The Detail is in The Devils

For openers - The scoreboard was no friend to the Rangers last night.

The Islanders lost a lead and the game to the Flyers, who move 7 points ahead of us.

The Panthers beat the Wild - in OT - to pull within 3 points of us.

Toronto did beat Boston - but it went to OT so the Bruins get a point and move three ahead of us.

And Montreal beat Tampa Bay - moving 5 points ahead of us.

So - it is becoming more and more clear that the Rangers will have to start winning if they want to stay in the playoff race.

Which reminds me - we have a game today.

Who The Hell Are We Playing? We all cheered for Zach Parise during the Olympics - but those days are gone forever now as Zach and Marty and the Devils play host to our New York Rangers tonight.

The Details are in those Devils - they do all the little things right to maximize their aging fading goaltender. They have excelled for many years by playing team defense really really well - though player changes, coaching changes, and rule changes designed specifically to stop them from stopping other teams.

The Devils are tied for 3rd in the Eastern Conference with 79 points at 38-23-3. They are also a Ranger rivalry that dates back their first moments in the Turnpike state.

Primary Skaters: Olympian Silver Medalist Zach Parise leads the Devils with 30 goals - and has a plus-minus of +22. Jamie Langenbrunner has 35 assists.. And there's that new guy - Kovalchuk.

In Net: It is always Marty Brodeur - the Olympic back up goalie - with the .913 save percentage and the 2.37 GAA.

Scoring & Defense: The Devils have scored 169 goals this year - and we've scored 170. The difference is that the Devils have only allowed 154 goals to our 179.

Special Effects: NJ on the PP: 18.7 to our 18.8. NJ on the PK 80.9 to our 84.2.

Scheduling Conflicts: We played and lost Sunday. The devils lost to the Oilers Sunday. So both teams rested and annoyed.

Probable Lines: Did Tortorella mess with the lines again? Does a Bruin shoot in the crease?

Prospal - Christensen - Gaborik - Gabby back on top

Avery - Anisimov - Jokinen - interesting - a promotion for SEAN or demotion for Olli? And does this make Anisimov move to wing?

Drury - Dubinsky - Callahan - Our best 3rd line in a while

Prust -Boyle-Shelley (etc.) whoever is left over.

On Defense: Same old - and old. Dan Girardi became a dad this week. Let's see if he plays with renewed determination now that he has another mouth to feed.

In Goal: I would like to see Auld again soon - but after 2 days off it will be Hank - who played well last time - just not quite as good as Miller did.

Dave Puck predicts: Lots of bad feelings between hockey players. And a Ranger win - 3-1.
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Where We Stand: still in 9th - but now 3 points behind 8th place Boston who have a game at hand. Carolina - by the way - a former laughing stock - has won 8 of 10 and is just 6 points behind us in 13th place.

Happy Birthday Blueshirt Brothers

On March 9th 2009 we started it off with SEAN! - a post about how happy we were that Sean Avery had returned to the New York Rangers. And one year later, with this 717th post we can wish ourselves a happy birthday.

Since then we've been here almost every day - talking Ranger Hockey with you guys - and loving every minute of it.

My sincere thanks to all of you for reading – because without you I'm just typing in the dark.

Anyway - with the season winding down - the Rangers off today - and the playoff push heating up - it is time to start watching the scoreboard again.

Islanders at Flyers - I think we root Slanders here - Philly is 5 points up on us and the Islanders 7 behind. Philly is a team we're chasing and could catch.

Boston at Toronto - we root Maple Leafs - we're chasing Boston.

Nashville at Atlanta - we root Country Music town - Atlanta is on our heels

Tampa Bay at Montreal - the Lightning are chasing us and we're both chasing the Canadians. So we root Tampa - cautiously.

Those are the NHL games that matter to us at Blueshirt Brothers tonight.

And - if anyone remembers - its time to root "NOOT" again. NOOT means No OverTime - which means - when 2 rival teams play in our division play each other - let's have regulation wins - not OT games where both sides get points.

And one last item - my 11 year old son - Pucks Jr. is in the semi finals of his floor hockey league tonight. I will rooting like crazy for that one (while trying not to embarrass myself or my son in the process).

Rangers get the point – but they are also missing the point

G-brick. J-kinen. That's what their names look like with the "O" removed. And the Rangers have been missing the "O" – the offense - since the midpoint of the Penguin's game – the last time we scored an even strength goal. As a result it is us who are getting crunched in crunch time – and we have now lost three straight games when we desperately need to win to move into playoff position.

We got another point from another loss - which is better than no points. But as we sit in 10th place with our season winding down - I'm starting to wonder if the Rangers are missing the point about getting the point. It’s good to get something out of a loss – but if we don’t start winning soon we’ll miss the playoffs.

