N.Y. Rangers: Best Hot Wing is Right Here in the City

From the desk: RAISE GRESCHNER WITH THE GREATS

Upstate vs. Downstate

EMPIRE STATE PUCKS

Sabres  3

Rangers 5

FINAL

Artemi Panarin Governs Over Downstate Victory Over Western Neighbor

When you're in the midst of a season with no expectations, playing the Buffalo Sabres still comes with expectations.  It's called the food chain, and for the present time, the Rangers are two species up on the pecking order from Buffalo; 

... not to mention the Sabres are playing minus their injured center Jack Eichel.

When there are expectations, sometimes you're bound to be disappointed.  Yes, this implies the Rangers did something wrong.  A scoreless first period in any game is reasonable to expect.  But yielding the opening goal at 3:52 of the second period was somewhat deflating.  As per the cardinal sins of hockey, allowing a goal just over one minute into the third period was annoying.  Then ... then, allowing that game-tying goal just 3:13 minutes later was quite a disappointment.

What really has me incensed is Filip Chytil, Alexis Lafreniere, and Kaapoo Kakko, all playing under 15 minutes.  The trio of Julien Gauthier, Kevin Rooney, and Brendan Lemieux also wasn't up to snuff.

Keith Kincaid faced only 16 shots, made three saves on special teams, but only 13 saves at even strength.  He nonetheless earns his second straight victory and still sports a representative 2.22 GAA through seven appearances.

Meanwhile, Artemi Panaris continues proving beyond a shadow of a doubt just how indispensable he is to the Blueshirts.  He elevates the team and those playing alongside him.  The Bread Man fueled Monday's second-period counterattack, then helped punctuate an unnecessarily hard-fought victory in the game's closing moments.  Panarin assisted on Kaapo Kakko's game-tying goal in the first.  Shortly thereafter, he assisted on Chris Kreider's power-play goal putting the Rangers ahead by one.

At 18:18 of the second period, Adam Fox gave the Rangers a 3-1 lead on feeds from Pavel Buchnevich and the surging Mika Zibanejad.

Chris Kreider also said to hell with all the complaining about his streakiness.  After Buffalo tied the game at three, Kreider restored the Rangers lead on feeds from Ryan Strome and Adam Fox.  

With under a minute left in the game, Artemi Panarin again factors in assisting Kaapo Kakko's second goal of the game and a 5-3 final margin of victory.

Panarin and Adam Fox finish the game with three points each.  Kreider now has seven goals and eleven points through twelve games in March.  Pavel Buchnevich has scored in nine of eleven games played this month for 16 points.

N.Y. Rangers: Mika Zibanejad Has Entered The Building

From the desk: RAISE GRESCHNER WITH THE GREATS

Rangers lead Capitals; 3-1

I - NYR 4; WAS 2

II - NYR 4; WAS 1

III - WAS 2; NYR 1

IV - NYR 3; WAS 1

Ponder If You Will: Life Without David Quinn

Why is it that since his head coach was placed on quarantine Mika Zibanejad has eight points, and the forward lines without all the nonsensical mixing and matching have played more consistently?  

Or, could it be that Mika is finally over any lingering effects since he himself contracted the COVID virus earlier this year?  

Speculation aside, his goal late in the third-period was rather nifty, converting a defensive takeaway in the Capitals zone into an unassisted game clincher.  After scoring just six points through the first two months and 19 games this season, Mika now has 13 points through eleven games in March.

Pavel Buchnevich appears to be in a similar condition.  After scoring 13 points through the season's first 19 games and at one point getting bumped off the first line by David Quinn, pissed-off Pavel has now scored 15 points through ten games played in March.

Congratulations are also in order, as Bret Howden notched only his twentieth SOG and his first goal of the season ... into an empty net, that is.  He has five points this season, three of which have come in the last four games.

Meanwhile, with or without Quinn, the streaky Chris Kreider is again trending in the opposite direction.  After putting up eleven points during a seven-game stretch, Kreider has since only registered four points in his last eight games, during which time the Rangers have posted a 3-4-1 record. 

Keith Kincaid was back in the net.  He faced 29 shots, four on special teams, and stopped all but one at even strength.  The Rangers blocked 23 other shots.  Otherwise, Kincaid earns his second win since being called up. 

