Rangers @ Penguins Post Game Thoughts

This game was fairly frustrating don't you think...it was a very fun game to watch during 5 on 5 play with both teams playing very spirited hockey, but this game was there for the taking...

The main reason this game was lost was because of penalties and special teams. The Rangers took 8!!! penalties in this one. You cannot win against a very good team like the Penguins when taking so many penalties. Just think about it, that is almost an entire period spent killing off penalties. Although the penalty killing was very, very good, only giving up one goal in those eight chances to the very talented Penguins, it was apparent that the Rangers didn't have the legs towards the end of the game to make a final push for the tie because they spent so much time killing penalties. Also, even though the Rangers did score a power play goal in this one, the power play with five minutes remaining in the game was just putrid and effectively ended all hope the Rangers had of trying to come back.

Although I cant stand Mike Milbury who will take any shot at the Rangers as he can, you have to agree with what he said during the second intermission. The Rangers are at times just way too passive. They strike first by attacking the Penguins, taking the play to them, then after the goal it almost seems as if they seem content with the lead then begin playing a defensive and passive game. They need to find a killer instinct they had in the first round playoff match-up against the Thrashers last year when they never let their foot off the gas and took the play right to them for all 60 minutes.

I have no doubt that this Rangers team will make the playoffs, but if you take a look at the standings there are a lot of teams starting to breathe down our back. The 9th place Capitals only trail us by 3 points although we do have a game in hand. But, any small skid can knock us out of the playoffs in the blink of an eye. I also feel like we always hit a little wall at the end of the season. Tomorrows game against the Pens will be very important, I think it almost a must win situation especially since it is on home ice. A loss by the Rangers plus wins by a few other teams can cause things to get interesting real fast.

At 6 tonight the 8th seeded Bruins will take on the Sabres in Buffalo. Boston only trails the Rangers by 1 point in the standings so a win by them can result in a tie for the 7th and 8th spots by the Rangers and Flyers, really leaving the Rangers in a must win situation tomorrow. Lets go Sabres.

Lastly, although we're in the final stretch of an exciting hockey season, one can't avoid the excitement that the opening day of the baseball season brings. I for one can't wait to watch Johan Santana make his Mets debut in Florida tomorrow at 4. Should be a great day of sports with the Yankees at 1, Mets at 4, and the Rangers at 7. Oh and the Phillies play at 3 for one of the writers of this site who will not be named. Lets go Mets and of course the Rangers.

Some Internet Difficulties

Due to some problems with the internet by me I was not able to post during the game or see the whole thing. So I thought I could leave some thoughts now about what this HUGE win means.

First, what a win. This is monumental win. We are in a tie with NewJersey, unfortunately losing that tie because of the first tiebreaker which is wins, for 5th in the conference and a point behind Ottawa, who lost in a shootout to Buffalo, with a game in hand for 4th place. We are also only 6 points, behind the Pens for 1st in the Atlantic, and we play them two times in our last 5 games. Also we have a game in hand on them. Instead of us having to close a team out, we had to come back and boy did we. The Rangers came storming back to win the game in regulation, which was crucial. I saw the highlights and the stats and it was a complete game. The Rangers didn't get into much trouble with penatlies and Henrik came up huge. He was stopping shots left and right and was a huge part of this win. All in all, it was a great game on all sides of the puck and by every player on the ice.

I think the biggest thing about this game is that it was won in regulation. Its been getting a little annoying having to go to overtime so many times and not get the full 2 points. Tonight we shut down the Devils for a great home win. Oh yea, and we are 7-0-0 against our rivals. An amazing feat that I personally would've never believed would be possible. The Devils are a good team and you imagine that when you play your rival team that is towards the top of the standings 8 times that you would lose more than once. But as of right now the Rangers are undefeated against them and can finish it on April 6th, the last game of the season.

Now we have the biggest home and home of the entire season. If we sweep it with 2 wins in regulation we could be one win away from the Atlantic Division lead with 3 games to go. We have a game in hand, so the next game after the home-and-home against the Islanders will be huge. After that we could be tied with 2 games left each. I think we can do it but it sure as hell won't be easy. Regardless, the Rangers have to make sure they play well because the Pens are playing well and the standings are still tight. We haven't clinched a spot yet so every win will get us even closer and push us up those standings.

Gomez is playing

As the title said, Gomez is in and Prucha is out. Thats great to see. Watch for some ice problems tonight as the circus was in this afternoon. Hopefully it isnt too bad.

Rangers go for lucky #7

I think I have finally gotten over that miserable lose against the Flyers in OT. One last note from that game. I don't remember the exact stat mentioned but I think it was something like 7 out of the Rangers last 11 games have gone to overtime or a shootout. This shows we are having some trouble closing teams out when we need to. And that was obvious against the Flyers Tuesday. We had them in a hole from a minute into the game. Yet we couldn't put that second goal home and finish off the Flyers. We let them hang around and if we continue that for the rest of the season and into the playoffs we could be in trouble. With 7 minutes left we were about to be 4 points up on the Flyers and in 5th place in the Conference. They scored and we ended up still being in 6th and only 1 point ahead of them. It's dangerous, very dangerous.

Now as for the Devils. The fact that we are 6-0 against them is crazy. Now the question is can we continue that dominance and actually finish a team off. We are within 2 point of the Devils and Ottawa, so a win tonight could cover a lot of ground. The team needs to absolutely step it up at home. We need a big win.

Rangers vs Flyers - Post Game Thoughts

Flyers 2 - Rangers 1 OT

That right there is what happens when you don't capitalize on your opportunities during the game and let a good team hang around. Not only should we have won that game but it should have never even went to OT. The Rangers had so many chances to make the game 2-0 and end it. Instead we left the score at 1-0 and the Flyers finally got one in. That was miserable. If we had scored one more goal at anytime during this entire game, I think Henrik would've closed it out for us. Now we go from separating ourselves from the Flyers, to only being 1 point ahead of them. This was our last and best chance to move away from the Flyers and we blew it. We completely blew that entire game.

I really don't know what else to say about this game. I am so pissed off right now that we just lost that. Not to make you feel worse but Ottawa came back and won and the Devils lost. Now our game against the Devils could either leave us tied with them or 4 points behind them. I think that’s enough to call it a HUGE game.

Rangers vs Flyers - Second Period Thoughts

Rangers 1 - Flyers 0

Another high energy period on both sides of the ice. The Rangers once again could not score on the powerplay and also didn't get any second chance opportunities. That’s one reason the score is the same as it was after the first period. The other reason is Henrik. He has made some excellent saves this game, most of them coming in the second period. He has kept us in this game so far.

Not much else to mention in this period. I feel the Rangers really need to win this game in regulation to get a real good separation from the Flyers and move up in the standings. We have to put in another goal early, I think that can help us a lot.

Pens and Devils update: Pens 1 - Devils 0 with 4 minutes left in the 3rd. Guess thats good and bad.

