Recapping the Rangers/Islanders

What on God's green Earth was that?!

In case some of you were lucky enough to not know the Rangers were playing today, I'll quickly recap what went down. To break things down, the Rangers played their ugliest game of this season, losing to the Islanders 6-2. I, myself, personally shut the game off after the third goal because I was not about to watch some half-assed effort to try and stay in the playoffs.

The Rangers scored the first goal of the game, but then slowly but surely collapsed before my very eyes. To put things into perspective, Trevor Gillies scored. The man why has missed 20+ games this year due to suspension, scored a goal. That alone stands to testify how badly the Rangers played tonight.

Now, the Rangers are even closer to having last years atrocity at the end of the season repeat itself again. Right at the worst possible time, the Rangers, after going on quite a stretch of wins, are starting to lose when everyone else around them in the standings is picking up their play.

What the hell is wrong with these guys? Did someone not tell them this game is very, very important for their chances at a playoff spot? I don't understand how this team, knowing how dire the consequences can be if they don't win, can go out and play the worst game of the season. It's not even one individuals fault, it's an entire team failing as one, and it blows my mind.

I was really looking forward to making a happy celebratory post for my 100th post on here, but unfortunately, that isn't going to happen. Unless the Rangers go on some kind of run winning all five of their last games, its going to be a really tough end of a season to watch as a Rangers fan.

3/31/11 Rangers vs. Islanders

Heroes get remembered, but legends never die.

The final saga between the Rangers and Islanders will take place tonight on Long Island as the Rangers look to provide some more cushion to a potential playoff spot (which they will get). The Rangers took a tough loss to Buffalo yesterday, but it did not seem like the Rangers looked like they had any serious issues to overcome in that game. Give credit to Buffalo for shutting down the Rangers throughout the game, supplying backup Jhonas Enroth with quite a bit of protection. But tonight, the Rangers are going to have to take full control of the reigns against the Islanders. The Rangers have had trouble putting the puck in the net as of recent, but have also done a good job of keeping a lot of pucks out of their own net. The Rangers have had some great success against the Islanders this season, winning four out of their five meetings, all four consecutively. Marian Gaborik has scored six goals against the Islanders so far this season. Him being big factor in tonights game is a must for the Rangers success. The Rangers are currently tied with the Buffalo Sabres, and the Carolina Hurricanes are right below them. A win tonight will tie the Rangers with the Montreal Canadiens, and put them ahead of the Sabres who are off tonight.

The Islanders are in the midst of a three game losing streak, the longest streak of losses it seems since they changed coaches to Jack Capuano. The Islanders are mathematically eliminated, but that will not be a reason for them to just roll over and lose tonight. The Islanders sent out ex-Rangers goalie prospect Al Montoya between the pipes last time these two teams met. After a dismal two periods, the Islanders replaced him with Nathan Lawson, the fourth goalie to face the Rangers for the Islanders this season. Along with that, the Islanders are missing some key players in captain Doug Weight, Milan Jurcina and Bruno Gervais. Jurcina and Gervais are both defensemen, which means the defense is lacking some depth, something the Rangers would want to try and exploit.

My Diagnosis


The Rangers are lucky to have three days of rest, because they're schedule is really picking up now that its over. Despite playing a game 24 hours ago, the Rangers are going to need to be alert, and not try to make the fancy play. the grinding game has worked for the Rangers so far this season against the Islanders, and swaying from that now would be a terrible mistake. Throw pucks at the net, fore-check, and takeaway the neutral zone. If they can execute that well enough, they have a good shot of taking these two points from the Islanders tonight.

3/30/10 Rangers vs. Sabres

Buckle up, y'all.

Rangers against the Buffalo Sabres.

First off, I apologize for the lack of content these past three days. This has been the longest time I haven't posted anything, mainly because there was literally NOTHING going on in the Rangers universe this week. But now were back, and I like it. Tonight is a very big night for the Rangers, as they face the 8th place Sabres, who are just two points behind the Rangers in the Eastern Conference. The Rangers have performed well against the Sabres so far this season, taking two out of the three games already played. The Rangers have been on fire as of late, and hopefully carry that intensity over into tonights game, because they are going to need it. None of the teams below the Rangers are giving up easily on the season. Carolina won last night in a shootout against Washington, to keep them hanging around the standings. The Rangers need to keep their foot on the gas until they have mathematically clinched a spot.

The Sabres have also been doing very well heading down the home stretch, going 6-3-1 in their last ten games. A win for them tonight will pull them even with the Rangers, and give them the 7th seed, for they will have more regulation wins than the Rangers. The Sabres will be without key members of their lineup in Derek Roy and Jordan Leopold, who won't be returning until next season. However, despite those significant injuries, the Sabres have managed to perform exceptionally well, and should not be taken lightly tonight by the Rangers.

My Diagnosis


The Rangers need to carry that physical edge that shined in the Boston game last Saturday. Blocking shots, and hitting are are going to be the key to beating the Sabres tonight. That has been the key to this 8-1-1 run the Rangers are currently on, and it will continue to propel them if they stick to the game plan. Along with that, the Rangers have been well rested. More importantly, Henrik Lundqvist has been well rested these past three days, after a much needed break after starting 20 consecutive games. If the Rangers can stick to their game plan, they can walk away with a victory tonight.

My Predictions


Since the past two games between these teams have ended in a score of 3-2, I'm feeling that might happen once again.

Rangers win 3-2.

Ryan Callahan will get the initial goal for the Rangers half way through the 1st.
Thomas Vanek will get the first goal for the Sabres also in the 1st,
Derek Stepan will get the second goal for the Rangers early in the 2nd to jump ahead.
Marian Gaborik will follow up promptly with a goal of his own to make it 3-1.
And finally, Tim Connolly will get the final goal for the Sabres late in the 3rd.

