguins without Turgeon before losing in the Eastern Conference final.
2000-01: Colorado’s Peter Forsberg’s spleen ruptures, requiring emergency surgery at the end of the second round. The Avalanche go on to win the Stanley Cup without Forsberg.
295 Comments
Good morning, boneheads!
Ratelle in 72. Rangers go to Finals. Nillson in 79, Rangers go to finals.
Good morning ilb!
Good morning all! While I’m interested to see what Carolina does against Detroit, I won’t be holding my breath over the result. Our fate is in our hands and there’s no doubt in my mind that we win tomorrow night. Our will to win will not be denied!
I have a good feeling that the Rangers will win tomorrow night. They know what they have do to and will go out there and accomplish it!
Carp:
It was easy for Les Habs…they clinched.
Not easy for the rest like you said
Good morning boneheads. All aboard the Pain Train. LGR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Morning ‘Heads!
Rangers are just gonna do it themselves and to hell with this scoreboard watching! 6th, 7th, 8th….just get in and do some damage!
Carp:
So what I meant was it is three teams for 2 spots and the Montreal games do not matter
Little help?
Score board watching? I hope it isn’t their mindset. They should think about it this way: we are asked to take 3 points in two games against two bottom feeders. If we can’t do it, maybe we shouldn’t be in the playoffs.
And don’t tell me the Devils will play like it’s game 7. Of course they will. But once (and if) they are in the playoffs, what do you think everyone will play like? Believe in your team, folks, they did enough this year for us to do just that.
One day 6th is a real possibility and the next we are borderline being elimated. This is too much. Too man of us have had heart surgery (as we learned yesterday) to deal with the stress.
No ilb, its the fans mindset. sure, it would be a lot easier if other games went the way we’d like, but its really up to the guys to just win the next two games and carry on.
The Rangers rallied midseason when Calahan was out. It seemed then that Boyle really stepped up. He will need to again. I’m just miserable about Calahan’s injury because I just wanted to see him get to play in the playoffs. He would’ve stepped up his game even higher. Now (if we make the playoffs, it is still not a given) we won’t get that chance. Sucks for us, and him.
Call me a monkey, but I’m a Believer!
Can someone clarify this for me:
Initial reports were Callahan has a broken ankle. Now everyone is reporting a broken leg?
Not that is matters a whole bunch (cally’s out for a long time regardless), but does anyone know where the break actually is??
If my anatomy knowledge isn’t fading yet, ankle is a part of the leg :-))
Did anyone watch Ottawa- Flyers last night? What happened, is Philadelphia joining the bush-league?
ILB, whatever is worse than bush-league is where the flyers have always been.
Linda, that might be a cookie monster league then. We need to consult with Miami, it’s his department.
Flyers new logo?
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DFjCyf-EA4g/TOt7D-A8ixI/AAAAAAAAADw/hXb-g0i1xg8/s1600/cookie_monster.jpg
I am all about being a Positive Polliana. But in the tradition of being a Concerned Cathy – I don’t know about this team getting 3 points without a Carolina Loss. Allow me to ask a question:
How many 4 game winning streaks has this team had all year?
Sure it sucks the way the scores turned out last night, but ultimately, I don’t mind finishing 8th, especially if it means playing Washington. I don’t doubt the Rangers ability to get 3 points against ATL and NJD
Alex – exactly. This team seemingly responds real well to its key players going down. They did it with Gaborik, and then the one-two of Callahan and Dubinsky. Remember in January, when it seemed half the lineup was AHLers? Everyone is going to need to step up, and a few guys are going to get chances they didn’t have last week. It’ll be a real test for the team’s resilience.
By the way…How long is Cally out for anyway? I heard somewhere that it would be to the third round, if the Rangers get that far. Any truth to that?
Oh…and GO WINGS!!!
Anyone else wearing red in solidarity of our second favorite team, the Detroit Red Wings?
To be honest, I’m so confident in THIS year’s Rangers I dont care to scoreboard watch (well said earlier ilb) and I get the sense that sentiment is echoed throughout the locker-room.
Manny- even if Carolina wins all three games, the Rangers may still get in by winning just one in regulation/OT. I hope it doesn’t come down to this, but in that case scenario Carlina has to not only win all three, but win at least two of them in regulation/OT.
ilb – I really think that this team will be OK. I think Carolina is not going to win out. I am just pointing out that I believe we have won 4 in a row ONCE. This would have to be our second winning streak. That Concerns the Cathy in me.
We have the tie breaker against the canes right?
If they lose tonight, then win there last two games they’ll have 91 points.
At that point, if we stayed at 91 we would still be in right?
Just another scenario.
F that though, win and were.in, our boys can do it on there own.
Let’s go rangers!!!!!
i’ll be rooting for the Wings tonight
Manny-three points doesn’t mean 2 wins, does it? One win and one OT/SO loss will do.
Mikenj- not really. In your case- if Carolina wins 2 (including one in regulation), tie breaker is theirs.
We should have started a “Van Buren Boys” thing when the magic number was 8 – Would have been nice to flash the symbol to people wearing Rangers gear as the number decreased.
2011 NY Rangers, Ryan Callahan out with a broken ankle in the last week of the reg season…. Rangers go on to win the Stanley Cup…. LGR!
