Greetings and salutations everyone and welcome to another blog here on BlueCollarBlueShirts.com. Meh.
If you had fifteen games in the Filip Chytil concussion pool, then you my friend, are the winner!
Granted, we don’t know with a degree of one-hundred percent if the man that I’ve labeled as “The Concussed Czech” actually sustained another concussion or not on Thursday night – but suffice to say – the following didn’t look so good for #72 in blue:
Looks like Miller elbow got him. #NYR https://t.co/xOAqP3kfZT pic.twitter.com/7lSTD7JnPZ
— David 🏒 (@DaveyUpper) November 15, 2024
And leave it to K’Atrocious Miller, a player who from day one – every fan, coach and pundit have been begging to use his 6’5″ and 215 pound frame to hit someone – to finally do so on Thursday, November 14th, where as a result – he knocked out Fragile Fil from the game – if not the season (again).
While I’ve been extremely cautious with my writing/opinions in regards to Chytil, a player that I wanted no part of when the Rangers re-signed him a few years back, and a player that I thought should’ve called it a career last season too – don’t get it twisted – being right about Chytil sustaining another injury is nothing that I take joy in.
Similar to my opinions about Missing Mika, where wouldn’t you know it, scored a goal against one of the worst teams in the league during this match (more below) – history is a good indicator of what’s to come.
After all, there’s a reason why the quote of, “Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me,” has been around for centuries.
Just like how I don’t see Zibanejad (and others – as he’s not the only one) being viable or productive come playoff time (heck – the Swedish-Iranian dee-jay is barely useful during regular seasons now too), then this latest Chytil setback comes as no surprise.
I don’t need to rundown to you all of Chytil’s multiple and regular battles with concussions over the years – but it’s worth repeating one more time on this site, that once you get one concussion – then you’re more susceptible to receiving another, and then another after that, and you get the rest.
Another fact worth mentioning?
Every human being – or in this specific case – hockey players – all recover from concussions in different ways.
Like a snowflake (not a BlueSky user – a real snowflake), no two cases are one in the same.
While it’s not the same recovery process for everyone; but in any event following a concussion – and all doctors recommend that you take some time off in order to get your head right.
If you recall, then the Rangers, and just this January, said that Chytil was done for the 2023-24 season.
They soon went back on those words just three months later and where a 10% Chytil (his words, not mine), was god-awful during the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Again, everyone is different, but I look at a player like Sidney Crosby, who took off 114 games, games which spilled into parts of two-seasons, in order to get healthy – and where yes – taking the rest wasn’t a guarantee that he’d never get concussed again.
But it did help.
For a player like Chytil, who has had more documented concussions than Crosby (and I’d suspect that Chytil has many more undocumented concussions too), then three months off may have not been enough time.
It’s truly a shame, because as we have seen at this point in the season – and arguably, Chytil has become the team’s most prolific center.
Heck, he’s even winning faceoffs too!
Approaching this 2024-25 campaign with a new lease on life – and Chytil, along with linemates Kaapo Kakko and Will Cuylle – has been part of the team’s most consistent line – and from both ends of the ice too.
Granted, while the GAG LINE 2.0 can not be matched from a scoring perspective; the Cuylle/Chytil/Kakko line have been able to produce goals -while also limiting them too.
I’m jumping ahead a bit, and I’ll have more on Chytil for you below, but I think in cases like this, then you always have to assume the worst.
These past fourteen games gave us a glimpse, a glimmer, wishful thinking, on what a healthy Chytil could do.
Sadly, the words “Chytil” and “healthy” don’t go together, ala “oil” and “water.”
And go figure – Chytil’s latest suspected head trauma took place nearly a year to the day of his last one, as he went down during the tenth game of last season – or to be specific – on the date of November 2nd, 2023.
Lastly, and before getting into everything else?
Unlike last year, where the Rangers actually improved without him – and then went on to win the Presidents’ Trophy afterwards – it feels like the Blueshirts really need him in the line-up during this go-around.
