N.Y. Islanders: Zapped Again

From the desk of: NO SLEEP TILL BELMONT

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE

2019   EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS   2020

Lightning lead Isles; 2-0

I - TBL 8; NYI 2

II - TBL 2; NYI 1

When Lightning Strikes the Same Place Twice

This is the type of game the Islanders wanted to play, proving game one was an aberration.  They had everything going their way.  Tampa enters the game with eleven forwards and seven blue liners.  Midway through the second period the Bolts were playing with only nine forwards - no Steven Stamkos; no Brayden Point; no Alex Killorn.  Long Island yields just 21 shots on goal.  They keep Tampa scoreless in three power play opportunities.  The Isles win more face-offs and inflict more overall hits.  And they play with an early lead.  Matt Martin scores at the 1:24 mark of the opening period.  After which, the Isles spend upwards of twelve minutes in Tampa's end to start the game. 

At 5:55 of the first, Alex Killorn is called for a five minute major and a game misconduct for his vicious boarding of Brock Nelson.  The Isles get off five shots on goal but come up empty.

By the eight minute mark Tampa appears to be recovering from Long Island's opening surge.  But the Isles veto that and continue applying pressure.  Midway through Long Island owns an 11-3 advantage in shots on goal.  At 13:54 Ryan Pulock is whistled for tripping.  The Isles kill the penalty without allowing a single shot on goal.  It's part of a ten minute stretch in which the Islanders prevent the Bolts from taking a single shot.  Once out of the box, Pulock continues covering Brayden Point like a blanket, clearing the way for Mathew Barzal being the best centerman on the ice.

COMMITTING CARDINAL SIN of HOCKEY NUMBER ONE:

In the closing moments of the first period the Isles are called for a ponderous icing infraction.  The stripes clearly get this one wrong.  Back in their end the Isles lose the ensuing face-off.  Victor Hedman, there's that name again, scores with 1:34 showing on the clock.

COMMITTING CARDINAL SIN of HOCKEY NUMBER TWO:

The score remains unchanged for the next forty-four minutes and fourteen seconds.  Tampa does not achieve their tenth SOG of the game until the fourteen minute mark in the second.  But then, Long Island commits a defensive zone turnover.  At 19:51 of the third an uncontested Nikita Kucherov beats Semyon Varlamov; the Lightning lead 2-1; overtime averted. 

Assist by Ryan McDonagh ... a hard cross-ice pass from deep down along the left boards that goes untouched by three defenders.  Kucherov was positioned and waiting the whole time.

For two fleeting moments in time the Islanders slept on Tampa and it cost them dearly.  For a second straight game Ryan McDonagh proves Long Island's phantom menace.  Tampa is being aggressive on the pinch.  Tampa is known to interweaves a forward through the defensemen in order to facilitate just that; no big secret.  But the Islanders are letting McDonagh get lost in the crowd.  McDonagh is alone and free and more than happy to assist.

And so the Islanders had everything going for them except the final score.

They certainly had their chances, many chances in fact.  However, they go 0 for 4 on the power play; costly was their inability to score during a five minute major to Killorn.  But more than anyone, Tampa goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy deserves all three game stars.  Just hand em over.  He has started all fifteen games for Tampa since the NHL's return to action.  In game two he faces 28 shots and stops all but one.  Another way of looking at it: he yields a goal 1:24 into the opening period then shuts out the Islanders the rest of the way.

Tampa also seemed to have it in for Brock Nelson who suffers not one but two major boarding incidents, only the second period infraction goes uncalled.

Otherwise, never allow a goal in the first two minutes or last two minutes of any period!

I still say a 2-1 series deficit is manageable.  But the Islanders must now win game three or else be faced with having to sweep the final four.  Winning four of the next five .. not out of the question.

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.Y. Islanders: Garth Snow's Seat Getting Hotter

From the desks of: 

FIVE FOR FLATBUSH  and  RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS

THE RIVALRY - III

Islanders lead series 3-0

I - NYI 4; NYR 3*

II - NYI 7; NYR 2

III - NYI 3; NYR 0

*shootout

I read in Friday's Newsday how the Islanders are now 10-1-0 in their last eleven games against the Rangers, and that Jaroslav Halak is 13-1-0 in his last 14 head-to-head match-ups against Henrik Lundqvist.

There you go ...

Look what the Islanders did to the Rangers ... again!

Josh Bailey scored on a power play less than five minutes into the opening period of Thursday's game at Barclays.  Jordan Eberle and Thomas Hickey added goals in the second and third periods respectively.

Halak, meanwhile, turned away all fifty Rangers shots on goal to best Henrik Lindqvist, whom faced 35 shots but only made 32 saves.

The Islanders have now outscored the Rangers this season by a 13-5 margin through nine periods of regulation hockey.

Flatbush blew into Carolina like a hurricane the very next night.  The Islanders equaled Thursday's output with another three goals against Cam Ward and the Canes.  But the eye of this storm was goalie Thomas Greiss.  He followed Halak's golden effort with a 44-save effort of his own.

Playing in his fifth game back after missing all of January, the sorely missed Johnny Boychuk opened the scoring in the second period with his fourth goal of the season.  Second year winger Anthony Beauvillier scored his fourteenth goal of the season midway through the third (he scored nine goals in 66 games last season as a rookie).

John Tavares capped off the scoring with an empty-netter in the closing minute of regulation.  It was his 30th of the season, marking the fourth time in his nine year career in which he's achieved thirty or more goals.  The number one overall selection of the 2009 entry draft, Tavares notched the 600th point of his career on Feb. 13 against the Blue Jackets.

