Don’t give me that look. You know how this works. (Photo: Melissa Andus)

As the Rangers and Bruins shook hands, there were only a few guys I felt bad for. Number one was Lundqvist for obvious reasons. Number two was today’s birthday boy as Ryan McDonagh did everything he could throughout the playoffs to extend the season. Unfortunately it wasn’t enough so he gets to celebrate his birthday in Minnesota again, rather than in New York as we all hoped.

So what videos did we find on McDonagh?

» Continue reading “Happy Birthday Mac Truck!”

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”

Get used to this Rangers and Bruins fans. Not so much the outcome, as I expect that to fluctuate each game, but the style of play and length of the game. Maybe we should start a pool for how many minutes will be played in this series. These two teams are just so identical that I can’t imagine we see anything else. I just wish the Rangers wouldn’t have blown a game where our two boys from Minnesota scored.

The first twenty minutes were exactly what I expected from this series – good defensive hockey that just put everyone to sleep. I can’t say either team played poorly. I can’t say they played well either. Let’s just say both teams did what they were told to do. The result? Nothing happened in the first period.

» Continue reading “Minny Boys Score But It’s Not Enough As Bruins Win In OT”

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”

I’m expecting big minutes from Mac Truck yet again. (Photo: Melissa Andus)

So I was a little off on my guess for Steve Eminger. That said, anyone who tells me they thought he would see shifts in the third period AND overtime is lying.

Anyway, let’s try this again. Today, we’re going the other route and trying to guess the ice time for someone who spends half the game away from the bench – Ryan McDonagh.

In the past two games (i.e. the ones without Marc Staal), McDonagh has played almost an entire game (56:20) in regulation. Surprisingly, he played more in the New York game than in the one in Washington. So how much do we think he is going to play today? Honestly, I think the 31:29 he played in game four was a lot so unless something happens to one of our d-men again, he shouldn’t hit that. I’m going to say 25:21.

What does everyone think? You can read the rules of the game here and remember to comment below with your guess.

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”

Can we please stop blaming the guy on the bench who isn’t wearing a jersey in this picture? (Photo: Melissa Andus)

I’m going to be honest and tell everyone I missed the game yesterday. I usually work my life around Rangers games but sometimes I just can’t and this was one of those times. So I’m not commenting on the game itself, just my take from what I heard afterwards.

First of all, I have no idea if fans are blaming Ryan McDonagh but they shouldn’t be. I hate that penalty, I hate when any player takes it, and I’m one of the first to yell at them for it. That said, it’s not his fault the Rangers are no longer able to kill a penalty nor could score a goal (something that honestly isn’t his job) during the first 67 minutes of the game. And hearing how he was afterwards, sorry I’m not blaming him.

Nor am I blaming Tortorella.

» Continue reading “Why Are Fans Blaming Tortorella For Loss?”

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”

Cheer up, Dan Girardi. You scored the game winning goal! (Photo: Derrick Bostrom/ flickr)

What a game! The Rangers gained two points and their first shut out of the season in a hard-fought overtime victory against the Islanders at Nassau Coliseum. Dan Girardi scored on a high rising shot to the upper right corner of the net at 3:11 of overtime with a nice pass from Brassard setting him up to go to the net. Nice work by Brassard, showing more of the talent gained in the Gaborik trade.

» Continue reading “Lundqvist Nets First Shut Out And Girardi Scores Game Winning Goal Against Isles”

Hail to the king, baby! (Photo: Screen shot from Maple Leafs game overtime/ BlueShirtsUnited.com)

I should know better than to crow about any victory against the Penguins, no matter how big or small it is. Because that second game against the Penguins was no fun, no fun at all! So, the Rangers dropped in the standings, but are still hanging on to a playoff spot. They face the Islanders tomorrow, in what will be a great match up of long time rivals.

Good. Bad. I’m the guy with the keyboard. It’s the week in review:

» Continue reading “The Week In Review: Army Of Snarkness”