This guy got ten and a half minutes of ice time which is double what I expected so he gets to be the lead picture since no one really deserved it and I refuse to post a picture of a Penguin. (Photo: Bridget Samuels/flickr)

According to the schedule up on the Rangers website, the team was scheduled to play the Penguins at home tonight. I can confirm there was a game at Madison Square Garden as I wasted two and a half hours of my life watching whatever it was MSG was showing.

And I’m not just bashing the Rangers with this commentary. The game was basically atrocious on both ends. Let’s put it this way – remember the first game between the Rangers and Flyers a week ago? This one was worse.

» Continue reading “Complaints From All Fall On Deaf Ears As Pens Shutout NYR”

Sigh. I know it’s your style of play but we need you on the ice not in the pressbox. Get well soon Captain! (Photo: Derrick Bostrom/flickr)

**Update: Replacement will only be temporary as the Rangers announced he has a shoulder subluxation and will only be out 10-14 days. Thank goodness.**

First off, you don’t replace Ryan Callahan. You can’t. The things he does on the ice, the package he brings, can not be replaced by one person. That’s why he’s captain.

Therefore “replacing” him will have to be by committee. Others will have to step up and take pieces of his role. Taylor Pyatt and Brian Boyle will have to stand in front of the net during the power play. Derek Stepan and Carl Hagelin will have to get more time on the penalty kill. The entire team is going to have search within themselves (to take a Torts phrase) and find that energy, that identity he brings to the ice and continue to bring it even without having a leader to follow.

As for an actual roster replacement, the best option would be for Sather to pull one of his miracles. Since I’m not expecting that to happen, here’s my thoughts on what can or will take place.

» Continue reading “Replacing Ryan Callahan *UPDATED*”

Landon & Dan Girardi (Photo: screen shot from 24/7)

In case you missed it last week or do not have access to MSG, here is the full episode of Dan Girardi’s “Beginnings”:

» Continue reading “Beginnings: Dan Girardi”

This man should’ve been a star of the game for his penalty killing prowless. Still amazes me what he can do out there. (Photo: Bridget Samuels/flickr)

Hockey is a game of momentum. It can switch at the drop of a coin. During the second period tonight, it absolutely went the Rangers way. It could’ve turned to the Flyers early in the third but for the first time all season, I saw the Rangers team I knew and loved last year. We’re going to have see a lot more of that over the next couple of weeks due to those circumstances in the third.

A couple of pregame notes. First, the Rangers fourth goal against Toronto which was originally credited to Boyle has now been given to Del Zotto as it was deemed that while Boyle screened Reimer, he never touched the puck. To be honest, I didn’t think he had when I first saw the goal but I went with it cause they said he did.

» Continue reading “Huge Win Comes At Huge Cost”

One of two new additions to the Whale this week had quite a good start to his Whale career. (Photo: Chris Rutsch/flickr)

After splitting their games last week, the Whale looked to get back on track with three home games this week. Looks like it worked as the Whale went three for three, earning all six points available to them.

Wednesday night was a crazy one as the Whale and Adirondack Phantoms combined for 11 goals and 30 penalty minutes in a game that needed over 64 minutes to complete.

» Continue reading “Whale Weekly: Homestand Just What Doctor Ordered”

2 goals and 2 assists against the Maple Leafs and I still can’t find
any happy Gaby pics! (Photo: Derrick Bostrom/flickr)

Four goals in the third period? Talk about a nail biter! But, if you were teetering on the edge, the next week is not going to give you a break. Let’s hope the Gaborik, Richards and Nash line can continue to pick up the slack.

We’re hosting some visitors from Pennsylvania this week! Let’s look at the schedule:
» Continue reading “The Week Ahead: Second Chances And Old Grudges”

This man was sporting the new and approved Broadway Hat (from Hugo Boss) after the Rangers come from behind win this evening. It could’ve gone to any one of five guys. (Photo: Bridget Samuels/flickr)

Sam Rosen and Joe Micheletti called it the Rangers best game of the season. It really wasn’t difficult for that to happen but I would have to agree. While the first period was a lot of mental mistakes, once they got that together this team looked more like the one I know and love.

A couple of changes in line-up which I apologize for not posting sooner. For those who missed the earlier news, the Rangers called up new acquisition Benn Ferriero to replace Chris Kreider, who is day to day with a bone chip in his ankle. He suffered that injury with the Whale so it does explain his play a little bit. I’m still not convinced he’s 100% ready for the NHL but we won’t know that until he’s healed. For now, he’ll be off the ice for a couple of days.

There is also a rumor (read: done but not official yet) that Jason Arnott will be signing with the Rangers after taking a physical tonight or tomorrow morning. It is expected to be a one year contract worth between $1.6 and $1.7 million.

» Continue reading “Rangers Come From Behind As Top Line Reappears”

Yes he’s good looking. No that’s not why I’m a fan of his. (Photo: Bridget Samuels/flickr)

As I’m sure you’ve heard by now the Rangers thought it was a great idea to post “A Girl’s Guide to Watching the Rangers”. It went over as well as anyone with half a brain would’ve expected and the Rangers took it down within a half hour. If you missed it, plenty of people took screen shots and posted them. You can read all of them on The New York Rangers Blog here.

My first reaction when I saw it was to respond to it. But what to say? Honestly the post didn’t even say anything; it was more the fact that it was posted in the first place. Then I realized it didn’t need a response once they took it down.

The Rangers apologized for the post roughly seven hours later with this tweet:

Glad to hear you guys realized that. I’m pretty sure that “fan contributor” didn’t just post it on her own so way to throw her under the bus. Honestly I’m more offended by that tweet than the actual post but that’s probably just me. At least they apologized.

Either way, this post isn’t about that. Instead I decided to write what they should’ve posted – a guide to watching with a female fan.

» Continue reading “Guide To Watching Hockey With A Female Fan”

Yesterday after Chad Kolarik was traded, I commented the Whale would not have a representative at the AHL All-Star Game. Turns out I was wrong as yesterday afternoon, after another player was called up to their NHL team opening a slot in the East, J.T. Miller was added to the roster.

Miller, who has seven goals and ten assists in 33 games, will be the youngest participant at this years’ game. My guess is he was added so the Whale would have a representative. That said, I think it is deserved and should only help to motivate him more for the remainder of the season. (Before anyone asks, no I don’t think he will or should get a call-up to the Rangers unless they become decimated by injuries as other teams are.)

The AHL All-Star festivities are this weekend with the skills competition this Sunday and actual game on Monday evening up in Providence, Rhode Island.

Congrats Miller!

Who expected this man to be the leading scorer four games into the season? (Photo: Bridget Samuels/flickr)

This was the definition of a trap game. The Rangers played last night and brought an eight game winning streak against the Flyers into the game. Add that to the fact the Flyers hadn’t won a game yet this season and I didn’t have high hopes for the game. I was right.

For those who hadn’t heard, Kris Newbury was recalled from the Whale earlier in the day and played in place of Kreider, who got to watch this game from the press box. Bickel remained in for Asham therefore Eminger remained in on D.

The game started exactly as everyone expected it to – with Richards, Nash and Gaborik on against Talbot, Couturier and Voracek. Oh you didn’t expect that? Then you don’t know Torts. Remember, the Rangers had to give their starting lineup first. No way Torts was starting his fourth line in this game.

» Continue reading “Streak Is Over As Flyers Beat Rangers”