Time to See These Trade Results In Action

Both Backman and Sjostrom should be in the lineup tonight. It will be nice to get a little first impression of the players we received. Obviously we can't make a full judgment after one game. We have to give it some time. Backman was skating with Staal and Sjostrom will be skating on the 4th line. Another big game tonight against a team in the playoff hunt. Both of us need the game, but who wants it more?

Trade Deadline Thoughts

So I have let everything sink in from this crazy trade deadline and there was obviously some good and some bad. Let's start with the deals the Rangers made.

Rangers Trades
After Boyle got an extension, things didnt look too good for us to make an important deal. We got a decent defensemen in Backman, who can fill in on the third pair with Mara hurt and then eventually possibly take Strudwick's spot. Personally I like this deal.

Now the other deal I am still a little iffy about. It was nice to get something back for a player like Hossa, who was starting to not fit in our plans, and get something for our top prospect Montoya. We could've gotten a lot more for Montoya in the summer but we didn't know then whether or no he was going to be our backup and play in Hartford. He turned into the backup in Hartford so I don't mind trading him for what we did. Fredrik Sjostrom is a good young player that can add to the Rangers huge pool of good young players. Remember, Jagr and Straka and Shanny all become free agents after this year and are getting old, so you don't know whats going to happen. Josh Gratton is a player that fits perfectly into the fourth line if Orr and Hollweg weren't there. He is a fighter and a tough player. He most likely won't play in the NHL with the 4th line already having enough fighters and tough players. Still, he is only 25 so it's a nice piece to have.
Lastly there is a goalie to replace Montoya. David LeNeveu is only 24, has some NHL experience, even though it's not the best in the world. We have to take this for Montoya because his valued dropped because we took the risk in waiting to trade him. I feel we got enough for him though so I consider this trade an upgrade that could pay off in the future.

Now let's discuss some other NHL trades and their effect on us.

Good
- The only good thing, is players leaving the Eastern Conference and our division. That list includes: Brian Campbell, Brad Richards and Chris Simon. That's about all the good there is in this trade deadline besides the deals the Rangers made.

Bad
- Obviously the worst thing that happened this deadline was Hossa coming into our division. He is a very good player and is an immediate upgrade for the Pens. Yes Crosby and Armstrong were good together but I'm sure that he can make a nice relationship with Hossa. They also get Pascal, another nice addition. The one good part of this trade is that Hossa is, as of right now, just a rental player. I expect the Pens to try and sign him to an extension but as of right now he is nothing but a player being rented for some 20 games and the playoffs. Still a great upgrade for the Pens.

- Along the line with the Pens, they also got Hal Gill. A decent player with some toughness and another upgrade for the already good Pens.

- Cam Janssen was traded out of the division and the conference. I personally think thats bad because I always liked fights between him and the Rangers, oh well.

- Last bad thing, is Prospal coming into our division as well. He is a good player and a team with a lot of talent that is just having a little skid right now. They have the talent to go on a nice run and Prospal will only help them do that.

That’s the trade deadline for you. Now let’s see how these trades play out on the ice and not on paper.

Trade Thoughts

To NY Rangers: Fred Sjostrom, David Leneveu and Josh Gratton
To Phonenix: Marcel Hossa, Al Montoya

Rangers fans cannot look at this trade with the same Al Montoya opinions of old. To be blunt about it, he is a prospect who is first and foremost on the decline and secondly had no chance of ever becoming the starting goalie for the New York Rangers. Granted, I think Glen Sather could have gotten more for him during this past offseason but the fact remains...his value has plummeted over the past 2 seasons.

What I think this trade comes down to is the fact that the Rangers obtained a serviceable NHL forward in Fred Sjostrom for a couple of young players who, despite having their moments in Rangers land, really had no place in this organization.

Believe me there are very few Rangers fans right now who are sad to see Marcel Hossa go. This guy has had chance to prove himself time and time again and despite seeing some time on a line with Jagr has managed just one goal this season in limited action. What the Rangers do lose, however, is a good penalty killer and a player with the ability to throw the body around on the fourth line.

Fred Sjostrom is a player with definite upside. A former 11th overall pick, he has 19 points in 51 games this season including 2 shorthanded goals (I guess this guy can kill penalties). Being this only his 4th year in the NHL, I'd be curious to see how he can produce with some players around him.

The problem I have is I'm not exactly sure where Sjostrom fits into the lineup. Whereas Marcel Hossa had the ability to play the 4th line, Sjostrom is more a speed player who is less apt to take the body and buckle down defensively. Assuming the top two lines stay as is:

Avery-Dubinsky-Jagr
Dawes-Gomez-Shanny

...I think it would be worth it to give Sjostrom a shot on the third line next to Drury and Straka. This would remove Callahan/Prucha off that line and presumably on to the 4th line. This then begs the question...can Cally or Prucha be a solid 4th line player. If it is determined that they cannot and the 4th line stays as Orr-Betts-Hollweg then that means that both Cally and Prucha will remain out of the lineup. While depth is good in case of injuries, I'm not sure if keeping these guys in the owner's box every game is necessarily a good thing.

Just to mention, in a four game swing in which Phoenix played the Islanders, Rangers, Devils, and Flyers, Sjostrom had 4 goals. Not bad.

Rangers trade Hossa and Montoya

I heard this rumor before but now it is official. TSN reports "Coyotes send F Fredrik Sjostrom, F Josh Gratton,G David Leneveu to Rangers for F Marcel Hossa and G Al Montoya" Once all details are reported and all trades are officially announced I will analyze this trade, the Backman one and the other big ones around the NHL.

Breaking News: Rangers Acquire Defenseman Christian Backman

According to Nhl.com, the New York Rangers have acquired St. Louis Blues defenseman Chrisitan Backman for a draft pick. Backman, a five year vet, has played in 45 games this season registering 1 goal and 9 assists along with 30 penalty minutes.

Immediate thoughts say solid trade. Will be a good addition to the third line D in place of Mara for the time being and eventually in place of Strudwick.

More News: Pens just traded for Marian Hossa...crap.

