Greetings and salutations everyone and welcome to another blog here on BlueCollarBlueShirts.com. I need some sleep.
Heck, I need a stay-at-home vacation after my own vacation!
Following my near 2,500 miles traveled this past weekend via “Planes, Trains and Automobiles,” I’m now back in my humble New York abode.
Off puck drop, and after visiting Chicago, IL, South Bend, IN and Green Bay, WI during the past 96-hours, and where one or a hundred beers may have been consumed throughout my travels too – I must admit – my eyes are a bit heavy as I write these words – but as they say – “The Show Must Go On!”
And for the New York Rangers, such a war cry also applies, as following their home opener loss as doled out to them by the hands of the Utah Referees Cub, the show continued on Monday night at M$G, via a 4-1 victory over the Detroit Ranger-Wings.
But of course, our mantra, our slogan, our tagline, our credo, or whatever you want to call the following 33-words still remains above all else – and by now – you should be able to recite this passage of text along with me:
“WHATEVER THE RANGERS DO FROM NOW UNTIL THE TRADE DEADLINE DOESN’T MATTER. THEY CAN ONLY BE JUDGED BY WHATEVER THEY DO FOLLOWING THE DEADLINE AND BY WHAT THEY DO IN THE 2025 PLAYOFFS!”
In other words, three down, seventy-nine to go, and then the real hockey, the only mission that matters, begins.
But let’s talk about Monday night’s win anyway!
Just a few quick thoughts from Saturday’s 6-5 overtime loss before getting into everything else – and I promise – I’ll keep it short – as all of this stuff is belated.
In addition, I’m sure that you don’t want to relive all of the nonsense from that game anyway.
Had I been around to share a few (or 10,000) words following the game, then I would’ve chalked up this loss as one of those games where the referees, and as if they were P. Diddy, try to lube you and screw you at every turn.
While the Rangers weren’t 100% absolved by amateur officiating, there’s just no way to excuse the poor performance displayed by the bozos in the black-and-white – and where after the match – I was wondering if the Utah Hockey Club were better off with the team name of “Officials” rather than “Yeti.”
Away from the officiating and it was just one of those nights where pucks were taking awkward bounces all over the ice – and in both ends too.
For every weird and bad goal that Utah goalie Connor Ingram gave up, CZAR IGOR was there to match him.
And then “out-match” him too.
By now, you already know what happened, so here are my quick one-hitters in a bullet-point style of fashion:
— I thought that Artemi Panarin, who many fear won’t be able to replicate (or perhaps the better word is “top”) his career year from last season, helped quell such concerns. Away from his team-high two goals, and “The Breadman” was baking all-night – as it felt like every shift he took would produce a goal. It’s not very often when a Ranger skater can single-handedly dominate a game – but that’s what #10 was doing throughout the home-opener.
— Conversely, I thought that the other half of the alleged 1-2 playoff punch, MIA Z., Stinka Zibanedud, government name Mika Zibanejad, was outright dreadful. After all, the Rangers scored five goals and the overpaid $8.5M center finished as a minus-four – and where the plus/minus stat, often criticized by the analytical jackals these days, did tell the story. Furthermore, the game-winning goal allowed to Clayton Keller was a direct result of Zibanejad’s laziness too.
— K’Andre Miller had a whirlwind of a game, as while he did pick up a goal, he was also a defensive mess. In addition, I thought that the Braden Schneider/Jacob Trouba pairing didn’t look so hot either.
— The two first-round busts, “The Concussed Czech” and “The Feckless Finn,” combined for two shots on goal. To jump ahead, Kaapo Kakko registered no shots on goal against Detroit, while Chytil mustered up two. What I felt going into this season – and then into the postseason – just grows stronger by the day, which means while they’ll show some glimpses of life in the regular season – I just don’t see either player being effective in the playoffs.
— What I expected following CZAR IGOR’s first goal allowed of the campaign (then the five that followed) also immediately came to the surface, as with every red light behind his back lit, then all you’ll hear about is how he wants to be the highest-paid goalie in the league – and where fans most certainly disagree with CZAR IGOR’s own opinion of his self-worth – and a self-worth that’s now rumored to be over $12M per-season.
