MID-SEASON REPORT

As we enter the New Year, the New York Rangers are a vulnerable team. They're undisciplined on defense. They lack any consistent scoring threats. They're turnover prone. Their powerplay is powerless. They're strapped down by the salary cap.

...And they sit atop the Atlantic Division.

What a funny little world we live in.

While tonight's... interesting... 5-4 win  over the lowly Islanders manages to keep angry/concerned Ranger fans at bay for the time being, the holes in this team are as prominent as ever. Following the debacles against the Devils, Caps, and Sharks, it's ALMOST admirable how the Rangers can use games like tonight's to "band-aid" their problems so incredibly often.

Maybe they're just delaying the inevitable deal that must be made in order to give this team a spark and the ability to become a contender. Maybe Glen Sather already has his plan set to go. Or, maybe, he's going to try to test this team in battle. 

Let's hope not.

39 games into the season, and the lineup is still not set. Players are bouncing in and out of the lineup, lines are still jumbled, the defense has it's issues, and character of this team is yet to be determined. That bothers me. 

And now, as we have reached the mid-point of the season, the time has come for...

MIDSEASON GRADES

We'll organize the players by position.

Note: I am grading the players based on their own expectations and execution. All players are on their own scale.

FORWARDS:

Blair Betts (4g, 6a): We all know his role on this team, and I must say that I admire Betts' game. Does he get too much ice time? no question. But he goes out there when his number is called and he gives it his all. He's an elite penalty killer, and a good checking line center. He's also shown some flashes of offense that had been missing from his game previously.

Grade- B+

Ryan Callahan (11g, 4a): I'm beginning to think that Cally is finding his niche in the NHL. He has the potential to be either an above average 3rd liner, or a good 2nd line wing. He fore-checks tenaciously, and is one of a handful of Rangers who never takes a shift, let alone a night, off. This kid should be a perennial 20 goal scorer in this league for a long time. Though he struggled a bit at the beginning of the season, he has begun putting in those garbage goals that made another Ryan- (Malone)- into a star. I'd just like to see consistency.

Grade- B

Nigel Dawes (6g, 6a): After sitting out for a couple of long stretches this season, the vertically-challenged Canadian has begun (in the last 4 games) to remind fans how he won a roster spot out of camp 2 years ago. The fact that his game offensively and defensively was so poor that he deserved to sit for a while is bad. And, even now, his inability to find any consistency thus far is concerning. If he can keep skating hard and filling the net, the points will pile up for him. But that is a HUGE if for a little man.

Grade- C+

Chris Drury (10g, 15a): *sigh*. I was expecting big things from the new captain this season. 10 goals and 15 assists in 39 games is hardly what I had in mind. Still, the number most concerning is the $7 million he is getting paid this season to be a heart-and-soul guy. $7 million is money for game-breakers. Drury has gone long, long stretches without scoring this season, and he has been invisible for many games. He doesn't seem to be stepping up at times when his fans and teammates look to "Captain Clutch" the most. Seems to be a little weighted down by the "C" on his chest. He is going to have to put up points if this team is to be successful. Let's hope for a big 2nd half.

Grade- C-

Brandon Dubinsky (5g, 16a): A great start for the 2nd year forward was quickly halted by.. um.. the actual NHL season. With 1 goal in his last 29 games, there has to be some concern as to where his game has gone. He stopped carrying the puck with the confidence that he showed with Jagr last year, and by himself early this year. He is still very good along the boards, but I thought he might have had the potential to be scoring force in this league rather than a grinder. Maybe that just isn't his game. I wouldn't be against sitting the kid for a little while to spark him. But, if his issue is confidence, that could be dangerous. 

Grade- B-

Dan Fritsche (1g, 3a): He looked very good in the pre-season, but has had a lot of trouble claiming a roster spot as the year has gone on. I haven't seen enough of him to make a fair judgement. And, barring an injury, I don't see him really getting into this lineup.

Grade- INCOMPLETE

Scott Gomez (7g, 18a): The Rangers' other $7 million dollar man has been just as disappointing to me as the other guy so far this season. With the same amount of points as Drury thus far, Gomez comes with all the tools to be an elite set-up man in this league, but never puts them all together. I thought Zherdev might be the guy who helps Gomez explode stat-wise, but I was wrong. Though he has shown random flashes of brilliance, Scott has been loose with the puck this season, and has been easy to knock off it to boot. His D-zone coverage has been brutal for a center (he's a -11), and he doesn't seem to have any fire to his game. Lack of chemistry with line-mates? A bothersome ankle? Maybe. But Gomez is also on a career pace for shots on goal, yet has still only found twine 7 times. We need more from him.

Grade- C

Lauri Korpikoski (1g, 2a): The Fin, taken 19th overall in the '04 draft, had a hot start to his NHL career, scoring a goal in his first game (a playoff game at that!).  But since then (this season), the Korpedo has only 3 points in 29 games played. To be fair, he hasn't exactly been given a plethora of ice time to work with, and his game is not suited for the 4th line role he has been assigned most of the season. For that reason, I am going to give him a pass. Look for Korpo to get his big chance soon though, as he was put on a "scoring" (LOL) line with Gomez (HAHA) against the Islanders, and played pretty well.

Grade- INC

Markus Naslund (14g, 13a): In Naslund, the Rangers have received exactly what they paid for so far this season. (Or at least what I expected from him). Nazzy leads the team with 14 goals, and is 2nd in total points with 27 so far this season. Clearly not the player he was 5, or even 3 years ago, Markus also disappears from time to time. He has lost a step in his skating for sure, but can still fire a wrister with the best of 'em. He is still a very smart player, and he's on pace for close to 30 goals. The Rangers can't ask for any more than that. 

Grade- B/B+

Colton Orr (1g, 2a): It's nice to see a heavyweight who also wants to play the game, and that is what Orr has turned into. He worked diligently in the off-season to improve his skating and his stick-handling, and it has shown during games. Colton has developed a strong game along the boards, and has had some offensive opportunities. He is also, most notably, one of the best fighters in the league- and the only guy on the Rangers who I can watch fight without cringing. He only has 3 points on the year, but he is doing the job he's here to do. Gets waaay too much ice time- but that's Renney's fault.

Grade- B+

Petr Prucha (2g, 0a): What does this guy have to do to stay in the lineup at this point? Sure he had trouble finding the scoresheet the first 10 games this season, but so did most of his teammates. And, unlike many of them, he was at least getting chances. He did his time in the press-box, was dressed, and scored a big goal against the Penguins- only to be out of the lineup again after two scoreless games. Then he sits for another ten games, is finally dressed, and scores ANOTHER goal against the Isles (while being the best player on the ice all night).  Forget keeping him in the lineup... PUT HIM BACK ON THE POWER PLAY!!! At least the Garden Faithful gave him some appreciation tonight. 2 goals in 12 games isn't good. But when he's all over the ice like he has been since being re-dressed, he deserves another chance.