Another update, the Sens are losing 3-1 to the Sabres with 8 minutes left in the 3rd. That one I know is good for us.

Ranges vs Flyers - First Period Thoughts

Rangers 1 - Flyers 0

I still don't get it. The Rangers powerplay is so miserable it's just hard to watch. Yea, they got some decent shots off during the two powerplays of the first period but they still just can't score. That leaves the Rangers now 1 for their last 28 on powerplays. That is a horrible number for the talent that is on this team and the overall play over the last month. We are lucky we can score plenty of even strength goals.

Now that I got that out I can focus on the all the good things so far in this game. Jagr scored a great goal and it was nice to have it come early in the game. Got the crowd into it early on and swung the momentum quickly. You really couldn't ask for a better start. The Rangers as a whole are playing with a lot of energy and playing well on all aspects of the game. We got 11 shots, the defense played well and Henrik did his part. As long as this play continues we should win this game. We just have to get something going on the powerplay so we can really put this game away.

Little update of the Pens and Devils: 1-0 Pens with 5 mins left in the 2nd

Rangers vs Flyers - Pregame Notes

Tonight is the last game against the Flyers for the season and just like all the games this month, it is a big game. Flyers are still holding on to the 7th spot and with a win they could tie us for 6th place. Luckily they have played one more game than us but still. I don't want to be tied for 6th. This is the best chance we have left to distance ourselves from the closest team to us in the standings. Now if we win we can jump ahead of the falling Senators and move into 5th place in the Eastern Conference. Not to mention the Devils and Pens are playing a huge game tonight that could lead a tie atop the Atlantic Division at 93 points. The Pens have played one more game than us and the Devils have the same amount. So as you can see there is a lot at stake tonight.

There are a couple of injuries and changes to the lineup tonight. First, Rozsival will not be playing due to a leg strain. Replacing him will be Paul Mara, who hasn't played in almost a month. If you remember Mara suffered some serious facial injuries against Buffalo on Feb. 23. It will be nice to see him back in the lineup but it is not good to hear that he is replacing our top defensemen because he is injured. Rozsival's injury is said to not be that bad and he should be back for the next game.

Another injury update for tonight's game is that Gomez will be out for tonight’s game because he is still hurting from his bruised ribs. No real surprise here. There is a mention that he could be back for the upcoming game against the Devils on the 27th. We can only hope he can be back by then because that game could leave us 1 point out of the division title with a win, not to get too far ahead of ourselves here.

Win It In 60

If you've had enough of watching college basketball for the past 72 hours then tonight you might want to tune into some good hockey. No, the Rangers aren't playing but the Penguins and Devils will drop the puck at 7:30. The two teams are tied for first in the Atlantic with 91 points, 3 points ahead of the Rangers with a game in hand. Although the winner of the game doesn't matter since both have identical records and the Rangers play both teams twice more, the only thing Rangers fans should be rooting for is no overtime. A win in regulation by either team is huge so only 2 points is a result instead of 3.

Also, some good news on the Rangers front is that Scotty Gomez seems to be OK after taking the hard hit into the boards last night. There are no broken bones so he is listed as day-to-day, not ruling out the possibility he will play Tuesday against the Flyers.

Happy Easter from all the writers at New York Rangers Blog.

Rangers @ Flyers - Second Period Thoughts

Flyers 1 Rangers 0

Not much better than the first. The play wasn't as bad and there were some more opportunities but the Rangers are still playing an overall bad game. Vally is the only thing keeping us in this game right now. The game is still very much in reach score wise, but if we continue to play like this we have no chance.

Rangers @ Flyers - First Period Thoughts

Flyers 1 Rangers 0

Just an overall boring period. The Rangers did not play well at all and made plenty of stupid decisions. Bad passes, bad skating and not capitalizing on our opportunities are the main reasons we are down by a goal. I'll credit the bad skating to the ice because it looks like the ice is horrendous with everyone falling down. It was very obvious when Gomez hit the boards. That was one very scary moment because that is a fall that can leave players with a serious injury. Gomez looked in some serious pain but at least he got up and skated around. I imagine he has some serious bruises and is very soar. Hopefully he can come back in this game.

Even though the Rangers made plenty of stupid mistakes, the Flyers goal was just a great play by Richards. He made a great block on the shot, skated hard and put the puck right in the corner. Not much Vally can do with that. If not for Vally the deficit could've been 1 or 2 goals worse.

One thing of note on that period was Colton Orr. What a great job by him to not fight and take the penalty and try and give the Rangers a chance to tie the game. That was the smartest play of the whole period for the Rangers. Too bad our powerplay is miserable and it all meant nothing.

The Rangers need to get focused and make smarter decisions to win this game. The Flyers are playing well, not great, just well. They are fighting for the playoffs and are showing that they want this win more than us.

Good News and Bad

Al just announced on the pregame show that he heard from a source, one that he said was as good as it gets, that the Rangers will be playing the Islanders at Yankee Stadium on New Year's Day. I love this. I am a Yankee fan also, so the Rangers playing their big rivals is like a dream come true. I haven't seen anything else online about this but I trust Al.

Now the bad news. Betts is out for 2-3 weeks after undergoing minor foot surgery. This is a tough loss for the Rangers. He is a very important part of the team and makes the 4th line run. Hollweg should replace him for the whole time, which means no Hartford call up. Hopefully he can make it back in time for the playoffs because he is a player that we need.

Rangers @ Flyers - Pregame

Another big game tonight for the Rangers against the Flyers, and Vally will be trying to continue his dominance against the Flyers tonight as he gets the start. I like the decision because he really has just been so good against the Flyers for who knows what reason. One other change in the starting lineup is Hollweg for Betts on the 4th line. Betts is having some foot problems so Hollweg will center the 4th line. Losing Betts is tough for this game but as long as Freddy is on the line than they still have the opportunity to score.

Rangers at Devils - Post Game

There are certain wins that just feel better than others. This win tops my list for the season. It wasn't the most important and doesn't really carry to much weight in the standings but...YES!!!!!!!!!!!

What makes this great is that the Devils played brilliantly. Absolute shut down hockey as only the Devils and Marty Brodeur can do it. We beat them at their own game!!!! Balance baby...balance. Henrik Lundqvist literally raised his arms straight into the air after his save on Parise. What a win! WHAT A WIN!! This win won't mean much 2 weeks from now but how sweet it is right now. 

I can't stop ranting. With 5 minutes to go Marty was probably relishing in his first win over the Rangers and even more so because he basically did it himself. But the Devils blinked...well more like Chris Drury said boo AND THEN the Devils blinked. What a goal! What a win!

No analysis here. Just being a fan and enjoying the night.

3 Stars Of The Game

1. Chris Drury - Captain Clutch!

2. Henrik Lundqvist - Quite honestly don't remember him making more than 3 or 4 saves during regulation. He was big in the shootout and you gotta love his visible excitement at the end.

