NYR/EDM 11/23 Review: Another OIL SPILL in Rangerstown, USA! Blueshirts Absolutely Dominated, Embarrassed and Exposed as Frauds; Epically Fail in Fifth “Litmus Test” Game of 2024-25, “Minus Mika” Goes -4 Again (What a Shock), Poor JQ32; Stats Trashed After Seeing Another 40 SOG, Who’s Really Concussed Here – Laviolette, Drury or Chytil? Micheletti Shuts Down Rosen & More

On Saturday night, and during a nation-wide, for-all-the-hockey-world-to-see, “Hockey Night in Canada” broadcast too – and the Rangers were absolutely exposed as frauds. If you can believe it, then “Lavy’s Lot” looked far worse than the asshole of a 58-year-old Mike Tyson. More salt in the wound for Blueshirt backers who stayed up late on the east coast for this tilt? Tyson also fared much better in his arranged “fight” against Jake Paul last week than the Blueshirts looked in this 6-2 drubbing against the Edmonton Oilers. Perhaps the loss to the Sabres from over two-weeks ago was uglier than this particular defeat (and solely because of the quality of competition) – but make no bones about it – the PAPER TIGER Rangers were once again revealed to the masses as Stanley Cup pretenders on this date of November 23rd, 2024.

Greetings and salutations everyone and welcome to another blog here on BlueCollarBlueShirts.com. At least Laviolette can’t blame the referees this time around.

And oh yeah – I should’ve went to the Notre Dame game at Yankee Stadium on Saturday night too.

Had I done just that?

Then at least I would’ve seen one of my favorite teams win via the blowout (49-14 – and where the game against Army was never in question) – and rather than watching the Blueshirts getting drastically blown out themselves.

Furthermore?

How bad were the Rangers blown out on Saturday night?

So bad, that even D.J. Pauly D, from MTV’s “The Jersey Shore,” and a one-time Ranger dee-jay at M$G too, was envious.

And perhaps it’s time for the cabs to be here for Minus Mika Zibanejad as well.

I think Pauly D. would fare better on the Rangers’ power-play than Zibanejad these days. Photo Credit: NYR

Over the years and McDavid & Co. have had a lot of success against the Rangers at home. Previous to tonight, then I thought that the Oilers’ 7-5 win over the Blueshirts, from 12/31/19, was the worst from this era. Photo Credit: M$GN

If you can recall back to nearly five-years ago, then on December 31st, 2019, the Rangers, once trailing 4-0, ultimately lost a match in Oiltown, via a final score of 7-5.

And if you have blacked out that game from your memory (I don’t blame you if that’s the case), then here’s my GAME REVIEW from that time: https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/123119/

Simply stated: Things were much different five-years ago.

Heck, this was a pre-pandemic game, should you be able to recall such years.

Furthermore, and if you can believe it, then during this time, Mika Zibanejad was enjoying the best hockey of his career.

And my oh my, how much does a short amount of time, as in five-years, change everything.

In a match that will always be remembered by Ranger fans as the “RABBIT EAR GAME,” then in this moment, I wonder if the Blueshirts even have ears – as they are tone-deaf – and also not listening to any message that their current head coach, Peter Laviolette, preaches today.

After all, this was the same Blueshirts’ bench boss that called out his team no less than 48-hours prior to puck drop on Saturday night – and when after such a loss sustained in Calgary – he immediately talked about how his team got “out-worked” – and how that couldn’t happen anymore – including Saturday night in the other Albertan NHL city.

The Rangers’ response to these poignant thoughts which featured critical advice?

Bleeding another 20+ shots on goal in the first twenty-minutes (21 in total), and where as a result, they soon found themselves trailing 2-0 as they headed back into the locker room during the first intermission.

And with a 6-2 final score – then yeah – the Blueshirts were never able to rebound from the early hole that they dug – nor did they ever come close to back-filling it either.

For team captain Jacob Trouba, who doubles-up as an artist in his free-time – then I wonder if he’s more like a Vincent Van Gogh than a Pablo Picasso.

