NYR/MTL 11/30 Review: Special Teams (And Referees) Swing Games; Revolting Rangers End Five-Game Slide, Blueshirts Best Last-Place Montreal During An Official-Abetted Affair, Drury Not Only Toying Around With The Idea of Trades; Laviolette Rumored To Be On The Hot Seat Too, The Case For Kreider Grows Stronger, Chytil Won’t Say The “C-Word,” A Real Litmus Test on Monday, M$GN & More

Greetings and salutations everyone and welcome to another blog here on BlueCollarBlueShirts.com. Break out the champagne!

The New York Rangers, who entered Saturday’s home matinee against the worst team in the league, the Montreal Canadiens, on a five-game losing streak, prevented that number from growing to six, via their sigh-of-relief, “thank god that’s over,” 4-3, no-style points earned, victory.

(Holy commas and bad grammar Batman!)

While of course, you’re happy about the win; but at the same time, we didn’t really see anything different on Saturday when compared to what we saw during the past five matches – and really – from this entire month of November in general.

The only thing that changed on Saturday?

The fact that the for the first time in seemingly forever – the Rangers were on the right side of the officials – and in turn – scored a season-high three power-play goals – including a Kaapo Kakko game-winner during a four-minute Blueshirt man-advantage – and with just twenty-two seconds remaining.

(Holy dashes and bad grammar Batman! What’s next, semi-colons?)

In other words?

Had it not been for some extremely questionable officiating, and where all of it fell in favor of “Lavy’s Lot” – then I don’t think that the Rangers would have prevailed on Saturday – and again – against the worst team in the league.

Of the four Ranger goals scored on Saturday, one was a Panarin 5 x 3 power-play goal that rattled in off of the post, another was a last second goal scored via a Lafreniere-to-Trocheck deflection, the third was a Zibanejad power-play goal following a most dubious penalty assessed to Josh Anderson, while the fourth-and-final goal, the game-winner, was the end result of a four-minute double minor that should’ve never been called.

The Habs?

All three of their goals, which were scored by Mike Matheson, Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki, were the final products of some hardworking and greasy even-strength five-on-five play – and where on this day – there was no better line on the ice than Martin St. Louis’ top trio – Caufield/Suzuki/Alex Newhook.

While I know that everyone views the almighty plus/minus stat in different ways; but at the same time, it was also telling that Montreal’s grand triad all finished with a +1 next to their names in the box score, while not one Ranger forward finished with a positive rating.

While I won’t apologize for sounding negative today (but I do prefer the words “level-headed” and “realistic”), I gotta admit – there was a part of me that wanted to see the Rangers lose on Saturday – and where again – even with the win – I don’t think that anything had changed for the better either.

The reason why?

Because of this Tweet/X-posting/report shared by TSN’s Marco D’Amico – and one that later received traction and confirmation elsewhere too:

You can officially add the New York Rangers and the Detroit Red Wings to the list of teams that are looking into Joel Quenneville,

More on the coaching situation in the NHL below⏬⏬ https://t.co/uQVy6mXki7

— Marco D’Amico (@mndamico) November 30, 2024

As noted many times on this site – I haven’t been a fan, nor advocated for, of any Ranger head coach being fired during the past two decades – but with one legitimate exception – the Blueshirts’ pink slip to Bryan Trottier – a man who should’ve never been hired anyway – and another reason why I despise Senile Sather so much too.

But you can read all about that here – as such topics are too big of a tangent to explore once again on this site:

https://www.amazon.com/Tricks-Trade-Century-Long-Journey-2000-2015-ebook/dp/B0BKKTPGW5

In other words, and as previously explained about 9867867879868796986 times before on this site – while I wasn’t a fan of the recent firings of both David Quinn and Gerard Gallant – I’m also not high on the idea of firing their successors, Peter Laviolette, either.

After all, and as typed so much on my keyboard that I no longer have fingerprints – THE CORE is the failure – and not the head coach.

That said, the idea of Coach Q. completely intrigues me – and where again – check the archives of this site if you need his defense – as not only do I feel that he was made a scapegoat by the league – but I also believe that everyone deserves second chances and the ability to prove that they have learned from their mistakes too.

After all, who’s perfect?

Certainly not Mika Zibanejad!