Grade- INC

Fredrik Sjostrom (2g, 2a): I like Freddy Shoes. He's fast and he's hard nosed. But again, he he's part of that unit that gets far too much ice time (not his fault). Still, I know this guy has more offensive abilities than the 2 goals and 2 assists he has on the season.. and he needs to find it. He has a solid spot in the lineup because he can penalty kill, but I wouldn't be opposed to seeing Fritsche in his spot for a game or two. 

Grade- B-

Aaron Voros (8g,6a): Does he have the potential/ability to put up some decent numbers like he was in the beginning of this season? No. He doesn't. Voros doesn't have enough to get through a whole season with the amount of ice time he was getting, and the expectations he was building for himself. Hes a good 4th liner. He's a big body. Maybe if he can work on his skating and his positioning, he can be a solid NHLer (see: Knuble, Mike). Right now? After weeks of non-inspiring play, he FINALLY earned a spot in the press box for Petr Prucha. I think he may be there for a while. Who knows.. maybe it'll spark him if he returns.

Grade- C+

Nikolai Zherdev (12g, 22a): Ahh a breath of fresh air. As he goes, the Rangers seem to follow. When the puck is finding him all over the ice and he has his handle on it, he just makes things happen. Leading the team with 34 points through 39 games, he is the ONLY Ranger on pace for more than 60 points this season. (Wow. That's really bad.) "Z" is a human highlight reel. His puck-handling is second to none, his shot is a laser, and he is a very, very underrated passer. His tying goal against the Pens was one of the best shots I have ever seen. I'm on the edge of my seat every time he touches the puck, and that is just what the Rangers need. Now, if they can just find somebody (*COUGH* Kovalchuk/Gaborik *COUGH*) who can be on the same page with him, they'll be in good shape. He has the potential to be Alex Kovalev... if AK27 was good at hockey. Should be an all-star.

Grade- A

DEFENSE

 Dan Girardi (3g, 13a): After a hot start on the stat sheet, Girardi has cooled off a bit, and still has a respectable 16 points in 39 games this season. Girardi is still young (24), and has been one of the Rangers' strongest defensemen this season (which doesn't say much). He is also a physical leader on the blue-line, and leads Ranger defenders in hits. Still, he has struggled defensively at times (with Redden as his partner), and is atrocious on the point of the power play. Still, he's young, and he's a bright spot on the blue line.

Grade- B

Dmitri Kalinin (1g, 6a): It's been a rough first half for Marek... I mean Dmitri. The turnover machine is a team worst -13 on the season, and has only contributed 7 points offensively. He panics with the puck in his own zone, turns it over, and repeatedly gets beaten like a tied up goat by opposing forwards night in and night out. The boo-birds have already begun, and his stay in NY is likely to be short lived. Corey Potter is much more ready and deserving of this spot in the lineup.

Grade- F

Paul Mara (2g, 10a): Mara has emerged as a solid defenseman and a leader on the blue line for the Rangers this season. While his 12 points are decent, it is his attitude and hustle that have stood out. He is first in line to stand up for teammates, and his episodes on Mic'd up have given us an earful into his professional approach to the game and his important tutoring of Marc Staal. He is doing everything well on the ice, but nothing great. I'd like to see him be more effective on the struggling PP.

Grade- B

Wade Redden (2g, 14a): We all know the 6 year deal was for too long. We just didn't know we'd be feeling the negative effects already. Where is the great first pass we heard so much about? How about that low, hard shot from the point on the power play that was so effective for so many years in Ottawa (1 PPG this year, 16 total poins). Where has the poise and confidence with the puck gone? Wade looks like a scared puppy out on the ice this season. If you ask me, I'd say he's afraid to make a mistake. And that is no way to play hockey. This will be a long 6 years for Wade and the Rangers if this play continues.

Grade- C-

Michal Rozsival (6g, 12a): He's a player with decent skills, and he has shown that from time to time. But I have never seen a player with the skills he has look so terrible and helpless at every other moment. There are times he just doesn't want the puck, and the other team takes advantage. When he gets beat, there's no backcheck what-so-ever. Lazy doesn't even fit the bill. He has a cannon that he uses once every blue moon, and it's not even like he's deferring to Jagr anymore. His mistakes and misplays are the most painful to watch because of the lack of effort he seems to put in. When he tries, however, he can be a pretty good defenseman.

Grade- C-

Marc Staal (1g, 6a): Perhaps a few years earlier than we would have liked, Staal has worked himself into the #1 defenseman on this squad. Though he still makes some positional mistakes, he is learning quickly and will be an elite defender on the MSG blueline for years to come. He is confident and solid with the puck, and is responsible without it. Defensively he is a stud, and he already uses his long reach to poke the puck away from attacking forwards. The offense will come later. Some mistakes will be made now. This kid will be a star.

Grade- B+/A-

GOALIES

Henrik Lundqvist (19-11-3, 2.67 GAA): With all the mediocre grades that I have given out to this team, one has to wonder how they sit atop their division, and near the top of the conference. Here is your answer. Every night that he is in net, the Rangers have a chance to win the hockey game. Early in the season he was simply unbeatable. Over time, the defensive breakdowns in front of him have taken a bit of a toll and he has tired- but even in doing so he has remained more than sharp. He is unbeatable in the shootout, and that has put the Rangers in the favorable position they are in today. The King has to be the favorite for the Vezina so far this season. And hey, with a great goaltender, ANYTHING can happen. No question he's an all-star.

Grade- A

Stephen Valiquette (4-2-0, 2.41): The hulking goaltender (he stands 6'6!) is 4-2 so far this season, doing the usual back-up routine. Vali is solid, but by no means am I confident when he is guarding the cage. The debacle in Toronto earlier this season only confirmed my thinking. Still, he stops the shots he needs to for the most part, and he stands in there to give Hank a day off every now and then.

Grade- B

COACHES

Perry Pearn + Mike Pelino: The power play is a disaster, and has cost the team a number of points in the standings already this season. This is a BIG problem. Good teams in this league are successful with the man advantage. Bottom Line. Pearn ADMITS to being in charge of the power play. So lets see.. Pearn=PP. PP=horrible. Pearn=horrible. What else do these guys do for this team? The penalty kill? That's about players using their sticks in passing lanes and sacrificing bodies to block shots, so I'll give them no credit for that. Oh yeah, both men are very boring interviews between periods.

Grade- F

Tom Renney: Many people are calling for his job. Others are saying he has to go because his assistants have to go. I disagree. While I do think that Tom has mismanaged this group at times during this season, I think he may still be doing the best he can with what he has. He is a defensive coach, and he doesn't have very good defense-first style players at his disposal. Still, his players respect him, and the team he coaches is ten games over .500. You don't fire a coach who is having success, no matter how agonizing that success may be at times.

