OK, it was unwatchable. And the Garden crowd was dreadfully quiet—that’s what happens when people buy season tickets and have to sell a lot of them because of the cost, and then cherry-pick which games they’ll attend; but also when the Garden insists on making hockey games in New York… 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 →
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 →
Marc Staal will be a gametime decision, based on how he feels in warmups. You probably know his decision by now, via twitter, tweeter, tooter, or the MSG pregame show. Fedotenko is back in. So here are the probable lines according to our sources (the guys who are actually doing… Read More →
So it looks as if Marc Staal and Ruslan Fedotenko will both be in the lineup tonight. That likely means a prucha for Steve Eminger. And Kris Newbury was sent to the Whale. PS, happy 43rd Mr. Brian Leetch! Here’s the announcement on Newbury, from the Rangers: NEW YORK RANGERS… 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 →
According to Andrew Gross’s Ranger Rants blog, Marc Staal suffered a setback—which might be minor—when he left practice early Monday. You can read all about that, and other stuff from John Tortorella’s pre-game press conference, here. That includes the “Is Glen coaching?” remark about Sather saying Henrik Lundqvist will play… 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 →
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 →
Sorry. I didn’t see a minute of the game. Heard some of it on the radio while I was at a local playoff semifinal (an OT game that didn’t start nearly on time). Then I sat down at 1 a.m. to watch the replay, and instead they were showing a… Read More →
No Marc Staal (knee), so Ryan McDonagh slides into the first pair with Dan Girardi and faces the fun task for a youngster: facing Alex Ovechkin (=Monster) every shift. Maybe Dubinsky can fight him again and get him off the ice for five minutes. Lundqvist is in goal. Eminger is… Read More →
I’m not going to fake it, as if I saw the whole game. Because I didn’t. I could have watched the whole replay, but, geez, the Devils sure make it difficult to do that. But they sure are effective playing that way. So I caught the first period of the… Read More →
Chris Kreider, an ‘09 Rangers first-round draft pick (19th overall), won the MVP at the Beanpot Tournament in Boston, for Boston College last night. John Tortorella: “I didn’t see any of it. Sully (Mike Sullivan) came in and told me today and I wish that kid turned pro last year…. Read More →
From the Rangers: FEDOTENKO SIDELINED FOLLOWING APPENDECTOMY New York, February 2, 2011 – New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced that forward Ruslan Fedotenko underwent an appendectomy today, and will be sidelined for three weeks. The surgery was performed by Dr. Ronald Simon at the New York… Read More →
Here’s my column from The Journal News and LoHud.com today: NEW YORK — It is the quote of the season for the Rangers, because it is everything they are about. Brandon Prust, the tough-as-shoe-leather winger, had been playing with at least two bad injuries — a bum shoulder and a… Read More →
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 →
Don’t put too much stock in the score, OK? There was some lousy goaltending and lousy play by the lousy visiting team and it got out of hand in a hurry. That said, there were a lot of positives, including the PK early, then the PP, mostly Gaborik getting going… Read More →