While you can’t say that any of this news surprises you – it’s also true that Chytil is just cursed.
If he didn’t have bad luck, then he wouldn’t have any luck at all.
As I’ve said a few times about him over the years – get well soon – and no one wants to see this guy as a drooling vegetable before he turns 30-years-old either.
It may be time to make that tough decision – early retirement.
We all get it – everyone wants to live out their dreams – but don’t you want to remember reality too?
As you may have read last time on this site or on my social media accounts, then going into Thursday night’s game against the terrible Sharks – then I didn’t think that much could have been learnt from it.
Following the match, then I felt like my pregame opinions were confirmed.
Outside of a ferocious 4:40, which occurred about a minute past the half-way mark of the game, and where during that time, the Rangers pumped in three goals; then it was otherwise a lot of the same old shit.
The Sharks dictated five-vs-five play, and pretty much the first twenty-minutes too, during a period that led Blueshirt fans into yawning non-stop – that is – if they weren’t booing.
During this first frame, it was also “SAME OLD RANGERS” when the latest Shark in-town, Timothy Liljegren, scored his first goal for his new franchise.
No joke?
I think any one of us could suit up against the Blueshirts and get a goal – and then never be heard from again.
For CZAR IGOR, who got the start tonight (more below – as while I understood the decision – I thought it was a tad “fugazi” too), it was also his third consecutive game (all at home) where he gave up the first goal of the game within a time-span of three-minutes or less.
At least it wasn’t 27- or 57-seconds this time, as instead, it took San Jose 2:51 to do so.
While I wouldn’t say that the Rangers woke up outside of the three goals that they scored in 4:40; but to their credit, and to the credit of CZAR IGOR too – the Sharks second goal was then scored with only 26.2-seconds remaining in regulation – and a 6 x 4 extra-attacker power-play goal to boot.
But if you take a stupid penalty when up two goals with only a minute remaining, then that’s first-star material.
Just ask the bird-brain beat if you don’t believe me!
After thirty-minutes of slog, our first-star of the game, Missing Mika, banged home a puck past Sharks’ netminder, MacKenzie Blackwood, for the equalizer. Adam Fox set the whole thing up and not even Mika could mess this up.
Now 1-1 at the 11:41 mark, and no less than two-minutes later, and Jimmy Vesey matched Mika’s even-strength goal scoring with his second goal of the season.
2-1, GOOD GUYS – and where keep in mind – Mika is paid nearly nine-times as much as Vesey – and has received about 93% more ice time than Vesey too.
You won’t find that in any report from the scribes who are actually paid to talk about this team with journalistic integrity.
Following a disallowed Fox goal, as it was deemed that Trocheck had interfered with Blackwood on the play, the center of the GAG LINE 2.0 made it right, as there was no calling back his no-doubt-about-it, 3-1, GOOD GUYS, goal at the 16:21 mark.
But that was it for the Rangers on the scoreboard in this one – and despite having a power-play and a third period full of various odd-man rush chances to boot.
And oh yeah, they also had about ten different ways to Sunday to bury an empty netter when Blackwood went to the bench with just a tad under three-minutes remaining – but since no one wanted to go for the gusto and be the hero – the Sharks were then soon able to strike within one, following another bone-headed Mika penalty.
As they say, “a win’s a win,” but if you’re King Konging your chest like Mika and Co. were during their post-game interviews – then you’ve lost the plot.
In other words?
Beat a playoff team from last season – and then my tone will change.
Until then, it’s the SAME OLD RANGERS – beast on the bad teams, falter against the finest teams that hockey has to offer.
And again – poor Chytil too – the real major story to come out of this game.