3. Ryan Callahan - Eh on the shootout attempt but simply fantastic game. His pass gave the Rangers life in this game.

4. Nigel Dawes - what the hell...let's give a 4th star. This guy was a bust at the beginning of the season. No more. Night and night out one of the best players on the ice.

Again, Malik is very good. Marty Broduer is also very good...but not better than Henrik :)

YES!!!

Rangers at Devils - YESSSSS!!!!!

CHRIS DRURY!!!!

Rangers at Devils - Second Period Thoughts

Rangers 0 Devils 1

What you're seeing here is a chess match awaiting the first mistake. The problem is the Rangers are down a goal meaning that they have to force the issue in the third. Aided by a powerplay to start the period as a result of a great 45 second effort from Scott Gomez the Rangers need to build on some positive offensive play in second period.

Marty Brodeur is good. He's very good. It's going to take some kind of effort to get a puck past him. 

Should be a fun but probably very boring Devils style of hockey third period. 

Rangers at Devils - First Period Thoughts

Rangers 0 Devils 1

Our powerplay stinks. Not really any other way to put it. I think I would try Drury on the point with someone else in front (maybe Avery). Drury has a hard low slapshot that might work but who knows?

The Rangers were very lucky to get out of that period only down 1-0. The Devils played great. Unfortunately the Rangers couldn't sustain enough resistance to keep the puck out of the net but they certainly limited the damage. The Devils for that matter were lucky to get out of that period up 1 after Marty stopped Marty on the breakaway. Great pass by Rozsival who had a very good period. 

The Rangers top line of Jagr-Dubinsky-Avery was a clear negative that period. Outside of Jagr being neutralized by the Devils (as usual) Sean Avery had a very strange period. I liked the fight (longest I've ever seen??) but I recall two different instances in which he played with the puck in the defensive zone. Not that it led to any turnovers but it showed a lack of offensive drive. 

I said last night that this would be a tough game for the Rangers and the first period was very much what I expected. I didn't think the Rangers played horribly but they certainly need to step up to match the intensity of the Devils. No complaints about officiating...the non-call on the Malik broken stick was an awful missed call thankfully. No complaints on the goal. It was a nice play on which Henrik had no chance. The Rangers just need to get more pucks to the net and hopefully get a bounce or two behind Brodeur. 

Penguins at Rangers - Post Game Thoughts

Final Score: Rangers 5 Penguins 2

The name of the game is balance. Balance is what the Rangers have and it is what I believe makes them a dangerous team in the Eastern Conference. Outside of Montreal the Rangers have the best balance in the conference in that they don't rely on one single player or even one single line. 2 years ago that player was Jaromir Jagr. Last year it was the Jagr-Straka-Nylander line. At the beginning of this season it was Henrik Lundqvist. Now...it's everybody. It's more than just getting balanced scoring. It's different defensive pairs stepping up on different nights, it's the offense stepping up when Henrik struggles and vice versa, and most importantly it's every single forward line getting sustained pressure on a consistent basis. And yes...this includes the 4th line. As I've written many times, Freddy Sjostrom has single handedly added an entire line to this Rangers team. These goals are not fluke goals (he has 12!)...fantastic pickup.

Balance is so important because it alleviates pressure across the board. Would I go as far to say that Jagr has become just a cog in the wheel on this team...yes he has. It makes this Rangers team very difficult to defend. The reason why Nigel Dawes, Ryan Callahan, and Brandon Dubinsky have been so productive is because each one of these young players has an accomplished feared player or 2 out on the ice with them. Opposing defenders flock to Jagr and Shanny and Drury...and their linemates are capitalizing. Balance can take you a long way in the playoffs. As we saw 2 seasons ago, the Rangers had no balance and when Jagr and Henrik went down in the playoffs the series was over before it started.

I hope players are beginning to realize that it's very hard to lose a game when you give the opposition one powerplay. Excellent job tonight staying out of the box and keeping a potent powerplay off the ice.

3 Stars Of The Night:

1. Sean Avery - RESIGN AVERY!!!! RESIGN AVERY!!!! Just do it Glen. Sign this guy. He is more than an emotional leader and scrappy player. He is a true offensive threat. Give him what he wants. Keep him here for the next 4 years.

2. Marty Straka - Why does Straka always score the insurance goal? He always makes it 4-1, 5-2...not sure why. Even before his tip in goal, an excellent game from Straks. Joe Michiletti addressed Renney's comments concerning Straka during the game...and they certainly ring true. Look at what he does as far as work ethic and two way hockey. He's definitely older and has certainly lost an offensive step but he remains an important cog in the Rangers wheel.

3. Chris Drury - I mentioned that Drury might need to put up some points tonight...2 assists. Here's another guy that has flown under the radar due to the recent balance of this team. He keeps plugging along picking up points and maintaining solid 2 way play.

I feel like I write this after every game. Marek Malik has been superb in the past 15 games. He is a good solid NHL defender and it looks like he has almost fully regained his confidence in this lineup.

In regards to tomorrow night...I'd be very surprised if the Rangers won. 2nd game of a back to back in New Jersey...that's always tough. Devil's are hot but we'll see what happens. I expect Henrik in net and Vally to play one of the two games against Philly (most likely Friday in Philly)

Penguins @ Rangers - Second Period Thoughts

Rangers 3 Penguins 2

We'll after a terrible start to the period, giving the Penguins 2 gift wrapped goals, the Rangers rebounded fairly well and were even able to re-gain the lead.

The Penguins first got on the board with a breakaway due to the Rangers making an ill advised change. Just after that, Henrik and Tyutin had a bad exchange leading to another Pittsburgh goal. But, a little while later the Penguins decided to return the favor and Freddy Sjostrom was able to capitalize off a bad turnover.

After this flurry early, things settled down and the Rangers played pretty well. They drew two power plays, and would have scored on the first one if not for a great play by Orpik to keep the puck out of the net. I could have sworn it was in while watching live. It seems like the Penguin defensemen had more saves than Conklin that period.

A good sign in that period is that Marty Straka seems to be finding his stride. He had two great scoring chances and is playing noticibly better than he has the past few weeks. Also, Henrik made a few great saves near the end of the period to preserve the lead, rebounding well from the rough start.

This is going to be a long 20 minutes...

Penguins at Rangers - First Period Thoughts

Sean Avery Is God

Put other players in Avery's shooting position. I'd be willing to bet that Jagr misses the net, Gomez hits Conklin in the logo, and Rozsival passes it. But Sean Avery roofs it!! His offensive capabilities are truly unique. He always seems to score goals that come out of nowhere. He needs no set up, no odd man rush...just a chance to shoot, and he usually takes advantage. 

Lets talk about goaltending. Henrik did not need to be spectacular that period but he is clearly on his game and exhibited some truly excellent rebound control specifically directing pucks into the corners...something Ty Conklin did not do on the Rangers second goal. Not to take anything away from Cally but putting a rebound in the middle like that is not something a playoff caliber goaltender should be doing. I'm not to secure about my goaltending situation if I'm the Penguins. 

