A Piece of History: Flyers/Rangers 9/20/01

It had been nine days since the world had changed. Nine days since many people of the world who thought no evil like the one the saw on September 11, 2001 had that thought shattered by random acts of terrorism carried out against Americans, where over 2000 innocent people lost their lives. Nine days for people to attempt to get their lives back on track. Professional hockey players included.

I had no knowledge of this before today, as I found this on a Rangers message board I frequent. What I found was nothing much, but it spoke volumes to me. On September 20, 2001, the Rangers and Flyers held an exhibition game. The game was tied 2-2 headed into the 3rd period, and it would end in a tie. Not because the players could not score, they elected not to play.

The 3rd period never began, because President George W. Bush was delivering a speech to the people of America informing them of what has been happening in the past few days. What plans of action are going to be taken, and to reassure the American people that there will be brighter days in the future. There were some current players on the ice for this game. For the Flyers, you can see a recently retired Marc Recchi standing next to a young Brian Boucher at the goal, and on the bench were Ruslan Fedotenko, Simon Gagne, and Justin Williams. And for the Rangers, players like Mikael Samuelsson, Tom Poti, Jason LaBarbera, and Manny Malhotra were possibly on the bench that day. All in the name of getting back to the normal way of life.

Addressing the Impending NHL Lockout: The NYR Clinic Side

I am a fan.

That's about as far as my relationship with the NHL goes. I am a rabid, willing-to-pay-out-the-nose-to-see-hockey fan. I have been for as long as I can remember, and will continue to be one as long as the game is around.

But there is one thing that stands in the way of my enjoyment of watching my favorite sport from October to April every year: the politics of this goddamn lockout hanging over the NHL's head.

In 2005, the NHL halted all hockey operations for an entire season. That meant all of those pros, young and old, missed out on what could have been a fantastic year. Along with that, the NHL lost most of their credibility in the major sports network of the United States. It was a long road to get back to where they were, but now, in 2012, the NHL has finally managed to gain some traction again in the realm of major American sports. Could the NHL come back after two lockout in less than a decade?

Dr. Daps' Absurdly Early 2012-2013 Season Predictions

Hi again, everybody! For those of you who follow this blog regularly (which is nobody) you might go back and remember a post I put up last year which was me calling what I think was going to happen. Around this time last year, I called that the Los Angeles Kings were going to win their first Stanley Cup, and they did! I was right! So now, I'm going to try and go 2-for-2 and pick the scenario for what the end of the upcoming season (if there is one) right now, here in July. And like I said last year, I was not expecting to be anywhere near as right as I was last year. So if anyone even remotely cares about my opinion out there, don't get your panties in a bunch when it turns out I'm laughably wrong. This is merely something to fill the void until something big happens in the hockey world that I can report on.

Eastern Conference


1. Pittsburgh Penguins
2. Boston Bruins
3. Washington Capitals
4. New York Rangers
5. Philadelphia Flyers
6. New Jersey Devils
7. Carolina Hurricanes
8. Toronto Maple Leafs (yes, I'm actually serious)

1st. Round


Pittsburgh over Toronto in 4 games.
Boston over Carolina in 7 games.
New Jersey over Washington in 6 games.
New York over Philadelphia in 6 games.

2nd. Round


Pittsburgh over New Jersey in 6 games.
New York over Boston in 6 games.

Conference Championship


New York over Pittsburgh in 4 games.

Rick Nash Reportedly Heading to the Rangers; Has Glen Sather Finally Resurrected His Image?

After months and months of looming rumors and speculation, the Columbus Blue Jackets and New York Rangers have finally formulated a plan to bring Rick Nash to Broadway.

The news broke around 2:30 PM on July 23, as Twitter feeds began erupting with news of a trade going down. The details slowly came up, and it would appear that Glen Sather has once again worked his trade magic and landed a good player for a nearly bargain-bin price. The trade will involve Brandon Dubinsky, Artem Anisimov, Tim Erixon and a first-round pick for the right-wing Nash. All of these players combined equaled what Rick Nash managed to do in the NHL last season, as he did have one of his worst years, with 30 goals and nearly 60 points on the worst team in the NHL.

Many fans, including myself, were looking at this trade through the spaces in between their fingers, as the worst was feared that perhaps Derek Stepan, Marc Staal, or even Chris Kreider would be involved with the trade. But GM Scott Howson was the first to blink in this staring match, and he needed to do something soon. And this is what we were left with. And it's pretty good.

Why I Am Not Happy with the Rangers Free Agent Signings

All is calm on the Rangers free-agency front, and now that the dust has settled on the chaos that is the first week of signings, I look around and see.... well, not a whole lot. In fact, I don't see much. In fact, it truly upsets me what I see. When I look at the free-agency tracker on NHL.com and see what the Rangers have done so far this offseason, I am not one bit pleased, or assured that the Rangers are going to be fine in the upcoming season with the moves they have currently made.

Let's kick off with the gents who have shipped off that were here last season. Ruslan Fedotenko to Philadelphia, Jeff Woywitka to St. Louis, John Scott to Buffalo, Brandon Prust to Montreal, and John Mitchell to Colorado. I did not look, but I'm pretty sure if I went back and added up every goal all of these players scored last season, it'd be less than 15. So, there is not a lot of tears to be shed on this part, the Rangers have simply trimmed some of the non-producers on the lineup.

That isn't what upsets me. What upsets me is what the Rangers have done in response to all of those players leaving.

The walking of all of those players clears up quite a bit of cap space. So one would think that if the Rangers were letting all of those players go, they would want to sign someone who is going to be worth a pretty buck, like Zach Parise, right? Well, that ship has sailed. He's off in Minnesota swimming in dough with Ryan Suter, who the Rangers were also thinking about targeting. Or, maybe they're looking to swing a trade for someone like Rick Nash, or Bobby Ryan? Possibly, but then that would leave the Rangers down quite a bit of cap space and a few players in exchange for one guy. No, what really gets me mad is what the Rangers HAVE already done with their cap space, and what "good use" it's going to be going to.

Foreseeing the Rangers Free-Agent Signings 2012-2013

With impending free-agency, the Rangers are starting to weigh their options. Who to sign, who to let walk, and who to resign. All the typical stuff a fan sees a team do during the offseason. The Rangers have quite a few free-agents that are about to hit the market July 1st, and the Rangers are definitely not going to resign all of them. In total, there are eight unrestricted free-agents and three restricted free agents on the Rangers roster, and this is unsettling because of how much of a hole this can cause in the lineup if they do not approach this competently.