Should Drury give this core a fourth head coach in as many years, then it would be the first time in franchise history where this club has had a three-time Stanley Cup winner behind their bench – and where in the case of Quenneville – all of his championships have been won in this present era too – the triple-hard salary-cap era.

He also knows a thing or two about coaching Artemi Panarin.

And if Detroit does decide to trade Patrick Kane at the deadline – well – I’m getting way too ahead of myself here!

I know that I keep repeating myself but I must be clear – I am not championing for Laviolette’s firing.

However, had the Rangers lost on Saturday, then I think that these Coach Q. rumors would have only grown stronger.

Today’s win allowed Laviolette to put some water – perhaps a 12 oz bottle rather than a full bucket of H2O- on his rumored and proverbial “hot seat.”

It should also be stated, if not reminded to you, that this isn’t a St. Louis/Jim Montgomery/Doug Armstrong situation either – when just last week, the Blues’ GM quickly nabbed the former coach of the Bruins and then said, “I wanted the best coach available.”

After all, if Chris Drury wanted the best coach available, then he could’ve hired Quenneville when he fired Gallant – and he also could’ve hired the three-time Cup champ multiple times over ever since.

I also wonder if Drury, known for wanting his own people while flashing his own championship ring that he won with Avalanche, would even desire a bench boss whose resume outshines his.

(And did you notice how Jim Ramsay, not one of Drury’s people, was again ignored by the Rangers, M$GN and his “good friend” Sam Rosen on Saturday?)

But yeah, and in my own opinion – Q. is the best coach available today – and if the message remains as “CUP OR BUST” – then the Rangers need a guy who knows how to win – and who will also hold everyone equally accountable too.

As you may have already detected, then I just didn’t like what I saw on Saturday at the Garden.

Granted, the Rangers played one of their most physical games of the season (or at least their most physical without Matt Rempe in their line-up), and one that at just the 1:58 mark, saw team captain Jacob Trouba, who just a day prior, Larry Brooks, of the New York Post, was arguing for the “C” to be ripped off his chest, fought with a long-time Brooks’ favorite, Josh Anderson.

In a way, you had to wonder if Brooks ordered this Anderson hit on Trouba himself – and a fight that the Rangers captain took a brutal beating in – as he kind of looked like a latter rounds Mike Tyson in his “fight” against Jake Paul here.

But, and to his credit, Trouba accepted Anderson’s challenge, no easy out and most certainly a tough customer too – and in a response – the Rangers, and for the first time in a while, actually looked half-way decent during a first period this month.

And yep – you must also consider the level, or lack thereof, of the competition too.

The Rangers, who entered this match scoreless on their last twelve power-plays during their past eight matches, received the first man-advantage of the game when at the 7:22 mark, Emil Heineman held an attacking-the-net, and returning too, Chris Kreider.

As you all know – I DO NOT WANT KREIDER MOVED FROM THIS TEAM.

Not back then (2019 deadline), not now, not ever.

Kreider’s aggressiveness drew the Rangers’ first power-play – and while they didn’t snap their 5 x 4 man-up drought here – they’d later score their first power-play goal in ages, as just a minute into the man-advantage, Matheson air-mailed a puck over the glass for a delightful sixty-second Rangers’ 5 x 3 attack.

With just twenty-seconds remaining on the two-man advantage and Kreider, and as he always does, got into the face of former Ranger nemesis, Montreal goalie Sam Montembeault, and while CK20 didn’t tip or deflect a puck past the backstop – he did pick up one of those lovely, and untracked, SCREEN ASSISTS – and as he did when Panarin rattled a puck off of the iron and then past the goal line.

In other words, Kreider drew the power-play and then basically received the uncredited assist on the first-blood Blueshirts’ goal too.

But just a shade over two-minutes later – and Matheson tied the game.

1-1 at the 11:47 mark.

The Rangers, who raced out to a 9-1 SOG advantage, soon saw that lead evaporate to 9-7, as Montreal gained some steam after their equalizer.

But to their credit, the Rangers didn’t relent – and while their third period was a fiasco – they did play to the final minute of this first period – or should I say the final second  of it – and as they did when the returning GAG LINE 2.0 were on the ice – as Trocheck deflected a puck shot by Lafreniere behind Montembeault with just two-seconds remaining.

A most certainly feel-good, if not WHEW moment too – a 2-1, good guys, lead as the two teams entered the locker room for their intermission break.