— I thought that the fourth line, now with Rempe, looked strong – and even if #73 only played 3:40. More about REMPESTEIN, and in comparison to fellow fourth-liner Johnny Brodzinski, below.
— Kudos to Rempe’s linemates, Sam Carrick and Adam Edstrom, for competing in their first fights as Rangers – and where both men ultimately emerged victorious. And when it comes to the two giants, admittedly, and despite my own sometimes “fanboyish fandom” of Rempe – it’s Edstrom that’s most certainly earned his everyday spot on the roster.
As far as anything else, this easily could’ve been a Rangers’ win (and it probably should’ve been a victory for the Blueshirts too), but so many missed opportunities at wide-open nets, including late ones by Lafreniere and Miller, just added to the bizarre night. But it was also just one of those games – and while I know there is some extra “oomph” attached to a home-opener – it was still only the second game of the REGULAR season.
In other words, refer to our season-long disclaimer.
At this time, just a few pictures from my road-trip/vacation, and where you can find more pics from it by visiting my Twitter/X page (@NYCTHEMIC):
For those who may have missed my last blog on this site which recapped the first game of the 2024-25 Rangers’ season, then here it is for you below:
NYR/PIT 10/9 Review: DOMINANCE! Rangers Score A Touchdown In Pittsburgh; Make The Igloo & Crosby Melt, Big-Bucks-Seeking CZAR IGOR Says “NYET NYET;” Complete Team-Wide Victory, Focus on the Big Picture, The Head-Scratching Scratch of Rempe, New Look Filip Chytil; Same Old Kraapo Kakko, Lafreniere > MIA Z., GAG LINE 2.0 Does It Again, Larry Brooks vs. Jacob Trouba, Stan Fischler Still Has It & More
Going into Monday night’s game with the Red Wings, I had three different questions, two in regards to the home team, and another one in regards to the visitors.
When it to comes to the team from the Motor City, then I was surprised that Lalonde withheld his new defacto number one goalie from playing, ex-Ranger Cam Talbot – and even more so following “THE GOALBUSTER’S” 3-0 shutout over the explosive Nashville Predators.
Come the end of the game, while perhaps Talbot would’ve kept this contest closer on the scoreboard; but either way, I still think that the Blueshirts would have prevailed.
As far as Lalonde’s peer goes, Blueshirts’ bench boss Peter Laviolette, then my first issue of debate surrounded the exclusion of Matt Rempe – and in favor of Jonny Brodzinski.
While I understand that Rempe, on most nights, isn’t the difference between a win or a loss (and for what it’s worth, Jonny Brodzinksi only played 8:11 in the 4-1 win); but when it comes to long-term development – who is better suited – and who can provide more of a bang in the playoffs – REMPESTEIN or JONNY BROADWAY?
And if you think that Brodzinksi is better suited now – then how will Rempe ever get there?
Furthermore, it’s not like Rempe, definitely the biggest unicorn fourth line secret weapon in the league today, was responsible whatsoever for Saturday night’s loss – and where hell – once again, the officials slighted #73 for being too big – and for being pushed into the Utah paint, thus disqualifying what should’ve been a goal for Victor Mancini (and an untracked “screened assist” for Rempe too) – and a score which would’ve been the first red-lamp for Joey Zasa’s assassin to boot.
This also brings us to my other topic of concern, and the biggest Rangers’ scapegoat in the loss too, Mika Zibanejad.
After all, #93, and as mentioned earlier, who also finished as a -4, didn’t seem to care about playing defense and it looked like he flat-out gave up on what led to the Utah game-winning goal.
While I understand in reality that Lavy will not dare bench his struggling long-haired hippie; at the same time, what message does it send when Zibanejad is never held accountable, but a player who busts his ass and maximizes every second he receives available, is made a healthy scratch – and for what – the captain of the Wolfpack?
Fantasy time?
Bump up Brodzinski, play Rempe and let Mika take a timeout – as his regular failures will only hurt the team once the real games, the playoffs, commence.
