Greetings and salutations everyone and welcome to another blog here on BlueCollarBlueShirts.com. It’s rinse, wash and repeat for these 2024-25 New York Rangers.
Granted, while it’s only been ten-games, but even so, the majority of them have played out the same way – and no matter if it’s CZAR IGOR or Jonathan Quick in net.
The “same old script” for Lavy’s Lot is to have the goaltender near, reach or surpass forty saves on any given night – and then hope that the GAG LINE 2.0 can do all of the heavy lifting from a scoring perspective, while also relying on the third line (which may be the second line these days – more on this below) to shut down their opponents.
After a somewhat hot start to open the season – and where all of the inferior competition has been duly noted in this space, and repeatedly at that – and the Rangers have been regressing, now having reached the ten-game tent-pole.
While what I’m about to say here doesn’t apply to all, as skaters like Alexis Lafreniere, Chris Kreider, Victor Mancini, Adam Edstrom, Will Cuylle and yes, even Filip Chytil, do seem to break their holes on every shift; but with that said – the majority of these Ranger skaters just take shifts off at a time – and that’s assuming if they even show up to begin with.
I guess my burning question (and pardon the bad pun) is – “WHERE’S THE FIRE?”
Trust me, I get it, as no one has written more words and has devoted as much time to all of these depressing playoff exits as racked up by this present core – and just like my daily disclaimer that will be reprinted below implies – which is my way of saying that I understand that it’s hard to get up for these regular season games when you know what the big picture is.
And to think – I’m opining in such a negative fashion following a 2-1 victory!
(This just tells you how high the stakes are this season, as we still remain in “CUP OR BUST” mode.)
Perhaps if Friday night’s match was a “dog’s day of winter” game, a contest taking place sometime in late January/early February, then I’d just chalk up this game as “one of those nights” – a night where the Rangers had to rely on their best player – and a goalie that’s already rejected an offer where he’d become the highest-paid tender in the game.
And after a night like tonight – then I guess that you can’t blame CZAR IGOR, and his agent as well, for wanting to make sure that this soon-to-be, and future-record-breaking deal, stays as the record for some time too.
But of course, whether the Rangers should give a player 15% of their cap is a story that I’ve discussed one too many times before!
To me, what’s so bothersome about Friday night’s 2-1 “triumph” against another non-playoff opponent is the fact that there was no life, no execution, no oomph, no passion, you get my point, from most of these skaters.
In fact, and as I just predicted last Tuesday night following the loss to Washington – it was complete deja vu.
Last week, after being embarrassed by the reigning-and-defending Cup champion Panthers on home ice (3-1 – and where that score comes nowhere close when providing you the true story); a few days later, and the Rangers required a superman performance out of Quick in order to eke by the perennially bad Anaheim Ducks – a 2-1 result.
Fast-forward to this week and the Rangers, after being embarrassed once again by another playoff team from last season, the Washington Capitals (5-3 – and where again – this final score featuring a two-goal difference doesn’t tell you what happened in reality – as this was a massacre); the Blueshirts “rebounded” in a 2-1 win against another team that hasn’t sniffed the playoffs in a dog’s age, the always rebuilding, Ottawa Senators.
Perhaps things came too easy for the Rangers to begin this season, as the Blueshirts bullied, beat-on and beefed-up their points in the standings by owning the likes of the Detroit Red Wings, Pittsburgh Penguins and Montreal Canadiens.
And as mentioned before – beating Toronto, the team’s lone win over a playoff team from last year, doesn’t impress me.
After all, the Leafs are much like the Rangers – “PLAYOFF PRETENDERS.”
Ever since the team’s 7-2 win against one of the worst teams in the league, the Habs, the Rangers have now spent their last four games being completely dominated and where in these quartet of matches, their goalie has been their best player.
As we saw tonight, superb goaltending can allow you to steal a win against a bad team.
Superb goaltending, and as we saw in the losses to the Panthers and Capitals, won’t allow you the same result.
For the second time in as many games played, and the Rangers, despite all of their high-powered offense, weren’t able to muster up twenty shots on goal, while their opponents easily topped the forty shots on goal benchmark.
And whenever the Rangers get a power-play that features Mika Zibanejad on it – then you might as well fast-forward through these two-minutes – or at least until Alexis Lafreniere comes on for the final thirty seconds of it – and yes – more about this below!
