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 3 - Dan Carcillo Kicks Sand In The Broad Street Bullies Faces

From the desk of:  RAISE GRESCHNER WITH THE GREATS

Rangers Lead Series 2-1

I - NYR 4; PHI 1

II - PHI 4; NYR 2

III - NYR 4; PHI 1

IV - FRIDAY @ PHI

GAME THREE FINAL

RANGERS   4

Flyers          1

NEW YORK RANGERS: Flyers Cheap Shots Failing To Rattle Blueshirts, Unless You're Benoit Pouliot That Is.....

When do you suppose Coach Vigneault will play Dan Carcillo?  I hope the answer is games Three and Four.  A game in Philly seems tailored for him..., no?  Doesn't the former Flyer have anything to offer, be it with his physicality, or on-ice composure in a familiar environment?  Put him in coach.  C'mon, let him bang some bodies. - Yeah, I said that.

DAN CARCILLO REVISITS WITH OLD FRIENDS IN PHILADELPHIA

BEARING GOALS AND TIDINGS OF ILL WILL.

Ray Emery finally played down to his abilities.  He let pucks get by him from up close, from far away, and from bad angles.  In other words, he was an equal opportunity Game Three failure.  The Flyers finally pulled him from net in the third period, and it's probably safe to say, the Rangers should expect to see Steve Mason the rest of this series.

For the first time this series, the Flyers out-shot the Rangers by a 32-23 margin.  After chiding The King in my last post, Tuesday night, Henrik Lundqvist was brilliant in stopping all but one shot. The Rangers also uncharacteristically put Philly on the PP five times, but successfully killed them all.  A stellar defensive effort, and Henrik's 31 saves were most certainly the determining factors of Game Three.

For the moment, the Rangers were able to seize back home ice advantage.

The rest, makes for a very colorful recap.

The Flyers crowd was taken out of the game early, by two Rangers first period goals.  Ray Emery gave up a bad angle goal in close quarters to Derek Stepan, on a Rick Nash feed from the far corner.  Then a little under seven minutes later, he gave up another on Dan Girardi's shot which was deflected in by Martin St. Louis.

Before the first period was through, the Flyers got one goal back, but nothing more.  Dan Girardi then cancelled it out with a booming second period shot taken from downtown Philadelphia, which Emery was helpless to stop.

Former Flyer Dan Carcillo provided the crowd with one final punch to the stomach, when he converted a great pass from Brian Boyle, and tapped it through the pads of Emery, to give the Rangers a 4-1 victory.  It was a marvelous turn of events for him.  After feeling dejected over committing a penalty, he scored right out of the box.  Back in the second period, he took a minor penalty for coming to the aid of Carl Hagelin.  Good man!  Good game.

Benoit Pouliot was clearly out of his mind though.  In fact, there was a point in the game when Pouliot and Carcillo were both going against everything Coach Vigneault preaches.  But, it may have served the Rangers well.  Winning certainly has a way of influencing perspective, and so I would say Carcillo and Pouliot both brought a high level of intensity, and even a measure of anger and raucousness, that perhaps Philadelphia needed to experience.

Once again, the Flyers resorted to their full repertoire of troglodyte tactics.  Wayne Simmonds continued his overall obnoxious behavior, and escaped the box after cross-checking Derek Dorsett in the face. Simmonds also continues to lead the Flyers in SOG.

Dan Carcillo took a deliberate shoulder to the jaw, which also went unnoticed by the stripes, who by the way, were particularly horrific this night.  If you were watching, how else can you explain Philly getting whistled only four times all game.  It was a ponderous performance by them.

Just prior to Philadelphia scoring their lone goal, I could have sworn Derek Dorsett and Simmonds agreed to drop gloves during their next shift, but the fight never materialized, unlike the series of punches Carl Hagelin endured during what the stripes deemed a non-fight against Jakub Voracek - an absolutely terrible job.

The Rangers are hopping a train back to New York City tonight, and will return for Game Four on Friday.  I don't blame them.  I wouldn't want to spend the night in Philadelphia either.

Enjoy a cold beer on the way home fellas.  Nice game.



