N.Y. Rangers: After Thirty-Five Years, It's Time To Ooh La La Again

From the desk of:  RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS

2013-2014

EASTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS

Rangers Defeat Montreal 4-2

I - NYR 7; MON 2

II - NYR 3; MON 1

III - MON 3; NYR 2

IV - NYR 3; MON 2

V - MON 7; NYR 4

VI - NYR 1; MON 0

WE WANT THE CUP!

WE WANT THE CUP!

WE WANT THE CUP!

NEW YORK RANGERS: ...And Lord Stanley Said, Let There Be Hockey In June!

PAYBACK!

Payback - for Ken Dryden and the 1979 Montreal Canadiens, for Patrick Roy and the 1986 Montreal Canadiens, and for any other game we ever lost to the Montreal Canadiens.

I don't expect my fellow Blueshirt brothers and sisters to understand unless they've been there, but the team that lost to the Habs in the '79 Cup finals always remained a little more dear to me than the 1994 Stanley Cup champions.

Don't get me wrong.   I attended the '94 playoffs, and felt what every other Ranger fan felt when our boys lifted the Cup for the first time since 1940.  I went to the parade, saved my ticket stubs and made a scrapbook with all the local news clippings.

I was clearly older by then, and there's the rub.  The revisionist history (even back then) is hard to ignore. For all intent and purpose, the 1994 Rangers raised the (Eastern) Edmonton Oilers 6th Stanley Cup championship trophy, only this time at MSG.

Mark Messier was clearly the Messiah, and Adam Graves became a great Ranger his own way.  Then outside of homegrown heroes like Brian Leetch and Mike Richter, most of those Rangers were mercenaries - but very good mercenaries.  We all knew GM Neil Smith created a win now situation by trading away the club's youth, but we fans were okay with that.  Mike Keenan was perhaps the biggest reason why.  But Coach left shortly thereafter, and Neil Smith went on to make several more questionable moves.  After Wayne Gretzky's swan song, the lights off-Broadway went out for a while.

I guess, when you're younger, you're much more impressionable.  I was 10, 11, and 12-years old when the Blueshirts of Ron Greschner, Phil Esposito, John Davidson, the Maloney Brothers, Ron Duguay, Don Murdoch, and all those guys sparked my passion for Tex's Rangers and hockey in general.  Phil Esposito?   Yeah, I was too young at the time to grasp the trading of Brad Park to the Bruins.

I was more part of the Ooh La La generation:

As a late teen, the Smurfs of 1986 were just that, a 4th place, but likable band of smallish blue shirted skaters named Tomas Sandstrom, Mike Ridley, and Mark Pavelich, whom overachieved in advancing to the conference finals against Montreal.  The Beezer was at the height of his popularity, but many years after the fact, fans were still deliberating over the trade to acquire Barry Beck.

It's been 20 years since Mark Messier skated to center ice in MSG to accept Lord Stanley's Cup from Commissioner Bettman, and 35 years since my childhood heroes beat the New York Islanders, and advanced into the 1979 Cup finals.

This era, these Tortorella-Vigneault Rangers, stand to change everything.  My son was 3 1/2 years old in 1994.  His welcoming into the Blueshirt Brotherhood came later in the careers of the Four Horsemen of the Impossible (Richter, Messier, Leetch, Graves).  So this is his first Cup series.

I started taking him to Rangers games regularly after the lockout, in Henrik Lundqvist's rookie season.  Since then, we've experienced many highs and lows together, but obviously none quite like this.

He hates Martin Brodeur and the New Jersey Devils like I learned to hate ALL the Islanders in my youth.  In fact, he chides me for not having the same disdain towards the Devils as him.  But because the Islanders have fallen on hard times over the last two decades(!), that rivalry does not resonate with him as it does with me.

What we do have in common is the Glen Sather era.  (Sigh)  To my son's credit, he did not like John Tortorella.  I did.  He liked the hiring of Alain Vigneault.  At the time, I didn't.  So chalk one up for the kid.

Back in 1994, my wife of five years was quite indifferent to our (then) 54 year plight, and my personal 15-year odyssey getting back to the Cup finals.  After spending the previous 20 years of my life furiously rooting for the Rangers, I was confronted by a strong headed mommy wanting to take our little pookie to Disney World, right in the middle of the Stanley Cup finals no less.  The significance of 1940 meant nothing to her.   Needless to say, I watched the Rangers lose games Five and Six in a Florida hotel room with two people too pooped to stay up and watch with me.