I know, I know, I know – ten games in and the Rangers are 7-2-1 and points percentage wise, are the best team in the division.
In other words, I sound like a whiny bitch right now with this dreadful opening!
However, and as we saw last season, it doesn’t matter if the Rangers finish tops in the league with another Presidents’ Trophy at the end of this campaign – and most likely the final season of this current core as presently constructed.
I also want to make it clear that I understand that the other team is paid to play hockey too, meaning that you can’t expect sixty-minute, bell-to-bell, blowouts every night.
I know that this might come off wrong, but you guys & gals are astute and keen observers of this game, so I think you’ll understand what I mean by this:
For right now, I’d rather see the Rangers lose a 50/50 one-goal game, rather than see them have their goalie steal wins against bad teams every night.
You can accept a bad break or bounce here and there.
Unacceptable is watching the other team, potential playoff foe or not, just double-up the Rangers in both the SOG and puck possession stats – and where yes – SOG doesn’t tell the story, as you can just fire harmless shots all game – but that isn’t the case here, as instead – it’s CZAR IGOR & JQ32 coming up with ten-bell save after ten-bell save.
(Holy Run-On Sentence Batman!)
Simply put?
Relying on your goaltender to be lights-out in every playoff game, while getting meager-to-mediocre results out of your skaters, is not a Stanley Cup winner’s recipe.
I’ll explain what I mean better once we get to tonight’s GAME REVIEW, but if you thought that this 2-1 win over the sucky Sens is something to King Kong your chest about – then you couldn’t be more wrong.
And that’s my story – and I’m sticking to it.
Another story that I’m sticking to?
The only one that matters, which brings us to my daily disclaimer/reminder – and one that’s posted on this site after every game played to boot!
By now, you should be able to recite these following 33-words, so say it aloud with me in unison:
“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, ten down, seventy-two to go, and then the real hockey, the only games that matter, begin.
In case you missed it, then here’s where I last left off – the Rangers’ disgusting loss to the Caps:
NYR/WSH 10/29 Review: CZAR IGOR & Bottom-Six Show Up; Top-Six Shown Up In Another Loss Against a Playoff Team, Caps Get Their Revenge & Avenge Blueshirts in One-Sided Affair, The “Day Late, Dollar Short” Beat Writers Finally Criticizing Mental Mika, Rempe Recalled; Loses Grudge Match Against “The Undertaker,” GAG LINE 2.0 “Gags,” The Glaring Third Line Weakness (And It’s Easy To Fix) & More
Annual Halloween parties throughout the league have become a rite of passage over the years and where many legendary names throughout hockey history, such as Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin and every other Hall of Fame name imaginable, have always stressed the importance of these galas – as very often, it’s the best team-bonding event of the season.
The Rangers are no different.
It should also be noted here, and for those not in the know, that it’s usually the team captain that hosts/puts this party together – and as he’s done even before officially being named as captain of the club – it was once again Jacob Trouba who spearheaded this soiree.
Away from the players becoming closer at these gatherings, it’s also the families, the wives, who create chemistry with their peers.
After all, these WAGS are all in the same boat – as once the hockey season starts – then the man in their lives isn’t home that very much.
As the players increase their friendship and relationship levels with their teammates, these parties also allow the women to do the same.
In a way, and since these annual Halloween jamborees take place so early into the season – then it allows the families to set-up support systems – as not many other women can relate to being involved with a hockey player.
All in all, these team parties, this hockey tradition, is one of the best nights of the year for the players off of the ice – and for their families too.
Put it this way:
You never hear about any drama going down at these parties.
Instead, it’s nothing but fun fan-fare and camaraderie.
But leave it to Ranger fans – and sorry for the people who don’t like political commentary on this site, but I have to say what it is – LOONY LIBERALS – to ruin the good times created.
Up first, two of the “non-controversial” costumes that were adorned:
I can’t believe that I’m writing about the Menendez Brothers in 2024 – and even at all – but alas, here we are.
For some reason, these demented freaks, and you know the type, were all up-in-arms about the Trocheck’s having the AUDACITY to dress up as two murderers – siblings who killed their parents over thirty-years ago.
For these social justice warriors – it was too soon.