JOHN TAVARES

600 POINTS

That makes four huge points when they needed them most.  The Isles leveled their record in February to 4-3-1, but more importantly temporarily elevated themselves back into the playoff picture.  As of Saturday night, the Islanders are eighth in the conference standings, one point ahead of Columbus and Carolina, and four points behind the New Jersey Devils.  The Islanders and Devils face off next Saturday at Newark.

MATHEW BARZAL

60 games; 16 goals; 46 assists; 62 points

Joins Mike Bossy and Brian Trottier 

as only NYI rookies to achieve 60 points

Snow Must Go ... is now an official movement.

In his twelfth season as general manager, Garth Snow's seat is getting hotter by the day.

Fans are pretty fed up with the team's defense; their two-headed goalie situation is what it is; and even head coach Doug Weight has his detractors.  But fans want Snow active as the trade deadline draws near and being sellers is strictly out of the question. 

They're already riddled with anxiety over the seeming lack of progress in the John Tavares contract negotiations.  Snow arguably has the Islanders well positioned for the near future.  He has a couple of extra picks in the first two rounds of the June draft.  I would stay the course, though, and ensure Tavares gets signed. 

Otherwise, Garth Snow is in a real bind.  If he fails to upgrade the team by the deadline, fans may light his chair on fire (not that I'm trying to give them ideas).

I'm a Rangers fan ... what would I know.

The "rebuilding" Rangers, continue skating in the opposite direction.  They have now lost seven of their last nine games - outright (no overtime; no shootout).  After recent losses against the Wild and Islanders, they got scrubbed again on Saturday by the Ottawa Senators.

Good!

ICYMI: Read This!

Ryan McDonagh was a scratch for the fifth straight game.  I'm not buying this crap he's suffering an upper body injury.  But I also think it's pure coincidence that he hasn't played since Feb. 7 after infamously lashing out at team mates fresh after sustaining a 6-1 drubbing against the Bruins.  I simply believe a trade for McDonagh is being negotiated and the Rangers are not risking injury.

In the meantime, the Rangers continue getting poor two-way play; they don't hit; they don't pick up the hangers; and Alain Vigneault continues letting teams take point blank shots at Henrik Lundqvist.

I was beginning to rant ... sorry.

There's just something about losing 6-3 against the fourth worst team in hockey.

Watching Derick Brassard playing for Ottawa also reminds me of this team's piss-poor cap management.  I'm just saying ... Brassard was a salary cap hit same as Keith Yandle; Carl Hagelin; Brandon Prust; even Colton Orr!  The list goes on - all in the name to shave a buck.

I'm still shaking my head over Yandle.

The Rangers are firmly anchored to last place of the Metropolitan Division, and have fallen to eleventh in the conference standings.

N.Y. Rangers: Ponderous Game One Effort

From the desk of:  RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS

Senators lead series 1-0

I - OTT 2; NYR 1

NEW YORK RANGERS: I can just hear all the media (radio) know-nothings already prepping to blame Henrik.

I'm okay with Erik Karlsson's third period goal ... better known as the game-winner.

No, really.  It's a crappy way to lose, but stuff like that happens.  It's just one of those fluky plays.

If anything, there's a lesson (among many) to be learned: just put the puck on net!

I'm certainly not going to blame Henrik who has been nothing short of brilliant through the first seven games of these Stanley Cup playoffs.

It's not his fault the Rangers needed to kill three penalties, and allowed 21 shots on goal during the first period.  It's also not his fault the Rangers couldn't clear the defensive zone late in the second period and were therefore fatigued into allowing Ottawa the game tying goal on their fourth power play of the game.  And lastly, it's not his fault Rangers forwards decided not to play inspired hockey until well after the midway point of the final period.

Thursday evening, I watched all four Rangers forward lines just meandering around, and playing on their heels.  I saw no grit, and even less determination.  In a word, they were flat.

It's ponderous to me how they amped up the physicality against Montreal, but then play down to Ottawa.  Worse yet, Ottawa played the exact type of game Alain Vigneault prefers, and they still failed miserably.

I'm upset because the Rangers put forth a piss poor effort in Game One, when there was absolutely no excuse for such a performance.  None.

This is exactly how Vigneault gave away Game Seven against Tampa.  He called off the dogs.

They tried reverting right back to the finesse game and it cost them Game One.

Sure they had scoring chances ... like Derek Stephan's wtf failed breakaway attempt.

That, and Alain Vigneault's decision to go soft gain - pure folly.

Know what else disturbs me?

Ryan McDonagh led all Rangers with almost thirty minutes of ice time; most even strength minutes and four PK's.

Keep that up and see what happens, Coach.

And another thing, this team's forwards are welcome to join the playoffs at any time.

Now that I've gotten that off my chest, the mission statement remains the same: steal one game in Ottawa.

Get this done!

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

From the desk of:  RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS

Rangers defeat Canadiens, 4-2

I - NYR 2; MON 0

II - MON 4; NYR 3*

III - MON 3; NYR 2

IV - NYR 2; MON 1

V - NYR 3; MON 2*

VI - NYR 3; MON 1

*overtime

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

Tex's Rangers Prove Too Tough for Montreal Canadiens

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

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

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

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

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

In any event, they got it done.