The wife has come a long way since then.  She started out understanding the basics - icing, off-sides, the power play, and stuff like that.  But ever since the lockout, she expects to attend games and becomes quite the vocal one.   She even has her own ticket connection now, and attended the Pittsburgh series without me.

Go figure.

Today, she is at the point where good play is recognized, strategy is questioned, and poor play gets trashed. But where is she exactly?  She enjoyed a good cry this morning while reading Dominic Moore's background story in the Sunday paper.  I think it safe to say blue blood finally courses through her veins.

In 1994, I suffered through the Rangers and Devils Game Seven double overtime thriller as both my son and wife slept.  Twenty years later, the wife and I celebrated the end of Game Six against Montreal together.  (If she only knew how I felt in 1979).  I then waited till 2:00am for my son to arrive home from work so we could have another mini celebration.

...to be continued.




Mike.BTB

N.Y. Mets: Third Estate Of Flushing Celebrates Anniversary

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

NEW YORK METS: Sandy Alderson Can Only Hope The Club's May Malaise Is Over.

It was the best of months.  It was the worst of months.

One third of the season has passed.  Controversy is on the rise.

Although Sandy Alderson's winter ended with mixed reviews, the Mets nevertheless started the 2014 campaign well.  But the refreshing, feel good atmosphere created by a solid opening month (in which they posted a 15-11 record) ended on Wednesday, April 30th, with delivery of the now infamous email - the one foolishly asking fans to sign a pledge of loyalty.

The backlash was immediate and intense.  What had generally been a very patient fan base to that point, felt insulted and responded with vitriol.  The local media was quick to condemn the move as well.  Soon after, even Ron Darling made the sports radio rounds admitting he failed to properly research marketing's open letter before adding his signature.

Just over a week ago, in what appeared to be a reactive measure, the Mets hired a gentleman named Harold Kaufman to be their new executive director of communications.  A smart decision I thought, believing the Wilpon's image is presently at an all time low, and that an objective executive influence could potentially help reconcile the great disconnect between ownership and fans.

Or, so I thought.

Last week, David Newman, the Mets senior vice president of marketing and communications, was quoted in the N.Y. Times as saying,

"Kaufman will help bring the Mets exposure in fashion, food, entertainment and lifestyle — things that target different audiences in addition to the sports audience.”

Oh.  Excuse me.

I guess the Third Estate of Flushing need not apply.

On a business level, many companies/corporations engage in this kind of courtship.  So it's no big deal. However, as it pertains to the Wilpon's sports audience, the majority of us "loyal" fans should be so lucky.

Attendance is up only slightly this season, but nowhere near levels needed to reduce ownership's nearly one billion dollars of debt.  Unless imagined or real personalities such as Oscar de la Renta, Emeril Lagasse, Beyonce or Martha Stewart willingly link themselves with a sub.500 club, and additionally coerce thousands of their rich friends to fill the Pepsi Porch, the left field stands and upper deck, I do not see where this strategy benefits the Mets.

In what is fast becoming the anthem of 2014, if the Wilpons would just put a better product on the field, all the designers, chefs, comics, Kardashians, and lowly fans, will come.

However, the Mets chose to follow a more taxing plan.  Mr. Autonomous - Sandy Alderson continues to insist increases in payroll must be funded by considerable increases in attendance.  That's a very interesting game of chicken he and ownership are playing, that I am confident they'll lose.

*          *          *          *          *

May also brought the firing of hitting coach Dave Hudgens, which I believe was warranted.  I agree with Sandy Alderson's assessment.  The team's situational hitting was depressing.  It's pointless debating what separates good hitting coaches from bad ones, as something clearly needed to be done about this particular situation.

I'm ultimately pleased that Hudgens' pre-occupation with Keith Hernandez' on-air criticisms, as well as his sensitivity to players getting booed, have been removed from the dugout.  I feel such worries are symptomatic of a loser.  Sorry to put it so plainly.

However, I do believe Hudgens when he intimated that Sandy Alderson's hands are financially tied.  When Alderson claims 100% responsibility for the roster, and defends maintaining one of MLB's lowest payrolls for two straight seasons as he did recently on the radio circuits, I simply do not believe him.

