N.Y. Rangers: Lightning Strikes MSG

From the desk of:  RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS

Former Rangers Captain Ryan Callahan Scored Two Goals In Return To MSG

NEW YORK RANGERS: The Time May Have Come To Promote Dylan McIlrath.

I swear I watched a bunch of girl scouts lash out over the (clean) hit Dan Girardi sustained from Ivgeni Malkin!  I saw a lot of grappling in the corner, but not one punch.

You just can't let hits like that go unchallenged.  It's not that I want someone to get a black eye.  It's just that teams have been taking advantage of the Rangers for two seasons now, so I guess this is welcome to season three.

It's painfully obvious the Rangers do not have the type of player to police the ice; Glen Sather ensures that.  I blame him.  Things like Colton Orr and Brandon Prust, and Sather's feeble attempts to correct his folly with Donald Brashear and Derek Boogaard come racing into my brain!

With the Lightning in town Monday night, I was also reminded of Glen Sather's inability to manage the salary cap.

About Monday....

Without even trying to be physical, Tampa showed once again how soft the Rangers can be.

I watched Tyler Johnson, Ondrej Palat, and Nikita Kucjerov set camp in front of Henrik Lundqvist and play a leisurely game of tic-tac-toe for Tampa's opening score.

Then I watched Ryan Callahan easily shove Dan Girardi completely out of position and score a power play goal to give Tampa a 2-0 1st period lead.

• The Rangers have 7 PP goals this season; Callahan has 2; just saying....  Callahan even pushed around MatsZuccs at one point, because everyone can, and does.

After a mindless neutral zone turnover by Rick Nash resulted in a breakaway goal by Steven Stamkos, the Lightning had their 4th potential goal of the evening waived off after literally pushing Lundqvist clear out of his crease.  No Bolts player received even so much as a dirty look.

Shortly thereafter, I watched Palat and Johnson again, with Alex Killorn blitzkrieg their way to an unhindered 4th Tampa goal.

The 5th Tampa goal was not a garbage time goal; it was just a garbage goal.  Two Rangers defensemen (who shall remain nameless) failed to matriculate the puck from behind their net, much less initiate an effective breakout.  Ryan Callahan swooped in to arrest the puck, and scored his second goal of the evening, capping off a triumphant return to Madison Square Garden.

Rick Nash and Steven Stamkos are now tied with 12 goals each this season, with the difference being Stamkos plays with Ryan Callahan and Brian Boyle, and has his team in first place with a 13-4-2 record, while Rick Nash now plays with Martin St. Louis, whom together have helped the Rangers achieve an inconsistent 7-7-4 record.

Teams like Columbus and Toronto have already shown what happens to the Rangers when games really get physical.

In summary, the Rangers are playing soft, ineffective defense.

They can potentially improve their strength, size and presence in front of Henrik Lundqvist, while at the same time perhaps adding a measure of toughness in other scenarios.  Perhaps it's time to promote Dylan McIlrath again - and this time, for good.

McIlrath, 22, is listed at 6'5" and 220 lbs.  He would instantly become the Rangers biggest   defenseman, and arguably their most physical.

What could it hurt?  In his absence, perhaps a lot.




Mike

N.Y. Rangers ~ The King Lays Siege to Newark in Game Three

From the desks of:   RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS  &  THE BRICK CITY DEMONS

BATTLE OF THE HUDSON

NHL EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS

RANGERS LEAD SERIES 2-1

I  -  NYR 3; NJD 0

II  -  NJD 3; NYR 2

III  -  NYR 3; NJD 0

IV  -  Monday Night

Rangers vs. Devils; Game Three at The Rock

John Tortorella Versus The Media

Devils Pounce on Blueshirts in Game Two

The King Puts Devils on Ice

Rangers Versus Devils; Eastern Confernce Finals

 

NEW YORK RANGERS:  Coach Torts Makes The Big Move.  Henrik Lundqvist Makes The Big Saves.  The Rangers' Defense Continues To Score The Big Goals.


John Tortorella threw the media a bone Saturday afternoon.  Either that, or someone above his head told him to cool out.  Or, was that just "post-big-win" John Tortorella speaking after Game Three?  In any case, will the Media mock the gesture, or will they play it straight?  The Sunday Papers await.


But while I'm at it, who in the Media is going to make a big deal that Stu Bickel was a healthy scratch after playing a horrendous Game Two?  I told you Coach was going to make him disappear.  I didn't need Coach to say anything in order to know that.  How many even noticed?  Like I said in Coach Torts Versus The Media, he treats all his players on an individual basis according to a team concept.  Different methods work for different players.  Coach Torts yelled at Stepan while on the ice, he yelled at Hagelin while on the bench, he nailed Gaborik to the bench, and scratched Bickel.  If you guys just report what you see, you'll better understand the methods to his madness without having to badger Coach Torts about it.  If players are not contributing to the team, within the spirit of team, or the Tortorella way, Coach said it very simply, they won't find the ice.


The Devils dominated the first half of Game Three..., again.  Just like they had for roughly four of the previous six periods of hockey before Saturday.  In the second period, after Henrik made one of his more miraculous saves against Ilya Kovalchuk during a furious second period surge by the Devils, Coach Torts had finally seen enough.  He called a time out, assembled his team together at the bench, and ripped them a new one.  In the ensuing minutes, the Devils continued to dominate play.  But by the time they reached the midway point of the second period, the Rangers' iceberg-like grind started to lurch forward again.


Over the first two periods, the Devils out-shot the Rangers twenty-six shots on goal to fourteen.  The Rangers put New Jersey on the power play three times over that span as well.  And for the most part, the first thirty-five minutes of the game were spent in the Rangers' defensive zone.  But the Devils kept getting turned back by Henrik Lundqvist time and again.


What ever Coach Torts said to his team during the second intermission, apparently worked.  The Rangers came out in the third period with purpose again.  It's the same two periods to one ratio they've been playing to so far.  Only, unlike the Devils, the Rangers have been cashing in on less opportunities.


At 3:19 into the final session, Dan Girardi scored on the second of the only two power play opportunities the Rangers would get all game.  Brad Richards picked up the primary assist by winning the face-off.  The Rangers lost the face-off battle by the way.  But one minute and fifty-seven seconds later, Chris Kreider deflected a Ryan McDonagh shot past Martin Brodeur to give the Rangers a 2-0 lead with 14:03 to go.  Ryan Callahan picked up an assist on the play.


With just over two minutes left in regulation, Peter Deboer pulled Martin Brodeur for the extra attacker.  Ruslan Fedotenko and Brian Boyle assisted, as Ryan Callahan foiled Coach DeBoer's strategy at the 17:47 mark by scoring into an empty net.


Henrik Lundqvist continues to be, not only the Blueshirts', but the NHL's MVP.  He needed to make thirty-six saves in order to record his third shut-out of these playoffs and his second over the Devils this series.  Marty Brodeur only faced twenty-one shots, and let two pucks get by.


Don't forget, in spite of a renaissance season for Martin Brodeur, he's still susceptible to the occasional stinker.  In Round One against Florida, Martin Brodeur was pulled by Coach DeBoer a game after shutting out Florida.  Against Philadelphia, the Devils routinely scored four goals a night, against A) - a goof-ball of a goalie, and B) - a very undisciplined Flyers team, who couldn't bring Jersey down to their level of un-sportsmanship.  And for all Marty's complaints about the MSG ice, and the boards, only the Rangers have truly been the victims, if not just unlucky, with regards to a bouncy puck. Improved ice surface, such as in The Rock, just serves to benefit the Rangers then.., No?