A beyond crazy second stanza (fully recapped in the GAME REVIEW segment located below), led to Zibanejad scoring an insurance power-play goal (that would later be needed) at the 17:03 mark – and on a power-play drawn under suspicious officiating.

But as we all know – and know all too well to boot – then more often than not – and the Rangers are usually on the wrong side of the street during these one-way officiated games.

And heck – it felt weird, an out-of-your-body experience too if you will – to see the refs don blue stripes to go along with their regular black-and-white verticals.

Now up 3-1 at the start of the third period – and all that was left to do was close out.

And this is where the “SAME OLD RANGERS” were that – SAME OLD.

Montreal’s top line, as noted before, the most effective trio at even-strength during these sixty-minutes, exposed the Blueshirts twice, and as Caufield did at the 4:16 mark, and as Suzuki later did at the 14:07 mark.

End result?

3-3 during the waning minutes of regulation play.

But once again, the Rangers received a little help from their friends – and from noted Blueshirt agitator, Kelly Sutherland, of all people!

Come 2:40 remaining in the final period, and with overtime looming (the Rangers were even holding back and just trying to get out of this game with at least a point); and a beyond stupid high-sticking penalty was committed by Kirby Dach – as he caught Mika’s mush while playing the puck behind Jonathan Quick’s net.

While Mika didn’t come up bleeding – Dach was boxed for four-minutes anyway.

The Montreal penalty kill, one that had already surrendered two power-play goals at this point, did kill the first two-minutes of Dach’s double-minor.

In other words, had this penalty been your normal two-minute minor – then the Canadiens would have at least walked away from this game with a point – and with the way the tide had turned prior to the Dach penalty – most likely two points too.

As the clock flashed 22-seconds remaining – and with Cuylle getting away with a tripping penalty to boot – Kakko scored a “flukko puckko lucko” goal (but they all count the same) – thus putting the Rangers ahead, 4-3.

MSL, who will forever be remembered in Rangers’ lure for helping the team to the 2014 Stanley Cup Final, was furious – but he was also helpless to stop the one-sided officiating.

But for what it’s worth, his team, with only a few seconds remaining, did make it interesting, but Quick (25 saves on 28 shots) was able to preserve the win – and the Rangers first win during their past half-dozen games played.

I know that I have been saying the following a lot this season; but that’s because it’s true – and habitual too:

You just can’t win this way during the playoffs.

You also won’t see the likes of Montreal (2 wins against) and Detroit (3 wins against) either.

The Rangers host the Devils this Monday – their seventh true “litmus test” of the season – and where Lavy’s Lot is 0-6 under such experiments.

Will Drury soon experiment with a new head coach should the Devils pitchfork the Rangers?

We’ll find out then – but for now – let’s get into everything else from Saturday.

At this time, let’s get the disclaimer segment out of the way before pressing on.

Here is our 82-game mantra, which is also known as my 33-word daily disclaimer, that I post on this site after every game played – and one that I even need to read a few times over in order to calm myself down:

“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-three down, fifty-nine 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 Rangers’ failure in Carolina:

NYR/CAR 11/27 Review: STUFFED! Rangers Extend Season-High Losing Streak to Four Games; But That Won’t Ruin Chris Drury’s Thanksgiving, Another Failed Litmus Test, Laviolette Continues To Use “Same Old Script” & Receives Insanity As The End Result, Chris Kreider Opens Up On Injury; Team Leader Missing In Action Zibanejad Avoids All Media, CZAR IGOR Roughed Up Again; Perhaps an $88M Warhead Dodged, Wolf Pack Wednesdays Ruined By Fat Cats & More

As noted following Wednesday night’s 4-3 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes, come Friday, and I attended my local watering hole’s annual “Black Friday Rangers’ Watch Party” – and where afterwards – it felt like a “Black Tie Rangers’ Funeral.”

Between the quick turnaround between these two weekend games, the brutal 3-1 loss taken in Philadelphia, hanging out with family and friends, and of course, a copious amount of alcohol consumed too – then there was no way I was going to waste my time (it usually takes me three-hours start-to-finish to bang out one of these GAME REVIEW manifestos) recapping the misery that we witnessed in the City of Brotherly Love.

