N.Y. Rangers: Center of Attention

From the desk of:  RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS

SUNDAY

Montreal Canadiens

vs.

New York Rangers

FROM

8th Avenue Ice Hut

Manhattan

New York Rangers: On The Cost Of Success Off Broadway.

Hello.

Welcome back to RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS; the Rangers department of this blog.

Let me just put it out there ...

If you think fighting for the sixth through eighth spot in the Eastern Conference is fun, then you're in for a great regular season.

I'll take it a step further.

I'm sick and tired of hearing about speed and finesse, and finesse and speed.

But why stop there?

I've also had it up to ( ( (( HERE )) ) ) with Alain Vigneault.

My opinion of the Rangers has not changed much since last season.  The Rangers aren't big enough, or nearly tough enough for my liking.  I still think they are too small on defense.  And because of Henrik Lundqvist's contract, this team will forever remain one forward short (namely a center) of getting over the hump.

Some of that can be attributed to the New York Rangers always being good enough.  That's precisely why the Rangers do not garner better results from their amateur drafting.  Just making the playoffs means middle of the pack selections.

In the micro sense, you could argue in favor of one or two players.  In the macro, they simply can not draft and develop upper echelon talent.  It's a vicious cycle of competitive mediocrity breeding competitive mediocrity.  That's why they've been, and will remain inconsequential and weak up the middle for the foreseeable future, or until this cycle is broken.

Look at the Rangers history over the last ten years alone.  The organization's attempts at developing a center started and ended with Brandon Dubinsky.  This forces the front office to rely heavily on free agency to fill key needs.  Look where that has gotten them.  Their track record of going off campus dating back to Chris Drury reveals one failed attempt to upgrade center after another, and so on.

I'm sure there were some Rangers fans who relished that 10-1 can of whoop-ass the Chicago  Blackhawks opened all over the Penguins the other night.  But here's what I feel Rangers fans need to know.  The Pens are reigning back-to-back champions for a reason, none of which really have much to do with goalies Marc-Andre Fleury or Matt Murray.

In fact, Marc-Andre Fleury is now a member of the expansion Las Vegas Golden Knights, and Pittsburgh signed Antti Niemi in his place.  On his worst day, Henrik Lundqvist is a superior goal-tender to all three.  I think any NHL fan would agree.

This much is also certain: the Rangers were weak up the middle with Derek Stepan and Oscar Lindberg, and they can remain weak up the middle without them.  Derek Stepan posted 17 goals and 38 assists last season, and was only somewhat useful on the power play.  Oscar Lindberg scored eight goals with 12 assists in 60 games last season, and was useless on the power play.

Mika Zebanejad at least is 23-years young (and well...?).  He scored 14 goals with 23 assists in 56 games, but, like Stepan, was only somewhat useful on the power play.  Can he be that 50-point scorer from Ottawa again?  That remains to be seen.  Even then, so what?

I'll throw J.T. Miller into this, who frequently plays out of position.  He was second on the team behind Matts Zuccarello with 56 points (22 goals, 33 assists).  However, he, like some of the other centers, was rather useless on the power play.  Now take away Miller's stats, and the three aforementioned Rangers centers totaled 39 goals, and 73 assists, for 112 points.

Last year, Sidney Crosby led the NHL with 44 goals.  Evgeni Malkin added another 33 goals.  Together, they joined forces last season to score 161 total points.  Meanwhile, both just happen to be major assets on the power play.

Once upon a time, Pittsburgh was able to draft Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby because the Penguins were really, really bad.  At the time of their respective selections (2002-2003 through 2004-2005) the Penguins were only winning .368 percent of their games.  Malkin was the second overall selection of the 2004 draft.  A year later, Crosby was the first overall selection of the 2005 draft.

In 2004, Alex Ovechkin was the first overall selection ahead of Malkin.  The Rangers selected goalie Al Montoya with the sixth overall pick that year, and then selected Marc Staal with the 12th overall pick in the 2005 entry draft.

Now for the ponderous matter of Penguins rookie center Jake Guentzel.

In the first round of the 2013 entry draft, the New York Rangers selec.....

Oh, wait.  The Rangers didn't have a first round pick that year.

Oh, wait!  They didn't have a second round pick either.

Finally, in the third round of the 2013 entry draft, the Rangers drafted center Adam Tambellini with the 56th overall selection.  Then, with the 75th overall selection, the Rangers drafter winger, Pavel Buchnevic.

Two picks later, Pittsburgh drafted center Jake Guentzel with the 77th overall selection of the 2013 entry draft.

So, if you were to ask me how close are the Rangers to winning a Stanley Cup championship, I would answer look no further than their centers.

Why?  Because!

2016-17 Stanley Cup Playoffs:

• Goals Scored - Guentzel (13) #1
• Assists - Crosby (19) #1
• Points - Malkin (28) #1
• Goals Created - Malkin (10.2) #1
• Even Strength Goals - Guentzel (11) #1
• Game Winning Goals - Guentzel (5) #1

The Rangers opened the 2017-2018 regular season at home in disappointing fashion.  They had their chances against Colorado, but just came up short.

Saturday's 8-4 loss against the Toronto Maple Leafs was far more disturbing to me.  With Lou Lamoriello and Mike Babcock in charge, the Leafs are already light years ahead of the Rangers.

But I digress ...

The Rangers starting four centermen against the Maple Leafs were J.T. Miller, Mika Zebanejad, Paul Carey, and David Desharnais.

Paul Carey, 29-years old, a 2007 fifth round draft pick (Avalanche), entered the season having played just 20 NHL games over the last four seasons.  He played 14:43 against Toronto.

What can I say about David Desharnais?  He's older than Stepan, and comes far more cheaply.  David shoots left, Stepan shoots right.  And he's a nice guy, I'm sure.  Now 31-years old, Desharnais split time between Montreal and Edmonton last season.  His best season was 2013-24 with Montreal, when he netted 16 goals with 36 assists.  He'll perhaps be no more or less effective on the power play than Stepan was.  Yet, he played 13:11 against Toronto.