AWESOME (And cally comes back for cup finals)
Someone said it yesterday – can you imagine when Captain Callahan steps on the ice on crutches to accept the Steven A. McDonald Award? The roof is going to blow off the garden like when the holding tank explodes in Ghostbusters.
Venkman: “Everything was fine until di#$less here shut off the power.”
Mayor: “Is that true?”
Venkman: “Yes, it’s true. This man has no di#$.”
I thought Prust was winning the McDonald award?
If the voting closed? I actually got the weirdest txt message telling me the “results” of the voting but it was only for players with the last name A-G and Callahan was winning that bunch.
Good morning, Carp!
“Bush-league”? ... “Cookie Monster -league”?
You guys love me …. you realllllllllly love me!
What happened at the Phlyers game? Someone explain please.
I don’t have a good feeling about this one. Not at all!
Without Callahan, we’re doomed.
If the trend continues…Carolina will win tonight with no problem. LOL
Nothing is ever easy for the Rangers.
My gf, still only about a year and a half into her indoctrination as a Rangers (and hockey) fan, had this to say about Callahan’s injury:
Wow, you weren’t kidding when you said being a fan of this team is rough on the nervous system”
Gotta love her
And God help her if I gotta watch the Devils game with the Rangers needing a win to get in.
Because she was bad luck last year (sat with her for the Flyers finale)
Lay it on nice and thick Miami. Don’t hold back. We need this.
fell all the way back down to eighth
—————————-
uuummmm… we were only a point above eight place…so falling “all the way back” wasn’t so dramatic! lol
But i think we need to worry about our own games…beat Atlanta and get at least a point against the Debbies and we’re good to go! Just get in, doesn’t matter what place.
Real fans will have faitth. These boys will step up, especially Anisimov, Boyle and Dub!! We have what other teams don’t… The tremendous KING HENRIK!!! Bring it on.
Garden better be rockin’ tomorrow!
4everanger
if you still around, here is more of what my cousin wrote regarding hockey in Israel:
“Yea they are paid channels unless you have your standard dish receiver which will get hockey. Hockey though is getting larger and larger every year in Israel. And the teams there are actually really good. Thank you Russians for coming to Israel and bringing Hockey there!
Is your buddy going to watch the Sharks kill this time around or watch the Rangers flop?”
The kid was born in Israel (he’s 28 now) and he thinks he knows hockey lol
He’s a Sharks fan…don’t ask me why because i have no idea! I don’t think he knows it either!
A great Carolina loss (in regulation) would really just make me a Relaxed Rebecca.
Manyfried – This is the way I see it: Philly has enjoyed having one of the leagues best(and dirtiest) defensemen/pointmen all season and last season. Without him, their biggest weakness -
an utter lack of goaltending-is glaringly exposed. The team is all about overpowering the opposition with offense and then having Pronger save the day on defense. The guy was playing something like 30 minutes a game before he went down. Without him, the Flyers are garbage.Dudley/Hammerhand – The Wings are my surrogate Rangers tonight. Hell, I might even have a plate of wings in their honor.
2007-08: Already down 2-0 to the Penguins, New York’s Sean Avery suffers a lacerated spleen but finishes the game, which the Rangers lose. Without their loveable antagonist, the Rangers cannot climb out of the 3-0 series hole and are eliminated. With Avery, the Rangers would have won that series and the Stanley Cup.
Sometimes injuries do hurt. And not just in a literal sense.
Phil – Thanks – that’s awesome analysis. They do stink. I think I hate that team more than any other team. I am getting angry just typing this. They are dirty and they wear tinted visors and they never take them off when they fight. I hate that.
I thought from the description there was another 5,000Penalty Minute Senators debacle.
I was at that game Mr. DE, I blame Hollweg for that one. Just after the Rangers tied it 3-3 that moron did his specialty, a unnecessary and idiotic hit from behind.
Someone with Twitter reply to Brooks that since 03-04, the Eastern team that competed for the Stanley Cup for was top 2 in shots blocked per game in the playoffs among teams that escaped the first round and that he is a moron for questioning the value of blocking shots.
Mister Delaware, you are dreaming if you think the Rangers win that series if Avery didn’t get hurt. We lost that game on Hollweg’s boarding major, and we weren’t coming out of a 3-0 hole.
“Venkman: “Yes, it’s true. This man has no di#$.” ”
Easily the best line of the movie.
yeah Hollweg definitely killed that game for us and eventually the series! After coming back to tie the game at 3 all the momentum was on our side, but that idiot killed it all in an instant!
I was busy yesterday so I couldn’t post, but that Boston game was the highlight of the season. As for Callahan’s ankle, when he went down, he got up and stayed in the play for another 11 seconds to avoid what happened with McDonagh on Sunday. He’s a true warrior.
That said, this team is in a lot of trouble. Gaborik will not be a good fit with Dubinsky and Anisimov.
Totally Doodie – Bill Murray solidified himself as a comic genius with the role of Venkman. Can’t get enough.
can Renney also be blamed for putting Hollweg out there right after the tying goal?
“Mister Delaware, you are dreaming if you think the Rangers win that series if Avery didn’t get hurt. We lost that game on Hollweg’s boarding major, and we weren’t coming out of a 3-0 hole.”
There was a 100% chance we were winning that series if Avery’s organs had all stayed intact and unlacerated.
“That said, this team is in a lot of trouble. Gaborik will not be a good fit with Dubinsky and Anisimov.”