Lets look at the forwards first of all. Mats Zuccarello, Brandon Prust, Ruslan Fedotenko and John Mitchell are all going to hit the market on July 1st. Zuccarello I do not believe the Rangers will sign because he has been a liability ever since joining the team, coping with injuries and being unable to deal with the size of the NHL big guys, which will probably mean the Rangers will let him walk to a foreign league.

Ruslan Fedotenko I do not see resigning either. After being a good support player in his first year in New York, his play declined severely this year. His space could be put to better use for a younger play who could produce more often, which is why I do not see them resigning Fedotenko either.

Los Angeles Kings Win The Stanley Cup, End The 2011-12 Season

For Kings fans, they're day of reckoning is finally here.

The Kings knocked of the New Jersey Devils in Game 6 to the score of 6-1 to win their first Stanley Cup. The eighth-seeded Kings shocked the world and pulled a 16-4 record, three shutouts, and displayed one of the brightest young stars the NHL has to offer us at the moment with Jonathan Quick's Conn Smythe trophy winning season.

It was a long, bumpy road for the Kings, but they pulled it out. After dropping two games in-a-row, they came out hard in Game 6 and scored six goals to lead their team to victory.

Not just for the sport of hockey, this Kings team is an inspiration across all of sports. The first eighth seed to win a championship in a seeding-style American league. After their rocky start to the season, going through their goal drought like they did, and making the playoffs so close to the end of the season, it was a long road. But in the end, it made them better, and now, they are better than everyone else for one whole year.

And now, the summer starts. Free agency, the draft, the Traverse tournament, and all of the other off-season events are being looked forward to by every fan now. As for the Clinic, I will not lie, the traffic of posts may slow during the off-season, as there is a drought of news that happens regularly. Trades, signings and draft picks I will cover, and I will try to write my occasional duff article when I try to be funny. But you can all believe, come next season, I'll be right back at it again offering up my insight to anyone who will listen.

Congratulation to the Los Angeles Kings.

Fun Things To Make Fun of Pierre McGuire During the Stanley Cup Finals

Tonight kicks off the final culmination of the two teams left in the race for the Stanley Cup. And like many of you out there in California or anywhere else rooting for the Kings, or the tiny little blip in the tri-state area that's rooting for the Devils, you'll probably have to watch the game on NBC. Which means you'll have to deal with a lot of the voices of Doc Emerick, Eddie Olczyk, and Pierre McGuire.

As time has gone by in these Stanley Cup Playoffs, you learn to accept their voices, or inevitably switch to TSN. Myself personally, I'm annoyed by two-out-of-three of the NBC crew. Doc Emerick has credentials of being a fine commentator, but his colorful vocabulary and voice just rub me the wrong way. I'd much prefer to have Gary Thorne back, but for some reason he really wants to commentate the Orioles so, screw me right? Eddie Olczyk is the only one I can tolerate of the crew. He offers good insight on things, analyzes the game well, and makes good points considering he isn't interrupted by this guy...

For those who don't know what that sound is during NBC playoff games that makes their eye twitch, this is the culprit. His name is Pierre McGuire. He is a "Stanley Cup Winner" twice with the Pittsbrgh Penguins as a scout. He was also a a coach for the Hartford Whalers at one time. Now, he makes a living being a very, very annoying feature to the NBC broadcast team.

After watching my share of NBC games over the years, my animosity has turned into mockery. Here are some ways I'd like to give to the public to help come with the game tonight...

Why I Will Not Be Surprised If the New York Rangers Season Ends Tonight

The Rangers are, once again, on the ropes of being eliminated.

This has become a common thing for this team, as the Rangers have gone to two consecutive Game 7 series', prevailing as the victor in both of them. The Rangers battled back from a 3-2 deficit against the Ottawa Senators, and took the Washington Capitals to another Game 7 in the following series. In both series', the Rangers have never held a two-game lead.

Now, the Rangers are back in the same position against the New Jersey Devils. Down 3-2, with a lot of wear and tear showing, and now it has them at a game disadvantage. Everything in this series, besides two stellar games by Henrik Lundqvist has been going wrong for the Rangers. No offensive scoring on a consistent basis, lack of defensive plugs, and just the Devils resilience has just been overwhelming for the Rangers all series long.

It's a long year, and the Rangers fought valiantly. I know it is not over yet, but I do not see a victory for the Rangers coming tonight. And if they do win, Game 7 is going to be a long shot. There is only so much a team can take, so close a team can get to the edge before they walk the line too far and slip. That is what I foresee happening to the Rangers tonight.

Playoff Prescription: Round 3 Rangers vs. Devils Game 5

Best of three.

The Rangers and Devils are laying it all out on the line in this series, trying to be the team that will reach the plateau and face the Los Angeles Kings in the Stanley Cup Finals. The Kings clinched an advance to the Finals yesterday night after Dustin Penner tucked in the inning goal in the final minutes of overtime.

Now, they have to wait as the East finishes up its series. The Devils pulled the series even two nights ago after they hopped on an early lead and rode it all the way to a 4-1 victory. The Rangers were lifeless in every aspect of the game. There was minimal fore-check, hardly any offense sustained, and the defense couldn't help Hank out if they tried. It was a brutal game, which had a lot of emotion in it.

Now, tonight the Rangers have a chance to pull ahead once again, or sink in the series to the Devils who outplayed them severely last game.

Playoff Prescription: Round 3 Rangers vs. Devils Game 4

Slowly but surely, the Rangers are inching their way closer to advancing to the Stanley Cup Finals.

And tonight, they add a new chapter to the Eastern Conference Finals as they take on the New Jersey Devils in Game 4. What a series this has been. If there was one word to describe this series it would have to be; odd. Henrik Lundqvist and Martin Brodeur are showing everyone why they are the best in the game by pulling out miraculous saves every night. But thing that really surprises me about this series is the scoring, and how it is happening.

For the Rangers, so many of their goals are coming off of a defensemans work. In Game 3, Dan Girardi scored the first goal of the game in the 3rd, followed up by a Ryan McDonagh shot that tipped off of Chris Kreider and into the net. The offensive players for the Rangers have been damn-near nonexistent in this series, but the defense is picking up the slack. Can you imagine what they'd look like if the forwards were chipping in as regularly as the defense?

Critic Critique: Shot Blocking vs. The Trap Defense

In professional wrestling, there is never a set style of how the company operates itself. The World Wrestling Federation goes through era's. Back in the 70's, there wasn't much flash, and people just enjoyed the spectacle. In the 80's, the over-gimmick era began with ridiculous costumes and even bolder characters. In the 90's and early 2000's, the WWE was in it's self proclaimed "Attitude Era," and since then have moved into their current for-the-family "PG Era." Nothing ever stays the same, no era is unanimously liked.

