Greetings and salutations everyone and welcome to another blog here on BlueCollarBlueShirts.com. UNACCEPTABLE!
As I currently sit here with a monitor full of white space, and a bottle of whisky (Buffalo Trace) in my right hand too – and even so – then I still don’t even know where to begin for what’s alleged to be a “CUP or BUST” team – and where these days – the latter is severely outweighing the former.
However, I do know that I wish that all of these events that have transpired in Rangerstown, USA during the past 48-hours had taken place just a day earlier – and just so I would’ve had more free time to discuss all of them at length!
(And of course – I also wish that none of these events had occurred either! But sadly, we must deal with reality – and not fantasy – and where fantasy these days means a fifth Stanley Cup win in franchise history.)
Since I did have to go into work on Monday night – then it is what is is – and at least I’m here now – and hoping to have tonight’s manifesto published before Tuesday morning’s sun tries to break through all of the dark clouds in the Big Apple.
(Good luck!)
Another thought before getting into a cavalcade of negative topics?
Then I do wonder if the present state of the two local NFL teams in-town, the Giants and Jets, only add to all of the mounting frustration that Blueshirt backers are currently suffering through today.
After all, while hockey will always remain number one here, and for many of you guys & gals too; but for other Ranger fans – then their favorite hockey team is no longer a nice escape from the two losing pigskin squads.
Instead, the Blueshirts are just a reminder of city-wide futility.
I don’t have the time, nor the energy for that matter either, to recap everything that I’ve said on this site ever since the Rangers fell in six games to the Florida Panthers in the 2024 Stanley Cup Final, so in order to keep things brief, then I’ll just play my “Greatest Hit” one more time for you – and a hit that should’ve went number one in Rangerstown, USA all summer too:
“The 2024 ECF loss will one day be remembered as the peak of this present core.”
When I first said these words, and as I did in June of this year – then even if the Rangers somehow plowed through the regular season at 82-0 – then I still would’ve thought that the team would have found a way to lose in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Today, the idea of even qualifying for the tournament is now up for debate – and where should the Rangers do make it – then does anyone really see this team going any further than a second-round loss?
Unless Mika Zibanejad can skinny dip into whatever Fountain of Youth that Jonathan Quick dove into last season, then all hope is lost.
And yep – I’ve also played all of my “Greatest Hits” (or “Hit Jobs”) on Missing Mika, Stinka Zibanedud, Mental Mika, Minus Mika or whatever other cute & stupid “Mika Moniker” that you prefer best – but this fact remains the same:
The Rangers aren’t going to win a Stanley Cup with this guy – nor will they get the help to do so should his annual salary/cap-hit of $8.5M be retained.
(And isn’t it funny how I was also the first person to bring up salary cap hits in relation to Cup success – then only to receive much derision for doing so – yet now everyone and their mother are doing so today? Hmmm! What’s that word again? Oh yeah – “trendsetter!” At least you know that I’m always ahead of the curve here – and unlike the birdbrain Blueshirt beat reporters!)
(Let’s also give a shout-out to one of my best friends, Stan Fischler, who was the first one to see that I knew what I was talking about at the time – and even if I didn’t call Henrik Lundqvist “PIGGY HENRY!”)
While we’ll cover all of the pregame news and notes in our usual segment, which is located below; but just for the quick-and-dirty, then prior to this game, SportsNet’s Elliotte Friedman reported that Chris Drury made it clear that both Chris Kreider and Jacob Trouba were being shopped around.
Kevin Weekes, the only other reporter that breaks Rangers news besides Friedman himself, later reported that not only were K’Andre Miller and Ryan Lindgren both available – but that Rangers’ general manager, Chris Drury, basically sent out communication throughout the league that every other Blueshirt sans a handful (Artemi Panarin, Alexis Lafreniere, Igor Shesterkin, Adam Fox, Will Cuylle and Braden Schneider are the names that many assume are the exceptions), were all up for grabs too.
A name that wasn’t linked to any Drury trade-block?
Zibanejad.
And before you get on me about his no movement clause (NMC); then this is a topic that I’ve talked about to death already – so check this site’s archives if you need the full 411.
Long-story short?
NMC’s can be broken.
Ask Ryan McDonagh.
Ask Barclay Goodrow.
Another way to force a player’s hand besides threatening to waive them?
The easiest route – TAKE AWAY THEIR PLAYING TIME – which sadly, a concept that neither Laviolette or Drury seem willing to entertain these days.
If the Blueshirts’ brain-trust were willing to devalue the stock of a player that’s already free-falling to drastic levels, which means telling D.J. M.I.A. that he’ll never play another game for the Rangers again; then while you’d most likely have to eat some of his salary – at least you’d get something valuable in return.