And to those who demanded Henrik Lundqvist be ultra-great in the previous round, and save the Rangers from elimination, or risk having the crown removed from The King's head, your liege has just recorded his second shut-out in the Eastern Conference Finals; not the second round.  There will be no lifting of his crown.  Not by your decree.


It is very unlikely the Devils will ever score four goals in a game this series.  It's even less likely the Rangers do it.  Yet, the Blueshirts continue to live off the scoring of their defensemen.  In Game Three, Dan Girardi (3) scored yet again in these playoffs.  Thus, the Blueshirts still manage to remain a game ahead of their competition through pure will and inch closer to the NHL Finals with the slow methodical power of an iceberg.  No one actually gets to see icebergs move.  But when you look back at the path they carved through a valley, you marvel at the power.


Back in the second period, Brandon Prust planted an elbow to the back of Anton Volchenkov's head.  The Devils' defenseman went down for a moment, but continued playing without incident or indication he may have suffered a concussion.  It was a play that will no doubt be reviewed by Brendan Shannahan.  There's less doubt Brandon Prust has a suspension coming his way as well.  After the game, Coach DeBoer called the play - "Head Hunting!" on Prust's part.  Coach DeBoer didn't mince any words.  I wouldn't go that far in defense of Prust.  But what Coach Deboer said is hard to argue.


Head Hunting aside, the Battle of the Hudson is also rapidly turning into an escalation of words.  And it is mostly coming from the Devils.  Martin Brodeur has been most vocal, sharing his disdain for the Rangers, the MSG crowd, and New York City itself.  After Game Two, he spoke derisively about the Garden's ice, the boards, the glass, and everything under the famed, spoked MSG roof.  And now Coach DeBoer just kicked things up a notch with his claims of head-hunting.  So now the Rangers, and John Tortorella in particular, has a two front Media battle on his hands.


In the case of Coach DeBoer and the Media, "the enemy of my enemy, is my friend."  When Coach Torts last directed a comment Peter DeBoer's way, the Rangers' Coach told him to shut up.  Coach Torts may have satisfied the Media Saturday, but how will the Media react when he clams up again?  And what if the Devils keep trying to get under the Blueshirt's skin through the Media?  We are only going on Game Four.  Most certainly, there will be so much more added to this drama.  And why shouldn't it start tomorrow?  Zach Parise ran off without speaking to the Media after a loss on home ice.  Is Torts not answering questions still worse?  Drama indeed - as it is, Game Three ended with tempers flaring.  The carry-over from Brandon Prust's hit, into Game Four will be something to monitor.


On yet another front, the battle of adjustments continues.  After the Rangers served in Game One, Coach DeBoer made adjustments to increase the Devils' speed and open opportunities with a stronger forcheck than New York's.  That, and David Clarkson happened to the Blueshirts.  He factored heavily in New Jersery's Game Two win.  But with no impact from David Clarkson, the Devils have dropped two now.  David had one shot on goal all game.  Coach Torts' biggest Game Three adjustment came when he called time-out.  Now it's DeBoer's turn again.  Or, do the Rangers take two in Newark?


This series is still going the distance.  The Devils will readjust.  The final adjustment comes in Game Seven.





Mike.BTB

N.Y. Rangers ~ GAME SEVEN TONIGHT

From the desk of:   RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS

STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS - 2012 - QUARTER FINAL ROUND

Series Tied 3-3

I - NYR 4;  OTT 2

II - OTT 3;  NYR 2

III - NYR 1;  OTT 0

IV - OTT 3;  NYR 2

V - OTT 2;  NYR 0

VI - NYR 3;  OTT 2

TONIGHT

GAME SEVEN

Ottawa Senators

vs.

NEW YORK RANGERS

NEW YORK RANGERS:   In Game Six, the Blueshirts Showed Their Way Still Works Just Fine.


Thank you Brandon Prust.  Someone needed to finally take-on Chris Neil.  And it was long overdue.  I thought Mike Rupp would have been the one to drop gloves with that degenerate; as, in the grand scheme of things, Rupp is the more expendable forward.  But Rupp never even tried.  So all hail Prust for doing what needed to be done.


Game Six was the exact type game Ottawa played against us in Game Two.  In each case, and for both teams, that kind of effort made all the difference.  Ottawa was able to parlay Game Two into another pair of wins.  The Rangers are now in a position to parlay Game Six into a home-ice, Game Seven series clincher at Madison Square Garden.


There may be more men in these boys than we might have given them credit for.  Game Six was a prime game to lose.  Monday would have been the right way to crash and burn.  Instead, the Blueshirts came back with a strong, convincing, game in which they imposed Ranger Hockey upon Ottawa on their ice.  It was not the clinging to 1-0 lead late in the game affair that are as predictable as a coin flip.  In Game Six, they faced elimination and rose to the challenge.  That's very telling.  The Rangers showed their way still works just fine.


Similar to the manner Henrik Lundqvist related his disgust after Game Six to the Media, I think most Rangers; and why not - Ottawa fans too; are fed up with the Stripes.  I'm still wanting to know who Mike Rupp's first period roughing penalty was against.  He basically earned a trip to the box for roughing a mirage.  With thirteen minutes left in the first period, the Sens capitalized during the ensuing power play with a (who else) Chris Neil goal, putting Ottawa ahead by one.  That Chris Neil was even on the ice to begin with was a slap in the face by the NHL and Brendan Shanahan. 


And another thing - Henrik never saw that power play shot coming.  But we on TV saw that goal coming from a mile away.  Ottawa had TWO skaters camped right in front of Henrik, without so much as a tap, a push, or an "excuse me" from a Blueshirt player.  Whether on the penalty kill, or at even-strength, the Rangers need to do a substantially better job of clearing out all that traffic in front of Henrik in Game Seven.  In that regard, Marc Staal needs to have a renaissance game and throw his body around a little more.


For their part, the Rangers were two of seven on the power play.  Two goals are better than no goals.  In the playoffs, we all know PP scoring is paramount.  How Boston won a Cup without scoring a power play goal last season is beyond me.  But in Game Seven, the Rangers must make Ottawa pay for mistakes.  The Blueshirts most definitely need at least a goal, if not a pair, from their special teams.  If the Rangers just stay ferocious on the body and relentless on the fore check, the Rangers can goad Sens into the box.  Once we let them skate around freely, we'll be the ones in the box wasting time.  And we can't let them stretch-pass their way out of their defensive zone either.


The Rangers rode a huge second period to victory Monday night.  At nearly the nine minute mark, Derek Stepan scored the first of New York's PP goals to tie the game at one.  Later in the period, the Rangers discovered the knockout punch they've been searching within themselves for.  At 17:08, Brad Richards showed up to have a big moment upon scoring the Rangers' second PP goal of the evening for a 2-1 Rangers' lead.  Just before the period ended, the Blueshirt Blue Chip; Chris Kreider: finally broke through and scored his first goal as an NHL player.  After being turned away after numerous high quality opportunities, his first goal since joining the Rangers came at the 19:19 mark.


Marc Staal, Michael Del Zotto, Anton Stralman, Derek Stepan, Chris Kreider, and Brad Richards; the younger gents of this team plus one; all either scored or assisted on the Rangers' three second period goals.  Absent from the Game Six roll call are Marian Gaborik and Ryan Callahan.  In the biggest game for the Rangers to this point in their remarkable season, they'll need their best players to show up and be factors in Game Seven.