In my opinion, the general manager is still defending ownership.  Unlike the situation with Frank McCourt and the Dodgers, I tend to think Commissioner Selig offered Alderson's services as a way of maintaining a hands-on/hands-off approach with his New York National League club.

On that note, Friday marked one month since the club sent out that idiotic email.  Happy belated anniversary.

The month of May is now done.

Let June begin!



Mike.BTB

Today For Rising Apple: 5/30 Game Recap: Chris Young's 14th Inning Gaffe Ruins Brilliant Bullpen Performance

Here's my latest for

RisingApple.com

5/30 Game Recap: Chris Young's 14th Inning Gaffe Ruins Brilliant Bullpen Performance;

Mets Lose 6-5 To Philadelphia

Join me every Friday for the Mets Game Recap.

Mike.BTB

Senior Staff Writer/Rising Apple

L.I. Ducks: Flock Whitewash Skeeters For 5th In A Row

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

LONG ISLAND DUCKS: John Brownell Shows Old Form.

FLOCK TAKES OPENING GAME IN SUGAR LAND

That's the reigning championship series MVP we remember.  John Brownell turned in a vintage performance Friday night in Sugar Land, Texas - shutting out the Skeeters in 7 full innings of work, while allowing 8 scattered hits, walking two, and fanning 7 batters.

Brownell earned his second victory, and lowered his ERA from 6.00, down to a 4.86 mark.  He also took over the league lead in strikeouts with 32 in 37 innings pitched.

The Long Island Ducks scored a pair in the 4th, and two more insurance runs in the 7th en route to a 4-0 whitewash of the Sugar Land Skeeters.

Kieth Castillo's double in the top of the 4th, plated Randy Ruiz and Adam Bailey with the game's first two runs.  Later, Dan Lyons reached on a one out single in the 7th, and came all the way around to score on Fehlandt Lentini's single, and an error by the pitcher.  Another passed ball spelled the end of Sugar Land's starting pitcher, Matt Wright.  Ramon Delgado entered in relief, and promptly unleashed a wild pitch allowing Lentini to score.

The bullpen handled the rest.  Eric Niesen took care of the 8th in relief of Brownell, tossing a scoreless frame and fanning two.  Leo Rosales closed out the Skeeters in a non save situation.

The Ducks are now winners of 5 in a row, and improved their season record to a 15-11 mark.  The Somerset Patriots were defeated by the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs, allowing the Ducks to pull within 1.5 games of 1st place.




Mike.BTB

N.Y. Rangers: The Habs Strike Back

From the desk of:  RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS

Rangers Lead Series 2-1

I - NYR 7; MON 2

II - NYR 3; MON 1

III - MON 3; NYR 2*

*overtime

NEW YORK RANGERS: A Very Costly Loss At The Garden...

When you expect to lose (at least) a game or two, does it matter how it happens?  Well, deep down the answer is yes.  But I digress.

Game Three was marked by not one, not two, not three, but four deflection goals.   You can't prepare for that.  Where P.K. Subban is concerned, that's what you call dumb luck.

Overall, the Rangers had several excellent chances.  But give credit where it's due.  Montreal's Dustin Tokarski was excellent in net making 35 saves to outlast Henrik Lundqvist, and get the Habs back in the series.

Honestly, who didn't expect Brandon Prust to continue seeking retribution for Carey Price, or to just continue doing the things he used to do so well for the Rangers?  I'm not necessarily sure he was known as a head hunter while with the Rangers.  But the intent behind his hit upon Derek Stepan was very, very questionable.  There was no call for Brandon's 1st period hit on Stepan, but, I'm not trying to be hypocritical of the situation.  I blame the refs instead.  They sucked - for both teams.

The league caught up to Brandon Prust this afternoon however, and handed down a two game suspension.   As a result of Brandon Prust's blind side hit, Derek Stepan's jaw was broken, which required surgery, and is additionally suspected of having suffered a concussion.

I also find Prust's cheap shot curious.  Could Brandon Prust still harbor resentment towards Stepan for holding out and getting paid, while Prust, who did all the team's dirty work, was unable to strike a deal with Glen Sather?  I find that curious indeed.

