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”

Congrats on the latest edition to your family! (Photo: Melissa Andus)

I always love when I can place Dan Girardi and Marc Staal in the same sentence, especially when it’s regarding good news. Yesterday, the New York Rangers’ chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association announced that Staal had been nominated for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy and Girardi was the recipient of the John Halligan Good Guy Award.

» Continue reading “Congrats to Staal, Girardi, Asham + More Rangers Notes”

I’m down too, Pucky. Also going to miss you if the rumors are true… (Photo: Doug Kerr/flickr)

It wasn’t a good weekend for the Whale as they lost both of their games in regulation to the Albany Devils on Friday and Portland Pirates on Saturday by scores of 3-2 and 5-1. Kris Newbury and Christian Thomas had the goals against the Devils with Marek Hrivik getting the loan goal against the Pirates.

I’m not going to sit here and rehash the games because (1) they lost and (2) well they weren’t pretty so I’m sure no one really wants to re-live them. If you do, here are video highlights of both:

» Continue reading “Whale Go Out With A Whimper”

Brandon Mashinter scored the goal that got the Whale their only point of the weekend. (Photo: Chris Rutsch/flickr)

The Whale entered the home stretch to the playoffs this weekend with their last 3-in-3 of the regular season, all games coming on the road. On Friday morning, they had a playoff spot. By Sunday night, they were clinging so tightly to it as this was definitely a weekend the boys would like to forget.

Friday night the Whale were in Manchester for a match-up with the Monarchs. The game started well as Chris Kreider scored a beautiful power play goal late in the first period with assists to Benn Ferriero and Kris Newbury. Unfortunately that would be all the Whale could muster as the Monarchs scored three unanswered goals (Weal, Pearson and an empty-netter to Kozun) over the last forty minutes to take the 3-1 victory.

» Continue reading “Not A Good Weekend For The Whale”

Christian Thomas putting work in against the Senators. (Photo: Chris Rutsch/flickr)

The Connecticut Whale played 3 games in 3 days this weekend at home, in what would be a significant push for the playoff picture. The first game of the weekend was against the Hershey Bears. This game would go into a 3-2 shoot out, and bring the Whale the first win of the weekend.

» Continue reading “Whale Play 3 In 3″

Welcome back Arron Asham! I know you aren’t a bad player, but it’s bad when you are the one igniting the team and it isn’t by fighting… (Photo: Melissa Andus)

All night I listened as the Rangers outhit and outshot the Capitals through the final 40 minutes of the game. That’s great. They didn’t outscore them and not only gave away a valuable extra point, they gave a team that is chasing them two. This season, they just can’t keep doing that.

For those who haven’t heard, the Rangers roster changed slightly since the boys last game. Jeff Halpern is now in Montreal, Stu Bickel is in Connecticut (where he had 6 shots on goal during the Whale’s win earlier today and played in all situations including the power play) and Kris Newbury is with the big club.

As for the lineup, Arron Asham came off of IR to return for the first time in over a month (last game was 2/19 vs. Montreal) and J.T. Miller missed his first game since being called up due to his left wrist injury (and possibly the fact that he told the media what the injury was; just kidding).

» Continue reading “Rangers Only Gain One Point In Tough Game With Caps”

We won’t be seeing the guy on the left in that jersey anymore. May not see the one on the right either. (Photo: Melissa Andus)

For a day off, today was a busy day in Ranger world.

First, we said goodbye to Jeff Halpern as he was claimed by the Montreal Canadiens. I said he would be claimed by someone but expected him to go earlier than that. (Waiver claims go by reverse standings meaning the Panthers had first grab and the Canadiens were toward the bottom of the list.)

I hope I’m wrong about this but I think the Rangers will regret letting him go. He wasn’t anything spectacular but for a fourth line center who killed penalties, he was solid. Case in point – he was never scratched and would regularly be moved up in the lineup if Torts felt a spark was needed. Guess we’ll see. In the meantime, I actually hope we get no power plays next Saturday night as the Habs now have Prust and Halpern.

» Continue reading “Waivers, Recalls, Injuries + More”

Great weekend for this man! (Photo: Chris Rutsch/flickr)

Whale goaltender Jason Missiaen comes up huge in the St. Patrick’s weekend, where the Whale played back to back games on Saturday and Sunday. Missiaen was given the go ahead nod after securing a win last week in Providence. It should not be over looked that Brandon Segal has not slowed down since his short lived stint with the New York Rangers in their first few games. Another player who has stepped up his game tremendously since being sent to Hartford, is Chris Kreider. Kreider was told to get to CT, and toughen up his game, and that’s exactly what he has been doing.

» Continue reading “Missiaen Accomplished.Whale Heating Up”

The Connecticut Whale squared off against the Portland Pirates this week, and although it was a hard fought game, they could not find 2 points. The Whale did however come up with 1 point, as a late goal forced overtime, and eventually an even more dramatic than usual shoot out.

The first goal of the game came on a Portland power play when Brandon Gormley knocked one past Cam Talbot 20 seconds into the man advantage putting Portland up 1-0. Halfway through the period, Portland up on another power play, Chris Brown beat Cam Talbot like his name was Rihanna, putting Portland up 2-0.

Shortly after the second goal, Andrew Carroll and Boris Valabik went at it, dropping gloves, and woke up the sleeping Whale. Chris Kreider centered himself in front of the net and pushed a beauty from Logan Pyatt passed former Whale goalie Chad Johnson. At the end of the first, Sam Klassen took a high sticking penalty, and Portland’s Chris Conner hit the Pirates 3rd goal of the period with .9 seconds to go, putting the Pirates up 3-1. » Continue reading “Whale Find 1 Point & Kreider Is On Fire”

This weekend was an important one for the Connecticut Whale. The Rangers have sent Brandon Mashinter, Christian Thomas and Chris Kreider back to Connecticut. Mike Vernace and Benn Ferriero are both back from injuries. The Whale team, much like the parent club, the New York Rangers, are looking whole again. » Continue reading “Whale Win Both Against Bridgeport”