And don't look now, but the Rangers have defeated the Washington Capitals for the third time in four games, over which time they've outscored the Capitals by a 12-6 margin.

N.Y. Rangers: Monday Night Faux Pas

From the desk: RAISE GRESCHNER WITH THE GREATS

 

MONDAY

Flyers      5

Rangers   4

FINAL

Keith Kincaid Targets Panarin, But Throws a Pick-Six in Overtime Loss to Flyers

The Blueshirts played nine games minus the services of Artemi Panarin.  They achieved a pair of victories each against the Buffalo Sabres and New Jersey Devils, respectively, two beleaguered squads flapping and floundering about like a fish out of water.  The other five games include one loss against the Philidelphia Flyers, two losses against the Pittsburgh Penguins, and two against the Boston Bruins. 

Despite the disparity of talent levels between clubs, some might describe what the Rangers achieved as hanging tough until their breadwinner returned to the ice.  Insofar as wins and losses, they did just that.  But I'm just not buying it.  It's been said many times: to be the best, you gotta beat the best, and that's not what happened.  The sixth team in the division beat up on the seventh and eighth place teams in the standings, that's it. 

A stiff jab at 3:47 by James van Riemsdyk followed up with a straight right by Ivan Provorov at 5:05, and the Rangers were down 2-0 in the first period.  

Enter Artemi Panarin, who started slicing up a freshly baked loaf of points.  He finally put the Rangers on the board at 8:12 of the second, then over the next six minutes, assisted on goals from Colin Blackwell and Julien Gauthier for a 3-2 Rangers lead.  However, at 18:27, Gauthier got whistled for high-sticking.  Just nine seconds into the power play, Joel Farabee stuck it to the Rangers by tying the game at three.

• Since returning from his Russian sabbatical, the Breadman has baked four points in two games; three came Monday against the Flyers.

Kevin Rooney scored an uplifting goal at 2:56 into the third.  But Julien Gauthier got whistled at 4:53 for another very costly high-sticking infraction.  A mere ten seconds later, Claude Giroux once again made the Rangers pay for the errs of their ways.

Into over time, they go ...

Keith Kincaid - forced to fill in while Igor Shesterkin remains out with an injury - messed up.  His pass from the goal line to a waiting Panarin at the Rangers blueline was simply too soft, too free and easy, and completely lacking urgency.  As you can imagine, it was picked off by Jakub Voracek, who to took it to the house unassisted.  

It's the equivalent to a quarterback throwing a game-losing pick-six in football.

N.Y. Rangers: Blueshirts Blank Bruins at Boston

From the desk: RAISE GRESCHNER WITH THE GREATS

SATURDAY

Rangers  4

Bruins   0

FINAL

When In Boston, Do As The Bruins Do; Courtesy Brendan Lemieux.

Wanna know what I'm most proud of about Saturday's game?  Brendan Lemieux's two penalties.  He committed his first infraction at the 0:53 second mark of the second period, a boarding call against Trent Frederic.  The second occurred with under two minutes remaining in the game; misconduct when he reengaged with Trent Frederic.  Otherwise, five other Rangers penalties involved innocuous hooking and holding.  That makes Lemieux the only one handing Boston a taste of their own chowder.  Coach Quinn's problem child was technically issued twelve penalty minutes, but it was punishment well earned!

All hail Keith Kincaid.  Saturday marked his fourth appearance and his first victory of the season.  Keith stopped every one of Boston's 18 shots on goal for the shutout.  He made five saves on the PK, twelve saves at even strength, and was forced to make a shorthanded stop as well.

K'Andre Miller opened the scoring at 3:06 of the first period.  Midway through the third period, Brad Marchant got whistles for slashing K'Andre Miller.  Back in the second period, Marchant was called for slashing Alexis Lafreniere.  Here we have two instances where Marchant - whose tactics are familiar to all -  takes cheat shots at two of the Rangers youngest players.  Did anyone in a Blueshirt answer address these offenses?  Of course not, and thus I applause Brendan Lemieux.

Nice to see Chris Kreider scoring points against top competition.  That's why he's still here.  His goal at 5:42 of the second gave the Rangers a 2-0 lead.

THE BREAD MAN IS BACK!