Grade- B

Glen Sather: He lost the Mats Sundin sweepstakes (which may be a good thing), and he is pretty tied up by the salary cap right now. His off-season moves have been some good (Naslund, Zherdev) and some very bad (Redden, Kalinin). There is still A LOT of work to be done by Mr. Sather before this season is over.

Grade- B/TBD

Have a Happy New Year! Go Rangers!

-Rif

A Much Needed Rest...

For everybody. Including yours truly.

More analysis and Mid-Term grades to come shortly.

The Test At The Tank

Tonight's match-up  against the NHL leading San Jose Sharks will be a game that will define the direction of this team for the rest of the season.

Now, after the conclusion of the Mats Sundin saga, this Ranger team will find out where they stand in comparison to the league's best squad.

Can this group band together with the pieces they have, and show that their current place in the standings is no fluke. 

Can they start to score goals consistently up and down the lineup? Or will Henrik Lundqvist have to continue to carry this team through the post season?

Does Glen Sather have to make a drastic trade for new personnel in order to push this team to elite status?

We will learn a lot about the character and direction of this  Rangers team after tonight's game.

Now What?

Wow. Who saw this coming 5 years ago? The New York Rangers lacked the funds to sign a big free agent name, and had to watch the player they desired sign elsewhere.

Well, it happened. And after watching Mats Sundin take his money and run to Vancouver, the Rangers now find themselves... well.... the same.

However, as a Ranger fan, one must look at the Pros and Cons of the non-signing of the former Maple Leafs Captain.

PROS

• Petr Prucha, Dan Fritsche, and even Brandon Dubinsky will be staying put for now, instead of being traded away- essentially for nothing, in order to sign a player for half a season.
• Chris Drury will not feel undermined by the arrival of another veteran captain (i.e. Gomez, Naslund)
• The Rangers maintain SOME cap flexibility in case of injury or other circumstances.
• There is one less big name star who can fail on the big stage of MSG.

CONS

• The Power Play still stinks. Badly. Very, very badly.
• The Rangers still lack a true power forward and goal scorer.

Now, mind you, that even though there are more Pros to this episode for the Rangers, the Cons are quite concerning if this team is trying to drink from Stanley's Mug this June.

So what does General Manager Glen Sather do from here? What is his Plan B to fix this team that is clearly still in need of a top 6 forward as well as a steady, consistent defenseman?

The problem for Sather is that his team is still right up against the salary cap limit.

-How about $500,000 for half a season of Brenden Shanahan on the PP?

-Ilya Kovalchuk may be available later for the same money Sundin would have demanded. And that's a young player who can be signed for another 8 years after this season.

Or, maybe Scott Gomez and Chris Drury will start to earn $7 million a year. Maybe Nik Zherdev will turn into a superstar. And maybe the defense will stay healty and mistake free.

Don't bet your money on it.

Of course, it does help having the best goalie in the league guarding your net.

It's your move Mr. Sather.

Duck Hunting

Amazingly, for only the second time in 15 games, the Rangers used the minimal amount of time required to record two points in a hockey game! Wooohoooo!

These wins just seem a little more legit. The boys in blue are not stealing their points and running away tonight. They earned these.

They played a very strong road game against a pretty darn good WESTERN conference team. If you remember, the Rangers recorded ONE win in 12 games against teams on the other side of the league last year. This year, they have recorded a point in 6 of 9 games against Western clubs, including four "wins".

Last night in Anaheim, the Rangers did their job. Plain and simple. They didn't allow the Ducks to sustain any real pressure for any extended period of time in this tilt. New York forwards routinely retrieved their dump-ins and cycled effectively in the offensive zone. This tactic keeps the puck away from the likes of Getzlaf and Perry and Teemu, and thus out of trouble.

Still, when Selanne and Co. did have the puck in Henrik's territory, The King was, again, phenominal. He made at least two saves on shots he never saw, and repeatedly stopped shots from high-scoring-chance-areas. 

Naturally they would play well as a team days before Mr. Sundin makes his decision.

Anyway, there's only one thing that could really deteriorate the good, accomplished feelings from last nights win... and that would be a loss to the lowly Kings tonight.

Win- and you are on a roll.

Lose- and it's back to the drawing board.

Since Bill missed them, lets get to some...

GAME NOTES

- As far as my Dawes/Prucha statement from last post... point taken Bill. Holy mojoley. It's not often you see Pronger turn into a pylon (or Rich Pilon for that matter), but Nigel Dawes turned him inside-out and backwards before potting the GWG. Wowzer.

-Still, Dawes could have had 3 OTHER goals in this game. He's starting to get chances again, he just needs to finish them more often.

- The arrival of Captain Clutch? A nice snipe by the Captain for the first goal. How nice would it be for him to start contributing on the score card? He has been very visible in the last couple of games.

-Lauri Korpokoski had a strong game tonight. He was at least standing out during his shifts. 

- The Aaron Voros- Steve Montador fight was very confusing to me. First, why, when in tight like that, does Aaron continue to punch Montador's helmet? It's easier to detach the thing from in close, why bloody your hand and have no effect on the other guy? Second, Steve Montador throwing body shots? Really? Like.. honestly? That's not even cool.

- And it's the Rangers who capitalize on the turnovers tonight! Crazy! That's a nice roll change!

- The Rangers penalty kill is fun to watch. While it's concerning that they must be out there so much, this is the group that has been the MOST CONSISTENT for the team all season. They have been holding the fort at crucial points in games. They're now 28 for their last 29 kills. Hats off (Firstly) to Betts, Shoes, Callahan and Drury. The D have been very strong as well.

-In fact, watching them provides the exact opposite reaction that you get when watching the Power Play. Mats can not sign his papers soon enough for this part of the team. They're honestly brutal. You NEED to have an effective PP to be a complete team.

- Bill said it... Henrik for Vezina.

- My one concern FROM THIS GAME, again, is finishing scoring changes. Dawes' marker with less than 4 minutes left shouldn't have had to be so vital. The Rangers had numerous chances to add to their 1-o lead in this game, but came up empty again and again- and the Ducks eventually tied the score. You can't let teams hang around in this league because they WILL come back. With J-S Giguere on the bench, they should have capitalized.

DO NOT lose to the Kings tonight.

3 Stars Of The Game

First, since not really ONE player, a special shout out to the guys on the PK. They were a big story in this game.

3) Chris Drury- 1g... Had a strong all around game, and scored on a nasty wrister. Let's hope he finds a rhythm.

2) Henrik Lundqvist- 19 Saves... Bailed his teammates out when they needed it with big saves at big times. The lone goal allowed came off a rebound of a ridiculous save. 