After all, Van Gogh chopped off his ear – and much like #8 in Rangers’ blue – he wouldn’t be able to hear Laviolette’s message about the importance of having good starts either.

But of course, Trouba shouldn’t be singled-out either.

Instead, this mess is a team-wide issue, sans a few names, such as the goalies, Artemi Panarin, Alexis Lafreniere and Will Cuylle too – and a concerning issue that grows bigger-and-bigger with each “litmus test” (matches against playoff teams – and I’m not counting the win in Toronto either – as they are a bigger pretender than the Rangers themselves) game played this season.

As explained in-detail several times over already this season; then entering tonight, the Rangers were 0-4 in such contests – and where in these four losses – the Blueshirts were exposed each time (Florida, Washington, Winnipeg and Calgary).

After being embarrassed in Edmonton, the Rangers, and as result, bombed their fifth litmus test of this current 2024-25 campaign.

The next and sixth “litmus test” game of the season?

This Wednesday night, when the Rangers play visitor to the Carolina Hurricanes.

And don’t let that eventual loss ruin your Thanksgiving either.

After all, none of these bad losses will ruin the idle Chris Drury’s Christmas!

(If you don’t understand this reference, then check the archives of this site, or just read the New York Times report which you can find here: https://archive.nytimes.com/slapshot.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/12/24/caps-comeback-or-rangers-collapse/ )


He had some good times for the Rangers, but much like the milk carton that he’s regularly plastered on – Mika’s good-on-date is long expired. Father Time catches up to everyone and for the failed Swedish-Iranian dee-jay – it caught up to him at only the age of 30-years-old.

At the risk of sounding like one of the broken records that D.J. MIA Z. spins during every (and early) Rangers’ off-season; but yeah, tonight’s 6-2 loss was a lot of the same old shit – and let me quickly recount the ways:

— Relying on a goalie to carry you to a win?

Check – but where on this night – Quick wasn’t able to bat 1000% – and as he did for the team during his last two games played.


— Allowing “firsts,” and in every which way imaginable?

Check and check, as not only did Vasily Podkolzin score his first goal of the season (and his first goal in 44 games too), but the Rangers also allowed the Oilers to score their first short-handed goal of the season as well – and for the kicker – Darnell Nurse’s man-down tally nearly wound up becoming the game-winner. Ugh!


— Getting absolutely nothing out of Mika Zibanejad?

Perhaps the biggest and blackest (if not reddest) check mark of them all, as the long-haired hippie, very much in need of a hair cut these days, ala Panarin last season, finished with a game-low minus-4 – and where he’s lucky that he didn’t finish with a minus figure featuring double digits too!


— The only player to show up in the box score for the Rangers being a member of the GAG LINE 2.0?

Another check, as “The Breadman” baked two goals tonight – but admittedly – both scores were “nothing burgers” too – as his first goal was scored once the Rangers were down four, and his second goal took place when the Rangers were down five.


— Giving a struggling goalie one of his best games of the season?

You know it, as the slippin’-and-slidin’ Stuart Skinner, who many prior to the game, were arguing for his dismissal, had his best game of the season. Of course.


— The head coach refusing to make changes?

Well of course that took place too, as despite Zibanejad stinking up the joint like a diaper in a ten-year-old landfill – #93 was never removed from the first power-play unit.

In turn, the “elite” Rangers’ power-play finished 0-3 – and also allowed their first SHG allowed of the season for the final kick to the jewels.


Wow! Who could’ve predicted that running it back, and with the hopes of hanging around until the trade deadline, wasn’t the best strategy for the “I took the summer off” general manager? Much like previous Ranger GM’s, such as Emile Francis in 1975 and later Neil Smith in 1994 – and it’s my opinion that “The Pizza Man” needs to cook up at least one trade now (November) – and then do the rest of his deliveries come the deadline.

I must say – while I was surprised how bad it was – but at the same time – I’m not surprised that the Rangers lost on Saturday night either.

