Can you do this again tonight? Without getting a penalty of course (Photo: deb/flickr)

A new series means we get to keep playing our game of guessing the ice time of a Rangers player in that nights’ game. For game seven I predicted Brad Richards would play 11:34. I was off by 22 seconds.

In picking today’s “contestant” (if you will), I wasn’t sure which direction to go since we have no idea what to expect from this series other than low scoring, tight checking games that will probably be longer than 420 minutes (i.e. 7 games at 60 minutes a piece).

So I went with the local boy – Brian Boyle. I don’t think it’s a secret Boyle grew up a Bruins fan right outside of Boston. If you weren’t sure, just listen to him speak. Deciding his ice time, however, was tricky. He technically plays on the third line (assuming the lines stay as they were the last two games, which I expect them to do). But he also is great on face-offs and kills penalties so that all plays into his ice time. We also don’t know matchups.

In the last series, he ranged from 11:29 to 23:29 per night. As the series went on, he was closer to the higher number so I expect him to see more than third line minutes. Just not that high. My completely random guess (remember, regulation only) is 16:42. (Let it be known I originally had 14:42 but thought that was too low.)

Now it’s your turn – how much does the local boy play?

Henrik is getting his shut-outs in the post-season! (Photo: Melissa Andus)

So, for a few minutes there, I was worried that this game was going to turn into the Boston-Toronto game, where Boston came back from a 3 goal deficit to win in overtime. But that didn’t happen. Lundqvist scored his second shut out in a row and the Rangers broke their streak of never winning a game 7 on the road with a 5-0 victory over the Washington Capitals. Congrats boys. Now we head to Boston for round 2….

» Continue reading “Rangers Move On To Face Boston After Five Zero Win In Game Seven”

Any time you want to show up to this series would be nice… (Photo: Melissa Andus)

Have I mentioned I hate the Capitals? Actually I take that back. I don’t hate the Caps because no matter how much I try I just can’t. I hate the Rangers team I have to watch when they play the Caps. Because they should be able to beat them…and they just can’t.

The Rangers looked good in the first shift of the game. They looked even better in the second as Derick Brassard got the puck behind the net and passed to Brian Boyle who was right in front and able to bury it just 53 seconds into the game. Yes you read that correctly. The best part? The boys didn’t back down after that as they played a great road period throughout the first 20 minutes including two power plays that actually looked competent. Unfortunately they couldn’t capitalize but they had zone pressure and great chances.

Of course they almost gave it up in the final 30 seconds of the period but managed to get out of the period unscathed. They weren’t so lucky in the second as everything they did well in the first disappeared as soon as the puck dropped to start the period.

» Continue reading “Rangers On Brink After Overtime Loss”

This man is definitely a keeper if he plays like he did tonight. (Photo: Melissa Andus)

Going into this series, I thought these two teams were similar. They both were expected to be contenders but barely made the playoffs, with the Caps getting a higher position because the Southeast really is a horrible division. The Caps were better up front, the Rangers were better on the back end and while Lundqvist is a better goalie, Holtby becomes a brick wall when he sees the Rangers. Pretty even, right? Yet watching this series, I’m beginning to wonder if I was wrong. That maybe the Rangers truly are a team who deserves to just make the playoffs and the Caps are one who should have home ice in the first round. It looked that way tonight. Fortunately the score doesn’t always show the way it looks.

The Rangers started the game with all the momentum on their side. They had the crowd, who was even more pumped when they heard Marc Staal was in the starting the lineup. The first shift or two didn’t look bad. Then Washington took a penalty and it was all downhill from there.

The penalty was on Ovechkin. My first concern was him coming out of the box and going on a breakaway. Of course, after having a semi-competent power play, the Rangers bobble the puck and it squirts out of the zone as Ovechkin comes out of the box. He didn’t get a clear cut breakaway and Del Zotto was able to stop him from getting a clean shot. A minute later, the Rangers got pinned in their zone and the Caps took advantage to take the 1-0 lead.

» Continue reading “Caps Better Team But Rangers Take 4-3 Victory”

Even Nash couldn’t score against Holtby today. I really am starting to dislike this man. (Bridget Samuels/ flickr)

Sooo that was an ugly game.  No score through regulation and then an overtime loss on a stupid penalty. On the plus side, we got Boyle and Dorsett into the line up to replace Newbury and Kreider. On the minus side, well, they got shut out by Holtby. Thanks a lot NHL for making deflecting the puck into the crowd a delay of game penalty. Ugh.

» Continue reading “Rangers Fall In Overtime Loss And Give Caps A Two Game Lead As Series Heads To New York”

This man and his mustache might be close to returning. He isn’t the only one. (Photo: Bridget Samuels/flickr)

Today’s practice brought some good news for the Rangers. Everyone, and I mean everyone, was out on the ice preparing for tomorrow’s important game two.

Marc Staal continues to skate in full practice, contact and all, even though there is still no update on his return. (I would love to see him in this series. Unless there is a lot more we don’t know, I don’t expect to.)

