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: 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.