There’s no point in recapping all of the pain sustained from Friday, but as they say, “a picture is worth a thousand words,” which to update that now dated phrase – “a video is worth a billion words.”

What do I mean?

Easy.

Here’s the useless loser, Mika Zibanejad, trying to tie the game late into the third period when the Rangers were down 2-1 and with CZAR IGOR on the bench for the extra attacker:

Sum up how it’s going for the Rangers in one video: pic.twitter.com/Rf82VMbrm8

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) November 29, 2024

As far as the 3-1 loss in Philly goes, then these following bullet-points says it all:

— The Rangers, out-shot 9-0 and down 2-0 on the scoreboard at the time, registered their first SOG (Trocheck) with a tad over eight-minutes remaining in the first period. So yeah, not a recipe for success.

— Poor CZAR IGOR. Not only were the Rangers out-shot 15-4 in the first period, but they were also out-shot 35-23 overall.

— The Flyers scored their pair of even-strength goals within a time-span of 1:10, as both Bobby Brink (3:14 mark) and Travis Konecny (4:24 mark) made short work of the embarrassing Blueshirts’ defense. After that? CZAR IGOR then went on to make about twenty or so odd-man rush and breakaway saves, while the team in front of him could never muster up anything.

— Lavy rushed to his line blender at the start of the second period – and where someone should tell him that putting Panarin and Zibanejad together isn’t the super-duo that he thinks it is.

— All of the team’s leaders stunk like a heap of flaming dog shit – and where now every resident of Rangerstown, USA, and their mothers too, are wondering if these players, including Jacob Trouba, Mika Zibanejad, Adam Fox and of course, Meekly Mika, have checked out.

— The Rangers, and mainly because they were chasing the puck all game (get this – the Flyers didn’t have any hits through two periods, and the Rangers wound up out-hitting the orange-and-black, 27-8 – and only because the home team dominated all puck possession metrics), didn’t draw a power-play.

— In turn, the Blueshirts traveled back home down I-95 on Friday afternoon with no power-play goals scored during their past eight games played – and with the last PPG taking place back on November 12th (Alexis Lafreniere) during the Rangers’ 6-3 home loss to the Winnipeg Jets.

— Again, poor CZAR IGOR – whose numbers, once atop of the league, are barely middle-of-the-pack these days, as he’s not getting much help at all – and where it should also be mentioned that he’s given up some stinkers too during what was at the time a five-game losing streak.

— Speaking of the five-game losing streak that was in-tact prior to Saturday; it was the first losing streak of this many games since that topsy-turvy and unprecedented 2020-21 season.

— Trocheck finally broke his scoring drought at the 10:20 mark of the second period – but that was that – as “IVAN THE TERRIBLE,” government name, Ivan Fedotov – a rookie goalie no less – was able to stop everything else that came his way.

— My favorite analyst and yours, and a man who should be on every Ranger broadcast (and definitely next season alongside Kenny Albert), Dave Maloney, was absolutely sickened with these freaks too:

Dave Maloney is even mad at the #NYR Listen to this. pic.twitter.com/yoDxyDPfWA

— David 🏒 (@DaveyUpper) November 29, 2024

This was just brutal – but I guess it was expected too.

After all, how many times have I, and some of you guys & gals too, been talking about this team being a PAPER TIGER, and as they amassed wins against numerous bottom-feeders of the league, while at the same time, failing in all six of their “litmus test” games played this season?

Today?

They are now struggling to win games against bad teams – and where Drury’s memo from last week has most certainly backfired too – and a memo that should have never been written, as instead, he should have made his big deals and statements over the past summer.

Gee, I wonder who said all of this during the hot months too?

3-1, bad guys, in Philly – and where the Rangers continued to sink like an anchor – or like a Zibanejad.

After the defeat in Philly, and prior to the matinee match at the Garden on Saturday, and everyone involved, including Laviolette, Mika and Trouba, were saying the same old shit.

Such wisdom is now boring and redundant.

Prior to puck drop today and the tweet above was sent out by the team’s official X account – and rather than the @NYRPR account – which is the team’s official public relations account – a rarity.

I should also make notice, that usually, Quick has been getting the road starts this season, while CZAR IGOR gets the home starts.

Due to the four-game losing streak prior to the Black Friday game, and I thought it was telling that Lavy, perhaps desperate, went to his best goalie.

