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.Y. Rangers: Everything Is Deteriorating According To Plan

From the desk of:  RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS

TEX's RANGERS: UNDER RENOVATION

New York Rangers: Jeff Gorton Trades Rick Nash; Extracts Two More Draft Picks From Boston Bruins.

MONDAY AFTERNOON UPDATE:

Ryan McDonagh and J.T. Miller Traded to Tampa Bay Lightning

Three cheers for another loss ... this time against the Detroit Red Wings.  That makes seven in a row, and gives the Rangers a sorry-ass 2-10-1 record for February.

Hey!  Hey!  Hey!

It's just a shame it had to happen on the same night Jean Ratelle's sweater was hoisted to the rafters at Madison Square Garden.

They'll nevertheless finish out the month with one last game against the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday.  After which, less than twenty games will remain in the regular season.

As of close of business Sunday, the Rangers 60-points are seventh worst in the league.  Eleven points separate them from the 30th ranked Buffalo Sabres, while fourteen points separate them from the 31st ranked Phoenix Coyotes.

And, yet, there's still hope this can get worse.  Jeff Gorton, fans like myself, and the future of the next Cup contenders are counting on these guys to really suck down the stretch.  So, just keep them losses coming, fellas, and let's hope a little draft lottery luck comes our way.

In the meantime, Jeff Gorton's deconstruction seems to have gained momentum.  Hopefully there are a few more transactions coming before Monday's trade deadline.  And the more draft picks Gorton acquires, the better.

So far, he's reeled in a nice catch.

• February 20: Nick Holden remarkably traded to Boston in exchange for defender Rob O'Gara and Boston's third round pick of the 2018 draft.  I wouldn't have given the NYR three pucks and a roll of tape.  But that's just me ...

• February 23: Michael Grabner traded across the Hudson River to rival New Jersey Devils in exchange for defender Yegor Rykov and Newark's second round pick of the 2018 draft.

• February 25: Rich Nash traded to Boston in exchange for three players (Ryan Spooner, Matt Belesky, and prospect defender Ryan Lindgren), plus the Bruins first round pick of the 2018 draft, and their seventh round pick of the 2019 draft.

But Gorton also did a good job acquiring three young defensemen.

• D - Rob O'Gara is 24-years old, 6'4" 215 lbs.
• D - Yegor Rykov is 20-years old, 6'1" 205 lbs.
• D - Ryan Lindgren is 20-years old, a stocky 5'11" 203 lbs.

The Captain, Ryan McDonagh, continues missing games (as a precautionary measure in the event of another deadline trade).  Like I've said, I'm not buying into his upper-body injury jive.

I'd like to think Mats Zuccarello, J.T. Miller, Kevin Shattenkirk, and perhaps a few other Rangers could and will garner some interest.   But it's very unlikely Henrik Lundqvist goes anywhere, that is unless a team is willing to take on the full brunt of his contract.

Let's put it this way ... the only players I want the Rangers retaining are Pavel Buchnevich, Mika Zibanejad, and Brady Skjei.


UPDATE:

• February 26: Ryan McDonagh and J.T. Miller traded to Tampa Bay Lighting in exchange for forward Vladislav Namestnikov, prospects Libor Hajek and Brett Howden, the Bolts first round pick of the 2018 draft, and a conditional second round pick in the 2019 draft.

Vladislav Namestnikov was selected by Tampa in the first round (27th) of the 2011 draft.  A natural center, the 25-year old is listed at 5'11" 180 lbs.  He is in the midst of his best season with 20 goals and 24 assists through 62 games.

• D - Libor Hajek is 20-years old, 6'2" 196 lbs.
• C - Brett Howden is 19-years old, 6'2" 193 lbs. 

The Rangers now own three number one picks; a pair of number two picks, and two number three picks for the upcoming 2018 June entry draft.

N.J. Devils: Hail Patrik and Hello Grabner Night at the Rock

From the desk of:  THE BRICK CITY STYX

PATRIK ELIAS

1995 ~ 2016

New Jersey Devils All-Time Leading Scorer

1,240 Games ~ 408 Goals ~ 617 Assists ~ 1,025 Points

Two-Time Stanley Cup Champion

NEW JERSEY DEVILS: Patrik Elias Jersey Joins Those of Scott Stevens, Ken Daneyko, Martin Brodeur, and Scott Niedermayer in the Prudential Center Rafters.

Tonight, Newark celebrates the twenty-year career of New Jersey Devils left winger Patrik Elias.