Before moving on and getting into all of our other usual segments, including tonight’s GAME REVIEW too; then I must repeat my season-long mantra – you know – our 33-word daily disclaimer:
“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, fifteen down, sixty-seven 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 – Mika & Miller, “The M&M Boys,” single-handedly leading the Jets to victory:
NYR/WPG 11/12 Review: SAME OLD RANGERS! N.Y. Fans Finally See a Jets Touchdown, Miserable Mika Assists on a Winnipeg Field Goal; K’Atrocious Miller No Better Either, Broken Record Talking Points Louder Than Ever, Fat Cats Outplayed By Bottom Six & Third D-Pair Again, The Sidney Crosby Dream Trade Rumor, LATERALETTE Coaching To Lose, CZAR IGOR’s Stock Takes a Dip; Bring on Stan Fischler, Fake News Beat Reporters Remain on Mute, Can’t Beat a Playoff Team; Suggested Line-Up Changes & More
The Rangers, who once again, found themselves on the wrong end of the scoreboard against another playoff team from last year on Tuesday night (the 6-3 home loss to the Jets), returned to their training facility on Wednesday morning for a short thirty-minute practice.
While there were some changes made to the line-up – they also weren’t the ones that I suggested following that loss to Winnipeg. (Full details: https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/111224/ )
However, the biggest amendment to “Lavy’s Line-Up” was the one that all of us suggested – a grand return of the GAG LINE 2.0.
Staying in-tact was the successful third line, and where it remained to be seen on Thursday night if they’d become the second line – or if they’d play second fiddle to the returned line of Kreider/Zibanejad/Smith.
(It was trending that way – until Miller KO’d Chytil.)
Defensively, Laviolette, and also like all of us, realized that Miller is “no bueno” for his captain, and in turn, went back to his Top-Four from the beginning of this season.
Following the short half-hour skate, Laviolette, playing the good soldier, addressed his changes, where of note, he did make mention of what I said last time around on this site – it’s time to give Schneider and Jones more ice time (but he didn’t go as far as saying that they’d be bumped up into the Top-4).
Take a gander:
Also speaking to the media following practice was Missing Mika, the Rangers’ alternate captain who ducked the birdbrain beat reporters after assisting on three Jets’ goals on Tuesday night.
Zibanejad, who talked about mental health and his struggles, didn’t say one word about how begged Larry Brooks to write a column two weeks ago where he asked for more ice time, where in turn, Laviolette then promoted the second-longest tenured Ranger to the first line with Panarin and Lafreniere.
And of course, not mentioned by the morons with iPhone recorders to either Mika or Laviolette?
WHY IS ZIBANEJAD STILL ON THE FIRST POWER-PLAY UNIT AND AT THE EXPENSE OF LAFRENIERE?
Here’s the self-serving Zibanejad’s interview from Wednesday:
In other news from Wednesday; then following the practice, the Rangers announced that the seldomly-used Victor Mancini had been assigned to Hartford, where in a corresponding move, Chad Ruhwedel was called-up.
I obviously wasn’t a fan of this move – even if I understood it.
After all, if Mancini isn’t going to play under the stubborn head coach, then there’s no reason for him to collect dust in the press box every night.
Furthermore, he’s also not going to learn anything of use – or at least how could he learn anything when watching this team during their past four-games played while he was dressed in a suit upstairs?
As noted after the loss to the Jets where the Blueshirts were “The Same Old Rangers,” I would have given Miller a timeout, while returning Mancini to the line-up as Trouba’s partner. (I wouldn’t dare touch that Schneider/Jones pairing – the best pair in-town this season.)
By sending Mancini to the ‘Pack, he’ll at least get to play every night – but as a result, he will also miss the upcoming four-game road-trip to the west coast and Alberta.
Recalling Ruhwedel to take over the seat in the press box alongside Brodzinski (where as also noted on Tuesday night, I would have given Mika breather and then would have re-inserted JONNY BROADWAY back into the line-up too), is of no harm, as the former Penguin is your prototypical seventh defenseman – thus meaning that he’s always ready to go – and where a regular healthy scratch status won’t affect him.
And unlike Mancini – Ruhwedel is as “developed” as he’ll ever be.
At the end of the day, all of these moves just told us that Laviolette wasn’t going to hold anyone accountable, as was just going to allow his slumping players to get through it – wins and losses be damned.
