Thoughts: 1) Remember last year when the Rangers were almost always the more physical team, the team that won more battles and dictated play, and often the faster team? I thought this was a game that kind of reminded me of last year more than any other this season. 2)... Read More →
Thoughts: 1) Martin Biron. Let’s talk about fairness here. Because it isn’t fair if every time this guy plays and the Rangers don’t win, that it’s his fault, or the fault of the decision to play him. He’s not going to go 8-0 or 10-0 or whatever. He’s 1-0-1. Three… Read More →
First and foremost, thanks to Carp for giving me a spot in the lineup. Most appreciated. Here we are, folks. A dozen games in the books already. Twenty-five percent of the schedule done, just like that. Sure, a truncated 48-game season is better than no season at all. But it… Read More →
Before we look back at last night’s mayhem, remember we will have a Live Chat right here at noon today. Should be some interesting discussion given what happened and how it happened last night. Be there. Or else. Thoughts: 1) I haven’t had the opportunity to say this in a… Read More →
The coach had some pretty good insights tonight on Brian Boyle and some of his other top players, including the goaltender and, without naming names, Marian Gaborik and Brad Richards. He also spoke about replacing the middle of the lineup lost over the off-season. John Tortorella:
Here’s the unedited version of my story from The Journal News and LoHud.com: By Rick Carpiniello GREENBURGH – Those players to whom Rangers coach John Tortorella was referring when he said they’re playing scared and tentative know who they are. The 4-5 Rangers, a day after a 3-1 loss to… Read More →
Thoughts: 1) I really wonder who John Tortorella’s tentative, scared guys are. Marian Gaborik? Michael Del Zotto (he doesn’t look tentative to me, but he made some woeful mistakes)? Brad Richards, who was demoted off the No. 1 line and terrible on the power play? Brian Boyle, who except for… Read More →
Thoughts: 1) There’s going to be a lot of obvious stuff said in the next bunch of paragraphs because there was nothing subtle here. It was very obvious. For example, the Rangers had the puck for a lot of this game, more than in any other game this season. Did… Read More →
Thoughts: 1) Wowzer. I don’t even know where to begin. That was just putrid. I thought there was a stretch there in the second period where the Rangers righted themselves a bit, and then they shot themselves in the skate with the Derek Stepan giveaway for a Sidney Crosby (who… Read More →
Don’t forget to be here at noon for the Live Chat … during which, the twitter widget over there——————> might provide us with a Ryan Callahan update. We’ll see. Thoughts: 1) Obviously, first and foremost, and much more important than a fairly solid win and a third in four games,... Read More →
Here is my (unedited) column from The Journal News and LoHud.com: By Rick Carpiniello GREENBURGH – John Tortorella’s got a new toy, something he hasn’t had in his first three-plus seasons as Rangers coach. He has three legitimate first-line players, and with it the opportunity to put all those eggs… Read More →
Thoughts: 1) It is beyond stupid to think this team was going to stink it up all season. I don’t think they are where they need to be, and they still need to get more from the guys who play on the second line, or who are supposed to play… Read More →
Thoughts: 1) Look at the guys who played important roles and/or played really well at times, or for most of last season, who have played poorly through all four, or parts of all four games this year: Brian Boyle, Derek Stepan, Carl Hagelin, Brad Richards to a degree; Marc Staal,... Read More →
REMINDER: We will have our third Live Chat of the season today at noon. Plenty to talk about, including the big win over Boston last night and tonight’s game against the 0-3 and very desperate Orange Crud. Be there. Or else. ******************************************** Here’s the MSG link to John Tortorella’s post-game… Read More →
Rangers vs. Penguins. Game 2. The 0-1 Rangers go with the same lineup, other than Arron Asham, coming off his suspension from last season’s playoffs, making his Rangers debut in place of Brandon Segal, who was returned to the Connecticut Whale (AHL) as planned. Are you ready for some Sidney… Read More →
Game 1 Have you waited long enough for this game? Bunch of guys making their Rangers’ debuts: Rick Nash, Taylor Pyatt, Jeff Halpern and Brandon Segal. Plus Chris Kreider makes his regular-season NHL debut. Check out the new thingy on the left … it’s our Three Rangers Stars poll. You… Read More →
FORWARDS: Three years ago, the Rangers had zero legit first-line forwards. Two years ago they had one (Marian Gaborik). Last year they had two (Gaborik and Brad Richards). This year they have three, with the addition of power forward Rick Nash. The lockout gave Gaborik time to heal from shoulder… Read More →
Grittier, or prettier? The Rangers lost some of their grinding personality in Brandon Prust, Brandon Dubinsky and Ruslan Fedotenko, and a big part of their game was battling for every inch of ice. Some of that has been replaced, and Rick Nash will use his big body, too. But this… Read More →
One of many reminders: Live Chat Wednesday at noon. Be there. ******************************************* Here’s my notebook from camp today: Two of Glen Sather’s biggest mistakes could be freed from their contracts by Saturday and thus, conceivably, continue their NHL careers. Defenseman Wade Redden, whom Sather signed to a six-year, $39 million… Read More →
Here’s my story from The Journal News and Lohud.com: By Rick Carpiniello GREENBURGH – The Rangers hit the ice Monday – well, 15 of them did – and though they’d skated in groups throughout periods of the NHL owners’ lockout, this was different. “It was great,” new Rangers power winger… Read More →