But you know who would be?
There’s a 100% chance you are wrong, sir.
CCCP, I definitely think Renney takes some of the blame there for sending him out in that situation. That was the time to attack.
The Rangers weren’t really outplayed that series. 3 of the 4 losses were one goal games and the clinching game went to OT.
I think they could have pulled it off had they not blown a 3-0 lead in game 1.
Was everyone else watching the same series as me? Nobody showed up for that series other than Jagr and Hank.
“But you know who would be?”
Yeah. Callahan.
Gomez hit the crossbar right after the tying goal, then Hollweg took his penalty, then my seat cushion partially broke when I punched it after the Pens scored on the PP.
Avery….
Damn, what happened to that guy?
I don’t mean that in a sarcastic sense, just saying the guy wearing #16 for the Rangers right now isn’t even close to the same guy who wore #16 just a few seasons ago.
Speed…good passes…scored goals…made life miserable for the other team.
Wouldn’t it be something if he could somehow, some way, find his game again?
I know…better chance of Drury outskating one of those human pucks at intermission…but a guy can dream
The game 1 collapse was a heart break! It was just horrible!
Blowing that Game 1 lead destroyed the Rangers in that series. All momentum was gone.
And Hollweg’s hit…I can remember that in slow motion, feeling like it took a full minute for him to get across the ice and take that stupid penalty with that hit.
Always remember…when you play the Pens, you’re up against the refs as well. You KNOW that they’re gonna get the benefit of MOST of the calls come playoff time.
“There’s a 100% chance you are wrong, sir.”
Just so this doesn’t linger, I’m doing the sarcasm here.
(Although I would absolutely give Avery a few early shifts with Dubinsky and see if anything clicks. Not too much to lose at this point. Except a playoff berth if something goes terribly wrong in those early shifts.)
After lacerated spleen injury, Avery’s never been the same.
GET THAT MAN A NEW SPLEEN!!!
Organs are cheap I hear. Check the black market. A spleen can’t cost more than $37K.
Let’s not forget Nylander’s disallowed goal in Game 2 as well.
That series was simply cursed. Was not meant to be.
Hopefully the Canes lose tonight and the Rangers get a point tomorrow, so that on Saturday, Torts can possibly give Lundqvist a rest and try out some new line combinations to cover for Callahan.
I love how hard this team plays, but there is a lot of truth in Larry Brook’s point that very skilled, big-time teams win handily without sacrificing the body. Probably the reason none of us have a favorite player whose main skill is blocking shots. It’s the refuge of the overwhelmed.
Dan Girardi is my new favorite player! Block those shots buddy! (Sarcasm)
Good morning!
The skilled teams are the ones making other teams block their shots. You don’t have to block shots when you’re the one with the puck.
video of the day
Super Granny!
I believe its in Ukraine… a grandma got pissed at the driver for not letting her cross the road lol
The guy says in the beginning “Come down, i’m gonna bust your head!!”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGWIdcM-kZA
Good morning, Sally!
CCCP,
Yeah, I’m still here, will leave in few hours. I’m just 15 min. from JFK.
Thanks for your up write. At least I know it exist, so, I will figure out the rest.
As they say in the Middle East: Down with Atlanta and Death to Devils! LGR!!!
Well 4ever – as my people say – “Yash L’Cha Nisea Tovah!”
Legkoy dorogy, 4ever!
Just a thought: Not that Lundqvist really stands a chance of winning the Vezina due to Tim Thomas’ ridiculous numbers, but the NY area writers not voting all but assures that Lundqvist won’t win.
Let’s Go Rangers?
Vezina is determined by the vote of GMs, I thought…
Look – we Ranger fans know that if the Vezina was given out for the last 1/3 of the season then Hank would get it NO DOUBT. We should just make a Vezina and present it to Hank or his twin brother. We can build it out of broken computer parts from computers broken during the mid-season skid.
CCCP, haha…she looked like silver surfer coming down the windshield!
Interesting stuff on the teams that overcame an injury. Agree that the Islanders run to the conference finals was miraculous, but it should be noted that the Avalanche also had Sakic, Tanguay, Hejduk (and Drury!), along with Bourque, Blake and Foote on D (and Patrick Roy).
And the Pens had stud goal scorers (at least back then) Kevin Stevens and Joey Mullen, burgeoning star Jagr, Ron Francis, and Larry Murphy anchoring the D. The most amazing part about that PIT team is Barrasso had a 3.53 GAA in the regular season.
oh, totally right ilb. I actually had that exact thought the other day when I first head about the NY boycott, but then I forgot. Man, I am tired and need a vacation.
well, I’m glad the rangers proved me wrong once again when I posted there done when they were down 2-0 against Boston. After I posted that I decided to do my laundry and I didn’t watch the game until I went on the computer and checked the score on espn to see the rangers winning 4-3. I than turned it back on and at that moment watched Stepan score the empty net goal. I couldn’t believe it. I was starting to believe in this team until the next day I heard callahan broke his ankle. I went from feeling on top of the world to the end of the world. I don’t think it matters much anyway. I didn’t expect the rangers to make the playoffs and if they did I didn’t expect them to go deep in to the playoffs.
goalies nowadays have much better equipment and also bigger pads. goalies stats back in the 80’s and 90’s werent as good as they are now. also, there were less teams, so there were better players filling out the rosters. not as many holwegs
I may have some laundry to do, ToMG. If you don’t mind, it’ll be delivered to your house at 6:30 pm tomorrow. :-)
Can somebody tell WASEKA (the twitter widget’s name) to stop promoting RANGERS PLAYOFF TICKETS. There is still a matter of 3 points to get before that can happen. Come on. Don’t jinx us MSG. Please?