Much like the sport of hockey, strategies change all the time. Sometimes on a yearly basis. Last year, we saw the Tampa Bay Lightning exploit their 1-3-1 defensive strategy which lead them all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals. This year, their strategy failed to have them even sniff the playoffs. Teams adapted, and conformed to their strategy.

Yesterday, I read an article on thehockeynews.com about how the Rangers and their block-first-ask-questions-later mentality is BAD for the sport of hockey. The writer of the article, Ken Campbell, condemns the Rangers for making the sport boring to watch, and is not appealing to the audience. Campbell called out the series with the Capitals as being uninteresting because of how many shots were blocked, and even went as far to compare their strategy to The Trap defense that was mainly used by the New Jersey Devils in the early 2000's, which is now referred to as the "dead puck era."

I have many quarrels about this article, so much so that I feel I could make a nice pamphlet in Adobe InDesign, print it out, and air-mail it to Mr. Campbell.

First, let's compare The Trap to blocking shots.

Playoff Prescription: Round 3 Rangers vs. Devils Game 1

Oooooooooh boy.

This series is going to be a wild one. The New York Rangers managed to knock off the Washington Capitals in their Game 7 matchup to advance to the Conference Finals against their rival, the New Jersey Devils. And it is going to be a doozy.

The Rangers, while looking fatigued, got a much needed lift from their defense in recent games. Marc Staal, Dan Girardi, Michael Del Zotto, and Anton Stralman have all lifted their play to assist the Rangers in a playoff year where the goals haven't come easy. Not only that, but every game has been close. Too close for comfort. Six out of the seven games against Washington were ended by a one goal differential. Some of them came in overtime, while others came in the final minutes of regulation. When looked through that perspective, one can really appreciate all that the defense has helped out with in these playoffs. Without them, they would be eliminated right now.

The Rangers took half of the games from the Devils this year, while the Devils took the other half. Aside from each side getting a shutout, every other games winner came out with a total of four goals during their win. The scoring in this series is probably going to be a bit less than these teams saw in the regular season, because of the heightened play of both their goaltenders. Henrik Lundqvist and Martin Brodeur are esteemed in their position, and reel in excitement every time these two duel for a win. It is no doubt in my mind that both of these goaltenders will be able to pull off a stellar series in their respective styles.

Playoff Prescription: Round 2 Rangers vs. Capitals Game 7

And just like that, it comes down to one game, again.

The Rangers failed once again to close out a series, and now face elimination tonight as they meet the Washington Capitals for the final game of this series. Some games for the Rangers have been impressive in this series, others have not been. Game 6 was not an impressive game.

While there was some time of offensive pressure being put on by the Rangers, any lack of production was swallowed up by the Capitals defense, and Braden Holtby.

What can you say? Other than the Capitals have been able to match the Rangers stride for stride the entire series. As a Rangers fan, I have to give them credit. There is no other option. The Capitals overcame an abysmal start to the season, lost both of their goalies before the playoffs, and STILL have managed to hang in the hunt despite everything that has been thrown at them. The Rangers have not shown the same resilience.

Playoff Prescription: Round 2 Rangers vs. Capitals Game 6

The final two teams battling for contention will try to even, or end their series tonight, as the Rangers and Capitals take to the Washington ice.

The Rangers took away a victory from the Capitals in Game 5 after Brad Richards put a puck past Braden Holtby in the dying seconds of the 3rd period to force overtime, where a blast from Marc Staal ended the game swiftly to give the Rangers the advantage in the series.

Now, all of the pressure is on the Capitals. A loss like the one the Rangers handed them is so crushing to a teams morality, but it can easily be turned into motivation for the following game. The two teams the Capitals could show up as tonight are a team who is deflated and has given up hope, or a team rejuvenated looking for redemption to force a Game 7.

Same can be said for the Rangers. If they are not prepared to deal with the over-energized Capitals team, they will have a hard time figuring them out, and could potentially drop this game. The Rangers need to avoid distraction, and keep a level head so they do not give them a chance to come back into the game.

Playoff Prescription: Round 2 Rangers vs. Capitals Game 5

No one ever said that this would be easy.

This best-of-seven series is becoming more heated each minute that gets played. The Rangers and Caps are dueling every single night trying to get that extra advantage, which leads us to the tie we have right now with both teams with two wins.

Along with the heat of each game, my blood pressure continues to rise. I'm a 20-year-old healthy boy who feels like his heart is one day going to just go *PFFFT* and explode out of his chest watching Rangers hockey one day. This team that had all of these good fortunes going on in the regular season is now scrambling for wins and goals, and it's not fun to watch, believe me. But, whatever gets it done, do it I suppose.

Playoff Prescription: Round 2 Rangers vs. Capitals Game 3

No matter what team it is, the playoffs will always be a battle. Nothing is ever gauranteed, no matchup will go as planned exactly. It is all a game of will and determination and hard work.

The Rangers dropped their first game of the series two nights ago as a late goal by Alex Ovechkin lifted the Caps in the 3rd as they fought off an onslaught by the Rangers in the later part of the game. The Rangers lost that game because they dug too deep of a hole, and when they climbed back up, the Caps pushed back and toppled them over. They were not as gritty, and did not get as much support offensively to keep them in the game. Everything they needed to do, they didnt.

Now, the Rangers have a chance at redemption. They have a chance to get back the lead, their momentum, and start anew. As learned in the Ottawa series, when they play the gritty style of play tha has supported them all year, good things happen. What happened in Game 2 was what happens when the Rangers get too pretty with the puck.

It will be a battle of will tonight. Whichever team is willing to scratch and claw for that extra inch will get the win.

Playoff Prescription: Round 2 Rangers vs. Capitals Game 2

The Rangers are in the building, and do not look like they are leaving anytime soon.

The Rangers and Capitals are gearing up for their second game in this best-of-seven series. The Rangers have tangled quite the weave of performance as of lately, most recently taking control of Game 1 against the Caps winning 3-1. Secondary scoring, goaltending, and strict defense were keys to this Rangers victory as Henrik Lundqvist was on queue two nights ago stopping all but one. Artem Anisimov, Chris Kreider and Brad Richards all tallied a goal to propel to Rangers to the early advantage in this series. Now, the Rangers look to get an even bigger stretch on the Caps and go up 2-0 at the Garden tonight.