The Rangers scored 253 goals last season which sort of throws everything back in my face.  They ranked third in the Eastern Conference, and fourth in all the NHL.  They outscored Montreal/Ottawa by an aggregate 34-30 margin in last season's playoffs.  Yet, were eliminated in the second round by the Senators, four games against two.

Why?  Because I feel the Rangers have no spine, or said a more delicate way, an inconsequential group of centers.

Even the Washington Capitals, who last year skated three superior centers compared to those of the Rangers, and despite all the changes Washington's made over the last two seasons, they still failed to get through Pittsburgh's strength up the middle.

Just remember the heavy price initially paid by the Penguins organization:

• (2002-2003)  27-44-6-5 (.396)
• (2003-2004)  23-47-8-4 (.354)
• *
• (2005-2006)  22-46-14 (.354)

The Rangers generally have never been willing to sink that low, or pay that stiff a price at the gate.  Don't forget, those down years in Pittsburgh almost cost the city that franchise.  The only time the Rangers finished below .400 in my lifetime came when they posted a 26-44-10 (.388) record during the 1984-1985 season.  As an older teenager, I actually remember that season very well.  Before that, however, you would have to go back to 1965-1966 when the Rangers went 18-41-11 (.336) in the regular season.


SLAP SHOTS:

• Henrik Lundqvist will turn 36-years old in March.
• Did I mention I like Mike Sullivan better than Alain Vigneault?  After all, he's no stranger to Rangers fans.

Just saying...

N.Y. Rangers: Forwards March

From the desk of:  RAISE GRESCHNER WITH THE GREATS

GAME THREE 

FINAL

Senators  1

Rangers   4

Senators Lead Series 2-1

I - OTT 2; NYR 1

II - OTT 6; NYR 5*

III - NYR 4; OTT 1

*overtime

NEW YORK RANGERS: All The King's Horses Propel Blueshirts to First Victory Over Sens; Centermen Finally Do Their Jobs.

After Facing 77 SOG Through Game Two, 

Blueshirts Lighten Henrik's Load; Faces Only 27 SOG

MatsZuccs to the rescue, again!

But at least the other lines showed up.  So, let's here it for the Rangers center men, finally!  Mika Zibanejad assisted on MatsZucc's opening goal.  Derek Stepan assisted on Rick Nash's goal.   And even J.T. Miller (who needs to stay the hell out of the penalty box) assisted on Oscar Lindberg's goal.

Now if they can start winning a few more face-offs ...

Tanner Glass finally skated for the first time since Game Three against the Habs.

About that ... see how wishy-washy Alain Vigneault is?

At least he had the wherewithal to realize the team needed an increased physical presence against Montreal, and thus started Tanner Glass in Game One.  Outside of Henrik Lundqvist, Glass was perhaps most responsible for the Rangers opening victory despite only eight minutes of ice time.

But because things went awry after the second period of Game Two (Glass nonetheless accounted for 10 hits), and again in Game Three against Montreal, Glass was scratched for the remainder of the series.

Fast forward - the Rangers get woefully outplayed during their first two games in Ottawa.  I'll take it a step further: Vigneault was getting beaten at his own game.  Vigneault adjusts by shortening his bench in Game Two.  When that doesn't work, Coach lengthens his bench again, reverting back to four lines featuring Tanner Glass in Game Three, whom initiates three hits, and registers a secondary assist on Oscar Lindberg's goal.

And if I may, how about giving Jesper Fast just a little more ice time?  Take away some minutes from a very inconsequential Kevin Hayes.

Just saying ...

N.Y. Rangers: Broadway Bullies Oust Habs in Six

From the desk of:  RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS

Rangers defeat Canadiens, 4-2

I - NYR 2; MON 0

II - MON 4; NYR 3*

III - MON 3; NYR 2

IV - NYR 2; MON 1

V - NYR 3; MON 2*

VI - NYR 3; MON 1

*overtime

NEW YORK RANGERS: MatsZuccs!  Smallest Blueshirt Bearing Heaviest Load.

Tex's Rangers Prove Too Tough for Montreal Canadiens

I've used many an unkind adjective in describing these Rangers throughout Alain Vigneault's tenure in New York, with soft, cute, and smurfy, topping the list.

But in truth, the Rangers played the Montreal Canadiens tough ... real tough ... astonishingly tough ... impressively tough.

I didn't think they had it in them, and was certain they would suffer a first round elimination.  In light of Saturday's series clinching victory over the Canadiens, I'm therefore only too happy being wrong.   It's only a first round victory, and well, the Rangers have been there and done that.  But this was nevertheless the grittiest, most physical performance they've ever put forth under this head coach.

Eliminating the Habs in such fashion still does not prevent me from pondering how Alain Vigneault called off the dogs in Game Seven against the Tampa Bay Lightning (Eastern Conf. Final).
With regards to his style, I've always said you can pirouette your way through the regular season playing the mean competition, but you can't do that in a short playoff series.  This series against Montreal only confirms that (for me).  After falling in the first round last year to the Penguins, maybe, just maybe, Vigneault has finally learned his lesson.

Stubborn as I am, I can't help but wonder if the Rangers overt physicality was inspired by Vigneault himself, or was born of the players' own collective and respective personal resolve.

In any event, they got it done.

Montreal mounted 206 shots on goal against Henrik Lundqvist, and scored 11 times in six games.   Meanwhile, the Rangers took 25 less shots on goal (181), yet tallied 14 goals against Carey Price.

More importantly, they answered any and all questions regarding their ability to compete against a bigger, and seemingly more physically oppressive opponent.