Bad News

Yea it's late but I have been shocked by terrible NHL news. The worst being that Boyle signed an extension. He was, in my mind, the Rangers #1 target for this trade deadline and he is now gone. Now the Rangers have to try and find another defenseman they want to trade for.

Second bad news, not as bad, but the Flyers got Prospal. He's a good player and now he is in our division. It could be dangerous. Let's hope tomorrow afternoon there is some good news to off set this bad.

Trade Deadline Rumors

With the trade deadline tomorrow, the rumors are heating up all over the NHL. The Rangers have a few rumors going around, the biggest one being Dan Boyle. As of right now, there has been no mention if he is even available. He is going to be a UFA over the summer and Tampa Bay has had no progress of signing him. The New York Post reports that the Rangers are hoping he becomes available on Monday and will try and trade for him and also sign him to a deal so he wouldn't become a free agent.

The only other rumor for the Rangers is about winger Rob Schremp from Edmonton. He is a good young player who scored 57 goals and 145 points in the OHL last season. Word is Hugh Jessiman would be included in the deal but there will be more than just him. We'll see what happens as the deadline gets closer.

Rangers vs Panthers - Post Game Thoughts

Tonight’s game was as good as it gets. We dominated a team we should have on all levels of the game. Our offense was on, minus the powerplay again. While on the topic of powerplay, I don't understand how a team can be so good at even strength and than gain an advantage and somehow not be able to score. Whatever though, our even strength play right now is covering for all the powerplay problems. It's also very nice to see so many different players get on the score sheet. Not relying on one certain line to save us is a nice advantage thing to have. There is good balance right now on offense and we are going to need that to get in the playoffs and advance.

On defense, there is only one word to describe the play. Henrik. He was on his game and got his 8th shutout of the season making 23 saves. He was what we expect him to be and was just as dominant as the offense. I think the contract extension has really relaxed him because he has been excellent since it was officially announced.

The last thing I have to talk about is Malik. I hate him just as much as any other Rangers fan, but today I am going to put that to the side and say good job. He was physical, played well and got a goal and an assist. It's still hard for me to read his name in the list of 3 stars of the game. If anyone ever told me Malik would be a star I would laugh in their face. Now the question is, was this some fluke or does he actually have skill. I personally am not getting my hopes up but it was nice for him to really show up to this game.

The Rangers are really starting to show some serious potential and skill. They overcame a devastating loss and beat a team they are chasing in the standings and than continued the play and killed a team deep in the standings. Crunch time is upon the Rangers, and they are stepping up to the pressure. Now we just have to keep it up.

Rangers vs Panthers - Second Period Thoughts

Domination, Domination and more Domination. The Rangers owned that period and I am so happy to see the play I am seeing against a bad team. I know that sounds weird, but going into this game you had to imagine the Rangers would do the usual and barely win this game because they lowered their level of play. They have played so well so far. The biggest thing in that period is seeing Jagr score a beautiful goal again, one that showed out his true skill. It shows he was just in a small slump and he still has the skill to dominate a game. Hopefully his confidence is starting to come back for the most important part of the season. Hell, even Malik is being physical and scoring a goal. When Malik is actually doing more than one thing right, the Rangers are having a great game.

Rangers vs Panthers - First Period Thoughts

This is exactly what we needed. Usually the Rangers lower their playing level to the teams that they are supposed to beat. Today they decided to show up and play like they have been. There isn't much else to say.

Rangers at Sabres - Post Game Thoughts

I really hope everyone saw Sean Avery skate onto the ice when he was announced as the second star of the game. This guy is absolutely crazy...he's gonna get himself killed one day. But besides that, skating onto the ice for the star announcements as a visiting player is hilarious. What a guy.

Great win. Just because the team didn't play their best does not mean that wasn't a great win. The Rangers showed excellent mental toughness tonight. There was a lot of pressure on them after Tuesday nights debacle and they came through. Anytime you are tied with 5 minutes left and can manage to win the game in regulation I'd say it is a good win.

I think that third period completely exemplified the solution to what I referred to as the Henrik Lundqvist Problem. The team plays solid team defense, Henrik bails you out when he needs to i.e. the Vanek breakaway, and the offense gets a bounce late in the period and puts one in the net.

I don't think there is to much to take out of this game except for the confidence that the team can win and score goals when they don't play that well. We finally got Jagr a goal and completed the first half of a very important weekend mission.

My 3 Stars Of The Game:

1. Michael Rozsival - excellent defensive play (including the BS penalty in the last minute) and a fantastic assist to set up the tying goal at a time when it was desperately needed.

2. Sean Avery - the huge GWG and the guts to make an on ice appearance for his star announcement.

3. Brandon Dubinsky - would it be absolutely ridiculous to say that Brandon Dubinsky is our best player...he might be.

Bottom line is...a loss tonight would have been somewhat catastrophic. The Rangers bounced back from Tuesday night and can now officially put it behind them.

Rangers at Sabres - Second Period Thoughts

The Henrik Lundqvist Problem --> No, it isn't the play of the franchise goalie but instead the play of the rest of the team when he is in net. As I've written about before, when Stepen Valiquette is in the net the entire team seems to clamp down defensively and shut down the middle of the ice. This shut down D leads to goals and eventually a solid win. However, when King Henrik takes the ice, the Rangers players continue to take him for granted. They think they can take chances that they simply cannot do. They seem to think Henrik will bail them out when he simply cannot. Granted, Henrik's play has definitely been subpar so far tonight but I believe the fault lies on the players outside the crease.

So how to fix this problem. It starts with 2 guys...Jagr and Renney. The first step is that Renney needs to verbally acknowledge the tendancy his team has. Only then can he being to come up with a tactical solution. Jaromir Jagr is the captain of this team and the last person to committ to defense. However, when he sees his team hanging their star goalie out to dry he needs to step up both verbally and lead by example on the ice.

Brandon Dubinsky... wow, simply amazing :)

Rangers at Sabres - First Period Thoughts

It's amazing the difference an opponent makes. The Sabres are an shorthanded team right now and one that is not nearly as good as the one we saw Tuesday night up in Montreal.

