Holy cow, what an ordeal getting home. Never thought 4-6 inches of snow could create such problems, but roads froze, trees fell, power went out. Yikes. October byfuglien 29th. Well, at least ya boys are still NHL-.500, even though they’ve won three and lost six. Thoughts: 1) Marian Gaborik=Beast. Bet… Read More →
I missed Beavis & Butt-head’s return and that World Series Game 6 for this? Are you kidding me? I’m going to break this review into three parts. First, about the game. Second, about the new building. Third, a mea culpa. Thoughts: 1) For years … for decades … maybe a… Read More →
Game 8. First homer of 41. First after that ridiculous world-wide journey. First game of the renovation. First game for Ryan Callahan as Captain. First home games at MSG for Brad Richards and Tim Erixon, and Mike Rupp (assuming he plays) and maybe Jeff Woywitka (if he plays, but I… Read More →
Needless to say, the Rangers would have been perfectly happy coming home to the old arena after the trek they’d just completed. But to come home to the new lockerroom, new benches, and a one-third renovated Madison Square Garden for the home opener tomorrow, and for Brad Richards to be… Read More →
Game 7. The end of the odyssey. The Rangers need a point to have gone through this ridiculous 16,500-mile schedule at NHL-.500, or a win to top that. Martin Biron gets his first start of the season in goal in place of sore-footed Henrik Lundqvist (Biron’s playing because it’s time… Read More →
Game 6. The third of a four-game tour of Western Canada. The sixth of a seven-game odyssey to begin the season. Get ready to be inundated with Tom Renney stuff tonight. Wojtek Wolski (groin) is ready to return, but he will not play and be a prucha, as Erik Christensen… Read More →
You know, some of the negativity is absolutely crazy. I say that a lot around here. It’s kind of like the NFL, where every loss is Armageddon and every win means Super Bowl. Just look at the coverage of the Giants and Jets in this town, and listen to some… Read More →
Live from Nassau Coliseum … no accidents, no tickets, no roadrage incidents … First game in North America, only game in the U.S. until the home opener Oct. 27. Rangers are without Marc Staal and Michael Sauer, so the third D-pair is Steve Eminger and Jeff Woywitka, making his NYR… Read More →
John Tortorella: (I asked him what kind of things the Rangers can do now that they’re home): “Practice, practice. Practice, practice. Who used to say that?” Told it was Allen Iverson, then told that Iverson used it in a different vein … “Put it in the opposite vein of him…. Read More →
Thoughts: 1) Yay! Skills competition. Pretty serious lack of skills in this one. Brad Richards lost the puck at center ice, and the winning goal was a complete whiff. 2) The Rangers shouldn’t fight the opponent’s goons unless it’s absolutely necessary. So far they have had two staged fights, and… Read More →
We’re underway. Ya boys got a point on the road, blew a lead, caused way-too-early panic, took too many penalties. In other words, situation normal. Quick turnaround with a 1 p.m. road game today vs. the future Stanley Cup runnerup Mighty Ducks in Stockholm. Thoughts: 1) Time of possession in… Read More →
Forwards The look all changed when Brad Richards signed for $60 million over nine, years. Throw a legit No. 1 center onto any roster and it trickles down mightily. Now the Rangers have an elite playmaking center to play with Marian Gaborik, who had a terrible second season (22 goals,... Read More →
(Editor’s note: Anybody interested in doing reviews of the Sunday or Monday games? If so, e-mail me at rcarpini@lohud.com) Another round of cuts coming today for John Tortorella. As I’ve said all along, there really aren’t a lot of spots available for new guys. The Rangers still need to keep… Read More →
Thoughts: 1) From what I’ve seen, this preseason has been disjointed, undisciplined and inconclusive. The Rangers have not played particularly well in any of the three games, and their best players have certainly not stood out for the most part. Maybe that’s just me. 2) As far as Michael Del… Read More →
Better late than never. This is yesterday’s presser. I won’t be around the team today as it skates in the morning and then flies—that’s right, flies—to Albany for the preseason opener. I’ll be back this evening for a Go Time thread. Tortorella noted that there’s a rookie game at 1… Read More →
I’m not sure what to make of it all. First, I appreciate the Rangers being cautious with Marc Staal, especially, but also with Brandon Prust and Michael Sauer and Artem Anisimov. Again, especially Staal. Concussions are the scourge of sports—I’m actually working on a story with former Giants footballer Dorsey… Read More →
Marian Gaborik returned Friday afternoon from Slovakia, where he spoke at a memorial for his close friend Pavol Demitra, and others. It’s been an especially difficult off-season for Gaborik, who was very close with Derek Boogaard from their days in Minnesota, and extremely close with Demitra, who perished in a… Read More →
UPDATE: Artem Anisimov is on the ice with the third group. No sign of Marian Gaborik, who is supposed to be in this group as well. UPDATE: Marian Gaborik is in the building, plans to skate with the fourth group and get his physical tests done later. Spoke about the… Read More →
UPDATE: Here is my story on Brandon Prust from The Journal News and LoHud.com today. Sorry this is so late … had some major car snafu Friday. Hope to be able to get to camp for most of the session, if not all, Saturday. We’ll see. No promises. Here is… Read More →
First the news. Marian Gaborik is not on the ice. He attended the funeral service for his friend Pavol Demitra yesterday. Wade Redden is not here; he was assigned to attend Connecticut’s training camp right from the start. And Michael Sauer did not skate today with a tweaked knee. UPDATE:... Read More →