The Rangers and Canadiens combined for 533 recognized hits, for an average of 88 body checks per game.  While Montreal registered 50+ hits in games One, Two, and Five, the Rangers levied a series high 74 hits in Game Two, and out-hit the Habs overall by a 285-248 margin.

Into the Void

If Max Pacioretty scores just one timely goal at any time during games three through six, perhaps the series takes on a completely different complexion.  The Habs top forward and regular season scoring leader led all skaters in the series with 29 shots on goal, yet managed just one assist and finished with a minus-one.

That being said, Rangers blueliners Nick Holden, Marc Staal, Ryan McDonagh, Brady Skjei, Brendan Smith, and Dan Girardi in particular, are the primary reasons why Pacioretty was rendered ineffective.

Enter Jeff Beukeboom, whom was added to Alain Vigneault's staff after last season's disappointing first round playoff loss against the Pittsburgh Penguins.  As a former defenseman for the Oilers and Rangers, he brings Stanley Cup playoff experience and first hand knowledge in the stay-home tradition - minimizing traffic in the crease, keeping shooting lanes clear, with less attention on stick work and more emphasis on initiating and exerting a physical presence, and above all keeping Henrik Lundqvist safe.

For the first five periods of the series, the Rangers played with speed, while matching Montreal's all out physical blitz hit for hit.  I was indeed proud how they answered the opening bell in Game One and through the second period of Game Two.  Despite overall numbers finishing overwhelmingly in Montreal's favor, those were nevertheless five periods of hockey they should be commended for.

But because the Blueshirts hadn't spent any sustained stretches during the regular season playing at such an intense and relentless level, the Canadiens overall physicality was seemingly already wearing down, and slowing down the Rangers by the third period of Game Two.  It's not so much that Montreal scored the tying goal with just 0:17 left in regulation.  That was inevitable as Montreal dictated much of the period.  In turn, the Rangers were routinely denied timely line changes.  The Rangers obviously went on to lose Game Two in overtime, then got outplayed again in Game Three at Madison Square Garden.

All the King's Horses

The Rangers then reeled off three straight victories led by Mats Zuccarello and Henrik Lundqvist to earn a second round match-up against the Ottawa Senators.

They doubled Montreal's output through the final three games, outscoring the Habs by an 8-4 mark.

Unlike Montreal captain Max Pacioretty's playoff disappearance, Mats Zuccarello led the Rangers in points during the regular season, then led them with three goals against the Habs.  The Canadiens were clearly targeting MatsZucs throughout the series.  But Mighty Mats fought right back every step of the way, even proving himself toughest of all with a pair of in-your-face second period goals in Game Six.

Rick Nash played very well.  He was second among all skaters and led the Rangers with 23 shots on goal.  He was one of the few Rangers forwards truly guilty of crashing and disrupting Carey Price's safe space with any consistency.  Good job!

Otherwise, Henrik Lundqvist saved the Rangers from their overall lack of forward line production yet again.

Center Mika Zibanejad had a fine series.  But Derek Stepan, J.T. Miller, and Oscar Lindberg, are becoming real issues up the middle.  Meanwhile, Chris Kreider and Kevin Hayes are becoming mirror images of ineffectiveness.  In fact, all Kreider did was prove he is still a head case.  And generally speaking, the Rangers fore-check was somewhat appalling.

Before getting into special teams, how about a round of applause for the men in stripes, whom did a superb job of swallowing their whistles and letting play, and the players regulate themselves.  Suffice it to say both teams got away with various and seemingly innumerable infractions.

Montreal went 3 for 20 on the power play.  Two of those led to Montreal's Game Three victory at MSG.  The Rangers went just 1 for 15 on the power play.  On the bright side, it means the Rangers outscored Montreal 13-8 during even strength.

Rangers vs. Devils: Battle of the Hudson - II

From the desks of:

RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS   &  ALL MOTHER LEEDS CHILDREN

Devils lead series 1-0

I - NJD 2; NYR 1

overtime

TUESDAY

New York Rangers 

vs.

New Jersey Devils

FROM

The Rock

NEWARK

New Jersey Devils: With blunted pitchforks...

The Devils are presently on the outside looking in.  The standings say they are 9th in the conference, but tied at 55-points with (#8) Pittsburgh, and 31 games remaining after tonight.  If you want some pain to go along with that suffering, well then the Devils trail the Metropolitan Division leading Washington Capitals by 19 points. That said, who doesn't...

Few teams, though, are playing better defense than the Devils.  That said, despite a recent offensive outburst against the Flames and Senators, nearly the entire NHL is scoring at a higher rate than the Devils.   They enter Tuesday's game with a -4 point differential. There's your season to date.

It's been a campaign best characterized in terms of peeks and valleys, as Newark had their most recent 4-game win streak snapped when the Penguins shut them out in Pittsburgh.  The brief win streak, however, came after losing five of their first seven games of the new year.

At least the Devils still have Feb. 9 to look forward to.  That's when the organization will retire, and raise Martin Brodeur's #30 jersey to the rafters, where it will join company with Ken Daneyko's #3 and Scott Stevens' #4 jerseys.

On Feb. 9th, they'll play against the Edmonton Oilers, but that comes a night after playing the Rangers, again, and will cap off a five game stretch in an eight day span.  Just saying....

Entering tonight, the Devils have what the Rangers do not, which is a 20-goal scorer in winger Kyle Palmieri.  With 24 assists, Michael Cammalleri is Newark's leading scorer with 38 points.  In fact, he'll be the leading scorer among either team hitting the ice tonight.

If anyone, the Devils have Cory Schneider to thank for their standing.  He ranks 7th in the NHL with a .929 Sv%, 4th with a 2.03 GAA, ranks 6th in wins (just one behind Henrik Lundqvist), and is 4th with four shutouts.

FINAL

Rangers  2

Devils      3

Look what Newark did to the Rangers.., again.