The Rangers did not play well that period. They did not force the issue on Miller despite the 2 goals. 7 shots on a goalie who hasn't proven he can stop a beach ball tonight is not enough. They need to get to the net, get shots, and pounce on rebounds. Henrik let up a softie, the Rangers didn't draw any penalties and took 2. They are very fortunate to be leading at this point in the game.

About Staal and Avery standing up for their teammates...while I am undoubtedly in favor of throwing your body around to send a message, it seems somewhat uncalled for in this game. The Rangers are a better team than the Sabres and desperately need 2 points. It's not worth it to take stupid penalties just to prove toughness. The Rangers should be able to walk into this game and pull out a W without the unnecessary penalties.

A New Day

Now that I've gone four days withouth thinking about the Rangers (I was to frustrated), we're back in action.

Big Game. Need to get rolling and figure out what is going to happen at the trade deadline.

By the way, I'm surprised Drury is being booed. I feel as though he is an icon there.

Thoughts: 5 Hours Later

Well, we've all had way to much time to let this one sink in. Tonight absolutely sucked. What an awful night of hockey. I can't look at boxscores, I can't read game recaps and I certainly cannot watch Sportscenter or ESPNews. Just brutal.

BUT...

Lets take what happened tonight for what it's worth. Suppose the Rangers had held on to that lead and won the game 5-2. Yes, we would have been happy and yes, it would have been a big win. However, it would have just been one win in one measley regular season game. The loss needs to be looked at in the same way. Yes, we are upset and yes, it was a tough loss. But, it is just one loss in a regular season game.

We don't have to look further than one of our current players to remember one of the most heartbreaking losses in Rangers history in last year's playoffs (Chris Drury btw). From that game we know what utter dissapointment and sports depression feels like.

The game tonight...bad loss. But, I don't think it is going to matter in the long run. I am fairly confident in the Rangers playoff positioning and I don't think the loss of one point tonight will factor in the Rangers playoff standing. Hey, we can even take some positives away from tonight's game. How about that offense. Jagr put up some nice numbers and Dubinsky continues to impress. 3 POWERPLAY GOALS!!! Man was it a strange night.

Montreal had their night tonight. We'll get them back when it really counts. Tonight...don't sweat it.

Rangers @ Montreal - Post Game Thoughts

I thought we had it and boy was I wrong. That is the sign of a great team, a team that can contend for the Stanley Cup. We let that slip away and it’s miserable. We did it to them and they just did right back on a bigger scale. All I can think of now is how this team will deal with this. We were on a nice run till the 3rd period. All we can do is hope this doesn't kill the team and they can come back and beat a good Buffalo team. This is really miserable.

Rangers @ Montreal - Second Period Thoughts

Not as good as the first period, but it was still good. Nice to see the big guys on the team get assists and goals, especially Jagr. The 2 goals that the Habs scored you can almost say oh well too. They are a dangerous offensive team and you had to expect them to put some goals in. Regardless, we still have the 3 goal advantage with one period to play, which is a nice thing to have going for you. Just have to wrap this one up, beat a team tied for the most points in the conference and bring it into the next game.

Rangers @ Montreal - First Period Thoughts

If someone can find me a more complete first period this season tell me. This has to be up there. 2 great even strength goals, a great powerplay goal and some outstanding goaltending. The Rangers have been dominating the even strength play as of late and it continued in this game. Someone needs to sign Dubinsky to a nice extension because his play as of late has been magnificent. Also, big Jagr getting on the score sheet 3 times is great to see. Definitely nice to see that against Montreal after he got roughed up by them last time. And don’t forget, this is against a team tied for the best record in the East, and we are kicking their asses.

The only bad spot in the period was the second powerplay. That was bad, they had more shots than us but thanks to Henrik, nothing bad came out of it. Now all we have to do is just play regular hockey and we can win this game. I personally would rather see 3 more goals and really put down a statement to the East that we are coming.

I'm Excited About This Team

I know I wrote a post very similar to this one the other day but what the hell. I'm sitting here in the middle of the night reading game previews for tonight's game against Montreal and for the first time in a long time I am very excited about this team. Although I am always excited for games my mentality often centers around the phrases "must win" or "if they don't win this game..." or "they should beat this team".

For the first time in awhile I want to watch a game simply to see this team play. They are once again fun to watch but in a very different way. While I used to revel in the utter puck dominance and skill of Jagr-Straka-Nylander... I am now excited to see Drury and Gomez drive to the net for garbage goals, Brandon Dubinsky excel at both ends of the ice, and Marc Staal continue to prove himself as the YoungStar that he is.

The similarities between this year and last year persist. Henrik holding down the net, Roszival being the unsung leader of the defense, Sean Avery being... Sean Avery. This team right now, however, exhibits a steady calm and consistency that makes me proud to be a Rangers fan. Look at the Rangers... signing young players and building from within!!! Who would have thought? Not me.

Jagr, Straka, Shanny...they're nice pieces that can definitely help this team. But at this point, thanks to improved play, contract extensions, and proper media attention, the Rangers have transformed themselves from a team that was close to being over the hill (Jagr, Shanny) to a young, up and coming team with enourmous potential (Dubinsky, Dawes, Girardi).

Would someone like Rob Blake help this team at the deadline? Certainly. However, it would be a huge mistake to trade a Dawes, a Callahan, or anyone else in the young core of players, guys who are quickly replacing Jaromir Jagr as the current face of this franchise.

Just Some Thoughts

Recently I have been thinking about all these great extensions the Rangers have come up with. They are solidifying our future, which is obviously very important. I am still seeing one problem though. How could Avery feel with all these extensions going on around him and nothing happening with him? I haven't heard a single rumor or piece of news that any discussions have even been thought of. If you haven't realized, Avery is someone we need to keep. His offensive skills have definitely come to show themselves and his energy is one of a kind. Yea he caused a fight in practice and now he isn't talking to the media. You get the good with the bad. Right now, I feel the good far outweighs the bad and it's time to start working on keeping Avery for a couple more years.