Heck, just getting at least half of Mika’s annual salary ($4.25M) off of the books would be an asset for the club.
But despite watching Mika fail time-and-time again, and even more times-and-times-again – and yet – nothing has changed – aka – the textbook definition of the word “insanity.”
Zibanejad still gets his minutes – and most egregiously – on the team’s first power-play unit too.
But alas, I think that I’ve made my gripes about this topic well-known by now too!
I’m also getting off-topic – commonplace on these pages!
Let’s get back to what I originally intended to discuss – but it should also be mentioned that there’s so much negativity plaguing this team that it’s tough not to rant, rave and go absolutely off-script whenever bantering about these bonkers-inducing Blueshirts!
Despite Drury letting it be known that he’s now willing to do what he should have done over the summer (yeah – team captain Jacob Trouba put Detroit on his no-trade list – but there were other teams that Drury could’ve talked to – and no – we’re not going to go down this road again, as you can check this site’s archives for all of it) – and the Rangers had no response on Monday night to his grandstand act.
Whether Drury truly intends to make some major trades right now or not is unknown; which is to say that perhaps it was his thinking by “leaking” such ideas, that in a response, his Rangers would get a major wake-up call.
Or for the two-word theory – a “Motivational Tactic.”
But as Robert Burns made famous, “the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry.”
Often forgotten in regards to what followed those words?
The end of that sentence:
“…and especially when there is a cat about.”
The Rangers?
Not only do they have cats on their roster – but they have FAT CATS to boot.
And there are also some pussies too – and yes – I’m talking about the guy who is presently wearing the number that Petr Nedved, and later Keith Yandle, made famous.
Granted, and despite all the blues’ singing in St. Louis over their current situation in the standings, which then led to the firing of Drew Bannister and the hiring of Jim Montgomery (full story below) – then I did expect the new head coach bump for the Blueshirts’ foe on this night.
But that’s all I thought it would be – an initial bump – or a temporary road block if you will – then after that – the new look Rangers would find a way:
The Rangers never found their way.
Heck, they took a major left turn down the wrong path when it mattered most – the start of a tied 2-2 third period.
Prior to the final twenty-minutes of this game, and despite the new line-up at M$G too – then it was a lot of the same old shit, including the following:
— CZAR IGOR facing 31 shots on goal after forty-minutes of play.
— Lazy and uninspired play from Zibanejad – which as a result – set up two goals scored for the opposition.
—- An 0-3 power-play featuring the loser in the #93 jersey – and a head coach that remains adamant in using Zibanejad during every man-up situation imaginable.
— Letting another no-name score his first goal of the season against them, this time Zack Bolduc, and who for good measure, this new Blue then went on to score the second goal of his career too.
— A maddening defense that spent most of the game pinned into their own zone and allowing the opposition to create more traffic than a grid-locked Times Square at 5PM.
As the Blues opened the contest as the aggressor, it was actually the Rangers who struck first blood, as “The Lost Tkachuk Brother,” Will Cuylle, scored a goal off of his skate at the 8:47 mark.
But good things don’t last for Ranger fans – and don’t we all know it – and in-and-out & up-and-down too.
Following a Zibanejad turnover, and Jordan Kyrou tied the game, 1-1, at the 11:45 mark, following a one-timed pass from Brayden Schenn.
When the two teams took to the locker room for the first time, and CZAR IGOR had amassed “only” fourteen saves – so he didn’t have to face twenty shots or more as he (or Quick) usually does.
Baby steps!
During a relentless visitor attack against the Mika line, and Bolduc put the Blues up 2-1 at the 4:30 mark of the second stanza.
Just two-minutes and fifty-seconds later, or the 7:20 mark to be exact, and Cuylle struck to the net so hard and fast, so much so, that once beating Blues’ goalie Joel Hofer, he had to pole-vault over the net in order to not knock out himself silly by going face-first into the crossbar.
2-2.
The end of the second period made you think that the Rangers finally had enough embarrassment for one evening.
During a line brawl featuring Matt Rempe and Will Cuylle against a few Blues, which then led to CZAR IGOR and Hofer exchanging harsh words at each other too; then it was noticeable that the piece of shit, Mika Zibanejad, wanted nothing to do with any sort of physicality or rough-housing.
As Rempe, Cuylle and Shestyorkin looked as enraged and as violent as your local NYC subway attacker; conversely, and Zibanejad just sat there and smiled, while exchanging hugs with one of his former BFFs, a member of the Blueshirts’ alum too, Pavel Buchnevich.
Despite showing no fire and no heart – and Laviolette had no problems with his regular usage of his overpaid center.