Spasibo, ilb.,
You will laugh, but it is best wish for me – hate to spend 11 hours in plane. By some reason it started after my heart surgery, don’t know why. Do you know same precidents with someone
Joel Lundqvist at practice.
Remember when everyone here wanted to trade everyone to get him? Haha!
sickening that those moron fans in Mtl made the call on a penalty in OT that gave them a playoff spot, and really hurt the Hawks chances. look at the replay, Toews never touched the feet or legs of that showboat punk Slewban. he just fell because he was turning and off balance, and was nudged by Toews stick at waist height, and only AFTER the crowd made a bunch of noise, after several seconds had gone by, then and only belatedly then did the ref raise his arm and call it a penalty. this is why I hope those stinkin Habs are eliminated quick in round 1 and get nowhere next season. those lousy idiots in the stands there deserve nothing less.
i still feel if the rangers miss the playoffs then its a failure. they have been in the top 8 since november.
get into the playoffs and take your chances then without cally.
they go out in 5 games to wash/phil i wont be as heartbroken then if they fail to make it.
both those teams are much better then us
Atl looked horrible last night in Nashville, so i expect a Ranger win over them, and canes will not beat Det, so you can book it, the rangers will be in the playoffs.
I like thinking positive but…
“1991-92: Adam Graves breaks Mario Lemieux’s hand in the second round. The Penguins fall behind the Rangers two games to one. And they rally to win that series and the next and, after Mario makes an early return, the Stanley Cup, not losing another game along the way.
2000-01: Colorado’s Peter Forsberg’s spleen ruptures, requiring emergency surgery at the end of the second round. The Avalanche go on to win the Stanley Cup without Forsberg.”
Those teams were STACKED…Roy, Forsberg, Jagr…etc.
4ever- there is aclinical name for it, idk what it is, but its common. ilb should know.
05-06 Hurricanes lost Doug Weight.
BANJ, I’m calling you a monkey .. because you asked.
True Blue, it’ll be rocking until the first time anything adverse happens, and until they start shooting T-shirts into the stands.
Mannyfried, how did we miss that? Prust=Van Buren Boy.
Hartford, was that Islanders team stacked? The one that hasn’t won a playoff series since?
I mean, Erik Cole. They lost Weight only for the final couple of games.
I know. Magic Number was 8! It was all tee’d up for us.
To once again quote Ghostbusters:
Egon: “I blame myself.”
Venkman: “So do I.”
with the great leadership of pizza man Drury, who is in rare form as he said he was in no hurry to get back in, i.e. he won’t let Cally’s injury spoil his rehab schedule
with morose mumbling bad knee 4th liner pizza pie personality like that, how can the rangers miss a beat?
“how can the rangers miss a beat?”
He doesn’t know, he hasn’t been playing. Why don’t you ask the players that have?
drury will help better than a newbury or zuccarello. the guy plays better in playoffs and high pressure situations. i dont think he’ll help our scoring, but he will be great for faceoffs, shotblocking and “the little things”, we all love him for.
that is exactly what I said. they will miss plenty with Cally out and $7mill Betts replacing him
i really think prospal coming back this season will help us as far as leadership also. but cally or no cally, we wont win without gaborik scoring.
I keep thinking to myself that:
a. I like the Gilroy non-experiment at Winger
b. Pizza Pants can definitely amp himself up for this opportunity to win back the fans.
eric,
Going into this year the playoffs were a stretch. I didn’t making or not making the playoffs was going to be the yardstick of success, because honestly I thought for the sake of development this year’s team was worse than last year’s. However, look at what the team has had to deal with:
~ The leading scorer and best skater on the team would miss 20 games and only put up half his goals and points totals from last year
~ The player 2nd in points on the team last year would miss the first 50 games of the season
~ A player who was counted on to provide upwards of 25 goals would get not nearly that amount and then go out for the season halfway through the year
~ The best all around forward on the team would miss 20 games during the middle of the season
~ The pleasant surprise defenseman from last year would suffer a terrible sophomore slump and eventually get demoted
It will be disappointing if they lose out the next couple of games, I can’t deny that. However, there was very little in the way of highly skilled or established talent on this team (the latter is by design). No matter the end results, I’d trade this season for a team like the Devils who was supposed to contend or a team like the Leafs who seem to have no plan, several times over.
Every low seeded team has to be wishing for Philly in the first round
I know – they look weaker than the Caps! The Phlyers have some issues going into the playoffs. Serious ones.
and we’ll prob get the caps doodie. just our luck
Mannyfried April 6th, 2011 at 11:06 am…Organs are cheap I hear. Check the black market. A spleen can’t cost more than $37K.
Would the 37k count against the cap?