Back from Russia with love, Artemi Panarin played in his first game since Feb. 20 against Washington.  He beat the Bruins to the puck in the right corner, spun, and unleashed a pass to Ryan Strome waiting in front (exactly where he should have been!), who in turn converted on a one-timer for a 3-0 Rangers lead.  Strome led the team with six shots on goal.  Pavel Buchnevich closed out the scoring on a feed from Chris Kreider at the 16:12 mark of the third.  Buchnevich leads the team with 22 points in 26 games.

Know who was not on the ice?  Jack Johnson, that's who.  That means the blueliners are back together again.

N.J. Devils: It's Keith Kinkaid or Bust

From the desks of:

NO SLEEP TILL BELMONT  and  THE BRICK CITY STYX

TONIGHT

New York Islanders

vs.

New Jersey Devils

FROM

THE ROCK

The Islanders quit on Doug Weight some time ago evidenced by their 12-21-6 record since New Year's day, and their 3-8-3 record in March.  This from a team that for most of the season ranked among the top five scoring teams in hockey.  Now officially eliminated from playoff contention, they have little left worth skating for outside of playing the role of spoiler.  But that makes them a dangerous opponent, and Newark knows it well.

With only five games left in their regular season, the Devils need every point they can get.  Ninth place Florida is hot on their tail, just three points behind but with six games left to play.  That puts New Jersey in a bind.

For the moment, John Hynes continues demonstrating confidence in goalie Keith Kinkaid, electing to stay with the hot hand rather than handing duties back over to Cory Schneider, and for good reason.  Schneider is 0-4 since returning to action on March 1.  Upon Schneider's return, Coach Hynes initially started Cory and Keith every other game.  But after three starts, Schneider went 0-3 with an .887 save percentage.  He made one other start on March 20 (a 6-2 loss against San Jose), but none since.

The two goalies are almost even in starts now.  Outside of actual wins and losses, there's not much that distinguishes one from the other:

• Cory Schneider - 39 games, 17-15-6 record, 2.88 GAA, .909 save percentage.
• Keith Kinkaid - 37 games, 22-10-3 record, 2.89 GAA, .910 save percentage.

Although Kinkaid was victimized by Sidney Crosby's abrupt game winning base hit in overtime this past Thursday against the Penguins, he is 7-3-1 in March with a .925 save percentage, not to mention the role he played in huge victories over Nashville, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Pittsburgh, and Tampa.

N.J. Devils: Raining Fire and Brimstone Upon the West

From the desk of:  THE BRICK CITY STYX

California Screaming..!

SUNDAY

New Jersey Devils

vs.

Anaheim Ducks

FROM

DisneyPlace

New Jersey Devils: Straight Outta Newark..!

There's a reason why the chase is always more fun than the catch itself.

So just live in the moment and give the Devils their due!

Newark is presently in possession of the second Wild Card.  With eleven games left, the Devils enter Sunday night's action five points ahead of the ninth place and surging Florida Panthers, and just one point behind both the Philadelphia Flyers and Columbus Blue Jackets, respectively.

The Sunrise Cats are twelfth (NHL) in scoring, and are 15-5-1 since February 1st.  They potentially have their own ace up their sleeves, as the Panthers have two games in hand over the competition.  The Devils therefore, must strive to at least open a six point lead over Florida by the time their own regular season expires on April 7.

Meanwhile, the Blue Jackets and Flyers woke up Sunday morning tied for sixth/seventh place in the Eastern Conference standings with 83-points each.  Entering the new calendar year, the Flyers were playing in the second division.  Since the New Year, they've leapfrogged over seven teams to gain their present standing (but have been knocked down a notch by the Pens).  However, their big push might be losing steam.  After posting a 17-5-2 record through January and February, Philadelphia is just 2-6-1 in March.  Columbus on the other hand is riding a seven game winning streak, and are 10-4-0 since Feb. 18th.

Here's Newark's problem: of the Devils remaining eleven games, none are against the Flyers, Blue Jackets, nor Panthers.  In lieu of playing them face to face, the Devils must instead battle the schedule makers, and more importantly, their own resiliency.

I have no doubt fans experienced a measure of dismay after home losses against the Golden Knights and Winnipeg Jets, knowing a six game road trip to the western edges of NHL hell loomed ahead.

Three games in, though, the Devil's have sacked Nashville and Las Vegas, then marched on Los Angeles and besieged the Kings.  They outscored the trio by a 13-5 margin through nine periods of regulation play, and in doing so gained six crucial points within the last seven days.