One of the major factors of victory is testing Braden Holtby. The Rangers failed to test Michael Neuvirth competently last year, which eventually lead to their early exit from the playoffs. The kid is good, but he is still trying to find his game in this crazy world of the NHL. I'm talking shots from the point, and in general, shots that the players do not think have a chance in hell of going in. We saw how that can work out on Anisimov and Kreider's goal in Game 1, now it's time for a repeat performance. Make Holtby work for his saves.

Playoff Prescription: Round 2 Rangers vs. Capitals Game 1

Every year for the past three out of four years, it seems we always come back to this.

The Rangers and Caps are gearing up to face off once again this year to see who can out-muscle one-another to advance to the Conference Finals. Both teams knocked off their respected first round teams, and are looking to keep their string of good fortune rolling. But only one team will prevail.

The Rangers and Caps split a four game series this year. The Caps, who's wins in that series came the day before the All Star Break and the last day of the season, were in the game for the most part for their losses. However, the turbulence of the regular season has bumped them down to the seventh seed, with the Rangers have taken over their usual role as the first seed.

Playoff Prescription: Round 1 Rangers vs. Senators Game 7

The entire season for the New York Rangers can be summed up by their play tonight.

The Rangers can come out and win, and still make something happen with all of their success in the regular season, or they could come out flat and let the Sens walk all over them and this is a choke or a season. Which will we see?

As a fan, I am nervous, but I'm trying to keep positive. We've already seen the Presidents Trophy winning Vancouver Canucks get bounced early by the Los Angeles Kings earlier this week, which truly goes to show that seeding is just a number. Any team can make it happen on any given night, which is why there have been so many upsets so far in these playoffs. Teams are not going hard when they need to, and in turn, they are dropping some key games. Let us hope that the example set by the eliminated teams already has sunk into the Rangers lineup.

Respect the Hockey Fan: A Response to the Barstool Sports article "Hockey Fans Are Hipsters"

In the world of sports journalism, there are a billion opinions. Some are good, some are bad. Some are spot-on, others are way out in left field. And sometimes, you come across a writer or broadcaster who will go to extensive lengths and make ridiculous claims, over-exaggerate things, and openly insult players, fans, cities, or anything else to get notoriety in the journalism world. (Jack Edwards, Dan Shaughnessey, etc...)

An article was brought to my attention on a Rangers blog I like to frequent. It was posted by someone who goes by the name of KFC and the article was written on Barstool Sports blog. The title of the article was called "Hockey Fans are Hipsters," and in it, Mr. KFC went on a great rant with such flowery language about how hockey fans are uppity tightwads about their sport. To sum up, basically KFC stated that hockey fans like to get really defensive of their sport whenever someone who does not share the same kind of year-round attentiveness, and that whenever someone who doesn't know as much about it starts to follow it, hockey fans get on their "High Horses" and berate whoever makes said claim.

Before I even begin to cut into this post, I'm going to assume KFC has a large resume of blogs (just assuming, didn't care enough to really search him out) that have gotten way more attention than anything I have ever posted on my blog. And I'm OK with that. This is not my job to run this blog, this is merely something I like to do in my spare time because a) I love hockey, and b) I love to write. I'm also going to assume that perhaps KFC gets a lot of views on his blogs considering the copious amount of comments from people who stumbled upon his post, and that he might get a bit of a profit out of it, considering Barstool Sports may get a bit more notoriety than this blog may get. If either of those are the case, and if KFC does have more posts like this one though, it is a damn shame he gets that much attention, or might even get paid for writing this article.

Playoff Prescription: Round 1 Rangers vs. Senators Game 5

Important games are all that is left here in the first round of these playoffs for every team. Whether or not you are trying to overcome a 3-0 deficit, or rallying to try and stay one step ahead of your opponent of avoid a game seven, every game is utterly important.

The Rangers are facing a challenge no different. The Senators are sticking around, and the Rangers have not shown their best hockey as of late. Not much can be said for why, but it does not matter. The Rangers need to find ways to win and quickly if they wish to have any hope of staying in the playoffs.

The start of Game 4 was good, with the Rangers passing, moving the puck, and shooting way more often. And after the second goal for the Rangers, everything just kind of stopped. And that was when the Sens took over the game for the duration of play, came back, and won in overtime.

Playoff Prescription: Round 1 Rangers vs. Senators Game 4

Games are getting more important now that the chance of being eliminated looms bigger over every opponent. The Canucks and Penguins are on the verge of being booted early (ironically, the two teams I pick to go to the Finals), and overtime games are running rampant throughout every series.

Tonight, the Rangers look for a 3-1 lead on the 8th seeded Senators. Let's go back a few nights and see how we got to this point. Brian Boyle's heightened play has helped the Rangers get to where they need to be. His three goals in three games so far has the Rangers sitting with an advantage. But the big man cannot win the series by himself. Enter, Henrik Lundqvist. Lundqvist had his first shutout of the postseason, stopping 39 shots, including a marvelous save in the dying seconds of Game 3 on Kyle Turris. Lundqvists save preserved the one goal lead right until the end of the game, and that is why the Rangers are up 2-1 on the Senators.

Carl Hagelin Suspended Three Games, Everyone's Mad

*sigh*

It seems like every year we get one of these blown suspensions dished out that cause an uproar. But this one bites in a whole different way.

Carl Hagelin of the New York Rangers was suspended today after his hearing with the Department of Player Safety after he elbowed Daniel Alfredsson in the head, causing him to leave Game 2. This happened just days after Nashville Predators star Shea Weber drove Red Wing Henrik Zetterbergs head into the glass at the end of their game and got away with a paltry fine. Is this the return of the Wheel of Justice?

2012 Playoff Prescription Round 1: Rangers vs. Senators Game 2

What an interesting playoffs we have going right now, huh?

For any hockey fan, it's been Christmas morning these past few days as the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs have not dissapointed at all. The #8 Los Angeles Kings have a 2-0 lead on the Vancouver Canucks, and the rivalry between the Penguins and Flyers is intensifying. What could a hockey fan want more of? Oh right, their team to win the Cup...

Well, in order to get there, you must go through the ranks and prove your worth, and that is what both the Rangers and Senators are going to try to do tonight in Game 2 of their series. Game 1 went the way of the Blueshirts two days ago, when four different Rangers chipped in for goals to win by the score of 4-2. Despite the ending of the game, when the Rangers game up their two goals of the game, for the most part they seemed on queue with each other and built a lead to big to overcome. Even when the Senators were on their onslaught, the Rangers held strong and fortified themselves for their chance to score their own goals.