Not only did I predict such an event after the loss to the Flames, but here’s what I also said on Tweeter right before the game commenced:


While Quick didn’t record his third consecutive shutout (but it wasn’t his fault – and I feel bad that his teammates let him down by bruising up all of his now previous league-leading stats too); McDavid did eat the Rangers alive – but by the time that he did – this game was long lost.

As noted earlier, and in what was a 21 SOG first period for the home team, and Vasily Podkolzin became the first opposing shooter to score on Quick during his past 150+ minutes of action – and as he did with only 2:26 remaining in that frame.

Just a little over two-minutes later, and when the Rangers were on their first power-play of the game mind you – and Darnell Nurse recorded one of the easiest short-handed goals in all of hockey history.

2-0, bad guys, with just eight-seconds remaining in the stanza – and where prior to this pair of Oil spills – Quick had amassed eighteen consecutive saves.

The Rangers?

After being out-shot 7-1 early in the period, they finished with only nine shots on goal.

The Blueshirts, where you were to assume that Laviolette lit them up during the first intermission – did more of the same in the second period – if not looking even worse.

Put it this way:

At times, then you were led to believe that the Oilers were the Harlem Globetrotters, as it was nothing but offensive bursts and odd-man rushes, while the Rangers’ defense, and if they weren’t hopped-up on fentanyl and tranquilizers – then they treated this game as it was an All-Star Game – where no defense is ever displayed.

At the 8:54 mark, the super-duo in Edmonton, Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid, finally decided to join the party, as the two laughed their way past Quick for the 3-0, bad guys, goal.

Some three-minutes and four-seconds later, and the returning Evan Bouchard decided to join the party too – and had a good belly-laugh himself – as he made short work of a non-existing Rangers’ defense for the 4-0, bad guys ,goal.

For fantasy hockey players, then Panarin did them good when he scored, a 4-1 goal, and as he did at the 15:02 mark.

Not to be outdone, and with the score still remaining as 4-1 when the third period began, and McDavid, who had no problems shutting down Zibanejad tonight, decided to pop in a pair of goals himself – and as he did at both the 5:49 and 9:37 marks of the final twenty-minutes.

Panarin then helped out people who had him on their fantasy rosters by scoring again with only 3:31 remaining – where afterwards – the scoreboard then read as 6-2, Oilers – and your final score too.

And for “The Skin Man” in the hometown net, and a backstop who entered this game with a .870 save percentage and a near 3.50 GAA?

32 saves on 34 shots, a .970 save percentage, and where he also made four saves on an anemic 0-3 Rangers’ power-play.

But don’t worry.

Come next week, and when the Rangers host the horrible and miserable Montreal Canadiens on Saturday, November 30th – then when Mika Zibanejad finally scores a goal – everyone will proudly boast that “MIKA IS BACK!”


One last topic before getting out of this intro and then moving onto our usual segments?

Then if you recall (blogs don’t lie – and the evidence is here: https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/111424/), then after the Rangers’ one-goal win (3-2) over one of the worst perennial door mats of the league, the San Jose Sharks, I predicted that Zibanejad wouldn’t score one goal during this now completed four game-road trip.

While Mika did score one, I also don’t think that I failed in my message conveyed to you readers either.

After all, his lone goal took place against the terrible Kraken (who were playing a back-up goalie too) – and while they all count the same – it was “flukish” too – as he (luckily) caught a piece of a K’Andre Miller shot.

$8.5M per-season, and all the way through 2030!

I’m not Chris Drury, but I do want to want to conclude this intro with two more thoughts:

One, and despite what happened in Boston (Jim Montgomery firing) – I wouldn’t fire Peter Laviolette.

After all, this core has already burned through two coaches – and where as said then, and as I’m saying again now – I don’t blame David Quinn or Gerard Gallant either.

Simply put?

This core doesn’t deserve a fourth coach – and yes – there’s a reason for my “LATERALETTE” moniker too – as in my eyes – it’s always been about the failures of the core – and not strictly about the bench boss.

My other thought?

While I understand that this has a .0000000001% chance of ever happening; then either way, I’d still pick up the phone and call a general manager that I’ve made two trades with already during the past few months (Ruhwedel and Smith) – Pittsburgh’s Kyle Dubas – and just ask if it’s even possible that Sidney Crosby would ever accept a trade to the Big Apple.

