New York Rangers Head Back to Tampa for Game Six

From the desk: RAISE GRESCHNER WITH THE GREATS

EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS

GAME FIVE

Rangers     1

Lightning   3

FINAL

Backs to the Wall, Rangers Face Elimination, Again!

Tampa Bay has outplayed the Rangers in eight of the last nine periods.

Any remaining spots of rust have been polished over.

The Rangers look slower, a step behind, and lack sixty-minute discipline.

To be fair, they've played 19 games in 38 days, which is a lot, and it has taken the Lightning everything they have to beat them.

Nevertheless, the education of the young Rangers continues ...

These boys must first learn how to finish.  The Rangers failed to protect a two-goal lead in game three, and with 0:42 left in regulation, yielded the game-winning goal.  They once again failed to effectively close out the second period in game five, allowing the game-tying goal at the 17:34 mark, and like game three, could not push into overtime, surrendering the go-ahead goal at 18:10 of the third.

Ryan Lindgren scored the game's first goal simply because he put the puck on the net, nothing more, nothing less.  The Rangers had their chances, some better than others.  Just ask Ryan Strome.  But in truth, the Rangers are no longer making Andrei Vasilevskiy work for his saves.  They hardly drive down the slot, no passing from behind the net, and, like I've been saying, a lot of predictability.

Ryan Reaves was a healthy scratch in favor of Kevin Rooney, an apparent attempt by Coach Gallant to muster more offense.  Reaves would have proved helpful after the final whistle.  Rooney threw his body around and got off two SOGs in under ten minutes on ice.  Overall, Blueshirt centermen had ten SOGs but no points.  Only one Ranger forward, Artemi Panarin, had as many as three SOGs.

Meanwhile, the refs seem less interested in blowing their whistle these days - advantage Bolts.  Tampa handed the Rangers just one power-play opportunity midway through the second period.  Lindgren's goal aside, game five was the latest example of the Blueshirt's dearth of scoring at even strength. 

Something needs to change quickly as the Rangers head to Tampa for game six.

If the first two rounds demonstrated anything, the Rangers played exceptionally well when faced with elimination - three straight must-win games against Pittsburgh, two against Carolina, and here we go again against Tampa.  But can the Rangers pull it off, again, against the defending back-to-back Stanley Cup champions?

That's a lot of noise!

We all know what needs to be done.  

Some better luck wouldn't hurt.

Otherwise, I expect all the New York City transplants and retirees to don their jerseys and make a ruckus at Amalie Arena.

New York Rangers and Tampa Bay Bolts Return to Garden Tied at Two

From the desk: RAISE GRESCHNER WITH THE GREATS

EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS

GAME FOUR

Rangers     1

Lightning   4

FINAL

Back to Zero

The Blueshirts just can't have nice things ... like a 2-0 series lead.  

It was nice while it lasted.  

Their inability to possess the puck and sustain offensive zone presence is mind-numbing.  They spend too much time cycling the puck and setting up for a one-and-done instead of just putting shots on the net and cleaning up the garbage.  They get the puck deep, so why not more setups from behind the net?

Once again they're caught up in being too cute.  It's been this way throughout all three series, so this is nothing new.  But will they recognize in time as they did in previous rounds?  

We'll see Friday night.

Let's see what adjustments they make.  Because the Rangers have become very predictable in all their setups and strategy.  The Rangers failed to score an even-strength goal at Tampa's arena.  Said another way, the Bolts have dominated the Rangers over the last five periods.  Tampa has them figured out.  That's a problem, and Coach Gallant needs to solve it.  When Adam Fox leads all skaters in minutes but fails to take a single shot, it's because the Rangers are at the other end of the ice.  Thus, Fox finished game four with a minus-three.

The Rangers played without Ryan Strome and Filip Chytil.  Missing two centermen matters.  Jacob Trouba stepped in with a team-high seven SOGs.  But none found their way past Andrei Vasilevskiy who stopped 34 of 35 shots.

And so here we go again ...

Defend this house!

The Rangers have the home-ice advantage; game five and a potential game seven are slated for the Garden.  Whoever wins two of the following three games advances to the Stanley Cup Finals.  The other team will go home and ponder their salary cap situation.

New York Rangers Fall in Last Minute to Tampa

From the desk: RAISE GRESCHNER WITH THE GREATS

EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS

GAME THREE

Rangers     2

Lightning   3

FINAL

Rangers Let Tampa Back in Series

What did I say ...

A two-game lead heading into Tampa means nothing if you can't finish!

The Bolts took 52 SOGs, with 19 coming in the third period.  The Rangers had just six shots after getting off a dozen in the first and second periods.  

They played too close to the fire in the final session and got burned with a mere 0:42 seconds left in regulation.  This isn't the first time we've seen them adopt this defensive posture.  Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad were on the ice and solely blamed themselves.  Noble, but a poor finish nonetheless.

Andrei Vasilevskiy played his best game of the series.  The first period was Andrei versus Igor.  Each team had numerous scoring opportunities.  The second period was all about the power play in which the Blueshirts closed out the session with a 2-1 advantage.  But it didn't last.  Steven Stamkos scored on another Tampa power play at 1:12 of the third period tying the game at two.

The Rangers were 2 for 5 on the power play.  They completely blew a golden opportunity when the Bolts got whistled for a double-minor but ruined things with a penalty of their own.