Circling back to the refs, by letter of the law, Dan Carcillo's 10 game suspension was warranted.  That last elbow did him in.  He would have escaped with just a penalty otherwise.  But I will question why the ref took such forceful hold of him, which triggered Carcillo's ire.  In fact, Carcillo was already in the process of putting distance between himself, and the fight between Prust and Derek Dorsett, when grabbed.

The substandard officiating is in no way limited to these instances.  Nuf ced.




Mike.BTB

L.I. Ducks: Flock Flying High After Completing Four Game Sweep Of Blue Crabs

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

LONG ISLAND DUCKS: Flock Off To Go Mess With Texas.

Led by the bats of Cody Puckett and Adam Bailey, the Long Island Ducks completed a four game sweep of the visiting Southern Maryland Blue Crabs.  The Ducks rapped 13 hits against their opponents, and only fanned once in gaining an 8-3 victory in Thursday night's series finale.

Puckett was 2 for 4 with a double, a home run, and 3 RBI.  Bailey went 3 for 3, and likewise produced a double and his team leading 5th home run of the season to go along with a pair of RBI.  Lead-off batter Fehlandt Lentini also had a productive night at the plate, going 3 for 4, with a walk, an RBI and 2 runs scored.

Making his third start of the season, Jared Lansford climbed the hill for Long Island, and was opposed by Southern Maryland's Ian Marshall.  Jared pitched 5 innings, allowed 2 runs (but none earned) walked 3 and struck out 3 to earn his first victory of the season.  Ian Marshall was knocked out of the box after just 2.2 innings pitched, and allowing 5 earned runs on 8 hits.

The Blue Crabs picked up their third run of the game in the 6th off reliever Steve Garrison.  Otherwise, Josh Lansford continued his scoreless innings streak in the 7th, while Jon Meloan and Jeremy Accardo finished out the bullpen's contribution with 2 scoreless innings of work.

Defensively however, this was not one of Long Island's sharpest games, as they committed 4 errors.

With a 7-3 record over their last 10 games, the surging Ducks have transformed themselves into hottest team in the division, and now boast an overall 14-11 mark.  They remain 2.5 games behind the division leading Somerset Patriots (17-9), whom were Thursday night winners over Camden.

The Flock were forced into a hasty departure from Bethpage Park, as Friday evening they begin a four game Memorial Day Weekend series against Tracy McGrady and the Sugar Land Skeeters in Texas.




Mike.BTB

L.I. Ducks: Flock Takes Third Straight Over Blue Crabs

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

LONG ISLAND DUCKS: Stong Bullpen Work And Cody Puckett's Bat Lead Flock To 12-Inning Victory, And Third Straight Over Southern Maryland Blue Crabs.

The Ducks are roughly 1/6 of the way through defense of their back to back titles.  They've spent the last three nights getting healthy against the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs, with a trio of victories to get them above the .500 mark again with a 13-11 record.

Had Southern Maryland and the Somerset Patriots not switched divisions this season, Long Island would be in 1st place of the Liberty Division.   Just thought I'd throw that out there.

Pre-Game Stuff:

Entering Wednesday night's action, Blake Gailen of the Lancaster Barnstormers was the only A.L. player still hitting above .400, otherwise Ducks veteran Lew Ford entered the night 2nd in the circuit with a .375 batting mark, while his 22 RBI ranked 3rd, just 3 behind the league leader.

Lew Ford and Adam Bailey led Long Island with 4 home runs each.

On the hill, 3 of the league's top 7 strikeout leaders were Ducks.  Prior to Wednesday's game, Bobby Blevins led the league with 27, and John Brownell was tied for 2nd with 25 strikeouts.  Reliever Eric Niesen was 7th with 22 strikeouts.

Jeremy Accardo leads the Ducks with 3 victories.  However, Brownell, once again expected to fill the role of staff ace, is struggling with a 1-3 record, and an unsightly 6.00 ERA.

In the bullpen, Leo Rosales leads the circuit with 9 saves, and prior to Wednesday's game had a 1.59 ERA, while Josh Lansford has yet to allow a run in 11.1 innings pitched.

*          *           *           *

In the third of four games against the Blue Crabs from Bethpage Park, Fernando Hernandez climbed the hill for Long Island, and pitched effectively over 7 full innings.  He allowed a pair of earned runs on 7 hits, only walked one, and fanned three before departing to a no-decision.  His ERA rose slightly from a 2.16 before the game, to a 2.28 mark.