They are playing hard. We see emotion and intensity out there. We out shot, out hit, and out “face-offed” the Sabres. And we are just about hanging with the top teams in the conference. But the time for style points and good efforts are long gone. We need wins. We have teams to climb over to qualify for the playoffs. And there are plenty of other teams that are trying to climb over us at the same time.

The Sabres remind me of us 4 years ago. They got the hot Olympic medal-winning star in goal. They can't score - but they can defend. The US Olympic-star goalie Ryan Miller was perfect in goal. But in the last 3 minutes we countered with our own Olympic Ryan - as it was Callahan who shook off fatigue - took the puck across both blue lines on his own - cut to the net - and drew a huge penalty. In the ensuing 5 on 4 Dubinsky swung at a loose puck in the crease and got just enough of it to tie the game - and rock the Garden.

But OT has been a nightmare for the Blueshirts this year. Patrick Kaleta - a new face in a long line of Ranger Killers (does anyone remember Druce?) Kept scrambling for the puck and banked it off of Henrik from an nearly impossible angle.

Hank - to his credit - felt or sensed the puck rolling up his leg as he lay on the ice - and tried to roll his pad to keep the puck in play.

But no - it trickled into the goal and the Rangers fell – hard – by a score of 2-1 to Buffalo.

The Goalies: Lundqvist was very good. Miller was better. Ryan made 35 saves on 36 shots. Lundqvist made 30 saves on 32 shots.

Special Teams: We won this battle (editor: but we lost the war). We scored on the games final powerplay - going 1-2, while stopping both of the Sabres' chances. Of course this also means we haven't scored an even-strength goal in about 2 and a half hours of ice time.

The New Veteran Rangers - No goals. Olli did get an assist on the Dubi goal. And Jokinen continues to hustle out there - and he creates and takes shots - a rare commodity on this team. Gabby does not look like Gabby. Is it injury - or something else - or both?

Your Returning Rangers were the whole show - what there was of it. Ryan Callahan nearly took it end to end - as the third period was winding down - drawing the penalty that gave us the chance to tie the game. And Dubinsky's diving swing at the puck got just enough of it to edge it over the line and get the Ranger to Overtime.

The Kid Rangers - Del Zotto had an assist on the lone goal.

Defense on Offense? Redden shot the puck wide.

In conclusion: It ain't over til its over - but this year's team has shown a few (bad) tendencies:

We give up the late goal.
We lose in OT
We score just enough to lose.

Good to see Gabby back – but he’s got to get up to speed in a hurry. I was very interested in Tort’s idea of playing him on the Avery line. That – along with Cally on the top line – could give us 3 lines with scoring – and you know Sean can deliver Marian the puck in good spots. But as the game wore on – Gaborik was returned to the top line.

No use crying over spilled points – we have to regroup and find a way to win. Maybe a game against someone who isn’t a top 4 conference team would help...
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Next Up: ...but we don’t get that luxury. It’s the Devils on Wednesday. Circle the wagons.
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Where we stand: 9th place officially. But Atlanta is one point back with 2 at hand. And Boston is 2 points up on us in 8th – also with 2 games at hand. We need wins.

Same "Auld" Rangers

We outshot the Capitals. We outplayed them at even strength. We neutralized Ovechkin. But, despite the return of Gaborik we were shut out and lost 2-0 to Washington.

Another tough loss – with no points – against a very good team. And we're running out of hockey season. Here is how it happened:

The Goalies: It was the right move and a great move starting Auld in goal. Lundqvist had just faced 55 shots on Thursday and clearly needed the rest. And Auld played well. He was aggressive and in command in goal. He stopped 26 of 28 shots – with one of the two goals coming in a 5 on 3. When your goalie's save percentage is .929% - especially against a high scoring team like the Capitals – you can't blame the loss on him. And remember - last time we faced Ovechkin and company Henrik Lundqvist let up 6 goals.

Theodore was a perfect 30 for 30 in saves. You just can't win if you can't score on the guy.

Special Teams: We let in the 5 on 3 goal, but that was our only lapse in 4 shorthanded tries. Out own powerplay was 0-2. So we lost here – and that was enough to lose us the game.

And with no goals – there's nothing much else to talk about.

In Conclusion: We played hard. We just couldn't score. We launched 30 shots at Theodore – but he was much better than usual and we couldn't solve him. It's a night with no points – and we're running out of chances to catch the top 8.
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Next Up: We play again right away – tonight against the Buffalo Sabres with Olympic Hockey MVP Ryan Miller. Expect Lundqvist back in net. If we couldn't score on Theodore – we'll have to do a lot better to score on Miller.
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Where We Stand: 10th place – out of the playoff mix – with 17 games left to make a move.