Rangers vs Sharks - Post Game Thoughts

This was a huge HUGE game. We finally beat a Western Conference team and a damn good one at that. We had great everything. There was aggressive play, great goaltending and a powerplay goal. I think the powerplay goal is the biggest part of this game. That had to be a huge weight off the teams shoulders, knowing that they could score a powerplay goal. This was just a huge game with just huge pressure lifted off the team.

Now, yea you could be saying, look at us, we beat Buffalo and the best road team in the NHL. We are not there yet. 2 games is not consistency. There are signs of it, don’t get me wrong, but the Rangers need more of a 5 out of 6 streak or longer. That will show consistency. Teams behind and above us still have 1 or 2 games on us, so we are not exactly sure where the Rangers stand right now. But if play like this can continue, the Rangers can put in a nice push not only to the playoffs, but into a good seed.

What A Week

Hey Rangers fans, in the past week our team has picked up 7 out of 8 points and signed our goalie and 2 young defensemen to contract extensions. With the signings of Drury and Gomez in the offseason, that gives the Rangers a solid core (Center, Defense, Goalie) for the future. It has been a long time since the Rangers have had a group of players to build around. GM Glen Sather is putting his money in the right places and building a hockey team the correct way. The direction of this team appears to be very positive. HUGE win today!

Tyutin Signed To Long Term Deal

Well on this dreary Sunday the good news keeps on coming. Besides a huge Rangers win over a good Sharks team, they have also announced the re-signing of Fedor Tyutin to what is believed to be a four year deal worth somewhere around $11 million.

You have to like what the Rangers have been doing here with their young guys, especially these talented defensemen. It looks like Tyutin and Girardi are going to be a pair for quite a while.

Rangers vs Sharks - Second Period Thoughts

I am very happy right now. The play in the first carried over nicely and the aggressive play continued. The consistency is very nice to see against a good team. Oh yea and did I mention we scored a powerplay goal. Yes that’s right, a powerplay goal. It’s a miracle. That is something the Rangers really needed. At least now we know that our powerplay actually still exists. It was a great period. No penalties or goals against and a powerplay goal. That's about as good as it gets.

Rangers vs Sharks - First Period Thoughts

Nothing that bad to say about this period. They played with a lot of energy and I feel outplayed one of the best road teams in the NHL. One problem I do have is the powerplay again. Correct me if I'm wrong but I think I heard that they are 0 for 39 on the powerplay at home. Just let that sink in. That is a lot of chances and they can't even score one. Henrik let up an unfortunate goal but played well. To win this game the Rangers are going to have to take advantage of the few Sharks mistakes. They had two 2 on 1's and didn't even hit the net. We are outplaying them and if this continues, this is a game we should win.

Another Contract Extension

Girardi's boy Tyutin is getting a contract extension too. No word on the exact length and price tag but a great extension. It will be nice to have these two together for a while.

Only other news is the lineup is the same as last night, including Henrik in the net. Lets hope they can work off that dominating performance last night and finally beat a Western Conference team. March is coming fast and almost every single game in that month is going to be against a team we are chasing so we need to start getting the play consistently on a high level.

Rangers vs Buffalo - Post Game Thoughts

The only thing to say is that this means nothing if they do not play like this tomorrow. This was a huge game. Not only did we beat a team above us in the standings, but we dominated them. We scored goals by getting pucks to the net and getting rebounds. That is what we need to do. Throwing pucks at the net and getting garbage goals can be a lot easier than trying to just rip slap shots past a goalie. This team has the skill to be able to find rebounds and know what to do with them. To continue winning we are going to need to continue to throw pucks at the front of the net. This was a crucial game for the Rangers because of the long break and then a huge win at home. Plenty of goals were scored, the goaltending was awesome, and it was basically a complete game. Would've been real nice if it was a shutout too.

One problem is the powerplay. We are never going to be real contenders until our powerplay is better than this. Yea luckily, we are scoring a good amount of even strength goals but that will not always be there. A powerplay is a guaranteed advantage and the Rangers need to start taking care. Today it was 0 for 5 and obviously that is far from acceptable. Even one powerplay goal would've been fine today. Down the stretch, when the Rangers are struggling in a game we need to be able to have confidence that if we get a powerplay, the Rangers have a good chance to score. Right now when we get a powerplay, I get angry because we only seem to score on even strength. Regardless, we won, never mind, we dominated. Now this must continue. Tomorrow is a huge game too.

Last thing, big night tonight in the East. Lots of contenders above us playing. We’ll have to see what happens tonight. Hopefully we can get some results in our favor and continue to climb in the standings.

Rangers vs Buffalo - Second Period Thoughts

That was another strong period by the Rangers. The scoring doesn't show as much dominance as the first period but the play was just as strong. This is exactly what the Rangers need coming off the longest break of the season. Strong play against a team above them in the standings is crucial. Everything but the powerplay, as usual, is working and I think this game is basically in the bag.

One thing to note. Was that really Malik's first point since opening day? Yea, gives me even more reason to boo him. That is terrible.

Contract Extension

During the game, the Rangers announced that Dan Girardi is going to have a 2 year contract extension. I like the signing cause he is a good young defensemen and he could've been an UFA. He will get $1.5 million in year 1 and $1.6 in the second.

Rangers vs Buffalo - First Period Thoughts

Do I really have to say that much? The Rangers came out like men on a mission in the first, and that mission is to make the playoffs. There really is no better way this period could've started. The rest obviously hasn't hurt anyone. One important thing, Jagr got on the scoresheet with 2 assists. Now he needs a damn goal.

Horrible Night

It started off as a great day with King Henrik getting his long awaited contract extension but the night turned very ugly. Every team that is near us one. The Devils and Habs for OT wins, the Sabres blanked the Leafs and the Bruins beat the Pens. The only thing that went right is that the Caps lost. Other than that it was a horrible night.