Sadly, the emotion and energy that Rempe, Cuylle and the goalie left the second intermission with wasn’t returned in the final frame.
Instead, the Rangers decided to go into Zibanejad mode, and as a result, the Blues scored three straight unanswered goals in the deciding-and-final twenty-minutes – an early one for Schenn just 1:12 in, another for Bolduc at the 8:25 mark, and Mr. Happy himself, Buchnevich, finding empty net twine with only 2:45 remaining in what was a nightmare of a 5-2 final score for the Rangers.
While the Blueshirts’ G.M. tried to do something; it were the Blues, now under a new head coach, who responded.
But at least Mika Zibanejad kissed the upper-body boo-boo on his BFF, Chris Kreider, after the game – and a game where once again – his head coach would not say one negative word about his flailing and failing center.
After all, it’s not like tough-love motivation works on these guys – and you can just ask Quinn, Gallant and now Drury, about this.
The Rangers, 0-5 in games that I’ve considered as “litmus tests” (Florida, Washington, Winnipeg, Calgary and Edmonton), are now struggling to beat the worst teams in the league.
And perhaps under the circumstances – then this game against St. Louis was also a litmus test game too.
After racing to a hot start, and where the Blueshirts racked up all of their wins against the dregs in the league, what changed?
Easy.
You can pin-point all of this to Laviolette’s decision from nearly a month ago, when he decided to shake up his forward lines – and by making moves exclusively, and as he said, “to get Mika going.”
The only place the Rangers have gone since these remarks is down.
Had Laviolette decided to do what’s best for the team, and not for one player (and I said this at the time – so this isn’t a case of hindsight being 20/20), then perhaps the Rangers wouldn’t be in the present state of turmoil that they now find themselves in.
Instead, Drury’s open-for-biz communication is no longer a motivational tactic.
It’s what has to be done.
And Mika must be the face of it too.
As I continue on in my present state of rage, then at this time, I should try to calm myself down (fat chance), and you too (yeah right), 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, twenty down, sixty-two to go, and then the real hockey, the only games that matter, begin.
But at this rate – will the Rangers even be there for the real hockey?
In case you missed it, then here’s where I last left off – the Oilers’ decimation of the Rangers:
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 Sunday, November 24th, the Rangers, after being exposed in their two games in Alberta, returned home.
While the Blueshirts would later make moves later on in the day – the worm really turned in St. Louis – and not in the Big Apple.
(And such a worm in NYC would turn on Monday.)
Just five-days after his booting from Beantown, Jim Montgomery, now formerly of the Bruins, signed a five-year deal to man the Blues’ bench in Missouri.
The reaction to the hiring was mixed.
While the general thought was that everyone understood why St. Louis general manager Doug Armstrong decided to hire the best coach available in his eyes; but at the same time, this also told everyone that Montgomery was negotiating with Armstrong while Drew Bannister, now formerly of the Blue Note, was still employed as the franchise’s head coach.
In a way, this broke the unwritten code amongst coaches – as the two moves, Bannister down the rail, Montgomery returned to the league, were announced at the same time – rather than Armstrong firing Bannister first, then hiring Montgomery later.
In other words, if Montgomery rejected Armstrong’s offer, then Bannister might still be the head coach in St. Louis today.
But Montgomery didn’t – and as a result – Bannister, who just had the word “interim” removed from his title after taking over for Craig Berube last season – is now on the unemployment line.
While this is a site that covers the Blueshirts – and not the Blue Note – this news from Sunday was relevant for the Rangers, as obviously, St. Louis was next on the schedule – and where many expected “the new head coach bump” for the Rangers’ opponent.
And for Bannister – perhaps his firing was to be expected.
After all, in his last game coached, the Blues dropped a 3-1 final to the lowly Islanders!
Blasphemy!
More blasphemy?
The Blueshirts losing to the Blue Note on Monday night.
Come 5PM Sunday, the hour when NHL/AHL transactions are made, the Rangers announced the following:
UPDATE: Brett Berard has been recalled from the Hartford Wolf Pack. Victor Mancini and Chad Ruhwedel have been assigned to the Hartford Wolf Pack.
— NY Rangers PR (@NYR_PR) November 24, 2024
At the time, this news told us several things:
One, Zac Jones was presumably healthy, because unless the Rangers were going to make paper transactions, then it made no sense to send down both Victor Mancini and Chad Ruhwedel.
But on the other hand, if the goal is to continue to accrue salary cap space, then the Rangers could get away by making Mancini a daily paper transaction. (In the end, that’s not what took place.)
However, the same strategy isn’t applicable to Ruhwedel, because as a veteran, he’d have to clear waivers, and as he had previously done earlier this season.