Southern Maryland scored single runs in the 5th and 6th innings to take a 2-0 lead.  Long Island then got one back in the bottom half of the 6th on Adam Bailey's two out single.

That's the way it stayed till the 9th.  Playing in his first game as a Long Island Duck, catcher Jan Vasquez homered over the right field wall to tie the score at two, and into extra innings they went.

Relievers Leo Rosales, Jeremy Accardo, and Eric Niesen then combined on 3 innings, surrendered no runs, no hits, and fanned four.  Circling back, in relief of Fernando Hernandez, Bret Lorin pitched the 8th and 9th innings, and surrendered no runs on one hit.  Leo Rosales lowered his ERA to a 1.46 mark.

In the bottom of the 12th inning, Joash Brodin reached on a one out single.  After advancing to second on Randy Ruiz' base hit, Brodin came around to score on Cody Puckett's game winning double.

Eric Niesen earned the win in relief - his first.  He now has 24 strikeouts to place him 4th among the league leaders, and like Josh Lansford, has yet to yield a run in 13.1 innings pitched this season.  He additionally has only issued 6 walks and allowed 5 hits.

Lew Ford raised his average to a .376 mark.  Joash Brodin was 3 for 5, and scored the Ducks first, and winning run.

Southern Maryland used 7 pitchers and the Ducks 5, who all combined to issue just 3 total walks for the game.

The Long Island Ducks will attempt to sweep the four game series on Thursday.  The Somerset Patriots fell to the Camden River Sharks, allowing the Ducks to pull within 2.5 games of 1st place.

After Thursday's game, the Flock will migrate to Sugar Land, Texas, for a Memorial Day Weekend four game series against the Skeeters.



Mike.BTB

N.Y. Rangers: All Hail King Henrik The Lucky

From the desk of:  RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS

EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS

Rangers Lead Series 2-0

I - NYR 7; MON 2

II - NYR 3; MON 1

III - Thursday Night

GAME THREE

Montreal Canadiens

vs.

New York Rangers

FROM

MADISON SQUARE GARDEN

GOTHAM CITY

NEW YORK RANGERS: Let The Blueshirt Bacchanalia Begin

With the incremental, methodical power of a glacier and the rogue intentions of a pillage thirsty viking, the New York Rangers entered the 2011-2012 Eastern Conference finals as the number one seed.

During the regular season, that team led the league in fighting (and fighting majors), and were especially feisty inside the first five minutes of any game.

Generally speaking, Tortorella instituted a strict defensive strategy, that mandated finishing checks and blocking pucks.  He demanded a stiff fore check, and capitalizing on opponent's mistakes.  Offensively, he was about possession, cycling the puck in an effort to create chances, and gobbling up rebounds.  In other words, grunt style hockey.

In watching the present day Rangers, one might be surprised to find out that Tortorella's team scored more regular season goals than this year's team.  But as we know, it only got Tortorella and those Rangers so far.

Alain Vigneault's team scored more regular season power play goals than did Tortorella's group of two years ago.  Improving the PP was one of the main reasons for hiring him.  The even strength results were odd, but most likely stemmed from having to learn a new system.

After five straight victories and taking a 2-0 series against the Montreal Canadiens, that system now appears to be in full effect.

Some of John Tortorella's tenets live on in the form of blocking shots and a solid fore check, etc.  But Coach Vigneault has handled the club very differently than his predecessor, or even from the way he himself handled the Vancouver Canucks prior to his dismissal.

Alain Vigneault presently trusts his 12 forwards equally.  With regards to combinations and time on ice, he roles out 4 lines with unwavering consistency.  Tortorella either trusted you, or not.  He picked his top five forwards of the night, and mixed lines throughout a game.  His top two forwards routinely clocked in 25:00+ minutes a night, where you'd be hard pressed to find a forward getting more than 20:00 minutes under Vigneault.

If you were among the untrustworthy and forbid, committed a mistake under Tortorella, there were huge ramifications.  Benoit Pouliot and Chris Kreider in particular, would have never been able to play through their mistakes.  Dan Carcillo would have been an unlikely contributor against the Flyers as well.