The only real matter of the third period in Monday's game was whether Jason Spezza kicked in Ottawa's second goal of the game, or not.  The questionable goal came with just thirty seconds left in regulation time. Incredulously, the Toronto offices said the goal, which to me was clearly scored via a distinct kicking motion, counted.  With the way the series has been called so far, who can blame Henrik Lundqvist for being so hot as to speak his mind, for him, in an uncharacteristic fashion.  Just add that goal to the long list of horrific calls over the course of this series.


The King faced twenty-seven shots Monday and stopped twenty-five.  Ottawa ended the game with five more shots-on-goal than the Rangers took against Craig Anderson; who for a change, looked a little more human between the pipes.


Especially after Game Two, the Senators now seem to revel playing in MSG.  That must change tonight!  With Carkner and Neil around, the Rangers know they'll need eyes in the backs of their heads.  Compromised by a concussion or not, who isn't paying attention to Daniel Alfredsson?  But the skater that troubles me is Nick Foligno.  I want a set of eyes on him at all times.  In Game Six, Nick Foligno, Daniel Alfredsson, Erik Karlsson, and Jason Spezza, accounted for fourteen shots on goal.  Foligno had four.


For the Rangers, Brad Richards led the Rangers with three shots on goal.  Marian Gaborik and Ryan Callahan accounted for two shots each, as did a few others.  If I include Derek Stepan - two shots; and Carl Hagelin - two shots; the five together still do not add up to the Senators top four shot takers.  So just shoot!  And be in front to clean up any loose pucks.


Otherwise, just go out there and play Rangers' Hockey.  And believe, for our boys just may have learned how to seize the moment.







Mike.BTB

N.Y. Rangers ~ The Life of Brian

From the desk of:   RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS

NEW YORK RANGERS:  King Henrik Reigns Over Ottawa.

GAME THREE FINAL

New York Rangers   1

Ottawa Senators       0

I - Rangers 4; Senators 2

II - Senators 3; Rangers 2

Rangers lead series 2-1

Chris Kreider made his NHL and Rangers debut Monday night in Ottawa.  The Rangers' blue chip is just the latest kid to come through the Blueshirts' door and seamlessly fit right in; just like the guy he replaced; Carl Hagelin; did after the start of the regular season.  He played things by the book; committing no mistakes.  And he almost scored a goal for his efforts while playing on the first line with Marian Gaborick and Brad Richards.


In Game Three of this playoff series, the kid witnessed up close and first hand, what NHL brilliance looks like.  In a word, Henrik Lundqvist was - Great.  He made thirty-nine saves and allowed no goals.  After the game, Henrik said he was still upset over letting Game Two get away from them. Meanwhile, spent the better part of Monday night taking out his frustrations on the Senators, and had a few choice words for the Stripes the more Ottawa bumped him as well.  Most of Henrik's saves were of the incredible variety.  And too many came in the game's final two minutes from point-blank range.  But Henrik stopped them all.  He carried his team with only one goal scored on the night.


That goal came from Brian Boyle.  He did it again!  The marked man with a bulls eye on the back of his jersey scored his third goal of the series with twelve minutes to go in the third period of an intense Game Three.  He didn't just score the winning goal and play another supurlative game.  He's having the series of a lifetime.  Just prior to scoring, at 7:07 the Sens went on the power play after a Callahan trip.  Boyle intercepted a puck in the Rangers' zone and chugged up ice where got slashed on a short-handed opportunity that negated Ottawa's power play.  That's the kind of night Boyle had.  As a matter of fact, the Fedotenko-Boyle-Prust Line was stellar all night long.  And the King made their effort stand up.


The last two minutes of the game were absolutely frantic however.  At the 2:00 mark, the Sens headed up ice.  But the Rangers forced a turnover in the neutral zone and dumped the puck back in Ottawa's end.  Brad Richards wound up clanking one off the crossbar.

Then, the other end of the ice turned into a heart attack in waiting.  Henrik stopped a pair of shots that get by any other goalie in the League.  What a pair of saves!  Then with their inability to clear the puck from the zone, Henrik made another save; and another; and another.  Finally, with twenty-four seconds to go, Dubinsky made the last clear.


The Rangers win Game Three 1-0 behind a shut-out performance from their goalie, and from a forward who is arguably the Rangers' best player right now; Brian Boyle.  It's his world right now.  We are merely along for the ride.


With this win, and for the moment at least, the Rangers have re-established their home ice advantage again and lead the series two games to one.


The Senators' Craig Anderson was equally magnificent minding Ottawa's net.  He stopped the Rangers cold on a number of occasions.  Like when with 4:55 left in the game, he made a brilliant save on a Callahan breakaway.  In the game, the Rangers had many quality chances the Ottawa goalie turned us away on.


The Rangers recommitted themselves to their defense Monday night.  They regrouped and regained their composure after getting knocked off track last Saturday.  If you take a look at Pittsburgh, who are now down 3-0 to the Flyers, they are presently the poster child for losing composure.


Just keep playing Blueshirt Hockey boys!




Mike.BTB

N.Y. Rangers ~ Still Leaders of the Pack

From the desk of:   RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS

Battle of the Hudson

MONDAY NIGHT FINAL

N.J. Devils       2

N.Y. Rangers  4

Rangers and Devils end season series tied 3-3

NEW YORK RANGERS:  Clinch Playoffs With Win.



Salute the colors of the night; Ranger Blue; Devils' Black; and Bloody Face Red - Ryan Carter's, that is.  In truth, all players skated off the ice Monday night sporting bruises in all three hues of pain.



Before the scheduled hockey game was to be played, there were some season long, and not so old grudges stemming from Game Five to settle.  Coach Peter DeBoer sent out a starting line of his lesser skilled, more physically spirited attitude adjusters and mood managers on the ice.  It's interesting he did that.  In Game Five of Battle of the Hudson, New Jersey resoundingly pummelled the Rangers.  Was his thinking, keep a good yet struggling team down by beating them down?  If you ask Ryan Carter, he might say his Coach's plan backfired.  He might.  I'm just saying.



As the home team, Coach Torts recognized DeBoer's move, and say what you will, gladly accepted the challenge by sending out his own line of Reckless Rangers.  Needless to say, it only took three seconds after the initial drop of the puck till the ice was littered with gloves and elbow pads.



In New York's corner - Brandon Prust; Mike Rupp; and Stu Bickel.  In New Jersey's corner - Eric Boulton; Cam Janssens; and Ryan Carter.  Of the six purpose players, Ryan Carter suffered the most damage.  During his game opening fight with Bickel, he opened up a head wound after falling in a vulnerable face/head first manner.  His dripping blood stained the ice.



For the Devils, it was an omen.  That melee was quite literally the beginning of the end to their night.  Less than two minutes into the game, Brandon Dubinsky put the Rangers ahead.



Thirty-three seconds into the second period, Dan Girardi put the Rangers up by two.  Then the Devils struck.  Patrick Elias made it a 2-1 game.  Mats Zuccarello had an answer for that however, when he scored at 7:33 of the period making it a 3-1 Rangers' lead.  But half way through the period, Petr Sykora made it a one goal game again.



The game stayed that way for the first 18:50 of the third period until Derek Stepan deflected a puck by Martin Brodeur to seal a Rangers 4-2 victory.