Two, the recall of Berard told us that either Filip Chytil was still unable or that a regular roster member would take a timeout in the press box on Monday night.
(Both events transpired – as Chytil was unable – while Brodzinski was scratched – but for Rempe.)
Speaking of Chytil, I was 100% proven correct – the Blueshirts flew him 6,000 miles round-trip to never play a game – and where as noted many times throughout the past week – he very easily could’ve skated by himself and recouped at the team’s training facility in Tarrytown, NY.
I’m telling you, some of these decisions are just mind-boggling and without logic – and just like the head coach’s decision to keep Mika Zibanejad on his first power-play unit.
But of course, I’ve probably played that record some 9867866798696796 times before during the past year-and-a-half.
Three, with Berard recalled, it told us that there was an extreme and likely probability that he’d play against the Blues, because if not, then it made no sense to pull him from Hartford’s game against the Bridgeport Islanders (a 4-1 Wolfpack loss), which also took place on Sunday, Nov. 24.
As everyone went to bed on Sunday night, the Rangers were now carrying two extra forwards and no spare defensemen.
But since they were home on Monday, then a recall would’ve been simple, and where you have to expect a spare rearguard to be recalled prior to the Rangers’ road game in Carolina this Wednesday, Thanksgiving Eve.
Also at this time?
Everyone thought it would be relatively no-news Tuesday.
Such thoughts were blown to smoke – and much like how Drury may soon blow up this core too.
On Monday morning, and as it’s always the case – then breaking Blueshirt news came out of Canada – and where once again, -Elliotte Freidman was at the center of it:
In the aftermath of their 6-2 loss in Edmonton on Saturday, the Rangers have made it very clear they are interested in making moves and shaking up their roster.
Among the names indicated are Chris Kreider and Jacob Trouba, although other options will be considered.
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) November 25, 2024
Kevin Weekes later followed this report by saying what I noted earlier – how nearly everyone else could be attained too.
And because I have to get it out of my system:
Then yes, and once again – the Blueshirts’ bird-brain beat was out-scooped by some guy in another country.
Even sadder, yet still entertaining?
How tweedle-dee (Wince Mercogliano) and tweedle-dumbass (Mollie Walker), then waited an hour or two before telling us that they heard the same thing.
I guess like me and you – they read what Friedman reported too!
And like Friedman and Weekes need these two bozos to “confirm” their reporting too.
For Wince & Mollie – please stick to posting pictures of the food that you consumed for dinner – as that’s what you’re good at.
Larry Brooks, who in an era long ago, used to report stories?
He’s now content in his new role (behind a paywall that nobody pays for) to just regurgitate whatever the team tells him.
As noted, explained and exampled many times over on this site – Brooks is the official conduit to the team – and whenever he rarely breaks a story these days (the Trouba refusing a trade being the most recent) – it’s always from the perspective of team management – and more importantly than that – always one-sided.
(Brooks first started doing this under Sather whenever a big name Ranger was up for a new contract, including Kevin Hayes, Mats Zuccarello, etc. – as he’d bury the player’s value in what was basically a column in “GM Speak.”)
While we all know that Trouba was shopped around this summer, and how his wife felt about the manner as well; then I have to admit that I was irked to hear that Kreider’s name was involved in potential Drury decisions too.
Again, time is of the essence tonight and I’m already getting long enough in the tooth as well; but in my opinion – then trading Kreider just to make a change is the idea rooted in the mind of a mental retard.
If you can shelf the fact from your mind that CK20 holds a bevy of franchise records, and where he’s now 93 goals away from eclipsing Rod Gilbert’s team record of 406 career goals as a Ranger too; then simply look at these recent (and failed) playoff runs.
Amongst all FAT CATS (players with big contracts), then he’s the only one that has shown up on a consistent basis.
While yes, he’s also been prone of becoming a ghost too; such “Casper” sightings usually take place after he already did some heavy lifting.
We’re still waiting for such dominating (and routine) performances from the other fat cats.
Heck, just look at that 2023 first-round loss to the Devils – Kreider dominated the first two games then got no help from his fellow litter box Blueshirt brethren afterwards.
And even when he starts slow, he picks it up when it matters too.
What, you already forgot about his third period hat trick against the Hurricanes in that series’ finale?
Where was Mika? Panarin? Trouba? And dare I say Fox too?
Similar to my previous opinions about Barclay Goodrow, but now on a much larger and grander scale, then really, I’m somewhat indifferent on what Kreider does during the regular season.
He has a playoff track record – and as noted to no end – the postseason is the only thing that I care about.
But perhaps if I want to see one of my favorite players win a Cup; then like most former Rangers, he’ll have to do it elsewhere.