1) Nigel Dawes- 1g, GWG.... He made Chris Pronger look silly. Not easy to do. He then clinched the first star by actually finishing the play with a goal. That's the effort that will keep him in the lineup.

 HEY! Looks like Bill got those right! 

OFF TOPIC- There were TWO phenomenal plays around the league last night. 

First, Alexander Semin made a ridiculous behind the back pass to Alex Ovechkin against the Islanders, giving AO an open net that you know he's not going to miss. 

In the Devils-Maple Leafs game, Jason Blake pulled a spin-o-rama in the shootout against Scott Clemmenson to give Toronto the win. Nicely done by the guy who was almost choked to death by Mark Messier.

Also, Mats Sundin is expected to make a decision by Thursday regarding where he will play this season (Vancouver or NY). Whichever team he chooses, we will have coverage and opinions here following his decision

-Rif

 

Easy Dawes It

So I think that was the best pun that the Rangers website has had in recent memory.

Okay so after a brief hiatus, I am back. It's final exam season on top of a regular job and a girl, meaning I've been pretty busy. Nonetheless, my last final was today and I am clear-headed. You didn't want to hear my feelings about the games against the Devils and Canes anyway.

So..

..Hey Josh, wanna know why the Rangers continue to play Dawes over Prucha? For moments like last night. When a man who signs a 1 year, 2-way contract for 500K dangles one of the elite defenseman of the league who is making $6.25 MILLION dollars this season, a tear comes to the eye. I think Pronger's jock is still on the ice, the Zamboni couldn't even sweep it up.

Due to issues last night, I was not able to start watching the game until the start of the third period. Apparently it was a pretty solid effort for the first two periods which sounded nice. The thing that made methe most happy was the fact that the Rangers did not crumble in the third. They continued to show a good effort, played pretty solid all-around, and Hank stood on his head as usual. If he does not grab the Vezina this year, there will be some havoc. The other 2 of the 3 usual finalists have been hurt all year, leaving him his best chance to take home the hardware.

Christmas came early, my wish was for the Rangers to win a game in regulation, and it finally happened. Now let's string together a few more wins and let's be merry. I will have more to talk about tonight's game against LA (of whom I absolutely love Anze Kopitar) and we should get to see Rangers old backup Jason LaBarbera between the pipes.

My 3 stars:

1 - Nigel Dawes. He's been fighting for a spot on the team, he's seemed to earn his keep in recent games, and he has flashes of brilliance (he needs to have those flashes become more consistent). I've loved him since they called him up with Dubes and Callahan 2 seasons ago and if he just develops a bit more, he could be a great, solid, permanent 2nd line winger.

2 - Henrik Lundqvist. He's by far been the backbone of the team. Without him, Rangers would not be where they are right now. He continues to perform and we love to see it.

3 - Chris Drury. Captain Clutch hasn't been so "clutch" yet this season. However, notching a goal last night he should be leading by example. "Hey guys, if I score, you all should do the same." Keep it up Captain.

Oh and Mats Sundin should have a decision by tomorrow about where he wants to play. I'm nervous. If goes to Vancouver, it's obviously going to be for the money, there's no chance of that team being a Cup contender. If he comes to NY, I am still clueless about who they are going to move around for him. My guess would be see Prucha gone along with a few others.

That's all for now.

-Bildini

Deja Voodoo

Where have I seen this before?

A low scoring battle with any real risk taking.. or for that matter breathtaking. Henrik Lundqvist bailing his team out past regulation time. The team playing a conservative Overtime. Lundy out-patience-ing opposing shooters on their shootout attempts, and the Rangers grabbing two points and continuing to hang on to their Atlantic Division leading status with Mats in the house. 

Henrik put on a show for Mr. Sundin tonight- there was certainly NO hangover effect on the Swede. He again made ridiculous stops from ridiculous point-blank ranges at ridiculous moments in the game. He was ridiculous between the pipes. 

The Rangers played their typical game.  They show flashes of immense potential at random times during the game, never really sustaining an ownage of the play. They get a break here or there and put one past the 'tender, but never enough to put the game away. The other team gets a good bounce or two and the game is tight for the last half of the third period- with both teams coddling their free point. 

Once the Overtime is done away with by Renny's conservative-ness, we know we're in good hands.

Come playoff time, some things are going to have to change. But not yet. Let's get there first any way that we can. Because once you're there, anything can happen. 

The one thing that did seem to change some was a bit of role reversal done by the Blueshirts  (who were wearing white at home<3).>

The Ranger's PP showed a heartbeat today. There was movement away from the puck! There were shots from all angles, and there always seemed to be somebody crashing the net for a rebound chance. 

Finally, Naslund broke the hex, and there was champagne from the heavens. 

The PK has been brilliant all season long- a pleasing, continuous bright spot for this team. To see two of the guys who have been working the hardest on this team have it all pay off on a brilliant goal is really fun to see.

Hey, it's starting to become a grind out there, and the most important thing to do at this time of year is to rack up the points... by any  means necassary.

Off to CALIFORNIA for 5-game road trip!

Thats all I can think to write right now. Hey, it was a slow game out there tonight- it gets a slow blog response.

GAME NOTES

...The Good

- Naslund-Gomez-Zherdev line continues to impress. Each player had a hand in the Ranger's first goal, and applied game-long pressure at Cam Ward's end of the ice. A lot of scoring is coming from this line right now.

- Henrik Lundqvist, as I mentioned, bailed his team out. Again. Without him this game is a 4-2 lost. He has to be one of the top 3 goaltenders league-wide. He has my Vezina vote.

-The Penalty Kill was exceptional in killing off 8 penalties, including an extended 5-on3. Kudos to the entire PK unit, which also provided a key goal.

-Geez it felt good to watch Drury net that one in beautiful fashion.

- Blair Betts had an exceptional game both offensively, defensively, and penalty killing-ly. Before his goal, his speed and determination resulted in two great scoring chances, and thankfully he cashed in on the third off a brilliant pass from Freddy Shoes. This is what teams look for in 4th liners, and he plays his role to a T.

- Ryan Callahan has put together a couple of strong games in a row. He is using his body and winning his battles, and it is not going unnoticed.

- I love Dan Girardi's physical game. This guy has the potential to be a very very good defenseman for the Rangers for a long time.

...The Bad

- Michal Rozsival got ABUSED by Eric Staal for the Canes first goal. And i mean abused in the most legal and devastating way. He was simply chased down,  pick-pocketed, out worked, and beaten by Marc's older brother... and he looked bad doing it. The fans even began to show their displeasure later in the game.

- Nigel Dawes has been terrible with the puck, and the play, for an extended period of time now. What is this guy doing to keep a spot in the lineup that Petr Prucha isn't?? 