2012 Playoff Perscription Rangers vs. Senators Game 1

Throw out regular season records, ignore past history, the playoffs are a different beast.

The 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs have already given us some good hockey. Last night, the #8 seeded Los Angeles Kings upset the Presidents Trophy winning Vancouver Canucks in the first game of their series by beating them 4-2, and the Philadelphia Flyers pulled of an epic comeback after being down 3-0 to win in overtime.

For Rangers fans, now the excitement and anxiety really begins with the commencement of their series against the Ottawa Senators. A team that beat them 3-out-of-4 times in the regular season fought until the last day of the season to see who their opponent would be. Make no mistake, this 8th seed is not one to be taken lightly.

Dr. Dap's 2012 NHL Playoff Predictions

It all comes down to this. A four-round, best-of-seven, free-for-all in the postseason of the NHL. All these teams who worked tirelessly all year to get their seeding finally get to show their real grit on the biggest stage this side of the Olympics.

Two Conferences. Eight Teams. One Winner. Here's the Clinics personal predictions of the entire 2012 NHL postseason.

Playoff Peach-Fuzz: A Critique of the Upcoming New York Rangers Playoff Beards

They serve as a symbol of how far you've come in the world of hockey. Every team is in on it; it's a tradition. The act of growing a playoff beard has been a superstition among hockey fans and players for as long as anyone can remember. To grow the biggest, bushiest, messiest beard you can during the NHL Playoffs in hopes that once you reach the mountain top, you can enjoy the best shave of your life.

Here are some Rangers who show potential to grow some awesome fur in the upcoming playoffs.

Bushy and Rugged


Henrik Lundqvist 

Unless Vogue calls up with another offer for a photo shoot, I hope Hank grows out something for us Rangers fans to enjoy. It would be nice to see the potential for the man in net to grow out a big fluffy one if the Ragers can make a deep run in the playoffs. However, knowing Hank, the superstitious man that he is, if he feels it interferes even slightly in his play, he won't grow one. But as a treat for the fans, I hope we get the chance to witness gloriousness on top of gloriousness that is his face.

Brian Boyle

Not sure how much ice time the big man will get once the Rangers go to the playoffs, but I think the big guys got beard potential. We got a glimpse of what Double B can do with his facial hair in last years playoffs, but hopefully he can have enough time to grow it out so he can, you know, actually intimidate someone on the ice.

Dan Girardi

You don't block shots like Dan Girardi does and not have the hormones to grow an awesome playoff beard. Girardi is the bona-fide playoff beard sleeper. Looking at Danny, you may not think he has the potential to make something work with his beard, but I remember glimpses of an awesome beard back when the Rangers played the Penguins in the second round of the playoffs a few years back, and he can grow one. It will be nice to see a fine patch grow among that chiseled chin of his, too.

Ryan Callahan


A fine captain needs a fine playoff beard. And since we will have Captain Cally at the helm this years playoffs, he must grace us with a beard. Callahan is as rough and tumble as they come, and if is actions were a facial hair, they'd be a Chuck Norris beard. And if you have a problem picturing his beard, imagine how it will look when he skates up to Gary Bettman after hearing the words "Captain Ryan Callahan, come get the Stanley Cup!" *chills*

Brandon Dubinsky


...

...I think the picture speaks for itself.

Should Chris Kreider Be Called Up for the Playoffs?

Recently, many speculations have been made by reporters who are around the New York Rangers of a possibility of start prospect Chris Kreider being called up after he finishes the tournament taking place on the college level. Kreider has had quite a bit of buzz around him ever since he was drafted, and expectations are rising as his performance in his current league is fairly well. However, is bringing in a new face to the Rangers starting in the playoffs really a good idea?

The Rangers don't pour on goals, and that is a fact. Their recent performances have managed to pot a few, but some nights, it isn't enough. Perhaps the Rangers feel they need a shake-up out on offense, but is that really the best idea for Kreider's development?

We have seen it happen in not just hockey, but sports in general, of players who are thrust into the limelight when they are not ready, end up slumping, and get into a rut that lowers their value, sometimes for their entire career. Would bringing in a kid who has never played an NHL game in his life be prepared to handle to the pressure of the NHL playoffs right out of the gate? This blogger's opinion says no.

The New York Rangers Clinch A Playoff Birth

For the first time in three years, the Rangers will not have to sit and wait to see if they will make the playoffs on the dying days of the NHL regular season, for they have clinched the first playoff birth in the Eastern Conference in a win tonight over the Devils.

The Rangers, who have played very turbulent hockey these past few days, reached the 97 point plateau, and are in the playoffs. They currently sit atop the Eastern Conference, but the Penguins, and Flyers are jockeying right behind them with 94 and 92 points.

As stated before, it has been a rough patch of hockey for the Rangers, as they are 4-5-1 in their last 10 games. But a victory tonight solidifies them a spot in the postseason, and now they can worry about preparing for that, rather than having to sacrifice their bodies down to the wire and gassing themselves out before they have a chance to relax.

It has been a long road for the Rangers this season. Starting the season with two straight overtime losses in Sweden to the Los Angeles Kings and the Anaheim Ducks before finally getting their first victory over the Vancouver Canucks. This team of Rangers has showed nothing but poise and confidence all season, and I have the utmost support for them going into the playoffs.

As the days go by, the Clinic will start preparing posts for the playoffs, including Dr. Daps' Playoff Predictions for all the teams. It is going to be a very exciting postseason, and we are going to get to watch the Rangers duke it out in their quest for Lord Stanley's Cup.

Why the NHL Should Take Good Notice of the Hagelin-Richards-Gaborik Line

Tonight in Madison Square Garden, the Rangers took on the Carolina Hurricanes and managed to put up four goals on the 'Canes which lead to a win to the score of 4-2. All four goals from the Rangers came from their top forward unit consisting of Carl Hagelin on left-wing, Brad Richards in the middle, and Marian Gaborik on the right. Brad Richards had two goals, and Hagelin and Gaborik split the other two.

Not going off of just one night of performance, but this line has the potential to be the next big threatening line in the NHL. Carl Hagelin is being mentored every single game that he plays with Richards and Gaborik, and is thriving with them. Not only that, but he is fueling the veterans as well. Tonight, Hagelin had two assists on both Brad Richards goals. Gaborik had two assists on one Richards goal, and Hagelin's goal. There is chemistry on this line, and it is obvious.

What is Causing the Rangers' Current Funk

The Rangers have certainely not been playing their best hockey as of lately, as taken notice by their first three consecutive regulation losses over the past three games. While fans are in a tizzy about all of this sudden losing, they players don't seem to be as concerned for their current struggles. Let's analyze this recent slump, shall we?