At this rate, they might choke away the division
Thinking about it – I think we should sign Joel Lundqvist – is there a rule that allows two players to wear the same number? Then we could confuse other teams. They would never know which Lundqvist was in goal – the good one or the other one. This might lead to panic and terror in the other team and a lot of easy starts for the Rangers.
both teams goalies are an issue, but the caps are playing much better defensively and with our lack of scoring, the caps dont need an all star goalie. maybe agianst a better team. not us. if philly goes back to boucher and sticks with him, or even leighton if he is still there and healthy enough, they have proven before they can overcome that. but yea, i’d take philly over the caps right now definitely
doodie
keep in mind no pronger. he will be back next week. i would rather the caps should we make the playoffs.
i dont trust neuvirth holtby varlamov.
i have more faith in boucher/bobrovsky then those 3
Haha Monkey-Banj[o]. That’s a great question. I guess if that spleen was put in Avery then No – the Stars might still cover some of it. If that Spleen goes into Pizza Pants then it counts triple.
Flyers without Pronger are vulnerable. I still think they have too much firepower in all their lines for the Rangers to win a series.
The Caps have had trouble scoring most of the year and if Staal can contain Ovechkin then the Rangers have a great shot at winning. Backstrom is still a little banged up and if people thought Gaborik disappears for long stretches then Semin has been even worse since his hot start to the season. Plus the Caps don’t exactly have a premier shutdown defenseman.
Hi Linda, I was thinking of you (and a former Rangers “enforcer”) yesterday when I saw two tennis balls being dragged along the floor. LMFAO!
Agreed Manny – I’ve thought Gilroy would be a better foward than D. He seems to have good offensive skills. Looking foward to see what he can do.
Totally Gerry – All I ever heard about Gilroy was that he has Forward experience and can add to the offensive rush. Well I think it’s more valuable if he can add to the not-so-great forward line defense that plagues this team.
Carp, I’m afraid Boogaard’s skating makes Brashear look like Mike Grabner….
Mike Grabner or Mike Gartner? ;-)
Per Ranger Rants: Look at our boys building Chemistry!
“Gilroy’s new linemate, Sean Avery, had a run-in with defenseman Mike Sauer during practice as Avery drove to the net and Sauer was strong in trying to keep Avery away from the crease. Sauer wound up dropping his stick and thinking he was going to fight but it never came to blows.”
Definitely a good sign.
I am serious that it’s a good sign. Yesterday I suggested that the Rangers put Pizza Pants in the crease and let the D-Men learn to clear the crease by knocking him over repeatedly. CLEAR THE CREASE!
Not sure my heart can handle a last game win to make the playoffs.
Last year almost killed me.
Really cheering for the Wings tonight !!!
refresh, refresh, refresh !!!
Gimme a hat trick !!!
All yours Tony – It’s a free skate in here today.
I think we may want to ask Carp for ’”It’s Go Time!” tonight at 7.
Can we just get it now? I am so bored at work. Bored and Nervous about tomorrow night is not a good combo.
CJP
sloppy seconds and torts is what happened to avery
btw, morning ILB and all!!
and by torts, I mean when he first got here he really had avery on a leash and everyone knew it, since then I think he is not really on any different leash than anyone else, but he has been effectively changed by the sloppy seconds thing and the first part of the “angry” torts tenure!!
refresh refresh refresh
erik cole=ufa
mike rupp=ufa
brooks laich=ufa
so what happened in the flyer game?
was it the neil vs holmberg thing?
I like some of the wings…
I will probably have to root for them tonight…..DUH
is there an empty netter in here somewhere?
Ovechtrick?
just trying to make carp some money here
Wicktrick?
thanks manny, I was going to be late for work….later assens and LGRW!!!!
a laurel…later ILB!!!
double laurel and empty netter
No…Sloppy seconds/Avery and Bettman, happened to Avery.
Good thing he didn’t drop the gloves with Sour Power. He doesn’t want any of that!
Are we setting ourselves up for a summer of why isn’t Erik Cole/Mike Rupp/Brooks Laich a Ranger yet?
I can answer all of those pretty easily.
When do they announce the Steven McDonald award ?
Tonight, I believe.
I mean Thursday.
God I need a vacation.
I’d take Mike Rupp, just so he isn’t scoring half of his season goal total against the Rangers.
HAT TRICK FOR A VACATION
Doodie – No breaks until the end of the season (which is hopefully far, far away).
Carpy, we need a photoshopped picture of that!!!!
So what is the deal with Callahan? I broke my LEFT ankle because I thought that was the injury? Now I have to break more stuff? Right Ankle? What is going on?
“brooks laich=ufa”
Speaking of …
Tony!!! Pants on the ground!!!
Hey Doodie!!!
are we there yet?
No CCCP! We are NOT there yet. You will have to hold it until we find a rest stop. Sheesh. Kids!
C3, hold on to your butt
“Every low seeded team has to be wishing for Philly in the first round”
I for one disagree. With Pronger back the Flyers will be back to business as usual. It doesn’t matter if they don’t have an all star goalie if you can’t get to him, and the way their offense plays, they can dominate puck possession and chances easily against a weaker team.
Now, that’s not to say that the Rangers won’t beat them if they meet up in the first round!
atta boy, Tony. I think the McDonald is announced/presented before the last home game. But I’m not sure they won’t do it tomorrow.
You want a Go Time tonight, ilb? you got it. is the game televised?
Manny, I think he got hit in the onions, too. so good luck with that.
wick, keep it up and I’ll retire.
Darn it. Looks like I will have to go for a bike ride tonight and intentionally ride over a lot of potholes.