All the big men on campus skated to a stalemate until the final minute.  Adam Fox, Artemi Panarin, Mika Zibanejad, and Chris Kreider accounted for six points for the Rangers.  Nikita Kucherov, Steven Stamkos, Victor Hedman, and Corey Perry accounted for eight points, including assists on the game-winning goal by Ondrej Palat, who made it nine points for Tampa.

Vasilevskiy and the Lightning finally showed up and played their best game this series.  Even then, victory was within the Rangers' grasp.

Hopefully, Ryan Strome and Barclay Goodrow are up for the challenge of game four.  

New York Rangers Advance to Eastern Conference Finals

From the desk: RAISE GRESCHNER WITH THE GREATS

PITTSBURGH PENGUINS

CAROLINA HURRICANES

BRING ON THE BOLTS!

That's How You Close Out a Series!

The Rangers' power play continued making the Canes pay for their mistakes.  Adam Fox converted passes from Alexis LaFreniere and Andrew Copp at 3:40 of the first period.  A little over four minutes later, Chris Kreider tipped in a pass from Mika Zibanejad, and just like that, before a hushed crowd, the Rangers owned a 2-0 lead.  

More importantly, Carolina was taken out of their game post-haste.  Jacob Trouba deleted Seth Jarvis with a big clean hit.  In Jarvis' attempt to crawl off the ice, Carolina was called for too many men on the ice.  Zibanejad and Kreider made them pay.

Then, with fewer than four minutes left in the second period, Ryan Strome scored the game's decisive goal.  He came rushing down the left-wing and placed a wrister stick side.

Chris Kreider scored the exclamation point to open the third period.  It was a great play on a breakaway, a power move, a classic.  He's been an exceptional leader all season long.  In the second round, game seven, the Rangers are on the road, and Kreider killed it with his second goal of the game.

That being said, the big guns got it done.  The team's top scorers, Artemi Panarin, Mika Zibanejad, Chris Kreider, and Adam Fox, accounted for eight points.

Meanwhile, Filip Chytil continued creating his own chances and capitalizing on Carolina turnovers.  At 8:15 of the third period, he did it again, a beauty.  Chytil scored his third goal in his last two games and fourth of the series.

Igor Shesterkin turned in another brilliant performance.  But for the second time in the series, he was indecisive with the puck, which left him out of position, and he wound up paying the price.

Next stop: Eastern Conference Finals.  

The Rangers regain the home-ice advantage.

Bring on the Bolts!

New York Rangers and Hurricanes Head Back to North Carolina Tied at Two

From the desk: RAISE GRESCHNER WITH THE GREATS

GAME FOUR

Hurricanes   1

Rangers        4

FINAL

Smurfs Need Not Apply

Midway through the first period, Jacob Trouba laid a big neutral zone hit on Max Domi which his linemate Steven Lorentz took exception.  Trouba in turn took out Lorentz post-haste, and both served five for fighting.

On that note, Alexis LaFreniere and Ryan Strome seem to enjoy when things get touchy, as do K'Andre Miller and Ryan Lindgren.  We know Chris Kreider handles himself very well.  The additions of Andrew Copp, Tyler Motte, Frank Vatrano (and even the injured Barclay Goodrow) have also elevated this team's grittiness and toughness.

But make no mistake, for the second game in a row, Ryan Reaves let Domi, Tony DeAngelo, and all the other Canes know the Rangers aren't putting up with any of their crap.

The Rangers followed the winning recipe from game three: front-line scoring and goals on the power play.  I also left off saying they needed to go top shelf on Antti Raanta.  At the very least, they have him shifting left and right.

A pair of breakaway attempts by Alexis LaFreniere and Artemi Panarin was stopped cold by Antti Raanta; LaFreniere tried going five-hole, and Panarin resorted to his backhand.  Mika Zibanejad later received a pass from Chris Kreider and was likewise stuffed by Raanta.  Filip Chytil even attempted a wrap-around to no avail.  My point is that the Rangers need to elevate like Andrew Copp did in the third period when he took a feed from Ryan Strome and scored mid-level.

Ryan Lindgren gets it.  He took two shots that ended up in the back of the net.  The first came from the left circle and was tipped by Adam Fox.  The next came in the second period when Mika Zibanejad cleaned up a rebound that got behind Raanta.  Both shots were high and caused trouble.

Frank Vatrano opened the scoring with a power-play goal at 13:31 of the first period.  The Rangers were 1/4 on the night but now have two PP goals in their last two games.  Carolina was held scoreless in two opportunities.

Mika Zibanejad came to play with another goal and assist.  More importantly, four Ranger centermen joined together for three goals and seven points.  

However, Artemi Panarin remains lost in space.

Long live Igor Shesterkin!

Back to North Carolina ...

New York Rangers Force Game Seven Against Penguins at MSG

From the desk: RAISE GRESCHNER WITH THE GREATS

GAME SIX
Penguins   3

Rangers     5

FINAL

First Line Proves Its Playoff Worth 

Following two deflating, if not disgraceful losses in games three and four, the young Blueshirts rose to the occasion in game five.  The Rangers got critical goals from Adam Fox, Alexis Lafreniere, and Filip Chytil.  But that was on home ice, and so the call to action sounded loud and long for Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider immediately after the game.  