Chris Kreider has made a huge, if not dramatic impact since his return, enough to help the Rangers comeback from a 3-1 series dilemma against the Penguins, and propel them to a 2-0 lead against the Habs.   Since Kreider's return, his speed and physical play have so far gone unanswered.

The collective speed with which Kreider, Carl Hagelin, Martin St. Louis, Mats Zuccarello, and a few others are playing with is a far cry from the recent "ice age" to say the least.  The accurate open ice passing and skating also mark the team's biggest transformation.  And, they've shown toughness when they had to.

Yeah, I was down on this team throughout the year and all the way through game four against the Pens.

Would this style have worked against the Boston Bruins?  Who cares.  So far, it's working against the Montreal Canadiens.

After sucking the life out of the Montreal Museum, Tex's Rangers are back home in Madison Square Garden for games Three and Four.

As John Davidson used to say, Oh Baby!

A response to P.K. Subban's foolishness awaits.  Staked to a 2-0 series lead, I expect Thursday night's gathering at 33rd Street and 8th Avenue to be at its raucous best, with torch and pitch fork in hand.

Let the Blueshirt Bacchanalia commence early in Joe Louis Plaza, enter the building, fill the seats, sections and levels, then during the anthem and opening face-off, and on through the night, revel, and chant King Henrik The Lucky's name in praise.





Mike.BTB

N.Y. Rangers: Deux Vers Le Bas , Deux Pour Aller

From the desk of:  RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS

Rangers Lead Series 2-0

I - NYR 7; MON 2

II - NYR 3; MON 1

III - THURSDAY NIGHT

@

Madison Square Garden

GAME TWO FINAL

Rangers      3

Canadiens  1

NEW YORK RANGERS: Les Chemises Bleues Gagner a Nouveau a Montreal!

Blueshirts Win 5th Straight ~ Henrik Lundqvist Makes 40 Saves

Rick Nash's 1st period goal was his second in as many periods (going back to the 3rd period of Game One).  That one was a bit inconsequential though.

This one mattered.  Just seventeen seconds after Montreal's Max Pacioretty opened the scoring 6:14 into the game, Ryan McDonagh tied the game (unassisted).  Then came the big one - and by that I mean a booming Rick Nash shot from the right circle.  Nash's goal to close out the 1st period gave the Rangers a 2-1 lead.

Henrik Lundqvist took care of the rest.  He face 41 shots, and stopped all but one to make Rick Nash's goal stand.

In a strange way, less proved to be more.  After 14 playoff games spent taking four and five shots a game, and coming up empty, Nash only took a pair of shots in Game One.  Monday night, he scored on his first attempt, and didn't take his second shot on net till the 3rd period.

Does this finally signal the arrival of Rick Nash?  These are after all, the Eastern Conference finals.  So, at the very least he is showing up at the right time.  His emergence also coincides with the the awakening of the power play.  They are now 4/10 in the series.

The timing couldn't be better.  The Rangers are half way to the finals.  If the PP and Rick Nash are about to heat up, then look out!


The Rangers carved up the Habs again.  It took magnificent play from Lundqvist, but the Canadiens have so far failed to keep up with Chris Kreider Carl Hagelin, and the Rangers speed.  They're also committing dumb penalties and paying a  price.

The series shifts to the Garden now.



Mike.BTB

Today's Rising Apple Podcast: An Off-Day Round Table Rant

Here's Monday's Podcast On

RisingApple.com

Episode 75 Rising Apple Report:

An Off-Day Round Table Rant With Greg Prince and Jason Fry, Sam, Danny and Me

Tonight's Guests: Greg Prince and Jason Fry from
FaithAndFearInFlushing.com

Stuff:
Terry Collins, Juan Lagares, Daniel Murphy, Dave Kingman, Rusty Staub, the 1975 Mets, Old Ownership, Ruben Tejada, New Ownership, Fan Vitriol, the Media, Sandy Alderson, Francisco Rodriguez, Gil Hodges, Citi Field, and much more....

Mike.BTB

Senior Staff Writer/Rising Apple

N.Y. Rangers: Blueshirts Should Expect Anything In Game Two

From the desk of:  RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS

Rangers Lead Series 1-0

I - NYR 7; MON 2

II - TONIGHT

2013-2014

STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS

Eastern Conference Finals

GAME TWO

NEW YORK RANGERS

vs.