There's a point on that pitchfork after all... and they stuck it right to Tex's Rangers.  Two points to be exact, which placed the Devils within one point of the Rangers for 2nd place in the Metropolitan Division.

The Pittsburgh Penguins won, however, and so the Devils #9 standing in the conference remained unchanged.

The Devils were out-shot by the Rangers 33-25, but Cory Schneider outlasted J.T. Miller and the Rangers with 31 saves.  Henrik Lundqvist faced 25 shots, but surrendered three goals.

J.T. Miller scored twice for the Rangers.  He opened the scoring in the 1st period.  After Lee Stempniak's 15th goal (PP) of the season tied it in the 2nd period, J.T. Miller put the Blueshirts back in front within another two minutes of play.

Joseph Blandisi tied the game shortly thereafter, and another power play goal by David Schlemko midway through sent the Rangers home defeated.

There ya go..  The Devils were 2/2 on the power play, and the Rangers were 0/4 on the man advantage.

Oh yeah..!  And Mike Cammalleri was a scratch to boot.

With no Dylan McIlrath on the ice, I also saw the Rangers get hit, and otherwise pushed around.   Newark was clearly focused on throwing their bodies around, to which the Rangers never answered back.  Kevin Hayes paid a heavy price late in the game and skated off the ice in pain.

As a cherry on top, Newark dominated face offs too.

Signed, 

an increasingly perturbed Rangers fan.

N.Y. Rangers: The Coach Who Cried Wolf

From the desk of:  RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS

2015-2016

The 89th Season of 

New York Rangers Hockey 

Starts Now

OPENING NIGHT

New York Rangers

vs.

Chicago Blackhawks

FROM

Home of the Cup

ChiTown

NEW YORK RANGERS: It all starts with the man wearing the suit.

I'll be forthright about this.  I'm still pissed off.

My disgust hasn't waned.  May 29th seems like yesterday.

Neither Torts' loss to the Devils, or the Rangers loss to the Kings inspired this much anger. The last time I got consumed by such madness came during the Mario Lemieux/Adam Graves fiasco of 1992.

That said, of the four major sports teams I root for, I'm by far most forgiving of the Blueshirts.

Sometimes, however, I just can't move on unless I vent.

I don't care which players' feet you chose putting to the fire.  Blame Rick Nash's lack of scoring, Kreider's lack of discipline, etc., or blame Hillary Clinton, my old high school coach, Ricky Ricardo, Godzilla, Han Solo, or the Dali Lama for all I care.   It makes no difference to me.  All this year's returning Rangers bear their share of responsibility; some more than others.

However, outside of personal skill, individual effort, and competency, players are generally told what to do.  Therefore, I still maintain the Rangers lost last season's Eastern Conference final to the Tampa Bay Bolts due to a philosophical (physical) miscalculation on the part of Alain Vigneault.

As far as I'm concerned, there are reasons why he was fired in Montreal, and Vancouver, etc.  As it also relates to the Rangers, we've learned there are limits as to how far his system can and will go in the absence of a friggin' backbone.

There!  I said it.

President trophies are just big boy participation awards.

His Canucks couldn't outlast a tougher Bruins team in the 2011 Stanley Cup finals, nor could his Rangers defeat a tougher, more resilient Kings team in 2014.

Vigneault's insistence on proving his system right against the Tampa Bay Lightning arguably cost the Rangers a trip to the finals, I think.

The Rangers physical play was the decisive factor in games Four and Six.  Coach then ponderously turned his back on physicality in Game Seven, opting instead for what previously failed particularly in games Two and Five.

They played soft, plain and simple.  Alain Vigneault calls it playing the right way. That's just pillow talk to me.

I certainly wasn't napping when a few select teams stocked up on physical type players this past off-season headlined by Milan Lucic's relocation to Los Angeles.  In fact, the Pacific Division is shaping up to be a rumble royal, with Anaheim, San Jose, and the aforementioned Kings all loaded up with beef.

Columbus, St. Louis, and maybe even Winnipeg will be some of the more tougher teams this season.

The trend has been swaying away from the traditional northeast cities for some time now, towards the Western Conference.

If you remember, the reason why Vancouver fired Vigneault and hired John Tortorella in the first place was to get tougher.

The Rangers?

N.Y. Post

Completely laughable is the only way I can explain Alain Vigneault's audacity with regards to his call for more physicality.

Dylan McIlrath will finally start the season off-Broadway, on paper at least.  He earned a roster spot as the 7th defenseman, but despite turning in a fine physical performance during their last tune-up against the Bruins, he will be a healthy scratch for Wednesday night's opener against the Chicago Blackhawks.

Even before the Rangers drop the puck on their 89th season, McIlrath is already their most punishing blue liner.  However, he previously remained someone Alain Vigneault found little use for these last two seasons.  In truth, his future under Vigneault remains no less uncertain.

The addition of winger Viktor Stalberg should help.  He's 29-yrs old, owns a Stanley Cup ring and understands the role physicality plays on the ice.  He'll team with Oscar Lindberg and J.T. Miller to form the third line.

Lindberg is a smart playing 23-year old, whom impressed enough in camp to win a spot on the third line over veteran Dominic Moore.  At first glance it would appear J.T. Miller got screwed out of a spot on the 2nd line.  Line combinations, however, are very transient situations this early in the season.

Look, Alain Vigneault is a good coach - a damn good one.  He may still pull off a Cup victory before this is through.

But if it takes pissing in his morning Cheerios to alter his thinking, then allow me to be the first in line.

And so concludes my unapologetic opening rant.

The 2015-2016 regular season starts, now!

N.Y. Rangers: Game Seven; Defend This House!

From the desk of:  RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS

Defend This House!

2014-2015

STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS

Eastern Conference Finals

Series tied 3-3

I - NYR 2; TBL 1

II - TBL 6; NYR 2

III - TBL 6; NYR 5

IV - NYR 5; TBL 1

V - TBL 2; NYR 0

VI - NYR 7; TBL 3

GAME SEVEN

Tampa Bay Lightning

vs.