Sidney Crosby left the ice midway through the second period of game five and did not play on Friday, but that made New York's game six road victory at Pittsburgh no less impressive.  During the first intermission, whatever was discussed in the Ranger locker room seemed to work.  The Blueshirt big boys, the veterans, the top line, answered spectacularly.  Facing elimination for the second consecutive game, Kreider and Zibanejad seized control of the situation, leading the Rangers into Pittsburgh needing to extend the series and doing just that.  

Down 0-2 after the first period, Mika Zibanejad scored during a power play at 5:05 of the second period on a one-timer from Adam Fox and Ryan Strome.  A mere seventy-six seconds later, Zibanejad again scored on a one-timer from Ryan Lindgren and Adam Fox.  Mika almost accomplished the hat trick at the 13:48 mark.  Igor Shesterkin made a brilliant first pass to Zibanejad.  Louis Domingue made the initial save, but Chris Kreider was there to clean up the rebound for a 3-2 Rangers lead.

However, before the second period ended, Evgeni Malkin picked off a pass in the Pittsburgh defensive zone and scored on a breakaway at the 16:36 mark.

The third period was a tightly contested affair.  Finally, with 1:28 left in regulation, Chris Kreider launched a shot from the left point that (I say) deflected off a Penguin stick.  Mika Zibanejad was causing traffic in front, and Domingue thought he made the save, but the puck deflected over the goalie's head and into the net for the tie-breaking goal.

Andrew Copp sealed the deal with an empty-netter off feeds from Adam Fox and Kevin Rooney.

Adam Fox assisted on four of the Rangers' five goals, and of course, the Rangers got two by Mika Zibanejad and two by Chris Kreider.

Mika hit the post on another opportunity, as did Frank Vatrano.  More importantly, the Rangers were 2 for 3 on the power play and did well to prevent the Penguins from scoring on their three opportunities.

Now they have to do it all over again, but they'll be home at Madison Square Garden this time.

N.Y. Rangers: Chris Kreider Sticks Pitchfork Into Devils

From the desks: THE BRICK CITY STYX & RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS

BATTLE OF THE HUDSON

I - NYR 4; NJD 3*

*shootout

Off-Broadway Kids Come Through Against Devils

Low and behold, Alexis Lafreniere and Kappo Kakko each played good games on the same night.  

After Adam Fox tied the game at one, Lafreniere scored at 11:24 of the second period on feeds from Kappo Kakko and Jacob Trouba.  It's only Lafreniere's fourth goal of the season and his first of November.  However, roughly two minutes later, Dougie Hamilton scored on a power play tying at two.

The Rangers failed to score with a man advantage in the third, but immediately after Newark's successful penalty kill, Kappo Kakko scored assisted by Ryan Strome.  But you know me ... if the Rangers had a top-flight center, Kakko doesn't need to fill the lane.  Kappo's second-period assist and third-period goal are his first two points this season.  They come in his eleventh game.

Together, Alexis Lafreniere and Kappo Kakko have tallied a grand total of six points.

Meanwhile, Chris Kreider continues killing it.  His game-winning goal in the seventh round of Sunday's shootout may not count on the back of his baseball card.  But his two goals against the Blue Jackets are etched in stone.  Kreider has now scored a goal in nine of 15 games played and has 14 points.  Two consecutive games are the longest he's gone this season without a goal.

Pavel Zacha scored at 16:17 of the third period to send this game into overtime.  It was his seventh goal this season.

Mackenzie Blackwood was forced to leave the ice midway through the third period with an upper-body injury.  Jonathan Bernier closed out regulation time, held the Rangers scoreless in overtime, and denied them through six shootout rounds.

Making his fourth start, Alexandar Georgiev stopped 24 of 27 shots.

N.Y. Rangers: First Line Front and Center at Montreal

From the desk: RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS

FIRST WIN

With Injuries to Kappo Kakko and Ryan Strome, First Line Must Carry Rangers

It can now be said the Ranger season is underway.  It took three games, but they went from blowout to overtime loss to victory.

Coach Gallant's first line contributed four points towards the victory.  Chris Kreider opened the scoring on a power play midway through the second period on feeds from Mika Zibanejad and Adam Fox.  After Montreal tied the game at one in the third period, Alexis Lafreniere answered just 0:26 seconds later on assists by Zibanejad and Artemi Panarin.

The first line (Kreider-Zibanejad-Lafreniere) accounted for 13 (54%) of the Rangers' 24 shots on goal.  Chris Kreider scored his third goal,  Zibanejad picked up his third assist, and Lafreniere scored in front of his home area crowd.

It's too early in the season for me to start wrangling over Mika Zibanejad's first-line qualifications.  We knew early last season he was recovering from a bout with COVID.  To what degree that affected his season-long play, we will not know.  All we can do is compare this season's performance against the previous two campaigns.  In the meantime, the Rangers demonstrated their faith in him with a lucrative contract.  To that point, three points in three games is an excellent way to start proving one's worth.

Chris Kreider is a car of another stable.  Like Zibanejad, he has three points through the first three games, all goals.  Are we now to expect a long drought of pointless games?  Because that's what his career trends suggest.  