Even if the answer is the most likely one – a big fat NO – then at the very least – it can’t hurt to ask.

What’s hurting the Rangers these days?

Zibanejad, who Drury needs to give the “Goodrow Treatment” to.


As I continue on in my present state of rage, then at this time, I should try to calm myself down, and you too, which is my transition to reprinting our every-day and 82-game mantra, which is also known as my 33-word daily disclaimer that I post on this site after every game played:

“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, nineteen down, sixty-three to go, and then the real hockey, the only games that matter, begin.

But at this rate – will the Rangers even qualify for the playoffs?

And if they don’t?

Then SEE YA DRURY.


In case you missed it, then here’s where I last left off – CZAR IGOR recording 46 saves in the Rangers’ 3-2 loss to the Flames:

NYR/CGY 11/21 Review: Same Old Rangers Fail Another Litmus Test Against a Top Team, Kakko Aces His New Audition As a Potential 3C; The Tomfoolery Centering Filip Chytil’s Pending Return, CZAR IGOR Forced To Make 46 Saves; Cuylle = A Tkachuk Brother From Another Mother, Sixteen-Seconds, Crying About Referees & Holding Nobody Accountable Not Enough, The M$GN Presents “T$N” Broadcast & More


I still don’t understand why Laviolette won’t shake up his first power-play unit, nor why the bird-brain and ignorant beat reporters never ask him about this either. What more do all of these people need to see? The only explanation? Perhaps everyone involved, both the head coach and the beat reporters, are mentally retarded. After more nothing out of Mika tonight – then this is the only theory that I can come up with when trying to comprehend Alexis Lafreniere’s omission from the top man-advantage quintet.

Following their fourth failed litmus test of the season, the Thursday night loss in Calgary; come Friday, and the Rangers had the day off.

However, while the team had 24-hours to contemplate and mull things over, the general manger did not, and where Drury, and I guess Laviolette too, made another series of bone-headed and retarded decisions.

Since neither man was available to the media on November 22nd, then everyone was left pondering why Jake Leschyshyn was sent back to the Wolf Pack, while Victor Mancini was recalled from Hartford.

A day later, game day, Saturday morning, and the answers were given to us.

Apparently, Zac Jones suffered an “upper-body” injury in the loss to the Flames, where as a result Mancini was recalled, and in a reciprocating move in order to keep the roster to 23-players, Leschyshyn was returned to the AHL affiliate.

These moves also told us other things.

For starters, this conveyed the message that Chad Ruhwedel, the team’s current seventh defenseman, is absolutely useless in the eyes of both his head coach and general manager.

The Rangers only had one last game to play on this four-match leg; yet they decided to bring up and play Mancini rather than risking a Ruhwedel return.

Heck, Mancini flew nearly 3,000 miles and was on no sleep by the time he landed in Edmonton – yet he was considered the better option over a rested-and-ready Ruhwedel.

And while I’m high on Mancini; tonight, he finished only second-worst to Zibanejad in the plus/minus department, as a -3.

He also stunted Braden Schneider, his partner, and a #4 who also finished as -3 – a season-low.

While I’m not blaming Mancini for this loss whatsoever; at the same time, are you telling me that the Rangers couldn’t play Ruhwedel for one game, then assess this situation once returned home and prior to their next game, which takes place this Monday night against St. Louis?

My point?

This was a big F.U. to Ruhwedel.

As it was revealed that Jones was done for the road-trip, it was also reported that CZAR IGOR took a shot up high during the morning skate, and off of the stick of Reilly Smith.

CZAR IGOR quickly went to the locker room – and where not one beat reporter asked about his status afterwards.

Cowards.

However, Laviolette, and under his own volition, did say say that the plan was always to play Quick against the Oilers, noting JQ32’s career history, a successful one, against the orange-and-blue.

As far as any other news that transpired prior to puck drop, then once again, Filip Chytil skated in front of an empty arena all by himself.