The last three losses for the Rangers: New Jersey, a teal still fighting to stay out of that eighth place spot. A team that does not want to have to face the defending champs in the Boston Bruins in the first round of the playoffs. A desperate team. The Devils severely outworked the Rangers all game and came away with a 4-1 win.


The Ottawa Senators: another team on that playoff bubble, fighting to get a higher seed. With Erik Karlsson who has been phenominal all season, and Jason Spezza who has been holding it down for the Ottawa lineup, they are a good team, and another desperate one at that.


The Chicago Blackhawks: a team that went through some troubles about a month ago where they could not win a game until they exploded against the Rangers and beat them 4-2. Unlike the Eastern Conference, the West is a bit tighter when it comes to lower-tier standings and teams in that Conference need to scratch and claw to get every advantage.

The Rebirth of Marian Gaborik

In 2009, the Rangers signed Wild superstar Marian Gaborik to a free-agent deal, and everyone was very happy and anxious. Happy because this was going to be potentially the first step toward building the team up for a good future, and anxious because of his injury prone history.

In the 2009-10 season, Gaborik reached everyone's expectations by scoring 42 goals and 44 assists for 86 total points on the year. However, the lack of a supporting cast caused the Rangers to narrowly miss the playoffs on the last day of the season to the Flyers.

In 2010, the Rangers signed Alex Frolov, a potential centerman for Gaborik that could propel him to bigger points totals that could jump the Rangers over the playoff hump.  However, Gaborik's injury proneness came up again when he sat out 20 games to start the season, and only tallied 22 goals, his lowest total ever when playing more than 40 games in a season. Gaborik came back mid way through the season, but never got in a groove, and that caused many Rangers fans to think of him as another lost-cause signing made by the Rangers. The Rangers eventually made it to the 2011 playoffs that year, never got out of the first round. Gaborik only had one goal and one assist in the five game series against the Capitals.

Teams the New York Rangers Do and Do Not want to Face in the Playoffs

It was the great Ric Flair who once said, "In order to be the man, you've got to beat the man."

The Rangers still have 21 games left on their season, but their odds to going to the playoffs are bettering every day. They lead the 2nd place Boston Bruins by nine points in the standings, as the season winds down and gears up for what is looking like it is going to be a very interesting postseason.

So many teams in the Eastern Conference are in a jumble together right now, teams that have proved they can hang with the Rangers this year, and those who have yet to show it. This is a breakdown of the teams who the Rangers could potentially fare better against in the postseason.

Toronto Maple Leafs


The Rangers have lost to the Maple Leafs twice so far this year, but the last time was before the turn of 2012. The last time the Rangers and Leafs faced, the Rangers shut out the Leafs 3-0, as they shut down Phil Kessel and Joffrey Lupul who have became an explosive tandem this year. Since that time, the Leafs have dropped out of the playoff race, and are sitting on the outside looking in. Make no mistake, they are still very much alive in the standings despite being behind 8th place, but their overall play as of lately has taken a hard toll, and the team is in disarray. If the Rangers and Maple Leafs face off in the first round of the playoffs, I think the Rangers can show their true grit and take the Leafs in less than six games.

Winnipeg Jets


The Jets are young, nubile, and ripe for the picking. The Rangers were the only team to ever face the Atlanta Thrashers in the playoffs, and the New Jets have yet to beat the Rangers this season. In fact, out of the three games the Rangers and Jets have played this season, the Jets have only scored one goal against the Rangers, and that was back in their first meeting in October. The Jets are still in the honeymoon phase of their rebirth, and have yet to string together wins consistently. If they worm themselves into the playoffs, it would take a whole lot for the Jets to beat the Rangers.

Philadelphia Flyers


The team that the Rangers have held their number to all year long. The Rangers and Flyers were the "push" rivalry this year as the NHL really tried to gear their hatred for one another up for the Winter Classic. The Rangers have taken all four of the meetings this season so far, including the Winter Classic in major TV-scripted fashion. Ilya Bryzgalov has yet to pay a single dividend of his major contract signed this year, and it's lead to a very enigmatic goalie controversy between him and Sergei Bobrovsky. If the Rangers play the Flyers in the postseason, get ready for fireworks, both at center ice when two players drop the gloves, and in the Flyers net.

Major NYR Clinic Adjustment Announcement

If any avid fans read this, you're probably wondering where my usual pre-game post for the Rangers/Devils game is. Well, that's exactly what I'm going to be touching on in this article.

Going through my archive, I've noticed that my feature stories that aren't pre-game posts have dwindled. It seems as though the only thing I am doing now is saying the same thing over and over again, and it's even getting annoying for me rehashing the same opinions three or four times a week.

So, if anyone out there who reads this blog on the regular, this is a notice that I will not entirely  stop my pre-game predictions, but they will be showing up less regularly because of my want to write more original pieces rather than just the same piece over and over again.

As for tonight, though, I feel I owe this page a prediction for the game against the Devils tonight, so here it is.

Rangers win 2-1

Ilya Kovalchuk will get the lone goal for the Devils early on in the 1st.
Ryan Callahan will score to tie it up in the 2nd.
And Brad Richards will score to win the game in the 3rd.

Enjoy the game!

2/25/12 Rangers vs. Buffalo Sabres

Break the walls dooooooooown.

Rangers against the Buffalo Sabres.

The Rangers are playing their second game in 24 hours, after a hard loss to the Islanders in a shootout. Backup goaltender Martin Biron gave Henrik Lundqvist a break in net, but he could not fight off the five hole attack of the Islanders. But tonight, the Rangers face a team that has only scored one goal on them so far this season. Tomas Vanek is the only player to score on the Rangers in regulation this season, as Henrik Lundqvist and Marty Biron have both pulled out victories over this scrambled Buffalo team this season.

One player who has been on his game in his hometown of Buffalo has been Ryan Callahan, the man who's scored both game-winners for the Rangers against Buffalo. Callahan has been performing very well against the Sabres this season, and I predict him to be a major catalyst for tonight's game against the Sabres.

The Diagnosis


Despite the fatigue from last nights game, I think the Rangers have much better odds tonight with Henrik Lundqvist stepping in goal. He has had a tremendous season so far, and for a team like the Sabres that are struggling, that gives Lundqvist and the Rangers better odds.

The Prediction


Rangers win 2-1

Ryan Callahan will get the initial goal for the Rangers
Jason Pominville will tie the game up late in the 2nd.
And Carl Hagelin will get the game winner half way through the 3rd.