Last season Kreider posted twenty goals and ten assists in fifty games.  He scored three goals through the first 15 games, then caught fire with eight goals over his next six games, giving him eleven goals through the season's first 21 games.  Kreider then finished out the season with seven goals and 15 points in his last 29 games.  He scored just three points in eleven games in one late-season stretch from March 27 through April 15. 

If and when someone impacts this team with sustained, tangible, and meaningful leadership, then you sew the C on their sweater.  Until then, I agree with Coach Gallant: let these guys keep having to prove themselves.

• Kappo Kakko sustained an upper-body injury in the first period and was placed on the injured reserve list, and Ryan Strome is still in concussion protocol.

N.Y. Rangers: Victory In Home-Ice Opener Not In The Stars

From the desk: RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS

2021 ~ HOME ICE OPENER ~ 2022

Stars       3

Rangers  2

overtime

Special Teams Experiencing Power Outages and Short Circuits

Open with a lopsided 5-1 loss at Washington, then host a slight downtick in competition only lose in overtime.  Rest assured, the Rangers are slowly but surely inching closer to a win.  Whether it comes against the Habs or Leafs remains to be seen.

The Rangers are putting forth a representative effort with faceoffs, shots on goal, and hits, but special team play has largely compromised their first two games.  They have now allowed four goals in eight penalty kills or lack thereof.  Meanwhile, the Rangers were 1/5 against Washington and shut out in four power-play opportunities against the Stars.  Needless to say, special teams require Gerard Gallant's immediate address.

That being said, goaltending cannot go unspoken.  Alexandar Georgiev stopped 22 of 27 total shots against the Capitals, and Igor Shesterkin stopped 23 of 26 total shots.  Said another way, the Ranger goalminders, in just over six periods of hockey, have thus far allowed eight goals on 53 attempts which translates into an 85% save rate.

Meanwhile, Adam Fox kicked off the season with a game-high 23:31 minutes against Washington.  He followed with a team-high 25:00 minutes Thursday against the Stars; over seven of those minutes were spent on special teams, and he still led the team in even-strength ice time.

Ranger centermen generated eleven shots on goal and just one point on an assist from Mika Zibanejad. Ryan Strome led forwards with five shots on goal.  But wouldn't you know, Adam Fox led the Rangers with six.  I'm hoping and praying Filip Chytil seizes outright the front-line center position.  In the meantime, Dallas centermen generated eight shots on goal, and two found the back of the net - advantage Stars.

Here's the thing about Chris Kreider's second goal in as many games: they came in losses.  But the real point is that he scores in bunches.  Kreider puts together four to six-game scoring bursts, then fades away for long stretches at a time.  I still can't believe of all players, he is the one to survive Jeff Gorton's purge.  But here he is ... Chris can be a real force if he just levels out his peaks and valleys. 

N.Y. Rangers: Look What the Blueshirts Did to the Flyers, Again

From the desk: RAISE GRESCHNER WITH THE GREATS

THURSDAY

Rangers 8

Flyers  3

FINAL

That Piano Falling Out Of The Sky Has a Flyers Logo On It

Philadelphia is flying in a bad way.  Since returning to the ice on Feb. 18 from a four-game quarantine, the Flyers are 7-10-2 and fading fast.  

They were borderline eligible to play this game.  

Thursday's defeat against the Rangers was their fourth straight loss and fifth in their last six games.  Moreover, they've surrendered five goals or more in seven of 19 contests.  On March 17, the Rangers shut out the Flyers by a whopping 9-0 final; on Thursday, another lopsided 8-3 final score.  All told, the Rangers have taken two of three and outscored the Flyers through five games by a 27-14 margin.  For Philly, there's no hiding from the Rangers' 17-3 goal advantage in their last two games together.

Mika Zibanejad strikes again, with three power-play goals along with three assists for six points.  That makes twelve points in his last two games against the Flyers.

Otherwise, the Rangers scored three times in the first, three times in the second, and twice more in the third period.  Pissed off Pavel Buchnevich scored once at even strength on a second time while shorthanded just 0:33 seconds into the third period.  Ryan Strome actually opening the scoring at 8:01 of the first period en route to a four-point night, and my guy Brendan Lemieux assisted on K'Andre Miller's second-period goal.  Filip Chytil capped off the scoring with his fifth goal of the season.

Oh, and Adam Fox had five assists ... just saying.

The Rangers welcomed back goalie Igor Shesterkin who sustained a groin injury exactly three weeks ago.  He faced 44 shots on goal, making nine special team saves and 41 saves overall.

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

From the desk: RAISE GRESCHNER WITH THE GREATS

Upstate vs. Downstate

EMPIRE STATE PUCKS

Sabres  3

Rangers 5

FINAL

Artemi Panarin Governs Over Downstate Victory Over Western Neighbor

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

N.Y. Rangers: Blueshirts Blank Bruins at Boston

From the desk: RAISE GRESCHNER WITH THE GREATS

SATURDAY

Rangers  4

Bruins   0

FINAL

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

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

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

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

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

THE BREAD MAN IS BACK!

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

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

N.Y. Rangers: Another Poor Performance at the Penguin Palace

From the desk: RAISE GRESCHNER WITH THE GREATS

Penguins Lead Rangers; 5-1

I - PITT 4; NYR 3

II - PITT 3; NYR 2

III - PITT 5; NYR 4

IV - NYR 3; PITT 1

V - PITT 5; NYR 1

VI - PITT 4; NYR 2

Who's On First, What's On Second, Who the Eff Is In The Middle?