His jersey featuring number 26 is being hoisted up to the rafters this evening alongside those of Devils greats Scott Stevens, Ken Daneyko, Martin Brodeur, and Scott Niedermayer.

Elias is the club's all-time scoring leader.  He and Daneyko are the only two of the five to have played their entire careers solely in a Devils uniform.

A durable and great two way forward, Elias scored at least 20 goals in a season ten times and topped 30 goals four times.  In 2000-2001, he netted a career high 40 goals, and registered an NHL best plus/forty-five.

With a centering pass from the right corner, Elias assisted on Jason Arnott's Stanley Cup clinching goal in double-overtime of Game Six against the Dallas Stars.

TONIGHT

New York Islanders

vs.

New Jersey Devils

FROM

THE ROCK

NEWARK

Michael Grabner sure does know his way around the metropolitan area.  Once they drop the puck this evening at Newark, and his skates touch ice, Grabner will officially become the eleventh person to ever play for all three local hockey clubs.

Led by Taylor Hall, the young New Jersey Devils have spent the regular season defying expectations.  With a 31-22-8 record and 70 points to date, Newark enters tonight's action in seventh place of the conference standings - five points ahead of the Columbus Blue Jackets and New York Islanders, both of whom are tied for eighth place with 65 points.  

Now with the acquisition of Michael Grabner, they seem to have all but silenced any lingering questions regarding their staying power.

Famous last words ...

Grabner, 30, is a good two-way player who was leading the Rangers with 25 goals and a plus-eleven through 59 games played.  Last season, he scored 27 goals in 76 games for the Rangers.  General manager Ray Shero sent the Rangers a second round draft pick and 20-year old defensive prospect Yegor Rykov in return.  Even if Grabner (a potential unrestricted free agent) only turns out being a springtime rental, it is a worthy price to pay.  

He will reportedly be lining up with Travis Zajac and Pavel Zacha.

It doesn't matter where they stick him.  This is a fine acquisition.

And who knows - being that Grabner is so familiar with the area, he just might give the Devils a required home town discount for sake of potentially fitting into their future plans.

This will be the Devils fifteenth straight game without starting goalie Cory Schneider - out since Jan. 23 with a groin injury.  The Devils have gone 7-7-0 in his absence.  Keith Kinkaid has made ten starts in his place; Eddie Lack has started three games; and Ken Appleby one start.

The streaky Devils enter this evening's game fresh off two straight home losses against the Columbus Blue Jackets and Minnesota Wild.

NEW YORK ISLANDERS: Josh Bailey's Six Year, $30 Million Dollar Contract Extension Better Mean John Tavares' Deal Is Next.

There's no way the Islanders would open a new arena at Belmont Park without him, right?

At least Bailey's deal is a sign of life.  People were beginning to wonder if Garth Snow was actually showing up for work.

Now how about getting on the phones and try shoring up this defense by the deadline, huh?  The team is fourth in the league in scoring for Lord Stanley's sake ... yet are near last in the league in goals against and the penalty kill.

Like the Devils, the more desperate Islanders are trying to snap a two game skid.

N.Y. Rangers: Smooth as Glass; Blueshirts Take Game One

From the desk of: RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS

2016-1017

STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS

Eastern Conference; Round One

GAME ONE

Rangers      2

Canadiens  0

FINAL

NEW YORK RANGERS: Rough and Tough Tanner Lends Blueshirts a Touch of Glass.

Calling all Forwards ... That's One Win for Henrik ... You Owe Him.

As expected, Montreal tried imposing their physicality upon the Rangers.  Artturi Lehkonen, Paul Byron, Steve Ott, and the rest of the Habs threw their bodies around quite liberally, out-hitting the Rangers for the game by a 53-45 margin.  In turn, those hits created a lot of takeaways.  Those takeaways in turn led to quality scoring chances.

That said, the Habs opened with a furious first period onslaught, peppering Henrik Lundqvist with 16 shots on goal.  It was a very disconcerting first 20-minutes to say the least.  But the Rangers responded with a strong second period, then put twice as many shots on goal in the third period than did Montreal.  By game's end, each team finished with 31 shots on goal apiece.

It was clear to me, the Habs were targeting Mats Zuccarello.  But to the Rangers credit, they leveled some big hits as well.  Brady Skjei and Dan Girardi come to mind.  And I also credit Alain Vigneault for starting Tanner Glass.  I thought it was a smart move, if only because he added toughness.