Mike.BTB

N.Y. Rangers: Le Blueshirts House de Horrors

From the desk of:  RAISE GRESCHNER WITH THE GREATS

 

TONIGHT

 

NEW YORK RANGERS

vs.

Les Habitants de Montreal

FROM

The Great White North

NEW YORK RANGERS: The Feeling-Out Process Between Coach Vigneault and the Blueshirts Is Growing More Curious.

Last season, the Rangers got shut out twice in Montreal.   In fact, the Rangers have been outscored 14-1 in their last four meetings there, and haven't gained a victory in Montreal in four seasons.  The good news is, the Rangers have scored 28 regulation time goals in the last ten games, and limited themselves to 18 goals against.  Additionally, the Habs are currently trending downward, having lost six times in their last ten games, while the Rangers are 7-3 over the same stretch.

The Rangers however, recently had their momentum interrupted by the New Jersey Devils.  Coach Vigneault issued a harsh criticism of Henrik Lundqvist's last effort.  The King outwardly accepted and even agreed with Coach's assessment.  On the heels of Tuesday's loss, Cam Talbot is expected to start between the pipes this evening - a curious situation.  It is also worth mentioning again, Henrik Lundqvist is still without a contract extension, and is perhaps more accustomed to John Tortorella's unwavering protectionism with regard to Henrik's ups and downs - or not.  The Rangers goalie insists there is nothing there.

Is there further evidence the (media) protectionism is over?  You bet there is.  Not that long ago, J.T. Miller and Derek Dorsett got a taste.

Amid rumors and trade speculation, Michael Del Zotto may be a healthy scratch for tonight's game.  It would mark the second time he's been listed as a healthy scratch this season.

Former coach John Tortorella may have gotten the best from Del Zotto we fans will ever see.  Because at current, Zotto is an undisciplined, unrepentant plague of turnovers upon the ice, who otherwise still routinely makes bad decisions with the puck.  The fleeting flashes of brilliance he used to demonstrate, have been reduced to very infrequent flickers of competence amid fading minutes.  If you think I'm being too harsh, then consider he just pissed off his second coach in the only organization he's known.  Coach Vigneault is in no way pleased with Del Zotto's play.  Thus, the defenseman is facing time, in what appears to be the first real usage of the new regime's doghouse.

What can the Rangers potentially expect in return for Del Zotto, a former #1 draft choice, who perhaps would benefit from a change of scenery?  Before pondering any return for the beleaguered defenseman, I say we sweeten the deal and include Mats Zuccarello in a package.

Yeah, I went there.



Mike.BTB

Martin Brodeur Tops Hockey Night In Metropolitan Division; NJD, NYR, NYI

Hockey Night In Metropolis

 

THURSDAY FINAL STANDINGS:
N.Y. Rangers   8-8   16 points
N.Y. Islanders   6-7-3   15 points
N.J. Devils   4-7-4   12 points
 

From the desk of:

RAISE GRESCHNER WITH THE GREATS

 

NEW YORK RANGERS

vs.

Columbus Blue Jackets

From

Some Arena In Ohio

FINAL
Rangers        4
Blue Jackets 2
 

• Here come Tex's Rangers!  They began Thursday night's play with a 7-8 record, and 14 points.  They had achieved one more victory, but one less point in the standings than the third place N.Y. Islanders.  The Rangers posted a 5-3 record in their last eight games entering tonight, in which they limited each opponent to a pair of goals or less.  This evening, they continued their positive streak, with another 3-2 victory.  Two more points gives them 16, which thrusts them into third place of the Metropolitan Division.

• The Rangers visited Columbus to face the Blue Jackets and catch up with old friends.  For Derick Brassard, John Moore, and Derek Dorsett, this was their first time back in Columbus.  For Brandon Dubinsky and Marian Gaborik, it was a chance to welcome old friends to their new home arena.  Rick Nash, unfortunately, could not attend the reunion.  But it was an even older blast from the past who had something to say.  Former Rangers defenseman Fedor Tyutin scored in the first period to tie the game at one each.  Carl Hagelin opened the scoring with his third goal at the 4:16 mark.