It wasn't Chris Drury who stepped up defensively that period, it was the entire Rangers team. Nigel Dawes and Scott Gomez were extraordinary in the defensive end. Girardi, Tyutin and Backman all had very nice diving stops on 2 on 1's. Malik saved a goal and credit Marc Staal for stepping in front of a Malkin bomb...looked like it hurt...a lot. I was a little bothered by the last 2 minutes which saw two separate odd man rushes for Pittsburgh. The Rangers need to reestablish their defensive presence in the second.

2 more things...1. I thought Nigel Dawes was hands down the best player on the ice that period. As mentioned he was superb defensively and made some great plays in the offensive zone. 2. Jagr needs to realize that he is still a feared player and should be able to make plays as he did on the first goal on a nightly basis. 

Penguins at Rangers - Pre Game

The Penguins are very good with Sidney Crosby...and they are very good without Sidney Crosby. The Pens are a tough team to match up against with or without Sid. With Malkin and Hossa (especially on the ice separately) it is very hard to get proper match ups. And no...putting Blair Betts and Colton Orr on the ice every time against Malkin is not going to do it (see match up against Lecalvier and St.Louis). This means that Chris Drury needs to come through with a great two-way game tonight, limiting one of the two stars and hopefully putting some points on the board.

Time to get back on track...Let's Go Rangers.

Let the Fun Begin

The Rangers had a miserable weekend to say the least but now it is time to forget that and move on. There are only 10 games left of the season, all against our fellow Atlantic Division teams. The standings could look a whole lot different after these 10 games for a lot of teams. All the teams we are chasing are basically only playing division teams now. The Pens and Devils have one game against a non-division opponent but that’s it. We could end up a very happy group or this could get really bad if they play like they did against Tampa Bay. It's going to be one hell of a 10 games.

Let's Go Rangers!!

Rangers @ Panthers - Pregame Notes

The lineup will be the same tonight against a Florida team that has won 5 straight games. That includes Henrik in the net which I like. In a playoff hunt you need your #1 in the net. This game is not going to be easy. Florida is a hot team right now and they are tied with the Capitals in 10th place, 5 points out the playoffs. We are going to have to play a solid game to beat Florida and I think we will.

Rangers Sign Soryal

The Rangers have come to terms with Free Agent forward Justin Soryal. In 56 games in the OHL with Peterborough this season, Soryal notched 15 goals and 22 assists. I don't know what this means for the Rangers, because I just don't see any room for Soryal on the NHL team right now. With Petr Prucha healthy and still not getting a chance to play, I think this move will effect Hartford more than it will the Rangers.

Only two more days of boredom until the next game...

Yankee Stadium Rumors Continue

The newest rumor is that the Rangers will be playing the Bruins in a home-and-home with the game in Boston being at Fenway Park. Supposedly NBC wants the Rangers to play them so they can get a bigger market to watch the game. The Islanders and Devils both have interest in participating in this game but NBC doesn't want to televise a small market like that.

Personally, why should NBC decide who we play? I guess since they air it they do have the right to suggest an opponent but it should be the Rangers and the NHL's final decision. A home-and-home against the Bruins in Yankee Stadium and Fenway Park is pretty cool but I would rather play a rival like the Islanders or Devils. All of these are still rumors so nothing is official yet. We will have to wait and see what the NHL and the Rangers come up with.

Rangers @ Sabres - Post Game Thoughts

Personally I don't care how the Rangers get two points, just as long as they get them. If it takes us back to back shootouts against playoff contending teams then that’s fine by me. This was a great win for the Rangers. It was a pretty evenly matched game throughout the whole game and to get the win is great. With the entire Eastern Conference off today, we made up some nice ground and are now tied with the Senators for 5th in the conference. That's very nice to say after how this season has gone. They have now gained points in 13 straight games, going 10-0-3. A streak that is only one game short of the Rangers longest ever in franchise history. Of course it comes from the Stanley Cup Championship team. Now we get some rest and get to hopefully beat up on some of the bad teams in the conference from Florida.

First thing I have to say is how dirty is Andrew Peters punching people from off the bench. The fact that Orr and Peters got equal penalty time is something I just can't understand. Orr pushed back just like any normal human would do. Peters punched him twice in the face from the bench. The Rangers should've had some sort of advantage. Luckily we won this game and that didn't effect anything becuase that was disgusting and Peters should see a fine or something.

Rangers Three Stars:
1) Henrik Lundqvist - He didn't have the best game of his life but he made the saves that he needed to make. He made great saves during the penalty kill and the save in the first period against Vanek. There is not much else to say about him. Without him we don't win this game. He played his game, staying low to the ice and stopping numerous one timers during the game. Not to mention the save on the breakaway in OT by Afinogenov. That was another huge save. He saved this game for us numerous times and got us the 2 points we needed.

2) Scott Gomez - He made a great move and ended the game in the shootout. That was a great move and great shot to squeeze it past Miller. I couldn't even tell that it was in. He didn't do much wrong in regulation time and the shootout goal was huge after the Sabres scored. That is the basic reason he gets the second star.

3) Chris Drury/Sean Avery - It was a tough choice for the last star so I just split it. First, Drury. His first period was bad but his second period did more than make up for it. He was the key to the penalty kill being so good today. He cleared the puck very well and hustled non-stop when killing penalties. Got to give a lot of credit to him for keeping this game close. As for Avery. I give this to him mainly because of the play on the second goal. He hustled, made a clean hit and had a great assist. Without that hit and his non-stop hustle on that play the puck doesn't go in. Have to give him a lot of credit for us winning this game.

Now the Rangers get a few days off and go to play two Florida teams that have caused some playoff teams some problems. Hopefully we can handle them and come out with our streak still in tact. 10-0-3 in the last 13 games at this point of the season, you can't ask for much more. Let's just continue the play, climb up the standings and take it into the playoffs.

P.S. - Forgot to add this in but we swept the season series with Buffalo, first time in a long time we have done that. It's always nice to sweep an Eastern Conference rival that ended your season last year.

Rangers @ Sabres - Second Period Thoughts

What a difference from the first period. First things first, Sjostrom's penalty was absolutely garbage. He was obviously pushed into Miller and there should have been no call there. It figures that the one penalty we didn't deserve to have called on us, the Sabres score. Every other penalty was legitimate, even though Avery's was dumb. That was absolutely unbelievable that they called that penalty and we should be leading 2-1 and not tied.

As for the other penalties, the two people I had problems with the first period saved us in the second. Backman and Drury saved us in that period. Each made great plays on the penalty kill to keep the game tied. They cleared the puck very well, especially Drury during the 2 minute 5 on 3. Along with those two, Henrik sure saved us also. He made some good saves and kept this game within reach. As for the goal, not much he could've done about that one. That puck went from on the ice to shoulder level in no time. That’s an almost impossible save. He is a huge reason we are still in this game. We could be down by 2 without some of his saves.