The Rangers and the Devils end this regular season's Battle of the Hudson tied with three wins apiece.  The victory now gives the Rangers ninety-seven points.  In the tight Atlantic Division race and in the Eastern Conference standings, that's three points better than Pittsburgh and five better than Philadelphia.  Overall, ninety-seven points is the second best mark in the NHL behind St. Louis, who have already hit 100 points.



The biggest reward of tonight's rebuking of the Devils?  The Bueshirts have officially clinched a spot in the 2011-2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs.  That's another small step for Rangers Kind.

Next up:

Wednesday, March 23, 2012

Detroit Red Wings

vs.

NEW YORK RANGERS

From,

MADISON SQUARE GARDEN
33rd Street at 7th Avenue

NYC

Mike.BTB

N.Y. Rangers ~ N.J. Devils; Battle of the Hudson - V

from the desk of:   RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS

Battle of the Hudson - V

Series Tied 2-2

I - NYR 4; NJD 1

II - NJD 4; NYR 3*

III - NJD 1; NYR 0

IV - NYR 1; NJD 0

*shoot-out

NEW YORK RANGERS

vs.

New Jersey Devils

From,

THE ROCK

Brick City - Newark

NEW JERSEY DEVILS:   In Spite of Their Current Struggles, a Strong Season Has Served the Devils Well.  Winning Just One Game in Their Last Six, New Jersey Still Commands Sixth Place in the Eastern Conference.

Recently, I've been extolling New Jersey and proclaiming here come the Devils.  Now it's more like - There go the Devils.  New Jersey and the Penguins have swapped roles.  Pittsburgh is hot, and the Devils are not...; anymore.  Ever since joining the seventy-point club and creeping into second place of the Atlantic Division, the Devils have had a hell of a time getting any further along.  They are 1-5 in their last six games.  Over that time they've been outscored 13-12, and were shut-out twice by their local rivals; the Islanders and Rangers.  Their only win over their last six was a 5-0 trouncing of the Capitals.  But for Washington, what else is new?  In spite of their recent slide back to fourth place in the division behind Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, the Devils still have seventy-seven points which is good enough for sixth place in the Conference standings.

Rangers vs. Devils:

The Devils still have a chance to be the first team to defeat the Rangers three times this season.  They'll have the advantage of playing in Newark tonight in game five of the Battle of the Hudson.  The season series is tied at two apiece.  Martin Brodeur and Henrik Lundqvist have taken turns shutting each other out in the last two meetings between them.  On February 7th, Brodeur added to his All-Time records for wins and shut-outs when he handcuffed the Rangers 1-0 before a dismayed Garden crowd.  I know, I was there.  Then in the teams' last encounter, Henrik Lundqvist added to his NHL season leading shut-outs total by tuning out New Jersey 2-0, also at MSG.

The Devils (65) have played one more game than the Rangers (64) this season, and have scored exactly one more goal (180 to 179) than the Blueshirts.  But it is on the defensive side that the Rangers continue to dominate the League along with the Blues.  Speak of Family ties - no surprise John Davidson is running things out in St. Louis.  They have given up 131 goals this season.  The Rangers have allowed 133 goals, and New Jersey 175 thus far.

And here's your difference heading into tonight; in the last four games, the Rangers have secured seven more points in the standings since the trade deadline.  The Devils gained one over the same stretch.  The Rangers have extended their overall Eastern Conference lead over the Boston Bruins to twelve points now.  While the Devils have slipped to fourth in the division.

Regardless of tonight's outcome, it is now the Pittsburgh Penguins who pose the biggest threat against the Rangers; and the Devils for that matter.  After the Rangers, the Penguins are only the second Eastern Conference team to reach the eighty point plateau.  Led by the NHL's scoring leader; Ivgeni Malkin; Pittsburgh is in a full blown surge.

NEW YORK RANGERS:   LOOK WHO'S NUMBER ONE.

Who Ever Said Grinding Was Pretty?  The Blueshirts Lead the NHL With Ninety-One Points and it's Beautiful!

Since last Monday's passing of the anxiety riddled trade deadline, the Rangers are 3-0-1 with seven points.  They did well to keep the Devils, Carolina, and most importantly, the Bruins, all down, while suffering only an overtime loss to Tampa.  But don't look now, the Penguins are only eight points away with eighty-three points.

The Rangers did not make the big move to secure Rick Nash which means they have to get scoring from whom they have.  And in their last four games since last Monday, they have scored twelve times, and allowed nine against.  They defeated New Jersey by a two goal margin.  But the other three games were all one goal differences.

Who's scoring?  The Blueshirts' skill player, Marian Gaborik is.  He has three goals in the last three games.  Carl Hagelin keeps making Coach Torts play him more and more.  He has two goals in the last four games and has twelve goals since becoming a regular forty-six games ago.  He has twenty-eight points and is a +18 on the season.  The Pruster, Fedotenko, and Stepan have all chipped in also.  And they've been doing this in the relative absence of Ryan Callahan who is nursing a welt from yet another blocked shot.

In the tough love department, Artem Anisimov survived Coach's earlier season attitude adjustment, and has upped his play accordingly.  He too has two goals over the last four games.  Then, of the players who've scored over the last four games, we are left with Brandon Dubinsky.  Man did he piss-off Coach against Carolina.  But that was one big goal he scored against Tampa, even if it went for not.

The Rangers are getting a little bit from every one; every one except Brad Richards.  If the Rangers didn't have ninety-one points..., lets say the Rangers only had eighty-points, he'd be getting targeted by the Garden crowd by now like Scott Gomez and Chris Drury did before him, wouldn't he?  Funny how winning covers up real issues.

There is still no word on Michael Sauer.  We may have lost him for the remainder of the season.  But to end on a more positive note, with every minute of ice time, Marc Staal is steadily becoming one of this team's elite players again.

Let's Go Rangers!

Mike.BTB

N.Y. Rangers ~ Sympathy from the Devils

From the desk of:   RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS

FINAL

NJD - 1

NYR - 0

NEW YORK RANGERS: The Powerless Rangers are Fighting Themselves.



The Rangers dominated the the first two seconds of last night's game.  It was all Devils from then on. Before Cam Janssen dropped gloves with Mike Rupp, he asked him if was hand was feeling OK enough for a fight.  That only happens in Hockey by the way.  And that's one of the things that makes this such a great sport.  Rupp said it was good enough.  Gloves got dropped and they started to rumble while at the same time Brandon Prust and Eric Boulton threw down on the other side of the ice.

It sure was an intense way to start the game.  But the night I was very much looking forward to never materialized.  Instead, after dropping the puck to restart the game a second time, the Rangers had problems possessing and passing a puck that was bouncing on them all night.  The Devils however had no such problems.  Their passing was crisp.  They had no uncooperative puck issues.  In all, they pretty much dominated the Blueshirts the rest of the night until the Rangers finally put together one last burst of effort in the third.

Like I said many times before, you can't really appreciate how bad the Rangers' PP is unless you see it in person.  And at one point I just sat back in my chair and said - Wow!  The Rangers' Power Play continued to be down right deplorable and perhaps turned out to be this difference in the game.  In my last post I shared some thoughts as to how I thought they could get better.  Then last night, the Devils demonstrated exactly what I meant.  The only goal of the game that counted came on a Devils power play.  Dave Clarkson received a pass from behind the Rangers' net as he came down the slot.  Derek Stepan got caught facing the boards when Clarkson recieved the pass.  By the time Stepan could turn around, Clarkson's shot was off.  Done; exactly like I thought the Blueshirts needed to.