STARS OF THE GAME

3rd Star)... Naslund-Gomez-Zherdev. 1g, 1a, 1a. PPG, 2PPA. The line collaborated to create the PP goal that opened the scoring, and continued from there to provide a constant threat to the Hurricanes.

2nd Star)... Blair Betts. 1g, SHG. Had a few quality scoring chances before netting a pretty, and timely, shorty. The penalty kill, which BB plays a great part in (he had a few key shot blocks) was also instrumental in this win.

1st Star)... Henrik Lundqvist. 29 saves. Many of which were at point-blank range. Kept this game close, and was the only difference between 2 points or 0 points in this game. He makes the shootouts look easy, going 6-for-6.

-Rif

Teaser

Well that just wasn't cool.

Sometimes it's just easier to lose a game 9-1 than to go down the way they did last night. 

I found myself wanting to say that they fell short in that game... but they didn't. They made it there- they completed the comeback- then they forgot about the win.  They figured the Debbies would throw in the towel, but instead they got pissed off. 

And then I got pissed off. 

Tom Renney must have been to busy celebrating a  hard-fought comeback completed with Ryan Callahan's goal THROUGH a terrible, terrible goalie in Scott Clemmenson. He wasn't paying attention to the fact that Dimitry Kalinin had jumped the boards for the next shift. One mis-play on the puck, and ELEVEN seconds later the Rangers were behind again. And it was over. 

Even I, the I'm-a-Ranger-fan-and-I-am-well-prepared-for-the-worst-case-scenario-to-happen-to-my-team, did not see that one coming. And it hurt.

I was so upset that I refused to blog a post-game post out of fear for what I may write in my frustration- a tip that SHOULD be followed by more Ranger fans around the blog/forum-o-sphere. I asked Bill to restrain from writing last night for the same reason. Nobody should have to be responsible for their words in a time like that. 

But time heals, and here I am.

And after thinking and thinking and thinking about this game- I just can't get it out of my head- that I'm at a point where I don't know how to feel about what transpired.

We'll start with the first half of the game.

Disgusting. Absolutely embarrassing and gutless. They were trampled on the ice and on the scoreboard. They left Henrik out to dry- again. TWO MORE SHORTHANDED GOALS (which I will come back to). At 5-1 I went to shut the game off and go back to my college life. 

But unfortunately- I am addicted to this team.

A little hustle and some terrible opposition goaltending and it's a 5-3 game. I feel some momentum swinging, and it's hard not to be intrigued. This team, opposed to past Ranger squads, allows you to have that glimmer of hope.

Mara scores. There's so much time. Anything can happen in that amount of time. Gosh did I have no idea how true that statement would be.

Cally ties it!! I didn't even see it go in. I just saw the boys in white celebrating, and felt the weight of this comeback struggle lifted. It was a new game!

..... I should have remembered how the Rangers have begun so many "new games" this season.

My father calls and we celebrate this team's heart and desire. Then he says "oh no." And I melted. See, I watch the games on a Slingbox- which comes complete with a 10 second delay on the game. I was watching the puck being dropped but because of my dad I wanted to shut the screen and leave with my tie. I know what's coming.

The puck slides/bounces awkwardly into the slot. Both defensemen are our of position, having been attempting to pick the puck up behind the net. Gianta picks it up- dishes to Elias (HOW THE HECK IS HE NOT WATCHED)-Elias slides it home. I hang up the phone. 

From there the Rangers fell apart, and the game ends with an 8-5 final. The comeback and excitement was for nought. It's hard to be a Ranger fan.

Still, even now, I am trying to get myself to be satisfied with the comeback that DID happen. I mean they did come back from 5-1 down. That's something. How much of a something? That remains to be seen. And we will see tonight, back at the Garden, against the Hurricanes- who blew their own 5-1 lead to the Flyers a few nights back.

8 Goals allowed matches The King's career high. Some may want to (and unbelievably have) said that he is in-part to blame. "His team battled back for him, and he couldn't hold on" they say. Each goal allowed by Henke today was a result of blown defensive coverage, and a man open in the slot, or at the back door (not to mention a puck in the crease that should have been whistled dead). He is not the problem. The problem is this team.

They need to pick an identity. Are they a good team? Are they the guys who win their battles, forecheck hard, put the puck to the net and crash and play responsible defensively? Or are the a bad team? The team who is routinely out-hustled, doesn't finish checks, doesn't backcheck, and can't score goals.

They need to decide. And when they decide, they need to maintain that identity. And play a full 60 minutes.

That game last night, despite the ultimate outcome, could be a turning point of the season for this team. They could see their ability to outplay a red-hot NJD team when all looked hopeless. They could absorb the fact that when they don't quit, they can come back from anything against anybody. They can score goals when they need to (AND WHEN THEY PUT THE PUCK TO THE NET). 

OR

They could be demoralized. They could see how despite their hard work, they didn't get the job done. They could focus and dwell on their faults at the start and beginning of the game, instead of noting them and working to improve.

I am looking forward to tonight's game.

GAME NOTES

- SOMEBODY must take responsibility for this "Power Play". This has gone on for far too long, and AGAIN, it cost the Rangers the game last night- in more way than one. 0-for-8. With TWO shorthanded goals against. Not only do they not score on their man-advantage chances, but they're STILL giving up goals short-handed at an ALARMING pace. TEN?!?!? TEN SHORTHANDED GOALS AGAINST!?!? How? I don't know. 

... Perry Pearn is in charge of this Power Play. When car manufacturers build a car, you have the guy who makes the engine. Another guy puts the steering together. Somebody else is in charge of the breaks. If the breaks guy doesn't put them in, you don't look for new breaks... YOU FIRE THAT GUY. What he is doing is OBVIOUSLY not working, so get somebody else IN HERE TO FIX IT! NOW!!!

-Colton Orr on the PP at the end of the game? Really? That's not what I meant by change, Tom.

- The Naslund-Gomez-Zherdev line looked real good in this game. Well.. at least for those 30 minutes. But during those 30 minutes they were nearly unstoppable. They could be a force to be reckoned with.

- Kalinin is now -15 on the season. Rozsival a -12. LOL....Both were instrumental in last nights loss with horrible games. Again.

-Poor Henrik. I just hope the guy doesn't get TOO frustrated and quit on this team. I don't think he will.

- I ALMOST forgot how much I hate losing to the Devils. I mean it had been a while!

STARS OF THE GAME

3) Markus Naslund- 1g 1a... Has been solid and productive for an extended period of time now.

2) Scott Gomez- 1g 2a... Found his legs for yet another good performance against his former team.

1) Nikolai Zherdev- 1g 3a... The kid creates so much with his speed, hands, and instincts.

-Rif

On That Note

A big thanks to new Rif's Rangers Rant contributer Bill, with some interesting thoughts from last nights near-meltdown in Atlanta. Bill and I may disagree on some aspects of this team, or their direction, but hey!- These are rants, and you will now get more than one perspective on this truly INTERESTING Rangers squad.