How did the Rangers have more shots on goal than Pittsburgh?  Where did all these opportunities come from, because I just didn't see it?  Maybe someone can please inform me of the Rangers' time of possession for Tuesday's game?  

I kept telling my wife ... watch when they enter the offensive zone how quickly they lose possession of the puck.  Then she asks/yells/tells me ... why isn't anyone in the effing middle?  Look, it's empty out there; why isn't someone near the net?  So then I said ... that's because we don't have anyone big and rough and tough enough to win battles in the corners and make good passes to the so-called skilled players.

😠

However, in a brief moment of joy, I was pleased to see Kaako/Chytil/Lafreniere on the same line and the return of Jacob Trouba.  Otherwise, Jack Johnson's first period goal means little to nothing for me.

Brett Howden is averaging roughly 13:00 minutes through 24 games to date.  The man has just two shots on goal in his last ten games.  He has just 18 total shots on goal, but eight came within the season's first six games.  Which is to say, since Jan. 28, Brett Howden has registered a mere ten shots over his last 18 games.  Just to be a jerk, Casey Cizikas of the Islanders has 33 shots on goal through 26 games, with four goals and ten points.

By the way, Penguins centermen accounted for five points, while all Rangers' centermen accounted for just one point, a power-play goal by Ryan Strome in the third, his sixth of the season.  That's an improvement.  Because on Sunday, Blueshirt centermen accounted for just four shots and one goal from Mika Zibanejad.  In comparison, Penguins centers took nine shots on goal, tallying three goals and four assists for seven points, giving them 12 points in two games versus an inconsequential two points for the Rangers.

Making his 18th appearance of the season, Pittsburgh goalie Tristan Jarry faced 35 shots, stopping all but one at even strength.  

In only his second start of the season and back-to-back against the Pens, Keith Kinkaid faced 21 even-strength shots allowing three and faced 26 shots overall.  The Rangers were outscored by the Penguins over the last two games by a 9-3 margin.  Said another way, Pittsburgh tripled the Rangers output.

• Artemi Panarin Count: 16 days; the Rangers are 4-4-0 in his absence.

Where's Phil Esposito when you need him?

Elusive New Jersey Devils Defense Disappears Back Into The Pine Barrens

From the desks: RAISE GRESCHNER WITH THE GREATS  &  THE BRICK CITY STYX

BATTLE OF THE HUDSON

Series Tied; 2-2

I - NJD 4; NYR 3

II - NJD 5; NYR 2

III - NYR 6; NJD 1

IV - NYR 6; NJD 3

Bad Just Got Worse For The Devils; Ice Cracking Beneath Their Skates

Straight out of the Pine Barrens ... Newark's defense has been as elusive as the mythical New Jersey Devil itself.  Having lengthened their losing streak to five, they are now losers of eight of eleven games since returning from COVID quarantine, over which time they've been outscored by a 40-27 margin.

The visiting Rangers over the last two games account for twelve of those goals; six on Thursday and six more Saturday afternoon.  Six goals are the most rendered this season by the Devils to any opponent through 20 games, much less in consecutive games.  

Talk about problems of the macro/micro variety ... New Jersey couldn't keep Chris Kreider (hat trick) from loitering around the net two days ago and appeared stuck in the Pineland muck as Adam Fox went endzone to endzone and scored just 2:06 six into Saturday's game.

Trailing 2-0 in the first, P.K Subban scored at the 14:54 mark.  Just 0:17 seconds later, Mikhail Maltsev tied the game at two.  But outside of Nathan Bastian's inconsequential goal at 17:48 of the third, Newark went missing for the final forty minutes of play.

Mackenzie Blackwood was faced with killing five Rangers' power plays.  He allowed one goal and made five saves.  Blackwood otherwise allowed four even-strength goals while making 17 saves, and 22 saves in 27 shots overall.  The Rangers' sixth goal was into an empty net.  This comes on the heels of getting yanked early in the third period of Thursday's game, in which he yielded four goals on just 15 shots.

🏒

Victories Over Buffalo And Newark Are Little To Write Lester Patrick About, But The Kids And Grown-Ups Are Finally Learning How To Play Together

The 21-year old Filip Chytil, since returning from injury three games ago, is a plus-four with a goal and two assists.  It's worth noting he went scoreless in his first game back, which really gives him three points in his last two games.  Chytil was the primary assist on Kevin Rooney's goal late in the first period helping the Rangers regain a 3-2 lead.  Filip then scored at 8:38 of the third, giving the Rangers a more comfortable 5-2 lead.  It's his third goal in only eight games played this season and his first since Jan. 22 at Pittsburgh.  

Meanwhile, Mike Zibanejad was a minus-one with just one shot on goal in back-to-normal shifts and time on ice.  However, he appeared to be in some discomfort during the closing minutes of the game.  Bruised or not, I would again urge Coach to start Filip Chytil on the first line.  There's no sense in disrupting Ryan Strome's role on the second line, not coming off two goals on Saturday and four points in these last two games against the Devils.  He's planted his flag with eight goals and 17 points through 22 games.  Therefore, I say put Mika Zibanejad on the third line for a spell.  Everything Coach Quinn does is already transient in nature.  This would be no different.  Sometimes the best decisions start out being the most unpopular ones.  Otherwise, the Rangers received four goals from their centermen against the Devils on Saturday.