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

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

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

Into the Void

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

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

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

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

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

All the King's Horses

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

N.Y. Rangers: Eye of the Paper Tiger; Game One

From the desk of:  RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS

2016-2017

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE

EASTERN  CONFERENCE

Stanley Cup Playoffs

ROUND ONE

NEW YORK RANGERS

vs.

MONTREAL CANADIENS

ICYMI:

The Slides of March
You can pirouette your way through the regular season against the NHL's mean competition,
but you can't do that in a short playoff series.  Yes, AV, I'm talking to you.

New York Rangers: What 102 Points Gets You at the Metropolitan Division Exchange Rate.

Mike ... why are you so down on the Rangers?

Go back and read the Slides of March.  The upcoming series will either prove me right, or dead wrong.  That remains to be seen.

Otherwise, my answer is because all was never as pretty as it seemed to begin with.

Let's start with the competition ... shall we?

There's no coincidence in the fact that Washington, Pittsburgh, Columbus, and Montreal all finished ahead of the Rangers in this year's Eastern Conference standings.  During the regular season, the Rangers posted a sub par 6-10 record against them.

The Rangers additionally sputtered to an 8-11 record through the Slides of March (and four games in April).  Three of those games were against the Habs, Penguins, and Capitals.  The Rangers lost them all by an overall 10-4 margin of disparity.

Tex's Rangers were once again winter marvels, though, posting a regular season record of 48-28-6 (102 points), scoring the fourth most goals in the league, and recording best road record in the NHL.   Despite their proficiency, they only placed fourth in the Metropolitan Division and fifth in the conference.

So, let me know when this all starts sounding familiar to you ...

In the mean time, the Rangers are just 11-19 in their last 30 games at home, and generally do not play well in Montreal.

That being said, it's north of the border we go for Game One.

Montreal jettisoned some smaller players and got bigger, stronger, and tougher at the trade deadline. They swept all three games of the season series against the Rangers, and enter this series arguably boasting the better goalie, the best defenseman, and the best forward poised to take the ice.

• LW - Max Pacioretty: 35 goals, 32 assists (67 points), +15.
• D - Shea Weber: 17 goals, 25 assists (42 points), +20.
• G -  Carey Price: 37-20-5, 2.23 GAA, .923 SV%

Just saying ...

In Mats Zuccarello We Trust; Think About That for a Moment

• LW - Rick Nash: 23 goals, 15 assists (38 points), +9
• RW - Mats Zuccarello: 15 goals, 44 assists (59 points), +15
• LW - Chris Kreider: 28 goals, 25 assists (53 points), +6

I don't want to be overly disparaging, but, Rick Nash should be ashamed of himself.  Thirty-eight points?  A guy with his size and speed - it's ponderous, I know.  I can't help but recall how Columbus fans told us we'd soon regret the trade.  Did we fans expect way too much of Nash?  I doubt it.

His failures create systemic problems.  Very simply, a team featuring Rick Nash should not be led in any offensive category by Mats Zuccarello.  Yet, MatZuccs did just that ... again!  He can not continue being the Rangers best forward ... if you know what I mean.  He's great.  I love MatZuccs.   He plays smart, and will skate into tougher areas of the ice.  But if he's the best Blueshirt forward on the ice, it means other forward-liners aren't doing nearly enough.

Therefore, Kevin Hayes and Chris Kreider must seize the day.  Kreider had a good season, but now he must lead.  I'm not saying Kreider needs to knock Carey Price into the twilight zone again.  But I am saying Kreider, Hayes, Nash, JT Miller, and Jimmy Vesey, must all get their 200+pound bodies in front of net.

Outside of Shea Weber, they should be able to push their way through, but only if they want to.  This is where I demand more from Alain Vigneault.  I need for him to pull the curtain on his meticulously choreographed ballet, and order his bigger bodies on search and destroy missions seeking out second and third opportunities.  As they say, if Price can see the puck, he'll stop it.  Therefore, chaos in the crease is key.

I've always made size and toughness on the forward lines, or lack thereof, a major point of contention.  But do the Rangers have the blueliners to get this done?

• D - Ryan McDonagh: 6 goals, 36 assists (42 points), +20

No issues with the guy wearing the C on his jersey.  My biggest concern is whether Dan Girardi has one more good run in him?  He's a worn and torn 32-years old.

Next, watch out for trade deadline acquisition Brendan Smith.  I do not like this match-up at all.   When these teams last played, Smith was repeatedly knocked off the puck, and squashed by Montreal's newly acquired beefcake forwards.

And as a unit, the blueliners won't exactly be crunching any Montreal forwards in the corners either.

• G - Henrik Lundqvist: 31-20-4, 2.74 GAA, .910 SV%

The Rangers are asking more of Henrik Lundqvist than ever.  But our liege is 35-years old now, and may not be able to cover all the defensive shortcomings occurring in front of him, and around the net. They do such a deplorable job, and it's because they lack size and toughness needed to push bodies around.  Henrik and Price are essentially the same - if they see it, they'll stop it.  But where the Rangers must alter their style in order to create second and third opportunities, they routinely give them up in the defensive other end.

Please, Henrik, do everything for us ... is no longer an option.  Just like last season, and the one before that, and the one before that, etc., it's incumbent upon the skaters in front of Henrik to do more.  Not the other way around.

*

I tried very hard not to batter you with my prolonged Alain Vigneault rantings, and my lack of size and toughness ravings.  Very simply, I don't like Alain Vigneault.  I don't like his policy of turn the other cheek, and generally speaking, I think he's just plain soft.  I still say he gave away Game Seven against Tampa Bay because he went with cute, instead of tough.