Avery sure made up for his dumb penalty that was mentioned earlier. He rushed down the ice, delivered an excellent and legal crushing hit and made a great pass to Jagr. That was an overall great play by him. Great hit, stayed with the play and made a great pass from behind the net. And thank god Jagr finally scored. He has played so well as of late and hasn't had much to show for it on the score sheet. A great goal for him that has been a few games coming.

This game should not be tied as I said before, it should be 2-1 Rangers, but there is not much we can do now. The Rangers have to stop taking so many penalties. The Tyutin penalty was the only good one. The Sabres are a good team on the power play and if they keep on getting chances they will put another one in. We have to play smart and we can win this game in regulation no problem.

Rangers @ Sabres - First Period Thoughts

If you missed the first 3 minutes of this game you basically missed the entire period. The Sabres started just the way they wanted to by scoring the first goal in 16 seconds on a Rangers defensive breakdown. That goal got me a little down but the Rangers took advantage of a Sabres breakdown in their defensive zone and tied the game back up. The Rangers answering that fast was crucial for this game. The Sabres are home and fighting for the playoffs and to stop their momentum like that was huge. Other than that not much happened in this period. The Rangers had a quality chance at a goal with Dawes but the puck was cleared off the line. The Sabres had a quality chance but Henrik made a great save to stop Vanek. So far nothing too impressive from either team. I do feel the Rangers are outplaying the Sabres though.

One problem I had with this period was Backman and Drury. Neither played well at all this period but their mistakes didn't end up costing the Rangers. Backman made plenty of turnovers in the defensive and offensive zone. He needs to calm down and just play hockey. Drury started a little sloppy, losing control of the puck and taking a bad penalty. Maybe the boo's are getting to him or he is just a little off. They both need to settle down and play hockey because Buffalo is going to be fighting hard for this win. They need it a lot more than we do, we'll see if they want it more than us.

Rangers invading Yankee Stadium?

According to ESPN, the New York Yankees and New York Rangers are discussing a deal that would let the Rangers play a game at Yankee Stadium next winter. With the new Yankee Stadium opening next spring, this would make the Rangers game the last game ever played at Yankee Stadium.

On New Year's Day this year, the Pittsburgh Penguins played the Buffalo Sabres in the NHL Winter Classic, which is the NHL's lone outdoor game of the season. For the Rangers to be a part of next year's Winter Classic would be great for the team, its fan base, and the city of New York as a whole.

In other news, don't go looking around the local sports channels for the game today, because it will be broadcast on Versus tonight. Hey, its not NBC, but it is national television, so lets hope the Rangers can keep playing the way they have been, and come away with 2 points.

The King Will Start Again

King Henrik will be in the net tonight for a very big game against Buffalo. Hopefully we can see Henrik build off his last two performances and continue his excellent play. Malik could be a healthy scratch as he is a little banged up. His replacement would be Strudwick. No official word so we will have to wait until closer to game time so see what happens.

Tonight is a big game for both teams. For the Rangers, they can get closer to solidifying a playoff position with a win against the 9th place Sabres. A win would put us 9 points ahead of the Sabres with 12 games left. Any chance we have to distance ourselves from the 9th place we have to take advantage of. Also the Rangers could jump into a tie for 5th with the Senators with a win tonight, and be only 2 points behind the Pens for 4th, both who are idle and have one more game played than us.

Past Trade Rumor?

According to the NY Post Rangers general manager Glen Sather rejected a deal at the trade deadline that would have sent now Buffalo Sabre Steve Bernier to the Rangers in exchange for Sean Avery.

If this is true all aspects of the trade on the surface point to it being a questionable move by Sather. Bernier is a young power winger with enormous potential while Avery is set to become an UFA. However, I believe this decision by Sather is very encouraging. In passing up the opportunity to acquire a good young player for a potential FA, Sather has shown his commitment to and belief in the 2007-08 New York Rangers team. In keeping Avery, Sather has shown that he thinks the Rangers can and will make a run this year.

Sean Avery is an integral part of the New York Rangers. A trade involving him, in my opinion, is almost impossible. Most teams don't understand the impact that Avery can have on a team and therefore would be unwilling to offer what we as Rangers fans would view as a fair package. Bernier is a solid player with a bright future but I am certainly happy to still have Avery in Ranger blue.

Bruins at Rangers - Post Game

There were a lot of things about this game not to like. The Rangers had almost every factor in their favor coming in...well rested, full lineup, home, momentum. All things considered the Rangers should have been able to put the puck in the net. Despite not finding the net all afternoon the Rangers pulled out a win making for an exciting Sunday afternoon at the Garden.

As I said at the end of the 3rd period, you can't be to upset about the Bruins getting a point. The Rangers have points now in 12 straight games (9-0-3) and with Buffalo falling off a bit, I wouldn't be all that concerned with jeopardizing a playoff spot. As a fan you have to be happy with the Rangers playoff positioning right now having just gotten the jump on the all important 6 seed (6 seed gets to play whatever team squeaks out of the Southeast division). 

Rangers 3 Stars Of The Game:

1. Henrik Lundqvist: A shutout all the way around for Henrik today. Today's game gives him 2 well played games in a row and will hopefully go a long way towards him regaining any lost confidence. I imagine Henry will get the start in another important game tomorrow in Buffalo and 1 of the starts on the Florida trip, with Vally getting the other.  Good to see the King get back to form.

2. Nigel Dawes: Where was this guy in shootouts earlier in the season. Goals on 3 straight attempts is a nice boost for a team inexplicably void of players that can come through in the shootout. Outside of his game winning shootout goal Nigel played another great game making smart plays and once again displaying his deceptively sneaky shot.  

3. It would be cliche to give this star to all 6 D-men so I'll go with Michael Roszival logging a team high 25+ minutes of ice time. Rozy has done a great job of readjusting to his defensive partner Malik despite being flipped back and forth between partners all season. 

Something I definitely want to see, especially in the next couple games against weaker Florida and Tampa Bay teams is more ice time for Freddy Sjostrom. He logged 9 minutes tonight, not nearly enough to show how he can impact a game. Tom Renney needs to figure out what he can get out of this guy in a high-pressure playoff situation...why not give him 15-20 min one game on this road trip?

Solid defensive effort today...always nice to pull out the win.

Bruins at Rangers - Third Period Thoughts

Very disappointing that the Rangers couldn't take care of this in regulation. What this game signifies is the further separation of the Top 8 in the East from the rest of the pack. This game serves to further solidify the Rangers spot in the playoffs. This extra point remains important for seeding.

More after OT.

Bruins at Rangers - Second Period Thoughts

One of the defining characteristics of the Rangers last season was that they used to make very average goaltenders look like Patrick Roy on a nightly basis (recall Johan Hedberg multiple times). This is exactly what we are seeing today. Yes...Auld is playing well but there is no excuse for not being able to put a puck past this guy.