Just 1:33 into the game, Sami Vatanen was whistled for a mindless high-sticking penalty against Brendan Lemieux - not the other way around!  Enter Adam Fox, who at 0:36 into the power play, goes end-to-end, splitting the Devils PK unit straight down the middle, and scored unassisted sans his goalie Alexandar Georgiev.  Cycling back to Lemieux, I'm copacetic with his 12:49 minutes at even strength and a fleeting moment on the power play.

Playing in his first game since Feb. 18, Kaapo Kakko assisted on Ryan Strome's first-period goal.  Also, with an assist, Chris Kreider now has twelve points in his last nine games.  Likewise, with an assist, Pavel Buchnevich now has five points in his last three games.

Similar to the way New jersey started the first period, just 1:05 into the second session, they again commit one of the cardinal sins in hockey when Rangers' blueliners K'Andre Miller and Libor Hajek catch Newark napping.  Hajek converts a Miller feed for only his second goal in 45 career games as a Ranger.  In fact, Blueshirt defensemen contributed two goals and four points.  Even Jack Johnson administered five hits and committed no penalties, and Brendan Smith led the team with four shots on goal.

Still, minus Artemi Panarin and Jacob Trouba, the Rangers are now winners of three straight.  These last two victories against the Devils just happen to be the Rangers' ninth and tenth wins of the season. 

Getting the start in place of the injured Igor Shesterkin, Alexandar Georgiev stopped all but three of 27 shots; two saves on special teams.  Georgiev will have a quick turnaround as the Rangers take on the Penguins at Pittsburgh on Sunday.

N.Y. Rangers: Boston Provides Not So Subtle Reminder of Blueshirt History

From the desk: RAISE GRESHNER WITH THE GREATS

Bruins lead Rangers; 3-1

I - BOS 3; NYR 2*

II - BOS 1; NYR 0

III - NYR 6; BOS 2

IV - BOS 4; NYR 1

* overtime

That's Just Boston Being Boston; So What's Our Excuse?

Feeling good about themselves after Friday's convincing victory over Boston, the Rangers received their latest attitude adjustment on Sunday through an assortment of roughing, high-sticking, cross-checking, fights, unsportsmanlike stuff, misconduct, and even goalie squashing.

Brendan Lemieux was the recipient of the misconduct - after the final buzzer!  Someone needed to get after Nick Ritchie, and no later than the clock striking zero, Lemieux was on it.  I'll repeat it: Quinn must give Brendan Lemieux more minutes.

Because this game is a stark reminder, this team is soft.  It's actually rather ponderous that after all these years and decades, physicality is still an issue.  Fans know the deal.  If the Rangers of the early 1970s were just a wee bit tougher, they win a Cup .. Period.  The Cat was hounded over and over about it!  They were called Smurfs by a later generation for a good reason.  More recently, the L.A. Kings ground us into a fine powder.  The thing is, John Davidson was the bridge to the aforementioned eras.  He should know better.  General manager Jeff Gorton came to the Rangers via the Boston Bruins that he personally helped build.  He should know better.  Yet, here we are all these decades later, still waiting for the next Nick Fotiu to walk through the door.  Once again, finesse is losing out over brute force and ignorance.  Just take a look at the division.  These Rangers are indeed young.  But it's the veterans who are no more rugged for the wear than the teenagers.  Who is punishing David Pastrnak for cross-checking Alexis Lafreniere? 

• Alexis Lafreniere posts points in consecutive games for the first time this season; two assists versus Boston.

Thank goodness for Colin Blackwell.  His goal at 10:47 of the third period ruined the shutout for Boston's Tuukka Rask, who faced only 21 shots and made three saves in three power-play opportunities for the Rangers.  Colin Blackwell now has five goals and eight points in just 11 games.  Otherwise, Rangers' centermen joined for eleven shots on goal and just one point.  Ryan Strome, Kevin Rooney, and Brendan Smith joined together for a grand total of one shot on goal.  Mika Zibanejad had three.

Patrice Bergeron did not get off a shot all night, and Brad Marchant was limited to just one shot and an assist.  Five other Bruins centermen joined together for 16 shots on net, three goals, and two assists for five points. 

N.Y. Rangers: Blueshirts Pick Up Against Boston Where Long Islanders Leave Off

From the desk: RAISE GRESCHNER WITH THE GREATS

FEW AND DISTANCED FANS RETURN TO 

MADISON SQUARE GARDEN

FRIDAY

Bruins  2

Rangers 6

FINAL

Third Time Is A Charm; Blueshirts Defeat Division Leading Bruins

Brad Marchant, very early in the first period, tried setting the tone for the rest of the evening, pinning Adam Fox in the corner, even dropping his gloves.  But Fox refused to oblige, and Marchant ponderously escaped without a penalty.  Marchant was nonetheless successful, as the shorthanded Rangers on this night decided they weren't having any of it, and so the tone indeed was set.  Big hits, obligatory crosschecks, scrums, and bad words abounded.  