Then again, Montreal is the worst team in the league, so it also made sense to save Quick for Saturday too – and a JQ32 that was tasked to stop the Blueshirts’ bleeding too.

Last but not least, and as teased during his morning press conference – and Laviolette not only changed his line-up – but presented a new iteration of it too.

While I understand that things needed to be changed – Mika still remained – and even in spite of the blue moon goal he’d later score – and his first power-play goal in 23 games played.

If there was anything that I questioned prior to puck drop (making Reilly Smith a healthy scratch made no impact on me whatsoever), then it was Chytil centering a line of Panarin and Cuylle – and only because I think that the returning #72 works best with a winger who can take draws (Kakko has done well in that role) – as “The Concussed Czech” remains as the worst center at the dots in the league.

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

FIRST LINE: Panarin/Chytil/Cuylle

SECOND LINE: Berard/Trocheck/Lafreniere

THIRD LINE:  Kreider/Zibanejad/Kakko

FOURTH LINE: Edstrom/Carrick/Vesey

FIRST PAIR: Lindgren/Fox

SECOND PAIR: Miller/Schneider

THIRD PAIR: Jones/Trouba

STARTING GOALIE: Jonathan Quick

BACK UP GOALIE: CZAR IGOR

HEALTHY SCRATCHES: Jonny Brodzinski, Chad Ruhwedel and Reilly Smith

BOX SCORE time.

The following graphics and information come from ESPN.com:

SCORING:

PENALTIES:

TEAM STATS:

GOALIES:

The M$GN pregame show on Saturday afternoon was refreshing – and especially since Sieve Vagistat was nowhere to be found.

Together, both Brian Boyle and Dave Maloney joined host John Giannone from M$G – and where both “The Boyler Maker” and the former captain didn’t sugarcoat anything either.

And unlike that seven-foot weasel – they didn’t need charts to express their eye-test exclusive opinions.

As I wondered if one of the never-ending gambling sponsors were going to promote a wager on when Chytil will next get injured; Boyle immediately came out with some fire and said, “The Rangers might need to fight each other in practice. This is unacceptable.  They need emotion and animosity.”

I’d concur!

After that, M$GN ran an interview with Zibanejad – where admittedly – I dry-heaved through it.

He’s literally making me sick with all of his excuses.

As the line-up was revealed, and as I was also wondering if the head coach would hold an $8.5M center that he owes no loyalty to accountable, Maloney brought up that the Rangers – and duh – couldn’t have a repeat of yesterday.

Come 1:00PM, we went to Sam Rosen and Joe Micheletti – and where for the next three-hours – Micheletti told us that everyone was good looking, had big cocks and worked hard.

(He really only said two of the three – and you can guess the one that I made up!)

Finally, GAME REVIEW time.

FIRST PERIOD

As I was wondering about Chytil as a first line center (face off purposes only), he actually won his first draw – and then ultimately finished with a 53.8% performance (7 of 13).

Now do it against the Devils.

Prior to the fireworks that were later to come, and Berard, a nose for the puck all game, took a big hit when trying to get a shot off, while it was Jones who forced Montembeault to make his first save.

After that – the Trouba vs Anderson tilt as previously discussed:

Trouba vs Anderson. This happens cause of that Trouba hit on Barron from early this season. #NYR (Sorry for the delay, had internet problems but good now.) pic.twitter.com/BZCZFOQh9L

— David 🏒 (@DaveyUpper) November 30, 2024

Give credit to Anderson for trying to avenge his teammate from the game played five-weeks ago – and while Trouba took his worst loss as a Ranger – at least he battled – and refused to go down too.

As Micheletti was telling us that “Will Cuylle is a fine good looking young man Sam,” it was later brought up that the Habs’ Kaiden “No Relations” Guhle was also a “good looking player full of youth.”

All of this homoerotic commentary – and it wasn’t even PRIDE NIGHT!

And of course Part I: Micheletti reminded us that “Montreal works hard Sam.”

And of course Part II: I’m still waiting for “Jumpin’ Joe” to tell me what team, and what player too, isn’t hardworking!

Quick, who wasn’t tested that much in this period, made his first save at the 3:45 mark. Usually, the Rangers have given up a goal or two by then.

As Montreal continued their attack, Sam and Joe then waxed poetic about Brendan Gallagher for two-minutes or so.

