N.Y. Rangers: Blueshirts Suffer Category One Loss to Hurricanes

From the desk of: RAISE GRESCHNER WITH THE GREATS

OUT OF QUARANTINE AND INTO THE BUBBLE

ICED UP IN TORONTO

STANLEY CUP QUALIFIER

GAME ONE

Rangers        2

Hurricanes    3

FINAL

SLOW AND SLOPPY LOSES THE DAY

What Blueshirts fan doesn't want to see the Rangers excel against the Hurricanes, and beyond?  That being said, the Rangers in my opinion are still a rebuilding team, and I do not mind seeing the process through, part of which entails learning how to lose as a team.  The collective experience is invaluable. 

With that in mind, please know that I love Henrik Lundqvist; been in love with Henrik since I first laid eyes on him three games into his rookie season.  It's sad and regrettable that he has yet to win a Stanley Cup, nor might he ever.  But truth be told, for sake of moving forward I prefer Igor Shesterkin (or Alexandar Georgiev) in net for the playoffs.  I understand Igor was a late scratch, but stand by my aforementioned reasoning. 

Such is life, and so into the bubble with Henrik we go ...

These are not the Carolina Hurricanes the Rangers remember from the regular season.  Saturday's game makes that crystal clear.  If it takes a game for the Rangers to get their legs back under them, fine.  But they sure as hell better get their heads screwed on a little tighter as well.

Very soon after losing their first face-off since March 11, the Rangers commit one of the cardinal sins of hockey: letting the opposition score inside the first two minutes, or last two minutes of a period.  Sixty-one seconds into the first, Carolina does just that.  First, let's acknowledge Carolina's goal for what it is: a great pinch play by defensemen Jaccob Slavin.  With puck action taking place at Henrik's left, no one sees Slavin rushing in from the blue line on Henrik's right.  But even more troublesome to me is the Rangers inability to gain, much less sustain, possession.  In fact, Henrik stick handles the puck three times within the first sixty seconds alone!  That's an early indication things are off to an ugly start.  It also begs the question: what good is dishing out forty hits if you continually fail to come away with the puck (three takeaways all game), and tally eleven less shots on goal than the guys you're hitting?  Speaking of hits, former New York Ranger Brady Skjei at the 19:30 mark levels a clean open ice hit upon Jesper Fast, whom leaves the ice and does not return.  Add the fight between Ryan Strome versus Justin Williams, and there is your first period of hockey after roughly four and one-half months of quarantine.

Lethargy rules the day.  The Rangers manage just 26 shots on goal all game.  It's a feeble number considering they are on the power play seven times, getting off minimal shots, and coming away empty each time.

Cycling back to laying hits ... take another look at the Martin Necas goal at 10:51 of the third.  The guy is literally loitering in front of Henrik for a full five seconds before anyone (echem...Marc Staal) notices.  Of course, by then it's too late; Canes lead 3-1 with a half period to go.

N.Y. Rangers: Big Bucks and Dumb Luck

From the desk of:  RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS

New York Rangers: The Up and Down Week of Chris Kreider.

I wanted Chris Kreider traded.

they should, however painful. Need $$ flexibility, otherwise they'd just be replacing Henrik's prohibitive contract with another. I'd like to think they're still rebuilding.

— B'klynTrolleyBlogger (@BTB_MikeII) February 24, 2020

Chris is in his eighth season with the Rangers, the present campaign being arguably his best.  However through his first seven seasons I always considered him somewhat of an underachiever.  Jeff Gorton's purge and transformation of the team is proving quite fruitful.  Therefore as a rebuilding club I believed there was yet another appreciable return to be had, potentially another high draft pick.  Instead the parties agree to a seven year contract that pays the veteran left winger roughly $6.5 million per season.  Kreider turns 29-years old in April, which is to say when the deal expires he'll be 36-years old.

With all that being said.  I'm not an enemy of Chris Kreider.  When his head is screwed on right he's a fine player.  There's still every reason to believe the total package is still on the way.

Now that Kreider is signed does he get the C? #NYR

— B'klynTrolleyBlogger (@BTB_MikeII) February 25, 2020

My answer is, yes indeed.  As the careers of Henrik Lundqvist and Marc Staal wind down, Kreider is the blueshirts' torch bearer moving forward.  If this season is indicative of a mature Kreider entering his mental and physical prime, he'll fill the role well.

Friday against the Flyers he blocks a shot resulting in a fractured foot. 

That's just dumb luck.

N.Y. Rangers: Far From a Happy New Year

From the desk of:  RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS

Bring on the Bruins;

Not like things can get any worse.

New York Rangers: What a Sad State of Affairs ...

So how do the Rangers follow up Saturday's embarrassing display at Nashville?  With another lame loss against the Stars at Dallas.

That makes ten losses in their last fifteen games.  Said another way, they've lost twice as many games as they've won since New Year's Day.  And I'm not talking overtime losses, or the shoot-out variety - at least there are potential points to be earned for such losses.

The Rangers lost these ten games outright - no points.  Moreover,  they got outscored over those ten losses by an alarming 16-46 margin.  That translates into 1.6 goals for, and 4.6  goals against - a full three goal disparity.

I reject the notion injury is solely to blame.  Then how does one explain their poor play back in October?

Let's not be naive about this situation.  The Rangers have been suffering the same recycling deficiencies and inefficiencies long before injuries to Chris Krieider, Kevin Hayes, Jimmy Vesey, Marc Staal, Kevin Shattenkirk, or anyone else who has missed time this season.

I've been saying this ever since Alain Vigneault arrived off-Broadway, and at this point, there's only so many times I can repeat myself: the Rangers are too small, and are one of the league's weakest teams up the middle.  They play with an embarrassing and woeful lack of physicality.  Teams, therefore, know taking liberties against the Rangers comes free of repercussions (aside from NHL discipline, that is).

Look no further than the Nashville Predators game.  At the very least, Alain Vigneault should have been ejected for littering the ice with sticks, pucks, water bottles, gloves, clipboards, rolls of tape, and anything else he could have gotten his hands on.

Throw a shoe at the ref ... something!!

But in response to Nashville's dirty deeds levied upon Marc Staal and Jimmy Vesey, Vigneault did nothing.