NEW YORK RANGERS

FROM

The Center of the Universe

33rd Street @ 8th Avenue

N.Y.C.

NEW YORK RANGERS: Both teams drove their flag into each other's ice this series.  Now it's time for Tex's Rangers to Defend This House!

ICYMI:

Barely Alive After Game Five 

The Goonies Strike Back

What We Learned In Game One

Derick Brassard enjoyed the best regular season of his career, and has been the Rangers best forward throughout the post-season.  Facing elimination in Game Six of the Eastern Conference finals, he played his finest game.

As a team, the Rangers came correct!

Just 3:36 into the opening period, Brassard lit the lamp on the Rangers first shot of the game, and muted the arena with haste (except for all those Rangers fans in attendance that is..).  Roughly 12:00 minutes later, Brassard fed Keith Yandle, whose goal gave the Rangers a 2-0 lead.

At the 17:00 mark, Derek Stepan, Steven Stamkos, and Chris Kreider (who actually started the whole thing) were all awarded minor box time for beating each other with sticks, fists, and fists holding sticks.

With Tampa on the power play, an Anton Stralman pass split Ryan McDonagh and Dan Girardi like a football through the uprights, and caught Callahan's stick mid-stride at the blue line.   For 8 seasons as a member of the New York Rangers, Ryan Callahan took shots against Henrik Lundqvist every day in practice.  In Game Six, he took one more and converted on a breakaway to make it a 2-1 Rangers lead.

• On that note, one of the keys in Tuesday's victory was limiting penalties and preventing Tampa from going on what's been a highly fruitful power play.  The Blueshirst committed just two penalties all game, which matched their low from Game Three.  They did not commit their second until Dan Girardi's delay of game infraction with 4:24 left in the game.  Otherwise, the Rangers have put Tampa on the PP an average of 3.7 times per game.  Tampa in turn has gone 7 for 22 (32%) and scored in every game except Game Four.  The Rangers mission for Friday night, then, is to keep penalties at a minimum.

Henrik Lundqvist played an inspired 2nd period to preserve the Rangers precarious 2-1 lead.

Then came New York's unforeseen, nevertheless explosive 3rd period.

It's not so much that Tex's Rangers scored 3 times within the first 7:30 of the period, or scored 5 goals throughout the period, that should be taken away from their performance.  It was refreshing to see them opt against the defensive shell strategy and continue pressing the Bolts instead.  They came out strong and stayed on the attack.

• The Nash/Brassard/Miller line played like titans.  They combined to score 13 points, on 5 goals and 8 assists.  Derick Brassard scored 5 of those points, while Miller had a goal and 3 assists, as did Rick Nash.

After Nash and Brassard set up J.T. Miller's goal at 3:02 of the 3rd, the Rangers kept coming in waves.  A mere 3:00 later, James Sheppard literally crashed the net and scored again.  Then just over a minute later, Rick "the Brute" Nash brilliantly picked Nikita Kucherov's pocket, and set up Miller who fired on net - Brassard then cleaned up a juicy weak side rebound to make it a 5-1 game.

That was the back breaker, literally - to see Ben Bishop sprawled on the ice in the dead cockroach position, then heading towards the bench when Coach Cooper pulled him in favor of back-up Andrei Vasilevskiy with nearly 13:00 minutes still left in regulation.

Rick Nash eventually went on to score, and at 18:19, Derick Brassard shot into an empty net to complete a hat trick and give the Rangers their 7-3 margin of victory.

Like Bulls in a China Shop! 

As noted, Derick Brassard's third goal was scored into an empty net, while Keith Yandle scored in the 1st period from the point.   Otherwise, 5 of the Rangers 7 goals in Game Six were scored from Ben Bishop's (and Vasilevskiy's) doorstep.  You could even say Yandle scored because Bishop was screened.  He never saw the puck coming, which means the Rangers had sufficient traffic in front during 6 of their scoring opportunities.

You can't deny that I've been screaming about that since Game One.

Whenever Alain Vigneault let the bulls loose inside Tampa's china shop this series, the Rangers won each and every time.  Tampa has left the gates to their front porch wide open, and have displayed no desire to push the Rangers out of the way.  That's why I found it utterly ponderous Coach Vigneault and the Rangers went away from it in games Two and Five.

Don't stray again!

Line in the Sand:

There's a lot of familiarity that builds over the course of a 7 game series.  Alain Vigneault's line adjustments have been subtle, yet very effective.  Maybe another not so subtle shuffle is warranted.

My Spidey sense tells me there is a shake up in store for Game Seven, partly in an effort to awaken Carl Hagelin, and to get anything they can from Martin St. Louis (who by the way should finally be excused from the power play).  The Rangers have had two days off, which is plenty of time for new line partners to get acquainted.

That said, I'm very curious to see how often Coach deploys Dominic Moore (who is the only one pulling his weight on face-offs), and with whom.

James Sheppard and Kevin Hayes saw limited minutes in Game Six.  All I know is that Hayes is big, physical, skates with speed, will crash the net when told, and as a rookie doesn't seem the least bit intimidated by the enormity of playing in the conference finals.

If both teams aim to dominate the neutral zone, there's going to be a lot of dumping and chasing.  I would think some of the Rangers larger forwards should be able to bull their way through Tampa's smaller bodies, and retrieve the puck..., right?

Stop Bullying Those Blueshirts:

Steve Stamkos has been the Lightning's toughest player...all 6'1", 188 pounds of him!  I wonder if it's time to give him some Tanner Glass?

I was okay with Chris Kreider going after Stamkos for his hit on McDonagh.  He just didn't need to go after Stamkos twice.  I think that's the general consensus.  Stupid on Kreider's part..., again, but still worthy of a pat on the back this time.  Chris obviously needs to exercise more self-control Friday night, and get back to being the play maker he's been during this post-season.  The Rangers do not get this far without some gritty play on his part.  That's the Kreider the Rangers need in Game Seven.