So much for all of that “healthy competition” talk from last season too.
Similar to a Supreme Court Justice – and it feels like roster spots – jobs – for struggling Rangers are all but guaranteed for life.
That is, unless you’re Barclay Goodrow, the man who Chris Drury stabbed in the back over the summer, and the now two-time Shark who on both Tuesday and Wednesday, told the media how he wasn’t a fan of how his Rangers’ tenure had ended – and he wasn’t solely talking about the loss to Florida either – as he was referring to “Et Tu Drury.”
In one of his various quotes to reporters about this “Drury Dismissal,” Goodrow said, “It was a surprise. I was never given any inclination or whatever that I wouldn’t be back and then that happened. That was a while ago. I’ve tried to move on past it. We’re here now and excited to be San Jose.”
Based on how Goodrow said these words, then you were left to assume that he’s still pissed-off about the situation.
Furthermore, it doesn’t feel like he’s quite over it either.
After all, the key word in that quote?
“Tried.”
From Goodrow’s perspective, then on July of ’21 he signed a six-year deal to play for a Stanley Cup contender (even if they are more like a pretender) and never in his wildest dreams did the former two-time champion (Tampa – who were forced to trade him to New York because of the salary cap) ever envision a return to San Jose – and to a Sharks’ squad that’s been one of the worst teams in the league for several years now.
So much for no movement clauses – and where now – Drury should be looking at another center’s NMC these days – that is – assuming that the ultimate goal still remains – a fifth Stanley Cup win in franchise history.
As far as anything else, then it was also announced on Thursday morning that CZAR IGOR – and not Jonathan Quick – would get the nod in net.
As a result, this told me that while Quick more than deserved this start (and I think he would have received it had the Rangers won on Tuesday night, thus allowing CZAR IGOR to rest for the upcoming road-trip), this was Laviolette’s way of trying to get CZAR IGOR “right,” following back-to-back home losses where he surrendered five-goals a piece.
One last note.
For whatever reason, and the Rangers entered this game as -400 favorites (4:1), where for gambling novices, that meant that you had to pony up $400 in order to win $100 in the event of a Blueshirts’ victory.
I thought that these astronomical odds, highest of the season, were batty.
Ranger issues aside, and the Sharks had the past three days off, and where you may have heard, this was a “money on the board” game for Goodrow’s new team too.
Here was Laviolette’s line-up for the fifteenth 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/Vesey
FIRST PAIR: Miller/Fox
SECOND PAIR: Lindgren/Trouba
THIRD PAIR: Jones/Schneider
STARTING GOALIE: CZAR IGOR
BACK UP GOALIE: Jonathan Quick
HEALTHY SCRATCHES: Brodzinski and Ruhwedel
BOX SCORE time.
The following graphics and information come from ESPN.com:
SCORING:
PENALTIES:
TEAM STATS:
GOALIES:
|
SJS
|
|
SA
|
GA
|
SV
|
SV%
|
ESSV
|
PPSV
|
SHSV
|
SOSA
|
SOS
|
TOI
|
PIM
|
| 35 | 3 | 32 | .914 | 29 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 56:58 | 0 |
|
NYR
|
|
SA
|
GA
|
SV
|
SV%
|
ESSV
|
PPSV
|
SHSV
|
SOSA
|
SOS
|
TOI
|
PIM
|
| 27 | 2 | 25 | .926 | 24 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 59:31 | 0 |
Just a few quick notes before getting into tonight’s main event, THE GAME REVIEW:
— I had to watch this game from work during my elongated dinner break. Once again, the Gotham Sports app refused to work, thus I was forced to watch this game on an illegal stream.
— What a business strategy from Gotham Sports – “We’re so bad that we ask you to watch these games for free elsewhere – and for much less hassle!”
— Since I was at work, then I didn’t get to see the pregame show. However, since Sieve Vagistat was left to his own devices, and had I been home, then I wouldn’t have watched it anyway!
