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.

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.

1/12/12 Rangers vs. Ottawa Senators

There can only be one.

Rangers against the Ottawa Senators.

This is the third meeting between these two teams this season, with one more game to go. The Rangershave taken one of the games against the Sens 3-2, while the Sens pulled of a comeback and won the first meeting 5-4 in the shootout. The Rangers are in the midst of a five game win-streak, despite a bit of a lack of offense as of late. The Rangers only scored one goal against the Coyotes a few days ago, and are looking to get back on that horse that has propelled them to many wins this season. Luckily for them, the goaltending and defense have been stellar to keep the games winnable. Henrik Lundqvist already has 19 wins this season, and it is only the half-way mark. Plus, Marty Biron has been able to step in and relieve the King when he needs a day of rest. In all, the Rangers have been playing like a team, and not like a bunch of individuals, which is the reason they've been winning their last few games.

The Senators have rebounded from a slow start, and have gone 7-1-2 in their last 10. Like the team that came back on the Rangers early on in the season, they are dangerous as always, and need to be accounted for every time they get a chance.

The Diagnosis


There is a possibility of Brandon Dubinsky sitting out tonight, after taking a rough hit during the Phoenix game. Luckily, the x-rays came back negative, but I believe he will be taking a night off just to rest up. The Rangers have performed well against the Sens this season so far, with Marian Gaborik having three goals against them and Brad Richards with two. But the Sens are dangerous, and tonight, I think the Rangers might have their hands full.

The Prediction


Senators win 3-1

Daniel Alfredsson will score the initial goal for the Senators early in the 1st.
Ryan Callahan will score the lone goal for the Rangers also in the 1st.
Milan Michalek will give the Sens the lead in the 2nd.
And finally, Nick Foligno will ice the game with an empty net goal.

Enjoy the game!

Dear Fellow Rangers Fans: An Open Letter Regarding the Loss to Ottawa

Today we witnessed a very heartbreaking game where the Rangers blew a 4-1 lead to the Ottawa Senators. It sucks, I know. I'm just as upset as the rest of you.

Yes, they blew this game big time. You want to know what's not going to make this loss suck any less? Calling for the firing and beheading of the coach.

By doing that, you are being what I like to refer to as "hockey stupid". So yes, that would mean a LOT of you are being really, REALLY hockey stupid right now. 

I've been around the Rangers long enough to realize that these kind of losses are going to rear their ugly heads now and again. Can anyone remember the 4-0 comeback run from the Thrashers two season ago? I sure do. I was really pissed after that game. I was calling for Tom Renney's head just like many of you are calling for Tortorellas head right now. That game meant so much to me, it sparked a personal protest of mine, where I stopped watching games for an extended period of time, and would not repeal until Glen Sather was fired.

Eventually, Tom Renney was released, but Glen Sather still remained. You want to know where the firing of Tom Renney got the Rangers? Nowhere, they still missed the playoffs in the shootout to the Flyers.

3/24/11 Rangers vs. Senators

Teach me how to Dubi, teach me, teach me how to Dubi.

Rangers against the Ottawa Senators.

For the first time this season, the Rangers are in the midst of a five game winning streak. And boy, did they choose the right time to do it. the Rangers have had a persistent following from the Carolina Hurricanes and Buffalo Sabres as each of them looks to stay in contention for the playoffs. The Rangers have a little bit of a cushion, but nothing one that should make them feel too comfortable for too long. Henrik Lundqvist recorded his tenth shutout of the season against the Florida Panthers on Tuesday at Madison Square Garden. The Rangers did a fine job of holding the neutral zone for a majority of that game, and that will be a key for another victory tonight against the Senators. Another bit of good news is that Marc Staal, who has sat for the Rangers for the past two games with an undisclosed injury, has a possibility of returning to the lineup tonight at MSG. One thing I did notice watching the Florida game that troubled me was the lack of shots taken during the one power-play that the Rangers got. Despite being stood up on the blue line a few times, when the puck entered the zone, not a lot of shots were even considered at good opportunities. Craig Anderson, goalie for the Senators, is returning to the pipes tonight, and the best way to welcome him back would be to test him as much as possible.

Despite being at the bottom of the Eastern Conference, the Senators have not lied down yet. The Senators are 6-4-0 in their last ten games, and are looking to fight until the end of the season despite being mathematically eliminated from the playoffs already. The Senators will be without a lot of players tonight. Captain Daniel Alfredsson, Matt Carkner, Peter Regin, and Milan Michalek will all sit tonight. However, Jason Spezza has been lighting the lamp for the Senators during these injury trials, scoring 4 goals and getting 6 assists in his last seven games. Make no mistake, the Senators will not just roll over for tonights game.

My Diagnosis


Neither Buffalo nor Carolina are playing tonight, which makes perfect sense why the Rangers should be amped up beyond their normal levels for tonights game. Tonight is their chance to get a little bit of a jump on those two teams to give them some more breathing room in the standings, and potentially move closer to the Montreal Canadiens, who are currently three points ahead of the Rangers. I'm anticipating a big game from Brandon Dubinsky as well. Dubinsky, the only goal scorer in the game against Florida, has looked very well over the past few games, and I believe that will carry over into tonights game.

Mt Predictions

Rangers win 4-2

Brandon Dubinsky will get the initial goal for the Rangers in the 1st.
Jason Spezza will tie it up to end the 1st.
Brian Boyle will tally a goal for the Rangers early in the 2nd.
Derek Stepan will pot another for the Rangers also in the 2nd.
Eric Condra will pull the Senators within one goal late in the 2nd.
And finally, Wojtek Wolski will get the final gol for the Rangers in the 3rd.

Enjoy the game!