Enjoy the game!

Rangers Fan Reality Check: Calm Down, People

I'm starting to write this in the waning moments of the Penguins game, so if the Rangers win, this is all just irrelevant.

The Rangers lost badly to the Penguins tonight, and just like clockwork, I see everyone I know on every fan page freaking out over one loss. We here at the Clinic are here to plead with you: put your pants back on and relax you crazy people.

Years of following the Rangers has taught me a lot about myself. It taught me to not be too emotionally attached to games, because if you are and you are a Rangers fan, you're going to be more testy that a high school girl during that time of the month. It taught me that some problems cannot be solved with drastic changes to any environment; hence why most lucrative free-agent signings for the Rangers never panned out. And most importantly, it taught me to respect a good thing when I have it.

The game is not even over, and I have already seen #wewantavery or #wewantnash on Twitter and Facebook. People are freaking out over this one game, and it frankly annoys the living crap out of me. Why am I not upset? Because it's a small ripple of the season. Yes, I'm not happy that they lost, but I'm not frustrated to the point where I suggest we overhaul the team over a loss to a very good hockey team.

2/21/12 Rangers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins

Knibb High Football Rules!

Rangers against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Rangers and Penguins meet for the fourth time this season, the second time in Pittsburgh. The Rangers have taken two out of the three previous meetings, while the Penguins took the most recent one on Jan. 19 to the score of 4-1. The Rangers are coming off of a quick OT game against Columbus two nights ago where the Jackets tied it up late, but Derek Stepan managed to tuck one in 22 seconds into the overtime period to win the game. The Rangers played a fairly solid game for the most part against the Jackets, held the puck for most of the game, and seemed to control the tempo. But a late-game gaffe when Rick Nash sniped one over the shoulder of Henrik Lundqvist sent the game to OT. The Rangers are playing very well as of recently. They have won five out of their last six games, and Henrik Lundqvist has been absolutely stellar when called upon. Players are stepping up and scoring, and the team seems to be just as cohesive as they have been all season. But tonight, they face a very amped up Pittsburgh team.

Despite not having Sidney Crosby for so long, the Pens have dug into their bag of tricks and have pulled out a team that has been able to hang with the rest of the division. James Neal and Evgeni Malkin have combined for most of the Penguins goals, and have lead the team through troubled times. Despite the lack of Crosby, the Penguins are just as dangerous.

2/19/12 Rangers vs. Columbus Blue Jackets

He wanted to go to heaven ,so I took him in seven.

Rangers against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

The Rangers are playing their first game since they laid an egg against the Chicago Blackhawks, allowing four goals very early on, a deficit they were not able to overcome. Rangers backup Martin Biron let four goals in in the first period, and they Rangers could not climb the mountain as they lost 4-2. Now, the Rangers are looking for a major rebound against a team that has been chattering with the Rangers about possibly trading their star player to, the Columbus Blue Jackets. Henrik Lundqvist will be getting the start tonight against the Jackets, as he is 2-2-0 in his career against the team.

The Blue Jackets are a team lost in the woods. Jeff Carter is reluctant to play hard, and is dragging the team down, and a looming attempt to trade their shining star in Rick Nash is bringing everything crumbling down in Ohio.

2/16/11 Rangers vs. Chicago Blackhawks

It's going to be legen-wait for it...

Rangers against the Chicago Blackhawks.

For the first time of two meetings this year, the Rangers and Blackhawks are squaring up in a battle between two original six franchises.

The Rangers are in the midst of a four game win streak. After beating Boston 3-0, where it seemed the team struggled for a bit, but Henrik Lundqvist did not, stopping every one of those 42 shots he faced. Ryan Callahan managed to chip in another goal that night, his sixth goal in his last four games. The offense is beginning to pick up for the Rangers again, after they went stagnant earlier this month where a powerplay goal couldn't be bought by the Rangers. Now, that has improved too, and along with the penalty kill, the Rangers are running a bit smoother when up or down a man. One of the big factors I think is going to need to step up tonight is Carl Hagelin. The Blackhawks are a very fast team, and if the Rangers give Patrick Kane or Johnathan Toews any room, they can make the most of it. In order for the Rangers to get a leg up on that, they will need Hagelin to be explosive tonight.

How Glen Sather Should Approach Trading for Rick Nash

A Yahoo! article recently posted on the Puck Daddy blog talked about the potentiality of Rick Nash being traded to the Rangers. The face of the Columbus Blue Jackets has a no-trade clause, but can be asked by the organization if they want to invest in the future, and apparently, the Rangers are the front-runner if that happens. Nash is a dangerous winger, and is in need of a great centerman, which the Rangers have in Brad Richards, that could propel Rick Nash and his massive contract.

The scenarios that are being tossed around for this trade are that the Rangers would give up Brandon Dubinsky, a pick, and a prospect in order to get Nash. Nash is under contract until 2018, and is priced at $7.8 million. By dropping Dubinskys $4.2 million, there is possibility for room, but at what price could the Rangers be giving up for Nash?

Prospect talks for the trade are being named with Chris Kreider, a young and talented player that shows quite a bit of promise coming out of college soon.

According to this blogger, the price is too high for this one.

2/12/12 Rangers vs. Washington Capitals

Not every girl brings you lasagna at work, most of them just cheat on you.

Rangers against the Washington Capitals.

First off, I want to make a not that I will be enjoying this game in person thanks to my awesome neighbors who get really awesome seats for clients and give them to me when he cant make it. I will be seated three rows away from the ice, but where in the arena, I am unsure. Anyone who possibly reads this blog and is going, look for a kid in a Callahan Winter Classic jersey with bright Eminem-yellow hair. That'd be me.

Now, onto the game. The Rangers and Caps are meeting for the third time this season, after splitting the first two meetings with the Capitals winning the latest game 4-1. The Rangers have not had many games this season when they have been held to one goal, while the other team goes off on them, so for a team like Washington that is currently sitting outside the playoff race is pretty bizarre. But, the Rangers seemed to have worked into another groove to get them going after captain Ryan Callahan lead the team to a majorly important win over the Flyers with a hat-trick. The Rangers had three power-play goals in that game, fixing what was only a few days ago broken beyond all belief. Now, if the Rangers can carry that same intensity into the game against the Capitals, they can have their way with them. The Capitals are much like the Flyers is certain aspects. They have shoddy goaltending, but a good cast of people who can put the puck in the net. This is the prototype of a team that the Rangers have been able to beat all season. If the scorers can chip in, and Lundqvist plays like Lundqvist, the Rangers will certainly be able to win this game.