As far as the likes of Trouba, Miller, Lindgren, Smith, Kakko, Chytil, and of course, Mika too, goes – then I’m up for all ideas.
And one more time – then yep – if I’m Drury, then I’m calling Kyle Dubas in Pittsburgh and seeing if there’s a shot in hell of getting Sidney Crosby here.
(Check the archives of this site for how it can be done – providing that #87 is agreeable.)
I wonder if CZAR IGOR, the pending UFA, is also available by Drury right now.
As we all know – it doesn’t matter who is in net for the Rangers if they can’t prevent 40+ SOG every game.
And since they have trouble scoring in the playoffs, then if CZAR IGOR gives up only one goal, then that’s not enough either during most postseason matches played.
Perhaps walking away from CZAR IGOR, and the rumored $12M he wants next season, will open up money for a legit scoring threat.
But as I babble on a bit – it should also be clearly stated that #31 is nowhere close to being a problem for this team’s future success.
#93, and that contract that runs through 2030, is the biggest problem of them all.
(Have I been crystal-clear on this?)
I do want to add this – and it’s something that I also said over the weekend:
Drury can’t wait until the deadline.
While I think that trading Kreider would be a major mistake (and would also be this current generation’s version of Eddie Giacomin to Detroit or Brian Leetch to Toronto); then Drury does have to do something – and like both Emile Francis and Neil Smith did in previous Novembers of Rangers’ history.
With Thanksgiving coming up – then you don’t want to be stuffed like a turkey by waiting until the March 7th, 2025 trade deadline when attempting to improve the fate of your club.
Following Friedman’s report – and the Rangers weren’t done making news.
Come the morning skate and it was announced that Kreider was out with an upper-body injury – and with Friedman’s report – you then had to wonder if he was being “bubble-wrapped” for a future trade.
But then again, Trouba, who will be tougher to move, was in the line-up.
Ditto Zibanejad – and everyone else for that matter – that is except for “The Concussed Czech,” Filip Chytil, who despite being forced to fly 6,000 miles round-trip over the weekend, missed his fifth straight game.
If there was any positive news to come from Monday’s AM, then it was the fact that FINALLY, Alexis Lafreniere was promoted to the first power-play unit.
But of course, that was because he was filling in for Kreider – and not for Meekly Mika.
It was also confirmed that Zac Jones was good to go – and where the Rangers ran the risk of being short a defenseman too – as not one rearguard was called-up as an insurance policy for the warm-up skate – and had a d-man had a touch of the diarrhea too.
Instead, and at the end of the game, everyone just played like shit – sans Cuylle.
And as also expected, Brett Berard was set to make his NHL debut – and where yes – I always have to go back and delete “Bryan” before the word Berard!
(The ex-Ranger is Brett’s uncle – and I’m sure that Sam Rosen had to mention that a few times during tonight’s broadcast – but more on the terrible Gotham Sports App below!)
Oh yeah – Kakko, after a brief and successful audition at the circles, was finally listed as a center for the first time in his NHL career too.
(I told you there was a lot of news tonight – and I wish that I had more time too. But hell, I’m already at word 6,000 – and I haven’t even got into our GAME REVIEW segment yet! MINGA!)
Prior to a night full of many changes – and for the first time – a vocal GM letting everyone know that the situation surrounding the team was dire too – and Laviolette spoke about some of these things during his pregame interview.
Here was the morning edition of “THE LAVY’S LOUNGE”:
Here was Laviolette’s line-up for the twentieth game of this 2024-25 season:
FIRST LINE: Panarin/Trocheck/Lafreniere
SECOND LINE: Berard/Zibanejad/Cuylle
THIRD LINE: Edstrom/Kakko/Smith
FOURTH LINE: Vesey/Carrick/Rempe
FIRST PAIR: Miller/Fox
SECOND PAIR: Lindgren/Trouba
THIRD PAIR: Jones/Schneider
STARTING GOALIE: CZAR IGOR
BACK UP GOALIE: Jonathan Quick
HEALTHY SCRATCHES: Jonny Brodzinski
DAY-TO-DAY: Filip Chytil and Chris Kreider
BOX SCORE time.
The following graphics and information come from ESPN.com:
SCORING:
PENALTIES:
TEAM STATS:
GOALIES:
|
STL
|
|
Joel Hofer#30
|
|
SA
|
GA
|
SV
|
SV%
|
ESSV
|
PPSV
|
SHSV
|
SOSA
|
SOS
|
TOI
|
PIM
|
| 29 | 2 | 27 | .931 | 23 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 60:00 | 0 |
|
NYR
|
|
SA
|
GA
|
SV
|
SV%
|
ESSV
|
PPSV
|
SHSV
|
SOSA
|
SOS
|
TOI
|
PIM
|
| 42 | 4 | 38 | .905 | 28 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 59:32 | 0 |
Stop me if you’ve heard me say this before on this site this season:
Once again, while on my elongated dinner break at the real j-o-b, I logged onto a service that I pay for, The Gotham Sports App – and where once again – their stream of tonight’s M$GN broadcast wouldn’t load.