Don't get me wrong though, Friday night Steven Stamkos needs to get hit, repeatedly.

The Triplets haven't exactly responded well to physicality either.  That needs to continue.

Ice Breakers:

So much for Ben Bishop being lauded as some net-minding hero after Game Five.  In the 3rd period, he got caught in a crossfire hurricane.  And I howled, at my ma in the drivin' ....  Sorry, I digress.

How quickly can he recover?  Is his confidence even recoverable?  I expect Tampa to execute a similar game plan to Game Five in order to minimize opportunities against him.

In truth, it may be too late for Bishop, as the book on him is already out.  By now, everyone knows how to beat Tampa's goalie.  If you don't know, then you haven't been watching.  The Rangers just need to follow through with what got them to Game Seven, which has been playing tough and being relentless around the net.

Meanwhile, the book on Lundqvist is still being researched.  The league has been trying to figure him out for a decade now.

Henrik Lundqvist has been in Ben Bishop's shoes before, but he's a master at deleting such poor performances from his mind and moving on.  Henrik is also an experienced proven performer under elimination circumstances.

About that...

A lot is being made of Henrik's brilliance in past Game 7 performances.  I don't pay mind to that, as none of it has any bearing on Friday's game.  This is strictly about playing hard for 60-minutes, defending well in front of Henrik, and coming out on top.

I will cede, however, that Henrik Lundqvist needs to tighten up his game.  He has no doubt surrendered a handful of questionable goals this series.   However, when I listen to Coach Cooper speak, this is what I interpret from him: 

...the Rangers goalie is better than my goalie; my goalie's confidence is questionably shattered; and I don't trust him to win Game 7 on the road.

I was drowned, I was washed up and left for dead.  I fell down to my feet and I saw they bled.

Yeah, yeah, I frowned at the crumbs of a crust of bread.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I was crowned with a spike right through my head.

But it's all right now, in fact it's a gas!

That's what I hear...




Mike

N.Y. Rangers Dance Past Devils For 50th Victory of Season

From the desks of:  

RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS  and  ALL MOTHER LEEDS CHILDREN

Battle of the Hudson - III

Rangers lead series 3-0

I - NYR 4; NJD 3*

II - NYR 3; NJD 1

*overtime

SATURDAY NIGHT FINAL

Devils     1

Rangers 6

NEW YORK RANGERS: Metropolitan Division Champions Continue March Towards President's Trophy.

All Henrik's horses, and all the President's men....

Killjoy said be careful what we ask for - lest we forget 1992!  He also said not to forget 1970 through 1973 either.

Thing is, Killjoy just can't get that hit Winnipeg's Dustin Byfuglien laid to the back of J.T. Miller's neck!  That no Ranger responded to the vicious hit makes the hairs on the back of his neck stand up.   After the game, Coach Vigneault appeared angrier than did any Ranger player on the ice.  But, under Alain Vigneault that's old hat at this point.

These Rangers are not the grunts they were just a few years ago, that subdued teams with the grace of a troglodyte and the force of a glacier.  It's hard to say if that team could have slowed down this present team.

Vigneault's team at least advanced to a Final series; Tortorella's did not.  Both editions, however, were stymied by an inability to score one last goal.

This team is younger, much faster, more skilled, and except for some recent struggles on the power play, more balanced.  I get it.  But, they're smaller.  Unless they grow exceptionally thick beards for the playoffs, I'm nonetheless leery of a glass jaw.

(Although.....) That seems to have played less of a factor this season than in years past, as overall physicality in the conference is down.  The Bruins, Flyers, Devils, Leafs, Penguins..., all were shorter in the tooth this season.  The playoffs, however, are another animal - cute cuddly teams need not apply, particularly Smurfs.

I'm on record saying the Rangers should not have extended MatZucs, and should let Martin St. Louis walk as well.  My point of contention has always been their size, and the way they get pushed off the puck.  However, whenever I bring it up, MatZucs has another good game (with a rather brilliant assist on Rick Nash's 42nd goal of the season against the Devils).

The Rangers are additionally a better team with Martin St. Louis on the ice.  Out since mid-March, the team's drop off in play was noticeable.  The Rangers posted a 4-4 record without him.  They defeated the Panthers in his last game before missing time with a knee injury, defeated the Wild in his first game back, and walloped the Devils on Saturday.  That's no coincidence.

Two very key players moving forward will be Kevin Hayes and Chris Kreider.  Hayes, the 22-year old rookie is making a name for himself.  He has 9 goals and 13 assists for 22 points in his last 31 games, while averaging just under 13:00 a game.   He's listed at 6'5", 225 lbs., and playing with growing confidence.

Kreider, 23, is listed at 6'3", 226 lbs.  After averaging just 2 goals per month over the first three of the season, Kreider has averaged 5 goals a month since January.  But, the Rangers need more.  The sophomore winger is just too big, too fast and strong, and too skilled to continue being an occasional, if not marginal presence.

Rick Nash has now scored 40 goals in three different seasons.  He scored his career high 42nd goal of the season Saturday night, 10 years after posting his first 40-goal season while still with Columbus.   His present team high 28 plus/minus is also a career best.  He has played this season with a ferocity not seen since prior to his latest battle with concussion symptoms.

However, while the Rangers were streaking in March, Nash cooled off significantly from his season long scoring binge.  He only registered 3 goals and 5 points for the entire month.  So far, he has 2 goals in 2 games in April which is a very welcome sign.  The memories of last year's playoff disappearance still haunt us all.

Henrik Lundqvist allowed a lone third period goal to the Devils with less than four minutes left in the game.  After losing to Boston in his return to the net, the King has now won 3 straight over the Jets, Wild, and Devils, to improve his season record to a 28-12-3 mark.  In his last 3 games, he has allowed 5 goals on 98 SOG.