Here is what the Ranger site says about the McDonald Extra Effort Award – and since I have tickets my wife is going to be super psyched.
“When you cast your vote, you will automatically be entered into a sweepstakes as well, with the Grand Prize winner receiving an autographed jersey from the player who is selected to receive the Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award, presented by Lightspeed Trading, during a ceremony prior to the Rangers’ April 7 game vs. Atlanta at The Garden!”
Hey Linda!
As for my earlier Flyers comment, there are no guarantees Pronger is back before then. On April 1 he suffered “a minor setback.”
Yeah, but you know if there’s any chance he’ll play, he’ll play, right Doodie.
Nothing is “minor” with Pronger. What a drama queen.
Joel Lundqvist is the man!! I love that guy! Sign him! Now!
So Cally has a broken leg or a broken ankle? I’m confused.
I’d ben surpised if Gilroy gets anything more than 6 minutes of playing time on the wing…
Carp, of course, but it’s a question of effectiveness. A couple of weeks ago he was saying that he couldn’t even grip his stick.
be*
Just as long as his elbows are working fine, I think Pronger will still be a force.
Carp, if you retire, who’s gonna keep me in line? :)
Think of Jagr in games 3 and 4 of the 05-06 playoffs. Sure, he was on the ice, but it didn’t mean a thing when he didn’t have a shoulder.
Carp Cally said he wanted to stay around the team and help out as much as he could . Can he go into the lockeroom during games even though hes not in uniform because that would be an awesome reminder to the team of what they need to do these next two games
imagine if we signed Pronger instead of Redden? wow…
With you NYR – I want to sign Joel and use him to psych out the other teams.
Also – is there any way that we can get them surgically attached and then play them both simultaneously?
McIlrath getting an ATO with the Whale per Zipay
Good news, Ria…
Yes, Carp, the game is on Center Ice. Channel 444, TWC.
CCCP, Pronger never hit the market. He was traded for by Philly, who then resigned him to a long term deal. An over 35 contract actually, that I’m sure they will regret when Pronger is 40, a shadow of himself, and a 5 million cap hit. And it will be that much worse when he’s 41 and 42.
Ria, can’t think of why he wouldn’t be allowed to. The Islanders had Doug Weight on their bench the other night.
Doodie, I suspect the new CBA will allow for some sort of buyout of that type of contracts. Without damaging the cap. I’m sure Snyder/Holmgren were banking on it.
ilb, in other words, no.
Ria, I have no doubt Callahan will be in there as much as he can.
They’ll have to do it by committee, Tiki. :)
Doodie
That’s right, Pronger was traded…my bad! But Pronger is a big guy and i believe that at 41 he’d still be better than Redden was at 31
coaches generally don’t even want injured players hanging around the room either because it just reminds the players that they don’t have someone important, and they don’t want it to psychologically become a crutch for them. “he’s not playing, oh woe is us” attitide has to be avoided
Carp, actually someone mentioned before that Center Ice is free now for some reason. If that’s the case, everyone can watch it.
Maybe a trial in order to push playoff subscriptions.
guppy, while that’s usually true, I expect Callahan to be nothing but inspirational.
That sounds fun. I love free trials.
ilb, I think they just screwed up, actually. I think they thought by signing him to the extension at 34, it wouldn’t count as a 35 and over contract.
If my wife is studying tonight, then I suspect I will be inspecting this supposed free trial.
Along with Pronger the Flyers have Briere until 2015.
They are also another team up against the cap ceiling with a bunch of FAs to either retain or re-sign. Throw the Pens in that mix as well.
The balance of power in the Atlantic division will look pretty different in 2 years.
“The balance of power in the Atlantic division will look pretty different in 2 years.”
If the Islanders could find a defenseman or four, they would be right there.
LMAO @ defenseman or four
What are you guys talking about? The Rangers did trade for Pronger. Or at least a Pronger. They just traded for the wrong one.
Doodie – I was thinking that too when Philly signed him. But at 36, he sure doesn’t look like he’s slowing down too much.
GO WINGS!!!
Yeah those Isles just haven’t been the same since Brendan Witt and Andy Sutton left.
WASEKA!
Waseka is on point today.
How huge is the Sather trade for the wombat Wolski now? He may have effort issues, but he has legitimate offensive skill.
EXTEND SATHER!
Andrew McDonald is a fantastic young defenseman. Radek Martinek is a reliable stay-at-home guy and they have promise with Ty Wishart. I really think people on this forum/other places just forget about Isles players.
LOL! wombat Wolski! I’ll join the chorus: EXTEND SATHER!
FIRE/EXTEND SATHER! MAKE CONFLICTING ARGUMENTS! GO CANES/WINGS!
GO RANGERS!
just forget about Isles players.
———————————
didn’t know we had to remember Isles players :)
All the Isles need is a captain (under the age of 40) and a coach who isn’t a jackwagon…they will surely be a dangerous team for years to come…lots of offensive firepower…
Pretty cool Rangers “History Will Be Made” video using Monday’s comeback victory against Boston: http://www.nyrangersblog.com/2011-articles/april/history-is-made-by-thenyrblog-reader.html#livefyre_thread
Chara was signed as an unrestricted free agent. Was letting him go the year before we signed Redden a good idea? No.
