Greetings and salutations everyone and welcome to another blog here on BlueCollarBlueShirts.com. The Rangers did what they were supposed to do – WIN – but it wasn’t pretty.
But as they say, “a win’s a win” – and it’s two points that the Blueshirts sure as hell needed to secure – especially when you consider the opponent.
Despite the despised Isles usually playing the Rangers tough no matter the circumstances, but heading into this game, and anything but a Blueshirts’ blowout would have been considered as disappointing.
Just winning wouldn’t be enough – even if that’s somewhat how this game played out.
(But had the Rangers lost? Catastrophic!)
After all, the Isles, who have been shutout four times this season (no other team in the league has been shutout twice), were already without their crown jewel free agent signing of this past summer, Anthony Duclair, as “The Duke” is currently on the LTIR.
If that wasn’t bad enough for baby brother, then the Isles announced the following injuries on Saturday:
#Isles Injury Updates:
Mat Barzal: upper – 4-6 weeks (LTIR)
Adam Pelech: upper – 4-6 weeks (IR)
Mike Reilly: upper – day to day
Alex Romanov: upper – day to dayGrant Hutton and Samuel Bolduc have been recalled from Bridgeport.
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) November 2, 2024
In other words, the Isles entered this game missing two-thirds of their top line, Barzal and Duclair, and while preseason is just that – the preseason – that top line absolutely decimated the Rangers in their pair of training camp matches.
(For more, then check out: https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/92424/ and https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/10724/ )
While the walking wounded Islanders have been completely destroyed by injuries this season; over in Manhattan, and the Rangers, and for the first time this season, were at full health, as Jimmy Vesey, previously on the LTIR after sustaining an injury in training camp, made his 2024-25 season debut during this M$G matinee.
However, while the Rangers, or Laviolette to be specific, had everyone available, there’s also an ailment plaguing the Blueshirts’ locker room and line-up these days – THE MIKA VIRUS.
By now, everyone is aware of Zibanejad’s issues, where at this point, I think it’s safe to assume that he’s never been the same goal scorer ever since the NHL returned to play from the pandemic era, but now and today, his ineffectiveness has negatively wreaked havoc.
(And don’t get me started on Mika’s regular no-shows during the playoffs either!)
I’ll dive deeper into this story below; but because the alleged first-line center has really been the team’s third-line center this season – and where you can even argue – scratch that – this is the case – fourth-line center Sam Carrick is light-years better in his role than Zibanejad is at his too – then such circumstances has forced the head of the head coach.
(Holy horrible grammar Batman!)
Again, more about Lavy’s line-up decisions below, as I have a whole segment for you dedicated to it; but for right now, there were two schools of thought when entering this game against an inferior and severely injured opponent.
On one hand, the Islanders were the perfect “get right” opponent for a struggling Rangers’ line-up that has bled over eighty shots on goal in their past two games – and where in addition – the five-vs-five scoring is now at a premium these days.
On the other hand, if you were going to make a switch, then why not do it against a bad team?
After all, and despite the recent struggles (and even if the team entered this game at 7-2-1), you much rather try to create new chemistry and execute new ideas against a team barely scraping the bottom of the barrel, rather than performing this science experiment against a true Stanley Cup contender.
Lavy decided on the latter, while perhaps hitting the “panic button” too.
But to be fair – something had to change – as this current style of winning – relying on CZAR IGOR to do everything – won’t be sustainable come the playoffs.
In a game where the Isles had many AHLers in their line-up, while the Rangers shook up theirs – it didn’t really feel like much had changed.
While CZAR IGOR wasn’t required to make 40+ saves for the third consecutive game, he did have to make 35 – and again – against a team that’s been shutout four times this season and also a squad that rarely surpasses 25 SOG this season.
Other reasons for Lavy’s decision to blow-up his line-up, and outside of Missing Mika being unable to do what he’s paid to do, was to give the team a jump at five-vs-five, while also trying to tighten up the defense too.
I can’t say that any of these goals were truly accomplished on Sunday.
Of the five Ranger goals scored, one was a short-handed strike from the best penalty killer in the league, Chris Kreider, another was a power-play goal from one of the best man-advantage players in the league, Artemi Panarin, and a third Rangers’ goal, “The Breadman’s” second, was an empty netter.
The two other goals, the even-strength scores?
One was scored by the center of the previous GAG LINE 2.0, Vincent Trocheck, now flanked by his old teammate from Florida, Reilly Smith, who assisted on the goal.
