Thoughts: 1) How the byfuglien are the Byfuglien-less Blackhawks where they are? … and how did they lose nine in a row? … Not that they were great in this game. They sure weren’t. They got a bunch of gifts in the first period, the benefit of some calls, a… Read More →
Two-nothing and two-nothing. Nothing being the important word. Are the Rangers done? No. Not yet. In the playoffs, what happened yesterday doesn’t matter one lick today, and we saw evidence of that in the first period of Game 2, after the Rangers lost in OT in Game 1. They were,... Read More →
Will have Tortorella quotes, however brief, soon. Chris Drury is back in (he’ll add some juice, the coach said). Mats Zuccarello is in, presumably in case of a shootout. That means Sean Avery—who agitates the heck out of the Devils—is prucha’d. Also, Matt Gilroy is in for Steve Eminger. Back… Read More →
Has there been a game this season that better defined these Rangers, the It’s Just Paingers? In a game, let’s face it, they pretty much had to win, they played with all those characteristics we’ve seen most of the year: The shot blocking, the body checks, the PK, the struggle… Read More →
Apparently there is a chance the Rangers can recoup those two points from last night. The NHL is investigating whether the Islanders used an illegal lineup in the game, and it could result in a forfeit of the two points … though I’m not sure if the two points would… Read More →
John Tortorella: “I thought it was very important to win a game like that this time of year. That’s what I was most happy about. We end up scoring some goals the last little while, winning games that way. You could see it right from the start—I thought our start… Read More →
First the news. Nothing new on Staal, except that Tortorella did allow that “he’s day to day.” No further explanation of what the injury is or how long he’s expected to be out, or even—as he was asked—if Staal could play today if this was Game 82 and the Rangers… Read More →
I’ll link later to my game story … which was about how there’s always these goofy swings in Rangers-Isles games, and how the Rangers survived the lows by going back to basics—down low, straight-ahead play. They do it after bad periods. They do it after bad games (see: California trip… Read More →
John Tortorella: “I thought Hank, especially in the first period, made some really key saves. We got into trading chances with them a little bit. I thought we played better as we went on. But we can’t trade chances. We’ve got to continue to work at playing the proper defense…. Read More →
Marian Gaborik: “The first period was good and the second period we kind of had a little hiccup there. So, big goal by Cally there and we kept rolling from there.” “It’s always nice to score, definitely. But big win. We didn’t have a lot of games lately. But we’ve… Read More →
This was one of the dullest pre-gamers of the season. The news, as you all know already, is that Avery and Eminger are back in, Wolski and Gilroy are prucha’d tonight. The last question of the press conference was whether the Rangers will wear their white jerseys again tonight. Tortorella… Read More →
Serenity Now… 1) The power play is enough to make a man crazy (i’m not crazy). 2) I always thought that the “jam” was a cop-out phrase from Torts, for playing well vs. not playing well, but in the first period I became a convert to the “jam.” In the NHL if you can hold… Read More →
This was like taking four punches. Ugh, ouch, ooof, ouch. The Rangers lost, Buffalo won, Montreal won, Carolina won. I will say this about Buffalo, with its three games in hand. I am not impressed based on that game last night. Except for the goalkeeper, that is. The Rangers need… Read More →
Big, big one. I’m not ready to call any game a must-win with 36 points still on the table. But this could be a huge win or a very discouraging loss against a Buffalo team five points behind, with three games in hand. Marc Staal, who suffered a setback Monday,... Read More →
Before we get to the game, youse should know I’m on a banning rampage. And if some of you clowns keep stepping out of line, you will be banned … and I might as well tell you that I will enjoy doing it. OK? Update on Del Zotto. He is… Read More →
John Tortorella: On what he thinks of McCabe: “Hasn’t played yet.” On what he knows and expects: “Well, we all … veteran guy. He’s got the big shot on the power play. And I think it helps us, at this time of year, with our pairs, especially with Marc being… Read More →
Will have quotes shortly … but here’s the news. McCabe will play with Eminger and wear No. 28, and play on the power play. Duh. Fedotenko is out, so Newbury will play. Del Zotto is still here, even though the Rangers made a paper transaction to send him to the… Read More →
It’s a 1 p.m. matinee as the Rangers play the final game of February, the final game before tomorrow’s trade deadline, and the first of a three-game homestand. Bryan McCabe is expected to make his Rangers debut. Marc Staal is expected to miss his second straight game. Ruslan Fedotenko is… Read More →
That’s what Bob McKenzie tweeted. If that’s it, it’s a darn good deal for a rental who will help the power play and add some veteran presence, and some physical play. Not giving up Matt Gilroy at this point gives flexibility for a larger deal before the deadline Monday, I… Read More →
Here’s a tweet from Nick Kypreos—former Ranger (first off the bench, prematurely, to celebrate the Cup; first to kiss the Cup). Seriously, he’s pretty plugged in. I put a lot of credence in this: #NHL news. Look for #Panthers Bryan McCabe to be traded to the #Rangers as early as… Read More →
