This was a good night for him. (Photo: Screen Shot from post-game video. Click picture to see video which includes interviews with Dubinsky, Del Zotto & Biron.)

Throughout the lockout, many blogs are doing fake recaps of the games that should’ve been taking place. I’ve decided to go another route by doing real recaps…of the games that happened on that date one year ago.

It wasn’t a pretty game. In fact, it was a game most people probably looked over since the Rangers and Flyers would be playing the next night for first in the Atlantic and possibly Eastern Conference. For once, though, the Rangers didn’t look past a game – against the 14th place Islanders – they would’ve in prior seasons. And in doing so, they got the outcome they wanted…and probably deserved since they were the better team.

» Continue reading “One Year Ago Today: Another Win In The Books”

Welcome to the NHL Stu Bickel!

Throughout the lockout, many blogs are doing fake recaps of the games that should’ve been taking place. I’ve decided to go another route by doing real recaps…of the games that happened on that date one year ago.

On December 20th, 2011, the Rangers and Devils played their first game of the season against each other. Yes, you read that correctly. It took till late December for the two rivals who play less than an hour from each other and that includes traffic. I guess it’s the same reason the Rangers will be done with Florida before the middle of January. I shouldn’t question it anymore.

The game didn’t start well…in the sense that the Rangers had to recall two defensemen in order to have six healthy guys to put on the ice. One of those guys? Some guy named Stu Bickel. Yes, Bickel’s first NHL game was against the Devils. No, he didn’t get into a fight. He did get two minutes for roughing David Clarkson though so I guess that counts.

» Continue reading “One Year Ago Today: Hi Strangers! Remember Us?”

I don’t think it’s too much of a stretch to say you scored the best goal of your short career on this night. (Photo: Bridget Samuels/flickr)

Throughout the lockout, many blogs are doing fake recaps of the games that should’ve been taking place. I’ve decided to go another route by doing real recaps…of the games that happened on that date one year ago.

Sunday night games at Madison Square Garden are always interesting.

For one, you never know what type of crowd you are going to get. (It’s technically a weeknight yet no one is in the city before the game.) And secondly, it usually means the team is on a back-to-back.

On December 11, 2011, the Rangers had just returned from a quick trip to Buffalo to play a Florida Panthers team who had been in New York waiting for them. Both teams were playing their third game in four nights and had to travel to each game. But only one team had to go through a Tortorella run training camp to start the season. And on this night, you could tell the difference it made.

» Continue reading “One Year Ago Today: Torts Training Camp Pays Off”

Oh Artie. While I enjoyed your celebration, tonight probably wasn’t the time for it. (Photo: Bridget Samuels/flickr)

Throughout the lockout, many blogs are doing fake recaps of the games that should’ve been taking place. I’ve decided to go another route by doing real recaps…of the games that happened on that date one year ago.

I’m going to start with a caveat – on December 8, 2011 I was at the Garden to see the Rangers versus the Lightning with a friend. I expected a good game. I didn’t expect what I saw. Better yet, I had no idea what I saw as this game aids in my argument that sometimes it’s better to watch the games on TV rather than be there live.

Earlier in the day, the Lightning had gotten some bad news as Marty St. Louis was hit in the face with an errant puck during practice and would miss the game with facial and nasal fractures. The guy who took that shot? Dominic Moore. (Remember that fact.) It was supposed to be St. Louis’ 500th consecutive game. Obviously I felt bad for him but it was a huge break for the Rangers.

» Continue reading “One Year Ago Today: Just Reloading His Weapon”

How do you guys feel about scoring against the Lightning? (Photo: Jesse Spector/flickr)

Throughout the lockout, many blogs are doing fake recaps of the games that should’ve been taking place. I’ve decided to go another route by doing real recaps…of the games that happened on that date one year ago.

Over the past few seasons, there are some teams that have just given the Rangers trouble. There usually isn’t a reason for this; it just is what it is. One of those teams was the Tampa Bay Lightning who the Rangers hadn’t beaten since April 2010 going into their game against them on December 3, 2011. A new season and a number of ex-Lightning players added to the roster would finally change that.

» Continue reading “One Year Ago Today: One Streak Continues While Another Ends”

I agree Mitchell…I wouldn’t want to block a shot with my face either. (Photo: Bridget Samuels/flickr)

Throughout the lockout, many blogs are doing fake recaps of the games that should’ve been taking place. I’ve decided to go another route by doing real recaps…of the games that happened on that date one year ago.

Most games have something that distinguishes it from other games. Whether its a crazy goal, big fight, huge save, one team dominating the other…there’s always something. On December 1, 2011, the thing that separated this Rangers-Hurricanes game from any other was a blocked shot. Or rather the reaction to it.

» Continue reading “One Year Ago Today: Lesson Learned – Don’t Block Shot With Face”

My favorite thing about Ruslan Fedotenko? You never knew when he was going to have a game like he did a year ago. (Photo: Bridget Samuels/flickr)

Throughout the lockout, many blogs are doing fake recaps of the games that should’ve been taking place. I’ve decided to go another route by doing real recaps…of the games that happened on that date one year ago.

Over their past two games, the Rangers had taken 37 shots…total. Seventeen in Montreal, twenty in Florida. Then they had a day off to sit and eat turkey and all the trimmings before heading to Washington for an afternoon match-up against the team who had kicked them out of the playoffs two of the past three seasons. It would be their first game against the Caps since April.

The guess is Tortorella reminded the boys of that to try and wake them up from whatever slumber they were in.

It worked.

» Continue reading “One Year Ago Today: Revenge Against The Caps”

Someone was reeking havoc on the Senators a year ago today… (Photo: Bridget Samuels/flickr)

Throughout the lockout, many blogs are doing fake recaps of the games that should’ve been taking place. I’ve decided to go another route by doing real recaps…of the games that happened on that date one year ago.

Less than two weeks ago, the Ottawa Senators had come to Madison Square Garden for a game that featured a little bit of everything. They also stole two points during a shootout in a game the Rangers should’ve won in regulation. Tonight the Rangers were headed to Ottawa to get some revenge. The game wasn’t nearly as interesting but at least the outcome was what the boys had tried to do two weeks prior.

» Continue reading “One Year Ago Today: G.A.S. Line Does It Again”

Guess who was the number one star on November 6, 2011? (Photo: Bridget Samuels/flickr)

Throughout the lockout, many blogs are doing fake recaps of the games that should’ve been taking place. I’ve decided to go another route by doing real recaps…of the games that happened on that date one year ago.

Back-to-backs are never fun. After the Rangers played a tough game against the Canadiens the night before, a Sunday night game against Winnipeg had trap written all over it. The good news for the Rangers was the Jets were playing a back-to-back as well so while the start wasn’t good, at least they were able to get it together quicker than their just as tired counterparts.

» Continue reading “One Year Ago Today: G.A.S. Line Saves The Day”

You know I love you but I was so mad at you during this game. And that was without knowing you would play your last game a month later. (Photo: Bridget Samuels/flickr)

Throughout the lockout, many blogs are doing fake recaps of the games that should’ve been taking place. I’ve decided to go another route by doing real recaps…of the games that happened on that date one year ago.

Rangers and Canadiens on a Saturday night is always an experience. Doesn’t matter if the game is in New York or Montreal, it is guaranteed to be the Hockey Night in Canada game and the two teams guarantee to put on a show. (Sometimes that show is one team completely dominating the other but it’s a show nonetheless.) On November 5, 2011, the two teams did not disappoint.

» Continue reading “One Year Ago Today: Saturday Night Thriller Between Rangers & Habs”