Why such tributes needed to be paid was beyond me – and especially in the condition that the Rangers are in.

Chytil, who looked fine in his return (but there was something he did that we’ll later talk about), almost had a breakaway five-minutes and change in, but Kirby Dach was able to get back in the nick of time in order to break it up.

However, his linemates stuck with the play, but Panarin whiffed twice, Cuylle had two chances of his own derailed and then “The Breadman” had his bread stick snap in two.

As the new third line, Kreider/Zibanejad/Kakko, were attacking, this is when CK20, a man who will one day see his number having from the rafters of M$G, drew Emil Heineman for holding.

After Matheson’s delay of game too, this is when Panarin ended the N.Y. power-outage – but albeit – it was a 5 x 3 goal – and not a 5 x 4 score:

Panarin!!!! It’s a Power Player Goal. #NYR pic.twitter.com/euVeqKzoNs

— David 🏒 (@DaveyUpper) November 30, 2024

1-0, good guys – and a much needed lead too.

Check out these real-time tweets from what transpired next:

#NYR out-shooting the last place team in the league, 9-1, 8:20 to go and as I say this – Matheson ties the game seven-seconds later. Can’t make this up. 1-1.

— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) November 30, 2024

Not blaming Sam & Joe for that, but just after they finished saying how well #NYR were playing – boom – Matheson ties it. On brand and on cue.

— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) November 30, 2024

1-1 after this:

Mike Matheson ties the game for the Habs! @CanadiensMTL | #GoHabsGo | #NHLNShowcase pic.twitter.com/Y8y6jSuWzY

— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) November 30, 2024

And right after that, and with 7:08 to go, Kreider was boxed for holding Guhle.

But in a game where the Rangers’ special teams were their best – this was the first of three separate and successful penalty kills – and three kills to go along with the Blueshirts’ three power-play goals scored.

On this particular PK, Quick made three saves – and while Sam & Joe told us the ages of every Montreal power-play specialist on ice at the same time.

Down to 3:29 remaining and it was Trocheck’s turn to take a two-minute timeout, having high-sticked Christian Dvorak.

Again, the Rangers’ PK did their job – and once returned to full-strength – the GAG LINE 2.0, temporarily reunited here – picked up another score:

With just 2.3 seconds left in the first period, Vincent Trocheck gives the Rangers the lead back with a goal! 👏 pic.twitter.com/hHgNONxEcI

— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) November 30, 2024

2-1, good guys, following the Trocheck tip on Lafreniere’s laser.

And that’s where we remained come the intermission.

Here’s what I said at the time:

2-1, good guys, after 20. 1P Thoughts:
— That GAG LINE 2.0 goal with 2-seconds left was huge – entering 1st intermission tied creates doubt.
— Still, tough to assess this game – Montreal is in last place – #NYR should win this game at home.
— PK remains the team’s biggest…

— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) November 30, 2024

SECOND PERIOD

Just 30-seconds into this period – and Quick had amassed nearly four saves.

So the Rangers waited twenty-minutes before allowing the other team to tee-off.

It was after Quick’s final save of this attack, his third, where we had a scrum.

What was extremely noticeable about this pushing-and-shoving match, was that as K’Andre Miller was engaged and getting physical, was that at the same time, Chytil held his head as far away as possible, while throwing in an arm to hold a Hab back.

But the Rangers said that he didn’t sustain his 7867677867986786th concussion a few weeks back.

Interesting.

Just 1:10 into the period, and as this game, which already featured one heavyweight tilt, grew only more physical, then saw Kreider get away with a roughing and/or interference penalty on Anderson.

Brooks’ favorite player was absolutely incensed and irate about the no call – and he’d let the officials hear about his displeasure for the remainder of the game – and keep this in mind for later.

At the 2:26 mark, tough guy Arber Xhekaj (or as he’s known as – WIFI – and that’s what I’ll call him too, as his surname makes my spell check go bonkers) crushed Lafreniere with a late hit – but the refs didn’t call this either.

So in a way, these two no calls in succession evened-out.

Following Wifi’s dirty hit, Carrick jumped over the boards, took umbrage and wanted a piece of the Canadiens’ d-man. Wifi refused the challenge, and as a result, successfully goaded Carrick into taking an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty – but not an infraction that anyone was upset about either.