— I had to work until 2:30AM Friday morning, so with that said, this will be a short one – perhaps a benefit for you!
— Plus, I feel like I said what needed to be said during tonight’s intro!
With that out of the way, let’s roll and get into the GAME REVIEW.
FIRST PERIOD
This period moved at a snail’s pace – and the Rangers looked like a slime trail too.
After the returning hero, Barclay Goodrow, won the first draw of the game against Chytil, and the Sharks then proceeded to spend their first three shifts caving in everyone in Rangers’ blue.
Not even two-minutes in and CZAR IGOR had amassed four saves, while Blackwood was fiddling around with himself.
Vesey recorded the first shot on goal for the Blueshirts a few seconds later, but Blackwood was able to stop his sneaky backhander.
After that, the Sharks swam right into the Rangers’ end – and boom – Liljegren was able to score a flukish goal from downtown Julie Brown – but hey – they all count.
1-0, bad guys, just like that, at the 2:51 mark.
Not much changed after the goal, as CZAR IGOR was constantly tested – but he’d soon pass them all – that is – until Zibanejad took his stupid penalty with just a minute remaining in regulation.
After Blackwood made his second save (on Lindgren with 12:54 remaining), we then had a TV timeout – and where Goodrow was honored – and where M$GN couldn’t be bothered to share what Jonny Lazarus shared with his Tweeter followers:
Barclay Goodrow gets his welcome back pic.twitter.com/wcXw3t0U6A
— Jonny Lazarus (@JLazzy23) November 15, 2024
Really M$GN?
You couldn’t air this?
I guess that I should mention that Sam and Joe mentioned that this had happened – but am I expecting much when I say that I would’ve preferred to seen it with my own two eyes?
Also of note?
Another “returning hero” on this night was Alex Wennberg.
If M$G/NYR gave him the “welcome back” treatment, then I do not know.
And had Wennberg played tonight, then I wouldn’t have known either. (I had to check the box score!)
But I think you can tell that I’m talking about Wennberg tongue-in-cheek here anyway.
The Rangers did pick up the pace a bit after the ten-minute mark, as back-to-back tic-tac-toe tries from both the GAG LINE 2.0 and the Mika line were denied.
K’Andre Miller, after missing the net twice, also had his third shot attempt stopped by Blackwood too.
Down to 6:30 remaining and Chytil, when he was still able to say his name, missed the net from point-blank range.
Ouch.
Following a Miller turnover, Vesey got back and broke up a Sharks’ attack, which led me to wonder – would Vesey be a better defenseman than Miller?
Maybe he could be a dual-threat, similar to Brendan Smith before him and Ron Greschner way before that.
(And I know this won’t happen – I’m just saying that Vesey has the potential.)
As far as anything else from the offensive end, well the Rangers were pretty offensive to watch themselves.
As we hit 2:00 remaining, Carl Grundstrom hit the crossbar, thus preventing the Blueshirts from falling into a 2-0 hole.
As the horn went off, there was light booing at M$G.
1-0, bad guys, after twenty-minutes of “action.”
Here’s what I said at the time:
1-0, bad guys, after 20. 1P Thoughts:
— Same Old Rangers.
— Surprised Goodrow didn’t get the first goal.
— Fluke goal allowed by IGOR, but they all count.
— #NYR don’t look as terrible, but they are playing a bad team at home and can’t get a jump.
— GAG LINE 2.0 looks…— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) November 15, 2024
SECOND PERIOD
After another Goodrow faceoff win at the circles, Zac Jones, who like his partner, the formidable Braden Schneider, received more ice time than usual tonight (but not as much as the Top-4 – although the gap was closed a bit), hit iron himself at the 2:17 mark.
In other words, both teams were at a <DING> a piece.
A few seconds after Jones’ meeting of rubber and iron, and he was sent to the box for holding Luke Kunin.
This Sharks’ power-play lasted only four-seconds – as right after puck drop – Goodrow nailed Lindgren to the ice – good for a two-minute interference call.