As for the standings, the Rangers have dropped to 9th. They should stay there because every team below them has the same amount of games. It is really just keeping an eye on how far the Rangers fall away from the top 8. The Bruins and Sabres don't play again till Saturday so they will both still have 2 games in hand and we will stay in 9th. With the Rangers only 1 point behind the Sabres, the game on Saturday is pretty big. The Devils and Flyers both play before Saturday and then on Saturday so they could gain 2 points on us before we come back. Lets hope they lose.

Standings Update

It was a pretty good day for the Rangers. Philly, the Habs, and Boston all lost last night leaving the Rangers still in 7th place. Buffalo did win so it wasn't perfect night but a decent one for the Rangers. Tonight is a night filled of contending teams playing. Here is a list of the games that mean something tonight:

New Jersey vs Ottawa - A good matchup for the Rangers. Expect the Devils to put up a fight, but Ottawa should win, especially after they got destroyed by Buffalo last night.

Habs vs Florida - Not really great for the Rangers so expect the Habs to gain some ground on us.

Washington vs Atlanta - Washington is close to us so we have to watch them. Atlanta is right behind them so this is a key game for both teams.

Boston vs Pittsburgh - Really no good comes out of this game.

Buffalo vs Toronto - Buffalo is hot and gaining on us but this is not an easy game. I am hoping Toronto steps it up since they are still in the playoff hunt.

Henrik Set To Receive King Size Deal

It is being reported that the Rangers and goalie Henrik Lundqvist have finally agreed on a long term contract. No details have been released but it is believed to be in the ballpark of 6 years for 6.5 million per year.

Good for Henrik, hopefully this will take some pressure off him and he can return to the King we all know and love. It's also nice to see the Rangers didn't play any games with him because of his poor play of late.

No Overtime Games In The East Tonight

Woohoo!!

Richard Zednik

Richard Zednik is in stable condition today in a Buffalo area hospital after lifesaving surgery to fix a severed artery. Zednik caught teammate Olli Jokinen's skate blade in the neck yesterday during the Panthers Sabres game. Authorities say Zednik is lucky to be alive today.

It's hard to take things like this knowing that they can happen at any instant in such a dangerous sport. Thankfully the incident was treated quickly and successfully. Our thoughts go out to Richard Zednik and his family.

Time to Go On Vacation

Now all the Rangers can do is rest for 5 days. Get healthy, get some good rest and some good practice time in. This is going to be a miserable 5 days as all we can do is watch other teams gain points and catch up or run away from us in the standings. I'll be posting daily results of the other team’s scores during the week and updated Eastern Conference standings. Unfortunately I have to say we may be as low as 10th by the end of this but all we can do is wait and see. I think with the craziness and the inconsistent play by all teams in the NHL that we end up either 8th or 9th and obviously within striking distance of the playoffs. Once most of the teams have an almost equal amount of games as us, then we can really judge the Rangers place in the hunt for the playoffs.

With the trade deadline coming up, expect this week to be a good time for Sather to try and start working up some trades. There have been many mentions of trading Jagr and Malik by different sports writers but no rumors out there about anything in the works. Also expect a possible announcement of a Lundqvist contract extension. Rumor has it that they are close and it should be done any day now.

Rangers at Capitals - Overtime

Damn. More Later.

What was one of the keys to success in the Rangers win against Philly yesterday? Special Teams. Special teams are also a key to losing as evidenced by the Rangers performance today.

Overall, I didn't think the Rangers played poorly. I thought they played a nice road game and certainly well enough to pick up two points. Vally was as steady as you can hope for, the Rangers had a number of quality chances and the penalty distribution was very much in the Rangers favor. But this is the NHL and pending an extraordinary performance i.e. the Montreal game, allowing 2 PPG and going 0-6 on the powerplay is not going to produce a win.

So now its time for the Rangers to go on a little vacation. Well, hopefully not but instead a week of good practice. What will this team look like next Saturday in Buffalo? For starters, expect Brendan Shannahan and Marcel Hossa back in the lineup. Expect Henrik in net and expect Callahan and one other, hopefully Hollweg, out of the lineup. Trade possibilities? Malik, Straka, Jagr? For what it's worth, do not trade Jagr. No matter what he does during the regular season he is still the leader of this team and a money player come playoff time.

I said earlier that we needed at least 3 points this weekend. Mission accomplished. Rangers currently sit in 7th. This might not be the case the next time we see the Rangers on the ice but we'll have to wait and see. Over the next 5 days just be sure to root for the Western Conference and as few OT games as possible.

Vinny Spills.

Rangers at Capitals - Third Period Thoughts

Very necessary point earned. Good job. Ollie saved the Caps in this game. Let's get that second point!

Rangers at Capitals - Second Period Thoughts

You simply never want to allow goals in the first or last minute of a period. A defensive breakdown which cancels out what was a solid period of Rangers hockey.

Minus the goal at the end, great period. The Rangers controlled the flow of the game for most of the period. They were very disciplined not taking any penalties and closing up the middle of the ice. They drew penalties by going hard to the net and creating off the rush. Stephen Valiquette continues to amaze.

Chris Drury is one of the few players on this team that would turn and shoot in that situation. Save Dubinsky and Dawes, every other player would take the puck and try to make a pass or a wrap around the net. Great awareness from the guy who is quickly becoming the leader of this team. Also, a fantastic shot block right before the Washington goal was scored.

Need 2 points from this game.

Rangers at Capitals - First Period Thoughts

There is a play I want to highlight in that period that the NHL should use to persuade people more people to watch. Nickalas Backstrom goes in semi-one-on-one against Marc Staal. Staal makes a great defensive stand up play to take Backstrom off the puck. Alex Ovechkin comes in a lays a hit on Staal. As a result, Sean Avery comes in and tries to pick a fight with Ovechkin. Good stuff from 3 of the NHL's best young stars and arguably the leagues most controversial player.

To the game. There are few words to describe how angry I am at the officiating in this game. A delay of game on the goalie??? Are you kidding! The non call on the Avery mini-break and then a call ON Avery 30 seconds later. An absolute joke. And honestly, if the refs kick one more Ranger player out of the faceoff circle Tom Renney should get himself thrown out of this game (do NHL coaches do that? they should).