I digress ...

With regard to the lack of toughness on this team ... those old enough to remember the Smurfs (not the TV cartoon, but the smallish Rangers of the 1980s in the years prior to Brian Leetch's rookie season), know exactly what I mean.

I'll do one better:  If Nick Fotiu (pre-Smurfs) played for these Rangers, we'd win the Cup!

Circling back to Vigneault, did I mention the Rangers downward trending since he took over?

But, Mike, the Rangers just posted three straight 100 point seasons.

Yeah, I know.

But I also know they made the 2013-2014 Stanley Cup finals during his first season, gave away(!) the 2014-2015 Eastern Conference finals the following season, then bowed out four games to one during last year's first round against Pittsburgh.

What will it be this season, getting swept by Montreal?

That's not entirely out of the question.

Ryan McDonagh says throw all that regular season stuff out the window.  The Rangers are playoff tested.  They know what it takes.

But can they get it done?

I'm not so sure.

Sorry...

#LGR

N.Y. Rangers: Screaming for Vengeance

From the desk of:  RAISE GRESCHNER WITH THE GREATS

The above was just one of many articles leading into Opening Night,

yet, four months later the coach himself remains a pacifist.

NEW YORK RANGERS: The King continues paying a stiff tax in Alain Vigneault's system.

...but this really has more to do with Dylan McIlrath.

Since Thanksgiving, work, life, and whatnot, has taken much of my free time otherwise usually spent operating this Trolley.

In truth, however, it seems as if I'm picking up where I left off (which is an indictment of itself).  So little has changed that perhaps I would have just been spending much of the last 3 months sniveling about the Rangers anyway.

We've officially entered crunch time folks ... and if you haven't noticed, things are starting to get a little chippy.

The New York Rangers presently own a 31-18-5 record (67 points), good enough for 2nd place in the Metropolitan Division, and 3rd in the Eastern Conference.

"We're a skilled team that can mix in hard work as well..." - Henrik Lundqvist

The Rangers goalie said that soon after shutting out the Penguins Wednesday evening in Pittsburgh, extending the Rangers win streak to 4 games.

It was a positive spin on the here and now, but, read between the lines.  Lundqvist has been critically vocal throughout the season regarding gridlock in the royal road, and the team's overall inability to clear traffic from his crease.

The defense has clearly taken a step backwards this season.  Dan Girardi's relentless style over the years seems to have caught up with him, while the overall blue line pairings look a step slower (if not fatigued), and are playing as passively as ever.

Now for the other pertinent stuff:

• Having both Keith Yandle and Kevin Klein in the line-up has officially become an untenable situation - specifically Klein's inadequate play.

• The opposition handles the puck into the Rangers defensive end with grace, style, and ease.   Once in the zone, opposing forwards are permitted to loiter around Henrik, sometimes in the form of menacing mobs.

• Above all else, opposing teams/players continue battering Rangers players and taking their runs with impunity, much less a reaction, from the Rangers coach.  That in turn, translates onto the ice.

Yes, I'm going there, again, meaning Alain Vigneault's preference for playing Kevin Klein over Dylan McIlrath for the better part of the season.  It's only recently, with Klein banged up, that McIlrath has been given more ice time.

Dylan McIlrath made his season debut on Oct. 13th, but did not play again until November, when he was squeezed into just 5 of the Rangers 14 scheduled games.  In December, however, he played in 11 of the Rangers 13 games.  Then in January, he was again relegated to just 3 of the Rangers 11 scheduled games.

Circle back to Feb. 2nd, when the Rangers suffered their lone defeat this month (to date) against the Devils - McIlrath did not play, while the rest of the team got pushed around.

McIlrath then played against the Wild in a game without incident.  Then came Wayne Simmonds and the Flyers - a game Dylan McIlrath did not start.

If you don't know ... Saturday, Feb. 6th at Philly, Wayne Simmonds sucker punched Ryan McDonagh with his glove still on.  McDonagh hasn't played since, out with a concussion.  It's hard to say whether McDonagh suffered his concussion as a result of Simmonds' initial check into the boards, or as a result of the punch, or both.

In either case, I'm sick of it...!

The Rangers followed up on Feb. 8th, turning the tables on the Devils with a 2-1 victory.  Newark didn't quite play with the same rambunctiousness they displayed on Feb. 2nd.  I offer no theories why, other that to simply state Dylan McIlrath started, registered 2 SOG and 4 hits in 14:24 (even strength) minutes, and committed no penalties.

Dylan McIlrath made his 2nd straight start Wednesday night in the Rangers 3-0 victory over the Penguins.  He registered 5 hits in 13:27 minutes.

I think by now you smell what I'm cooking.

• Small Picture - I'm interested to see how the Rangers handle Milan Lucic and the Los Angeles Kings on Friday.  My mind, however, is already fixed on Sunday's rematch against the Philadelphia Flyers - if I may be so bold as to even suggest vengeance should permeate the air.

• Big Picture - It's been proven throughout his tenure with the Rangers, Alain Vigneault's pacifism gets players hurt.  He had one or two enforcers in Vancouver, and refused to utilize them as well.   Thus, this is purely philosophical.  His is a great system for the regular season, but reaches it's law of diminished returns come playoff time.  

In effect, open season on Blueshirts has begun.  So I ask, what good is making the playoffs if one continually exposes his premium players to snipers, while at the same time restrains his team from firing back?

Proactive deterrence (don't make me laugh) is an entirely different matter.