All over social media and people wanted the Trocheck’s “canceled,” Vinny to be cut from the team, the couple to seek sensitivity training and all of that other super left-wing liberal mumbo-jumbo.
Besides shaking my head, then all I could think about was can you imagine if this generation of today, perhaps mildly retarded, were around when I was a kid (mid-1990s) – and when men and women, and from all colors and creeds alike, were dressing up like O.J. Simpson (sometimes in black face), while also wearing a glove in one hand and carrying a bloody knife in another?
It’s Halloween you mooks – the costumes are supposed to be outrageous!
Heck, I can remember one Halloween, while I was in middle school, where some white Jewish kid went in blackface – in tribute to Patrick Ewing – and with a flat-top wig placed atop of his dome too!
Today?
Jemele Hill, and others like her, would want this 12-year-old sent to Rikers – then to Death Row too!
Yours truly?
From fourth grade to eighth grade and I was always a New York Ranger – the old blue N-E-W Y-O-R-K jersey adorned and all!
Funny enough, making light of the now once again topical Menendez brothers (Netflix is cashing in), who may very well be sprung from prison soon enough following new information that continual rapes from their father led them into killing dear old dad and their mother who kept quiet, created a lot of outrage from the always-offended liberal mob.
I didn’t see the same reaction from these folks in regards to costumes featuring pedophile priests, severed Donald Trump heads, anti-semetic garb, teenagers dressed as prostitutes, and you get my point.
What’s next?
Getting fake mad about Quick mocking a midget from a Christmas movie, while Rempe celebrated the “racist” Christmas Holiday?
And if noted Trump supporter, Jonny Brodzinski, ever wore a MAGA hat for Halloween – OH THE HORROR!
I’m spending too much time on this topic – and defending the Trocheck’s too – and where such a defense isn’t necessary.
So let’s close on a “high note” – Mika Zibanejad’s costume:
Following the team’s Wednesday night Halloween party, come Thursday, Halloween Day, the team returned to practice at their training facility in Tarrytown, NY.
As far as the news, it was somewhat “no news,” yet still “newsworthy” too, as Laviolette, who deemed the loss to Washington as a “one-off aberration,” kept the same line-up in-tact. (However, the line-up would change a day later.)
Such sentiments were expressed by the players too, while also stressing that they fully understand that they messed up and that such poor play from last Tuesday night can not go on any further.
(So much for that!)
And in case you were wondering – not one beat reporter dared to challenge the head coach about his power-play quintets.
Here was Thursday’s edition of “LAVY’S LOUNGE”:
A day later, Friday, GAME DAY, and we did have line-up changes, as Rempe, who Lavy seems to have no clue what to do with, was returned to the press box, while Brodzinski was reinserted back into the line-up.
And yep – everyone continued to stress that the game against Washington was a one-time deal too.
Ha.
Here was Laviolette’s line-up for the tenth game of this 2024-25 season:
FIRST LINE: Panarin/Trocheck/Lafreniere
SECOND LINE: Kreider/Zibanejad/Smith
THIRD LINE: Cuylle/Chytil/Kakko
FOURTH LINE: Edstrom/Carrick/Brodzinski
FIRST PAIR: Miller/Fox
SECOND PAIR: Lindgren/Trouba
THIRD PAIR: Schneider/Mancini
STARTING GOALIE: CZAR IGOR
BACK UP GOALIE: Jonathan Quick
HEALTHY SCRATCHES: Rempe & Jones
LTIR: Vesey (and who is now eligible to return on Sunday – more below)
BOX SCORE time.
The following graphics and information come from ESPN.com:
SCORING:
PENALTIES:
TEAM STATS:
GOALIES:
|
OTT
|
|
L. Ullmark#35
|
|
SA
|
GA
|
SV
|
SV%
|
ESSV
|
PPSV
|
SHSV
|
SOSA
|
SOS
|
TOI
|
PIM
|
| 18 | 2 | 16 | .889 | 12 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 58:33 | 0 |
|
NYR
|
|
SA
|
GA
|
SV
|
SV%
|
ESSV
|
PPSV
|
SHSV
|
SOSA
|
SOS
|
TOI
|
PIM
|
| 41 | 1 | 40 | .976 | 34 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 60:00 | 0 |
As noted before – this new Gotham Sports App – or Gotham Sports Crap – does not work.