Rangers get 2 goal lead - Lundqvist makes 50 saves - and we LOSE in OT

Heart breaker. The Rangers led the world champion Pittsburgh Penguins 4-2 and chased (hyphen-man) Marc-Andre Fleury to the bench midway through the 2nd period. But we only managed 4 shots the rest of the way while Crosby and company launched 55 shots at Henrik. The Penguins caught us and eventually won out in OT 5-4.

The game winner was a deflection by Olympic gold medalist Jordan Staal. It went past Jordan's brother Marc Staal - and then past Lundqvist - while our dreams of a 4th straight win crashed to the ice like Sidney Crosby taking a dive.

And it was one of Sid's crybaby specials - a sad look to the refs and a flop early in the first that had Henrik Lundqvist steaming. Hank left the crease to let Sid know how he felt about it. Very cool move by the Hank-ster - and it reminded a few of us veteran Ranger fans of Jagr's similar conversation with Sid in Jaromir's last playoff series as a Ranger.

"You don't need to do that cheap stuff Sid - just play hockey like a man"

I'm paraphrasing - and sanitizing - but that's essentially what Jagr said back then and what Henrik said last night. More or less.

The Rangers competed hard and got some scoring - but their offense completely ran out of gas at the mid point. The third period and OT looked like a 20+ minute Pittsburgh powerplay - despite the fact that the teams were at even strength. When Redden got called for hooking in the OT - the Rangers mustered what they could defensively - but ultimately could not give Hank enough help to hold off the Pens.

The best news is that we did get a point - and we've gotten points in 4 straight games without Gaborik. Before the Jokinen trade we had never gotten a so much as a point in Gabby's prior absences.

But as the remaining games fall into the teens - we're still below that playoff line-of-death looking up. We need points. But last night we let one get away. Here's how it happened.

The Goalies: Henrik Lundqvist makes an all time career high 50 saves. But he let in 5 goals. The Rangers didn't do enough to help him - no one should have to face that many shots. So you can't blame Lundqvist.

Fleury was pulled after making just 8 saves on 12 shots. Johnson saved the game - but incredibly only had to make 4 saves to do it.

Special Teams: Our Powerplay was 2 of 3 - pretty good - but in the third period when a goal would have won it - we went 2 minutes with the man advantage without taking a shot.

Our PK had an uncharacteristic breakdown - successfully defending only once in three tries - including losing on the OT 4 on 3.

One more stop would have won the game.

The New Veteran Rangers - Jokinen - still sans-mustache - had two assists and was the one Ranger able to generate a shot on goal in the third. Prospal had an assist.

Your Returning Rangers: Stop the presses - Rozsival had a nice goal - roofing it from close in - and an assist.

Captain Drury had a goal. Dubinsky scored as well. Avery had an assist. Redden had an assist but also took the OT hooking penalty that did us in. On the other hand - Redden has quietly upped his plus-minus to +5, the 5th best number on the Rangers.

The Kid Rangers - We’ve been calling for Anisimov - and he comes through with a rare goal. Del Zotto returned from his long recovery from a slash injury from Malkin’s skate - and had an assist. And Gilroy had an assist.

Defense on Offense? A good night - one goal - and 4 assists. We could have used more defense though.

In conclusion: With an Olympic-charged Jokinen, Drury, and Cally - the Rangers are scoring. But with time running out on our season we need Marian Gaborik to get back out there and help the team. Get well soon Gabs. Or we’re finished.
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Next Up: Back to back games on Saturday and Sunday. Both are tough ones – The Caps (with Ovechkin) and the Sabres (with Olympic MVP Ryan Miller).
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Where we stand: We’re in 9th – tied in points with 8th place Atlanta – but they have 2 games at hand. And The Playoff Clump lives – just 10 points separate the 6th place Flyers from the 14th place Panthers.

News Flash - Rangers do (almost) nothing at the trade deadline - face Crosby tonight

If you take one last look at Miika Wiikman on Wikipedia – you will see that the Rangers traded him yesterday to Phoenix for a 35 year old defenseman (and former forward – like Gilroy) named Anders Eriksson. This was certainly not the blockbuster we were expecting – or dreading. Eriksson will be assigned to Hartford. Which makes me wonder why we did this in the first place. Eriksson was a Red Wing in 1995, a Springfield Falcon in 2005 and on Calgary last year

Hmmm. (This is the sound of me wondering why Sather made this trade. It's like a shopaholic who can't leave any store without buying something)

Anyway – our 3 game winning streak (without Gaborik) is on the line as Rangers take the ice again tonight.

Who The Hell Are We Playing? It is the World Champion Pittsburgh Penguins featuring gold medal winner Sidney Crosby – and a team we love to hate. They are in 4th place in the East, 14 points behind the Capitals. They are 5-2-3 in their last 10.

Primary Skaters: Well, Sid, for one. 42 goals. 37 assists. Which adds up to a mighty … +9. That’s one better than Vinnie Prospal!