I’ve already talked about this story 798679867867896796 times since it happened, so I’ll make it quick here by saying the following:

Flying Chytil 3,000 miles to skate by himself, and on two separate occasions to boot, was the textbook definition of the word “retarded.”

After all, what was gained?

For a guy with a concussion history, making him fly 6,000 miles round-trip made no sense at all.

He very easily could have skated and recouped at the team’s training facility in Tarrytown, NY.

And with Leschyshyn demoted and Chytil unable; then had a Ranger suffered a freak accident during either the morning skate or pregame warm-up, then Laviolette would have been forced to skate only eleven forwards.

Sound strategy – but with the way that this game went – the Rangers could have had 67867986786786986896768769 forwards available – and it wouldn’t have made one damn difference.


Here was Laviolette’s line-up for the nineteenth game of this 2024-25 season:

FIRST LINE: Panarin/Trocheck/Lafreniere

SECOND LINE: Kreider/Zibanejad/Smith

THIRD LINE: Cuylle/Brodzinski/Kakko

FOURTH LINE: Edstrom/Carrick/Vesey

FIRST PAIR: Miller/Fox

SECOND PAIR: Lindgren/Trouba

THIRD PAIR: Schneider/Mancini

STARTING GOALIE: Jonathan Quick

BACK UP GOALIE: CZAR IGOR

HEALTHY SCRATCHES: Ruhwedel

DAY-TO-DAY: Filip Chytil and Zac Jones


BOX SCORE time.

The following graphics and information come from ESPN.com:

SCORING:

PENALTIES:

TEAM STATS:

GOALIES:

EDM
SA
GA
SV
SV%
ESSV
PPSV
SHSV
SOSA
SOS
TOI
PIM
34 2 32 .941 27 4 1 0 0 60:00 0

 

NYR
SA
GA
SV
SV%
ESSV
PPSV
SHSV
SOSA
SOS
TOI
PIM
40 6 34 .850 30 2 2 0 0 59:07 0

There was no way that I was going to watch Sieve Vagistat, who these days, looks like he could swallow more hot dogs than Joey Chestnut, during tonight’s Lundqvist-less M$GN pregame show.

At 9:30PM, I tuned into the M$GN pregame show, but once it was revealed that Vagistat was left again to his own devices – I quickly returned my remote to the Notre Dame game.

Come 10PM, and with the Fighting Irish done pummeling Army, I returned to M$GN, where Sam Rosen and Joe Micheletti were forced to battle audio issues on the World’s Most Expensive Network – now featuring a Gotham Sports App that never works – and very much like the Rangers’ power-play these days!

After Rosen informed us that a 3-1 road-trip record would be better than a 2-2 record; the soon-retiree then told us that Connor McDavid is a good hockey player.

And in a thought that started at this juncture, and one that then ran throughout my mind during the entire broadcast – “Bless Rosen’s heart.”

It was also during this two-segment pregame piece where it was shared that Quick was 4-0 with a .970 save percentage and also possessing a GAA of .091.

I am not even going to look at his numbers now after this fiasco – and again – my sympathy – and not my disdain – lies with the back-up goalie.

Instead, all of my anger falls on the skaters in front of JQ32 themselves.

After that, Sam and Joe then ran down all of the injuries in Edmonton (but didn’t say if the Oilers were going to be cute by LTIRing Evander Kane until the playoffs) and that was that.

Finally, GAME REVIEW time – and I’ll try not to prolong the pain here either.

However, and as always, I must also purge all negativity from my system too!


While Sam Rosen remains as the biggest MUSH in the world; I also don’t blame him for using the word “shutout” about 98767867868679679 times before Quick’s flawlessness was broken up either. After all, Quick was bound to give up a goal – and he was ultimately due to give up six with the absolute shit in front of him in this tilt. And with the way that the Rangers played tonight – then they are lucky that their goalie didn’t give up sixty scores against.

FIRST PERIOD

I’d like to say that “it wasn’t all bad,” but in retrospect, it was.