Some call it playing with discipline.  There's something to that ... but in this case I call it soft, which will get the Rangers nowhere except placed on the disabled list.

If that's not enough for ya, then let's circle back to Henrik Lundqvist, because the Rangers have reverted back to requiring nightly miracles from their liege.  At 33-years of age, he presently leads the NHL with 46 games played (while starting 40 of the Rangers 54 games played to date).

In a bit of irony, a coach's philosophy, a poor penalty kill, worn down blue liners, injuries and perhaps indifference, are all imposing a stiff tax upon The King.

It's all relative...

N.Y. Rangers: Tampa Bay Lightning Reduce MSG Ice to a Puddle

From the desk of:  RAISE GRESH WITH THE GREATS

It's Over Johnny!

2014-2015

STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS

Eastern Conference Finals

Lightning Win Series 4-3

I - NYR 2; TBL 1

II - TBL 6; NYR 2

III - TBL 6; NYR 5

IV - NYR 5; TBL 1

V - TBL 2; NYR 0

VI - NYR 7; TBL 3

VII - TBL 2; NYR 0

NEW YORK RANGERS: That makes one small Stanley Cup in the last 21-years, and one giant Stanley Cup Championship in the last 75-years.

Sorry.....

Mike couldn't make it today.  He's kinda tied up at the moment (with duct tape and rope in the closet).

He looks kinda stupid bound in his blue Ron Greschner #4 jersey if I may say so myself.

Doesn't he remember the Rangers lost the Cup as a child in '79 to the Canadiens?

Doesn't he realize the Rangers sold their souls to the devil in return for a double-overtime victory over New Jersey in Game Seven of the '94 Eastern Conference Finals, and then for the opportunity to hoist the Cup in Game Seven fashion at MSG a round later?

You thought he got rid of me, didn't you?

Pffft!

Fools!

I shouted out who killed the Kennedy's, when after all it was you and me.

Pleased to meet you, hope you guess my name....!

KILLJOY'S REVENGE:

> > > > > > > > > > > > >  ?  > > > > >  ?  > > > > STOP.

DETOUR!  No royal road for you!  

Not that they wanted to go there anyway...

Killjoy here, and if you've ever experienced one of my occasional Trolley hijackings, then you know Alain Vigneault has no friend in me.

For my opening face-off, I offer you this: his former team, the Vancouver Canucks were soft like Charmin.

At first glance, the Rangers are going home because they failed to score in Game Seven at home.   But, drill just an inch deep into the fragile ice of Madison Square Garden for a core sample that reveals the New York Rangers season ended last night because they couldn't find it within themselves to push around a smaller team.

The Tampa Bay Lightning were faster, more consistent, more explosive, and defensively better than Alain Vigneault's team.  In essence, the Bolts beat the (new and improved) Rangers at their own game.  The one advantage I was sure they held was in being bigger, stronger, and tougher, like the Rangers used to be, because, they still seemed capable of resorting to that style when necessary.

...or so I thought, or, just not last year versus the Kings, or last night in Game Seven.

The Rangers seemingly exhausted their allotted physical time in three previous victories this series, as they were unable to dip into the well one last time.

DETOUR: Head West Young Man!

Once upon a time, Tex's Rangers would have ground Tampa down to a fine powder.  However, that type of play has largely been phased out along Broadway and headed west (see Anaheim and Chicago).  Nowadays, the Rangers can only muster a supreme physical effort ever so infrequently.

The Rangers season is over because the smaller sized Tampa Bay Lightning laid the bigger hits and more meaningful hits (just ask Chris Kreider and Ryan McDonagh), and because Tampa was flat out tougher in the neutral zone, and more stout in front of Ben Bishop.

Both head coaches had their adaptability challenged, and were required to dramatically change styles in order to even make Game Seven possible.  But, where Coach Cooper resorted to what worked for Tampa, particularly in Game Five at MSG, Alain Vigneault ponderously strayed from what worked in games One, Four, and Six - just as he had in games Two and Five.

In other words, take your 3rd career President's Trophy, and get out of the way so the NHL can present the Prince of Wales Trophy to the Tampa Bay Lightning - Eastern Conference Champions.

Misguided as it may be, for the rest of Summer and even through the start of next season, unfortunately, the talk will inevitably focus on King Henrik's failure to stop Tampa.

Why don't we just blame Henrik for making 23 saves, but for not heading up ice with the puck and scoring goals too?

Note to Rangers forwards: You can't win if you do not score goals.  I think that's an official NHL rule.

The final score was not -  Lightning 2; Lundqvist 0.

No my friends - this was not an isolated incident either.  Game 7 made it two shutouts, three losses, and just 6 overall Rangers goals scored in 4 games played at Madison Square Garden.

The Blueshirts and Bolts remained scoreless through the initial 40:00 minutes of Game Seven.  Then at 1:54 of the 3rd, Tampa's Alex Killorn finally broke the ice.  Did Henrik give up a cheap goal - a backhand shot that slithered through his pads and barely slid across the goal line, or, did Dominic Moore get badly beaten by Killorn in the slot?

That's debatable.

At 12:04 of the 3rd, Henrik made an absolutely ridiculous save to keep it a 1-0 game.  Then, for the next 2:00 minutes Ben Bishop performed some brilliant net-minding of his own, but wasn't terribly disrupted by any converging traffic.

At the 8:43 mark, Palat put the nail into Tex's Rangers coffin.  The winning play was arguably born of a bad pinch, although most will pin that one on Lundqvist for failing to stop a straight forward shot to his glove side.