The Rangers woke up from their slumber somewhat in the third period.  They kept peppering shots on goal.  But by then, Martin Brodeur's juices were flowing and the old man's joints were limbered up enough to record the 117th shutout of his HOF career.  He looked good last night.  The Rangers were denied on some very good opportunities.



Then with 3.5 seconds left in the game, my son and I couldn't believe our fortune when Artem Anisimov and Marion Gaborik apparently scored the game tying goal.  What an exclamation point that would have been to end an otherwise magical week in NYC sports.  But it wasn't meant to be this time.




As they reviewed Anisimov's goal in Toronto, a Ranger crowd fed up with the guys in stripes started littering the ice with bottles and other stuff.  It reminded me of all the paper and debris littering Broadway from the NY Giants parade we attended earlier in the day.  Only, unlike my morning, this occasion was terribly inglorious.




No cherry on top for you New York.

NJD General Manager Lou Lamoriello yucks it up with hockey scribe Larry Brooks.

Lou Lamoriello spent the night in the press section right below my seats and I'm sure he enjoyed watching his team play a very disciplined game.  He seemed to be in a good mood all night.  And why not?  His team has sixty-five points now.






Mike.BTB

N.Y. Rangers ~ Fend Off Bruins to Remain King of the Hill

From the desk of:   RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS

NEW YORK RANGERS

Battle for the Eastern Conference

New York vs. Boston

Game One of Four

FINAL - O.T.

NEW YORK  RANGERS  3

BOSTON BRUINS           2

In the First Battle for Conference Supremacy, the Blueshirts Turned Out to be One Mistake and 3.6 Seconds Better Than Boston.



I had a Giants' Championship Game to deal with.  So let's pick up where we last left off shall we?  Back in Boston....



Over the weekend in Boston, the Blueshirts and the defending Stanley Cup Champion Bruins exchanged the first volleys in the long awaited Eastern Conference Battle for Supremacy.  Both teams entered this first of four engagements leading their respective divisions after a half season of play and separated in the Conference standings by a mere point.



Once they dropped the puck, things went as well as you'd expect.  Boston opened the game with a furious attack.  But the Rangers stood their ground and settled things down considerably there-after.  The teams finished the first period scoreless as if feeling each other out like prize fighters.  Then in the second period came the body blows.  The Captain; Ryan Callahan; struck first.  But the Bruins countered.  The Rangers struck a second time on Marian Gaborik's goal.  And the Bruins countered again for a 2-2 tie.  They'd finish regulation time after a scoreless third period still tied at two apiece.



It went like that.  And why wouldn't it?  The teams are number one and two in the Conference.  And quite frankly that's the way the game should have went.  Only difference being Ranger Fans are the ones used to their team playing catch-up.  But that wasn't the case on this afternoon.  Not this team; or not this edition Blueshirts I should say.  As a matter of fact, these guys demonstrated several breaks with the past last Saturday.



A certain Boston player has been becoming quite the popular skater lately, who's not so popular hip-checks have been causing a stir around the League.  But on this afternoon, it was the Rangers who laid the big hip check.  It was the Rangers who still lead the NHL in fighting-majors and took a little time out to give Boston (#2 in fighting majors) a taste.  It was the Rangers who also kept upping the score in that second period.  And it was the Rangers who popped off Boston goalie, Tuukka Rask's mask as he attempted a save of a slap shot with his face.  Yeah!  It was like that; like Rockem' Sockem' Robots in Ice and we were the Blue guy.



As in black and blue - Before they went into overtime, the image I was taking away from this game was of Brandon Prust heading into the hallway and collapsing in pain after blocking a shot.  Then a short time later, he could be seen right there next to Ryan Callahan celebrating his Captain's, and the Rangers' first goal of the night.  To me that symbolized what this team is all about; camaraderie; resiliency, and a willingness to ignore pain and compete.



As far as the game though, no one was budging.  Teams number one and two in the Conference were playing up to their billings.  And the way both teams were going, overtime seemed unlikely to change anything.  Shoot-out seemed like a sure bet.  Until...,  -  like in any evenly matched and expertly fought bout where mistakes are kept to a minimum, in this case, the team which makes the first or biggest mistake, loses.



For future reference, the name of Andrew Ference will be remembered, and no doubt made to answer for a vicious hit-from-behind boarding offense he committed against Ryan McDonagh, which kept the Rangers' defenseman down for several minutes before being able to regroup himself and leave the ice.  Perhaps that was a mistake in judgement, but for Boston, it proved to be the biggest mistake of the game.  The penalty; a five minute major; put the Rangers on the power play for nearly the entire five minute overtime.  And Boston nearly killed it off.



But just when this game looked like it was headed for a shoot-out, Marian Gaborik said, No!  The Rangers' leading goal scorer netted his second of the game for the win.  Avoiding shoot-outs is also another aspect of the past seemingly being phased out of the Rangers' plans these days.  One of the biggest differences in the Rangers this year from last is their increasing ability to put teams away.



This game took 3.6 second shy of a full overtime period to win.  But this was Boston.  So give them their due, and their point.  They earned it.  The Rangers didn't quite put them away in regulation, but a) - this was more exciting, wasn't it? -  and b) - we still earned  our two more points.



I'll be in MSG Tuesday night to thank Gaborik and the Rangers for going to Boston and passing yet another big in-season test with my cheering and loud support.  We have sixty-four points now and counting.  The next competitor to enter Madison Square Garden will be the Winnipeg Jets.  We welcome all comers.  May the better team win.  Before then however...,

Three cheers for the Blueshirts' upon their triumphant return home from Boston!



Let's Go Rangers!






Mike.BTB

N.Y. Rangers ~ The KING Rules Over The Classic

From the desk of:   RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS

NEW YORK RANGERS:  Blueshirts Mount a CLASSIC Comeback Win and Tie for the NHL Lead in Points.

With the slow, steady, methodical movement and power of a glacier, the New York Rangers continue to carve a path towards the top spot in the NHL.  To many Blueshirts players, Mike Rupp may lovingly seem as old as a glacier.  But there was a lesson to be learned from the old veteran.  Rupp brought calmness during a 2-0 deficit and settled a bunch of jittery youngsters and bouncing pucks to lead the Blueshirts through a truly Classic Winter game in the windy outdoors of Philadelphia.





But it was The King whom made all Mike Rupp's efforts, and Coach Tortorella's strategy and adjustments possible.  Henrik Lundqvist provided his team time to regroup and readjust.  But above all, he reigned over this Classic and made it his own showcase.  Sure the Flyers scored the initial two goals of the game.  But King Henrik taketh as well as giveth.  Lest we forget, this Philly team is one in which our liege readily admitted, he's doesn't like very well.  And since he doesn't like them much, he said enjoys playing them.  He must have had had a ball then late Monday afternoon.  With his generosity all but exhausted, he closed down the net for good by 14:21 of the second period.  He decided Philly had had enough.  And to hammer his dislike of them home, he stonewalled Philly on a penalty shot awarded to Daniel Briere off a Ryan McDonagh penalty to save the regulation time win.





And you can add Mike Rupp as another valid reason why Sean Avery rightfully will never play a game for the Rangers ever again.  That's neither here nor there anymore.  Mike Rupp is here today to use his big body, peel off and pummel would be threats to his team mates, and to settle down the guys in a big game whom aren't necessarily experienced in big moments and how to sieze them.  Because after all Ranger fans, this is still a rebuilding team and still learning much in the ways of their craft.