Enjoy the game!

Recapping the Rangers/Bruins 3/26/11

The Rangers managed to stand tall in the face of adversity once again, shutting out the Boston Bruins on away ice. The Rangers scored a lone goal once again, coming off of a face off deflection by Derek Stepan in the 1st period.

The Rangers were superb defensively throughout the first two periods, doing a wonderful job of fore-checking and getting takeaways in the neutral zone.

Sean Avery returned to the lineup today, subbing out Mats Zuccarello. Avery threw some punches with Gregory Campbell early in the 1st, and helped out quite a bit on the defensive side of the puck. Despite being sat the past six games, I feel that this was a good idea to sup bout Zuccarello with Avery. Not to say that Zuccarello doesn't have skill to play in this league, but the Bruins are a massive MASSIVE team, and putting Zuccarello out on the ice against players like Zdeno Chara and Milan Lucic would have been kamikaze for Zuccarello.

One thing the Rangers really performed well in was they were blocking shots from ever getting to Henrik Lundqvist, who recorded his eleventh career shutout, a new career best, in his 400th NHL game. Lundqvist performed well through the shots he faced through the first two periods, and then really turned on the jets when the barrage of shots came in the 3rd to hold the shutout in tact.

In all, it was a good bounce-back win to keep the playoff push going for the Rangers. The Rangers are now currently tied with Montreal in the standings, and if the Rangers manage to overtake the Canadiens, there is a good possibility of the Rangers having to play Boston in the first round of the playoffs. Hold tight, things are about to get really interesting in the Eastern Conference.

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!

3/22/11 Rangers vs. Panthers

We're going streaking!

Rangers against the Florida Panthers.

For the final time this season, the Rangers and Panthers will meet at MSG. The Rangers are currently in the midst of a four game win steak, their first since December of 2009. The Rangers have turned on the jets at the most opportune time to separate themselves from the 9th place Carolina Hurricanes. The Rangers managed to face down adversity in the form of an nasty illegal elbow dealt to defenseman Ryan McDonagh from Penguins forward Matt Cooke, as well as giving up a shorthanded goal to the Penguins shortly after to pull out a decisive 5-2 victory over the Pens two days ago. The Rangers were without defenseman Marc Staal for that game, and it's been reported that he did not practice after that game either due to a knee injury. Along with him, Matt Cooke elbow recipient Ryan McDonagh also did not practice on Monday. Both defenseman are questionable for tonights game. However, watch for Bryan McCabe to be a factor in the Rangers' game tonight. the former captain of the Panthers who came over o the Rangers at the trade deadline will probably inform the team of a few in's and out's of his former team.

The Panthers have managed to beat the Rangers twice so far this season. Tomas Vokoun has played strong against the Rangers in the wins for the Panthers, and tonight might not be any different. However, the Panthers are down quite a few players. Scott Timmins, Rostislav Olesz, Jack Skille, Shawn Matthias,  and Alexander Sulzer are all out for the Panthers. Many of those players are forwards, so that may prove to be a big weak spot in the scoring department for the Panthers.

My Diagnosis


Tonight is a crucial game for both of these teams. The Rangers need this win in order to stay head of Buffalo and Carolina who both play tonight, and the Panthers need this win in order to keep themselves in the playof hunt, for they are not mathematically eliminated yet. However, I believe this game will head in the Rangers favor tonight because of the relentless pressure they have been putting on lately, and the injured lineup of the Panthers will have a hard time containing that.

My Predictions


Rangers win 3-1

Ryan Callahan will get the initial goal for the Rangers half way through the 1st period.
Stephen Weiss will tie the game also in the 1st.
Erik Christensen will pull the Rangers ahead early in the 2nd.
And Brian Boyle will cap the game off in the 2nd as well.

Enjoy the game!

Matt Cooke Suspended 14+ Games

Ladies and gentlemen, justice has been brought to to the wicked.

Matt Cooke, long time NHL forward, agitator, and cheap shot artist has been suspended for the remainder of the regular season, which consists of ten more games for the Penguins, as well as the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Cooke will also be losing $219,512.20 in salary from the games he misses.

Cooke, who had been suspended once already this season, was up to his normal antics in New York when he delivered a blindside elbow to the head of Rangers defenseman Ryan McDonagh. McDonagh  was not seriously injured, but Cooke was escorted off the ice and given a 5-minute game-misconduct penalty. At the time of the elbow, the game was tied 1-1. The Penguins managed to score shorthanded, but the Rangers quickly used Cooke's actions as motivation and scored four goals in the 3rd period to win the game 5-2. (video below)

Cooke's track record more than likely played a part in his suspension, for he has been suspended multiple times throughout his years he's been in the NHL. Earlier this season, Cooke was suspended after delivering a similar elbow to the head of Bruins center Marc Savard. Savard suffered a serious concussion and was pronounced to not be able to return to the lineup for the remainder of this season, and possibly longer considering Marc Savard's history with concussions. To see more of Matt Cooke's cheap shots throughout the year, check out his history of violence, provided by Tolensky.com.

A question that is going to be brewing among the NHL fan base is going to be: is Cooke's suspension going to be enough? Will Matt Cooke learn from this harsh punishment and never throw another elbow in his career? The answer is: probably not. 

Cooke has been in the league since 1998. Clearly, throughout countless reprimands from the league, teams, and Evander Kane, Matt Cooke has still not learned his lesson. It's hard to believe that after such a long stretch of aggression, Cooke is finally going to be born again and be some hockey saint after this incident. My only hopes as a hockey fan are that Cooke gets scratched from more and more games so that he can no longer potentially deliver any more blows like this to another player ever again.