In their first meeting against the Bruins, the Rangers were plus-eight in hits but a woeful minus-16 in face-offs and minus-three in shots on goal en route to a 3-2 loss.  Then despite a tighter 1-0 defeat in the second meeting, Boston was in clear command, outhitting the Rangers 31-22, going plus-five on faceoffs, and a plus-nine on shots on goal.  Through the first two games, each team went scoreless on the power play.  Boston was scoreless in eight opportunities, and the Ranger came empty in six chances. 

On Friday, the correlation between winning face-offs, possession, drawing penalties, and shots on goal works in the Rangers' favor for a change.  The Blueshirts were plus-four in hits, plus-one in face-offs, and plus-one in shots on goal.  In the second period, Colin Blackwell scored the first power-play goal of the series by either team, while Boston was once again held to 0/3 on the man-advantage.

At 13:16, Julien Gauthier opened the scoring assisted by Ryan Lindgren, who clashed with David Pastrnak during the game.  Ryan Strome opened the second period scoring on a beautiful feed from Alexis Lafreniere at 2:32, but Patrice Bergeron scored just 1:30 later.  Afterwhich the roof caved in on Boston.  The Rangers scored twice in the closing two minutes of the second period on a power-play goal from Colin Blackwell, then just twelve seconds later on Chris Kreider's ninth of the season assisted by Strome.  Picking up where they left off, the Rangers strike quickly in the third on Pavel Bushnevich's fifth of the season at 1:45, and Jonny Brodzinski's first goal of the season and only the sixth of his career at the 3:43 mark.  Brad Marchant added an inconsequential goal at 7:51 to cap off the night's scoring.

I'm pleased to see Brendan Lemieux's minutes were increased.  He mustered three shots on goal and, late in the third, got stuffed on a good drive to the net.  Alexis Lafreniere registers just his second point of the season.  Chris Kreider now has five goals in his last three games and a team-leading nine for the season.  Rangers' centermen generated 13 (38%) shots on goal with four goals and two assists for six points.  However, Bret Howden has just one point in his last 13 games and only two for the season.  With three more points against the Bruins, Ryan Strome unexpectedly leads Rangers centers this season with 13 points.

This is the second straight night the Bruins have gotten their doors blown off.  Thursday, on the front end of back-to-back nights, the Long Islanders drubbed the Bruins by a 7-2 final at Uniondale.  The Islanders centermen joined for 14 shots on goal with two goals and three assists for five points.  

The Rangers and Bruins resume hostilities again on Sunday.

N.Y. Rangers: Blueshirts Cannot Overcome Pandemic, Putin, and Penalties

From the desk: RAISE GRESCHNER WITH THE GREATS

WEDNESDAY

Rangers 3

Flyer   4

FINAL

The Rangers are a rebuilding team, right?  

Therefore I don't mind the adversity.

Playing without Filip Chytil and Jacob Trouba due to injury, without Kaapo Kakko and K'Andre Miller due to COVID, and Artemi Panarin playing spy games back in the USSR, you just knew the Blueshirts would be in trouble.  But that's not to say the Flyers weren't missing bodies as well because they were.  

That doesn't excuse eight penalties.  Igor Shesterkin needed to be an octopus out there.  It also doesn't explain their continuing futility on the face-off, outdone by a 35-20 margin.  Face-offs mean possession; possession means potential shots; Philadelphia out-shot the Rangers by a wide 39-27 margin.

See what happens when you loiter around the net?  Sometimes it takes brute force and ignorance, and sometimes it takes a sense of what's happening around you.  Chris Kreider records a hat-trick with two power-play goals and one at even strength, all of the tip-in variety.  Phil Esposito made a career of cleaning up garbage in front to the tune of over 700 goals.  No one ever accused Espo of being the best skater on the ice.

Chris Kreider was assisted by his centermen, finally.  Mike Zibanejad, although still unable to cash in opportunities like last season, assisted on two of Kreider's goals.  Ryan Strome and Colin Blackwell also picked up assists.  All told, Rangers' centermen joined for ten shots on goal and four points.

The Rangers turned over the puck in their own end early in the first period and essentially stayed there until Erik Gustaffson opened the scoring at the 7:38 mark.  Afterwhich, they were resigned to playing catch-up the rest of the way while having to kill 12 minutes in penalties, not to mention two delays of games.  Said another way, it was a very sloppy game.

I'm also a little puzzled why Ryan Lindgren skated a blueline low 14:45 minutes, and Jack Johnson is out there for 19:01 minutes.

Lastly, on this night, with two forwards missing from the lineup, I'm disappointed Brendan Lemieux only got 10:19 of ice time.

N.Y. Rangers: Blueshirt Forwards March on Capitals

From the desk: RAISE GRESCHNER WITH THE GREATS

SATURDAY

RANGERS   4

CAPITALS   1

FINAL

Adam Fox didn't have to everything himself.  He was limited to one shot on goal, while the blueliners accounted for seven of the Rangers' 24 total shots on net against Washington goalie Vitek Vanecek.