The Rangers have another 4 games left to play in 6 nights, which means Cam Talbot could conceivably make one more start this season.

Henrik is now 337-207 for his career, with a .921 SV% and a 2.26 GAA.  In the playoffs, Henrik owns a 43-48 record, with a near identical .922 SV% and a 2.24 GAA.

With a 6-1 drubbing over the Devils Saturday night, Tex's Rangers secured their 50th victory of the season for only the 4th time in their history.  They have reached 107 points.  This is the 8th time Tex's Rangers have eclipsed 100 points in a season.  The Rangers club record is 112 points set by the 1994 Stanley Cup champions.  Eight points remain for their taking, although they would set a franchise record with another 6 points.



Mike

N.Y. Rangers: Panning For Points In The Canadian Rockies

From the desk of:  RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS

Henrik's Milestone Season Continues Against Flyers

NEW YORK RANGERS: Henrik Lundqvist Notches 30 Wins In A Season For Eighth Time In Career.

The Broad Street Bullies and Broadway Blueshirts squared off at the Garden Wednesday night. Philly entered the game in third place of the Metropolitan Division, trailing the Rangers by a point. In the Eastern Conference standings, the Rangers entered the night as the fifth seed, and Philly was likewise sixth.

The Rangers, who own the Eastern Conference's second best defense, stifled the conference's sixth rated offense, en route to a 3-1 final, although I feel the Flyers looked flat on this night.

With a poor start to the season (by his standards) long behind him, Henrik Lundqvist stopped 30 of 31 pucks for his 306th career win.  In yet another milestone achievement for the goalie, Henrik also earned his 30th victory of the regular season - the 8th time he's accomplished that.  Last season was the only year in which Henrik did not record at least 30 wins, primarily because of the NHL work stoppage, yet he led the NHL for the first time with 24 victories.

Ryan McDonagh has scored the most goals in a season by a Rangers defenseman since Brian Leetch found net 21 times at the turn of the millennium.

RICK NASH NEEDS TO REGENERATE HIS ANGER LEVEL

Rick Nash has cooled off since Columbus earned his ire.  Which brings to attention something that needs repeating.  Rick Nash needs to play more intensely, with more anger, or perhaps with a major chip on his shoulder.  It is no mystic insight on my part, that when the playoffs start, physicality increases exponentially.

Unless he starts tapping into his inner Farmer Brown now, and starts planting seeds of doubt among the league's more aggressive blokes, Rangers opponents will no doubt begin targeting him again. That means taking flat out runs at him, that he himself needs to police, but, if for anything else, just to get him off the ice and into the box, in a very uneven exchange of skilled, and unskilled players. On that part, his team mates must intercede, and take on more responsibilities, if you know what I mean.

The march towards the playoffs must now continue minus the services of Chris Kreider, who must attend to a fractured hand.  Kreider contributed 17 goals and 20 assists this season, and sports a +14 over 66 games.  His size and speed on the ice will be missed.  It now become more imperative than ever, Martin St. Louis break out of his funk, and start finding the back of the net.  The Rangers are only averaging 2.6 goals per game as it is.  The human yo-yo, J.T. Miller, will be recalled from Hartford to fill Kreider's roster spot.

Nonetheless, the Rangers are now winners of five in a row, and have gained a small measure of separation from the Flyers, in addition to #7 Columbus and #8 Detroit in the conference standings. The Blueshirts now only trail the #4 Tampa Bay Lightning by one point.  Obviously, home ice advantage in the first round of playoffs is the motivation for overtaking Tampa.  The Rangers have eight games left to continue affecting the standings.

It's off to the great white north now, to go panning for points with three games in the Canadian Rockies, and a stop in Colorado.  The Rangers can not afford to bow down to the Calgary Flames, nor the Edmonton Oilers.  Those are four must have points.  The Western Conference standings say they are inferior last place teams, with 67 points, and 59 points, respectively.  However, always beware the trap game, or in this case, trap games.

Then waiting in Vancouver, will be a very desperate Canucks team.  John Tortorella's minions are currently 10th in the Western Conference standings.  For obvious reasons, I envision this game devolving into something like a war.  I'll reiterate, that Philly was flat Wednesday night, and that the Canucks will elevate the physicality above what the Rangers recently experienced against Columbus.

The Rangers will close out the four game road trip in Colorado, against the 5th seeded Avalanche. The Philadelphia Flyers next four games are decidedly tougher.  They must face Toronto, Boston, St. Louis, and Columbus.



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: Devils Dance To First Victory

From the desk of:  RAISE GRESCHNER WITH THE GREATS

 

A King Under Siege

NEW YORK RANGERS: Peter DeBoer's Four Lines Too Much For Depleted Rangers.

New Jersey's collective blue-liners were sporting a horrible +/- rating right up until the Rangers came along, and single handedly turned around many a Devils' defensemen season.  The riches of a 4-0 victory were spread throughout the team though, as no Devil registered better than a plus-two.

Early in the opening period, the Rangers got out-hustled by a Devils forecheck, who cashed in on the game's first goal.  The Rangers meanwhile had one shot on goal in the first ten minutes of play. Then Adam Henrique slapped a screaming puck from the left circle past through Lundqvist for a 2-0 lead. Two more New Jersey goals later, and Devils goalie Cory Schneider took care of the rest.

It is hard to explain how, or why Brian Boyle was the best Rangers player on the ice, yet didn't lay a single hit on anyone.  He led the Blueshirts with four SOG, and won 9 of 13 face-offs.  But some-where in Coach Peter DeBoer's full usage of four lines which challenges the Rangers depth is your answer.  Four different forwards scored for New Jersey.