End of topic, end of ‘what if the rangers actually had their heads in the right place’ talk.
they didnt. they picked jessiman instead of giroux, they signed redden instead of chara and they traded gomez for mcdonagh. at least recently we’ve been getting stuff back.. lol
extend sather by putting him on the rack. kick sather upstairs, into a rubber room where he belongs. he can shuffle papers, and light his stogie with them.
Wolski may piss people off from time to time, but if not for him, we might be 5-6 points behind right now :P
Go Wolski!
Extend Sather? Do you mean Extenze Sather?
Jessiman and Giroux weren’t the same draft year. Sanguinetti and Giroux were.
NYR_FAN, Sather signed Gilroy too,bro!! ...who we are lucky to have it appears as well!
EXTEND THE SATHER!
Can’t wait to see Gilroy in there…he could actually give us some offense against other teams’ 3rd Lines…GOOOO GILROY!!! I know it’s been tough for him on D, but the kid can skate…
They do have a solid contender for Captain, it’s John Tavares. He looks just like Dreary, so you know he’ll be one of the all time great Captains in NHL history!!
isles also need a goalie with two hips, two knees, two orbital bones, etc.
Isles will probably sign Rupp this summer. They need more goons.
sweet, dsweet.
please listen up.
TONIGHTS DET/CAROLINA GAME SHOULD BE FREE PREVIEW ON YOUR CABLE PROVIDER BECAUSE IF YOU HAVE TIME WARNER CABLEVISION DIRECT TV THEY ARE SHOWING A FREE PREVIEW OF THE MLB PACKAGE WHICH USUALLY SHARES THE SAME 14-15 CHANNELS WITH THE CENTER ICE PACKAGE.
CHECK IT OUT BONEHEADS. GO WINGS
will be at a dinner for work so no go for me tonight will be checking phone for score
Did everyone start drinking 4-Loko when I was away for 20 minutes?!? What happened?
Montoya seems to be that guy for them.
And 4 generations, I disagree with you about their defensemen. I think McDonald projects to be Dan Girardi, at best (and I’m not a Dan Girardi guy), Martinek is just a throw-away third pair guy, and the same for Wishart.
We do not have one of the better defenses in the NHL (give us a few years), and I think out of those three guys, MAYBE McDonald cracks out lineup (in place of Eminger).
Mao, it should be interesting to see Gillie on the wing. I just hope it’s more than 5 minutes of ice time…the kid has serious wheels…
LOL! Tavares really does look like Dreary.
Carp, good point, even though they already have Al “Monty” Montoya…
here is who was still available when ahole Sather picked Huge Wasteaman 12th in 2003 draft
Dustin Brown, Brent Seabrook, Ryan Getzlaf, Zach Parise, Brent Burns, Mike Richards , Ryan Kesler, and Corey Perry
but brilliant stogiepuss said, “nah, let’s take the local kid”
“oh, and you got any more of that pie?”
11 Years, Tom Renney picked Jessiman, not Sather. Prust sayin’
And that was admitted by Renney….
just sayin that sather has the FINAL DECISION on any draft picks. HE picked jessiman on the stupid advice of another hockey dummy who deserved firing, Renney
FIRE RENNEY!
Yeah, you do have a point there, but we never know the whole story.
I give him crap over the bad contracts. The draft picks, not so much.
Jessiman was a huge mistake, no question. But I really think Sather has done a tremendous job with trades and drafting since the lockout…and bringing in Torts…
not only did he take bad advice, but who hired stupid renney in the first place? SATHER, that’s who. it is all his fault.
11 years, Sather tried to correct his mistake by picking up #26 overall that year.
He’s definitely improved, but it’s a shame it took him all these years to realize what’s best for the organization.
Yup, he really knocked it out of the park with Sanguinetti.
come on, Sather hired some really great coaches over the years.
Muckler, Ron Low, Trots – how easy we forget the really great ones !!
Imagine how good any of those guys would look on the No. 1 line with Gaborik right now.
On Directv, the MLB package is on seperate channels than Center Ice. But they share the same channels on Verizon Fios, so if you have Fios, you’ll get the Hockey games.
Trots had that superb penmanship.
He’s improved…and maybe, tremendous is too strong a word to describe how he’s drafted recently….he’s made better draft decisions with the help of Gordie Clark….
but overall his trades have been outstanding….
The Prust…need I say more?
yeah, after 9 years of failure, of spinning wheels the same ol’ way, after hiring loads of hack coaches who were his buddies, the Ron Low types, he finally as a last resort decided to listen to reason and hire a coach who knew what he was doing, especially in the area of young players, and was an independent voice, and Torts and Gordie Clark get the lion’s share of credit for the youth infusion into the Rangers
though it was Smith who made the Muckler blunder that ultimately led to his own demise.
And while it’s definitely too early to tell with McIlrath, if he doesn’t become a stud, he definitely missed out on one with Fowler.
The Prust
Wonder what would have/could have happened if Sather kept Tortorella, who was the interim head coach when Slats was hired.
Carp, you are correct about Muckler.
Eh, there were some other busts from the 2003 draft too. Zherdev at 4, Nilsson at 15, Anthony Stewart at 25, Tambellini at 27, Eaves at 29, Belle at 30. A bunch of guys that turned into NHLers but nothing special like Bernier, Fehr and Pouliot.
Some late round gems from that draft were Moulson, Halak, Pavelski, Enstrom and Byfuglien.
If we drafted the right players, we wouldn’t have even signed Butt-Chin.