Despite paying for this service, the streams never work, and in the rare times when they do load – then it’s all pixelated – and akin to watching “scramblevision” softcore/Skinemax porn in the 1980s.
Since most times, I have to watch these games from the real j-o-b during my elongated dinner break, then I’m forced to at least try to get this horrible app/disservice to work.
Furthermore, it’s not only me, as I have seen other fans, including Ranger fans, Knick fans and even lowly Islander fans, say the same thing – IT DOESN’T WORK!
Long-story short before giving you this now repeated rant in a different form?
I once again had to use an illegal streaming service, one named after Walter White’s favorite product, in order to watch Friday night’s game.
For whatever reason, the only stream available was the TSN one – the Senators’ broadcast.
I guess even the illegal sites can’t find a working M$GN feed!
Despite all of my poorly made jokes on this site and at the expense of Sam Rosen & Joe Micheletti – I always want to hear their nonsense.
After all, it’s free comedy for me! (And for you too!)
In other words, I have no clue what Sam and Joe said tonight, nor did I find out if Shane Pinto was from Franklin Square, NY, neither if Brady and Matt Tkachuk were related.
And should a class action lawsuit be filed against Gotham Sports in an attempt to get refunds, then let me know!
With all of that now purged from my system, GAME REVIEW time!
FIRST PERIOD
Before proceeding, again, the following reminder:
A win is a win, but for a team like the Rangers – just eking out stolen wins against bad teams isn’t enough.
We’ve been duped before – and many times over to boot.
But thankfully, it is only game ten – and not game eighty-two.
As the Sens’ broadcasters, Gord Miller and Jon Abbot, familiar with Zibanejad from his previous days in the capitol city, were burying #93 for his poor play from the past two-seasons, it was Mika who won the first draw of the game.
What I found refreshing about the Canadian criticism was that you’d never hear such talk on the M$GN airwaves.
Heck, when I asked people watching the Sam & Joe feed, they all told me that our affable duo were praising Mika for his amazing grace and play.
Zibanejad tonight?
After a no shots on goal and -3 showing against Washington, he came up with two lousy shots on goal, and like many tonight, finished as a zero in the plus/minus stat.
And just to jump ahead, and where the plus/minus stat does tell the story tonight (that is, if you don’t consider how CZAR IGOR prevented many teammates of finishing with a -4 or worse), then only Fox and Miller finished with a plus by their names, as in a +1.
The other side of the story, and for the people who don’t put any value into the plus/minus stat?
Lafreniere, one goal and one assist, also posted a goose egg.
(Power-play goals don’t count as a plus with this statistic – but it was a MONSTROUS POSITIVE PLUS for everyone who roots for this team!)
Just two-minutes in and CZAR IGOR got a break when an Ottawa shot rung off the iron.
The Sens’ announcers would bring up this <DING> and two others that later occurred, when making this assessment, “CZAR IGOR has dominated this game, but he did get some breaks too.”
But of course, the goalie’s best friend is usually only heard from when his pal is stopping everything else.
Come the 3:03 mark and Panarin just laser-beamed a wrister right past another high-paid goalie, Linus Ullmark:
Panarin scores!!! #NYR
Assist- Laffy pic.twitter.com/aoIyidKfpj
— David 🏒 (@DaveyUpper) November 1, 2024
1-0, GOOD GUYS.
At the time, you kind of relaxed a bit, as after this latest product from the bakery, you just thought that the Rangers would steamroll and handle an inferior opponent – and especially with the benefit of a home-ice advantage.
In reality, the only Ranger to steamroll and handle the Senators was CZAR IGOR – and with a slight tip of the cap to Mr. Lafreniere too.
The Rangers continued their jump early as Chytil was stopped after a good save required out of Ullmark.
We can discuss this further, but ten games in, and it’s not even a question:
The Cuylle, Chytil and Kakko line is becoming Laviolette’s new go-to second line trio.
And that’s me saying it – one that’s not high on Chytil and Kakko – and a person who also believes that it’s all but inevitable that either or both “The Concussed Czech” and “The Feckless Finn” will go down with injury.
While I still think that Kakko remains as a complete lost cause offensively, and I’d even trade him for Patrick Kane tomorrow (give me #88 over #24 in the playoffs); at least Chytil is providing some pop and scoring.