That goes back to something else I've said many times - Alain Vigneault's system gets players hurt.

Nothing ...

On Monday, he watched Henrik face another 41-shots against the Stars at Dallas.  But, again, I refuse to put all that on playing shorthanded.  That's simply called not taking the body and protecting the ice between the dots.

I don't need someone making $8.5 million to ensure my goalie is being protected.  Just someone who makes the opposition think twice about their intentions, and isn't afraid to knock rambunctious forwards off the puck, or on their ass.

Just saying ...

The Rangers have 29 games left in the regular season.  They're in last place of the Metropolitan Division, and presently three points out of the playoff picture.

As a great football coach once said, "You are what your record says you are."  That means the Rangers (25-23-5) are presently a sub par team.

I'll take that a step further and say they're the ninth worst team in the NHL.

The trade deadline is fast approaching.  Jeff Gorton already asked Rick Nash to submit a list of teams for which he'd approve a trade.

That sounds promising, but moving him should only be scratching the surface.  Jeff Gorton better be hot on the phone with other GMs looking to reduce this pedestrian population we call the New York Rangers.

And can we finally fire Glen Sather?

Please?

N.Y. Rangers: No Fight, Just Flight

From the desk of:  RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS

New York Rangers: Float Like A Butterfly, Sting Like A Flea ...

Think about how hard the Rangers worked just to beat Buffalo.  They blew three different leads, and needed two third period goals in order to avoid an embarrassing loss against the worst team in the league.

It's no wonder they went on to get outscored 3-7 over the weekend by both the Avalanche and Kings.

Meanwhile, Henrik Lundqvist is in the midst of his finest stretch of the season.  Imagine where the Rangers could be if only they just exerted themselves a little more in support of their world class goalie.  But it's gotten to the point where the increasingly annoyed Lundqvist doesn't even try hiding his bemusement with them anymore.

At some point, all this pacifistic pirouetting being preached by Alain Vigneault is bound to get Henrik hurt - due to an opponent, or Henrik punching a wall in disgust.

Are the Rangers short-handed?  For the moment, yes.

But you can talk Kevin Shattenkirk to me all you want.  And it turns out he's been playing on a bad knee for most of the season.  At least that explains in part why he's been so inconsequential.  But my real issue is that his money should be going into Keith Yandle's pocket.

You know what I mean ...

Just like Anton Stralman should still be with the Rangers.

You know exactly what I mean ...

While I'm at it ... there's not an opposing forward in the NHL remotely concerned about where Brendan Smith and Nick Holden are during any given shift.  It's like they don't even exist.  They're human resource enigmas.  I'll even go so far to say Holden should be playing in the AHL.

Marc Staal, well, he's the last guy I want to criticize.  He dutifully earned our respect a long time ago.  But truth be told, he plays scared, and has for several seasons now.  Some believe he plays fearful of being concussed.  However, I began noticing a marked timidness after injuring his eye.

Suffice it to say, the Rangers are no longer that elite defensive team they used to be.  But putting your goalie in harms way is an entirely different matter.  If they are to contend, they must dig in and secure that huge expanse of ice to Henrik's immediate front, and extending between the dots.

This team has no punch.  I mean that literally.  I know I'm fighting mad about it.  Just doesn't seem as if the Rangers are.

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: The Slides of March

From the desk of:  RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS

NEW YORK RANGERS: Cowering Down to the Real Competition.

The Rangers closed out February with a 9-4 record.  But they won't be getting a pat on the back from me.

I refuse to be fooled - not after consecutive losses against the Blue Jackets and Capitals, and another against the Canadiens, all at Madison Soft Garden.

During their 5-2 loss against Columbus, it was the same old story.  In each of their five games against the Blue Jackets, one hit to the body and the Rangers were easily pushed off the puck.

Two nights later, the visiting Caps quite literally left their feet as part of a concerted physical attack upon the Rangers.  Alex Ovechkin clearly took a leap at Jesper Fast.  The refs didn't call the blatant infraction, and of course, Alain Vigneault turned a blind eye.  But the Blueshirts didn't just get pushed around by a bigger, tougher team.  They got down right beat up.  Just ask Adam Clendening, who found himself on the receiving end of a series of upper cuts during a very one-sided fight against Washington's Daniel Winnik.

And don't think I forgot about how Dallas' Cody Eakin barreled through Henrik Lundqvist on Dec. 15, then how Boston's David Backes basically did the same this past Thursday.  Both incidences were ignored by Vigneault.  On Saturday, Montreal's smallish Brendan Gallagher took his turn at Lundqvist, which at least was met with mild exception from Marc Staal.

I've said it a million times: Vigneault's policy of turning the other cheek gets people hurt.

Low and behold, Jesper Fast will miss upwards of two to three weeks with a separated shoulder.

That's all that really matters in my method of accounting.

With the playoffs fast approaching, why do you suppose the Montreal Canadiens focused on getting bigger and tougher at the trade deadline?  They traded several smaller players for beefcake blue liners Brandon Davidson and Jordie Benn (whom average 6'2" 204 lbs.), along with hulking forwards Dwight King (6'4" 232 lbs.) and Andreas Martinsen (6'3" 220 lbs.).

Jeff Gorton?

The Rangers general manager acquired defenseman Brendan Smith from Detroit (for two draft picks), whom doesn't even tip the scale at 200 lbs.

With Kevin Klein missing time, and Dan Girardi now nursing an ankle injury, the move to bring in Smith was necessary.  He even received a favorable scouting report from Ron Duguay, who said on the MSG pregame Smith will protect Henrik Lundqvist.

I hope so, because Vigneault won't.

Coach continues believing speed and finesse will overcome all.

Speed is nice, but it's not the end-all-be-all method of puck matriculation.  Speed can be slowed down, and even be brought to a grinding halt.  Which is to say speed can be neutralized.  Physicality and toughness, however, are near constants.  They come to the ice every night.  If nothing else, what Columbus, Washington, and Montreal, all did was simply weigh down the (Smurfs) Rangers.