And should this ever happen?
Then finally, and more important than that, DESERVINGLY too, Alexis Lafreniere will get a shot with the first power-play unit.
To quickly summarize Monday night’s 4-1 win before getting into our remaining usual segments and the GAME REVIEW itself; then you can boil it down to these two words “THE RUSSIANS!”
While the dishonest birdbrain beat reporters, a gaggle of ignorant folks who have goo-goo ga-ga eyes for the Zibanejad/Kreider bromance, named Mika as their first star of the game; in reality, this game was dominated by the two Russian superstars, Artemi Panarin and CZAR IGOR.
CZAR IGOR made 31 saves on 32 shots (.969 save percentage) – and where not many of these saves were easy.
Of these saves, eight of them were of the short-handed variety – including when he made SEVEN saves during one Detroit two-minute man-advantage.
Furthermore, not many of these short-handed stops were elementary my Dear Watson, as instead, most of them were of the butthole-clenching variety.
Offensively, and as it’s been for some time, this was “The Panarin Show,” as “The Breadman” assisted on 75% of all Ranger scoring – and where just like the home-opener – you thought that he could pop-off during any shift.
But since Zibanejad scored a 4-1 empty net goal, the unscrupulous scribes, as crooked as the officials from this past Saturday night, went with #93 over both #10 and #31.
And yes – while I’m aware that “The Three Stars of the Game” is pretty much meaningless – but I’m also not a fan of FAKE NEWS either.
Perhaps most deserving of joining the Russians as the third star of the game – and with Mika sitting this election out too?
Alexis Lafreniere, who following a s-l-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-w Rangers’ start (as in one shot in goal in the first ten-minutes), kicked off the scoring by going five-hole on Alex “The Cowardly” Lyon at the 11:45 mark, following a pass from his Russian right-winger.
Detroit would tie the game late into the first period, as with just under two-seconds remaining, Wings’ captain, Dylan Larkin, scored on a backhander – and one that admittedly brought down the vibes in the room.
On a quick aside, and when speaking about Monday night’s attendance, then I must give Ranger fans credit for being diehard – and not just because they are reading these very words – but because on a night where there was a bevy of big sports galas going on all throughout town, including playoff baseball (both Mets and Yankees) and a primetime AFC match-up too between the Bills and the Jets too – and M$G was completely sold-out.
And if M$G is selling out now (and at insanely high prices) when faced against a cavalcade of competition, then can you only imagine what heights that playoff tickets will skyrocket to in 2025?
Long-story short?
You better start selling off your first-borns and kidneys now!
As the two teams exchanged power-plays (and failing on them), and with Detroit pressing the issue more so than the Rangers; ironically, it was the Blueshirts’ fourth-man advantage of the game (but their third full two-minute power-play) where who else – CHRISTOPHER JAMES KREIDER – regained the one-goal lead.
And of course, this PPG was more of the same – you know – by the longest-tenured Ranger collecting the loose change and/or tipping/deflecting a puck, his wheelhouse, past Lyon.
This 2-1, GOOD GUYS, goal, scored with just 2:55 remaining in the middle period, held up as the score as the two teams changed ends for the final frame.
Now in PROTECT THE LEAD MODE, and following a previous forty-minutes where CZAR IGOR had to be a fort – and the Rangers did just that.
Zibanejad, who had previously assisted on his BFF’s goal, picked up another apple on his scorecard, as at the 4:49 mark, he won an o-zone faceoff. Two-seconds later, and Reilly Smith, who got the puck following his center’s win at the dots, wristed a shot past two Wing defenders – and then Lyon himself.
3-1, GOOD GUYS.
While Detroit mounted several final attacks, including one during a power-play following a Zibanejad tripping penalty; at the same time, the Blueshirts weren’t having any of that.
Despite next to nothing out of Chytil and Kakko, and there was CUYLLE HAND LUKE picking up a game-high five hits – and shining on the PK too.
Another pair of “YOUT” players, the defensive pairing of Schneider and Miller, made their presence known too, as #4 picked up a team-high three blocked shots, and where #79 only fell one blocked shot shy of his partner.