But until they both can prove that they can remain healthy, and for a substantial amount of time at that – then I will always be leery about them.
That said, they are performing now – and we’ll have to await and see what transpires as we mosey along.
K’Andre Miller, now the ire in the eye of many Ranger fans, whiffed in front of Ullmark, which then led to a Sens’ 2 x 1 attack. Miller got back and then rectified his own mistake with 15:10 to go.
This was one of those plays where Miller, who can be maddening at times, was able to clean up his own mess, but also a reminder that if his routine stick checks don’t work, then it’s usually a high-quality shot, often for goals, for the Rangers’ opponent.
Come 13:30 remaining and the SOG tally was 3-2, home team – and where I was dead-wrong at the time in predicting that the Blueshirts would be able to dominate possession.
In this period, the Rangers out-shot the Sens to a tune of 9-8.
The final forty-minutes you ask?
The Senators out-shot the Rangers 33-9.
That’s not a misprint.
(Total SOG: Ottawa 41, Rangers 18.)
As we neared 12:00 remaining and CZAR IGOR made his first of about 7986798679867986 robbery saves in the game, where on this first occasion, he denied Josh Norris.
Soon after that, Tkachuk hit iron, the second Ottawa <DING> of the contest.
Following what felt like Zibanejad’s 798566755756785th turnover of the season with 7:00 left in the period, Panarin almost doubled-up his goal total.
Down to 5:04 remaining and Sam Carrick, who has cooled off lately after his hot start, tripped Zack Ostapchuk, in order to give the Senators their first of five power-plays.
Spoiler: CZAR IGOR stopped them all – but give the Rangers credit too – as despite some highlight reel saves made – #31 “only” totaled five saves while shorthanded.
In what was a testy game, we had our first of several scrums at the end of the Rangers’ PK, as Trouba and Tkachuk got into it. Thankfully, the refs allowed these two teams to play and as a result, the zebras never became the story.
After a Lafreniere-to-Trocheck try was stopped by Ullmark with 1:41 to go; now in the other end, and when trying to clear a puck – Miller flipped the rubber so hard-and-high that it wound up hitting the scoreboard.
Following this meeting of rubber and screen, there was a small tile from the scoreboard that was half-way hanging on.
Since there was only about a minute-or-so to go, then we didn’t have a stoppage to fix the tile.
I can’t lie, at the time, and knowing the Rangers’ luck and history – then I was expecting this tile to fall down and then hit Chytil on the head, thus ending his season.
For whatever reason, this tile, teetering on, was never repaired/removed.
The Sens’ announce team thought that a ladder would rectify the issue at intermission – but such an idea was of the feeble-minded.
After all, you’re going to base a ladder on ice?
Furthermore, you use a cherry picker/bucket to reach these heights – and not a fifty-foot ladder.
HOLY OSHA BATMAN!
I guess that the crew at M$G felt like the tile would remain where it was – and because they most likely didn’t want to put a dirty rubber tire machine on the ice – they waited until the game was over to fix the scoreboard.
We remained at 1-0, GOOD GUYS, following twenty-minutes of action.
Here’s what I said at the time:
1-0, GOOD GUYS, after 20. SOG 10-9 them. 1P Thoughts:
— CZAR IGOR remains locked in.
— Mika still can’t score.
— PK remains flawless.
— Defense looks better.
— Ullmark looks good.
— Keep it going. #NYR— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) November 1, 2024
SECOND PERIOD
This is where the game turned – and in favor of the Senators – as they just owned the Rangers.
Thankfully, CZAR IGOR also purchased Ottawa.
Ironically enough, and I suppose this is the case on all non-Ranger/M$GN broadcasts, and CZAR IGOR’s refusal/rejection of the team’s offer of an $88M deal was expounded on, and at length, by the Sens’ crew.
The announcers also brought up all of my talking points from ten-years ago – when I was questioning Lundqvist’s final deal – as in how paying a goalie 13.22% of your cap isn’t exactly the best idea in the world.
You may have heard about my previous opinions from a bygone era!
I’m a trendsetter – and always ahead of the curve too!
Kakko recorded his lone SOG of the game just 90-seconds in – a save for Ullmark.
But at least this shot came close – which is not something that you can say about the majority of the Finn’s attempts.