GAME NOTES

- I fear that the two points the Rangers escaped with last night may disguise the true disarray this team seems to be in right now. A loss to Atlanta last night may have applied some pressure on Glen Sather's PANIC button.

- With that said, what better team to show up on the schedule next than the red-hot New Jersey Devils? This is the kind of game that no matter the latest team struggles, this group will rise to the occasion for.  It's just the game that can get the Rangers back on track. The King will be back in the cage- and he owns the Debbies.

 Now as far as the Rangers in Atlanta...

- Welcome back Wade Redden. A productive yet quiet return for the struggling defenseman with 3 assists (one on every goal).  I feel like a quiet game for Wade at this point may be a good game for him.

- The new line combinations seemed to click at times... until Renney continued to mix and match during the game. How can you expect players to jell when they're being thrown out with different guys each shift?? 

- Sit Nigel Dawes for Petr Prucha. Dawes had a nice hit last night and that was about it. Petr just hustles so hard and it's clear he wants to produce on every shift he hits the ice.

- Despite good hustle on his GWG, Scott Gomez was unimpressive again last night. Too many turnovers, and he doesn't seem to be at full speed right now. However, his right hand bloodied an unusually fiesty Ilya Kovalchuk. Yet he only received another double-minor rather than a fighting major! He just cant get the 5!

-Gomez delivers the right hand and Colton Orr scores the goal that breaks the scoring slump. this team is clearly Bass Ackward.

- Steve Valiquette, though not MY favorite goalie (Bill seems to think highly of him) was undeniably solid last night. He had 3 glove saves that prevented the Rangers from falling behind the Thrashless Thrashers.

- Brandon Dubinsky looks like he's ready to bust out of this slump (1g in 20 games now). He was a man possessed with the puck last night, skating hard and winning battles all over the ice. Look for him to start tearing the mesh in the next few games. 

- 3 goals on the lowly Thrashers. With JOHAN HEDBERG in net. Ugh. The guy couldn't hold on to his own hand, let alone a rebound in a hockey game. And all 3 Ranger goals that were scored were a product of that. Well, that and ACTUALLY GOING TO THE NET. Wowzer!

STARS OF THE GAME

3rd Star)  #19 Scott Gomez -  GWG.  His hustle to the net on OT gave the Rangers an extra point. That's the only reason he gets this star.

2nd Star) #6 Wade Redden- Assists on all 3 Ranger goals and a +3. A nice return for the underachiever.

1st Star) #40 Steve Valiquette- 27 saves, more than one of which were very clutch. Was left out to dry on both goals (breakaway, back-door goal). Did more than his job as a backup goalie last night. 

-Rif

And they still can't...

WIN IN REGULATION!!

So the Rangers play the Thrashers who are ranked 14th and 15th in the Eastern Conference collectively in scoring, goals against, and basically just not being that good. Keep in mind, there's 15 teams in the Eastern Conference.

I'll admit, they looked better. But anyone can look better against Atlanta.

Star of the game? STEVEN VALIQUETTE. I swear, you throw him to LA, Nashville, St. Louis, or some bottom-of-the-barrell team like that, and he's got the starting job there. He deserves a lot of credit for being such a solid backup to Lundqvist. I'm glad to see Hank got the night off too, he needs to clear his head and get back on track as the great one we know him as.

And hey what do ya know, who gets his first goal in over a year? COLTON ORR!! That man is one of my favorite players on the team right now. He's a great story and a great model for kids to look up to, that people can make it in the NHL and be productive even though you don't have all of the skill in the world. He used those fighting hands for a good shot last night. He's had tons of chances this year and I'm happy to see him finally connect.

Now with that said, RENNEY STOP THROWING THE 4TH LINE OUT THERE SO MUCH.

If you noticed, look who was on the points last night taking shots, Staal and Mara. My, oh my, that's a rare sight these days on the Rangers: taking shots. Roszival still can't handle a puck, and he's just making me more and more mad every day. Redden comes back first game from injury and posts up 3 assists in a 3-2 victory. Also finishing with a +3 rating. Not bad.

I liked the lines Renney rolled last night. I am not a big fan of Sjostrom, but I didn't mind seeing him on the 3rd line.

1st line: Naslund - Gomez - Zherdev (That should never be broken up)

2nd line: Dawes - Drury - Callahan

3rd line: Sjostrom - Dubinsky - Voros

4th line: Korpikoski - Betts - Orr

See now these lines make more sense. When he threw out Korpikoski - Gomez - Callahan against Calgary the whole game, I was fuming, I think smoke was coming out of my ears. What are you thinking Tom?!

Let's see how long these lines stay in tact. I like that lineup. Rotate Lauri with Fritsche and Prucha every once in awhile and you will be okay.

My bet is that Hank will get the start against the Devils tomorrow night. Hopefully we can see some motivation in these guys with all the bad blood between them and the Devs.

And hey, come on now, WIN A GAME IN REGULATION TIME. All of these 1 points from OT and SO wins they are giving to the other teams, CAN and WILL come back to haunt them. Let's finish it up before the 3rd period buzzer rings. THANK YOU!!

-Bildini

Illusions

With a 8-8-1 record since the beginning of November, one may look at the Rangers as a team going through a bit of a lull. A strong team that, after a red-hot start, is falling back to Earth a bit with some .500 hockey, and will get back to their winning ways soon.

Now look at this.

Lets go back in time. We're going to the days of hockey before obstruction. A time where goalies were free to roam in their own zones to play the puck. The era prior to the infamous "Instigator Penalty" was inexplicably put into place. But most notably, the days before shootouts. 

Back in those days, ALL of the Garden Faithful would be very concerned watching this 3-8-6 slide after an explosive 9-2-2 (in the non-shootout world!). 

Come back to today.

The last two debacles against Montreal and Calgary have exposed holes and weaknesses in this Rangers team. The thing is that these weaknesses have been apparent ALL SEASON LONG. 

Scoring, balanced scoring, the Power Play, scoring, defensive coverage and scoring. Yep.. that's all they're missing.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not asking Glen Sather for another fire-sale. This team is still in good shape if they can turn things around SOON. Still, the fact remains that we have some games-in-hand on teams- but those games are being made up. And, with 3-point games ever-present league wide, they're making up the points in the standings as well. Not to mention, again, that the Rangers have owned the EASIEST schedule in the league thus far.

What I am VERY concerned about is where the desire and the emotion that the Rangers played with in the first month of the season has gone. The team went from very entertaining (but still not scoring goals) to amazingly Devil-like in their approach.  It's one thing to be a defensive coach with a defensive system, as Tom Renney admittedly is. It's another thing to pull back on the reins on the offensive creativity and production. I feel like those reins were never used on Jaromir Jagr. 