Henrik has not had to be spectacular thus far but has been solid when necessary. The Rangers took way to many penalties that period...games like this usually come down to who can capitalize late on the powerplay. The Rangers, being the rested team, should be able to come through.

Bruins at Rangers - First Period Thoughts

The Rangers outplayed the Bruins that period without question. The problem is that simply outplaying the Bruins in this particular game is not good enough. Considering the Rangers placement behind the Bruins in the standings and the absence of big D-man Chara from Boston's lineup this is a game the Rangers must have.

Points are at a premium at this point in the playoff race and when you play a good period it is vital to capitalize on opportunities. The Bruins are a tired shorthanded team playing on the road. The Rangers need to come out in the second and run Boston out of the garden. The powerplay has looked good but has yet to be productive. Nigel Dawes, receiving well deserved powerplay time, has continued to impress.

No messing around, this is a game the Rangers should win.

Only 14 Games Left

It's crazy that the season is so close to being over. What's even crazier is that the Rangers sit only 5 points out of first place in the conference. The Rangers have the chance to move up very far in the standings or drop also. I want to analyze what the Rangers have left this season.

After this week with games against a Boston team right on our tail, a Buffalo team still fighting to get into the playoffs and two Florida teams that just keep giving everyone problems, the Rangers will only play Atlantic Division opponents. First we have to worry about beating a Boston team that we haven't played so well against. They are tied with us after beating Washington today. That makes it a huge game. Any leg up the Rangers can get on the Bruins would be huge. After that is Buffalo and they are fighting tooth and nail to make the playoffs so they will be fired up and will be another test and tough game. The Rangers could really separate themselves from the 9th place team with a win against Buffalo, getting them closer to officially wrapping a playoff spot. They will be two huge games.

The games against the Panthers and Lightning scare me a little bit. The Panthers recently crushed the Pens and the Lightning gave both Philly and New Jersey problems recently. Obviously they are both game we are supposed to win but nothing is a guarantee in this conference. We need to take advantage of those two games by getting all 4 points because those are the easiest opponents the Rangers have left. I see the Rangers getting no less than 3 points in those games.

After this week the Rangers will play every team in the Atlantic Division multiple times. Here is a list of who we will be playing and how many times:

Devils: 3 times - 1 Home and 2 Away
Penguins: 3 times - 2 Home and 1 Away
Flyers: 2 times - 1 Home and 1 Away
Islanders: 2 times - 1 Home and 1 Away

We play the teams above us in the standings more than the ones below us, which can be good and bad. The Rangers are only 5 points behind the Devils (they will be playing tonight and could be more but we will have a game in hand on them) and 4 behind the Pens with a game in hand against them. With 6 points available against each team, it’s not out of the question that we can win the division.

The Rangers are 15-6-1 against the Atlantic division. That is easily the best record amongst the division. The Rangers even have the second best record in the Eastern Conference against Eastern Conference opponents. Because of these records and the way the Rangers have been playing and who they are playing I think we have a very very good chance to win the division. I personally can't see the Rangers falling below 6th place but going as high as the 1st seed. Being in 6th would be nice, playing the winner of the lowly Southeast division (remind you of last year). We will have to wait and see what happens but I have a very good feeling that the Rangers are going to be in a great spot come the last day of the season April 6^th and have a very good chance to make a nice playoff run.

Rangers @ Islanders - Post Game Recap

Rangers 4 Islanders 1

As I said in my last post a quick start would be real important towards winning this game, and thats exactly what the Rangers did scoring right after their power play expired. Dawes, who has been flying all game, had a great rush to the net, got Dubie-whatever out of position leading to the Gomez deflection goal off a shot from Staal.

The best part about this period was that the Rangers didn't let up after they took the two goal led. They kept the pressure on the entire time and never really gave the Isles a chance, proving that the second period was just a fluke.

Three Stars:

3) Brendan Shanahan- Got the Rangers off to a great start setting the tone of the game with the early goal. With a great veteran savvy play, he caught the entire Islander team sleeping and snuck behind the D for an easy breakaway goal from a great pass from Dawes.

2) Sean Avery- Despite a terrible high sticking penalty which could have spelled disaster, Avery played a great game scoring 2 goals. He scored a goal off a great deflection and should have had another but somehow missed the net. Apart from his offense he also set the tone of the game right off the start getting in anyones face he could find after every whistle he was on the ice for. He also added the empty netter at the end while almost having his head taken off by Johnson, just disgusting. But hey, it reflects their team.

1) Nigel Dawes- Nigel just played outstanding tonight. He was noticable every shift he was on the ice and although he didn't score, he set two of the Ranger goals with great individual plays on both. He's really turning into a great player, and a very important one for this team.

Other Notables: Hank, Jagr, Gomez

Big win for the Rangers in more way than one. They will be moving into the 6th slot in the east with Boston being destroyed by the Leafs and they will also have the possibility of gaining two points and move only four points behind the Penguins, the division leader and NUMBER ONE seed in the east, as they trail the Panthers. Could you imagine with how bad this team had been at times this year that they have the possibility of going into the playoffs as the number one seed? But lets not get ahead of outselves. Huge win, but thats all it is, keep it up.

Rangers @ Islanders - Second Period Thoughts

Rangers 2 Islanders 1

This period was a completely different story than the first. The Rangers took their foot off the pedal and the Isles took full advantage. The Rangers took 2 bad penalties to start the period, and although the Islanders weren't able to capitalize on either of them, it seemed to energize them a bit. They finally got on the board by a double deflection which nobody could have really done anything about. Every goal the Isles have scored the past 2 games have been because of deflections.

Thankfully the Rangers killed off Avery's bonehead penalty towards the end of the period to keep the lead intact.

If the Rangers have any plans of winning this game they better start playing like they did in the first and put in some of their penalties. Another period like this and they will surely fall to 0-3 against Dubie-whatever. The Rangers will be starting the period on the power play so maybe that will be able to get them going along with the little flurry they had to end this period.

Step it up.

Rangers @ Islanders 1st Period Thoughts

Rangers 2 Islanders 0

It's no secret that the Rangers have struggled against the Islanders this season, so, whats the best thing the Rangers could have done? It's exactly what they did, score less than two minutes into the game. Brendan Shanahan made a fantastic play, knowing a penalty was coming the Rangers way and just hung near the Islanders blue line. The Islanders got lazy thinking they were going to just touch the puck but Dawes made a brilliant pass to the savvy vet who scored easily on a breakaway with nobody within 50 feet.

The Rangers second goal was just as nice with just as bad defense by the Isles. Malik decided against turning it over for once and made a great pass to Avery who made a perfect deflection to get it past Dubie-whatever. This made up for Avery's miss of the wide-open net before in the period when he somehow hit the post.

