For all the complaining we (I) did about the outdoor game, it was a downer going back indoors, especially at the World’s Quietest Arena. What a shame. Could you imagine a first-place team in the middle of a season in the 1970s or ‘80s and the kind of intimidation MSG… Read More →
Game 38. HBO’s finale of “24/7” debuts tonight at 10, replayed again at 11. The Winter Classic and all the other distractions are now in the rear-view mirror as ya boys approach the mid-way point of the season and the all-star break having won two in a row and seven… Read More →
This is what happens when you play well for an extended period of a season and people take notice … teams that might not be so good, or not playing so great, find another gear when they play you. It becomes a big game for them. And that really hasn’t… Read More →
Game 35. First of three in a row on the road for your first-place boys, on a five-game winning streak. A 7:30 start for Versus (exclusive telecast). Followed by episode 3 of “24/7” at 10, and replayed at 11, on HBO. (Nine more days before I can cancel my HBO!).... Read More →
First place in the East. Five straight wins. Top two or three in team defense. Fewest losses in the whole freakin’ National Hockey League. And your New York Rangers really haven’t nearly hit their stride or been nearly 100 percent healthy yet. ‘Nuff said. Thoughts: 1) Seven goals allowed in… Read More →
Game 34. Rematch of Thursday’s 4-2 Rangers win. Ya boys on a four-game winning streak. With Boston idle tonight, the Rangers could move into first place in the East with a victory. Same lineup, other than Henrik Lundqvist in goal (Martin Biron beat the Islanders Thursday) and probably Jeff Woywitka… Read More →
Not going to get all wrapped up in who did what on a lopsided scoresheet, though I’m sure you all enjoyed the heck out of it, and you should have. Instead, how about numbers?: 17-6-4, second best record in the improving East and fewest regulation losses in the NHL; 8-2-2… Read More →
I don’t know which game was the Rangers’ second best of the season, but it wasn’t even close to this one. And not just because of the score … if they played the exact same game and, say, lost in a shootout, this still was their best of the year… Read More →
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 →
First, he did not give out his lineup, or his lines, saying he wasn’t sure. (Andrew Gross loves when he says that, LOL). But he said it will probably be the same lineup as the home opener. He did say that Mike Rupp (knee) remains out. I asked him a… 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 →
“It’s pretty ugly everywhere at times now.” That was the quote from Brad Richards (on MSG Network), who said several times several different ways that the Rangers: A) survived themselves and a brutal opening schedule and B) are not playing particularly well, even if they are playing hard most of… 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 →
Gotta go quickly today. Got a football game to cover tonight, so I’m going to attend a meeting with Mr. T at Mr. Green’s office this morning. Thoughts: 1) I’m going to invoke the name Brian Leetch again. Because Leetch always had a clock in his head, and he knew… 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 →
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 →
Now that the cuts have been pretty much made, and most of the decisions, too, there’s one thing still to ponder. We kind of started the discussion last night. Who is going to end up the first-line left wing on Opening Night? Guess the next two preseason games are worth… Read More →