Maybe this Ranger team is just young enough and nieve enough not to realize what it is they are currently accomplishing.  But one thing they are plenty aware of mostly because Coach Torts demands it, is in this NHL Classic Showcase of the Season, the New York Rangers showed the Nation they are the hardest working team in hockey.  And their coach showed he knows a thing or two about the game also.  While Coach Torts was being the better tactician in a game of chess with Peter Loviolette, his Boys took care of the rest.





Karma has a way of creeping into conversations when players score their first NHL goal against you, especially when you can least afford a new opposing hero to materialize out of nowhere.  That's just what Philly's Braden Schenn did at 12:26 of the second period to give the Flyers the first goal of the game.  Philly momentum resulted in a second Flyer goal two minutes later when Claude Giroux scored his 18th goal of the season for what was at the moment, a quick striking Ranger stunner that put them down 2-0 with five and a half minutes to go in the second period.





That's when the Rangers took a collective deep breath and decided to make a slow climb back into this game.  It was also the moment Henrik Lundqvist decided to go from being great, to perfect the rest of the way.  He needed to be miraculaous at times, but he kept his ground.





After going down by one goal, then by two,  Mike Rupp stepped up to be the latest Blueshirt hero on a day when others seemed at a loss how.  In the two previous meetings between these teams, the Rangers defeated the Flyers handily.  But in this game, Philadelphia presented the Rangers with an entirely different effort.  But Coach Torts got the lines figured out while Henrik kept the Rangers hanging around.  And with well over twenty minutes of hockey left in this game, all three men knew there was planty of time to turn this around.





Mike Rupp answered Claude Giroux's second period goal thirty seconds later in what turned out to be a goal that changed the whole Rangers outlook.  It kept the game within one goal headed into the third period.  And these days, the Rangers no longer treat the third period like a basket of eggs anymore.





Enter Mike Rupp again.  Early, at 2:41of the third period, he led his line of Brandon Prust and John Mitchel and made them factor in this game a second time.  This time his linemates set up Rupp for a shot off the left circle that found net for his second goal of the game and more importantly, the game tying score.





And then,  ...then the free agent import stepped up like he hasn't too often so far this season.  Brad Richards followed Rupp's second goal by puting himself in the right position to clean up a rebound and slapped it home.  It was the go ahead and game winning goal at 5:41 of the final period to complete the Ranger's comeback.  Henrik Lundqvist took care of the rest by shutting Philly down the rest of the way.





And that's how they did it.  That's how the Rangers mounted a comeback and won this year's NHL Winter Classic in grand fashion.  And that's how they find themselves tied now with the Chicago Blackhawks for the most points in the NHL with fifty-two.






Mike.BTB

N.Y. Rangers ~ The Two Kings of Europe

From the desk of:  RAISE GRESCH WITH THE BEST

GAME ONE

October 7, 2011

NEW YORK RANGERS

vs.

Los Angeles Kings

From:

Stockholm, SWEDEN

NEW YORK RANGERS:  Season Opener; Game One

KING HENRIK and "TEX's RANGERS"
take on the L.A. KINGS in EUROPE:

Ranger Fans..., we know this team.  We know them well.  We've been taking baby pictures for three years now.  This team is last year's version, just a year older, wiser and hopefully healthier.  With some new signings, we hope they'll be a little more lethal too.  And lastly, being a little luckier doesn't hurt either. 



I don't know your take.  I'm actively following this team since the mid-to-late 70's.  But there is already something tangibly different about this year's Blueshirts even before they take to the ice together in Sweden Friday to open the 2011-2012 season.  The franchise's 86th year of operation already has a certain character to it; un-felt, and unheard of during the Glen Sather regime.  It smells of youthful spirit, and cohesion; and unity; and stability; and as sappy as it sounds, it feels like family; -  A Blue Rink of Brothers.  And they have a dominant, alpha-male, head strong task-master for a coach, that continues to develop; promote; and demand accountability from his emerging grasshoppers.



Since coming on board, Coach Torts always talked about building up his core of young Rangers.  He has them.  Some of his boys are men now.  Specifically, Ryan Callahan is the newly named Captain.  The fact Brandon Dubinsky is still here speaks volumes about the "new" team building concept  being drilled into Glen Sather's thick skull by Coach (I believe that..).   And before I go there, the third and now most concerning member of Coach Torts' envisioned Core-Three is Marc Staal.  However when Marc is ready, for the three, the Broadway Spotlight is all theirs.



It's been eight months since our top-line defenseman fell victim to some overly aggressive love.  Marc Staal is still experiencing head-aches as a result of the hit he sustained thanks to his brother last season and has been dealing with concussion symptoms since.  Marc did not make the trip to Europe with the team for the remaining exhibition games and regular season start.  And no, his playing status isn't exactly clear; no pun intended.  Will he be rejoining the team when they get back state-side?  Yes.  But there's little debate in saying he is a fragile player right now.  The Rangers must proceed cautiously with their emerging defensive star.



Brandon Dubinsky stepped up his play in last year's playoffs.  And as a result, his presence and stature on the team grows exponentially because of it.  It wasn't just the playoffs that signaled an arrival of sorts for Brandon last season.  It was that mustache man!  After he grew that 70's porn-mustache, his game got a lot dirtier and sexier too.  But seriously speaking,  ...There's officially real scoring expectations on Dubinsky now.  It's time to be a consistent 30 goal man.  After all, what the Rangers lacked most last season was scoring.  But, the problem existed for many more reasons than just looking at Brandon Dubinsky.



Part of being offensively challenged also had to do with missing Ryan Callahan for what seemed like an eternity to Blueshirt fans.  But say hello to the Good Guy!  Our new Captain is Ryan Callahan; and rightfully so.  It was a natural fit and in my opinion came a year too late.  But here we are.  Callahan will wear the C on his jersey; and it is good.



If I may, I would suggest the Rangers made only one mistake.  Brandon Dubinsky should be wearing the other A along with Marc Staal; not Brad Richards.  It's nothing against Richards...(yet).  But, having built a team from the farm, up, like the Rangers have, and not bestow a player who's toiled, troubled, and stayed resilient under Coach Torts the way Dubinsky has, it seems to me the young Ranger Pride member should have been given(!) the responsibility of wearing the A and charged with a bigger role among his fellow home grown Blueshirts - as opposed to rewarding it to a carpetbagger named Richards based on his previous resume.



Artem Anisimov; Michael Sauer; Derek Stepan; Ryan McDonagh; Dan Girardi; Mats Zuccarello;  -These are the players who will skate, and support, and follow The Core blindly.  They are kindred.  They are True Blues.  Brandon Prust and Brian Boyle are the Tom Higgins's of la famiglia - they are the adoptive children we also love like blood brothers, who do all the family's dirty work in the corners and along the boards.



But no talk of the Rangers' Core or family feel is complete without Henrik Lundqvist; their liege.  The King is obviously Core member Four in Coach Torts' grand True Blue scheme.  King started the most games of his career last season.  Hopefully he and Marty Biron can establish a better pattern this season there-by keeping Henrik finely tuned early on and late into the season.  What matters most to me however is the consistent flow of traffic in front of Henrik Lundqvist and the constant contact other teams feel free to make with our goalie.  That must drop dramatically.  And many players, not just the defensemen, need to police up the liberties teams take with our goalie.