Overall it was a very good period played by the Rangers, with 2 players in particular playing great and 1 playing not so good. Henrik played very well it was just what he needed. He didn't get much work but had to face some tough shots and made 3 or 4 real good saves. It can't be easy sitting idle for long stretches then having to face a flurry of action. Avery is the other Ranger who really stood out. He put himself in great positions to score everytime he was out there, missing a wide open net once and putting home a great deflection the second time around. He also did his usual thing and stated a few scrums after the whistle. You know your something when the crowd chants "Avery sucks" even right after he scored. It's also nice to see Avery getting some powerplay time there at the end, rewarding him for his great play of late. Backman, as usual, was the only bad player out there. Really bad. He just made awful turnovers, making his partner Staal look just as bad in the process. One turnover in particular led to a 3 minute onslought by the Islanders which took 3 great saves by Henrik to keep the puck out of the net but eventually led to the refs calling a phantom hook on Shanny.

Lastly, I'm really surprised by the amount of Ranger fans at this game. Either that or they are able to scream much louder. To Islanders fans defense...what do they really have to cheer for?

Keep it up.

A Huge Game - Rangers @ Islanders Pregame

No one needs to be reminded that tonight's game is a big game. Many people think thats because we are playing the Islanders, our hated rival, and because they beat us on Tuesday. It's more than that though. The Rangers have only 15 games left this season to solidify their playoff position. That's not much time. These are the games we are supposed to win. A game against a non-playoff team with their backup goalie in, is a game a playoff team wins down the stretch. Every game is important now because there is such little time left. Now the Rangers need to not worry so much about making the playoffs but worry more about what spot they will be in come the end of the season.

Tonight's game is a game we should win. The Islanders are a team that we should beat yet for some reason we just can't. The Rangers have the best record in the division against division opponents yet we can't beat the last team in the division. It doesn't make much sense. Tonight, it's time for payback. I have had enough of this Dubie guy beating us and tonight we need to make a statement. We need to dominate this game, like we were in the first period of the game on Tuesday. The only thing different we need to do, is put pucks in the net.

Pittsburgh, Philly and Boston are all playing tonight, all against non-playoff teams, same as the Rangers. Who knows how they will do tonight, but you would expect them all to win. The Rangers have to stay with them and beat an opponent that we all know is no where near our level.

Dubielewicz In, Again

According to New York Islander's Head Coach Ted Nolan, Wade Dubielewicz will start his second straight game tonight against the Rangers. Including Tuesday nights game, Dubielewicz is 2-0 against the Rangers in his career, both wins coming in shootouts.

Well, if you can say that a goalie has a team's number after only two games, then you would have to say that Dubielewicz has the Rangers number. Despite the fact that the Rangers managed a point in each game they played against him, facing a team's backup goalie should instill a sense of confidence in a team, and I'm not sure that at this point, the Rangers feel any more confident facing Dubielewicz than they would facing DiPietro.

I'm going to the game tonight, so here's hoping they can pull one out.

More later...

Islanders @ Rangers - Post Game Thoughts

Score: 4-3 Islanders (SO)

The Rangers controlled play again in overtime, but after a plethora of missed chances, including a crossbar by Shanahan, the game went to the shootout. Shanahan shot first for the the Rangers, and missed. Next was Richard Park for the Islanders, who also missed. Nigel Dawes scored for the Rangers, and Billy Guerin tied things on the next shot. After that, the scoring drought began, and Scott Gomez, Trent Hunter, Brandon Dubinsky, Miroslav Satan, Michal Rozsival, Mike Comrie, and Martin Straka all failed to score. Jeff Tambellini finally ended the shootout in its 6th round.

I blame this shootout on Tom Renney. Why is Michal Rozsival shooting 5th in the shootout?!?! Why is he shooting at all in the shootout!?!?! Also, I can understand not using Jagr in the first 3 rounds of the shootout, but to not use him in 6 rounds? And to use Rozsival before him? This didn't make sense to me at all, and this game ended with me screaming at my television.

If there is a silver lining in this game, it is the fact that Jagr had a phenomenal game, and the Rangers managed to come away with a point, which they desperately needed as they continue to climb the Eastern Conference standings.

Two points are a necessity Thursday night on the Island, so lets hope the Rangers can get the job done.

Islanders @ Rangers - Third Period Thoughts

Score: Islanders- 3 Rangers- 3

Well, the Rangers did what they needed to do, and they did it with some flair, as Ryan Callahan scored shorthanded on the rebound of a Scott Gomez shot.

I'm going to keep this post short, because overtime is going to start momentarily, but here are some observations from the third period:

Jagr looks possessed out there, and looks like the Jagr of the Pittsburgh Penguins so many years ago. You can see that he is starting to get frustrated with the fact that he can't put one in though.

The Rangers controlled play late in the period, and looked like they did early in the first, lets hope it can continue into overtime.

Islanders @ Rangers - Second Period Thoughts

Score: 3-2 Islanders

Well, if nothing else, that was an exciting period. The Rangers scored first this period, with a beautiful power play goal goal by Nigel Dawes to tie the game at 1. This fresh start didn't last long for the Rangers though, as the Islanders retook the lead only 41 seconds later, with a wrist shot by Sean Bergenheim from the top of the key. The Islanders scored another 2 minutes later, when Trent Hunter tipped a slap shot from the point past Lundqvist. What started out as a dominating performance by the Rangers had quickly turned into a routing by the Islanders. Although the Rangers added another with a Chris Drury slap shot from the point, the Islanders controlled the play for most of the second period. The story for the Rangers continues to be their inability to finish, although they have gotten their fair share of chances.

Lets hope they can get back in this one, more later...

Islanders @ Rangers - First Period Thoughts

Score: 1-0 Islanders

The Rangers came out of the locker room on fire to start this one, and kept the intensity up for most of the period, but as we all know, unless you put pucks in the net, it doesn't matter how much pressure you put on your opponent.

The Islander's got a fluke goal with about 2 minutes left in the period that came from behind the net and went off of Rozsival's skate. Lundqvist didn't have a chance to stop it because he had no idea where it was. The blame for this goal goes to Marek Malik, who yet again, gave the put away behind the Rangers net. Malik has picked up his game of late, but this play reminded Ranger fans of how Malik has played for most of the season.

To look on the brighter side of this period, the Rangers dominated the first period, keeping the puck in the offensive end for most of the period. The Rangers first line of Avery, Dubinsky, and Jagr was absolutely flying, and looked terrific.

The Rangers need to keep the intensity up in the second, and if they do, this one goal deficit should not stand to be more of an obstacle, but again, the key is finishing.

Notable Scores throughout the East:
Florida- 0 Boston- 0 End 1st
Pittsburgh - 0 Tampa Bay- 0 Mid 1st
Buffalo - 2 Philadelphia- 1 End 1st
New Jersey- 1 Toronto- 0 Mid 1st

More later...

More Backman?