While the new kid in town, rearguard Mancini, didn’t get any penalty kill time, he was extremely noticeable in his 13:15 worth of action, and where he even registered the most shots on goal by any Rangers’ defenseman (4) too.
And when Detroit pulled their goalie down by two – really – any Ranger could’ve sealed the deal.
Heck, Panarin could’ve done so twice – but on each occasion, he decided not to be selfish, as instead, he wanted to assist on the 4-1 goal, rather than scoring it himself.
It was during this time where you recalled that he “only” scored 49 goals last season, rather than a nice round number of 50.
Team game.
After Panarin dished the puck around, Zibanejad closed the door with the 4-1, GOOD GUYS, goal with just 1:22 remaining for his first goal of the season.
While hopefully this can become the moment where Zibanejad turns the corner; as said about 79867986979986798679868 zillion times before on this site – I need to see him score goals in the playoffs.
And I hope that he proves me wrong when I say that he can’t.
Something that I wasn’t wrong about?
The top-two three stars of the game – as anyone with a functioning pair of eyeballs could see – this game was dominated – and won – by the Russian Rangers.
And you know it’s bad for the beat when both Sam Rosen and Joe Micheletti are laughing about the beat’s ridiculous decision to go with Zibanejad as the top star of the game too.
Here’s what Laviolette had to say prior to the Columbus Day Clash at M$G:
Here was Laviolette’s line-up for the third game of this 2024-25 season:
FIRST LINE: Kreider/Zibanejad/Smith
SECOND LINE: Panarin/Trocheck/Lafreniere
THIRD LINE: Cuylle/Chytil/Kakko
FOURTH LINE: Edstrom/Carrick/Brodzinski
FIRST PAIR: Miller/Fox
SECOND PAIR: Schneider/Trouba
THIRD PAIR: Jones/Mancini
STARTING GOALIE: CZAR IGOR
BACK UP GOALIE: Quick
HEALTHY SCRATCHES: Rempe and Ruhwedel
IR: Lindgren
LTIR: Vesey
BOX SCORE time.
The following graphics and information come from ESPN.com:
SCORING:
PENALTIES:
TEAM STATS:
GOALIES:
|
NYR
|
|
SA
|
GA
|
SV
|
SV%
|
ESSV
|
PPSV
|
SHSV
|
SOSA
|
SOS
|
TOI
|
PIM
|
| 32 | 1 | 31 | .969 | 22 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 59:48 | 0 |
|
DET
|
|
A. Lyon G
|
|
SA
|
GA
|
SV
|
SV%
|
ESSV
|
PPSV
|
SHSV
|
SOSA
|
SOS
|
TOI
|
PIM
|
| 27 | 3 | 24 | .889 | 17 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 57:47 | 2 |
Since I was watching the home-opener in a packed (and noisy – but in a good way!) vehicle on Saturday night, then I didn’t really hear much of the pregame show. However, I did watch the thirty-minute pregame affair on Monday – and man, oh man, is Sieve Vagistat worse and more full of himself than ever.
How Vagistat, the worst back-up goalie in franchise history, remains on-air is beyond me.
He just provides nothing of value – while other fellow members of the alumni, players who were/are beloved by this fan base, including the likes of Mark Messier, Wayne Gretzky, Dominic Moore, Ryan Callahan and others, shine elsewhere.
And we have yet to see Brian Boyle this season either – and a Boyler who looked strong last year on M$GN during his first foray into broadcasting.
But at least “THE KING OF COMMENTARY,” Henrik Lundqvist, who seems to be adding more games to his schedule this season (including his work on TNT), is around.
After Lundqvist, a franchise goalie himself, said something akin to the fact that CZAR IGOR will be able to “IGnORe” the noise from the first loss of the season (“IGnORe” credit goes out to reader Dan R.), Vagistat then disgraced our televisions by talking about Lyon.
Apparently, since Lyon is a back-up goalie, but one much more successful than Vagistat ever was, this was allegedly the seven-foot jackass’ area of expertise.
