N.Y. Rangers: The Habs Strike Back

From the desk of:  RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS

Rangers Lead Series 2-1

I - NYR 7; MON 2

II - NYR 3; MON 1

III - MON 3; NYR 2*

*overtime

NEW YORK RANGERS: A Very Costly Loss At The Garden...

When you expect to lose (at least) a game or two, does it matter how it happens?  Well, deep down the answer is yes.  But I digress.

Game Three was marked by not one, not two, not three, but four deflection goals.   You can't prepare for that.  Where P.K. Subban is concerned, that's what you call dumb luck.

Overall, the Rangers had several excellent chances.  But give credit where it's due.  Montreal's Dustin Tokarski was excellent in net making 35 saves to outlast Henrik Lundqvist, and get the Habs back in the series.

Honestly, who didn't expect Brandon Prust to continue seeking retribution for Carey Price, or to just continue doing the things he used to do so well for the Rangers?  I'm not necessarily sure he was known as a head hunter while with the Rangers.  But the intent behind his hit upon Derek Stepan was very, very questionable.  There was no call for Brandon's 1st period hit on Stepan, but, I'm not trying to be hypocritical of the situation.  I blame the refs instead.  They sucked - for both teams.

The league caught up to Brandon Prust this afternoon however, and handed down a two game suspension.   As a result of Brandon Prust's blind side hit, Derek Stepan's jaw was broken, which required surgery, and is additionally suspected of having suffered a concussion.

I also find Prust's cheap shot curious.  Could Brandon Prust still harbor resentment towards Stepan for holding out and getting paid, while Prust, who did all the team's dirty work, was unable to strike a deal with Glen Sather?  I find that curious indeed.

Circling back to the refs, by letter of the law, Dan Carcillo's 10 game suspension was warranted.  That last elbow did him in.  He would have escaped with just a penalty otherwise.  But I will question why the ref took such forceful hold of him, which triggered Carcillo's ire.  In fact, Carcillo was already in the process of putting distance between himself, and the fight between Prust and Derek Dorsett, when grabbed.

The substandard officiating is in no way limited to these instances.  Nuf ced.




Mike.BTB

N.Y. Rangers: Game Three - Blueshirts Need To Protect Their House

From the desk of:  RAISE GRESCHNER WITH THE GREATS

Series Tied 1-1

I - NYR 3; PITT 2*

II - PITT 3; NYR 0

III - MONDAY NIGHT
*OT

GAME THREE
Pittsburgh Penguins
vs.
New York Rangers
FROM

NEW YORK RANGERS: Did You Think The Penguins Were Just Going To Lay Down? Capitalize On Game One,  And Win At Home.

Sunday night, in the absence of scoring from Benoit Pouliot, Derick Brassard, Dominic Moore, Mats Zuccarello, Dan Carcillo, Carl Hagelin, Brian Boyle, etc., etc., the Rangers were shut out by Pittsburgh's Marc Andre Fleury.

The Rangers were held to single-digit shots in the first and last periods of Game Two, and were limited to 22 SOG overall.  Reason being, the Penguins played perhaps their best game of the entire season.  That happens.

Here's what's not happening.

In my best Winston Churchill impersonation, it brings me no joy in reporting the shot count is now up to 37 (which leads the Rangers) and still no goal for Rick Nash in 9 playoff games.  His supporters claim he is being careful of taking care of the little things, and skating well.  That's fine, but I would suggest the little things should be left to the aforementioned players.  I would also point out, he has only registered 4 assists. Clearly, much bigger things are needed from Nash.

Here's what else isn't happening...

But Sidney Crosby hasn't scored either!  The Rangers do not pay Sidney Crosby, nor does he wear a Blueshirt.  The princess is Pittsburgh's problem.

And another thing.....

The power play is now 0 for its last 29 attempts.  The last PP goal came in Game Two versus the Flyers. The Rangers are now 3 for 41 (.07%) in the playoffs.

In truth, Henrik Lundqvist and the Rangers played well Sunday.  However, I was concerned how Jussi Jokinen blew by Anton Stralman on goal one.  Heading into the series, I said,

I anticipate Ryan McDonagh having a better series, but I'm concerned with Anton Stralman's and Kevin Klein's ability to keep up with Pittsburgh's forwards.  I think the last thing the Rangers want is for Pittsburgh to start skating around and gaining flow - yes, what Coach Vigneault likes to do.  But, Coach might want to also consider grinding on the Penguins, in an effort to slow them down.  That should also involve keeping Dan Carcillo and his physicality on a steady shift.

Dan Carcillo - another 11 minutes and 20 shifts at even strength.  That's fair.

On Pittsburgh's second goal, Kris Letang just got the (rebound) better of an unsuspecting Marc Staal.

That happens.



Mike.BTB

N.Y. Rangers: After Quick Garden Party, March On The Penguins Begins

From the desk of:  RAISE GRESCHNER WITH THE GREATS

Rangers Win Series Over Flyers 4-3

I - NYR 4: PHI 1

II - PHI 4; NYR 2

III - NYR 4; PHI 1

IV - PHI 2; NYR 1

V - NYR 4; PHI 2

VI - PHI 5; NYR 2

VII - NYR 2; PHI 1

2013-2014

STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS

ROUND TWO ~ GAME ONE

FRIDAY NIGHT

New York Rangers

vs.