Do it then.

Truth of the matter is the Rangers failed to score.  The bulls failed to rummage through Tampa's china shop...., again.  Ben Bishop pitched his second shutout of the series, this time in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals, because the Rangers could not muster the energy, desire, and/or fortitude to overcome Tampa's net presence.

That's easier to digest when it's five-on-five hockey, but the reality is Alain Vigneault was brought here to improve the power play and we're still waiting.

Still flawed after all these years - The Rangers ranked 21st on the man-advantage during the regular season.  Overall against Tampa, the Rangers went 7 for 24, but only 1 for 9 in the final 3 games of the series, and were scoreless in two PP opportunities in Game Seven.

It doesn't stop there.  After pulling Henrik Lundqvist down 2-0 with 3:34 still left in regulation, six Rangers skaters remained ineffective and down right pathetic against Tampa's five.

Look, Alain Vigneault is a good guy, and a good coach.  But he had trouble getting Montreal and Vancouver over the top, and is experiencing the same kind of trouble here on 8th Avenue.  To that I say, once is an isolated event, twice is a coincidence, but three times is a trend.

However, AV was merely Glen Sather's on-ice agent in application.  The wholesale change in style and philosophy was born of Glen Sather, whom is a finalist for Executive of the Year.

Some will argue Henrik Lundqvist's hefty contract in the salary cap era prevents Glen Sather from upgrading the offense.   But then, who signed him to that money?


For my next trick, I'll undress several forwards for their underwhelming performances.....




Mike
KILLJOY!

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

From the desk of:  RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS

Defend This House!

2014-2015

STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS

Eastern Conference Finals

Series tied 3-3

I - NYR 2; TBL 1

II - TBL 6; NYR 2

III - TBL 6; NYR 5

IV - NYR 5; TBL 1

V - TBL 2; NYR 0

VI - NYR 7; TBL 3

GAME SEVEN

Tampa Bay Lightning

vs.

NEW YORK RANGERS

FROM

The Center of the Universe

33rd Street @ 8th Avenue

N.Y.C.

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

ICYMI:

Barely Alive After Game Five 

The Goonies Strike Back

What We Learned In Game One

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

As a team, the Rangers came correct!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Like Bulls in a China Shop! 

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

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

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

Don't stray again!

Line in the Sand:

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

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

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

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

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

Stop Bullying Those Blueshirts:

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

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

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

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

Ice Breakers:

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

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

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

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

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

About that...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

That's what I hear...




Mike

N.Y. Rangers: Now if the Power Play Can Just Get Going - Game Six!

From the desk of:  RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS

Capitals lead series 3-2

I - WAS 2; NYR 1

II - NYR 3; WAS 2

III - WAS 1; NYR 0

IV - WAS 2; NYR 1

V - NYR 2; WAS 1*

*OT

GAME SIX

NEW YORK RANGERS

vs.

Washington Capitals

from

The Center of the Universe

D.C.

NEW YORK RANGERS: It's Simple - Play With Abandon, Be Relentless to the Puck, Hit Hard and Often, and Get Traffic in Front of Holtby.

"Go out there and play like a bunch of crazed dogs..."   stuff Lawrence Taylor used to say.

Facing elimination and 50:00 minutes of scoreless hockey into Game V did nothing to inspire better play out of Kieth Yandle.

The age old question for defensemen is when to pinch, and when not to pinch.  The problem with Keith Yandle's decision midway through the 3rd was that he pinched too deeply into the zone.  He committed himself all the way to the top of the left circle, with absolutely no one covering the rear.   Coupled with his already glaring propensity for turning over the puck, the Rangers had a disaster on their hands.

It came in the form of one stretch pass out of Washington's defensive zone to the anonymous Curtis Glencross, and a breakaway the other way.  Henrik Lundqvist made the initial save, but Glencross cleaned up his own rebound to give the Capitals a 1-0 lead before a dejected Garden crowd.

That began the Times Square doomsday clock ticking 2:00 minutes closer to midnight.

At 11:35 of the 3rd, the Rangers missed a wide open net opportunity.

With the final bell tolling for Tex's Rangers off-Broadway show, the heroes finally emerged.   The Rangers finally got the two clutch goals they've been waiting all series for when Chris Krieder tied the game with just 1:41 left in regulation.

Henrik Lundqvist was the next to save the season, making a brilliant save with 0:27 left in regulation. That made the Captain's game winning goal in overtime possible.  At the 9:37 mark, Ryan McDonagh punched the Rangers ticket back to Washington.

Win, and they bring the series back to Madison Square Garden for a decisive Game Seven.  Lose, and they'll be cleaning out their lockers and wondering where to stick that President's Trophy.

The Rangers' season still breathes life today because Chris Kreider is finally taking ownership of his potential.  Ever since he mistakenly idled down in the final seconds of Game One, he has been the Rangers best player.  For both he and the Rangers, his opening goal in Game Two was a huge attitude adjuster after suffering a brutal loss in the closing moments of Game One.  Friday, he scored his third goal of the post-season, very literally, when the Rangers needed it most.

His was also the Rangers best forward line.  The trio of Stepan, Kreider, and Jesper Fast, have given the Rangers much to be thankful for - and not just in Game Five.

Entering Game Six, the Rangers should be aware that Braden Holtby can, and has been beaten glove-side high, and generally above the shoulders.  Krieder and Derick Brassard have demonstrated that several times already.  However, Martin St. Louis doesn't seem to have gotten the memo.  He's been shooting into Holtby's pads all series.  It's time to elevate the puck, son.