Down to 27-seconds remaining on the foreplay, and we then had a Sharks’ 4 x 3 power-play, as with 15:31 left in the period, Schneider held Ty Dellandrea.
End result of all of this?
No goals – and then back to even-strength.
At this time, some real-time tweets – as I was trying (and then was successful) to vex Blackwood’s shutout that was going on:
Halfway mark of the game, 1-0, them, and Blackwood still has a SHUTOUT, I repeat, the Sharks’ goalie has a shutout!!! #NYR
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) November 15, 2024
No less than thirty-seconds after tweeting out the above?
This:
The SHUTOUT jinx works- Mika, rebound, ties it, so now everyone will say he’s back after scoring a goal against one of the worst teams in the league. Sam & Joe are acting like this is a Game 7 overtime winner. 1-1. #NYR
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) November 15, 2024
And here’s the goal too:
Mika scores!!!! #NYR pic.twitter.com/nkcjUA7UtX
— David 🏒 (@DaveyUpper) November 15, 2024
1-1 – and where as noted in the tweet – not only were Sam and Joe going ape-shit as if this was a Cup winning goal – but so were the beat reporters.
And while I understand that Mika The Anchor had a monkey on his back – c’mon man – act like you’ve done this before.
Then again, it’s not like Mika has ever really done this before in a big playoff game.
But against last-place teams?
Let the dee-jay spin!
I know that many are saying that they feel that this will be the goal that turns it around for Mika – but keep in mind – not only have I heard the same thing about a dozen times last season – but I’ve already also heard it twice this season – following an empty net goal and another even-strength goal scored against a crappy team – the Montreal Canadiens.
Again, do it in some big games and then I’ll change my tune.
Right after this goal?
K’Andre Miller gave Chytil his next concussion (allegedly).
It should also be noted as Chytil was in La-La-Land and while Miller was wondering if he can do anything right these days; then as a result, the Sharks had a 3 x 1 odd-man rush.
Your 2021 Norris Trophy winner, Adam Fox, made a sliding block to end it.
Hell of a defensive play – but one that will get buried and forgotten about a bit due to Chytil’s injury at the same time.
It should also be noted that Chytil, after going to the locker room, did later return for a shift this period, but come the third period, he was nowhere to be seen.
He was later officially ruled out as the final frame progressed.
We’ll do more Chytil talk at the end of this.
As you were wondering if Chytil’s career was over; then down to 6:45 remaining and the fourth line did it again – this time Vesey, with another backhander, on a rebound afforded to Carrick by Blackwood:
Jimmy Vesey puts New York up 2-1 🚨 pic.twitter.com/FDlq2Y1pqb
— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) November 15, 2024
2-1, GOOD GUYS!
And I really can’t praise this fourth line enough – where ironically – it was “the poor man’s Goodrow,” Carrick, that fared much better in this contest than the Rangers’ alum.
I can be very hard on “The Pizza Man,” GM Chris Drury – but I’ll give him his due here – Carrick has been an excellent signing thus far.
Down to 5:28 remaining, Adam Fox seemingly had his first goal of the season, but in a Mike Francesa “WAIT A SECOND” moment – the Sharks challenged the goal for goaltender interference – and upon replay – it was clearly evident that Trocheck had grabbed Blackwood’s stick.
So what could’ve been 3-1, GOOD GUYS, remained at 2-1, GOOD GUYS – but as a result – it also gave us this visual:
#NYR trocheck flips the bird while chirping from the bench and the. Scores a goal… love it pic.twitter.com/oS5xfE30lq
— NYR Chatter (@NYRChatter) November 15, 2024
I don’t know if Trocheck was flipping off the officials, Blackwood, or Miller for hurting Chytil, but perhaps this one-finger salute was dedicated to Peter Laviolette – the stubborn head coach who broke up his best line in order to get a failed $8.5M center going.
And wouldn’t you know it?