As to the goals, not very representative of the first period play. Ovechkin, who is simply fantastic btw and should be the face of the NHL, gets a goal of a BS penalty and Avery gets a lucky bounce and a nice shot. The story of this game is a Rangers team that isn't playing their best and a Washington team that is not that good. They are very vulnerable defensively and if the Rangers can capitalize on some opportunities they should be able to take this game.

Man, Marty Straka has certainly showed up to play today. One of the best periods we've seen from him in a long time.

Powerplays can be so much fun when your team shoots the puck. No PPG that period but the powerplay work was certainly improved with all 4 pointmen letting it go from the point. Traffic in front, hard low shots, the goals will come.

Valiquette Gets The Call

For the second straight game Stephen Valiquette will get the nod in net for the Rangers. Good decision in my opinion, continue to ride the Valiquette wave while giving Henrik some rest at the same time. Don't get me wrong though, if the Rangers want to make a run in the playoffs it has to be on the back of Henrik Lundqvist.

Rangers at Flyers - Post Game

Special Teams + Goaltending + Toughness = Recipe For Success.

Special Teams: The two key cogs to the powerplay seem to be Scotty Gomez and Dan Girardi. Girardi always seems to find the scoresheet. It's not that he makes dazzling plays or has a rocket shot. Its that he is very smart, always makes the simple pass to the open man and lets the guys who can dazzle and shoot do their thing. Scott Gomez -> see second period thoughts. This guy has just been unreal. The team penalty killing is a product of the total team defense the Rangers seem to play with Vally in net. Collapse around the net and limit opportunities from the slot.

Goaltending: There is no doubt in my mind that Valiquette needs to play tomorrow. Henrik has been iffy against Washington thus far with a horrid showing in the most recent 5-4 OT loss. If Vally plays tomorrow Henrik will have had a 10 day rest to prepare for the stretch run at the end of the season. Let Henrik get his personal life sorted out during the Rangers mini All-Star break this week. The Rangers can beat Washington with Vally in the net. He has the toughness in goal to beat Ovechk...i mean the capitals.

Toughness: Colton Orr, Ryan Hollweg, Sean Avery did what they needed to do today. Tough guys and fights help establish a team's presence on the road and the Rangers did just that today. Good to see Tyuts and Dubie getting scrappy as well.

Three Stars Of The Game:
1. Stephen Valiquette
2. Scott Gomez
3. Dan Girardi

Rangers fans tend to look for games that will mark the beginning of a hot streak. I think what you will continue to see this season is the extensive parity that exists in the NHL. Neither the Rangers nor most other teams have the ability to put together multi-week winning streaks. I think the Rangers will make the playoffs but I think they will do so without the use of an extended winning streak. They will continue to win 3 lose 2, win 3 lose 2. Its the state of the NHL that they play in. Take wins when you can get em. Great 4 point win today.

This Guys Is Worth The Money

Scotty Gomez! As I said in the my first period thoughts, this guy can play with anybody. He creates for himself and his linemates. Only in light of Henrik's recent slip, team MVP this year. Credit where credit is due...Great signing by Glen Sather.

Good to see the players standing up for one another. Good to see Colton beating people up. Bad to see Sean Avery getting a misconduct. He is to valuable on the ice for that crap.

Mike Richards is a good player. I respect how he goes about his business and will one day be the captain of the Flyers. With that said, someone needs to put this guys on his ass. Drive him into the ice, on to the bench, into the net, I don't care. He is being to disruptive on the ice for the Rangers to continue to let him run around.

Need to close out this game.

Rangers at Flyers - First Period Thoughts

Not to much to complain about when you come out of the first period on the road with a lead. Nigel Dawes keeps coming through using both skill and effort, what else is new.

Two things of note:

1. Where did Stephen Valiquette come from? This guy has done everything that you can expect from a backup goalie. I hope he keeps this up, a guy who finally derserves a shot.

2. Jaromir Jagr needs to get a point in this game. I mean come on, what the hell is going on with this guy. There is a difference between not producing like he usually does and not producing at all. Jeez, a secondary assist is all I'm asking for. The top line of Gomez - Jagr - Straka has been invisible the past 6 games or so. Gomez keeps picking up points but many of those are products of goals and assists from players other than his linemates. I'm no coach but this is what I think:

Dawes - Dubinsky - Drury
Prucha - Straka - Jagr
Avery - Gomez - Callahan
Hollweg - Betts - Orr

First Line: Hardworking, North-American Style, drive to the net
Second Line: European/Czech Line, Make Jagr Comfortable, Straka or Pru at center
Third Line: I believe Gomez's line placement is flexible, he can create with anybody
Fourth Line: HBO Line

The Importance Of The Next 2 Games

It's always difficult to say that a team is in such a dire situation that they absolutely need a win at this point in the season. But, the Rangers situation is damn close. The Rangers have as many as 4 more games played than some teams around them in the standings. That is why 3-4 points are a must this weekend. Next week is going to be a blood bath. Teams all around us picking up points while our team sits at home. Its unfortunate the way this season's schedule has played out but that's the way it is. From a pure psychological perspective, the Rangers need to have these two games, leave everything out on the rink. They will certainly have time to rest next week.

Rangers vs Ducks - Post Game Thoughts

If you read what I wrote in the 2nd period, this is about to be nothing new. The same thing happened again. A 2 on 1 with a quality goes in the net. A powerplay for a struggling team consists of plenty of missed opportunities. That powerplay could've and should've been a boost for the Rangers to go and try and tie that game. But no, they can't score to save their own lives. The net was open and the puck went over someone’s stick. The puck just drifted right through the crease and no one touched it. Tonight’s game was an example to all Rangers fans of what a quality team looks like. When the Ducks got their chances they didn't sweat, stuck to their talents and skills and put the puck in the back of the net.