As it turns out, Glass scored the only meaningful goal of the game on a great backhand shot off the face-off.  Dare I say brilliant even ... because he didn't get cute and just put the damn puck on net!

Speaking of brilliant, Henrik Lundqvist made 31 saves en route to recording his tenth career playoff shutout.  And simply put, the Rangers do not escape the first period unscathed without his old school King-like performance.  Throughout the game, and particularly during that first period, our liege made several outstanding saves in heavy traffic against second chance opportunities.

Off Side:

Montreal played an undisciplined game.  After the Rangers withstood their best shot in the first session, the Habs clearly became frustrated.  However, numerous and obvious Canadien infractions went uncalled.  Lets see how the stripes potentially let this bleed into Game Two - or not.

But Montreal losing their cool didn't necessarily lead to Tanner Glass' goal.  In fact, Glass only played eight even strength minutes all night thanks to four Rangers power plays and another six minutes spent on the penalty kill.

The Rangers went 0 for 4 on the PP by the way.  But the fact Tanner Glass scored and some other forward didn't, makes me wonder...

• Five Rangers defensemen (Marc Staal, Brendan Smith, Ryan McDonagh, Nick Holden, Brady Skjei) together mustered 13 shots on goal.  

• Now take away each of Rick Nash's and Mika Zibanejad's 3 SOG, and Michael Granber's shot on an empty net, and the rest of the Rangers forwards (Kevin Hayse, Chris Kreider, Mats Zuccarello, JT Miller, Derek Stepan, Jimmy Vesey, Oscar Lindberg, Jesper Fast) only totaled nine shots on goal.

Just saying ...

The NHL's best road team this past season came through.  For the moment, home ice advantage shifts into Rangers hands.

Well done boys.

N.Y. Islanders: Halfway Through, Long Island Is Number One

From the desk of:  BROOKLYN'S FOSTER HOCKEY CLUB

27-13-1 (55 points)

1st place, Metropolitan Division

2nd place, Eastern Conference

New York Islanders: The Power of John Tavares Compels You.

Exactly half way through the regular season, the New York Islanders are in first place of the Metropolitan Division, one point ahead of the Penguins.  With 55 points, they trail only the Tampa Bay Lightning (58 points) for the conference lead.

They've scored the most goals in their division, and the third most in the conference behind Tampa and Toronto.

Friday night, the Islanders hooked up against the Newark Devils at The Rock.  Entering the game, the Isles went 2-2 during their recent trek into Canada, with both losses (particularly to Edmonton) coming on the back end.

Friday Final:

Islanders  3

Devils       2

OT

Islanders lead series 3-0

Three points by John Tavares helped Long Island snap that two game skid, as the Isles fought their way to a third straight victory over the Devils this season.

After a tightly contested 1st period, Travis Zajac gave Newark a 1-0 lead midway through the 2nd.

Shortly after Zajac's goal, Matt Martin felt his team needed a swift skate in the posterior, so he took it out on the Devils Mark Fraser.  Fraser had a tight, jersey grip inside jab going, while Martin relied on hooks and straight rights.  After the two connected on their share of haymakers, Martin dropped Fraser to the ice with one last shot to the head.

John Tavares then took care of the rest.  A minute into the 3rd period, he was credited with a secondary assist on Josh Bailey's game tying goal.

At the 7:23 mark, old/new Devil Scott Gomez put Newark back on top, but roughly 6-minutes later, John Tavares scored his 18th goal of the season to knot the game at two.

....and into overtime they went.

At 2:57 into the extra session, a forechecking John Tavares picked defenseman Adam Larsson's pocket along the boards behind the Devils net.  By 3:01, Tavares was circling back towards net, and at 3:03 put a move on Adam Henrique and Peter Harrold that had them standing still.  At 3:05, John Tavares put the puck passed Devils back-up goalie Keith Kinkaid for the win.

The Devils entered the game with a 3-4 record since firing Peter DeBoer on December 26th.  Prior to the firing, the Devils were stumbling along with a 12-17-7 record.

Roster Problems?

After two stints on injured reserve, Michael Grabner returned to the ice on Tuesday against the Canucks.  In two games back, he has 4 SOG.  For the moment, defenseman Lubomir Visnovsky is on IR, which made room for Grabner.

This situation will need some weeding out, but at who's expense?

TONIGHT

New York Islanders

vs.