How did Vagistat assess Lyon to millions watching at home – and to many under-age viewers as well?
By telling us stories about how he used to drink a lot while as an active player – and how he made/conned other teams to pick up his bar tabs too.
This was completely relevant for sure.
While of course, I’m no prude when it comes to the art of devouring adult beverages; I’m also not writing to an audience of minors either – which is why I also hate the non-stop gambling ads pushed on these broadcasts, especially whenever John “I don’t give this advice to my own kids, but make sure your kids empty out their bank accounts and bet on every parlay in the world” Giannone bombards us with his junk.
(But to be fair to Giannone – he’s just doing his job as instructed to him by the M$GN powers-to-be.)
Furthermore, Vagistat’s drinking stories had nothing to do with Lyon, nor this game either. Instead, this was completely self-indulgence.
Somewhere, Vagistat must have blackmail on a top-ranking M$GN executive.
After all, that’s the only reason I can come up with for why he still has a job with this network today.
After Vagistat encouraged kids to booze it up, and following Gianonne telling us to bet on Sidney Crosby parlays, I kind of tuned out and decided to focus my attention on the Mets’ playoff game that was going on my second screen.
With the Rangers’ pregame show now muted on my primary/main TV, Michelle Gingras and Dave Maloney had a segment in front of the M$G box office – and why Maloney is reduced to a middling role during these thirty-minutes, and in favor of Vagistat – well – it’s like a head coach scratching Matt Rempe for Jonny Brodzinski.
Come 6:59PM, and with my Rangers’ broadcast now off mute – and there was Vagistat talking about “wide-open backsides” again.
I’m not making this up.
At 7PM, we were joined by Sam Rosen and Joe Micheletti. Both announcers informed us that Panarin is pretty good at hockey.
I’d concur!
After Rosen interrogated Micheletti for his “TACO BELL TAKE” (“Something Fabulous Sam!”), finally, the puck dropped – and where I should also mention that the pregame show has a new intro – and one featuring many names in franchise history that belong in the rafters of M$G too.
Sam and Joe didn’t make mention of the likes of Frank Boucher, Bill Cook, Lester Patrick, Emile Francis, Ron Greschner and others though.
GAME REVIEW time!
FIRST PERIOD
For whatever reason, the third line began the game.
While I understand that they weren’t horrible in the home-opener, I am also aware that Chytil has been the worst faceoff center in the league ever since his 2017-18 debut.
And despite whatever charts-and-graphs humper will tell you – success at the dots DOES matter.
After predictably losing his first faceoff of the game (but to his credit, Chytil finished 7 of 14 at the circles, a 50% success rate, which feels like a career-high for him), the Rangers then spent the next ten-minutes struggling when attempting to get at the Lyon’s Den – aka – Detroit’s net.
Since there wasn’t much going on, Sam and Joe then talked about other things, such as how Edstrom’s dad was proud of his son for winning his first fight, how Mancini’s parents are traveling to every game to see their son (which may also be a hint that when Lindgren is able to return, then Mancini may be returned to Hartford too), all of the Ranger alumni now wearing red and other stuff that I was actually interested in.
Long story short?
I’d rather hear this stuff, as opposed to hearing Micheletti tell us who gained fifteen pounds this season and Rosen telling us who isn’t related to who.
Patrick Kane, who perhaps could’ve helped the Rangers win the Stanley Cup last year rather than holding on to the useless Kakko, made his presence felt early, as he almost had his teammate, Alex Debrincat, set-up for the first score of the game with 15:25 remaining. CZAR IGOR, and as would be the case all game, said “NYET NYET.”
Come 12:44 remaining and Lafreniere high-sticked Larkin. The Detroit power-play was erased some twenty-seconds later when Moritz Seider interfered with Zibanejad.
End result?
1:40 of a scoreless foreplay – and where what I said last season rang true here – M$GN needs a SOG tracker on their scorebug – and just like how both TNT and ESPN do.
Following ten-minutes of action, and it felt like the Rangers only had two shots on goal.
I was wrong, as after checking the ESPN app, it was revealed to me that the Blueshirts only had one.