After all, the Oilers quickly raced out to a 7-1 SOG discrepancy – and the Rangers also had to deal with Rosen trying to get every Oiler going too – especially when he got down on his hands-and-knees and prayed to the hockey gods that not only will Jeff Skinner finally reach the playoffs for the first time in his career – but win the damn chip too.

And as I always say – whenever I’m focusing a lot on Sam and Joe – then it tells you how bad this game was.

But this opinion, perhaps a fact too, remains:

Nothing is more infuriating and aggravating to me whenever Sam and Joe are giddy, happy and gay as the Rangers are getting their dicks kicked in.

At least Micheletti would reverse course – but such catty, yet truthful, remarks, which were directed at his partner, only took place during the final minutes.

(In other words – we’ll get there once we get there!)

Not even three-minutes in and McDavid tried to score 1 x 4 – and as he did against Georgiev a few years back.

While this play didn’t work out for him this time around, it also didn’t prevent #97 from trying again later on in the game either.

Quick survived both of these tries – but as you already know – McDavid wound up scoring two goal anyway – and in different fashions to boot.

At around the 7:00 mark, I once again found myself to be valid and educated in my talking point about Kaapo Kakko not being able to be a playoff performer, as he was absolutely demolished and weakened following a big hit from Drake Caggiula.

Kakko looked defeated after this – and scared to go to the net too.

While he wasn’t even close to being the biggest Rangers’ zero on this night (Zibanejad was); he only mustered up one lousy SOG – a ha-ha save for Skinner.

And yep – there’s also a reason why two different head coaches have made a healthy scratch out of the Finn during an ECF series too.

Right after this seven-minute mark?

Jimmy Vesey recorded the first Rangers’ SOG – and where again I remind you – against one of the worst goalies in the league.

In other words, the Blueshirts never tested Skinner that much during this first period – but when they did – they once again made another zero into a hero – “The Rangers’ Way!”

Still scoreless at around the eight-minute mark and this is when Rosen decided to use the word “shutout” about a zillion times when talking about Quick.

Senile moron.

Micheletti?

Even he was wise enough not to use the “s-word.”

During an odd-man rush at the 8:20 mark, and the useless loser, government name Mika Zibanejad, whiffed on a puck.

No matter, as he still remained on PP1 during three separate Ranger chances tonight – including after setting up a SHG allowed.

As we hit 11:30 remaining – and Quick made four big saves against the Oilers’ top line – and in a span of only twenty-seconds.

Again – this was both a team and head coach that stressed that they wouldn’t be no shows in first periods anymore – yet followed up such hollow words with this dreadful and inexcusable showing.

At the half-way mark of the period, and Quick was already sitting on eleven saves – so for both math majors and Rosen – over one save recorded per minute.

As the Oilers peppered Quick like a fancy Italian waiter; Rosen & Micheletti then talked about Edmonton’s run to the 2024 SCF – and no less than during five separate occasions.

Down to 7:00 remaining, and Quick, who constantly displayed his valor despite the team in front of him falling on their sword, made one hell of a split-legged save on McDavid, in some future HOF vs HOF action.

As we approached 5:40 left to be ticked – the lone Rangers’ highlight that didn’t include Quick:


Artemi Selke?

Then again, he was also on the ice for four Oiler goals allowed – so perhaps I should pump the brakes on such talk!

But yeah – it was nice to see #10 have some snarl and physicality to his game – as that’s the way you win in the playoffs.

Forty-seconds later and Quick recorded his 15th save of the period – so he was now averaging a clean one per-minute.

Of note?

I easily cashed a $50 bet on Quick recording 28 saves in this game – and I also had my money deposited into my back account mid-way through the second stanza.

As Rosen gushed over Trouba’s artistic skills, where afterwards, he blurted out the word “shutout” a few more times; all good things came to an end, as this is when Podkolzin scored his first goal in his last 44 games played:


1-0, bad guys.

Down to 1:03 remaining, and following a lengthy 6 x 5 delayed penalty attack too, and Brett Kulak was sent to the box for holding Kakko.

On cue, Rosen then told us how much the Oilers’ penalty kill sucked – and how they were the second-worst team in the league in this department.