Evgeni Malkin has 45 assists. (And I was stunned - by the way - that Malkin and Ovechkin together in the Olympics didn't do better than they did for team Russia)

Jordan Staal has a plus-minus of +16.

In Net: That flurry of activity himself: Marc-Andre Fleury with a .908 save percentage.

Scoring & Defense: Those Penguins have scored 198 goals already to our 165. But while we let up 170, they have given up 181.

Special Effects: The Penguin Powerplay clicks at 16.7%. We are better at 18%. The aquatic fish kill penalties at an 83.5% rate while we are higher at 84.8%

Scheduling Conflicts: We played and won on Tuesday. They did too. Like us – their best players are still hot from the Olympics.

Probable Lines: Gaborik is still hurt. Of course if this were the Olympics – and this was a game for Slovakia – a team that does not play him $7 million a year like we do – Gabby probably would suit up and play. But instead he rests and hopes his lower body recovers. So do we.

We’re guessing the lines will be:

Prospal - Christensen - Callahan (if Cally can keep pretending he's Gaborik - like he did with 2 goals Tuesday - that would be a good thing)

Drury - Jokinen - Dubinsky (three Centers on one line)

Avery - Anisimov - Lisin (he cleared waivers and is apparently still on the team. Avery is playing the elder statesman and traffic cop on this line - not the way I'm used to thinking about him)

Prust -Boyle-Shelley (the Punch Line - Prust never sleeps)

On Defense: We will see if Del Zotto - who has been out since Malkin's skate cut his chest - will be back tonight to face Malkin again. If not - Potter doesn't have Delzy' offense - but is a better defender - something defensemen also need to be good at. Just check out their plus-minus stats if you don't agree.

In Goal: We want to see Auld in there soon - but maybe you don't make his first start against the Stanley Cup champs. So - probably Hank - and that's probably good.

Dave Puck predicts: a hockey game. Can we beat the Penguins twice in a row and won our 4th straight without Marian Gaborik? I hope so - but I can't say I'm expecting it. So no prediction tonight.

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Where we stand: 9th place. Tied with Boston in points - but they have 2 games at hand.

The LONGEST 3 game winning streak ever

Since when does a 3 game winning streak start in the 2nd week of February and last until March? When you have an Olympic break in the middle - that's when.

Your New York Rangers won for the third consecutive time - again without the services of their leading scorer Marian Gaborik who was hurt before the break - got better - played for Slovakia - got hurt again - and ended up back on the Ranger injury list.

The Rangers took on the third-place-in-the-East-Ottawa Senators - on the road - and came up with 4 goals in the 2nd period to erase a 1-0 deficit and blow by a team that had won 14 of their last 16 games.

The Jokinen version of these Rangers is looking pretty good right now. And when Gaborik returns - we might really have something to get excited about.

The Goalies: Henrik Lundqvist - still stinging from an Olympic meltdown where he gave up 4 goals on 14 shots - came back huge last night, stopping 24 of the 25 shots that came his way. Any night the King has a .960 save percentage - he's giving us a very good chance to win.

Ottawa's Elliott stopped just 12 of the 16 shots he faced before getting yanked.

Special Teams: Not a factor. Rangers 0-1 on the Powerplay and 2-0 on the penalty kill. Good job for our guys staying out of the box. Or are the refs taking a cue from the Olympic refs who were happy to let the other players slash at one another as long as play kept going?

The New Veteran Rangers - Christensen, playing on the top line, had two assists. Prust had an assist. And Enver Lisin - who was placed on waivers earlier in the day - played hard and earned an assist of his own. If this is goodbye Enver - thanks for the effort - a very classy move.

Your Returning Rangers: rocked the house. Silver medalist Ryan Callahan kept his motor running from Vancouver - scored twice and nearly had the hat trick. Sean Avery had a goal and an assist. I would love for the guy to get hot down the stretch. And Dubinsky scored. Even Redden had an assist.

The Kid Rangers - were missing Michael Del Zotto - who had 50 stitches in his chest from a collision with the Penguin's Malkin's skate before the break. The Olympics were perfectly timed to help the teenager heal up. But the big story is that Corey Potter stepped up and played just fine. And Gilroy continues to perform. 2 rookie defensemen on the road - where the opposition gets the last line change - and we only give up one goal. Well done fellows

And yes - it has been a while since we called Anisimov's name.

Defense on Offense? One assist.

In conclusion: Let's hope Gabby gets well soon. And check back here as the 3pm trade deadline approaches. With the madman Slats in charge - if we don't make a deal - that in itself will be news.

Next Up: the Olympic Gold Medal crybaby Sidney Crosby on Friday. The start of 3 games in 3 days. Let's see Auld on Saturday. Please.

Where we stand. The win gets us to 65 points - tying the 8th place Bruins. There is still a big clump of teams from 6th place on down. It should be a fight to the finish.