For some reason, I can get the app to work time-to-time on my cell phone (which I use to do my real-live tweets of the game, over at https://x.com/NYCTheMiC ), but it never will work on my laptop.
So rather than being able to use the service that I pay a handsome sum for; instead, I was forced to go to websites featuring “Crack” and “Meth” in their titles – and where for the kicker – only the STL home broadcast was available.
The Rangers?
They looked like doped-up heroin users in the third period.
Speaking of the third period, that’s when the Methheads had a stream of the M$GN broadcast – and I’ll talk about that once we get there – as I’ve already gone on long enough.
Let’s roll.
GAME REVIEW time.
FIRST PERIOD
As my Twitter feed was blown up, as fans were arguing about the Rangers rebuilding vs retooling (I fall in the latter – and where yes – I also know that I have about 7986786798698689 unanswered notifications, DMs, Facebook posts and emails – and I hope to get to all of it sometime tomorrow – so I apologize for the no response/delay); then I also saw this right before puck drop too:
As I was also hoping that everyone involved with the Gotham Sports App, while barefooted, stepped on Legos; then the Blues took the opening draw of the game against loser Zibanejad.
Why did the Mika line start this game?
Presumably to give Berard a first shift in his debut – and I had no problem with that.
Speaking of that hippie-haired garbage center, then to fast-forward a bit, not only did Mika finish with a game-low 30% rate at the dots (3 of 10) – but he also finished with a game-low minus-3 too.
In other words, then in his past two games played, he’s a minus-7 – yet Lavy sees no problem with this – and where YES – a big YES at that – his plus/minus stat DOES tell the story – and where furthermore – these numbers would be far worse if it wasn’t for the usual near-40 save performances from the Blueshirt backstops.
(Holy dashes and bad grammar Batman! But give me a break, it’s now 2:49AM in real-time as I write these words – and after a ten-hour shift at the real j-o-b too!)
Just 2:29 in and the Rangers had a chance to score first, as Oskar Sundqvist tripped new third-line right-wing, Reilly Smith.
Blues’ goalie, Joel Hofer, not tested that much in this tilt, made three saves on his team’s penalty kill – including a stop a piece on both Kakko and Mika – two players who never show up on the scoreboard in big and/or crucial games.
Following the Rangers’ first failed power-play of the game, they soon got another one at the 6:18 mark, when Bolduc, our eventual first star of the game, tripped Panarin.
Once again, Mika remained on PP1, and where also once again, the Rangers had another power outage.
0-2 – and where the Rangers could have easily made it 2-0 by the time the seven-minute mark hit.
Seriously, Part I:
I don’t know how long Kreider is out for, but assuming he’s out for next game too – then leave Lafreniere on PP1 – and boot Mika for Rempe.
For whatever reason, and Laviolette didn’t ask his big man to post-up in front of a nervous young goalie – and where had he – then I think that the Blueshirts would have been able to score a screened goal or two.
Seriously, Part II:
Rempe can’t be any worse than Mika these days.
Seriously, Part III:
Can you imagine Laviolette as a general during a war?
He doesn’t know how to use his weapons – and he’d probably bring a knife to a gun fight too.
Following the consecutive power-play failures – and Cuylle had enough – and so did his skate:
WILL CUYLLE OPENS THE SCORING! pic.twitter.com/umVpDDH6nh
— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) November 26, 2024
1-0, GOOD GUYS!
You know that I’d trade Kakko for a bag of puckkos tomorrow (and hopefully – for Patrick Kane too); but I do give him credit for at least trying to put a puck on net here – and one that hit a Blues’ defender before hitting Cuylle’s skate, on its way behind Hofer.
For Cuylle, who plays half the amount of time as Zibanejad and who also makes a tenth of the money – he now had twice as many goals to his name (8) than the mental headcase center (4 – and where one is an empty netter).
I’m also at this point in my life too:
Despite being twenty-years older than Cuylle (he’s 22, I’m 42 for you math majors) – and I’m now an official FAN BOY of #50.
I also feel like I’m living vicariously through him – as if I wasn’t such a shitty hockey player – and man was I terrible – then he plays a style of game that I wish that I could have played! All he does is score goals, block shots and hit everything in sight. He’s like a forward version of my favorite player growing up, Jeff Beukeboom.