No less than two-minutes after having his screened assist taken away from him (someone should start tracking these stats – as very often – screened assists are just as big as primary assists – and more times than not – much bigger than secondary assists too), Trocheck made it 3-1, GOOD GUYS, following a pure GAG LINE 2.0 goal:
Laffy to Panarin to Trocheck to the back of the net. #NYR pic.twitter.com/nVsqpklv4M
— David 🏒 (@DaveyUpper) November 15, 2024
I still can’t believe that Laviolette broke up this line for two-weeks.
To close the period, Kakko missed the net on a clear-as-day two-vs-one odd-man rush.
Similar to Mika, and everyone always talks about every Kakko goal as it’s the next big thing – and then they do it again some three-to-four weeks later when the next goal is scored.
We remained at 3-1, GOOD GUYS, after two periods – and where this rapid-fire of scoring amounted to all of the goals that the Blueshirts would net in this one.
Here’s what I said at the time:
3-1, GOOD GUYS, after 40. 2P Thoughts:
— Nice wake-up call, but let’s see them do it against a good team.
— It would be so #NYR and so Chytil for this to be it for #72.
— PP to open the third.
— Never break up the GAG LINE 2.0 again.— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) November 15, 2024
THIRD PERIOD
The Rangers began this final frame on the power-play, as a William Eklund hooking call on Lafreniere was assessed at the end of the previous period.
Despite everything (and you know that the beat reporters still refuse to bring this up too) – Mika remained on PP1, while Lafreniere sat.
Idiotic.
Mind-numbing.
And perhaps retarded too. (We’re allowed to say the r-word again, no?)
Do we want to win here, or has this become a team where the sole focus is to get one guy going at the expense of everyone else – including who should be the future face of this franchise for the next decade and beyond?
After a Mika miss at the net (first star stuff), this led to a Goodrow short-handed try, where he then missed the net on.
This wasn’t mentioned by any beat reporter.
After a Blackwood save on Smith, the Rangers’ power-play concluded, thus going 0-1 on the night.
With Chytil done, it was Trocheck that received the bulk of the double-shifts.
I’m also wondering what Miller must be feeling now – as obviously, he knows that he’s playing like shit these days – and taking out a teammate, especially this one and in this fashion – it has to be eating him alive.
Let’s not also forget that Miller missed time last season for mental health issues.
I’m sure that this game will only exacerbate such feelings of malaise.
I’m also sure that this image won’t help “Miller Matters” either – and a picture made by friend of the site, Ricky “Type” O. himself:
After Sam and Joe spent ten-minutes telling us how wonderful Patrick Marleau and Joe Thornton were, while also giving us the heights, weights, ages, DNA type and semen counts of every Shark on the roster today; then while that was going on, the Rangers had about a dozen odd-man rushes and chances – but could never put the game away.
The youngest stud in San Jose, the apple in Sam and Joe’s eye, Macklin Celebrini, almost made things interesting, but with 10:25 to go, he hit the crossbar.
Whew.
Come 6:50 remaining and CZAR IGOR outright robbed his former teammate, Goodrow, from point-blank range.
This was CZAR IGOR’s 20th save – and where outside of the first-four of the game – none of them were memorable – as it was a quiet night for a goalie who’s used to making 35+ NYET NYET’s per game.
As the fourth line continued to motor, the BFF line came back on and where Blackwood prevented Kreider from joining the scoring party with 4:21 left.
Come 2:52 remaining and that was it for Blackwood.
The Rangers had a bunch of chances to put this away – and CZAR IGOR wanted to as well – but his lone shot attempt was broken up by Celebrini about five feet away from the Sharks’ blue line.
Let me just reiterate the following by putting this in bold print:
WITH 2:52 REMAINING, AND AGAINST ONE OF THE WORST TEAMS IN THE SPORT, AND THE RANGERS COULDN’T FINISH THE JOB WITH AN EMPTY NET GOAL. RATHER THAN ENDING IT, THEY JUST KEPT PASSING THE PUCK, AS NO ONE WANTED THE GLORY FOR THEMSELVES.