On Saturday, the Los Angeles Kings peppered Keith Kincaid with 38 shots on goal.  He repelled a furious opening attack by the Kings, whom out-shot the Devils 19-4 in the first period alone.  Newark also forced themselves into six penalty kill situations through the first two periods.  Keith Kincaid withstood all of it en route to his first shutout of the season.

Tonight New Jersey faces the Anaheim Ducks, whom awoke Sunday morning enmeshed in a four way tie with the Avalanche, Kings, and Stars, for sixth place in the Western Conference standings (thanks in part to yesterday's Newark win over the Kings).



*Devil's Playground graffiti, Bushwick

N.J. Devils: Let The Madness Begin

From the desk of:  THE BRICK CITY STYX

STAND or FALL

TUESDAY

Devils       3

Penguins  2

Look what Newark did to the Penguins ... again!

Sidney Crosby opened Tuesday night's scoring 8:17 into the first period with his 21st goal of the season.  Four minutes later, Kyle Palmieri answered right back.  Taylor Hall and Pittsburgh's Matt Hunwick traded goals in the second period.  Stefan Noesen then gave New Jersey a 3-2 lead at the 5:01 mark of the third.  That's the way things would stay - barely - thanks to some traffic management in the crease by Andy Greene, and a pair of huge saves by Keith Kincaid with under twenty seconds left in regulation.

It was Newark's second victory over the Penguins this season in as many games.


New Jersey Devils: Ray Shero Ringing Hell's Bells.

On Feb. 19 of last season, all hell broke loose in Newark.

The Devils had beaten the Islanders the previous night, improving their record to 25-23-10 with 24 games left in the season.  But the Islanders struck back with a victory the very next night at Barclays Center.

That Devils loss was the first of what turned into a ten game losing streak.  By the Ides of March they had fallen to 25-31-12, after which, they closed out the season with another 11 losses over their final 14 games.

One year later, the Devils are 33-22-8 (74 points), and presently occupy seventh place in the Eastern Conference standings.

General manager Ray Shero thought enough of this team to warrant the acquisitions of forwards Michael Grabner from the Rangers, and Patrick Maroon from Edmonton.  Grabner adds scoring and good two-way play, while Maroon (6'3" 225 lbs.) brings much needed grit and toughness.  Both will be unrestricted free agents come summer, but are nonetheless great rentals that will no doubt impact the Devils final push.

That being said, it's March.  Less than 20 games now remain in the regular season.  A spot in the Stanley Cup playoffs is theirs to lose. 

Let the madness begin!

To date, the Devils are 13-14-2 overall against the other 15 playoff contenders.  Twelve of the their final 19 games are against this group.  They otherwise have games remaining against Florida, Carolina, Montreal, the Islanders, and Rangers.

They are 9-9-2 against the other seven Eastern Conference contenders, with games remaining against Tampa, Toronto, Washington, and two against Pittsburgh.

They're 4-5-0 against Western Conference playoff contenders, with games remaining against Nashville, Winnipeg, San Jose, Los Angeles, Anaheim, and two against Las Vegas.

From March 10 through the 23rd, the Devils will attempt to cross their Rubicon - six straight road games against Nashville, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Anaheim, San Jose, and Pittsburgh.

N.J. Devils: Predators Take Bite Out Of Appleby

From the desk of:  THE BRICK CITY STYX

What a pain in the groin!

New Jersey Devils: Nashville Predators take a bite out of third-string rookie Keith Appleby.

With both Cory Schneider and back-up Keith Kincaid suddenly nursing groin injuries, the Devils have recently turned to 22-year old Binghamton call-up Ken Appleby.

Making his NHL debut in relief of Kincaid last Saturday at Philadelphia, the Flyers peppered Newark's rookie with 24 shots on goal over what amounted to his first ever 46:04 minutes of big league action.  But not a single shot found its way through as Appleby made all 24 saves.

Cory Schneider then started Tuesday against the Bruins at Boston.  But after two periods, Appleby was again summoned into relief.  He made another four saves in as many shots through 18:32 minutes in net - essentially making him a perfect 28/28 over the equivalent of a full game.

On Thursday, with family and friends in attendance, he made his first ever NHL start against the Nashville Predators at the Rock.  In the first period, Appleby again successfully turned away Nashville's first ten shots on goal.