Up next saw the Sens’ fourth line just completely cave in the Mika line – and where CZAR IGOR stood tall amongst all.
Speaking of the overpaid third-line center; down to 15:15 remaining and Zibanejad meekly put a puck towards Ullmark and then got crushed at the boards behind the Sens’ backstop.
But I will give Mika some credit.
After going nine games without a hit, Mika recorded two tonight – and where I can’t remember either one of them.
Perhaps a friendly statistician did Mika a solid.
Most of this period felt like it was only inevitable that the Sens would tie the game – then go ahead too.
However, the Rangers got a huge break, as the Sens’ momentum was stunted when Michael Amadio tripped Schneider with 12:55 remaining.
Here’s a stat that I didn’t know before watching this broadcast, and one that admittedly, only took into account a handful of games:
The Rangers, of 32-teams, are ranked 28th on the power-play while on home ice.
Their success percentage, or lack thereof, took a dip here, as 56-seconds later, the man-advantage concluded after Kreider hooked Thomas Chabot.
End result?
No goals once returned to even-strength.
As the Sens continued to shoot, shoot, shoot, and while also spending nearly every shift making the Rangers chase them around in front of CZAR IGOR; down to 6:58 remaining and Fox was boxed for hooking Drake Batherson.
This was CZAR IGOR’s finest penalty killing work of the game, and as a result, a now flawless 3-of-3 PK.
Out of a TV timeout and the Sens’ broadcast paid their respects to Sam Rosen – while also mentioning how the Rangers have won only one Stanley Cup in the past 84-years.
Sad but true.
Not mentioned?
How many Stanley Cups the Senators have won since re-entering the league in 1992-93.
Up next?
The biggest robbery of a bundle of them – and one so big that CZAR IGOR’s agent couldn’t even stand up afterwards:
Another huge stop by Igor Shesterkin, this time on Giroux#NYR pic.twitter.com/6W8wmWX2ZZ
— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) November 2, 2024
99/100 times and this is a goal for the former Flyer captain, Claude Giroux.
This was the one-of-one save – and as made by CZAR IGOR.
Down to 2:48 remaining and it was Lindgren’s turn to enter the sin bin after holding Batherson prior to another scrum in front of Igor’s net.
End result?
CZAR IGOR kept his shutout in-tact.
We remained at 1-0, GOOD GUYS, after forty-minutes – but where the tide had turned – as this period was all about the goalie – and the Sens’ outstanding showing too.
Here’s what I said at the time:
1-0, GOOD GUYS, after 40. 2P Thoughts:
— CZAR IGOR show – aka – the usual.
— Sens feel like they are due.
— Very sloppy, sometimes lethargic.
— Paging Dr. Mika, Paging Dr. Howard, Paging Dr. Fine.
— Finish #NYR— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) November 2, 2024
THIRD PERIOD
More of the same – CZAR IGOR and the Sens’ non-stop attack – but with goals for either side sandwiched in-between.
Just 1:09 into this final frame and Norris hooked Smith – and during a call that felt like a delayed flag in football – as the refs waited a few seconds, rather than acting immediately, when making this accurate assessment.
Here are some real-live tweets from me at the time – and read them from the bottom-up:
Here’s Lafreniere scoring the 2-0, GOOD GUYS, goal – and an insurance policy that the Rangers would soon come to collect:
Laffy scores!! #NYR
Assist- Chytil, Smith pic.twitter.com/GieZKajmac
— David 🏒 (@DaveyUpper) November 2, 2024
Yep – you know where I’m going next.
If this power-play didn’t show Laviolette all of the evidence that he needed when trying out #13, and at the expense of #93, on PP1 – then it will never happen while Mika is still a Ranger.
What more does Lavy need to see?
Hell, what will it take for one of these birdbrain beat reporters to even pose this question to the head coach?
HOLY STATE MEDIA BATMAN!
Of note?
With this power-play goal, Lafreniere, who averages all about twenty-seconds on the PP2 unit, now has more PPG’s than Zibanejad, who averages nearly 1:40 per man-advantage.
But what do I know, right?
After all, I’m just a beer-bellied blogger – and not a Stanley Cup winning and Hall of Fame bound head coach!
But I do think that I’m right about this!
And just to mention it before you accuse me of an anti-Czech bias – kudos to Chytil too – as he set this whole play up.