Montreal les Habitants

FROM

The Great White North

NEW YORK RANGERS: Upon Further Review..., Coach Therrien's Eyes Decieved Him.

Sacre Bleu! Rangers Rout les Habitants In Montreal Opener;

Ryan McDonagh Ties Brian Leetch's Record With 4 Points.

So which is it?  Did Chris Kreider crash Montreal's Price on purpose or not?  Depending when you heard Coach Therrien, you received conflicting answers.  Immediately after the game, Coach said he didn't believe Kreider's act was intentional.  Now that Carey Price reportedly will miss the remainder of the series, Coach Therrien is singing a different tune.

It looked like Chris was trying to apply the brakes.  The level of his actual effort to prevent a collision can be debated I guess.  But, ask Kreider if he enjoyed simultaneously taking the left post square in his back?   Better yet - ask Derick Brassard how he's feeling after taking a late hit.

Weren't Brandon Prust's slash, spear and cross check of Chris Kreider, in succession, just as dangerous?

Fact is, Carey Price played like crap.  He looked like crap on Martin St. Louis' goal, on Kreider's first goal, on Brad Richards' goal, on Mats Zucs goal - not necessarily in that order.  Everyone in front of Price played like crap.  Okay?

The Rangers are not collectively that fast, and the Montreal Canadiens are not that slow.  Just like the Rangers played horribly in Game Four against the Penguins, the Habs had their day of futility.  I expect a different Montreal club on the ice this evening.

Speaking of speed - Mats Zucs, Kreider, Carl Hagelin, and St. Louis seemed to be everywhere.  But, it was clear Montreal suffered from led feet.

I expect a much more physical game from Montreal in Game Two.  Does anyone remember how Max Pacioretty took runs at Brad Richards and Rick Nash last season?  I do.  Look for something similar tonight. I will.  I fully expect Brandon Prust to go after Chris Krider, if not more Blueshirts, and without a doubt expect to see P.K. Suppan hit anyone he can.

We'll get a better sense of how this series will go tonight.

Let's Go Rangers!




Mike.BTB

For Rising Apple - 5/16 Game Recap: Missed It By That Much! Mets Fall 5-2 To Nationals

Last Night For

RisingApple.com

5/16 Game Recap: Missed It By That Much! Mets Fall 5-2 To Nationals

Join me every week for the Friday Recap.

Mike.BTB

Senior Staff Writer/Rising Apple

Today For Rising Apple: Is Sandy Alderson Being Set Up To Be A Fall Guy?

Here's my latest for

RisingApple.com

Is Sandy Alderson Being Set Up To Be A Fall Guy?

Mike.BTB

Senior Staff Writer/Rising Apple

Brooklyn Nets: Wait Till Next Year Reprise

From the desk of:  THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

Time To Hang Up The Sneakers Till Next Year.

BROOKLYN NETS: The Nets have a good jab, and an effective left hook, but they lack a straight right to put teams away.

Wasn't it a dependency on ISO (isolation basketball) that was partly, if not largely responsible for Avery Johnson and P.J. Carlesimo getting fired?

So, there was Joe Johnson isolated on LeBron James to end the game....  By itself, that might have been fine.  But, in truth, the first thing that came to my mind was - there's no plan here.  I thought that, because in the closing minutes, I felt Jason Kidd was guilty of designing some of the poorest plays coming out of time outs (I'm talking Mike Woodson poor), punctuated by a horrific in-bounds attempt.

Indeed, there was something very Knicks-like about the way Game Five ended, which explains why the Brooklyn Nets are free to make plans for summer vacation.  They had 14 assists all game - pondersous.

Did the Nets get screwed on a couple of whistles, or lack there of?  Sure.  Different calls could have fostered a different outcome.  In fact, I'd love the for the league to explain how it was that LeBron James went to the foul line more times than the entire Nets team.

The Nets nevertheless beat themselves.  The Miami Heat were begging for defeat this series, but on three occasions, Brooklyn could not close them out.   That's what makes this all so frustrating.

Once again, the Nets faded away late in the game, while Miami finished on a 13-3 run.  It was actually worse than that.  After Joe Johnson connected on a jumper at 4:48, the Nets missed on their next nine attempts.  They went through the next 4:37 before Joe Johnson connected on another three-pointer with just 0:11 left on the clock.