Even after receiving boos only ten minutes into his Garden debut, Tom Renney said today that Christian Backman will get some time as a pointman on the power play. Oh you all must love hearing this.

Interesting philosophy here by Renney...Typically when a team is on a power play the goal is to keep the power play for the full two minutes or until a goal is scored. But, this is now unlikely since Backman is incapable of being on the ice without taking some sort of ridiculous and unnecessary penalty. Although maybe this is what Renney is looking for since the Rangers have been a better team 5 on 5 this season then when on the power play. Now, whenever the opposition takes a penalty, giving the Rangers the power play, Backman will always be there to negate it. I kid.

In all seriousness, this just might be the answer to the power play troubles the Rangers have had, well, for the entire season. They haven't had that big shot or the great passer on the point since the retirement of Brian Leetch. Although Backman has had his troubles in his first two games, I kind of like his skills and he has shown some signs of being an offensive threat from the blueline. Just look at the goal he scored. Although it was a softie, he was able to find some open ice in a good scoring position and he did what all good scorers do, put the puck in the back of the net. The only thing holding this Ranger team from becoming a great one is the power play. Hopefully this move will work and the power play will click...

And maybe the Rangers will actually beat the DiPietro-less Ice-landers for once.

DiPietro Out, Dubielewicz In

According to the Associated Press, Rick DiPietro will miss his second straight game tonight, following the death of his grandmother, which he attended yesterday.

My condolences, and the condolences of all the Ranger's Blog writers go out to Rick, and the whole DiPietro family.

From a hockey perspective, this means that Wade Dubielewicz will make his second career start against the Rangers. Dubielewicz won his first start against the Rangers, by the score of 3-2 in a shootout.

I'm sure the idea of facing Dubielewicz, and not DiPietro will be more than welcomed by the Rangers, despite the outcome the last time they faced him.

In other Ranger's news, Henrik Lundqvist is starting in net for the Rangers, and Tom Renney is sticking with the same lineup that he has used in the past few games, leaving Ryan Hollweg, Petr Prucha, and Jason Strudwick as scratches. With the current points streak the Rangers are on, I dont see Renney shaking things up until the team loses.

More later during the game...

Will He Stay or Will He Go?

As fixated as we all are on the standings, the upcoming schedule, and the trials and tribulations of Christian Backman being on our blueline, there is always the idea of next year in the back of all our minds. Apparently, next year has also been on the minds of our General Manager Glen Sather and one of our most exciting forwards, Sean Avery. These two have been negotiating a contract extension for some time now, but can't seem to reach an agreement. Today, Sather released this statement concerning his negotiations with Avery:

“Sean is an important part of our team. His focus and ours right now is finishing as high as we can in the standings and then going as far as we can in the playoffs. We value his contribution and at the appropriate time we’ll continue discussions with his agent.”

This is very discouraging, and makes me wonder if a deal will ever get done, or if Avery will test the free agent market on July 1st. I feel that he is a very important part of our team, he is a spark plug, and is very good at getting in the heads of our opponents, throwing them off their game. Since Avery's arrival in New York, the Ranger's have a sub-.500 winning percentage when he is out of the lineup. He should be a top priority as the season continues, and I hope he and Sather can come to some sort of an agreement.

Flyers At Rangers - Post Game

More significant in this game than the Rangers 2 points is the realization that the top 8 teams in the East are starting to pull away. With the Islanders, Buffalo and Washington losing of late it is becoming apparent that the top 8 in the East right now will most likely be the top 8 going into the playoffs. What does this mean? It means that a hot Rangers team can set their sights on Pitt and NJ. It also means that these next two games against the Islanders can go a long way to securing a playoff spot. 

While definitely a good win for the Rangers, perhaps an even better point gained by Philadelphia. The Rangers outplayed the Flyers for most of this game and Philly should feel very fortunate to come out of this game with points. I thought the Rangers played well enough to win in regulation but a win is a win. Points in 9 straight games...yes yes this is a hot streak.

Rangers Stars Of The Game:

Stephen Valiquette: Vally made some saves but for the most part didn't really have to come up big. The goal was an absolute great play by Carter and he stayed strong in the shootout. Vally is a star of this game because of what he has done for this team so far this season. As I said earlier...unsung hero.

Marek Malik: Malik has elevated his play over the past 6-7 games to that of two seasons ago. He has been a stabilizing force on the blue line, once again pairing with Rozsival to form a solid D-line. Another good defensive game by Malik in addition to 2 assists. 

Freddy Sjostrom: As I said earlier this guy is going to be so important to his team because of his ability to play on the 4th line. When he was acquired I questioned where he would fit in the lineup. Next to Betts and Orr he has added a scoring touch to a line that until now has been useful but very frustrating to watch on a nightly basis.

Honorable Mention: Colton Orr, Jaromir Jagr, Shanny/Nigel

Christian Backman has got to get his game straightened out. Big goal today but he has been a huge discipline and defensive liability thus far. 

Great win, big 2 points. Rest up and get ready for the classic home and home on the Island. 

Flyers At Rangers - Second Period Thoughts - Unsung Hero

In a period that I expected to be disciplined and low scoring you have to be happy with the Rangers getting the only goal. Backman has been iffy in this game thus far but came through big with the tie-breaking goal early. 

Stephen Valiquette is an unsung hero of this team. Henrik's long string of starts early in the season has made people think that this guy hasn't contributed. Including this game he has made 10 starts this season. In those starts he has better numbers than Hank including 2 shutouts. Listen...he's not better than Hank but he has been a significant contributor to his team. He has proven not only a serviceable backup but also a goalie who can come up big in the big game, something the Rangers haven't had in a long time. I have no problem giving Vally some starts down the stretch.

The Flyers played better that period and the Rangers responded nicely. Vally made some big saves and they were much more sound defensively. The powerplay to start the 3rd is important for 2 reason. First, it is a chance to open up a two goal lead. Second, it's a chance to build momentum for the period. Big period, big 2 points up for grabs. 

Flyers At Rangers - First Period Thoughts - Scores Can Be Deceiving

If there were some way to watch a tape of this first period without seeing any of the goals, I would call this one of the best Rangers periods of the season. They were absolutely dominant, swarming the net, pouncing on rebounds, controlling the puck and capitalizing on chances.

The Flyers made three good plays that period and every single one ended up in the net. Henrik's fault? Maybe the third one. But overall the goals were a product of defensive breakdowns. That's what happens in hockey. You can play great for an entire period but one, two, three mistakes end up in your net.

Lucky for the Rangers the offense showed up today. Congrats to Freddy Sjostrom with his first goal as a NYR. I hope this guy realizes how important he is going to be to this team. Yes he is going to lose minutes playing on the 4th line but he is going to make that 4th line a scoring threat. He is a young, exciting player who is sound defensively and as shown can put the puck in the net (sorry Hollweg). 

I truly do think the Rangers need to continue playing the way they are. Keep going to the net and just don't hang Henry out to dry.