Out of a TV timeout and Sam and Joe brought up how today was the 45-year-annivesary of Rod Gilbert becoming the first Ranger to have his number retired.
Not one mention of Frank Boucher, the first #7 in franchise history, and a man directly responsible for 75% of all Ranger Stanley Cups won – and a man who should’ve had his number retired by this ignorant franchise ages ago.
You may have heard me plead my case for Boucher in the past – and as I did once again just five-weeks ago: https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/baird100ya/
As we were approaching eight-minutes remaining, the GAG LINE 2.0 came on and had an explosive shift. Following a rifle of a shot from Trocheck, Zac Jones recovered the puck, which then led to this:
Alexis Lafrenière scores the first goal for the Rangers tonight! pic.twitter.com/54EnrbBjgs
— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) October 14, 2024
1-0, GOOD GUYS, following Panarin finding his fellow winger for the five-hole goal.
Of course, CZAR IGOR then had to make a few quick saves after the goal to preserve the new-found lead.
Down to 7:16 remaining and Auston Watson hooked Chytil, thus giving the Rangers their first true power-play of the game, following the 19-or-so seconds of man-advantage time they had earlier.
For a head coach that always preaches accountability, MIA Z. remains on PP1, while his team’s second-best five-vs-five scorer of the past 100 games, Lafreniere, sits.
Mika on this power-play?
Two turnovers and a hammer shot that came nowhere close to the net – and a free clear for the Wings too.
Once the power-play concluded, Rosen told us how happy everyone was to see Tarasenko back in town – and how fans were elated with the former Ranger after he won the Cup with the Panthers last season.
I am 100% sure that every Ranger fan would’ve preferred to hear how Tarasenko won a Cup with the Rangers in 2024 – but you know – general manager Chris Drury preferred the Feckless Finn over the now two-time Cup champion at last year’s deadline.
After Rosen then told us how Talbot just made a save (Bless Sam’s heart), CZAR IGOR continued to rack up the saves himself.
Come thirty-seconds remaining and the young Mancini made a hell of a move to the net, but Lyon was able to prevent the new #90 in town from scoring his first NHL goal – or at least his first NHL goal that would’ve stood.
As I was still wondering why Drury decided to pay Kakko instead of Kane or Tarasenko; there was #88 jukin’-and-jivin’ all over the ice – and a Kane who set up a Detroit goal with just 1.9 seconds remaining:
Justin Holl finds Dylan Larkin in front for the 1st period buzzer beater 😱🚨 pic.twitter.com/JISoeMjzLz
— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) October 14, 2024
1-1.
This was a kick to the balls, not only due to the mere time remaining, but because it felt like the Rangers (the GAG LINE 2.0 in this instance) didn’t play to the final horn.
But as you already know, this first goal, scored late, would also be the only goal afforded to the Wings.
1-1 after 1.
Here’s what I said at the time:
1-1 after 1. 1P Thoughts:
— Another slow start for the Rangers.
— That’s a horrible goal to give up late, but hey, many of you guys didn’t want Kane back, right?
— GAG LINE 2.0 doing all of the heavy lifting again.
— The Blueshirts’ birdbrain beat is bad – and not asking…— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) October 14, 2024
SECOND PERIOD
Following another opening faceoff loss for Chytil, the BFF line came on and Zibanejad immediately turned over the rubber.
This flub forced Kreider to hook Debrincat at just the 2:33 mark.
With Kreider, arguably the team’s best penalty killing forward in the box, this then set-up a two-minute highlight reel for CZAR IGOR, as the goalie then made seven short-handed saves during this man-down situation.
Heck, he pretty much made eight saves – as for good measure – he stopped a Debrincat high-stick try too!
Once the PK, or should I say CZAR IGOR, was done killing the Detroit penalty, Ben Chiarot then blatantly hooked Panarin so bad (HOW BAD WAS IT?) that even Stevie Wonder could’ve called this out.
End result?
An 0-3 Rangers’ power-play – and where I guess that Laviolette feels that Zibanejad needs to leave more black marks on the boards, while Lafreniere remains stapled to the bench.