Columbus Blue Jackets

from

Some rink in Ohio

(Penguins @ Habs)

Mike

N.Y. Islanders: Final Season In Uniondale Off To A Fine Start

From the desk of:  BROOKLYN's FOSTER HOCKEY CLUB

LOCAL STANDINGS:

N.Y. Islanders  10-5-0, 20 points

N.Y. Rangers     7-6-2,  16 points

N.J. Devils         7-7-2,  16 points

New York Islanders: Second Place Isles Trying To Make Swan Song Season In Uniondale A Memorable One.

All three local hockey clubs skated on home ice Tuesday night, and all three achieved victory.  But of the three, it is the New York Islanders presently playing the most meaningful hockey.

While the Devils were in Newark taming the Wild, and the Rangers were battering the Penguins at the Garden, the Islanders were in Uniondale dismantling the Colorado Avalanche by a 6-0 final.

Goalie Jaroslav Halak posted his second straight shutout.  In fact, the Islanders took as many shots against the Avalanche as Halak saved in two games against the Avalanche and Coyotes combined.  

In solidifying their 2nd place position in the Metropolitan Division, the Long Islanders became the fifth team in the conference to achieve double-digit victories and gain 20-points.

They haven't won with smoke and mirrors either.  In this still young season, the Isles own victories over the Rangers, Sharks, Bruins, Kings and Ducks.

They rank 5th in the league in goals per game, and 10th on the power play.  The team's Achilles heal however is their penalty kill, which ranks 29th in the NHL.

After a very tightly contested series against Pittsburgh in the 2012-13 playoffs, the Islanders stumbled last season, particularly early, to post an identical (34-37-11; 79 points) record as in 2011-12.  They finished a disappointing 8th in the Metropolitan Division, and failed to make the playoffs.

This season, however, the Isles are enjoying the kind of start they anticipated having last year.

The change in net has so far served them well.  Jaroslav Halak turned around a shaky start, and now owns a 2.57 GAA, while Chad Johnson is 4-1 in 6 starts with a 2.96 GAA.

After allowing 3.3 goals per game over their first 10 games, Garth Snow's defensive upgrades seem to be finally turning things around as well.  During their current 4 game win streak, the Islanders have allowed a mere 3 goals, and over their last three games the PK has been perfect.

The new blue liners are also adding handsomely to what was already a good scoring team.  Nick Leddy opened the scoring against the Avalanche with his fourth goal of the season, and was assisted by fellow acquisition, veteran Johnny Boychuk, who has 10 points.

Then there is the Isles 1st round pick of the 2010 draft; in his rookie season last year, center Brock Nelson registered 14 goals and 26 points in 72 games.  He already has 7 goals and 15 points in 15 games this season.

With Michael Grabner due back shortly, and a timely return by Josh Bailey, the New York Islanders season stands to get even better.

And so the push to give Uniondale, Long Island one last post-season hurrah proceeds forward.

Next up - the Florida Panthers, followed by a major clash with the Tampa Bay Lightning.



Mike

N.Y. Islanders ~ Long Island Clubs the Penguins..., TWICE!

From the desk of:   NYR  ~  A "RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS" - Special Report!

THURSDAY NIGHT FINAL

New York Islanders   5

Pittsburgh Penguins   3

NEW YORK ISLANDERS:  Hey Rangers!  Look What Long Island Did to Pittsburgh..., Again!


Tonight, the New York Islanders completed a two game drubbing of the Pittsburgh Penguins.  And no one is more happier than Blueshirt Nation.


In the series' first game played Tuesday evening in Pittsburgh, the Islanders repeatedly beat Marc Andre Fleury high on his glove side, on their way to a 5-3 victory.  Frans Nielsen netted two goals for the Islanders.  Kyle Okposo, Michael Grabner, and David Ullstrom, also scored for Long Island.


The Isles jumped out to an early 2-0 first period lead.  But Pittsburgh answered back within the first five minutes of the second period to tie the game at two.  Long Island then reeled off three goals to close the period.  The Penguins picked up one more goal in the third.


Early in the third period, Ivgeni Nabokov left the game with an injury.  Al Montoya filled in.  He and the Isles held on for a 5-3 win.


The series shifted to Long Island Thursday night, where the Isles picked up where they left off.  Only this time, the Islanders found success against Pittsburgh's goalie by simply keeping the puck on the ice and sliding it passed him.  In the two games, the Isles wound up giving Marc Andre Fleury the 'ol High-Low treatment.  In outplaying Pittsburgh over the course of six periods, the worst scoring team in the Eastern Conference clubbed the Penguins with ten goals.  The NHL's top scoring team responded with six against two different Islander goalies.


