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.