Ranger Fans, that is your TEAM.  That is the body.  The rest are the accessories.



Brad Richards is like having a nice set of rims on your ride.  For some people, it's the difference between scoring, and going to bed frustrated yet again.  Was he a good signing?  It was a necessary signing.  Which makes the first question moot.  However, the contract we signed him to is insane and utterly inane.  It's our side of the Hudson's version of the Ilya Kovalchuk signing.  But you know what?  Blame Gary Bettman for that.  This is what teams are finding necessary to do these days in order to lock up "star" players.



But was he a good signing?  I don't know.  We've been down this road before under Sather.  Go back to Eric Lindros, fast-forward to Scottie Gomez and Chris Drury, and ponder everyone in between.  Will Richards be the next one of those?  Let's freakin hope not.  What I trust with the acquisition is that Coach Torts trusts him.  And for now, that will have to do.  If he rewards us with 30 to 35 goals and makes things happen (anything happen) on our Power Play - that hasn't happened since Sergie Zubov manned the point, it will undoubtedly have been worth it.  Anyone who can breath life into a dead PP is surely worth a nine year deal.  No?  I just can't get myself beyond his contract.  It's a ponderous deal.



He will no doubt be on the first line with the team's returning avatar; Marian Gaborik.  The hope is last season's lack of anything from him was an aberration.  The Rangers are hoping the 40-goal Gaborik is the real Gaborik, and returns to the team this season.  The other hope is that he and Brad Richards will mesh together.



Who will the third member of that Richards/Gaborik line be?  I guess we're going to find out Friday (locally at 1pm).  I still feel Avery could have been that guy.  But that's behind us now.  Besides, Coach Torts said, "..we have better players than him..."  The fact remains someone is still going to have to win battles and feed those two guys pucks.  I just can't help remembering how effective Avery was at winning battles along the boards and in the corner, and what a tremendously good passer he was from from behind the goal line.  Wojktek Wolski is a big dude who can throw his body around and score some.  But he's not a first line answer on the wing.  It may not sound like a good idea, but Ruslan Fedotenko might actually be a very effective fit for them.  I doubt Coach goes that way.  And breaking up Prust and Boyle is a mistake in my opinion.



Will Coach reunite Callahan/Anisimov/Dubinsky on the second line?  I'd like to see it.  And maybe try Wojtek Wolski with Prust and Boyle?  Then again with Torts, none of this matters.  He's usually mixing and matching five minutes into a game anyway.  He's a hot-handed Coach; plays the hot players.



Michael Rupp is now the new Vinny Prospal who skates a little better.  Even though Prospal lost a bunch of time to injury last season, in my view Rupp is a huge downgrade in the steadying influence department.  But he's still a smart player who's been on teams that have done nothing but win.  The former Devil/Penguin and guys like him are useful and prove savvy late in games when perhaps a younger player is unsure as to how to close out games.  Mind you, he is only thirty-one years old.  But that's where a guy like Rupp will help most.  He'll give the team 'calm and cool' off the bench while testosterone is raging in the younger guys and they do ill advised things late in games.



On Defense, for as long as Marc Staal is a question, Ranger Fans be suffering head-aches also.  If Staal is OK and plays, that means Steve Eminger gives us depth on the blue line.  If Staal is compromised, and Eminger has to take on a bigger role and more minutes, that's trouble.




It's also high time Dan Girardi stepped up his physicality.  He no doubt will block a ton of shots.  That part of his game is admirable.  But he absolutely needs to use his body more.  I get he's young.  But like I said in opening, he's a year older now.  If he has to go to GNC and start using Met-Rx...do it.  Time to man-up son and give Henrik room in front of his net.



I really like the McDonagh/ Sauer pairing.  Or, do I just really really like the Michael Sauer part of that?  We have third-pair options on the blue-line.  But our fourth pair is a something short of a mystery to me.  That's another thing we'll find out in Friday's game.



What's most stunning about this year's team is that I dare to think Glen Sather has quite possibly assembled his best team as GM of the Rangers.  This team has a very interesting mix going.  And the most important part of this current team's construction has been the patience the organization has exercised and adherence to the plan.  A great majority of that plan, and instigation to adopt it and stick to it, I still feel comes from Coach Tortorella.  But because the name on the GM's door says Sather, the dollar goes in his tip jar.  Silver-back Sather aside, it's still worth saying, I already like the dynamic of this season's edition of the Broadway Blueshirts. 




We aren't a clear Stanley Cup contender.  But I do think we will be watching a more assertive, smarter, and cohesive bunch that comes along with another year of maturing together; with 'together' being the key word.  I'm not making any predictions for the team.  We know what kind of team we are already.  However, this edition should accomplish more than has been won here during Glen Sather's reign.  That would entail getting beyond the second round of the playoffs. 




The question this season is the same as last  -  Can we, and will we score more goals?  Our big money top line center acquisition will go a long way towards answering that question for us.  So let's drop the puck and see. 



We'll commence the season on an extensive road trip starting in Sweden as time is needed for clean up and making Madison Square Garden habitable again during the on-going renovations.



Let's go Rangers!




Mike.BTB

N.Y. RANGERS ~ Dubinsky Earns His Blueshirt; Game Four

Wednesday Night Hockey

GAME FOUR

2010-2011

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE PLAYOFFS

ROUND ONE

Washington Capitals (2-1)

vs.

NEW YORK RANGERS (1-2)

MADISON SQUARE GARDEN

33rd Street and 7th Avenue 

GAME THREE:

NEW YORK RANGERS ~  The Blueshirts Strike Back!

The first period action was fast, furious and frightful.  The first twenty minutes, like the previous two games, was played with a lot of energy; hard hits; fortitude and pride.  But for the Rangers, the period remained scoreless like five of the six regulation time periods prior to this game.

Washington shot themselves in the foot by putting the Rangers on the power play for eight minutes of the second period.  For the Rangers part, they were one for seven on the man-advantage the entire game.  But this was one goal too many for Washington's tastes.  One goal for the Rangers on special teams is an accomplishment.  This goal put the Rangers up 1-0.  But for the Washington Capitals, eight minutes of killing penalties denied their offense precious minutes they could have better spent attacking the Rangers zone and specifically, Henrik Lundqvist.  And there-in lies the reason the Rangers out-shot the Capitals over the course of the game. 

Credit must go to the Rangers for putting themselves in a position to draw penalties by dictating the tempo of play.  The Rangers twice had two-man advantages in this game but could not convert.  Their lone power play goal came when Eric Christensen scored at 5:30 of the second period making Washington pay for John Carlson's cross-check of Marc Staal.  Christensen's goal came from a bad angle shot taken from the bottom of the circle to the goalie's left.

Washington then mounted a furious siege against King Lundqvist.  The Rangers goalie came way out of his net at one point, sprawled out, and was spinning in circles before he recovered and re-manned his post.

Brandon Dubinsky was a lead catalyst all game and had been taking a physical pounding thus far; giving and taking the body.  He took a puck square in the back to block a shot on goal that no doubt hurt like all hell.

When they weren't killing penalties, the Capitals were relentless.  At 2:30 of the second period, Henrik Lundqvist saved the Rangers' lead by denying a Jason Arnott stuff attempt off an Ovechkin pass.  Then, a series of offensive flurries finally paid off for Washington when Alex Ovechkin scored on a tip-in with 0.53 left in the period to tie the game at one.

