Welcome to New York and congratulations on ending your scoring drought! Thanks for the goals and stuff (The Bay Area Bias/ flickr)

So, I feel like I slipped into some alternate dimension where everything is the opposite of the norm. Up is down, left is right, the Rangers score 6 goals in a game. But it actually happened and the Rangers actually beat the Penguins 6-1 on Wednesday. We’ll be seeing the Penguins again tonight… maybe we can repeat that feat?

You should check out Melissa’s great analysis of the recent trades, just to get the whole picture of what happened with the team this week before the trade deadline.

Let’s look at the whole week in review:

» Continue reading “The Week In Review: We Beat The Penguins? Cloweeeee!”

Welcome aboard Derek Dorsett! Can’t wait to see what you bring to the lineup! (Photo: Bridget Samuels/flickr)

So the dust has settled and while I am still glowing over the Rangers dominant win over an opponent I absolutely hate last night, I guess it’s time to give some thought to the huge trade that happened yesterday afternoon.

The full deal was Marian Gaborik, Steven Delisle (who had come from CBJ in the Nash deal) and Blake Parlett for Derick Brassard, Derek Dorsett and John Moore.

First the guys the Rangers got. I have been watching the Blue Jackets a little more this year (I like to keep an eye on ex-players and they seem to have a lot of ours) plus spoke with some CBJ fans so here’s a little bit of an “insiders” lowdown:

» Continue reading “Analysis Of The Trade That Saved The 2013 Trade Deadline”

Good luck in Columbus, Gaby. Say hi to Dubi and Artie and tell them we miss them! (Photo: Bridget Samuels/flickr)

Just when I, and everyone else, thought this was going to be a boring trade deadline, the Rangers and Columbus Blue Jackets decided they had other plans. I’m going to make this quick because I’m still in a little bit of shock:

Marian Gaborik was traded to Columbus for forwards Derick Brassard and Derek Dorsett, plus defenseman John Moore and a 6th round pick.

I’ll have a lot more on this later when it sinks in but for now I ask one question – why are the Rangers trying to become the 2011-2012 Blue Jackets?

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”

Don’t look at me that way. I don’t know why everyone wants to trade you either. (Photo: Bridget Samuels/flickr)

We are less than two weeks away from the trade deadline which means it is officially “silly season”. Rumors pop up out of nowhere and those who have been around this block before know which to listen to and which to ignore.

Almost every one I’ve heard involving the Rangers this year I’ve tried to ignore. Why is that? Because there is no logic behind them. Yes they would bring the team something they desperately (scoring, power play quarterback, heart-and-soul type player) but in doing so almost every one of them would weaken another area. Yes I understand that’s how trades work but these would severely weaken those areas.

For instance, trading Marian Gaborik.

» Continue reading “Should The Rangers Trade Marian Gaborik?”

Hey, cheer up Gaby. At least you finally scored! (Photo: Derrick Bostrom/ flickr)

So that sure was a mixed bag, huh? The Rangers started off the week being shut out by the Penguins, then they won two in a row and then lost to the 15th seed.

Let’s talk it out:

» Continue reading “The Week In Review: Up, Up, and Down…”

Denied. No goal for Crosby. (Photo: Screenshot from NHL.com game highlights)

So, if there was an upside to losing to the Penguins, it was not letting Crosby or Kunitz get points in. It’s the first time in 16 games against the Rangers that Crosby did not score a goal. The Rangers were able to shut down chances by the Penguins’ top two scorers, but let in goals by Pens rookie Bennett, and then two in less than a minute by Kennedy and Dupuis. The downside was handing Fleury his first shut out of the season.

Let’s break it down period by period:

» Continue reading “Penguins Freeze Out Rangers; Rangers Freeze Out Crosby”

Angry/ disappointed Torts face is back. (Photo: Screenshot from Senators post-game interview/ BlueshirtsUnited.com)

Sometimes it’s nice having a coach who wears his heart on his sleeve and won’t take any nonsense, because you always know when your frustration with the team is justified. And boy, has Tortorella been frustrated with the team this week. Let’s hit the week in review:

» Continue reading “The Week In Review: You Win Some, You Snooze Some”

This man is in a slump. The good news is I really don’t think it could get worse at this point. (Photo: Bridget Samuels/flickr)

Tonight’s match-up between the Rangers and Jets was for a playoff spot. With the teams tied going into the game, winner would be in sole possession of 8th place while loser would be in 9th. The Jets were aware of this. Apparently the Rangers didn’t get the memo.

Before the game, the Rangers said they needed to play a full game tonight to make up for what happened in Buffalo. Apparently their definition of a full game and my definition of a full game are not the same thing. It started from the opening puck drop as it was clear the Rangers didn’t seem prepared for what the Jets had planned and paid for it.

» Continue reading “Rangers Fall Out Of Playoff Spot With Another Listless Loss”

Take a shot! (Picture: Diana K. Griffin)

Nashty is not my favorite Nash-related hashtag (that would be Nashtag, womp womp womp). But this week has been downright Nashty. Rick Nash is back and playing like he never got hurt. Let’s not talk about Marc Staal’s poor face, though he’s gonna be okay eventually. The Rangers are back in playoff contention, folks! They’ve made it back to number 8 in the East. Let’s look at the week that was:

» Continue reading “The Week In Review: Just Plain Nashty”