And you know what happened next – Zibanejad turned over the puck – and like his teammates, just watched the following short-handed goal:


2-0, bad guys – and with only eight-seconds remaining.

Quick was absolutely furious with this goal allowed – and one that he was also left defenseless to stop.

Simply put – everyone gave up on this play – besides Quick.

Despite Mika doing nothing and pretty much telling his goalie, “you do it,” #93 remained on PP1 throughout – and that’s on the head coach where the words “responsibility” and “accountability” are no longer in his vocabulary.

We remained at 2-0, bad guys, once the horn went off – and where you knew it at the time – the Rangers were C-O-O-K-E-D.

Here’s what I said at the time:


I rather see Quick’s tenant, Matt Rempe, on the Rangers’ power-play, instead of loser Zibanejad. After all, how worse could Rempe be? Just place #73 in front of the net, have him screen the goalie and shoot-shoot-shoot! Photo Credit: Matt Rempe

SECOND PERIOD

The Rangers’ response to their two-goal deficit was to double it.

And if you were watching this game at this very moment, then you knew that you were screwed, and as I told friend of the site, @NYRLOUIE, at the time too:


The Rangers, still with 57-seconds of power-play time remaining, did nothing with it.

Say it with me:

Zibanejad remains on PP1, while Lafreniere, the team’s second-best 5 x 5 scorer of the past two season, sits on his French-Canadian ass – and as mandated by the stubborn head coach.

Right after another Rangers’ power failure, and it was now the Oilers turn for a man-up attack, as Trouba slashed Draisaitl just seconds after the game returned to even-strength.

A rare Rosen failed jinx soon took place:

Despite the HOF announcer telling us how much the Edmonton power-play has sucked ass this season (22nd-overall) – it was a miracle on ice that they didn’t score here during these two minutes.

At around the six-minute mark, this is when Lavy first hit the line blender, by actually putting Mika on the first line and Trocheck on the second.

What does he see in Missing Mika that I don’t?

Following two more Zibanejad turnovers, the Rangers then went on the power-play again with 11:18 remaining, as Derek Ryan had slashed Brodzinski.

This loser in the #93 jersey, still on PP1, immediately turned over the puck, which then led to an Oiler breakaway, which as a result, forced Trocheck into hooking Mattias Janmark.

In other words, this Rangers’ power-play, now 0-2, lasted for a grand total of only twenty-seconds.

But wait, there’s more!

Now on the foreplay, and the Oilers soon kicked the field goal:


3-0, bad guys.

I have no clue what Trouba and Miller were doing during this – but let’s be fair – these two rearguards, and even on their best days, and furthermore, even if McDavid & Draisaitl were crippled, if not amputated too – will never be able to match the speed that both #29 and #97 possess.

It was also a play like this that makes me laugh whenever an ardent Mika supporter tells me that he’s “elite.”

If Mika is elite, then what’s McDavid? Jesus f***ing Christ?

Now back to full-strength following their own abbreviated power-play, and this is when the returning Bouchard joined the box score:


4-0, bad guys.

I have no clue what Trouba and Lindgren were doing here either.

I was absolutely shocked and stunned that these two, known for their puck stopping/blocking abilities, seemed to run away as fast as as possible when Bouchard’s shot from the slot was being sent towards Quick.

With 4:58 to go, Rosen called the following as a save for Skinner:


4-1, bad guys.

While I wouldn’t exactly call this an “A-Rod Goal,” and especially since Panarin was breaking his hole all game; but at the same time, this was all that it was – a meaningless goal in the grand scheme of things.

As far as anything else worth talking about from this period?

Mancini broke up a Jeff Skinner breakaway – where in turn – Rosen & Micheletti, and with nothing else to work with, then immediately called this our “DEFENSIVE PLAY OF THE GAME.”

We remained 4-1, bad guys, after two periods.

Here’s what I said at the time:


McDavid has always owned the Rangers – and admittedly – it’s always exciting to watch him play too. Photo Credit: A dated one, and one courtesy of M$GN

THIRD PERIOD

Let’s just rapid-fire through these final twenty-minutes of “HOCKEY HELL” – and as presented by our beloved 2024-25 Rangers.