But the Blueshirts weren't through.  The Rangers thought they went ahead yet again; this time - with no time left.  The Rangers ended the period in a frenzy inside Neuvirth's crease as multiple Blueshirts stabbed at a loose puck.  The puck wound up trickling over the goal line, but not before Toronto's Board of Review ruled there was 0:00 time left on the clock.

So off to the locker rooms they went; tied at one apiece after two periods.

The first half of the third period was not unlike the first two periods of this game; frantic.  At the 14:27 mark, Ruslan Fedotenko skated in to thwart a two-on-one chance with a diving save in front of Lundqvist and help preserve the one/one tie.

With twelve minutes left in regulation, the Gaborik-Dubinsky-Prospal line was on shift.  Marian Gaborik camped himself in front of Neuvirth after Dubinsky gained the offensive zone.  Gaborik kept his ground in front of Neuvirth fighting off bodies and cross-checks as Dubinsky took a shot on goal.  Brandon Dubinsky then made another play to keep the puck in the offensive zone this time up along the far boards.  All based on the hard work of Brandon Dubinsky and Marian Gaborik in front, Vinny Prospal was able to find a Marc Staal rebound and got it past Neuvirth giving the Rangers a 2-1 lead with 11:59 left in the period.

When action returned his way with 11:29 left in regulation, Henrik Lundqvist found himself diving on his belly again to make another crucial save for the Blueshirts.  Then starting at 10:47, the Rangers would fail to cash in on another power play chance after Nick Backstrom tripped Brandon Prust.  After Washington's penalty kill with 8:45 left in regulation, Henrik Lundqvist made a stop and held on to the puck to stop play.  Two minutes later, Henrik Lunqvist saved the day yet again for the Rangers having endured a savage shift by Washington.  The King was playing at a phenomenal level.
 
A delayed penalty was called against the Rangers when Marian Gaborik got called for cross-checking Nick Backstrom with 6:22 left in regulation.  Washington's first attempt to gain the zone was cleared.  Their second rush was kept in and after one shot, Chris Drury cleared the zone.  Washington's third time in the zone gave the Rangers trouble.  Dan Girardi was drawn too far away from his defensive post by a puck handling Alex Ovechkin, who then ripped a shot through the vacated lane left by Girardi.  The rebound went right to Mike Knuble who banged it home for a score; tying the game with only 5:12 remaining in regulation time.
 
After the Rangers gave Michal Neuvirth a face full of snow, both teams incurred off-setting penalties when Brian Boyle and John Carlson each got whistled for roughing at the 16:45 mark.  With just over three minutes left, they'd have to play four-on-four Hockey.



At 1:39 of the Third Period, this officially became a series as the Blueshirts lit the lamp on Broadway.  Brandon Dubinsky Shined Bright As The Star Of The Show.

As the Rangers possessed the puck in the corner with one minute and twenty-five seconds into the four-on-four, Brandon Dubinsky bullied his way towards net.  He got quick hold of a puck that flipped up and pin-balled into the net for his first goal of the playoffs and more importantly, a late 3-2 Rangers' lead.

At 1:08 the Rangers cleared Washington from their defensive zone.  Then Washington finally pulled goalie Neuvirth for a sixth skater.  With 0.35 left they got off a shot on goal.  The Rangers needed to clear Washington from the defensive zone twice more before regulation time finally expired.

Sunday, prior to Game Three I said this:

"I say it's high-time Brandon Dubinsky find his place among the Blueshirts' reliables.  He is skating in a holding pattern.  He can either cement his future in a Blueshirt jersey by stepping up for this team as one of the core players of this organization, or, fade away down the stretch and effectively play his way off-Broadway.  Because whether you like it or not, Brandon Dubinsky is playing to save his future as a Ranger.  Ask any player (like..eh hem, Chris Drury) who parlayed a good playoff into a nifty contract what it's like to come through for your team and get paid for it after the fact.  Brandon may never find that out unless he adds a little more to his game than just his cuteness.  He's been tougher this season and has done well to stick up for his team-mates.  He's getting better at winning face-offs with more frequency.  He's a beloved blue-collar Ranger.  But there comes a time that defines a young man's career if there is star quality in him.  There's a moment they go from being a young, gamely neophyte, to taking a lead role amongst men.  To the left of Dubinsky are aging vets far removed from more glorious days. To the right of him are players even younger than Brandon, who all have just a little over two hours of playoff experience.

In the absence of his Brother in Grind; Ryan Callahan - Brandon Dubinsky is now charged (by me I guess) with making the future of the New York Rangers happen now.  Game three and four are screaming his name.  Ranger fans (uh..I guess me) WANT him to answer the call.  But will he?  We aren't asking him to become Rod Gilbert over night.  We just need a hero for game three named Brandon Dubinsky.

He's been here.  He's inter-woven into Coach Tort's tapestry of core players.  Brandon Dubinsky identifies the Rangers as much as any player we can mention.  He is consistently among the team leaders in ice time.  By default, he is the team's regular season leading scorer. Before Callahan went down, Dubinsky was a third of the Rangers best forward line.

He IS a Ranger.

But at 3:00pm Saturday afternoon, the Rangers need him to be The Man."

Yea..., He's the brightest star on Broadway right now!  Please allow me to iron your Blueshirt for you Mr. Dubinsky.  He was a most physical factor the entire game.  An assist; a goal; and that 'stache man! - They were all glorious.  Thanks for a great performance.



The A-P-B Line:  Attention All Capitals...!

The forward line comprised of Sean Avery; Brandon Prust; and Brian Boyle has been outstanding.  The three have flourished together ever since Coach Torts reinstated Avery and joined him with the destructive duo of Prust and Boyle.  Now they are a Triad of Skating Terrors.  They've been indefatigable; disruptive; and devastating together.  This line has been tremendous on the fore-check; finishing all their checks; and winning battles for the puck.  They've been bumping bodies and crashing the net with reckless abandon and frequency.  They've been agitators and instigators.  So much of the Rangers' energy and momentum has been generated right here; with this line combo I'm naming.....

The A-P-B Line!



SEAN AVERY:  A Blueshirt One Man Gang.

He is slowly but steadily becoming one of the Rangers' best players in this series, just as he did two years ago in the playoffs against these same Washington Capitals.

I want to take you inside one sequence during an A-P-B shift.  It's the strongest case in support of Sean Avery's ice-time to date.  It backs Avery fan's good sentiment for the embattled winger in defiance of Coach Torts' not so well hidden feeling of dislike for the forward.

I ask you to try and remember a shift just before Vinny Prospal's third period goal when the score was still tied at one.  The Rangers had possession in Washington's end.  Avery skated to the net as a battle for the puck along the back board ensued.  Sean Avery skated around net and joined the fight, dug in, and won two pucks.  Each time and in rapid succession, he fed Brandon Prust, who was positioned at the bottom of the left circle, with two close-quarter, deadly accurate passes.  Each time Prust gave it back to Avery.  Avery slammed the second pass right back at Prust insisting he finish a great set-up.  He then skated to the front of the net and then retreat behind again to join a cycle until the Rangers lost the zone.

His speed, tenacity, passing skill, ability to dig out pucks, cycle, take the body and still crash net were all on display in a what was a twelve second burst of controlled Hockey fury.

That's Sean Avery!

But he's no fool as neither are the fans and Coach Torts.  Continuing forward, we all know Sean Avery needs to be in control of himself.  He knows he needs to maintain his poise if he wants to continue getting called upon to help the team.  So far, so great.



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Mike.BTB