• The game got very chippy in the second period.  Fedor Tyutin leveled Taylor Pyatt with an elbow to the head.  Pyatt left the ice.  Brandon Dubinsky was taking runs at J.T. Miller.  Ryan Callahan answered everyone with a PP goal off a strong effort in front of the net, and a  deflection.  It was Callahan's second point of the game and fifth goal of the season.  Later in the period, and within a minute of each other, both teams traded goals to make it a 3-2 Rangers lead.  Car Hagelin scored his second of the game unassisted.  Ryan McDonagh scored on an empty net to cap off the evening, and seal a 4-2 Rangers victory.

• The Rangers have 20 goals in their last 6 games.

• Cam Talbot started in net for the Rangers.  He faced 34 shots and made 32 saves - some very big ones.  Cam is now 3-1 this season.

 

From the desk of:

BROOKLYN'S FOSTER HOCKEY CLUB

 

New York Islanders

vs.

Carolina Hurricanes

From

South of the Mason Dixon Line

FINAL
Islanders     0
Hurricanes  1
 

• The Islanders began the evening with a 6-6-3 record, and 15 points.  As mentioned, that placed them third in the Metropolitan Division.  They were 3-3 in their last six games heading into Carolina.

• Thomas Vanek has played four games since being traded from Buffalo, and has one goal and a pair of assists.  The Captain, John Tavares is not the club leader in points, goals or assists.  The distinction of points and assists leader goes to Kyle Okposo, who has 19 points and 14 assists.  Frans Nielsen is the team leader with 8 goals.  Tavares has 7 goals and 10 assists, and is tied with Frans Nielsen with 17 points.

• The Islanders are teetering though.  Including tonight, they have allowed more goals (36-40) than they have scored.  General manager Garth Snow needs to take a concerted look into shoring up his blue line.

 

• Defense wasn't necessarily a problem on this night, but offense was.  The game remained closely contested after Radek Dvorak put Carolina ahead 6:39 into the first period, and remained that way heading into the third.  But John Tavares had one shot on goal all game, as the Isles mustered 21 shots, but couldn't generate any scoring.  There were no rebounds to be had, as Hurricanes goalie Justin Peters pitched a clean shutout.  The Islanders were 0/3 on the power play.

• Young Kevin Poulin started between the pipes again.  He earned his first victory of the season against the Boston Bruins.  Late, with 2:52 left in the third period, Poulin made a HUGE save to keep the score 1-0 in favor of the Hurricanes, but the offense failed to compliment an overall very solid effort.  Poulin faced 24 shots and stopped all but one.  His record drops to 1-3 on the season, but certainly looked sharp.

 

• The Islanders loss allows the Rangers to slip past them in the standings.  The Long Islanders  are now 6-7-3 on the season.

From the desk of:
 BRICK CITY DEMONS

 

New Jersey Devils

vs.

Philadelphia Flyers

From

Broad Street

South Philly

FINAL
Devils  3
Flyers  0
 

• The New Jersey Devils entered tonight's game in a bad way.  They are still without Bryce Salvadore and Ryane Clowe.  Martin Brodeur is even on record saying he'd consider waving his no-trade clause if that would help the club.  The Devils entered tonight's action in seventh place of the Metropolitan Division with 3-7-4 record and 10 points.  One of those victories was a 4-0 drubbing of the Rangers in Newark.  After losing their first seven games of the season, they started tonight's game in Philly with a 3-4 mark since.  That's a start.

• Philadelphia fans serenaded their team to a chorus of boos as they skated off the ice at the conclusion of the second period.  The visiting Devils led 1-0 on a first period Eric Gelinas (2) goal just 1:57 into the game.  In truth, the Flyers couldn't have played any less inspired.  During the third period, the scoring was changed on the goal by Gelinas.  Adam Henrique (5) was credited with the goal instead.

• Recently called-up Cam Janssen scored in the third period to give the Devils a 2-0 lead just 3:01 into the third period, and the boooo's continued to rain down upon the Flyers.  When Jaromir Jagr scored New Jersey's third goal of the evening on an empty net, the Flyers fans really let their team have it.