If you watched Saturday's game against the Habs, you also figured out there was little Brendan Smith could do against Andreas Martinsen's forechecking.  And just for kicks ... did anyone catch how Steve Ott (another Montreal trade deadline acquisition) towered over J.T. Miller?

Comical ... (sigh).

Come the playoffs, I have little confidence the Rangers can advance by Columbus, or Washington, or Pittsburgh, or even Montreal.  Beyond speed and Henrik Lundqvist, I base that on their record.

Saturday's victory over the Rangers gives the Habs a 3-0 regular season series sweep.  That lowered the Blueshirts record to 5-9 against the aforementioned four teams.  They also lost their season series 2-3 against Columbus.  They are down 1-2 against Pittsburgh with two games remaining, and have one more game against Washington.

I've said this a million times as well: you can pirouette your way through mean competition during the regular season, but you can't do that in short series/playoffs.

N.Y. Rangers: Fast Forward

From the desk of:  RAISE GRESCHNER WITH THE GREATS

TEX'S RANGERS

90th Season

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE

1926  ~  MEMBER  ~  2016

NEW YORK RANGERS: Jeff Gorton Spent Off-Season Appeasing Alain Vigneault's Unyielding Need for Speed.

If in any way Monday's effort against a (usually bigger) Western Conference team served as an early indication, then spending yet another off-season trying to increase team speed may yield Lord Stanley's approval yet.

Fans filed out of Madison Square Garden elated their New York Rangers disposed of the visiting San Jose Sharks by a 7-4 final.  A particularly inspired effort from Chris Kreider, and yes, collective speed, that which coach Alain Vigneault values so much, served as the main impetus for victory.

You must know I'm being kind, because there will be no pom-pom waving from me.  I have little faith in Vigneault, his system, and his preferred style of play to begin with, then seethed over the pre-season scuttlebutt regarding a potential trade of Dylan McIlrath.

So what better way to way to join the fray than on the night Dylan made his first start of the 2016-17 regular season.  

As we know, McIlrath only started as a result of Dan Girardi's injury.  And be sure, this will not be Girardi's last injury of the season.  He's put in a lot of hard and much appreciated time manning the blue line, but it started catching up to him last season, if not earlier.

Then I look at Marc Staal.  Fan favorite, right?  Too bad he never comes out of the corners with the puck.  I'm not trying to be intentionally or overly critical, but let's be honest about his situation.  We all realize Staal is one big hit away from another lost season, or worse, a potential end to his career - and he plays that way.

Dylan McIlrath has played well defensively during his limited ice time, while providing a big, strong, physical presence around the net, and passing the puck back up ice as smartly as Alain Vigneault can expect.

Yet, spanning a few years now, Alain Vigneault continues finding little use for him when the blue line required his presence most.  Coach's bias towards McIlrath is clear.  But the man is a good defenseman, rendering Vigneault's varying justifications indefensible.

It's ponderous to me, though, as Alain Vigneault was a defenseman as a player.  He knows what it's like when forced into turning your back (and retrieving pucks along the boards) with onrushing forwards bearing down.

Don't forget this...

Coach Vigneault tells the media one thing, but then conducts his team in a different manner.

I said it before, and I'll say it again.  His system is great for the regular season.  The Rangers will indeed make the playoffs.  It is then, however, his philosophy, style, and system, all fall apart like wet toilet paper.

N.Y. Rangers: Penguins Push Blueshirts to Brink of Elimination

From the desk of:  RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS

COLOSSAL FLOP

Rangers Lose Pair at Garden

Penguins lead series 3-1

I - PITT 5; NYR 2

II - NYR 4; PITT 2

III - PITT 3; NYR 1

IV - PITT 5; NYR 0

V - Saturday @PITT

NEW YORK RANGERS: Blueshirts have allowed Penguins 19 power play opportunities, or 4.75 per game.  That screams of a lethargic team.

The longer this series goes, the more poorly Tex's Rangers play.

It's astonishing, really...

If anything, Game Four added insult to Henrik Lundqvist's initial injury (which hastened his removal from Game One).  This time, four unanswered Penguins goals were the cause.  But only Henrik's ego may have been bruised this time.  He faced 18 shots, but made just 14 saves before getting pulled at the 6:04 mark of the 2nd period.

Back-up Antii Raanta finished the game, and allowed one goal for an overall 5-0 whitewashing at the Garden.

GAME FOUR FINAL

Penguins   5

Rangers    0

In truth, ineptness has infected them all - so, please, let's keep Henrik Lundqvist as one of the least troubling items to rage against.  It's the overall play of the interchangeable fruitless five skating in front of him that has been most disturbing to watch, and even more difficult to explain.

How many times have we've seen the same distressed offensive zone set-up attempts result in losing the zone - a turnover - a break away the other way?

Exactly...

It's not Henrik's fault the Rangers led the NHL regular season in least time of offensive zone possession by a considerable margin.  They have chronic difficulty establishing the zone in the first place, then usually manage just one shot on net and done.  The playoffs have been no different.

There is little excuse this season when compared to last, when many blames Mats Zuccerallo's absence from the line-up a reason for Rangers misfortunes.  Kevin Hayse was not on the ice in Game Four?  Eric Staal was.

I offer that as a petty argument.  Point taken...

Nor is it Henrik's fault the Rangers lack a forward who is comfortable, and adept at playing behind the net - a supreme passer behind net is one of the more lethal assets on ice, and key to implementing an effective dump and chase when the neutral zone bogs down.

A game after Derek Stepan expressed displeasure with team strategy over their inability to break through the neutral zone, I saw little change in Game Four.  The same propensity to handle the puck, or the ill advised stretch pass still ruled the night.

Even then, they do not have wingers with booming shots striking fear from the dots, or the bodies willing to battle in the crease - or said another way, they lack forwards capable of wearing down (punishing..) opposing defensemen.  Some on this team can, but usually refrain because it does not fit within the framework of Vineault's system.  That said, I still can't comprehend why Rick Nash is so ... nashy?  Columbus fans warned us!  Now we know why?  Otherwise, getting pushed off the puck is old news.

To the Rangers credit, they have been out-hitting the Penguins.  But their overwhelming sluggishness is killing them.  That's a shame because Pittsburgh's Matt Murray is offering rebounds like cookies, but they're being scooped up by Penguins and carried the other way.