(And you should’ve seen me try to emulate the former #23 of the Rangers too – as all I wanted to do was hit everything – and maybe touch the puck every now and again too! Praise the hockey gods that iPhones weren’t around when I played – or my dad, who went to all of my brutal games, would be laughing at me with you!)
At around the half-way mark of the period, Rempe took a big hit – and then gave one too.
However, and despite the later hits he’d record, the official statisticians only credited him with one body blow.
Down to 8:30 remaining and Berard took his lone faceoff – an o-zone draw too – and he won it.
So he finished better at the dots than the $8.5M trash Swedish center.
Fifteen seconds later, and Berard’s garbageman, #93, gave him the first minus of his career:
Trouba doesn’t even try to keep the puck in, and then it costs us a few seconds later. #NYR pic.twitter.com/qwa1yzKQPk
— David 🏒 (@DaveyUpper) November 26, 2024
I know that it’s chic to blame everything on Trouba – but look at this lazy play from Mika.
That’s the root of this Kyrou 1-1 goal.
It should also be said that Mika was on the ice for the first three goals (and a total of four) allowed tonight too – commonplace these days.
Come 6:45 remaining, and your fourth line center, Sam Carrick, who is also out-playing the $8.5 garbage heap, almost had a breakaway.
A few seconds later, and with 5:59 remaining, Edstrom hit Faulk by the boards and the Blues’ defenseman retaliated in a dirty response.
Rather than giving us some foreplay; instead, only Big Ed was boxed (boarding), thus giving the road team their first power-play under new coach Jim Montgomery.
The Blues had a killer attack in the first-minute, but the Rangers survived – and despite everything – so did their league-best PK – who ultimately finished 100% (3-3) tonight.
If only Laviolette’s power-play could taste a minuscule modicum of that success these days.
Now down to 2:25 remaining, and Zibanejad, while wide-open and with nothing but the goalie in front of him, didn’t even come close to hitting the net.
Seriously – he needs a mental break – and a few games in the press box too.
Our 2021 Norris Trophy winner, Adam Fox, is also not without criticism either; as with 1:42 to go, he had all-day to shoot at a young goalie – but decided to force a pass to Trocheck instead – and an easy save for the Hof-man.
1-1 after 1.
Here’s what I said at the time:
1-1 after 1. 1P thoughts:
— SOG, 15-14, visitors – so #NYR once again being outshot again – but at least it’s not 25 SOG. Baby steps!
— 0-2 power-play – but don’t worry – Miserable Mika will never be held accountable.
— Cuylle Hand Luke really has potential to be the next…— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) November 26, 2024
SECOND PERIOD
To begin this period, it should be noted that Trocheck was 8-0 at the dots, while Zibanejad was 0-4.
Wisely, Laviolette used the Trocheck line to begin this period – and where #16 finished with a game-high 81.3% at the circles too (13 of 16).
On their first shift, and Panarin hit the iron.
Then, and on their first shift, the Kakko line put forth another strong effort, but Hofer was able to survive.
Sadly, Zibanejad went -2 after Bolduc’s first goal of the game – the end result of a long shift in the Rangers’ zone:
The FIRST of the season for Zack Bolduc pic.twitter.com/84EeNmii1o
— BluesMuse (@STLBluesMuse) November 26, 2024
Again, I know it’s both fashionable and in to blame the Trouba/Lindgren pairing for everything gone wrong – but what’s Mika doing here?
2-1, bad guys, and just 4:30 in.
The Panarin line, now on the ice, also got caved into their own zone – and where it was obvious – the Rangers need a team proctologist in order to pull their heads out of their five-holes.
As M$G sounded quiet, yet nervous; it was also obvious at this point in the game that there is no incentive for anyone to work hard or go the extra mile when Mika Zibanejad is your teammate -and one who is allowed to do f**k all and never lose his spot/minutes.
Thankfully, Cuylle was the lone exception to such a thought – as he scored the 2-2 goal:
Brett Berard first NHL point. Full play plus replay. #NYR pic.twitter.com/XcUwXW9IHl
— David 🏒 (@DaveyUpper) November 26, 2024
Unfortunately Part I: Cuylle wasn’t able to score a hat trick tonight.
Unfortunately Part II: Nobody else was able to score either.
Unfortunately Part III: As a result, this was your final home team goal of the game.
Thirty-seconds after Cuylle’s equalizer, and the Rangers had a chance to go ahead, as Bolduc had cross-checked Carrick at the 7:50 mark.
But when Zibanejad is on your power-play – then you know the end result.
0-3 – and where the Rangers didn’t even register a SOG during these two-minutes.
And right after the power-play?