Brian Boyle joined him for the second day in a row, skating and wearing a regular jersey that is. He might be the closest to returning although I still don’t know what exactly his original injury was.

For the first time in his Rangers career, Derek Dorsett was also in a regular jersey meaning he is getting closer to a return. Honestly, unless there is a setback, I expect to see him later in the series.

And lastly, Ryane Clowe rejoined practice for the first time since his injury during the end of the regular season. Afterwards he didn’t rule himself out of game two but since he was wearing a non-contact jersey during practice, I can’t see him playing tomorrow. Stranger things have happened though.

So which of these players do I expect to play tomorrow? None…but it does sound like the team is getting close to healthy. That said, anything is possible especially considering what Tortorella said to the media today:

“Because if we don’t win, we’re done. So I don’t give a damn about the conditioning. If I think a player’s going to help us, he’s going to play.”

While I still wouldn’t put Staal right in if he says he’s healthy, he has a point.

You should be smiling after the month you had! (Photo: Bridget Samuels/flickr)

Late last night, the NHL decided to make another spectacle of themselves by announcing in a TV special the schedule for the first round of the playoffs. From the reaction of those who decided to watch it, I’m glad I didn’t waste my time. Seriously NHL, just post it on the website and call it a day.

Anyway, the Rangers start their series on Thursday which isn’t ideal but isn’t the worst thing either. (Extra practice time as well as extra time to get guys healthy makes me not upset about the delay.) Here’s the full schedule:

Game 1: Thursday, May 2, 2013  7:30 PM ET New York at Washington. NBCSN, TSN, MSG

Game 2: Saturday, May4, 2013 12:30PM ET New York at Washington. NBC, TSN

Game 3: Monday, May 6, 2013 7:30PM ET Washington at New York.  NBCSN, TSN, MSG

Game 4: Wednesday, May 8, 2013 7:30PM ET Washington at New York.  NBCSN, TSN, MSG

*Game 5: Friday, May 10, 2013 7:30PM ET New York at Washington.  TSN, MSG

*if necessary

» Continue reading “Schedule Released + Stepan Gets Recognition”

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.

Get well soon Boyler! (Photo: Bridget Samuels/ flickr)

Some quick hits before tonight’s kind of important game against the Panthers. (I don’t want to call it a “must win” but they have to win.)

It was announced this morning that Brian Boyle would be out indefinitely with a “lower body injury”. It is believed to be a right knee issue. Out indefinitely probably isn’t good news but he has been seen around the training center the past two days and did walk out of the arena after the game Tuesday night on his own so fingers crossed it’s nothing serious.

In his place, the Rangers recalled Chris Kreider. My initial reaction? Pretty sure you all know what it was. We’ll see what happens but if Boyle is okay in a couple of days and he gets sent back down, I give up. I just think at this point he needs to be in one place and stay there. Maybe this isn’t a temporary injury, though, so they wanted to bring someone up they knew could adjust quickly. Either way, he better not be on the fourth line tonight.

In other news, Derek Dorsett has been skating the past two days (he got to do the infamous training camp drills today) but still can’t take contact. It sounds like he’s on track though so hopefully he will be ready in the next week or two. Marc Staal has also been skating, with contact, even though he can’t see completely out of his injured eye. For now, I’m not touching that but needless to say I don’t get it. I want Staal back but if he can’t see, keep him off the ice. But I guess he and the doctors know something I don’t. You can read about what he’s going through (just typing it worries me) and all today’s other news here thanks to Andrew Gross (who is a must follow for Rangers fans, if I haven’t implied that already).

It didn’t happen exactly like this since Boyle wasn’t on the ice but I love this picture and Zuccarello did get his first of the season.

Editors Note: Before we get to the recap of tonight, I want to give my thoughts and prayers to everyone effected by the tragic events in Boston yesterday. Being from NYC, I know exactly what that city is going through. I also know they are just as strong as NY was and will get through it. Thoughts and prayers from your friends to the south are with you guys during this time.

Tonights’ game between the Rangers and Flyers basically meant nothing to the home team. Yes, Philadelphia isn’t mathematically out but for all intensive purposes, they are done. The Rangers, on the other hand, desperately need all the points they can get to make sure they keep that hold on eighth place. So which team played their hearts out? The Flyers, of course. Honestly, I called this outcome before the game cause the Rangers are too damn predictable. Can’t wait till the Panthers game on Thursday…

After a nice tribute to the victims in Boston, the Rangers and Flyers took the ice and if I didn’t know better, I would think both teams played last night and had to travel to get to tonights’ game. (The Flyers did have that, the Rangers didn’t have an excuse.) Nine and a half minutes in, the Flyers finally made the Rangers pay as a puck deflected off a Ranger player (I think Zuccarello) right to Brayden Schenn who was wide open in front of Lundqvist because Anton Stralman was looking the other way and buried it.

» Continue reading “Rangers Lackluster Effort Gives Flyers Easy Win”