Trust me, I really want to believe in Chytil as some sort of a secret weapon, ala a free agent you acquire in the summer – but I’ve had the rug pulled from me one too many times before.
I hope you understand!
Now up 2-0, and you thought that the Rangers would right their ship.
Ha!
There were just so many head-scratching plays from the Blueshirts, including one where Panarin, from his own zone, could’ve glided to center ice and then tossed the puck into the Sens’ corner boards, but for whatever reason, he instead flipped a puck, lethargic as Sleepy Joe, right to a Senator, which only elongated an Ottawa attack – while also padding CZAR IGOR’s save totals.
During another TSN segment that I found interesting following a TV timeout and the Sens’ broadcasters brought up the 2020 NHL Draft – and one that was referred to as both “the old days” and “The Covid Draft.”
I said it at the time and I feel even stronger about this now:
Historically, and come 100-years from now, and a future generation of human beings will be laughing about how this primitive world of today shut down over the China virus.
It’s only four-years later – and yes – it does feel like ages ago – and yes – I still can’t believe how we were locked into our homes like hamsters in cages.
When talking about this “Covid Draft,” it was brought up that Tim Stutzle, drafted third-overall by Ottawa, leads all members from that class with 165 points.
That fact will soon change, as after tonight, Lafreniere, on a better team and with much better linemates too, has 158 points.
Granted, while Stutzle entered the league in a much more dominating fashion, and unlike Lafreniere, was immediately thrown into both first line and PP1 roles; the first-overall pick will soon surpass Stutzle – and just imagine how far Lafreniere can bypass Stutzle’s totals should he ever get PP1 time!?!?!?!
Also worth noting?
Playoff Games Played:
Stutzle, 0, Lafreniere, 43.
Down to 10:37 remaining, and Fox, who has been hit-or-miss lately, took his second penalty of the game, this time for tripping Grieg.
CZAR IGOR?
Just more saves and snarls:
Igor with the stare-down haha #NYR https://t.co/uoqGUz5uxv pic.twitter.com/JNskz3T1mG
— David 🏒 (@DaveyUpper) November 2, 2024
No joke?
You could hear the “I-GOR, I-GOR, I-GOR” chants from M$G in Russia.
And maybe in Israel too, where Fischler lives!
Come 7:32 remaining and CZAR IGOR’s shutout was snapped – and so was the Senator’s 115-minutes of no goals at M$G drought too, as Adam Gaudette capitalized after a cross-ice pass, from an in-the-crease, Tkachuk.
2-1, good guys – and where that Lafreniere PPG was now the difference on the scoreboard.
The rest of this period remained the same – CZAR IGOR, CZAR IGOR, CZAR IGOR.
When the Senators pulled Ullmark with 1:28 remaining, the SOG tally was 18-5 – and where Ottawa spent 95% of the period in the Rangers’ zone too.
CZAR IGOR made one final robbery save with 37-ticks remaining – on Norris.
2-1, GOOD GUYS, your final – and another game where the goalie’s agent is smiling ear-from-ear afterwards.
Here’s Laviolette after the game stating the obvious – his skaters need to at least come half-way up to CZAR IGOR’s level:
Up Next: The reeling Islanders take on their Big Brother Blueshirts, this Sunday, at M$G, and with a 1PM puck drop.
And yes – while I know that the Giants absolutely suck – but even so – and I’m still surprised that the NHL would schedule such a rivalry game not only against the NFL slate that features a Giants/Commanders game also set for 1PM – but during the day as opposed to at night – and when hockey should always be played!
While there will be a lot of pregame talk about Rempe v. Martin – don’t forget – Jimmy Vesey is eligible, and most likely, to come off of the team’s LTIR list.
In other words, once Vesey is called-up – and Rempe may not even get a chance to play in this game.
Heck, REMPESTEIN may be sent back down to Hartford by the time you read this – and where Brodzinski may now become the every-day forward scratch.
Sorry for sounding so down tonight – but it’s like nothing was learnt from the failed playoff run from last year, much less the most recent loss to the Caps.
Up Next For Me: I’ll be back Sunday afternoon – and bonus – I’m off from work so I can watch the M$GN broadcast of this game!
FABULOUS SAM!
Up Next For You: The usual, you know…
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
Love your posts, Sean!