And as far as Rangers crashing the opposing goalie, well, once again, Alain Vigneault believes in a more civilized approach.

All of this leaves Henrik very little time for spectating at the other end.  Like I said in a previous post, this is like playing under Tom Renney again.  We're in a state of regression where everything falls on Henrik Lundqvist.  Moreover, this season Alain Vigneault taxed the King, now 34-years old, unlike any season since his 2010-2011 campaign.

Like I said, point fingers at the five skaters first.  It's evident the Rangers spend entirely too much time in their defensive end.  And when you do that, you're going to commit too many penalties, particularly when your forwards do a piss poor job of getting back on defense.

We also have to recognize Marc Staal and Dan Girardi have put in many long regular and post-seasons together.  They are now performing like beaten, battered, and bruised players - see Dan Girardi.   Time has clearly caught up, and even moved the opposition a step ahead of them.   Meanwhile, Ryan McDonagh is playing with a broken hand.

At the core of my frustration is a coach telling me Kevin Klein should play Game Four instead of starting Dylan McIlrath, or that Kevin Klein warrants 27 shifts?  And I'll ask again - Brady Skjei made seven regular season starts, and gets to start over McIlrath whom made 34 regular season starts and wins the tale of the tape?

Unfortunately, to date, the story remained an old one this season ... the Rangers collectively can not clear sufficient traffic from Henrik's space, and Coach has an aversion to playing Dylan McIlrath.

Why not start both Brady Skjei and Dylan McIlrath?  At this juncture, Alain Vigneault really has nothing else to lose but another game, a playoff series, and his job - but not before he's made to answer why his team got eliminated in the first round.

Seems to me, then, Alain Vigneault needs Dylan McIlrath if the Rangers are to pull off a miraculous three game sweep.  Don't get me wrong, the forwards need to put their big boy pants on, and score.

As noted, the Rangers now must sweep the next three games or make earlier than expected plans for summer vacation.

I just call it like I see it.  Trolley Riders know I've been down on this team all season.  So, I'll only offer this...

I have little doubt Henrik will be on top of his game for Game Five.  So, please, give the man some help in front.  Then, just get shots on goal from any angle, converge on net, and get Matt Murray out of his element.  Then make sure you clean up the garbage.

Yeah, that requires taking a stick in the back at times, and it hurts.  But do it anyway!

• Too Much To Ask For?  With Evgeni Malkin back in the line-up, can the Rangers keep their eyes on him, Patric Hornqvist, and Sidney Crosby?  After four games, so far the answer is no.

• Too Much Too Ask For?  Readers might misunderstand me when I say - if Mats Zuccs continues being the Rangers best forward, they are in big trouble.  That's to his credit, considering Chris Kreider, Rick Nash, Kevin Hayse, etc., are the ones whom should be making headlines.  Can Rick Nash lead the Rangers through a series ... just once?

• Too Much To Ask For?  How about a power play goal, huh?  The Rangers are now just 1 for 16 in four games.  The Penguins have 7 goals in 19 opportunities.  That's a problem Keith Yandle was brought in to address, remember?

N.Y. Rangers: Strong Start Masks Weak Flank

From the desk of:  RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS

Back in the City

NEW YORK RANGERS: You can lead this Tex's Ranger disciple to water, but you can't make me drink the kool-aid.

The Rangers will pay for their lack of physicality

when the Tax Man Cometh in Spring

ICYIM:

NYR: The Coach Who Cried Wolf

In the spate of three games, Tex's Rangers knocked off the defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks and the Columbus Blue Jackets both on the road, then completed a sweep of their home and home against the Blue Jackets in Saturday night's season opener at Madison Square Garden.

They accumulated six quick points along the way, while doubling up their opponents by a 12 to 6 goal margin.

That's quite a first week of hockey.

Game 1: Wednesday @ Chicago - Season Opener

After a lengthy Stanley Cup banner raising ceremony, the Rangers ruined an otherwise glorious night for Blackhawk fans.  In the days leading up to the season opener, the Miller/Stalberg/Lindberg forward line generated the most concern.  As such, Oscar Lindberg dampened the mood right away with an opening goal at the 1:48 mark of the 1st. 

The Blackhawks finally tied the game at the 14:24 mark.  But he Rangers responded with two more 1st period goals by Kevin Klein and Derek Stepan providing the difference in a 3-2 victory.

Game 2: Friday @ Columbus

MattZuccs opened the scoring, but despite a 1-1 tie through two periods, the Blue Jackets arguably outplayed the Blueshirts.  Columbus, however, was unable to convert on four power play opportunities.   

The Blue Jackets out-shot the Rangers by a 23-16 margin.  In the 3rd period, Brandon Saad's finally converted Columbus' fifth PP opportunity of the game giving the Blue Jackets a 2-1 lead.

Columbus then fell apart like wet toilet paper.  The Rangers registered three unanswered goals within span of just 1:14 allowing the Rangers to escape Ohio with their second victory of the season.

Game 3: Saturday @ MSG - Home Opener

An immediate fore-check resulted in three costly Blue Jackets defensive zone turnovers. The Rangers cashed in on all three, and led 3-0 after just 5:48 of play. Two Columbus goals late in the 3rd period gave Tex's Rangers opening night game its 5-2 final score.

When the Rangers have their choreography down, sometimes Vigneault's system is a true marvel to behold.  Look no further than Columbus, whom are regarded as an early Eastern Conference favorite, not to mention one of the Conference's toughest teams.  Yet, the Rangers took them completely out of their game, sparing themselves from Columbus' more punishing style of play.

The above reflects Alain Vigneault's emphasis on effort and proper positioning on defense, effective fore-checking, puck possession, then generally staying ahead of any disruptive physicality with quick decision making and passing, and of course, skating with speed.  He wants his defensemen passing the puck out of the zone quickly, and he wants his forwards in deep.

The Rangers will play well and accumulate many points this season.  I have no doubt they'll be an upper echelon Metropolitan Division force.  But, they will continue sustaining big hits along the way.  Just remember getting hit, exchanging hits, and initiating hits, all effect games differently.