It is worth noting that Boyle, Derek Dorsett, J.T. Miller, Benoit Pouliot and Derek Stepan were all +/- zero.  Thrust into hasty action, Miller had three shots on goal and threw his body around a little bit.  Taylor Pyatt's night wasn't as good.  He was a minus-one, with only one shot on goal in more minutes and shifts than Miller.

How do we say - Henrik Lundqvist was not good.  The Devils owned a 4-0 second period lead with a total of sixteen shots on goal.  Henrik only faced nineteen all night.  Henrik is now 2-4-0 this season, and far away from his career percentages.  His current 3.45 goals against average is light years away from his career 2.27 mark, while his current .890 save percentage is well below his .920 career mark.

The New Jersey Devils are winless no more, while the Rangers road trip to ruins continues full steam ahead.  Victories over Los Angeles and Washington still appear to be nothing more than isolated moments of clarity.



Mike.BTB

N.Y. Rangers vs. N.J. Devils; Battle Of The Hudson - Game One

From the desks of:  RAISE GRESCHER WITH THE GREATS  and  THE BRICK CITY DEMONS

2013-2014

BATTLE OF THE HUDSON

 

TONIGHT

 

NEW YORK RANGERS

vs.

NEW JERSEY DEVILS

From

THE ROCK

Brick City, New Jersey

 

 

 

NEW YORK RANGERS: With Callahan And Nash Sidelined, This Is Brad Richard's And Derek Stepan's Team Now.

We can't even start to truly find out how heavily a new system, adjusting to a new coach, and opening on the west coast weighed on the Rangers.  While a return back east garnered a well played all-around victory over the Capitals, not having Rick Nash and Ryan Callahan moving forward fails to lend any clarity to the Rangers early plight.  Carl Hagelin has yet to hit the ice as well.

Ryan Callahan continues to catch one bad break after another.  He missed camp stemming from off-season shoulder surgery, took a puck to the mouth against the Kings, and then suffered a broken thumb against the Caps, all the while, still literally doing everything for the Blueshirts.

Next on the forward lines are J.T. Miller and Taylor Pyatt.  Feel free to contribute at any time boys.

The Rangers are currently headlined by some good news, but mostly bad news.  In the early going, Alain Vigneault apparently has improved the power play.  The Rangers rank 13th overall - uncharted territory under Tortorella.  After five games, they have scored on the power play in three games, and have been shut down twice, and are 4 for 20 overall.  The now injured Ryan Callahan had two goals, Brad Richards and Marc Staal each have one.  On the other side of the coin, the Blueshirts rank 21st on the penalty kill, something they did exceedingly well under Torts.

If it's not one thing, it's another with this team.  Brad Richards is so far playing with marked improvement, however, Marc Staal's game is suffering after starting out strongly in the first two games of the season.  Coach Vigneault took away Staal's tradition partner against the Caps, and will most likely pair Dan Girardi and Ryan McDonagh on the top line again tonight against the Devils.

Entering tonight's game, the Rangers are likely to only dress five skaters who've scored a goal this season.  At least Brad Richards has four of them.  Otherwise, they rank 28th in the league in scoring, with still no sign of Chris Kreider.  Derek Stepan has yet to score a goal, but still leads the team with five assists.  So, his game seems to be coming along after holding out and missing camp.  The Rangers are battling attrition as well as the competition, so the time has come upon Stepan to take a larger leadership role and help stabilize the team.

Defensively, they rank a putrid 29th, however, enter tonight's game on the heels of a shutout victory over Washington.  Their goals against average is still inflated due to a 9-2 drubbing suffered against the Sharks, followed by a 6-0 wipeout against the Ducks.  Outside of the those two games, the Rangers have scored ten goals, and allowed ten goals.

The Rangers aren't home yet, but playing in Jersey is the next best thing - maybe not.  We'll find out later tonight.


NEW JERSEY DEVILS: Situation Getting Hot For Coach DeBoer And His Faltering Demons.

Maybe the new Devils owners can do something to prevent the next Brian Gionta, Zach Parise, David Clarkson or Ilya Kovalchuk from leaving town, although Kovalchuk's exit was unique, if not odd,  because he left a large sum of money on the table.  But these are certainly the most recent and frustrating departures that have slowly brought down the Devils.  This was a team that just two seasons ago played for a Stanley Cup, and is now in full blown transition.  Today, the Devils remain the lone team in Hockey not to have won a game this season.

The "old guard" is still led by the team's all-time scoring leader Patrick Elias.  While Travis Zajac, Bryce Salvador, Andy Greene and Dainius Zubrus are the remaining elders of the clan.  The group of players complimenting them is where I start to question (sacrilege, I know)) Lou Lamoriello's  direction from this point forward.

They are currently led in points by thirty-six year old defenseman Marek Zidlicky.  That already smells like trouble.   Forty-one year old Jaromir Jagr is presently averaging 17:03 minutes in October, but what about February?  Although Michael Ryder has two goals, he's thirty-three years old - not that old by any stretch.  He scored sixteen goals in forty-six games last season, which seemed promising, but can he be a 30-goal scorer for the Devils like he was for the Habs and Dallas?

Goals will certainly come at a premium this season.  So far in seven games, the Devils have scored thirteen times for a 1.8 goal per game average, and are a woeful 2 for 22 on the power play for a rate of 9.1% efficiency.

But so far scoring isn't New Jersey's biggest problem - it's their defense that looks extremely un-devilish this season.  Adam Larsson and Peter Harold can't seem to do anything right.  Having allowed twenty-six goals to date, or 3.7 per game, the Devils are uncharacteristically ranked 26th this season in goals against.  The have allowed the second most in the Eastern Conference, and rank third worst behind Edmonton and Florida in the entire NHL.

While the Devils are still in search of their first victory, goalie Martin Brodeur is still stuck on #669.  Devils fans no doubt would like for both to achieve a victory against the Rangers tonight at The Rock.




Mike.BTB