Pittsburgh Penguins

FROM

Steel City

NEW YORK RANGERS: With The Penguins Looming, No Time To Enjoy Dan Carcillo's Demoralizing Goal, Or Benoit Pouliot's Back Breaker In Game Seven.

I'm not trying to detract from the Rangers Game Seven victory, but, boy, did Philly play flat.  I mean, not once, but twice, Rangers passes went through the legs of two Flyers defensemen en route to a pair of Game Seven goals.  That's what happens when there's a lot of standing around and watching, which describes Philadelphia's second period play.

Otherwise Steve Mason was doing cartwheels in net.  I can't really say Henrik Lundqvist won the battle of the goalies, although, all hail the King for Game Seven.  But, the head to head numbers against Ray Emery early in the series were not that great.  Even then, Philadelphia's mistake, or misfortune (due to injury) was inserting Steve Mason too late.

Philadelphia's problems were not between the pipes though.  The Flyers defensemen flat out failed.  In Game Five, they lost track of Brad Richards, and then Dominic Moore went through them like saloon doors in the wild west.  Along with what Dan Carcillo and Benoit Pouliot pulled in Game Seven, all Philly's defensive futility was on full display.  Both Hal Gill and Braydon Coburn had a particularly bad series.

As bad as they were, the Rangers, and Henrik Lundqvist, still needed a hero last night.  Henrik - because if they had lost, everyone would have come crashing down on him.  So, thank you Dan Carcillo and Benoit Pouliot- not the most likely of names, considering...........

Think about it - the Rangers got assists from Mats Zuccarello, Kevin Klein, Derick Brassard, and Anton Stralman.  Outside of MatsZucs, you know where I'm going with this, and IT will need to change by Friday. I understand Rick Nash played an effective game, but against the Penguins, he, as well as Martin St. Louis, Brad Richards, and Derek Stepan(!) must generate more scoring.

On a more positive note, three cheers for Brian Boyle and the 4th line!

I also like Carl Hagelin's and MatZucs' speed against the Penguins defense.  The Penguins are going to try and out-score their opponents.  No secret there, and with Fleury between the pipes, that's a sound strategy. If the Ranger's bigger stars show up, Hagelin and Zucs can make a big difference, but, only then.  If they are made to carry the team, then.... fuhgeddaboudit.

Not surprisingly, the Rangers generated 2.7 goals per game against Philadelphia.  That will not due against the Penguins.  But, without getting cocky, Marc Andre Fleury might be just what the doctor ordered.  At both even strength, and particularly on the power play, the Rangers need to keep peppering Fleury with shots, and from all angles.  If they can continue generating 30+ shots per game, as they did against the Flyers, I like the chance that a few more pucks find net with Fleury guarding the pipes.

Here are the obligatory numbers:

The Penguins ranked 5th in the NHL in goals, while the Rangers defense ranked 4th.  The Rangers offense was 18th, and the Penguins defense ranked 10th.

The league's 15th rated PP just got worse.  What the hell happened to the Blueshirt PP that started off so well in games One and Two, that they would fail over the next five games spanning 25 scoreless opportunities?  Mind you, the Rangers were 2/6 in Game One, and only 1/6 in Game Two, then short circuited.

Coach Vigneault might want to consider adding Anton Stralman's big shot on the man advantage, because if the PP proves equally futile against Pittsburgh, the Rangers will surely lose.  The Penguins PK ranked 5th in the league.

On the other side of the equation, I fully expect the Penguins to exploit their PP opportunities.  They were #1 in the NHL.  Therefore, the most effective method for the Rangers to kill off penalties, is to not commit mistakes in the first place.  Although their PK ranked 3rd in the regular season, the Rangers were uncharacteristically guilty of far more needless and dumb (Benoit Pouliot) penalties in the first round against the Flyers.  They'll obviously need to employ more discipline this time around.

On that note, I expect the Penguins 5th line to play a major factor in the series.  The NHL can't have anything happen to their crowned princess, so I'm sure the stripes will have their whistles at the ready any time a Blueshirt even nears her majesty.  And why not..., the refs in the last series were horrible, with all their embellishment nonsense, and other such curious calls.  Crosby additionally failed to score a goal in the first round, so I'm sure the networks want him treated with extra care to get him going as well.

I anticipate Ryan McDonagh having a better series, but I'm concerned with Anton Stralman's and Kevin Klein's ability to keep up with Pittsburgh's forwards.  I think the last thing the Rangers want is for Pittsburgh to start skating around and gaining flow - yes, what Coach Vigneault likes to do.  But, Coach might want to also consider grinding on the Penguins, in an effort to slow them down.  That should also involve keeping Dan Carcillo and his physicality on a steady shift.

No time to dwell on much else.  It's time to drop the puck on Round Two.

Let's Go Rangers.




Mike.BTB