Six days ago, we were sitting in the press conference room and John Tortorella was talking about losing Brandon Dubinsky, on top of losing all these other players including Ryan Callahan, and during the game that night the Rangers would also lose Ruslan Fedotenko. And that was the first game… Read More →
John Tortorella: “I don’t think there’s any one best thing. Obviously, Gabby getting untracked in a game here hopefully will help his confidence. Our penalty killing I thought was the biggest point early in the game. It’s something we didn’t want to do—we talked about that before the game, trying… Read More →
First, let me say that the renovation of MSG has really begun now. You’ll see it when you walk in. The foodcourt on the sixth floor directly behind the visitors bench is completely walled off. There’s stuff happening everywhere. Going to be very interesting to watch how they do this… Read More →
This is some nice little run here by your New York Rangers. OK, they lost to Montreal, and didn’t play their usual grind-it-out game that night. Imagine if they had. Imagine what this would-be five-game winning streak might look like? So now the Rangers have Western pelts of Vancouver, Dallas,... Read More →
Hi kids. My story on John Tortorella ran in The Journal News and on LoHud.com today. But as I typed this, the link had not yet been posted. So if any of youse want to go to LoHud.com and find it and put it up before I awaken, please do… Read More →
This one was bad. The Rangers played a stinker. Again, you can’t argue with the effort, but there were errors in all three zones. So home they go with one goal and a single point in two games in Florida. Thoughts: 1) This may have been the worst game of… Read More →
Steve Zipay reported earlier that Martin Biron will start in goal, and that Michael Del Zotto goes back into the lineup. Zip says that Tortorella called it a tough decision to prucha Matt Gilroy. The rest of the lineup remains the same since the Rangers only have one extra player…. Read More →
Boy, time flies. It’s Jan. 2 already? Seems like yesterday it was 2010. Don’t forget the early start time tonight. Should be right in the Rangers’ wheelhouse: a road game and the second of back-to-backs (9-0 so far). Martin Biron expected to start in goal. Here are the pre-game notes,... Read More →
Another one of those see-what-you’re-made-of wins last night. I won’t repeat all the stuff about resilience, and about playing to the end, and sticking to the system, and all that. Even though, it seems, every time they win and even most of the time when they lose, they are all… Read More →
John Tortorella: On these games being as important as wins over Washington and Pittsburgh: “Absolutely. You’re not going to play error-free or disciplined or just dead-on games. The amount of games you play in this league, it just doesn’t happen. So you’ve got to find a way to win these… Read More →
Hey, this is how my day is going. Caught an earlier train than usual, but it was slow and completely packed, including idiots on the phone. No prob. Still plenty of time for a brisk walk to the Garden. But I get there, still early, and the World’s Most Terrible… Read More →
Big game against the angry Pens, coming off a loss in Philly last night which ended their 12-game winning streak (their first loss since the Rangers beat them at the new Igloo a month earlier). So we get to see Sid the Skid, Malkin, Fleury and that piece of carcillo… Read More →
Finally, a hockey game. It’s in Kanata, Ont., though, so a 7:30 start for the home-and-home rematch (and an almost certain meeting between Mr. Carkner and Mr. Boogaard). No worries. MSG Network has some extra programming tonight. At 6:30, MSG will show the latest edition of “Behind the Bench”—the show… Read More →
You might want to watch the pre-game show in case there are any warmup shenanigans like last time the Rangers visited. Otherwise, you probably saw the Rick DiPietro quote in Jesse Spector’s blog today: “I truly don’t like the Rangers,” DiPietro said. “There’s nothing better in the world than beating… Read More →
Thoughts as we approach the crack of noon: 1) Way, way too much is being made of Sausage Lips’ slew foots. Yes, he should have gotten a penalty vs. Callahan. No doubt. And I imagine that if Callahan hadn’t been called for interference he might have gotten up and slugged… Read More →
Let me ask a simple question. Do you remember many games like this the last two years? The last seven? Twelve? How many times do you think the Rangers have come across a game like that, with so much snarl from the start, and not only won it, but seemed… Read More →
Just beyond the crack of noon. Rangers close out their four-game homestand (1-2). They go to Pittsburgh’s new house tomorrow. Henrik Lundqvist remains out with that flu/head cold. Martin Biron, who played so well on Thursday, gets the start in goal. Derek Boogaard is back in the lineup. Todd White… Read More →
Big day for the Organ-eye-zation today as they unveil their new Heritage jersey, which will be worn Wednesday and a few other games … and which, of course, will be available for sale immediately … and not cheap, I’m going to go way out on a limb and guess. 1)... Read More →
John Tortorella: On Biron: “He kind of gets thrown in. He was at the (morning) skate this morning and I don’t think he had the day to prepare for a game. We found out about Hank this evening. And I thought he made some huge saves. So that’s what I… Read More →
First I have to tell you this. Lundqvist was in about half his uniform the whole game, just in case Biron got hurt. And during warmups, Artem Anisimov fired one off Biron’s sternum, and it stung and Biron went and told Lundqvist he might have to put on the full… Read More →