Said another way, my eyes tell me very little regarding the Rangers overall condition has changed.

Vigneault wants to stay a step ahead, but opposing forwards are still following through and punishing his defensemen nonetheless.  The blue liners are blocking pucks, getting pounded from behind, and getting pushed off the puck by bigger forwards.  Teams know it's open season on Blue Shirts.  They know retaliation, for the most part, won't come.

And frankly, Tanner Glass is not the answer - at least not by himself.  Since I'm going there, when do you actually see Marc Staal use his body to separate forwards from the puck?  He poke-checks you death, but he won't hit you, much.  How many times can Girardi get blasted from behind?  How many cheap shots will the Rangers allow their goalie to endure?  I already witnessed my first questionable indiscretion against Henrik that went unaddressed.  The next incident is just a matter of time.

Yet, the Rangers get by defensively with superior positioning, stick work, and quick exits out of the zone.

Right now, everything is great.  But over the course of the season, this style will wear on them, again. Alain Vigneault wants to get things done based on talent, and talent alone.  But I will forever maintain you can't win without a complimentary measure of toughness.

If the Rangers were tougher, they wouldn't have gone as long as they did against the Washington Capitals, whom punished the Rangers, but succumbed to their better coach and collective skill.  By Round Three however, the Rangers were bruised, battered, and spent.  Their forward lines mustered nothing in Game Seven against the Bolts.

Simply put, the Rangers never had the forwards that get deep and punish defensemen off the puck.   Instead, the Rangers forwards are the ones getting pushed off.  When I watch Rick Nash get bumped around, I just shake my head.  He lacks killer instinct in that respect.  He's great when well fed, but left to stalk his own prey, not so much (not for his size and skill).

King Henrik's Taxes:

All this means Henrik Lundqvist will once again be asked to carry the heaviest load, and make 100 saves a game.  That said, Lunqvist (now 33-yrs old) has faced 106 shots on goal, and has stopped exactly 100 through the first three games of the season.

The problem is this:

• Game One - CHI 39 SOG; NYR 29 SOG
• Game Two - CBJ 33 SOG; NYR 25 SOG
• Game Three - CBJ 34 SOG; NYR 27 SOG
• Total - Opponents 106 SOG; NYR 81 SOG

The Rangers are operating at a deficit.

Never too early to do the right thing:

Performance wise, salary cap wise, locker room wise, and particularly fan wise, Dan Boyle has officially become the 800-pound gorilla on the roster.  He is a problem.

Meanwhile, there's a potential solution. Some of what the Rangers lack physically, and on defense, could potentially be addressed by giving Dylan McIlrath regular ice time.  It's not so much a case of Boyle's inadequacies, it's just that McIlrath addresses more important, physical matters that ultimately affect everyone, most importantly Henrik Lundqvist.

And let's face it - McIlrath can't do any worse.  Three games into the season may seem hasty, but this issue has lingered far longer than that.

The Rangers don't have to eat his salary, just make Boyle the odd man out.

N.Y. Rangers: Avoiding the Sniper in the Bushes

From the desk of:  RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS

3rd Place ~ Metropolitan Division

27-13-4 (58 points)

NEW YORK RANGERS: This Team is One Cheap Shot Away From Losing Their One Big Shot.

Did anyone catch the Flyers premeditated thuggery against the Penguins?

In their last game before the all-star break, the defending Eastern Conference champions defeated the Ottawa Senators 3-2 in overtime, and in doing so, secured 3rd place in the Metropolitan Division, and closed to within 5 points of the division leading Islanders.

After the Rangers fell behind Ottawa 2-1 after two periods, Chris Kreider tied things up at the 2:42 mark of the 3rd period.....  And into overtime they went.  Less than 3-minutes into the extra session, Carl Hagelin netted the game winner.

That was Kreider's 10th goal, and Hagelin's 9th goal of the season.  Appropriate that they should respectively tie, then win Tuesday's game, during a season in which so much more was expected of them.

More was certainly expected of Chris Kreider, now two seasons removed from John Tortorella's doghouse.  At 23-years of age, and listed at 6'3", 226 lbs., he was to bring the rare combination of size and strength, speed, and scoring ability to the ice.   However, in 41 games, he's only managed 84 shots on goal (when most of the league's top shooters are well beyond 100 SOG at this point).

He "only" has 10 goals and 14 assists, for 24 points - disappointing in and of itself, but, also because he spends an inordinate amount of time in the penalty box.  Foghorn Leghorn would say, "that boy, I say, that boy lacks discipline."  Tuesday night was no different,  He committed a senseless holding penalty in the 1st period.  On Sunday against the Pens, he was whistled for (careless) interference.   Kreider's penalty minutes double that of the next closest Ranger, Tanner Glass, whom understandably earns his minutes by administering the team's limited toughness.

Carl Hagelin's effort level is admirable as always.  His hustle hasn't translated very well to the back of a hockey card though - at least not in the way of elevating his game they way many thought.   While he's actually getting off more shots on goal per games than in his previous 3 years, Carl is lagging slightly behind his career averages.

With his speed came expectations that Hagelin would become a 20/25-goal scorer.  He had a career high 17 goals last season.  To date, Carl has 9 goals and 9 assists in 43 games.  At 26-years of age, his game doesn't seem where it needs to be.

How is the Ryan Callahan/Martin St. Louis trade looking?

• Callahan: 15 G; 20 A; 35 points; (29-years old; priced himself off Rangers budget).
• St. Louis: 14 G; 22 A; 36 points; (39-years old; an expiring contract).

Martin St. Louis is playing some of his best hockey now that he's back on the wing.  He is the team's 2nd leading scorer, but (salary cap wise) the Rangers will be hard pressed to bring him back.

The Rangers have a decision to make regarding Mats Zuccarello's free agency.  Plus, Derek Stepan, will also be a restricted free agent.

As the season progresses, it might become easier to decipher where the money to pay Stepan will come from.  But, sign him they must.  In 31 games played, Stepan has 32 points.  Despite missing 13 games, he is the team leader with 24 assists.

The club's budget also got a little tighter because they recently extended Marc Staal for another 6-years.   That's money well spent though, as the Rangers top four blue-liners are now all signed for several years to come.  And, they've earned it.  The Rangers presently rank 3rd in the NHL in goals against.