• Marty Brodeur started in net for the Devils, and added to his pair of NHL all-time records.  He earned victory #672 of his career, and notched shutout #122 as well.  For the Devils, their 4th victory of the season, and 12th points of the season.  Marty faced 22 shots and stopped them all, for his third victory of the season.

Three Stars of the Night:

1) - Martin Brodeur
2) - Carl Hagelin
3) - Philly Crowd!



Mike.BTB

N.Y. Rangers: Sizing Up The Blueshirts

From the desk of:  RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS

NEW YORK RANGERS: The Big Blue Glacier Has Melted.

It's time to drop the puck again, but the Rangers will be doing it without Ryan Callahan and Carl Hagelin, as both are still working back from shoulder surgery.  I wonder how Callahan really feels regarding John Tortorella's departure?  After all, Torts made him the model to follow; the ideal player; and the Captain.  He basically spent three seasons building around Ryan Callahan.  Moving forward, at least Carl Hagelin won't have to play looking over his shoulder anymore.

I guess we need to welcome back center Dominic Moore.  Remember the HMO Line; Halweg, Moore, and Ortmeyer?  You might say Glen Sather outlasted Derek Stepan and his agent, as the Rangers center signed for closer to the club figure than their own proposal.  Two years from now, we'll have to renegotiate all over again.  I'm looking forward to a hefty contribution from Derick Brassard.  I like J.T. Miller and of course it's always good to see Brain Boyle.  Brad Richards is the lone center man with any accompanying baggage.

On the wing, I like Jesper Fast.  I think he can be an effective, physical two-way player, who also skates with speed.  If he and Carl Hagelin can share a line together, their combined speed can create problems for defensemen.  I liked last year's acquisitions of Taylor Pyatt and Derek Dorsett.  Along with Rick Nash, Pyatt in particular gives us good size on the forward line.  I can't get myself to shake pom-poms over Aaron Asham and Benoit Pouliot though.  Lastly, we know the deal regarding Mats Zuccarello.

When Michael Del Zotto has his head screwed on right, the Rangers can skate two defensive lines that rival any in the league.  Of course that also depends if Marc Staal continues to fully recover from a lengthy concussion.  Slowly but surely we started getting back the old Staal last season.  I'm hoping this season, he's back on his game for the entire haul.  I like John Moore.  He and Justin Falk instantly became our two biggest defensemen.  Moore weighs in at 214 pounds, while Falk is listed at 215 lbs.  At 6'5", Justin Falk is also an inch taller than Marc Staal.  Anton Stralman is the littlest blue liner - coming it at 5'11" and only 190 pounds.  The Rangers are going with seven defensemen to start the season.

Henrik is the King.  What more is there to say, other than the club better get him signed to a contract.  On the ice and between the pipes, Coach Alain Vigneault's system is going to create a whole new condition for Lundqvist.  He will see more pucks and they will be coming from more angles than he was used to.  His mates won't be blocking nearly as many shots this season either.  Marty Biron is back to caddy Henrik.  In last year's shortened season, Biron was never able to fully establish himself in his role as back-up.  The schedule didn't allow for very well planned out breaks for Lundqvist.

What I really want to know is, when a member of the opposition takes their first run at Lunqvist, who will be sticking up for him?  Granted, the Rangers added much needed size, but the toughness remains to be seen.  Circling back to John Moore, that's why I like him.  He can take care of himself and doesn't seem hesitant to mix it up.

Two seasons ago, the Rangers led the league in fighting, and in particular, led in fights within the first five minutes of a game.  They dictated the play more back then by imposing themselves and their style.  The key player in all that was Brandon Prust.  In his absence, the Rangers sorely lacked that effect last season, and it showed!  As a team, they spent far too much time getting pushed off the puck.

There's a new sheriff on Broadway, and his name is Alain Vigneault.  His hockey style is western. The Rangers spent three years moving forward with the power of a glacier, then met some resistance last season, and so Glen Sather started changing things up.  Now the plan is to skate with speed like - wind driven snow?

What's done is done.




Mike.BTB