Down to 11:37 remaining and JONNY BROADWAY became JONNY BENCH, as double-deuces was sent to the sin bin for hooking Lucas Raymond.
After giving up seven SOG last time around, this time, the Rangers’ PK afforded only one.
Once returned to full-strength and now past the halfway mark of the game/period too, and Zibanejad cleanly lost a faceoff to Larkin – and where Mopey Mika looked like he didn’t have a care in the world – and just like his final play from Saturday night.
As we hit five minutes remaining, CZAR IGOR recorded his 21st save of the game.
Ninety-seconds later and Lyon outright robbed Trocheck, a BESSIE/glove save so grand that both Sam & Joe immediately proclaimed it as our VOLVO SAVE OF THE GAME.
Such a proclamation was foolish, as there was still plenty of time remaining.
And CZAR IGOR would soon one-up Lyon too, but not before the Rangers received their fourth power-play of the game, this time with 3:03 remaining, as Holl high-sticked Edstrom – and when you’re high-sticking Edstrom – then you know that you were swinging for the iconic ceiling at M$G!
Just eight-seconds into the Rangers’ power-play and there was Panarin who found Mika – and there was also Kreider to give his BFF his first point of the season by doing what he always does in these situations:
Chris Kreider goal to give the Rangers the lead back! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Dh02zkkPu5
— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) October 15, 2024
2-1, GOOD GUYS.
I’m going to enjoy Kreider’s Race To 408 – as he will one day surpass Gilbert’s franchise record of 407 goals.
And since Kreider’s bread-and-butter is scoring goals in this type of fashion – then it’s tough to envision him slowing down too.
Once back to full-strength and this is when CZAR IGOR said “VOLVO SAVE OF THE GAME WHO?” by robbing JT Compher from scoring a Detroit equalizer.
In almost a case of “reverse deja vu,” Fox scored a backhander as triple zeroes were flashing.
Unlike Larkin’s goal, Fox was a nanosecond too late – but at least he was playing to the final horn.
We remained at 2-1, GOOD GUYS, through two periods.
Here’s what I said at the time:
2-1, GOOD GUYS, after 40. 2P Thoughts:
— The guys you’d expect are doing their thing – Kreider, Panarin and Igor.
— This score could be out of hand if it wasn’t for Igor.
— Mika on PP1 is infuriating at this point. What does Lavy have to lose by giving Laf a few spins?
—…— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) October 15, 2024
THIRD PERIOD
Just 39-ticks into the period and Lyon was penalized (Tarasenko served it) for kicking the net off its pegs during a Rangers’ attack.
Dracula Lalonde was incensed about the call, but after seeing Braden Holtby delay games about 967869679678 times against the Rangers in the past, I was satisfied to see an opposing goalie finally get caught for this.
Now with a chance to go up by two, the Rangers’ power-play, once their strong suit, came up empty handed. I believe they are now 2 of 8 on the season – and while those numbers aren’t bad (25%) – they still aren’t clicking yet – or at least not like how they were last year.
Down to 15:09 remaining and this is when Zibanejad cleanly won an o-zone draw, thus setting up Smith for his first as a Ranger:
Reilly Smith gets his first as a #NYR pic.twitter.com/5eLjWf0Ed3
— David 🏒 (@DaveyUpper) October 15, 2024
3-1, GOOD GUYS – and a much needed insurance goal too.
Detroit tried to rebound, including a Tarasenko <DING> involved too, but the Rangers held on, perhaps most impressively on the PK when Zibanejad was boxed for tripping Raymond with 11:53 remaining.
To go back to what I said about Kreider being the best PK forward on the team; when he was penalized, the Rangers gave up seven shots on goal. When Zibanejad was boxed here, the Rangers gave up none.
Just sayin’.
As we got under ten-minutes, Panarin, Mancini and Jones were all gunning for the fourth goal but it didn’t come – but it wasn’t for a lack of trying.
After CZAR IGOR canned Tyler “Apple Sauce” Motte with 2:44 left to play, Lyon took his seat on the bench for the extra attacker.