What money is left for Martin St. Louis and Zuccarello in the off-season, is growing increasingly questionable.

I would not turn away a younger (future Hall of Famer) Martin St. Louis, but I would pass on a 40-year old free agent to be.  I strongly feel the Rangers need to replace him, and Mats Zuccarello, with bigger, more physical players.

The New York Rangers are 6th in the NHL goals per game; 11th on the power play; and 12th on the penalty kill.

They are winning 61% of their games, owning a 27-13-4 record, good for 58 points.  The Rangers are 6th in the Eastern Conference; Washington is 7th with 57 points; and Boston is 8th with 56 points. Florida leads the best of the rest with 50 points.

On December 8th, the Rangers embarked on an 8-game winning streak, and overall, won 13 of 14 games through January 10th.  They marvelously punctuated their run on the west coast with impressive victories over the Ducks, Kings, and Sharks.

Their net minding and defense, speed, special teams, and particularly their passing, were impeccable.

However....,

Upon their return to Eastern Conference competition, the Islanders slowed down the Blueshirts, and   thumped them rather handily at MSG.  The Bruins did the same in Boston.  Both teams provided a rude welcome back to east coast hockey.  That's because both opponents bring size and physicality on all four lines.  The Rangers do not.

Physicality does not mean fighting.  It means; clearing the defensive crease of traffic and establishing position in the opposing crease; it means retrieving pucks in the corners; it means winning the battles along the boards; a strong cycle and puck possession; it means finishing checks and turnovers, and not getting pushed off the puck so easily...., etc.

Rick Nash, however, has demonstrated a change in his on-ice demeanor; he's utilizing his size and strength more than in previous seasons.  He is headed to the all-star game, while in the midst of an MVP caliber season.  At the break, he is tied for the league lead with 28 goals.

That said, team physicality also means having Rick Nash's back.  He's a big boy and can take care of himself.  But, no one ever sees the sniper in the bushes.  The more physical Eastern Conference teams routinely target him.  If anything should happen to Nash, if he should miss considerable time, the Rangers are doomed.

I recently called the Rangers a one-trick pony this season.  Here's why:

Rick Nash - 162 SOG
Carl Hagelin - 96 SOG
Chris Kreider - 91 SOG
Martin St. Louis - 90 SOG

The Islanders Johnny Boychuk (a defensemen for Pete's sake) has more shots on goal than all but two Rangers, yet doesn't even crack the Islanders top six!

Islanders:
Kyle Okposo - 154 SOG
John Tavares - 146 SOG
Brock Nelson- 115 SOG
Ryan Strome - 106 SOG

Lighting:
Steven Stamkos - 158 SOG
Tyler Johnson - 125 SOG
Nikita Kucherov - 111 SOG
Ryan Callahan - 105 SOG

Penguins:
Evgeni Malkin - 142 SOG
Sidney Crosby - 130 SOG
Patric Hornqvist - 120 SOG
Kris Letang - 119 SOG

When the Rangers resume play next Tuesday, they'll face the Islanders in Uniondale, where they'll have an opportunity to close to within 3-points of the division leaders.

They'll perhaps be looking to gain a small measure of redemption as well.  The last time they met, the Islanders held a tutorial on how to slow down the Rangers.  In each of two previous meetings this season, the Islanders defeated the Rangers by 3-point margins, as their distinct size advantage weighed heavily in both outcomes.

For as well as they've been playing, the Rangers are nonetheless running in a pack.  They say only the strong survive.  That said, can they distinguish themselves and separate from the pack in the second half?

We'll see.  After all, we wouldn't want our team to fall from defending Eastern Conference champs to an 8th seed.  Right?

They're 8-2 in their last 10 games, which presently makes them one of the hottest teams in hockey (along with Detroit, and Anaheim from the west).

In 2nd place of the Metropolitan Division are the Pittsburgh  Penguins, who seemly continue to win, yet appear to have lost a great deal of their toughness during the off season (with Sidney Crosby paying the price).  The Rangers handled the Pens this season, taking the series 3-1, but so have the Isles, and so have the Devils for that matter.

Then there's what happened in the Penguins/Flyers game.  So far, Philadelphia is playing some rather inconsequential hockey this season, which makes them all the more worrisome.  They admitted their thugoonery was premeditated.  On another level, they were typically shameless.

The Rangers have one more game with them on February 28th.  Circle that date on your calenders, because after that, the Rangers most grueling month of their schedule comes in March, when they will have to play 15 games (9 road games) in 31 days against Detroit, NYI, Boston, and two against Washington, and from the west, Los Angeles, Anaheim, two against Chicago, with the month kicking-off against Nashville.

By the end of February, the Flyers should be floundering like fish out of water.  But since when has that ever stopped the Flyers (of any decade) from stupidity on ice?  That means, as previously speculated, Rick Nash is a potential target.  I have no doubt the Flyers will somehow use the Thanksgiving home-and-home sweep at the hands of the Rangers as some sort of motivation to fuel their misguided and recklessness behavior.

Think not?  If the Flyers, somehow, get close enough to sniffing an 8th seed by then, think again. They are presently 12 points out.  If they get to within 6 points, watch your back.



Mike

N.Y. Rangers: O.T. Win Failed To Cure The Blues

From the desk of:  RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS

207 - 0 - 4

(weight - big hits - points)

NEW YORK RANGERS: I'm unhappy, therefore I am.

We're just about a third of the way through the season, and I can't smell what management is cookin'.

The Flyers didn't seem to pose a problem.  And apparently, the Rangers seem to have the Penguins number.  But if this team wants to go far, they'll need to get through Tampa, and Boston, and even the Islanders.

The Rangers can hang around with the competition, but to a certain extent.

So far, Martin St. Louis has arguably been the Rangers best all around forward; Rick Nash is up to 18 goals for the season; and they're even getting inspired play out of Kevin Klein.

Otherwise, I'm seeing a preponderance of yawn inspiring play.

Overall, the blue liners have played piss poor transitional hockey, and generally speaking, it seems as if there have been more defensive breakdowns this season than in recent seasons combined.