Theoretically, all the pressure is on the Rangers.  They're behind, they're on the road, and they're favored.  This technically gives Washington room to play with.  Therefore I fully expect them to ratchet up the physicality again, particularly at home.

The Rangers power play was 0 for 2 again.  Want to win in the playoffs, particularly when scoring is at a premium?  Score on the power play!  The Rangers are 1 for 11 in the series, and 4 for 31 (13%) in the post-season.

This Alain Vigneault's unit to fix.

Make it happen in Game Six.

N.Y. Rangers: Be Lazy, Blame Henrik

from the desk of:  RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS

Where are all the King's horses, and where are all the King's men?

Can Alain Vigneault get this team back in sync again?

Capitals lead series 3-1

I - WAS 2; NYR 1

II - NYR 3; WAS 2

III - WAS 1; NYR 0

IV - WAS 2; NYR 1

V - FRIDAY

Game Five

Washington Capitals

vs.

NEW YORK RANGERS

from

MADISON SQUARE GARDEN

NYC

NEW YORK RANGERS: Blueshirts Hockey 101 - Stop Blaming Henrik. It Makes You Sound Stupid.

Part of the reason why I started this blog was because I have my own opinions, and frankly, I find myself disagreeing with a substantial portion of the radio views, or in some cases, don't care much for their elitism.

I hardly, if ever, waste my time taking jabs at talkies.  However, there's one matter which becomes topical this time of year - one of which I can no longer withhold my grievance.

After Wednesday night's loss to the Capitals, I could have told you word for word, what those dumb asses would have been talking about on Thursday:

"Henrik needs to be better; 

he needs to stand on his head; 

he needs to shutout the Capitals.  

He is failing the Rangers.

Braden Holtby is outplaying Henrik.

Henrik Lundqvist is not an elite goalie."

They've been singing this same song for too many years now.  For a hockey-minded talkie, the above could have been passed-off as just lazy analysis after a long night out.  But for the unlearned media, that's just plain ignorant of them to say.  Whenever the Rangers fall behind in a series, Lundqvist's name is the one they always resort to.  It's the easy, safe, and uninformed thing to do.

Look, I'm just a dude with a blog and an opinion, but I'm yet to say anything remotely negative regarding Henrik Lundqvist this entire post-season, because, the man is a non-issue!

That said, I get a kick out of real hockey authorities coming on their show as guests, and summarily rejecting everything previously postulated by the host.

There's one word (used above) that might provide you with a hint as to whom I'm really talking about.  I'll give you another hint - he's an egomaniac, and an overly intellectual dolt - even about stuff he's a so called expert on.  There is another runt sitting on the panel these days, and the same goes for him as well.  Only the third member of the show is a true hockey aficionado.

With regards to the aforementioned two, for as much as they prefer not to hear it, truth is truth.  If they don't know hockey, they shouldn't pretend like they do, and shouldn't push the notion they do.   Don't then turn against the listeners when they criticize you for not knowing hockey to the extent you know baseball, basketball, or football.  Hockey fans are unlike baseball, football, and basketball fans, because, yes, hockey is a different kind of sport.  They're on skates, do not play with a ball yet they carry sticks, and fighting is part of the game.

How alien, I know.

These guys even had the nerve to say the Rangers were playing a version of themselves under John Tortorella - actually quite insightful.  Funny..., I've already been through that:

Staring at the Blueshirt in the Mirror 

  

Blueshirts Should Expect Big Cap Hit in Washington 

Let's Try This Again, Shall We? 

Oh No! Not You Again? Rangers vs. Capitals; Round Two

Unfortunately, this is what I mostly hear from them:

• There's 10 guys skating around, bumping into each other and being inconsequential, and, the goalie needs to be perfect or else they'll lose.

There are good talkies who freely admit they know nothing of the game.  But, because of their agreeable personalities, and perhaps by speaking about hockey in jest or otherwise, they are actually well received.  

It's the know-it-all, the non-humble type who in actuality knows nothing, whom draws our (hockey fans) ire.  They're indeed going to get criticized from time to time for not incorporating more hockey into the show.   This is a metropolitan area with 3 freaking professional hockey teams.  What did they expect?   

But, when they do drop the puck, it just comes off as simple, and uninformed.  It's shameful, really.   At the same time, I can see their agitation with fans wanting it both ways.  Nevertheless, what irks fans is when talkies are so out of their element, yet try to portray themselves as authorities.  It's insulting.  THAT's the reason why fans get upset when their talk focuses on hockey.  In this town, not many can pull it off.

The reason the Rangers are down 3-1 in this series to the Capitals has nothing to do with Henrik Lundqvist's goal tending.  With that kind of mindless thinking, we might as well blame him for not being Canadian as well.

With regards to Game IV, the Rangers made two huge mistakes, and Washington capitalized.   Turnovers by Chris Kreider and Ryan McDonagh twice put Henrik Lundqvist in bad situations, and made 20-year old Andre Burakovsky look like Brett Hull.   Turnovers are part of the game, but each of these were of the inexcusable kind.  In the playoffs, the price to be paid for such misplay is extremely costly.

Then, there are matters of crowd control and Capital confusion.  The Rangers have consistently allowed the Capitals to create disruptive traffic in front of Henrik all series, while they themselves have not done the same in front of Braden Holtby.  To Holtby's credit, he has made his share of brilliant saves.  Look no further than his huge save against Carl Hagelin's penalty shot.  Otherwise, the Capitals are sacrificing their bodies and blocking shots, and have effectively pushed everything to the outside where Holtby has been able to get clear, and unobstructed views of the puck.