Now the Rangers on the other hand showed that they can't score. Yes J.S. is a great goalie and he made some great saves but there was plenty of opportunities for the Rangers to put in a goal. Fights were at good points of the game and pumped up the team. Yet it somehow seemed that every time the Rangers got numerous chances, the Ducks would come back and put the puck in with one chance. That should be us. The Rangers have the skill to play just like the Ducks. They have the offensive talent on paper, but as everyone says, the game isn’t played on paper.

Last thing I want to talk about is Henrik. I feel absolutely horrible for him. His morale continues to suffer because the Rangers allow such great chances for other teams and he lets up goals he has no chance of saving. Yes, he has given up bad goals but the majority of the goals let up have been because of the play of the fowards for the most part. All of these loses are not about Henrik not being Henrik. Its about the offense and especially the powerplay being so damn awful. It’s pathetic that with all those names on the Rangers, and you know them all, we can't score a powerplay goal let alone multiple even strength goals. Without the scoring Henrik just ends up having to basically put up a shootout every night to win and thats not happening. The pressure on him right now must be crazy and all I can is feel bad for him.

As the season continues to draw closer and closer to an end, we have to realize something. Yes the Rangers are in the hunt, but they also have played 2, 3 and even 4 more games then many contenders that they are chasing or are being chased by. That’s a lot of points that other teams can gain and all the Rangers can do is sit and watch. Watch out for next weeks 5 day break because some teams are going to catch up to us and it might not look as good in the standings as it does now.

Rangers vs Ducks - Second Period Thoughts

The Ducks announcers called this a perfect road game for the Ducks, and so far it is. The beginning was great for the Rangers. Those two fights energized the crowd and the team. Callahan put in an unbelievable shot. That’s how you shot the puck. Top corner and make it difficult for a goalie to stop. That’s the type of shot you need when you are playing a top notch team and goalie. Unfortunately after that goal the team decided to disappear.

The Rangers were playing so well. They had the crowd in it but you can't give up a 2 on 1 to a team who actually knows how to score. Look at what the Ducks did. They took advantage of their opportunities. A 2 on 1 in a great opportunity and they put in a great shot. They threw the puck in front of the net and got a rebound garbage goal. That’s how a quality team plays. They know how to score goals in situations where they should. The Rangers have had point blank chances and they just can't do it, they can't score. It's almost like they don’t want to. It's like they could care less about scoring. What you are watching is a quality team playing like they should and beating a team who just can't find their groove.

Ducks at Rangers - First Period Thoughts

I had the absolute pleasure of watching that first period on the Ducks broadcast station. These guys who announce the game do it in a fair and unbiased manner. This is a first class organization. When the team scores they act like they've been there before because, well they have. They are the champs, they act like it and they carry themselves accordingly. Much respect to this organization.

As far as the game is concerned, as classy as the Ducks are they are just as good. This is and will be a tough game. The Ducks are steady in all aspects of the game and I believe it will take an extraordinary performance from the likes of Jagr, Gomez, or Drury to win this game. Kudos to the Rangers for not taking any penalties, getting the puck to the net and creating chances.

This is just great hockey to watch. Might have been my favorite period of the year despite the score. The game has fluidity to it, the goaltending has been excellent and both teams are playing with passion. Whatever happens in this game, the Rangers should use this experience to understand how a championship team plays on a nightly basis.

Ducks Announcer: "This kid Dubinsky is one of the best Rangers prospects we've seen in a long time"

Betts should play

First things first. I agree with Justin. Malik finally got pushed around and showed some aggression back. He showed passion, which is good, but the question is whether or not it carries over into his play. He won't be playing till probably the weekend but Betts is healthy and should be on the ice tonight against a good Ducks team. Can't possibly underestimate them as Justin mentioned, so it should be an interesting game.

Bad News?

Ryan, your bad news is fantastic news. Avery told Malik what needed to be said and Malik responded with some passion. Now, I have predicted that this team has been sparked in the past but maybe this time it will work. We've got a Ducks team tomorrow that I am sure they will not underestimate.

Good News and Bad News

Which one do you want to hear first? I'll give you the bad news first. Some frustrations from the failure against the Kings carried over into practice. Now if you could pick one person to start problems you would probably guess Avery. Well you’re right. He got into a little scrap with Malik today. That’s quite the uneven matchup but it was said to be a fight that was in the rules of the game. Renney wasn't too upset and said that there will be no problems from this incident. They were reported working together on drills right after. Unfortunately Avery bolted right after practice, just like he did after last night’s game. Maybe Malik will get traded now even though I am sure it wasn't all his fault.

Now the good news. Betts has no tears and is listed as day-to-day. Thank God because we can't lose the best 4th line center in the NHL. No word on when he will play but Greg Moore was at practice as Byers was sent back to Hartford. Hopefully Betts won't be out long and he and Shanny can get back soon.

Rangers vs. Kings - Post Game Thoughts

Sorry it took so long to post this but I was just quite upset. The Rangers somehow just always do this. They impress us and they make us say that now they have chemistry and now they are going to make a run, only to lose to the team with the least amount of points in the NHL. To be honest I can’t name anyone on the Kings team. They are no names and a bunch of nothings and we lost to them.

I don’t know what to say anymore. It was just a complete failure. They can't keep a streak going for their lives. Not to mention, we have so many games in hand on everyone in the Atlantic and the East that once everyone catches up, we could be far out of the playoffs if we don't win these games. That was a game you have to win. You come back home, after a road trip where you beat two division rivals above you in the standings, and the hottest team in the NHL with 5 unanswered goals. How do you not carry that over?

Once again in that game, we made a no name goalie look like the next coming of Patrick Roy. The Rangers had so many shots, and somehow what ever his name his, stopped almost all of them. This is miserable. Now we have to play a very talented Ducks team, the Flyers and the Capitals, who are fighting to win their division, and then they get 5 days off. Play like they did last night and they get destroyed in those 3 games. They better step it up because the playoffs may be starting to slip.

Rangers vs. Kings - Second Period Thoughts

We are stuck in the same place we were after the first. The Rangers got plenty of shots on goal but only one went in. And once again, if that goal doesn't go in we are in big trouble. Everyone knew this was not going to be an easy game because the Rangers love to do this. Its only one goal and if we keep on testing the Kings with shots and pressure, we are bound to get a goal.

