Thanks for finally showing up! Too bad the rest of the team is exhausted (Photo: Melissa Andus)

So… this is starting to look familiar, isn’t it? The Rangers opening their series on the road with two straight losses. While I think the Rangers are looking much better in the second round than they did in the first, drawing out the first round to seven games didn’t do the team any favors in terms of fitness and reserves. So, we’re still missing Clowe, Staal, and Powe, the defense is clearly exhausted, and a 1 in 5 road record is… not great.

Well, let’s beat this dead horse!

» Continue reading “Not Even Nash Can Save Rangers In Second Loss To Boston”

I took this picture during warmups as proof Richards did dress last night. (Photo: Melissa Andus)

Since the Rangers won yesterday, we get to continue playing this game. I was closer with my guess for McDonagh but still a couple of minutes off. (I was right he would come no where close to the 31 minutes he played in game four.)

After looking at last nights’ ice times, one player caught my eye – Brad Richards, who played under 10 minutes for the first time in a long time.

Honestly when I saw him in warmups taking rushes with Kreider and Asham, I laughed. (I was also proud of myself for actually catching a line rush since I never seem to be able to figure them out.) I didn’t understand the line and didn’t expect it to stay together. Sure enough it did as Richards had only roughly a minute more than his two linemates at even strength. The Rangers won the game but I can’t see him getting that little again tonight so here’s my guess – 11:34 (in regulation). My gut is saying he will have over 12 minutes but I’ll keep it low.

What does everyone else think?

Nice job shutting down Alex Ovechkin, Mac Truck. (Photo: Bridget Samuels/flickr)

I don’t know if it was the high of a home victory, the roar of the hometown faithful, or just a wake-up call from Torts, but the Rangers really showed up tonight. Hitting, winning face offs, McDonagh sticking to Ovechkin like glue, Brassard getting two assists, Hagelin showing up with a goal and two assists, and Stepan with the game winning goal for the second straight game… it all added up to another 4-3 victory over the Caps.

» Continue reading “Rangers Tie The Series With Nail Biter Win”

Tonight the Rangers begin their quest for the Cup. And what better way to do it, than to celebrate the man who has not only been through it all but was named MVP when he got to the end. He also happens to be one of the leaders of our team no matter what the fans want to believe.

Today we get to celebrate our alternate captains’ 33rd birthday.

I know some of you aren’t fans of Brad Richards but for today, let’s put that aside and re-live the moments in the past two years that have made us glad he became a blueshirt.

We all know about his stat sheet – 900 games played, 816 points (256 goals, 560 assists), a Stanley Cup winner, a Conn Smythe winner, the list goes on and on. And even though he is quiet, we all remember what he did to help when Hurricane Sandy hit last fall. I know I will never forget the fact he got half the team to a small, nothing of a rink in Staten Island that was literally five minutes from where I grew up.

So what random stats could we find about the guy known as Richie? Well everything is basically out there. For instance, as I already mentioned, you know he won the Conn Smythe in 2004 when he won the Stanley Cup with the Tampa Bay Lightning. If not, here you go:

» Continue reading “Happy Birthday Brad Richards!”

Tonight’s game between the Rangers and the Hurricanes could’ve gone one of two ways – the Rangers could’ve taken control from the opening face-off and earned a playoff birth the easy way or they could’ve let Carolina control the game and shown why many believed they would run out of time and head to the golf course early. Of course they managed to find a third option – play the first 25 minutes and then let the Canes take control before managing to steal the game in overtime.

A couple of lineup notes. First, on the Rangers side, Arron Asham missed tonights’ game due to the fact that he flew home to be with his wife for the birth of their fourth child. In his place, Matt Gilroy became a forward and played his first game since March 12th. Well I guess you can say he played although he only got 3:15 of ice time. (That said, that may have been due to what he did in that time not due to the fact that Torts didn’t want to play him.)

» Continue reading “Staalapalooza Ends With Rangers Clinching Playoff Birth”

The Rangers best defenseman of the night, John Moore. That’s good news for Moore. Not good news for the rest of the defense. (Photo: Melissa Andus)

When it comes to Rangers-Panthers, we all know who should win. All Rangers fans also know who probably will end up winning. Take this stat – in 46 games this season, the Panthers have led after two period only seven times. Two of those times were against the Rangers. At least they don’t have to worry about the Panthers and Markstrom, who had 80 saves in two games against the Rangers this season, if they do make the playoffs.

Before the game, the Rangers talked about how they needed to have a good start and put the Panthers away early. As we all know by now, when they make comments like that they usually don’t follow through. And once again they didn’t as I didn’t think the boys looked good the first few minutes.

Fortunately, they were playing the Florida Panthers and after an early penalty kill (an actual penalty kill as Ryan Callahan went over for tripping), the boys picked it up and dominated the rest of the period. Unfortunately that domination didn’t show on the scoreboard as the score remained tied at zero after twenty minutes even though they outshot the Panthers 10-2.