In front of Holtby, the Capitals have what the Pittsburgh Penguins did not - Brooks Orpik and Matt Niskenen - two veteran defensemen and longtime teammates, extremely familiar with the Rangers.

Then, once one considers that Alex Ovechkin and Niklas Backstrom have been relatively quiet this series, one is forced to recognize the considerable affect Coach Barry Trotz's system has had on these new and improved Capitals.

In 11 games this post-season, the Caps have scored 23 goals, for a 2.09 per game average.  As noted many times previously, the Rangers averaged 2.2 goals in 12 games during John Tortorella's final playoff run in 2013.  These Rangers are now averaging 1.77 goals after 9 games played.  This was the NHL's 3rd top rated offense during the regular season.

Lundqvist is making big saves as well.  At 19:00 of the 3rd period, Henrik made an otherworldly save which prevented the Capitals from driving another stake through their hearts.  

The Rangers limited scoring this series has come down the middle, a la Derick Brassard's opening goal in Game IV, or Hagelin's breakaway goal, or Kreider's rebound goal, etc.  Tex's Rangers better start crashing the net with purposeful haste then, or have their President's Trophy season crash and burn in disappointment.

That hasn't happened to the Rangers since 1992, but for Alain Vigneault, dare I saw it's becoming old hat.

If anything, the Rangers underlying problem was displayed with just over 2:00 minutes left in the game.  The Rangers dumped the puck deep into Washington's zone.  The first Capital defenseman to catch up with the play easily knocked the Rangers off the puck, and skated back up ice in transition with haste.  That's been going on throughout the playoffs.  Moreover, the Capitals forecheck in the closing minutes prevented Coach Vigneault from pulling Lundqvist for an extra skater in a timely manner.  And once on the ice, the Rangers couldn't even keep the zone.

But, I suppose the Rangers lack of post-season scoring is Henrik's fault because he isn't pitching shutouts.  All I know is, you can't win games 0-0; someone has to score first, and, or, last.  But, score they must.

Derick Brassard's performance should be putting the Rangers over the top.  Instead, his teammates are burdening him with an increasingly heavy load.

Mike

N.Y. Rangers: Penguins Crash The Garden Party

From the desk of:  RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS

Rangers lose home advantage; Series shifts to Pittsburgh

Series tied 1-1

I - NYR 2; PITT 1

II - PITT 4; NYR 3

III - TONIGHT

GAME THREE

NEW YORK RANGERS

vs.

Pittsburgh Penguins

from

Steel City Ice Hut

NEW YORK RANGERS: The Power Play showed its uglier Side in Game 2; now just 2/12 in the series.  Meanwhile, the Penguins continue crashing the net with impunity.

At its best, the Rangers power play under Alain Vigneault gets defensive heads spinning and bodies scurrying in different directions in reaction to their movement with and without the puck.  They're most effective with quick crisp and frequent one-touch passing, lack of hesitation on their shot, and when establishing a presence in front of the net for rebounds.

...just like in Game One against the Penguins.

At their worst, they exhibit the old John Tortorella-ish dysfunction characterized by stationary positioning, over-passing and over-possessing, which inspire memories of the Garden crowd screaming, "SHOOoooT!" with every perceived opportunity gone by.

...just like in Game Two against the Penguins.

The Rangers power play is now 2/12 in two post-season games.

*      *      *      *

In Game 1, the Penguins continued what other teams had been doing to the Rangers lately - instigating through physicality.  The Rangers thwarted that plan, however, with a pair of early goals in the 1st period.  Derick Brassard cleaned up a Rick Nash rebound just 0:28 into the game, and Ryan McDonagh scored a PP goal roughly 15 minutes later.

The Pens otherwise played quite evenly with the Rangers for the remainder of the game.

Pittsburgh's physicality was one matter, but their undisciplined play was another.  They put the Rangers on the power play 5 times.  The Rangers were 1/5, but nonetheless cashed in on what turned out to be the game winner.

The Rangers defense effectively shut down Sidney Crosby and Ivegin Malkin en route to a 2-1 final score.  The two Pens forwards combined on just 3 shots on goal.

Blake Comeau pulled the Pens within a goal at the 6:15 mark of the 3rd period.  But, Henrik Lundqvist made 24 saves on the night to seal Game One.

*      *      *      *

In Game 2, it was the Rangers whom looked lethargic.  Led by Sidney Crosby, the Penguins skated circles around the Rangers.  The Pens remained undisciplined however, putting the Rangers on the PP 7 times.  But, the Rangers only managed to score once with the man advantage.

The Rangers were seemingly off to another good start.  Derek Stepan opened the scoring at 17:05 of the 1st period.

Midway through the 2nd period, Brandon Sutter's PP goal tied the game.  Sidney Crosby then took over, scoring twice in the period at even strength.

Derick Brassard brought the Rangers to within 3-2 in the 3rd period, but was negated by Chris Kunitz' goal at the 9:41 mark.  Rick Nash scored an inconsequential with just 0:06 left in regulation.

Henrik Lundqvist only faced 22 shots, but only made 18 saves.

Meanwhile, the Penguins continued crashing the net with impunity.

*      *      *      *

They say it's not a series until the home team loses.  After two games at the Garden, the series is now tied at one.  Next stop, Pittsburgh.

It's Alain Vigneault's turn to make adjustments.




Mike