Rangers vs. Kings - First Period Thoughts

Even before this game started, it had the perfect story line for a let down game. Rangers, coming off three very impressive road wins, play one of the worst teams in the league at home. And all of that game true in the first period. That was quite the let down. Lundqvist was bombarded with shots throughout the whole period. This is a no name Kings team that just got 16 shots in one period on us. Luckily its only one period and Drury continues his hot streak. That Drury goal towards the end really boosts the morale and overall feeling of this game. Regardless, the current play is not going to win this game. Did I mention they are playing one of the worst teams in the league. This is a game we must win. If we can come back vs the Habs we can do it now right?

Dane Byers To Replace Hollweg

Dane Byers was called up and will skate beside Betts and Orr tonight vs. the Kings. This means Shanny, Malik and Hossa are still hurt, but it is still listed as day-to-day. This is the 4th line so it’s not that big of a deal, but definitely surprised Byers was called up. Maybe he will add a scoring touch to the 4th line for tonight.

Hollweg Suspended

As everyone in the world expected, Hollweg will be out for the upcoming game vs. the Kings. This is no surprise at all so everyone should have been expecting it. Unfortunately with Shanny, Malik and Hossa all still with injuries that could leave them out for the game also, the Rangers could be shorthanded for the game. No word on the injuries mentioned so we will have to wait till tomorrow. Hossa skated today so I expect him to play.

A Stolen Win - Post Game Thoughts Rangers 5 - Canadiens 3

That was a stolen win if I ever saw one. Montreal out played us throughout almost the entire game. They were the better team by far and they had many more quality opportunities. Even after the Hollweg dumb penalty, the entire team stepped up. Henrik was Henrik, which was the reason we won. Yea, he gave up three goals but when it mattered he was a stone wall. He stopped everything to keep this game close. If not for him the Rangers don’t win this game. He is starting to play more like we expect him to and a game like this should definitely give him some momentum into a stretch of games every other day this week.

How about Drury. It took Gomez a while to feel comfortable and this stretch by Drury seems to show he is finally comfortable. And you see what happens when our top players are playing like they are supposed to. We have scored plenty of goals and the overall team morale just seems so much better. I think Drury has finally come into his own and it can only mean great things for the Rangers.

This is a win that is such a big momentum builder. On the road, you come back from down 3 goals against a great team. The goals were just skillful pretty goals. Gomez found a rebound, Mara ripped one, Dubinsky had an almost perfect shot and Drury had a great goal. The scoring was distributed amongst the whole team, which is a great thing. Having all these players scoring allows the team to not worry so much. If only one line is scoring, than basically the whole game revolves around that one line. With all different lines scoring, if one line is playing so well, we know that someone can successfully cover for them and the team can still win. If this continues, the Rangers can be a dangerous team.

Rangers at Canadiens - Second Period Thoughts

Talk about the game of the week!!!!! What a period hockey wise in addition to a great comeback by the Rangers.

First thing is first though. Something needs to be done about Ryan Hollweg. I don't know if he just isn't smart or has no sense of self control. He is a dangerous dangerous player and not in a good way. I don't know if a suspension will do the job. Ok, I get it, the Kovalev elbow was ridiculous. A total cheap shot and blown call but WHO CARES! Not only did Hollweg cost his team momentum but he could have seriously seriously hurt the Montreal player. Look at what happened to Patrice Bergeron. We don't want to turn into the Flyers. Ryan Hollweg needs to be reprimanded.

Ok next. Where did this Rangers spurt come from?? I honestly can't pick out any Rangers players who are playing exceptionally well. Nice shot by Rozy, unreal shot by Dubie and hard drive to the net by Staal and we are back in the game. Outside of those three moments, we haven't played that well. But, what we are doing is CAPITALIZING on opporunities, something we often do not do. It's kind of nice for a change. I don't think we've seen the Rangers at their best yet this game, which makes me optimistic that they can come out firing in the 3rd.

I hate NBC. These announcers are so biased, its almost impossible to watch. The way they announce the game it's as if the Rangers players are bad people. Apparently every single player is selfish, doesn't try, and never gets any credit for doing anything. We aren't evil. Mike Milbury sucks.

Who knows what the hell is going to happen in this third period. But what great entertainment so far and great heart from our boys.

LET'S GO RANGERS!!!!

Lets See What This Team is Made Of - First Period Thoughts Rangers @ Canadiens

So the great play from our last two games isn’t showing up. The best powerplay in the NHL did what they do best and put in two very nice goals. Those were both very nice goals that were almost impossible for Henrik to save. Henrik and the PK unit is not the problem. First, Rosival should have never gotten a penalty. He is a veteran player and that was such a stupid penalty, and it cost us. Once again it is the offense getting beat. Montreal is out hustling the Rangers and Jagr is basically invisible. I really don’t think he is playing right now. The Rangers only had 4 shots. They need to throw some at the net, test the goalie.

This obviously is still a game we can win. Its only 2 goals and through the last two games the Rangers have shown signs of great offensive play. This is going to test this team. Can they come back from an early deficit in a very important game during a very important stretch in the season.

PreGame: Rangers at Devils (2/1 at 7:00 pm)

If the rest of the season serves as any type of example, the Rangers are not supposed to win this game tonight. First off, they have not shown the ability to keep up momentum. Big win last night, they certainly have it. Second, we are playing the Devils in NJ, no easy task. Third, what a nice win this would be. How often have the Rangers come through in games like that?

Two things do leave me optimistic. First thing. Yes, this is the second game of a back-to-back but thanks to the blowout win last night, the Rangers will be physically ready to go in this game. Secondly, Sean Avery has been fairly quiet in the past 2 weeks. Nothing can get him as riled up as seeing MAAAARTY in net at the other end. Look for him to create with his stick, gloves, and trashtalk on the ice tonight.

Bottom line is: just play like they did last night and the Rangers will have what we like to call a winning streak.

Let's Go Rangers!!!