Former Rangers' farm hand, Al Montoya made Thursday's start for the Isles in place of injured Ivgeni Nabokov.  He faced twenty-nine shots.  And over the first eighteen and a half minutes of the game, he limited the Penguins to just two goals.  In all, he stopped twenty-six shots for his seventh win of the season.


In the first period, Marty Reasoner scored his first goal of the season to stake the Isles to an initial lead.  After Pittsburgh tied the game 1-1 midway through the second period, Kyle Okposo scored on a power play, and Josh Bailey scored a shorthanded goal to close the period.


Kyle Okposo's third period goal was his third in two games against Pittsburgh, and his second of the night.  Then Pittsburgh struck back.  After Jordan Staal scored to make it a 4-2 game, Al Montoya gave up a late goal to Ivgeni Malkin with a minute and a half left in regulation to bring the Penguins to within 4-3 of the Isles.  But with ten seconds left, Josh Bailey out hustled Pittsburgh who had six skaters on the ice, and scored his second goal of the game into an empty net.


The Islanders skated away with their second straight 5-3 victory over the Penguins.


Brilliant!  Great freakin' job!





Mike.BTB

N.Y. Rangers ~ NY Islanders; The Rivalry, Game Two

From the desk of:  RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS

NEW YORK RANGERS  vs.  New York Islanders

The Rivalry - Game II

Somehow, the Islanders have created a goalie controversy for themselves with rumors they will trade Ivgeni Nabokov.  The Isles have maintained three goalies because if you even look at Rick DiPietro the wrong way, he gets hurt.  Apparently however, GM Garth Snow said there is no goalie controversy.  But if I were Coach Capuano, I'd just make Al Montoya the starter anyway and call it a day.  But at least the quasi-controversy has people even talking about the Islanders. 




I mean, C'mon.  The Islanders have scored the least amount of goals in the league.  A goalie controversy?  John Tavares and Michael Grabner have combined to score thirteen goals.  The rest of the team has scored sixteen.  They are now buried in last place of the Atlantic Division so it would seem to me they have more problems than a goalie controversy.  They are 1-9 in their last ten games with a six game losing streak mixed in.  Their lone win during that time came against Washington.  They are coming off a three game road trip where they lost in Boston, lost a back-breaker in OT to Colorado, and dropped their most recent game Sunday night in Vancouver.  Coach Capuano is pissed off about it too and let it be known.




For the Rangers, this is the start of a four game road trip.  And they'll be looking to extend their six game winning streak in Long Island tonight.  They will then go to Montreal, Florida, and Washington before returning home.  They've taken care of business on home-ice so far with a 5-1-1 record.  As they start this road trip against the Isles, they've held their own away from MSG with a 4-2-2 record.




After fifteen games, Marian Gaborik has nine goals.  How do ya like him now?  It almost makes us wonder even harder as to just what happened to him last season?  Such as life....  In addition to his good start, it so happens Gaborik has some healthy numbers in his career versus the Islanders.  We'll need another good game from Marian tonight, because while he might like playing the Islanders, the Rangers as a team might not.  Long Island hasn't been too friendly to the Blueshirts these last two years.  The last time they met this season, the Islanders defeated the Rangers back on Oct. 15th, in Long Island.  And over our last four meetings, the Isles have woefully outscored the Blueshirts.




That brings us to Brandon Dubinsky, who finally broke the seal with his first goal of the season.  Now, he needs to sustain what he started.  Ranger fans have been patient and pleased with his maturation process these last few years.  But now, the signed young Vet has expectations on him.  The truth is, the Rangers, as has been our problem, need more scoring.  And I'm expecting Brandon Dubinsky to provide more than just an average share.  As young as this team is now, he needs to be one of the leaders here, and do that in part by scoring goals. 




While the Rangers have scored fourteen more goals that the Isles this season, so far there are eleven teams in the Eastern Conference with more goals scored than the Rangers.  Defensively however, the Rangers have given up the least amount of goals in the Conference even as Marc Staal remains sidelined.  Coach Torts has to be happy with at least that....no?

TONIGHT

The Rivalry; Game Two

NEW YORK RANGERS

vs.

New York Islanders

From the Nassau Mausoleum in Uniondale,

LONG ISLAND, N.Y.

Mike.BTB