However, traffic lay ahead.

Midway into the second period P.K. Subban's notoriously heavy shot from the top of the left circle, and through a busy crease, found its mark.  Then at 5:36 of the third, Mattias Ekholm likewise unloaded from the very same spot as Subban, and again through a congested crease area.  Effectively screened, Ken Appleby never saw either shot.

He had a clear and up-close view of Viktor Arvidsson's short-handed breakaway attempt, though - a pointblank slap shot this time taken from the top of the right circle.

But again, Appleby never had a chance.

And so goes his first NHL start.

The very streaky Devils have now lost four in a row.  Over that time, they have been outscored by a  3-12 margin, which includes getting shutout twice in their last three games.

That's not a goalie issue.


ART: Devil's Playground/Bushwick

Devils vs. Flyers: Backyard Brawl - II

From the desk of:  THE BRICK CITY STYX

TODAY

DEVILS

vs.

FLYERS

FROM

Arena of Brotherly Thugs

New Jersey Devils: Newark Out To Prove Speculation Of Their Demise Has Been Greatly Exaggerated.

As K-Squared goes, so go the Devils?

I have a saying: Once is an event; twice is a coincidence; three times is a trend.

Keith Kincaid will make his third straight start Saturday afternoon against the Flyers at Philadelphia.  

The Devils have been taking good care of their valued back-up while Cory Schneider recovers from illness.  On Jan. 16, Newark limited the surging Islanders to 26 shots on goal.  Kincaid rewarded his mates with 25 saves en route to a 4-1 victory.  That snapped a six game losing streak which at the time had some pondering whether the young Devils were trending towards their true level.

They said ... not so fast.

Two days later, Newark limited the first place Washington Capitals to just 19 shots on goal.  Despite allowing three goals, Kincaid prevailed long enough for Taylor Hall to net the winning goal in overtime.

No doubt a very significant victory as regular season games go.  Moreover, the Devils left Washington with two points.  I've mentioned several times how their eight OT loses to date are tied for second most in the league.

Back-to-back victories have now elevated the Devils into second place of the Metropolitan Division, and into fourth place of the conference standings.

The Flyers took the first meeting in this series.  Undisciplined as ever, they afforded the Devils seven power play opportunities.  The Devils, however, blew two different leads en route to a 5-3 loss at the Rock.

Now the Devils seek a measure of revenge at Philly.

N.J. Devils: Bring On The Capitals

From the desk of:  THE BRICK CITY STYX

METROPOLITAN DIVISION

1) Capitals  28-14-3 (59-points)

2) Devils      23-12-8 (55-points)

TONIGHT

CAPITALS

vs.

DEVILS

FROM

THE ROCK

New Jersey Devils: Not So Fast! Newark Turns Back Surging Islanders; Snap Six Game Skid.

Payback's a pitch..fork.

As things turned out, Cory Schneider seems to have picked the right night to call in sick.

When Anders Lee scored just 1:36 into the opening period, it looked as if the Islanders were merely picking up where they left off against the Rangers and Canadiens, and that the Devils were in for another long night.

But the league's second most potent offense failed to score again, mustering just 24 shots all game against Devils back-up Keith Kincaid.

Looking to avenge last week's shootout against the Islanders, Newark rolled into Flatbush where they punished the taxed and defensively challenged Islanders at Barclays Tuesday night.

After Kyle Palmieri tied the game at the 15:20 mark of the first, the period ended with Andy Greene and Brock Nelson dropping gloves.  The Devils then took over with three more unanswered goals in the second.  Fourth year defenseman Damon Severson set a new career high with his fifth and sixth goals of the season, and Taylor Hall closed out the scoring with his team leading 16th goal.

All told, the Devils peppered Jaroslav Halak with 42 shots.

The victory gives the Devils 54-points on the season.  For the moment, that's good enough for second place in the Metropolitan Division, and fourth in the conference.

New Jersey's biggest problem has been leaving points on the table.

The Devils finished at the bottom of last year's Eastern Conference standings with a 28-40-14 record (70-points).  Their 14 OT/SO losses were second most in all the NHL.  Their eight OT/SO losses so far this season are once again tied for most among current playoff contenders, and tied for second most in the league.

Tonight, they host the first place Washington Capitals with another two points up for grabs.