» Continue reading “Rangers Waste Chance To Clinch With Loss To Panthers”

You couldn’t have snapped out of your funk at a better time! (Photo: Robert Kowal/flickr)

Last week I said we needed to stick by Brad Richards and help him through his struggles. I had no idea he planned to snap out of it the next day by scoring four goals and three assists in the next three games. Those seven points also got him named the NHL’s second star of the week. Here is what the NHL had to say about Richards’ week:

Richards led the League with four goals and tied for second with seven points in four games as the Rangers earned six out of a possible eight points to remain in the top eight in the Eastern Conference. After being held off the scoresheet in a 4-2 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers April 16, Richards rebounded with a goal and an assist in a 6-1 win over the Florida Panthers April 18. He recorded his first career hat trick, including the game-winning goal, in an 8-4 victory over the Buffalo Sabres April 19. Richards then closed the week by posting two assists in a 4-1 triumph over the New Jersey Devils April 21. The 32-year-old Murray Harbour, P.E.I., native has played in 43 games this season and ranks third on the Rangers in both points (30) and assists (20).

He ranks third on the team in points and assists? I think we have to lay off him for a bit.

In other news, Brian Boyle did make the trip to Florida with the team but was held off the ice again today. It sounds like he’s still wearing a brace so I’m thinking he will be out a little longer than the three games originally mentioned.

A couple days ago, I said this man needed confidence. Four goals later, including first career hat trick, I would say that isn’t an issue anymore. (Photo: Robert Kowal/flickr)

You get a goal! And you get a goal! And you get a hat trick! Cause why the heck not throw one of those in?

Seriously, I don’t even know where to begin on the Rangers-Sabres game I just witnessed. Thirteen Rangers had points, a record was broken, a milestone hit, and more importantly the Rangers actually took control of a game they had to win. It was a lot of fun to watch. Even better was the regulation win eliminated both the Sabres and Flyers from playoff contention.

The first eighteen minutes of the game was a choppy, feeling out period for both teams. A couple of chances for both sides but nothing worth talking about. I thought it was going to be another nail biter. The moment the clock hit 18:30 of the first period, all hell broke loose.

First it was Carl Hagelin wrapping the puck around the net and banking it in off a Sabres defenseman with 1:18 remaining in the period. Stepan and Lundqvist got the assists on that one. Yes, Lundqvist got an assist. The next shift, the Rangers looked like they were going to give it right back but 57 seconds later, Brad Richards took a shot from the right faceoff circle that hit another Sabre and went past Miller to make it 2-0. Zuccarello got the only assist on that one. Seventeen seconds after that, Miller fanned on a clearing attempt and Ryane Clowe buried it to give the Rangers a 3-0 lead to end the first period.

Needless to say the Rangers fan base was in shock and thought they had seen it all. They had not.

» Continue reading ““Cookie Monsters” Score Eight Goals To Eliminate Sabres From Playoff Contention”

One of these guys had a great game tonight. The other, not so much. (Photo: Melissa Andus)

In what was a more or a less must win game, the Rangers came out and did something surprising – they actually won. Convincingly too. Unfortunately I couldn’t enjoy all of it. Why was that? Cause I was pissed at the Rangers fan base.

Before the game, the Rangers presented the annual Steven McDonald award. I love listening to him speak and tonight was no different as he asked that we dedicate the rest of the season to Martin Richard, the eight year old Bruins fan who died in the bombings on Monday. Then he told the Rangers to make that one extra play to make this season memorable. All was well.

Then his son took the mic and said Ryan Callahan won the award again. Are you serious Rangers fans? Do you even watch the games? Honestly I want someone to look me in the eye with a straight face and tell me Callahan deserved it this year. I love him. I do. But he didn’t deserve it this year. I know he’s playing injured but I don’t care. There are guys who have shown more effort, who were just plain better. I was honestly fuming till the end of the first period. I’m still pissed but knowing Tortorella said Stepan deserved it makes me feel a little bit better.

Okay, rant over. But I haven’t forgiven you guys for this. As for the game, the captain finally was himself so if winning that award woke him up, I guess I can accept it. But only cause we need him so it was nice of him to help out in the first period as he finally looked like the Callahan I know and love.

» Continue reading “Ryan Callahan Gives “Extra Effort” As Rangers Win”

You did so much for this city during the hurricane, now it’s time for us to do something for you. (Photo: Melissa Andus)

Brad Richards is having a horrible year. No one can argue this. When a player goes through a period where they play poorly, it’s called a slump. This is no longer a slump…unless you can have one for a full season.

I get on him on a nightly basis just like everyone else. He’s been nothing short of atrocious and it’s beyond frustrating to watch. Trust me, I get that. The Rangers need more from him, there’s no other way to say it. But it’s not like he isn’t aware he’s playing poorly. He knows. Hence the reason we see tweets like this one after last nights’ game:

» Continue reading “Time For Rangers Fans To Support Brad Richards”