After all, everyone wants to see these players sticking up for each other – and that’s what happened here – and then time-and-time again too.

The Rangers killed this Montreal power-play too – and where the Habs had immense troubles whenever trying to set up.

As Trouba remained active and engaged, so did Berard, who was stopped on his second of three wrap-around attempts.

He sure loves that move – but at his size – he’ll have to watch out for steam-rolling d-men as he approaches the net – and keep this in mind for later too!

Down to 11:28 to go, and Panarin, and as if he had just joined the NRA, as he was shooting everything (game-high 5 SOG too); hit iron – and right where the crossbar and post intersect.

After a long attack from Montreal’s top line, Trocheck and former first-overall pick, Juraj Slafkovsky, wanted to go with 9:47 remaining – but the officials weren’t willing to oblige.

Right after that and Quick made one of his best saves yet, and one that in hindsight, should also be remembered, as he stopped a Dach rebound.

After Zibanejad missed twine from a foot away, Quick then made three more saves, all in rapid-fire succession, and as he did with 5:46 remaining.

Two-minutes later and this is when the Rangers were gifted a power-play – as Anderson was assessed with the softest roughing call that you’ll ever see – but where I do wonder if the refs had enough of all of his belly-aching about the previous no call involving Kreider.

This led to Zibanejad’s first goal scored in two weeks – and another SCREEN ASSIST for CK20 too:

Mika!!! its a Power Play Goal!. #NYR pic.twitter.com/iKc3VLJ4qL

— David 🏒 (@DaveyUpper) November 30, 2024

3-1, good guys – and with 2:57 remaining.

And we weren’t done yet either.

Down to 1:26 remaining – and somewhat of a full line brawl – and one that was pretty much set-up by Quick too:

Everyone got involved in this scrum…including Jonathan Quick 😳😳 pic.twitter.com/y7BPHMxKDe

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) November 30, 2024

After enjoying all of the fireworks and explosions – then go back and watch Zibanejad during this.

All he did was hug.

The Rangers’ back-up goalie showed more balls and guts than the alleged “elite” center.

And when you aren’t playing well, then you sure as damn hell need to get involved in the dirty stuff when warranted – and such an instance was justified here.

Ironically?

Mika was one of the three Rangers boxed during all of this – so I guess that his hug was violent enough to earn him a “roughing” penalty.

And I’ve said the following plenty of times in the past, and just to show you that I’m not biased here either – but I absolutely DESPISED and DISDAINED the fact that the Rangers got a power-play out of this.

As I always say, whenever these types of line brawls go down – then unless something seriously egregious had taken place – then I think that all of the penalties should off-set.

Put it this way: Do you want to see a playoff game decided over an event like this one?

Loudest pop of the day until Kakko scored the game-winner?

When Ranger announcer, Joe Tolleson, read out, “two minutes, Jonathan Quick, for roughing.”

The same penalty called on Mika wasn’t met with such a reaction – if there was a reaction at all.

And yes – this tells you how much Garden patrons appreciated the rough stuff from their goalie – and why they will always love Rempe too.

The Rangers didn’t score on either side of this power-play, but they did enter the second intermission with their two-goal lead in-tact.

Here’s what I said at the time:

3-1, good guys, after 40. 2P Thoughts:
— Even against a last place team, and I still feel like nothing has changed – MTL dominating 5 x 5 and a rare game from this month where special teams are favoring #NYR
— Took 23 games for Mika to score his first PPG of the season and…

— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) November 30, 2024

THIRD PERIOD

After Montreal killed off the remainder of the Rangers’ power-play, and Micheletti wisely remarked, “If Nick Suzuki plays more games, then he’ll score more points in his career.”

Sound analysis.

Following another Berard wrap-around attempt that was denied with 16:30 remaining, Kreider couldn’t clear a puck against Montreal’s top line, which then led to Caufield’s goal with 15:43 to go.

3-2, good guys.

As Berard continued to make offensive moves – he paid for it:

Kirby Dach with a big hit on Brett Berard. He ends up leaving the game. #NYR pic.twitter.com/rBQmaM0Qfp

— David 🏒 (@DaveyUpper) November 30, 2024

Berard, who went to the locker room after eating this body blow with 14:10 remaining, later returned to the game (he even played during the final minutes – a vote of confidence in a rookie) – but this play should be a wake-up call for him too.