2/9/12 Rangers vs. Tampa Bay Lightning

She's my cherry pie, cool drink of water, such a sweet surprise.

Rangers against the Tampa Bay Lightning

The Rangers are in need of a rebound desperately after their brutal loss to the New Jersey Devils where they were shut out 1-0. Accoring to many fan recounts, the Rangers could not get anything going at all. The Rangers managed to hold their first place in the Eastern Conference, but their hold is slimming quickly, and a win tonight could propel them ahead of the pack just a bit. The Rangers have not been playing like they did in the beginning of the season, where their intensity peaked, and they were winning five games in a row at times. Obviously, it's ridiculous to ask any team to perform that well for that long, but in order to compete, they are going to need to start getting things going. Mainly, Brad Richards needs to get going, big time. Richards was clutch for the Rangers early on in the season, but has fallen off in the goals catergory. In order for success to come to the Rangers again, they are going to need to get some production out of Richards. The goals are not coming as easy as they were during those win streaks, and players who are expected to step up in times when it is needed have to come up now.

2/7/12 Rangers vs. New Jersey Devils

Le grill? What the hell does that mean?!

Rangers against the New Jersey Devils.

For the second time this week, the Rangers and Devils are matching up once again to battle it out for two very valuable points leading into the final 30 games of the season. The Rangers picked up a big rebound win over the Sabres after dropping to the Devils last Tuesday in the shootout after a lucky bounce gave the Devils life into overtime. The Rangers then beat the division rival Philadelphia Flyers 5-2, where five different Rangers scored to lift the team and separate themselves from the rest of the Atlantic division a bit.

The Devils are hot right now. They have won their last five games, and are producing goals in bunches for the first time this season. They are powerful, and are playing with confidence. However, they do have some injuries. Travis Zajac, Adam Larrson, Henrik Tallinder, and Ryan Carter are all out for the Devils. The Devils have vulnerable spots that the Rangers can exploit, and tonight, we'll see if they can.

The Diagnosis


If I were a betting man, I'd bet on the Devils tonight. They are playing exceptional hockey, and have spurred their confidence after that bounce gave them a shot in overtime last week. Kovalchuk has been going off like the old Kovalchuk did in Atlanta, and players like David Clarkson are picking up some slack with the notable injuries on the lineup. Unfortunately, I'd have to say the Devils win tonight, by a one-goal differential.

Enjoy the game!

2/5/11 Rangers vs. Philadelphia Flyers

Foosball is- the Devil?! EVERYTHING'S THE DEVILS TO YOU MOMMA!

Rangers against the Philadelphia Flyers.

In their first meeting since the Winter Classic, which the Rangers won 3-2 despite possible NBC influence on the referees, the Rangers and Flyers are still neck and neck in the standings looking for a little room, or to move a bit closer to the top spot this afternoon. While most people in New York are still gearing up for the other game that's suppose to take place today, the game today between the Rangers and Flyers is just as important. The Rangers have managed to rebound after their rocky start after the All Star break, but got back in their groove when they put Henrik Lundqvist back between the pipes and he recorded his 41st career shutout against the Buffalo Sabres. The Rangers have had a few days to rest up for this game, and leaves them a lot of time to work on their dreadful powerplay. Some people have shied away from noticing the bad powerplay percentage, which is currently 13.7 percent, because of their great penalty kill which is at 87.6 percent. If the Rangers want to win tonight against the Flyers, they are going to need to ignite this powerplay and stay out of the penalty box. The Flyers have the 4th best powerplay in the league. Giving them too many chances on the powerplay could lead to a serious hole the Ranger may not be able to dig themselves out of 5-on-5.

Recapping the Rangers vs. Sabres 2/1/12

An ugly game, but two points are on the leaderboard.

The Rangers took on the Buffalo Sabres tonight in what was possibly the ugliest game I have seen them play all season. No team was able to score on each other until the shootout where Ryan Callahan won the game for the Rangers, beating Ryan Miller in the 5th round, his second game winner against the Sabres this season.

This should be a nice rebound win after that tough bounce lead to a shootout loss yesterday night against the Devils, but make no mistake, the Rangers certainly have some issues to adjust. For one, the *&%$ing powerplay. I have't seen a more flaccid powerplay since the days of Tom Renney and the rag-tag group of misfits that infested those teams. John Tortorella's teams are well known for their potent offense on the powerplay, and for one of his teams to be playing like this while up a man is sad. Truly sad.

Two players I would like to point out for being less-than-stellar tonight are Michael Del Zotto and Anton Stralman. I know, the defense did very well shutting down, because they didn't allow a goal, but there were times I felt that they were just acting, and not thinking when they had the puck. That's how teams get disoriented and lose hockey games in the NHL, but not thinking. Slowly but surely, the rest of the team started performing like that, and they should all consider themselves lucky they did not get scored on tonight.

Now, the star players for the Rangers would have to be that shimmering man in the goalie pads, Henrik Lundqvist. His 41st shutout of his career, a few massive save, including one in the shootout, helped save the sorry asses of the forwards of the Rangers tonight. Had he not been between the pipes to make some very key saves for the Rangers, this game could have turned out much worse.

The next Rangers game is this Sunday against the Flyers, which I predict quite a few of you won't be tuning in to see it because of the Super Bowl, but if you do, I'll still have my pre-game post up for all who care to read it. Bobbaganoosh, everybody!

1/31/12 Rangers vs. New Jersey Devils

Take this quarter, go downtown, and have a rat gnaw that thing off your face.

Ranges against the New Jersey Devils.

The Rangers are coming back into action tonight on a high note. After winning an important two games in a row against the Bruins and Jets, and a stellar performance by Marian Gaborik and Carl Hagelin at the All Star game, they look to extend their streak against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center tonight. The Rangers are still playing cohesive hockey, despite a few missing pieces still on the shelf on defense, with Michael Sauer still out with a concussion, and Steve Eminger out with a shoulder injury. Luckily, other players have been able to step up to fill the void. One of the big stories coming out of tonight's game is that Henrik Lundqvist will not be starting tonight, and backup Martin Biron will get the go. This willmark the end of a 32 consecutive start streak against the Devils by Lundqvist. Lundqvist, who also took part in the All Star game, stated his understanding of getting a break tonight, as coach John Tortorella wanted him to get at least two practices under his belt before he made another start. Biron, who has a 9-2-0 record over the course of this season and has played among the other Atlantic division teams like the Islanders and Flyers, knows the Devils well, and is a very competent backup that will try to help the Rangers add to their win streak tonigh.