Bless Sam’s heart once more, as he not only did he entertain the thought of a Rangers’ comeback – but he also mentioned how the Blueshirts had given up the least amount of third period goals this season.

Admittedly, I must also call myself out too, as here’s one of my real-time tweets from this frame:


And here’s McDavid returning the four-goal lead for his team too:


5-1, bad guys.

More embarrassing than this goal?

When McDavid owned Mika, Quick and the Rangers again, and as he did with 10:23 remaining:


I know that fellow Ranger fans don’t want to hear it – but I have to speak the truth too:

One of the greatest first-overall picks in hockey history, McDavid, scored a goal in a way that I have never seen the Blueshirts’ greatest free agent in franchise history, Panarin, ever score.

The Rangers then got one last power-play, their third, with 9:38 remaining, when Ryan held Edstrom.

But you know the drill – Mika remained on PP1 – and as a result, the score remained the same.

Down to 6:47 remaining in a game that felt like it would never end; and Lindgren took the match’s final penalty, and as he did when he cross-checked Caggiula.

The Oilers didn’t score here – but they didn’t try either – as they used bottom-sixers to start this power-play.

But then again, Quick was forced to come up with a pair of saves during this too.

McDavid had a chance to score a hat trick, a natural one at that, but he was a merciful hockey god.

Panarin improved his numbers to 12 goals on the season with only 3:31 remaining – and in a game that was long lost by the time that he scored his second of the contest.

As far as anything else worth bringing it up, then it was at the end of the game, when Rosen said something like, “This was a tough night and game for Jonathan Quick.”

Micheletti, and to his credit, wasted no time when pouncing against his partner, as he was incredulous over Rosen’s gall to suggest that this loss had anything to do with goaltending.

“Jumpin’ Joe” immediately jumped down Rosen’s throat and fully explained what this game was – the Rangers sucked, they continue to have bad starts, Mika does nothing and they look nowhere close to being a Cup contender.

Micheletti later brought up how the Rangers have stockpiled a bunch of wins against bad teams; but have yet to beat a true Cup contender this season.

6-2, bad guys, your final.

Here’s the pig-headed coach who never holds anyone accountable, but yet will bury the likes of Rempe and others like him, after the loss:


There’s no way to sugar coat this game – this was absolute dog shit.

We all know my season-long mantra, one that’s now two-seasons old, but in way, it also feels like the Rangers are taking games off for clips of time, as they too only care about the post-season.

But that’s no recipe for playoff success either.

Due to all of these NMC contracts on the team, then it will be tough for Drury to wave a magic wand – via making a huge trade long before the deadline.

But something has to be done – or else it will be a gradual slide to “outside-looking-in” status, or at best, a wild-card seed.

And Mika has to go – as what more do you need to see after watching him during these past three playoff runs – and his last two regular seasons too?

Yeah, and before you say it, the Rangers were without Chytil on this road-trip – but similar to Mika and Kakko – I also don’t see him being much of a difference during the playoffs where physicality trumps all – and that’s assuming if he’s still healthy come the time too.


Sometime next weekend – our annual Rangers at the Quarter-Pole Report. Spoiler: Zibanejad will get an F- out of me! Then again, this may not be a spoiler!

Up Next For the Rangers: Four games in a week’s time, as the Rangers host the Blues on Monday night, play the Hurricanes in Carolina on Thanksgiving Eve, travel to Philadelphia on Black Friday and then return home to host the Canadiens on Saturday.

Up Next For Me: I should be back in this space on Monday night.

Wednesday night might be tough, as I’m scheduled to work a 20-hour shift at the real j-o-b before enjoying the four-day weekend.

Friday’s review will be delayed too, as my merry crew, about twenty in total, are going to our local bar for our annual “Black Friday Rangers’ Watch Party.”

Up Next For You: Getting Christmas gifts, 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/


The hardcover version of my first book, available now at Amazon.com

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:


Now on sale!

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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