The other was a fluky goal (but they all count), a Braden Schneider shot that caught Adam Edstrom then took a pop fly before crossing Ilya Sorokin’s goal line.
While it was nice for the Rangers to get two even-strength goals in this game; conversely, and the defense in front of CZAR IGOR wasn’t any better than what it has been during the past two-weeks or so.
The reunited pair of Jacob Trouba and K’Andre Miller was an all-out mess (the only Rangers’ d-men not to finish with a +1 in the box score, as instead, they both finished with a goose egg), as Miller was turning over the puck left-and-right, while Trouba, and with Miller out of position, was clearly outclassed and beaten during a last second goal scored by Kyle Palmieri at the end of the middle frame.
The 2021 Norris Trophy winner, the normally reliable Adam Fox, did the Rangers no favors either, as he took two of the team’s five penalties, a pair of delay of game infractions that only boosted CZAR IGOR’s short-handed save totals.
Ironically enough, of the rearguards, it was another reunited pair, Zac Jones and Braden Schneider, that had the most success – and in both ends of the ice.
Both Jones and Schneider assisted on Edstrom’s 4-2 insurance goal, and believe it or not, it was #6, and not #4, that finished with an impressive four blocked shots – second-best to only Trouba (7 blocks).
If anything, and despite this long intro, then I thought that the Rangers handled business; but at the same time – there was no way to say that the line-up changes worked.
And with both some lengthy breaks and inferior opponents down the pike (the Rangers don’t play again until Thursday, 11/7, against the Sabres, then return to Detroit on Saturday 11/9), then I think it will be tough to truly assess Dr. Lavy’s line-up medication until Tuesday, November 12th, when the Blueshirts host the red-hot Winnipeg Jets.
But for today, we can only talk about the game at hand.
And of course, there’s our daily disclaimer too, one that I will continue to reprint all-season long on this site, and by now, you should be able to recite these following 33-words with me, so say them aloud in unison:
“WHATEVER THE RANGERS DO FROM NOW UNTIL THE TRADE DEADLINE DOESN’T MATTER. THEY CAN ONLY BE JUDGED BY WHATEVER THEY DO FOLLOWING THE DEADLINE AND BY WHAT THEY DO IN THE 2025 PLAYOFFS!”
In other words, eleven down, seventy-one to go, and then the real hockey, the only games that matter, begin.
In case you missed it, then here’s where I last left off – CZAR IGOR’s 2-1 win over the Senators:
NYR/OTT 11/1 Review: Deja Vu! Rangers Rebound After Loss To Playoff Team – But Solely Because Of CZAR IGOR’s Heroics; Shesty Impeaches Senators, Newest Igor Contract Theory, GAG LINE 2.0 Carries All Scoring; Lafreniere Bolsters Case For PP1 Promotion, “Covid Draft Comparisons,” The Blueshirts’ Annual Halloween Party Creates “Controversy” For The Fake Outrage Bozos, Vesey’s NHL Recall; Rempe’s AHL Return, 3C Mika & More
As covered in-depth on Friday night, and the Rangers, and despite their 7-2-1 record when entering Sunday’s matinee, haven’t looked so hot lately.
If anything, then their record is of the paper tiger variety – mainly wins racked up against bad teams – and losses to nearly every squad that reached the playoffs last year.
The Blueshirts got roughed up for the first time this season in last week’s loss to Florida and as a result – haven’t looked like the same team ever since.
Laviolette, no dummy, realizes what’s happening and is also astute enough to understand that you can’t rely on your goalie to solely win sixteen games in the playoffs for you.
And to do the old Barry Horowitz here (and I’m not even talking about Matt Rempe being sent back down to Hartford – which we’ll get into soon enough), the self-pat on the back, I kind of predicted that line-up changes were coming following CZAR IGOR’s solo-job against the Senators:
As it’s become more evident that the Rangers are built and carried from the goalie out, and perhaps more than ever before, then in turn, Laviolette responded at Saturday morning’s practice at the team’s training facility in Tarrytown, NY by completely shaking up his top-nine forwards – and some of his defense too.
(Full line-up included below.)
One more time: I understand what Laviolette was doing on Saturday. I truly do.
However, as noted a few times on this site, and as the blurb above shows you, including last Friday night too – but for the life of me, I don’t understand breaking up the GAG LINE 2.0.
Personally, I also hate, hate, hate, “rewarding” “Missing Mental Mopey” Mika Zibanejad by promoting him to the team’s top line – and at the expense of Vincent Trocheck.