The Montreal top line continued to attack, but Quick continued to valiantly fight them off.

As this game progressed, then you were as nervous as a heavy chain smoker with nary a Marlboro Red around.

As we hit ten-minutes remaining, Sam plugged the upcoming and annual Garden of Dreams fundraiser.

Instead of asking us poor fans (the get in price for today’s game ran customers over $300) to give everything that we have; perhaps Zibanejad can donate some of his $68M that he’s earning under this current and nonproductive contract?

Perish the thought!

Plus, it’s not like that he’s using his money for expensive hair-cuts these days either!

As both Sam and Joe made mention of how quiet M$G was, and as you were waiting for the inevitable too, I commented the following in real-time:

For your consideration, then the three #NYR goals were a 5 x 3 PPG, a fluky one with 2 seconds left and a gifted PPG after a fake news penalty against Anderson. Conversely, MTL’s two goals were of the hard-working, greasy variety.

— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) November 30, 2024

And with 5:53 left to be drained from the clock – Suzuki scored.

3-3 – and where a failed Chytil clear and Miller going for a double team, thus leaving the Canadiens’ captain wide-open for the back door slam – was the beginning of this demise.

Thankfully, Dach soon took his stupid o-zone penalty – and one that the refs surprisingly deemed as a double-minor.

Now on the back-half of the power-play and with just 22.5 seconds to go – Kakko allowed everyone to breathe a bit:

KAAPO KAKKO WITH THE GOAL IN THE LAST SECONDS!!!

Rangers lead with 15.2 seconds! pic.twitter.com/nQB6vndgt3

— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) November 30, 2024

4-3, good guys, your final score too – and where yes – Cuylle did get away with one here as well – and another reason for MSL to have major gripes with these officials after the game.

I found the post-game interviews to be extremely tone-deaf – if not a statement on the depths of despair that this team has hit too:

Ironically, I thought it were the two younger Rangers, Kakko and Cuylle, and not the FAT CATS, nor the head coach either, that spoke most poignantly.

Here you have Zibanejad saying, “I think we played a better brand of hockey in the first two periods. A big win for us, it wasn’t pretty at times but at this stage you can’t be picky.”

The Rangers were absolutely dominated in the second period – and if it wasn’t for the goaltending – then they would’ve found themselves trailing.

And a win against the worst team in the league is considered as “big?”

Then what would a win on Monday night against the Devils be?

ASTRONOMICAL? GAME-CHANGER? EPIC?

“I like the fact that we had to go through a little bit tonight to get to the win in the end,” said Laviolette.

He likes that his CUP OR BUST team had to struggle to get by a last-place team – and with the officials siding with his club the whole way?

And as usual – the Rangers censored their paying customers from what Chytil, who had missed the previous seven games (nearly one-third of the season thus far), said to the media, and the following comes from Peter Baugh (The Athletic):

“I know my body. I know what’s going on, even with my head. With what I went through last year as well, there have been hard moments. When there is an opportunity to be back and my whole body feels great, I jump back in.

“There was a lot of talking with trainers. I know myself, I know my head a lot. Nobody knows it more than myself. When I felt it could be better and it was going well, it was nice but the most important (thing) is you’ve got to feel 100 percent.”

In other words, Chytil wouldn’t refute the reports that he did sustain a concussion – and despite what the Rangers officially put out there.

And nobody asked him what was behind the decision to fly 6,000 miles round-trip to Alberta either.

Again – Chytil has played well (whenever healthy) this season – but if you think that he’ll last through a physical playoff run – then I have a bridge in Brooklyn to sell to you too.

Not for nothing, but from what Chytil said, then he sounded like a part-timer, as he even admitted himself – “whenever I have the opportunity to be healthy.”

Up Next: Rangers vs Devils, this Monday night.

Up Next For Me: Enjoying this win somewhat – but enjoying Notre Dame’s BIG win against USC from this Saturday even more too!

And yep – I do have to get that Quarter-Pole Report Card done too – and maybe I’ll do it between Tuesday and Friday – as the Rangers have three off-days following the match against their Battle of the Hudson rival.

Up Next For You: For all you Black Friday shoppers, and fellow Ranger maniacs as well, then help a Blueshirt Brother out – and buy a book – 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