Kevin Klein's game winning goal is an obvious aberration, as the Rangers have benefited very little from their defensive scoring.  Klein has twice as many goals as the rest of his blue line mates combined; Dan Boyle (2 goals) and Dan Girardi are the only two other defenders to find net this season.

Even since before his injury, Ryan McDonagh has not played up to his own standards, while Marc Staal has played all 26 games this season and averages 22 minutes a game, but has only registered 4 assists.

I'm not necessarily targeting Marc Staal, but maybe if he threw his body around more often (or at all) the Rangers need not go into overtime against the Penguins.

I'll take that a step further: maybe if Montreal does not eliminate Boston from last season's playoffs, we have an entirely different perspective of this team.

I digress.

As a team, they're only playing 40-minutes of hockey on any given night, which is a problem considering they are not nearly as relentless in their offensive zone as, say, Tampa, Boston, or even the Islanders (...much less the Los Angeles Kings,etc.).  When you get right down to it, those are the only teams that potentially matter.

While I'm at it - Chris Kreider, Carl Hagelin..., Hello?

In truth, I still don't know what kind of club Alain Vigneault is trying to run.

I do know the Rangers are bland and clearly lack salt.

But that's on Glen Sather.



Mike

N.Y. Rangers: Blueshirts Burried In Garden Of Errors

From the desk of:  RAISE GRESCH WITH THE RANGERS

Penguins Lead Series 3-1

I - NYR 3; PITT 2*

II - PITT 4; NYR 1

III - PITT 3; NYR 0

IV - PITT 2; NYR 0

V - PITT 4; NYR 2

VI - FRIDAY @ PITT

*overtime

NEW YORK RANGERS: I'll Reserve Judgement Until ....

How on earth do teams play so miserably in such high stakes games?  No matter what team you root for, we've all been there.   The short answer, is, that's sports.  But, ask Rangers fans, and the conversation takes a radical turn.

Brutal play..., like Ryan McDonagh said, in every aspect of their game....  Game Four was by far their worst performance of the playoffs.

Brutal play in the defensive zone, brutal play in the offensive zone, and particularly brutal play in the neutral zone. - just brutal.

The Rangers only managed 15 shots on goal, they only won 18 face offs (vs. 31 by PITT), and turned the puck over 25 times.

Brutal.

And yes, Rick Nash got what he earned, which is different from "what he deserves".  I'm no one's ruler, and do not get to decide who deserves what.  Nash, however, earned the fan's ire Wednesday night.  A terrible turnover which directly led to a Pittsburgh goal, finally put everyone over the top.  Nash had four more shots in Game Four, which brings his total to 45 shots without a goal.

Truth is, that Nash went this long without catching hell shows how patient the fans have been with him.   Better players have gotten boo'd in this town for less.

The question still warrants asking - Where are the team's top players?  Nash, Martin St. Louis, Brad Richards.... are not getting it done.  Derek Stepan, who held out for his money, is not getting it done.  It was Mats Zuccarello, and Carl Hagelin again, each scoring their 3rd goal of the playoffs, respectively.

Speaking of Hagelin, as much as McDonagh's pass, it was Hagelin's speed which led to his 2nd period goal - something the Rangers have been ineffective utilizing with the absence of Chris Krieder.  His return is unfortunately too little too late.  On the other side, Speed is something the Rangers are getting torched by.   Just ask Marc Staal.

And, then there's the power play, that Alain Vigneault was brought in to improve. It is now 0 for its last 36 opportunities, and 3 for 48 (.06%) for the playoffs.

I can't wait to say what I really feel.



Mike.BTB

N.Y. Rangers: It's Time To Crash The Net

From the desk of:  RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS

Penguins Lead Series 2-1

I - NYR 3; PITT 2

II - PITT 2; NYR 0

III - PITT 2; NYR 0

TONIGHT

Pittsburgh Penguins

vs.

New York Rangers

FROM

NEW YORK RANGERS: Rangers Turning Marc Andre Fleury Into Ken Dryden.

The Rangers took 35 SOG in Game Three against just 15 for Pittsburgh, yet were held scoreless for the second consecutive night.   If you had offered me 35 shots prior to the game, I would have taken them.  I was sure 30+ shots against Marc Andre Fleury was good for at least a pair.

So, now what?  Take better shots?  Take smarter shots?  Take even more shots?  Lie? Steal?  Cheat?

All the above?

The power play is additionally now 0 for its last 34 attempts, and 4 for 42 in the playoffs.  I have no idea what to say of that.  And, of Rick Nash failing to score after taking 47 SOG in 10 playoff games, well, I'm speechless.

Brad Richards remains the team's leading scorer with 3 goals and 4 assists.

On Pittsburgh's first goal, Marc Staal couldn't handle Sidney Crosby's burst of speed up the left side.  On Pittsburgh's second goal, Jussi Jokinen had the Rangers beat right out of the penalty box.

This all sounds so familiar.

All it takes is one misstep - one misstep and a Penguin will get by.  Just ask Anton Stralman and Marc Staal. I feared Pittsburgh's forwards would be too fast for some of our blue liners, Stralman and Klein in particular. Watching Staal get toasted however, was discouraging.  I argued with Hockey Buddy, and he believes Staal had no chance to defend Crosby.  I say the pass to Crosby came from the top of the rear circle and hit the princess when he and Staal were near even just beyond the red line.

Whatever.

It's time to CRASH the net.




Mike.BTB

N.Y. Rangers: Round One - Bring On The Flyers!

From the desk of:  RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS

2013-2014

National Hockey League

STANLEY  CUP  PLAYOFFS

Eastern Conference Quarter Final:

GAME ONE

Philadelphia Flyers

vs.

NEW YORK RANGERS

FROM

Madison Square Garden

33rd Street at 8th Avenue

I - PHI @ NYR

II - PHI @ NYR

III - NYR @ PHI

IV - NYR @ PHI

V * PHI @ NYR

VI * NYR @ PHI*

VII * PHI @ NYR*

NEW YORK RANGERS: The Broad Street Bullies Bringing Their Neanderthal Hockey League Style Back To The Garden.