By then, the look on Paul Pierce's face said it all.  He was clearly hacked by LeBron James in the closing moments, but was also guilty of an 0 for 3 in the final minutes as well.

This is the way Brooklyn's second NBA playoff ends, having played a series of good games marred by horrible finishes.  For the record, it ends in a (second round) Game Five 96-94 loss to the defending champions from Miami.

Now what?

For Billy King, it may not necessarily be back to the drawing board, unlike after the Nets inaugural season in Brooklyn, but at the same time, the fix may not be that easy.

Billy King's top two salaried bipeds suffer from chronic lower appendages.  Deron Williams is going for an MRI on both ankles, and of course, there's Brook Lopez.  It was painfully obvious the Nets could have used a healthy Lopez against both the Raptors and Heat.

Paul Pierce's contract will be expiring.  Shaun Livingston also becomes a free agent this summer, and should parlay this season into a substantial increase.  Kevin Garnett and Joe Johnson aren't getting any younger either.

What became very clear in these playoffs, is that the Nets need someone who will provide a knockout blow. Collectively, the Nets have a good jab, and an effective left hook, but they lack a straight right to put teams away.

The off-season will be interesting to say the least.




Mike.BTB

N.Y. Rangers: Back To The Eastern Conference Finals

From the desk of:  RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS

Round Two

Rangers Defeat Penguins 4-3

I - NYR 3; PITT 2*

II - PITT 3; NYR 2

III - PITT 2; NYR 0

IV - PITT 4; NYR 2

V - NYR 5; PITT 1

VI - NYR 3; PITT 1

VII - NYR 2; PITT 1

*overtime

2013-2014

NHL STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS

Eastern Conference Finals

MONTREAL CANADIENS

vs.

NEW YORK RANGERS

NEW YORK RANGERS: Glen Sather Suplanted Much Of The Team's Toughness, But Alain Vigneault Coached The Blueshirts With A Lot Of Balls.

Brian Boyle spent the night throwing his body around, blocking shots, and silencing the Penguins fans by putting the first puck of the night passed Marc Andre Fleury.

Was it me?  But did the Rangers then go into a prevent defense?  I was agitated to say the least.

In the 3rd period, the Rangers opted for quick shifts, but continued playing not to lose.  What ever you call it, I thought Alain Vigneault was dancing with the devil.  In the end however, it went down as a brilliant defensive effort.

As I was saying, midway through the 3rd, Brad Richards and Martin St. Louis failed to capitalize on a two on one break, that I felt would come back to haunt them.  By the 10:00 mark, I was just waiting for the other shoe........

At 5:15 it almost fell off.  With the teams playing 4 on 4, Henrik Lundqvist was confronted with a furious Penguins assault on net, but The King held his ground.

Then I damn near blew a gasket at 3:14, when the Rangers willingly gave up the offensive zone and retreated back into a preventative posture again.  I thought - these sick bastards were just begging for overtime.

It never got to that.  Henrik Lundqvist made Brad Richards' 2nd period goal stand.  The King faced 36 shots in all, and turned away all but one.

The Rangers pulled it off.  While the Rangers were posting three straight victories, Henrik was limiting the Penguins to just a goal per game.  He has now won 5 straight Game Seven matches.

Tex's Rangers have arrived at the half way point.  They're going to the Eastern Conference finals.

Hopefully, this also silences those who demanded Henrik Lundqvist win a series by himself.  Our King is a benevolent king.

*           *          *          *

Can I have some salt, pepper and ketchup on the crow please?

If you ride The Trolley, or just follow RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS, then you know I've been one of the Rangers biggest naysayers this season, right through Game Four.  So, now, it's time I gave Coach Vigneault all the credit he deserves.  He did what other Rangers coaches could not, which was defeat the Pittsburgh Penguins in a playoff series.

He matriculated his team back from a 3-1 deficit, damn near flawlessly.

There was no shot in hell, Coach Tortorella would have let Chris Kreider play down his mistakes.  There would have been less of a chance that Dan Carcillo would have seen ice time.  Benoit Pouliot would have surely been buried deep in Torts' dog house, what with all his dumb penalties particularly in the 1st round.   And, we know with certainty, that there would have been no 4th line to speak of, with a 3rd line being a highly questionable proposition as well.  That's just scratching the surface.  So, I'm here to give the "devil" his due.



Mike.BTB