Since no one wanted to score on an empty net, this led Zibanejad into tripping Granlund with a clean 60-seconds left to be ticked.
Yes, your first star of the game thought that taking a penalty when up two goals with a minute remaining was a bright idea.
33-seconds later and Fabian Zetterlund, while on the 6 x 4 power-play, scored.
3-2, good guys.
Crazier than that?
The Sharks almost tied it – hence my negative tone after a win – but CZAR IGOR did his job, including with one last stop on the first-overall pick of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft.
3-2, GOOD GUYS, your final – and where I was absolutely sickened not only by Zibanejad getting the first star (it should’ve been Vesey), but by how the Rangers were celebrating this win as if they just ended a playoff series.
If anything, then this came off as a “sigh of relief, end of a slump against a bad team” type of thing, rather than making a statement.
Here’s an unaccountable Laviolette after the win, and where in regards to Chytil, all he said about his center was “he’s being evaluated and is day-to-day”:
Wow.
They beat San Jose.
Whoop-de-doo.
They were supposed to do that – but a one-goal win wasn’t that inspiring either.
Moving forward, it’s the four-game road-trip that I talked about last time (https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/111224/ ) – and where the Rangers will have off on Friday before practicing on Saturday at their training facility – and prior to their flight destined for Frasier Crane’s hometown.
In other words, and unless the Rangers are generous with information (don’t bank on that), then we won’t get a true Chytil update until Saturday’s practice.
As noted earlier, and like many of you – I think this is another concussion.
While I’ve been wrong before (it rarely happens – but sometimes it does!), but either way – I’m not so sure I want someone with a history of head trauma, who just took a vicious shot in this game, boarding a long flight.
If you don’t know, then air travel, especially a cross-country flight, is frowned upon medical professionals in regards to their patients with concussions.
I really don’t know what happens next with Chytil.
At best, maybe he got a busted jaw, which also won’t deter the “Fragile Fil” or “Filip Brittle” nicknames.
It’s just a travesty that this latest episode was the end result of friendly fire.
Should Chytil miss time, then I’d expect Brodzinski, the team’s 13th forward, to slot in.
Similar to Ruhwedel, who the Rangers are carrying around as a spare rearguard, then the team will also need a spare forward for the road-trip.
I think that Matt Rempe is the obvious name, as he has the closest bond to the varsity team amongst all Wolf Packers – and who wouldn’t love a fourth line with him paired with fellow giant, Big Ed, Adam Edstrom?
For those wondering, and perhaps clamoring too, for Brennan Othmann?
Well he’s out with injury too – and may not be back until the New Year.
Other names besides Rempe as a roster fill-in include Bo Groulx (who the Rangers are high on), veterans Alex Bezile & Anton Blidh (both were called up under similar circumstances last year), and ugh, the boil that won’t go away, Jake Leschyshyn.
Gun to my head (and who would put a pistol to my head over such a thing – but should you ever shoot it – then I think my dome would be better off than Chytil anyway?)
Then it’s my gut-feeling that Laviolette doesn’t like Rempe, nor knows what to do with him.
And since it serves no purpose for #73 to sit upstairs and watch four games, then I think it will be one of the Pack alternate captains, Bezile or Blidh, who gets the press-box nod and four-game NHL payday.
While I’ve always been down on Chytil, and also knew that this day would finally come this season; I am not happy about it either.
Best of luck to him – and I really mean that.
Up Next: Rangers vs Kraken on Sunday night.
I may return with a blog before that, recapping whatever happens with Chytil. If not, then see ya late Sunday night/early Monday morning.
Up Next For Me: Bed – I got work in three-hours! (And don’t you like how I said that I’d try to keep this short – and we’re now at word 8,000?!?!? MINGA!)
Also up next for me this weekend?
The Mike Tyson/Jake Paul fight, UFC from M$G, and my niece, Ms. Erin, seventh birthday!
She can’t read this now – but maybe she will one day down the road – “HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOOCAVOO!”
Up Next For You: Your favorite segment, which brings us to…
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