This is when Panarin, rather than shooting at an empty net, decided to feed his teammates instead, including both Smith and Trocheck.
On his “third time’s a charm” try, this is when Zibanejad took a puck from Panarin and deposited into the empty net – and for Mika’s first goal of the season – and first star of the game stuff too!
4-1, GOOD GUYS.
4-1, GOOD GUYS, your final.
A nice rebound win following that chaotic home opener.
Here’s Laviolette after the two-points netted in the standings:
Up Next For Lavy’s Lot:
A return match in Detroit this Thursday night and with a 7:30PM start time on ESPN.
The Rangers will then visit Toronto for “Hockey Night in Canada” on Saturday, when they take on the Leafs.
The Blueshirts will then conclude their three-game road-trip next Tuesday night in Montreal – and where as noted during the broadcast – both Sam & Joe are excited about having an extra off-day to spend in Poutine Land – and where I was also left to assume that they will savage every French-speakin’ strip club imaginable.
Heck, by how giddy they sounded when talking about their upcoming stay in Montreal, then you would’ve thought that both Sam and Joe already had loonies and toonies in their hands – as they prepare to make it rain – or should I say hail – in every nude joint down St. Catherine Street!
Up Next For Me?
A long nap, followed by catching up on about 9876786867986 emails, real-life stuff and of course, the most recent episode of “Law and Order SVU” – and as I await Captain Olivia’s Benson arrest of a well-known rap mogul known for his proclivity of baby oil!
Up Next For You?
You guessed it…
PLUGS TIME! (Buy a book and support my Rangers’ induced therapy bills. After all, I don’t run ads on this site!)
My fourth title and tenth book is now available!
“The Top 100 Villains of New York Rangers History,” is now available for sale!
For complete information, please visit: https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/rangerkillers/
My second plug of tonight’s blog – the mandatory plug for my book, “The New York Rangers Rink of Honor and the Rafters of Madison Square Garden.”
As mentioned previously, the book is now available in hardcover, in paperback and in Kindle formats. To purchase a copy of the book, visit this link:
https://www.amazon.com/Rangers-Rafters-Madison-Square-Garden-ebook/dp/B09CM5N2WD
For those still looking for signed paperback versions of the book, I have re-ordered more copies. I now have a few signed copies for sale at $25 a pop (includes shipping price) through me directly. Here is all the information on that:
Order “The New York Rangers Rink of Honor and the Rafters of Madison Square Garden” Book Today
My four-volume set of books, “One Game at a Time – A Season to Remember,” is a game-by-game recount of the Rangers 2021-22 campaign.
My second title as an author, “One Game at a Time – A Season to Remember,” is now available in eBook, paperback and hardcover formats.
To obtain signed copies, visit: https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/onegamebook/
To purchase all four volumes on Amazon, visit: Amazon.com – “One Game at a Time.”
The greatest volume-set of books on Rangers’ history today!
“Tricks of the Trade – A Century-Long Journey Through Every Trade Made In New York Rangers’ History,” a four-volume set of books that meticulously covers every trade made in franchise history, is now on sale.
All four volumes of the title can be purchased on Amazon.com and are presented in three different formats – eBook, paperback and hardcover.
To purchase Volume I: Conn Smythe (1926) – Craig Patrick (1986), visit Amazon.com
To purchase Volume II: Phil Esposito (1986) – Neil Smith (2000), visit Amazon.com
To purchase Volume III: Glen Sather (2000-2015), visit Amazon.com
To purchase Volume IV: Jeff Gorton (2015) – Chris Drury (2022), visit Amazon.com
To purchase signed copies of all four volumes, visit https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/tricksofthetrade/
If you haven’t already, subscribe to this blog for the next update:
Don’t forget to order my four-volume set of books, “Tricks of the Trade!”
If you don’t order through me, all four volumes are now available on Amazon.com
For more details, check out: https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/tricksofthetrade/
Thanks for reading.
LET’S GO RANGERS!
Sean McCaffrey
BULLSMC@aol.com
@NYCTHEMIC on the Tweeter machine