The Rangers' top forwards not named Panarin actually showed up to play some hockey Saturday in the nation's capital.  They accounted for the balance of 17 shots on goal.  At 14:57 of the first, Chris Kreider netted his fifth goal of the season on Artemi Panarin's and Ryan Strome's assists.  With time winding down in the second, Artemi Panarin fed Alexis Lafreniere, who deeked Washington goalie Vitek Vanecek with a sweet backhand for a 2-0 Rangers lead.  The Caps then committed one of the cardinal sins in hockey, yielding a goal from Ryan Strome with 1:17 left in the period.  But the Rangers were equally careless.  Dmitry Orlav scored with just 0:39 left in the period making it a 3-1 game.  Mika Zibanejad capped off the scoring with an empty-netter with just over two minutes left in the third for a 4-1 final margin of victory.

Kreider's goal ties him for the team lead with five, with Ryan Strome and Artemi Panarin.  For a time, Coach Quinn joined Mika Zibanejad, Alexis Lafreniere, and Artemi Panarin on the first line together, and it paid off for the teenager who registered only his second goal of the season and his first in February.  Artemi Panarin, with two assists in the game, now has 13 for the season and 18 points through his first 14 games.  The beleaguered Mika Zibanejad scored a goal for the first time since Jan. 19 against the Devils, giving him just four points through 16 games.  Pavel Buchnevich assisted on two goals giving him twelve points, second-most on the team, through 16 games.  Ryan Strome was the third Rangers forward to register two points in the game.  In a slight improvement over recent games, the Rangers centermen accounted for seven shots, a goal, and three points.

Brendan Lemieux saw some time on special teams bringing him up to 11:47 minutes of ice time, two more minutes than last game.  More ice time, please.

In light of Jacob Trouba's injury, there were no Jack Johnson sightings to the fan's delight.  Thankfully K'Andre Miller returned to action.  Adam Fox was called upon for 24:20 minutes.  Brendan Smith held his ground in 18:47 minutes and 26 shifts, and there were no issues with the third pairing of Anthony Bitetto and Libor Hajek.  I know Nils Lundqvist is lurking in the background, and there are even more blueliners on the way after him.

But that's for next year ... 

N.Y. Rangers: Artemi Panarin Lifts Lagging Mates

From the desk: RAISE GRESCHNER WITH THE GREATS

SHOWDOWN AT HIGH NOON

SATURDAY

Rangers

vs.

Capitals

The Rangers were lucky to come away with two points in their first meeting against the Flyers.  Philadelphia's line-up is still being compromised by COVID.  So, there are questions as to what outfit the Rangers really defeated.  But with regards to what transpired on the ice, the Rangers committed one of the cardinal rules of hockey, not once, but twice, and got away with it.

Never yield a goal in the first two minutes or last two minutes of a period.  

They did just that, allowing a goal in the first 0:59 seconds of the game to Nicolas Aube-Kubel.  Colin Blackwell tied the game on a power-play goal at 3:24 of the second period.  Ryan Strome then put the Rangers ahead with an even-strength goal at the 8:21 mark of the third period.  But with just 1:14 left in regulation, Joel Farabee scored his seventh goal of the season, tying the game at two.  After a scoreless overtime, Artemi Panarin, returning from injury, saved the Rangers' ass with a decisive goal in the shootout.

Playing minus Jacob Trouba and K'Andre Miller, the blueliners still limit Philadelphia to 22 shots on goal and 0/5 on the power play.  The Rangers blocked 27 shots in front of Alexandar Georgiev, who stopped all but two shots.  For reasons I won't get into, Ryan Lindgren and Adam Fox walked away with a respective minus-two for the game.

There came the point when Coach Quinn was reprimanding Brendan Lemieux on the bench, if I remember correctly, after a neutral zone blunder.  How about Quinn coaches better and gives Lemiex more ice time!  

Yeah, I went there ...

And thank goodness for Colin Blackwell, who miraculously has seven points in only five games.  Artemi Panarin had eight shots on goal, which equals all five Rangers' centermen shots on goal combined.

N.Y. Rangers: Devils Cleared to Resume Play

From the desks: THE BRICK CITY STYX & RAISE GRESCHNER WITH THE GREATS

BATTLE of the HUDSON

TUESDAY

DEVILS

vs.

RANGERS

FROM

Eighth Ave Ice Hut

Brick City hadn't played since Jan. 31, when they defeated the Sabres at Buffalo.  After which, their next five games were postponed.  Upwards of nineteen players were placed into COVID protocol.  Eight more players have recently been cleared to play.  If any of the remaining five players tests negative on Monday, they will be made available to play Tuesday night.  Jack Hughes is cleared to play as it presently stands, but Nico Hischier and Travis Zajac are not.  Through nine games, the Devils established a 4-3-2 record.  The rest of the league to date has generally played anywhere from 13 to 17 games.  New Jersey defeated the Rangers on Jan. 19 at Madison Square Garden.

After practice, Coach Quinn listed Artemi Panarin as out for Tuesday's game.  Sure, that puts Coach in a bind, but his decision to start Colin Blackwell on the first line with Mike Zibanejad and Chris Kreider is somewhat questionable.  We'll see in the next few games to come whether or not this decision is in reaction to recent slippage from Pavel Buchnevich.  Meanwhile, the teenagers Kaapo Kakko and Alexis Lafreniere will be joined together and centered by Ryan Strome - that's intriguing.  But I still need more Brendan Lemieux on the ice.  Let him play this game with Buchnevich and perhaps Brett Howden or Kevin Rooney.  

Of course, I won't get my way.