Previously - King Henrik: Kingdom For a Cup

If it was scoring Tex's Rangers lacked in previous post-season runs, I have news for you.  We got duped again.  As I stated in my previous post, the 2011-12 Rangers scored 226 regular season goals, which ranked 13th in the league.  This year's Rangers may have improved the power play under Alain Vigneault, but they only scored 218 regular season goals, which dropped them to 18th in the league.  In a backhanded way, that speaks of their diminished even strength capabilities, doesn't it?

But, these are Glen Sather's retooled Rangers now - not to be confused with the rebuilt Rangers of two seasons ago.  This will be Martin St. Louis' 1st, Rick Nash's 2nd, and Brad Richards' 3rd time through the playoffs as members of the New York Rangers.  

Mats Zucarrello and Derek Stepan led the team with 59 and 57 points respectively.  But, let's put the onus where it belongs, shall we?  Together for the first time, it is incumbent upon Richards, Nash, and St. Louis, to generate much of the Rangers scoring from here on out.  They must be difference makers every night.  They certainly weren't brought here to be high priced accessories to Mats Zucarrello and Derek Stepan.  Were they?

Brad Richards is turning 34-years old in May.  He gave the Rangers 20 goals this season, which isn't far off his average.  However, outside of last year's shortened season, he posted a career low 31 assists.  Although he joined Stepan and Zucs as the only three Rangers to exceed 50 points, his 51 points were also his lowest over a full 82 game season.

Rick Nash, 29, remains an anomaly.  He missed 17 games this season, and still managed to lead the team with 26 goals, but only tallied 13 assists, and 39 total points.  In only 44 games last season, he still managed 21 assists.  Nash and Richards were the two lone Rangers to reach or exceed 20 goals this season.

Martin St. Louis will turn 39-years old in June.  Yet, he deserves the benefit of the doubt.  He's had a marvelous career, and was having a very good season, right up until Glen Sather got his hands on him.  The Rangers seem to have that effect on players; Chris Drury; Scott Gomez; et al.

Yet the fact remains, all but one of the Rangers 218 regular season goals were scored by someone other than Martin St. Louis.  In 19 games since arriving off-Broadway, he scored one goal.  At the very least, St. Louis must make up for the loss of Chris Kreider.  Without Kreider, the Rangers lost a measure of size, speed, and scoring, which Martin needs to compensate for in the upcoming tournament.

*

The Rangers bring the NHL's 15th rated (18.2%) power play, versus Philadelphia's 7th ranked (84.8%) penalty kill.  The other way, The Flyers boast the 7th ranked (19.8%) power play, versus the Rangers 3rd (85.3%) ranked penalty kill.

The Flyers boast the league's 8th ranked offense, but scored just one more goal than they allowed this season.  The Rangers had a +25 differential, and ranked 18th with 2.6 goals per game.

Philadelphia ranked 20th in goals allowed, while the Rangers placed 4th in the league.  In the Eastern Conference, only the Boston Bruins allowed less goals than New York.

*

The BlueLiners will have their hands full.  The Flyers feature 7 players with 20 goals or more. Wayne Simmonds led the team with 29 goals, while Claude Giroux led the team with 58 assists and 86 points.  As a team, they scored 236 times.  Only 3 Eastern Conference teams scored more.

But, as we know, the Broad Street Bullies are brutish about their business, so I'm sure a return to the good 'ol days of the Neanderthal Hockey League looms ahead.  The Flyers are going to instigate, agitate and aggravate, all series long.  I expect them to be raucous, and obnoxious.

Glen Sather stripped the team of its toughness, or so says me.  We will now see to what degree. The Flyers already possess an ability to push most Blueshirts off the puck as it is.  But I would also advise Ryan McDonagh, Marc Staal, Mats Zucarrello, Rick Nash, and others, to have eyes installed in the backs of their heads.  Laser beams wouldn't hurt either.  The Flyers dress up at least four expendable troglodytes who serve no other purpose but to accumulate penalty minutes and frequent the box in an unfair exchange of on-ice talent. 

And I fully expect Philly to come crashing down on net, namely Henrik Lundqvist.  Allowing Philadelphia to create its signature brand of chaos in the crease could wind up being the Rangers ultimate downfall.  Very simply, the Rangers must meet the Flyers physicality.

It is in these type of matters where I feel Alain Vigneault needs to exert himself more.  At some point in this series, he will need to send his own message to the Flyers.  After all, he's the only one who decides who goes on the ice, when, and why.




Mike.BTB

N.Y. Rangers: Gentlemen, Start Your Beards!

From the desk of:  RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS

Dress Up The Big Guy.  Beard Growing Season Has Arrived!

2013-2014

NEW YORK RANGERS

Final Regular Season Record:

45-31-6; 96 Points

2nd Place

Metropolitan Division

NEW YORK RANGERS: Sacre Bleu!-Shirts Tripping Into Playoffs After Raphael Diaz Overtime Gaffe In Montreal.

I saw what happened.  It was an interesting conclusion to the regular season.

Playing a game in which they technically had nothing to gain, the Rangers played very well in Montreal.  The Blueshirts lost in overtime, and were shut out to boot....  So what was so good about that?  Very simply, the Canadiens tried getting physically obnoxious, and the Rangers responded, contesting every indiscretion the Habs perpetrated against them.

That's the kind of attitude and grit the Blueshirts will need to carry into the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs against the Philadelphia Flyers.  From here on out, everything from face-offs to fisticuffs will get exponentially rougher and tougher for Tex's Rangers.

Heading into Thursday night's opening game, the status of Ryan McDonagh is concern number one.  He will have an additional four full days to rest his shoulder, and return to action as close to 100% as possible.  On that note, the rest of the Rangers must do a better job of protecting their most important players.  In recent years, Philadelphia has targeted Marc Staal, Rick Nash, and Brad Richards in particular.  Knowing this, the Rangers should expect more of the same, and ensure an effective response.

In fact, Coach Alain Vigneault's true test lies ahead.  Although it is not generally his style, he is nonetheless responsible for getting the right guys on the ice, at the right time, that will convey the only message Philly often understands.  The finality of the playoffs demands conviction on Coach's part.

Hairy, and ornery persons need only apply.




Mike.BTB