Carrick, who drew it, then went to the box himself, after tripping Schenn.
Buchnevich, and the Blues too, were all over the Blueshirts, but the elite PK, the only thing that the team has going for it today, held the opposition off of the board here.
Following the kill, then here’s what I said in real-time:
This might not be a bad time for a staged Rempe fight, #NYR need something to jump them, 6:50 to go after a Hofer mask save on Schneider.
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) November 26, 2024
And such an event almost took place.
But prior to that, Kakko missed the net on a breakaway from one foot away (5:40 remaining), while Buchnevich just missed on a one-vs-one chance some thirty-seconds later.
To fast-forward a bit, then here’s how the second period ended – the fire as previously talked about – but a fire that went out as soon as the third frame began too:
Igor getting into it at the end of the 2nd period. It’s going to be an interesting 3rd coming up, #NYR pic.twitter.com/xbNA405Kg9
— David 🏒 (@DaveyUpper) November 26, 2024
This is how it all started. Cuylle doesn’t just score goals 😊 #NYR https://t.co/IaZNDnbTFL pic.twitter.com/zEcEbBtEkM
— David 🏒 (@DaveyUpper) November 26, 2024
LMAO Mika at the boards evaluating the best Blues player to address in the fight and sees Buch and goes right for him to hug/fight and catch up pic.twitter.com/H6BtBWpav3
— allie❤️rangers (@RangersAllie) November 26, 2024
All the credit and props in the world from me goes out to Cuylle, Rempe and Igor.
And a big FU goes out to the hopeless Zibanejad too.
2-2 after 2.
Here’s what I said at the time:
2-2, after 2. 2P Thoughts:
— Blues outshooting #NYR, 31-23. Igor has been good.
— Cuylle has been doing everything – scoring, hitting, being a pain in the ass, etc.
— There’s going to be hell to pay if the Rangers don’t find a way.
— 0-3 Blueshirts PP.
— Heated tempers…— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) November 26, 2024
THIRD PERIOD
Let’s bullet-point this terrible final period – as I don’t have much more in me – nor wish to relive this shit-show on ice either:
— I found a working M$GN stream on the illegal sites – and where I shit you not – Rosen was going on-and-on about the great Jim Montgomery. I can only imagine how much praise took place for the opposing coach prior to this.
— No joke? Rosen ejaculated on-air when showing us a Montogmery goal, scored against the Rangers in 1993 – and why any Ranger fan wanted to see this was beyond me.
— 1:12 in and following another Mika turnover – and one that Schneider valiantly tried to rectify – and Schenn scored the eventual game-winning goal.
— 3-2, bad guys.
— A frustrated Rempe, perhaps looking to make his presence felt, roughed up Jake Neighbours at the 3:44 mark.
— The Rangers’ PK, again, went flawless – but it did burn two-minutes off of the clock in a game that they were trailing in.
— Panarin was double-shifted – and on his first shift with the Mika line (for Berard) – and Zibaneajd whiffed on a potential one-timer.
— Bolduc scored again with 11:35 remaining – 4-2, bad guys – and Bolduc’s second goal of his career too.
— Ugh.
— Let’s get to the end:
Buchnevich hit the post, CZAR IGOR was pulled, and CZAR IGOR’s driving buddy, the former #89 of the Rangers, sealed the deal with an empty net goal.
— 5-2, bad guys.
— 5-2, bad guys, your final.
This was a plane crash meets a train-wreck for the Rangers – and absolutely their worst loss of the season.
Here’s Laviolette somewhat sugar-coating this turd – as he won’t blame his players – but he will make mention of how bad things are:
Before closing, then I must say that I found it concerning when Laviolette said this about his team’s struggles:
“I’m not sure. I’m not sure. When things don’t go your way, you need a response. We got to respond better to the start of the 3rd period.”
(And how about responding in the first period, the second period – and hell – all sixty-minutes too?!?!?!?)
If Drury hadn’t fired two coaches already, then I would think that these were the words from a dead-man walking.
I should also make this point clear:
Should Drury fire Laviolette, then what does it say about a GM who fires three coaches in three-years?
I’d be pissed if I was team owner James Dolan.
Up Next For the Rangers: One last game before Thanksgiving, Wednesday night, in Carolina.
Up Next For Me: I’ll try to sleep – but this loss will still aggravate me – and I’ll be lucky to nod off for an hour or two before returning to the real j-o-b.
And should a major trade go down between now and Wednesday night – then I shall return.
Also a shout-out to one of my favorite readers – BUDDA – and if you’re in town on Friday – then you know where to find us for our Rangers/Flyers watch party!
Up Next For You: Bolster a Blueshirts’ brother bank account, 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