Sanguinetti may have not been a “home run”, but it’s not as if he’s a bust. Defenseman sometimes need more time to develop.
Not saying he’s going to be phenomenal. But, he’s still young.
LOL! Torts is probably thrilled Slats got rid of him
Sanguinetti was definitely a bust.
Muckler didn’t make too many stellar moves either while coaching. In fact, I was never too certain he was alive while standing behind the bench….
If we drafted the right players, we wouldn’t have even signed Butt-Chin.
***
Maybe not him, but they would have signed someone. Kovalchuk perhaps? Gaborik at 5 years will be a better deal than Kovalchuk or Marian Hossa.
Sanguinetti is a bust. First round Draft pick of a defensemen that doesn’t get regular playing time 5 years after being drafted is a bust.
Check out this tweet from Stan Fischler…
@StanFischler: Surprise Rangers playoff hero will be none other than sideline restaurateur, Sean Avery.
BWAHAHAHA! He’s really lost it now!
“Gaborik at 5 years will be a better deal than Kovalchuk or Marian Hossa.”
Disagree on Kovalchuk.
Dude, I stopped listening to Fischler a long time ago.
Carp, didn’t Gretzky once make a comment about how Fischler didn’t know Carcillo about hockey?
But, if he makes the team next season, and has a great rookie season, would you still consider him a bust?
He’s not necessarily a star, but you can’t call him a bust.
LOL! Fischler is senial!
He’s a bust for us, no doubt aboot it. But, he’s only 23, and he’s not the only player who’s had a late start to his career. It happens.
I remember when Fox Sports NY (formerly Sportschannel) became MSG +, and all of a sudden Fischler was all over Rangers broadcasts. I wanted to break my TV. He is seriously like the senile old man grandfather that makes outlandish remarks at family functions and everyone just laughs and says “oh grandpa!”
Doodie,
What I’m saying is that Gaborik is only a 5 year commitment. Would you rather have Kovalchuk for his current deal? Over their overlapping time, Kovalchuk could be the better player but his deal runs on for a dozen years afterwards.
Orr, unless he becomes at least a regular 2nd pairing defensemen, he will be a bust. A first round pick is supposed to give you a solid NHL player.
I’ll say this in Sather’s favor. I LOVED the Cherepanov pick.
I only like Fischler when he argues with Chico. I’m glad MSG got rid of him.
CTB: I know what you were saying. And yes, I’d rather have Kovalchuk’s deal. 6.67 million for a truly elite player through his prime? Yes, please. And since it’s an under 35 contract, he can just retire before those last 5 years kick in. It’s a $100 million contract. Big deal if he leaves $12 million over five years on the table.
I agree with you, he definitely has to be top four, at the very least.
And, I also agree on Cherry. I loved the draft pick. Never could have known what would happened two years later.
Sorry guys – I like Stan.
Old guy loves the Rangers & has 1,000 stories. I got to meet him once, he had me in laughing all day.
Orr,
The problem might be whether a team really gives him a chance on the NHL roster, especially after his entry level deal expires. And if he can’t make it on Carolina he probably can’t make it on most NHL teams.
When Sanguinetti couldn’t make the Hurricanes suspect defense, yeah, I’d call him a bust.
Also, you can just demote him at that point if you want. $1 million in the minors is nothing. I bet he would retire rather than ride the buses at 38 for $1 after making $88 million in the 10 years prior.
Defense was never his game, and was always his biggest problem.
Which is our problem with Del Z right now.
Orr, MDZ also has a problem with offense this year as well.
Doodie, certainly Kovalchuk’s been the more durable of the two, age-wise there’s really no difference. If Gaborik was healthier throughout his career he could have commanded a 10+ year deal.
The question is how many more years does Kovalchuk have left? I think this year could be an anomaly in his production because of the Devils woes in the 1st half. But does he have many 40 and 40 seasons left, let alone another 50 goal year? This is his 10th year in the league, even without hardly any postseason wear and tear his prime production window could be narrower than wider.
Anybody see this?
http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/nhl/news/story?id=6300338
Turco betting money with some Habs fan during last nights game. Pretty funny.
The question is how many more years does Kovalchuk have left?
***
Should read: The question is how many more *prime years does Kovalchuk have left?
Yeah, Sangs, and Del Z should have a wine cooler. They have a few things in common
LOL “Turco Rules” nice one!
Ha! Turco will be writing “Turco Rules” in the KHL next season.
O’Doyle Rules
Crawford rules, Turco sux. they would be in the playoffs easily if not for his poor early season porous goaltending and .500 record
Cool video from over at NYRangersblog:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uoca9arNW9o&feature=player_embedded
Thanks for answering my question about Callahan Carp & Doodie now if wore a tee shirt that said “We can do this , Its just pain ” in BOLD letters that would be great
LOL! Wine cooler! I could definitely see MDZ drinking a chick-drink…
Man, we sure could use a guy like Chery now…still makes me sad thinking about him…
It’s too early to tell if Bobby Sangs is going to be a bust. But so far, it’s not looking good for him…
O’Doyle, I’ve got a feeling your whole family’s going down.
O’Boyle Rules!
But first I got to study!
Del Zotto isn’t old enough to drink! Don’t insinuate! He drinks virgin dacquiris. All night long.
Any links to the Canes/Wings game ?
new post.