In the beginning of the season, the Rangers were sharp and fast. Their passes were crisp, their back-checking relentless, and their hits jarring. No more. The Rangers are playing uninspired of late. Maybe even bored. 

What do I suggest? Lets see...

1) Do what you have to in order to get Mats Sundin on the roster. This guy seems to be what the Rangers lack offensively, as well as in the locker room. Sundin allows Drury to move to a wing (a less pressurized position, and perhaps he isn't handling the Captain position too well either). The question is exactly what moves need to be made to make room Salary-cap wise to give him the $2.5-3 million he will demand. (Any takers for Roszival's gi-normous contract?)

2) Send down Kalinin, bring up Sanguinetti. Sure he may be a bit raw, but the kid can play. He's doing well in Hartford, and by being safe with his minutes, he can get the experience he needs, and provide some heart and excitement to the team. As far as Kalinin, it is addition by subtraction. He is simply inept on the ice.

3) Scrap the PP. Entirely. Bring on new combinations, a new formation (umbrella perhaps??) and a desire to shoot and crash the net. It honestly seems like the other teams are scoring more on Ranger PP's than the boys in blue are. I mean seriously... it's close. 

4) Keep some lines together. There's a distinct line between looking for chemistry and not allowing your players to be comfortable, and Renney may be flirting with it. Sometimes (and apparently) chemistry doesn't come naturally between players- it must be built. Allow them the time to build instead of scrapping the lines after they go scoreless for a game, as we have seen Renney do lately.

Game Notes

Well, a few anyway.

- So Sam and Joe were RAVING about how the Rangers had stifled Calgary shooters, allowing 0 (zero) shots on goal for over 15 minutes. Then they get one, and the rebound of that shot is behind Henrik. Who didn't see THAT ONE coming? Honestly.

- Sorry for jinxing you Scott Gomez. Since I wrote about your inspired play against Pittsburgh, you're a -7, a lazy backchecker, a turnover machine, and an advocate of not shooting. Not a good combination.

- 8 Shorthanded goals? Eight? And you ate the whole wheel of cheese? I'm not even mad. That's amazing. Most teams don't give up that many in an entire season.

- It's upsetting to watch Henrik Lundqvist's numbers slipping because of awful decisions by his defensemen, and the equally inept goal-scoring abilities of his forwards. This man is, by far, the team's MVP. 

- I thought the "sloppy seconds" chant at Flame's defenseman Dion Phaneuf, though maybe in bad taste, were very funny. Clearly there is still some love for Sean Avery at the Garden (though nowhere else).

- Best comment for the game goes to an anonymous Ranger fan, who proposed a brilliant roster move for this team...

"Maybe we should sign Plaxico... at least we know he shoots!"

-Rif

PANIC!

It's done. The New York Rangers season is over. Their coach should be fired. The high-priced stars traded. After all, if you can't beat the Montreal Canadiens- a team that is a favorite to win the cup and a team that just doesn't lose at home (8-2-2)- a day after a physical battle against the Pittsburgh Malksbys followed by a plane ride to the harshest atmosphere in pro hockey, then you're going nowhere in this league.

Really? Honestly??

While the Rangers are clearly not a squad built for a Stanley Cup run, they're certainly not a BAD team. And coming off such a high with a character win in Pittsburgh, did you really expect them to come out flying against a young, shifty Habs team? Oh... you did? oops.

Teams like the Red Wings and the Sharks don't have nights like this. Regardless of how "tired" they may be before playing the second game of a back-to-back, those guys seem to be IN every single game. And even if their scoreboards don't show it, those teams are never dominated in the way Les Habitants de Montreal owned the Blueshirts tonight. Believe me. I watch.

But the panic and the anger and the knee-jerk reactions to every single game this team plays is truly mind-boggling. As "horrible" "disgusting" "embarassing", or "lifeless" this team may have been so far this season (unless they win- where they then play "inspired, "determined", "fun to watch, and are "a top tier team" according to the message boards), they STILL sit at the top of the Eastern Conference (albeit with games in hand). Don't talk to me about how soft their schedule has been so far, or bladdy blah. In this league you have to be PRETTY GOOD to sit at the top of the standings at any point.

In fact, when playing the top teams in this league the Rangers have fared rather nicely. The team has earned 

12 out of a possible 16 points in games against the top 8 teams in the East right now.  Not to mention that fantastic 4-5 overtime loss to those very Detroit Red Wings earlier this season. That the rangers have LOST another 10 points to the bottom half of the conference already may be of some concern.

Tonight was a case of a tired and (becuase of Wade Redden's injury) depleted New York squad facing a quick, dynamic Canadians team who were fired up from the get-go.. even after a classy, long, ceremony before the puck was dropped. Montreal won every battle to every loose puck tonight, due in large part to the Rangers simply not taking the body AT ALL- an aspect to their game that was so crucial in last night's win. 

This is not to give an excuse for what was truly a poor effort all game long. You can be tired and still hustle enough, and play SMART with the puck enough that you make a game competitive even if you didn't bring your best stuff onto the ice that night. This was a hard game to watch, and to put it simply, a few more efforts like this and some changes WILL be made.

Henrik Lundqvist was SO sharp. AGAIN. He  was hung out to dry tonight by his defensemen who were seemingly skating in sand. If not for The King, this is an 8-1 drubbing. At LEAST. 

Now is the time to pick our heads up, lick our wounds, and get back to work on Sunday against the Flames. Yeah... it's not going to get easier any time soon kids. But the good teams are able to bounce back and get the job done. The true identity of this team is still very much in question, and we may have our answer in the upcoming weeks.

Is Firing Renney really the move that will make this team elite?? You don't fire a coach that has his team in first place unless you're the Devils (we are not like the Devils. And that move didn't even work). He is liked and respected by his players, and his style of play has brought more wins and excitement to The Garden over the last 3+ seasons than we have seen in a long time. How about Perry Pearn, who ADMITS to being in charge of the incompetent Power Play? Lets see a move there first. Still, even he isn't the one missing open nets, or backchecking assignments. 

Speaking of which lets get to..

GAME NOTES

- The Montreal fans are fantastic. They cheer EVERYTHING for the ENTIRE game. I could get excited about hockey from simply listening to them. They even stay till the end of a game, not scrambling to catch a train with 10 minutes remaining when the game is well in hand. And, as we know all too well, they can carry their team when 5 men isn't enough. See: 5-0 comeback)

-Find me a team who gets more shots blocked by opposing skaters than the New York Rangers. Do it. You can't.  Why does this team have so much trouble getting the puck on the net from the blueline? The answer is SLOWWW passing and a lack of movement in the O-zone. Watch the Red Wings, or even the Pens, pass the puck. It's crisp, hard, and decisions are made quickly. The opposite of how New York plays it.

Yes, the Rangers often-times have ended up outshooting their opponents in games, but that is because lazy wristers from the circle into the goalies chest, and long slapshot dump-ins on net count as SOG's in this game.

- Talk about turnovers. Geez. I know I said they were tired with weary legs, and surely Guy Carbbineau's boys 

were clogging up the neutral zone.. but if you want to give them the puck so bad then pick it up and hand it to them. I stopped counting how many horrible outlet passes from the D were picked off by MTL wingers clogging up the area between the blue lines, and WORSE, right inside our own blue!

- I feel like Scott Gomez lost some focus in this game. He was so successful carrying the puck up ice last night, yet when he was stopped for the 2847th time tonight, and attempted the 2848th, it became a bit predictable that he wasn't going to give up the puck. Also had an ugly scrap that the ref's were too embarrassed to give majors out for (they got double-minors), took a bad penalty, and was a BRUTAL -4 on the night.

- How about Petr Prucha mixing it up?? I don't think he saw the ice too much but the kid clearly has fire and wants to stay in the lineup. And stay he should. 

- Nik Zherdev is still nasty. What hands. What a pass. If he can learn to actually score on a few more of the chances he creates for himself then we have a budding star on our hands. Still, there are times and places where he shouldn't even try to pull something. This he will have to learn.

- Somebody please put Chris Drury's face on a milk carton.. or a Coors. Still no sign of him. Shortish guy.. has a C on his chest.. reportedly scores big goals. Yeah I don't know either.

- It remains to be seen how long Wade Redden will be out with his lower body injury. This was a problem the Rangers saw coming before the season- a shortage of depth on defense. We no long have Jason Strudwick, so get ready to see Corey Potter. As disappointing as Redden has been so far this season, he had been playing better of late, and he's much better than Corey Potter. 

- I like the Markus Naslund signing more and more each day.

- I support a Mats Sundin signing more and more each day.

- Get well soon Blair Betts. <33

STARS..er.. STAR OF THE GAME

1) Henrik Lundqvist. Enough said. Without him this game may have been ridiculous enough to actually be shown on SportsCenter. 

Yeah. That's it.

-Rif

PRU-VING HIS WORTH

With the Rangers struggling to score goals, and Petr declining a conditioning assignment to Hartford just a day earlier, Tom Renney made the move to insert the underutilized winger into the lineup against a Pittsburgh Penguins team that boasts the two highest scorers in the league. 

Renny and his squad needed a goal, and Prucha, using his trademark hustle.. fall.. get up.. and keep hustling style, pounced on the rebound of a Scotty Gomez drive off the boards and slid it past the Pens backup goaltender- who was totally out of position on that shot- to tie the game late in the 3rd and push the Rangers into "get-to-the-shootout mode".

And that was a terrific run-on sentence. A thanks to those who noticed.

Naturally his reaction to the press will be of the "I'm just glad I was able to contribute" sort, but one has to wonder if he'd much rather be saying, "look what happens when you give me a friggin' shot, with decent amounts of ice time." Still, I'd like to see the kid standing in the slot on the PP (which- honestly - is BRUTAL to watch) banging home rebounds and doing his thing as he was able to do in that miraculous 30-goal rookie season. 

Is Pru a 30-goal a year guy? No. 

Did he overachieve in his rookie season? Yes. And i don't think I can find anyone to disagree with that.

But what the kid does is provide constant hustle, throw every pound of his tiny frame around, dig in the corners, and put the biscuit in the basket. He can be a 20-25 goal a year guy if used appropriately. 

HOWEVER, I fear that a couple more good showings like this may just increase the kid's trade value and give him his ticket out of town. Here's to hoping he gets another full shot to shine on garden ice.

Anywho.

This team, despite the lack of scoring, the frustrating turnovers,  hair-tearing PP, and inability to merely hit the red thing with the mesh, DOES NOT QUIT. And that is what sets them apart from past Ranger squads, including those of the last 3 playoff-bound seasons. This team believes they can come back late in the 3rd period against anybody, and comeback they do. 

Once they do that... and get through the heart-pounding overtime.. there's The King.

Is it of concern that they can't win a game in regulation? Yea. But you know what? I'm going to take any 2 points at this point of the season. The scoring will come ladies and gentlemen. I guarantee it.

GAME NOTES:

-  Nik Zherdev is nasty. The kid might have the best hands in the league. As he goes, so go the Blueshirts. Still, his similarities to Alex Kovalev are scary. Yet if he can continue to hustle defensively as he has, he can reach that potential that the AK27 never quite did.

- Scott Gomez looks great. He was flying all over the ice today, cutting through the neutral zone into enemy territory repeatedly over the course of the game. (which the Pens announcers were worried would "tire him out"- they are terrible.) He was constantly all over the puck and the first goal was a matter of him wanting it more than anybody else.

-Moments before the Gomez-to-Zherdev goal, a defensive breakdown by the Rangers almost turned the game into a 3-0 catastrophe. A block by Redden (who also had 2 assists) followed by Gomez flying the other way instead sparked the team and made it a 2-1 game. 

-The Naslund-Gomez-Zherdev line, re-united, looked fantastical.

- Dimitry Kalinin. If you ever turn a puck over like that again- to Cindy no less- you will not last long. Ask a man named Marek.

- Paging Captain Clutch? Where have you gone Chris Drury? I didn't hear your name called once in this game.

- (Naslund + Zherdev + Shoes ) X Hank = Shootout Wins.

- With Henrik Lundqvist between the pipes, the Rangers have a chance to win Every game.

- Sidney Crosby, although a whiner, is a damn good hockey player. The kid lives up to the hype.

- That being said, I cheered louder when he was knocked on his ass than when Petr tied the game.

-No Malkin in the shootout? I guess everybody knows Hank has his number 1 on 1.

- The Pens announcers are the worst in the league. I don't really want to elaborate.. it makes me angry.

    

        

3 STARS OF THE GAME:

3) Henrik Lundqvist.  

29 saves. Kept the team in the game while the Pens controlled the puck in the 1st and for various  amounts of time for the rest of the game.

2) Petr Prucha/Nikoli Zherdev.

Prucha- 1 goal. Countless hits and hustle. Earned another day in uniform

Zherdev- 1 goal . Showed hands, his wicked shot, and was responsible with the puck. When he's on his game he adds another dimension to the NYR.

1) Scott Gomez. 

2 assists. Was all over the ice, and seemed to want the puck on his stick at the end of the game. skated "masterfully" (credit Nate Pettine). If we can find him a true sniper, they'll be in good shape.

-Rif

COMMENTS/THOUGHTS??? PLEASE LEAVE THEM!!

**** Special shout out to the Penn State Nittany Lions BASKETBALL team with an 85-83 win over Georgia Tech!