Sorry Charlie.
For the second-longest tenured Ranger, an alleged first-line center, and one stealing money from this franchise with his annual salary of $8.5M, which is money he’ll collect every year through 2030 – then it SHOULD BE Mika lifting others – and not Mika begging to be carried by others.
The Rangers will never publicly admit that they have a MIKA PROBLEM – but they will put his individual struggles above the overall betterment of the team.
Perhaps even worse?
Mika, and his two goals this season (one empty netter, one against the Canadiens in a 7-2 blowout – so ZERO powerplay goals), remains on PP1, while Alexis Lafreniere (5 goals and 1 PPG in his average man-advantage ice time of 20-seconds) remains seated.
I don’t get it.
Almost equally as baffling is “demoting” Chris Kreider, the team’s best goal scorer from the past three seasons, to the third line, while it’s Mika who’s propped up with two-thirds of the GAG LINE 2.0.
Also concerning is Trocheck’s new position as the center of a line featuring Will Cuylle and Reilly Smith as his flanks.
While this line will be tougher/grittier than the GAG LINE 2.0; but for a player like Trocheck, who had a long learning curve when attempting to replace Ryan Strome’s chemistry with Panarin in his first year, then how long before he forms an ionic bond with another new right-winger, and one that may not even be here come the trade deadline?
Thankfully, Trocheck knows Smith a bit, having previously played with him in Florida.
But that was many years ago – and both players have changed in that time too.
I can’t be more clear about this, so let me say this one more time:
The Rangers have a Mika Problem, and as a result, everyone else suffers.
The top-nine weren’t the only players affected on Saturday, because, and as predicted in this space for the past week – Jimmy Vesey is back, which as a result, means that Matt Rempe is out.
The Rangers made it official following Saturday’s practice:
UPDATE: Matt Rempe has been assigned to the Hartford Wolf Pack.
— NY Rangers PR (@NYR_PR) November 2, 2024
The Rangers mind-eff of Matt Rempe continues and where it’s obvious that either Peter Laviolette doesn’t like REMPESTEIN – or that he just doesn’t know what to do with him.
The Blueshirts are gift-horsed this unicorn of a player, and three-weeks into the season, they haven’t done much to further his development.
But at least Mika is never held accountable!
There’s really not much more to say about this latest Rempe demotion, as I’ve said it all already on this site in the past.
The defensemen weren’t off the hook on Saturday either, as Laviolette flushed what he tried to enter the season with, and by going with a sextet that we saw a lot of during last season too – and really – ever since the Top-4 ever became a thing in New York.
In other words, Fox and Lindgren, the team’s other BFF, are back, ditto Miller and his mentor Captain Jacob Trouba, and Jones & Schneider, at the expense of Mancini, are reunited too.
Here’s what Laviolette said about all his moves during Saturday’s “LAVY’S LOUNGE”:
Again, you can understand his logic and rationale – but even so – coddling Mika is bizarre – especially when it comes to PP1.
Equally as perplexing?
It’s not like Laviolette has any loyalty/relationship with Zibanejad (nor been through the wars with him either); as instead, the worst hockey of #93’s career has taken place under the current head coach.
Here was Laviolette’s line-up for the eleventh game of this 2024-25 season:
FIRST LINE: Panarin/Zibanejad/Lafreniere
SECOND LINE: Cuylle/Trocheck/Smith
THIRD LINE: Kreider/Chytil/Kakko
FOURTH LINE: Edstrom/Carrick/Vesey
FIRST PAIR: Lindgren/Fox
SECOND PAIR: Miller/Trouba
THIRD PAIR: Jones/Schneider
STARTING GOALIE: CZAR IGOR
BACK UP GOALIE: Jonathan Quick
HEALTHY SCRATCHES: Brodzinski and Mancini
BOX SCORE time.
The following graphics and information come from ESPN.com:
SCORING:
PENALTIES:
TEAM STATS:
GOALIES:
|
NYI
|
|
I. Sorokin#30
|
|
SA
|
GA
|
SV
|
SV%
|
ESSV
|
PPSV
|
SHSV
|
SOSA
|
SOS
|
TOI
|
PIM
|
| 39 | 4 | 35 | .897 | 28 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 59:31 | 0 |
|
NYR
|
|
SA
|
GA
|
SV
|
SV%
|
ESSV
|
PPSV
|
SHSV
|
SOSA
|
SOS
|
TOI
|
PIM
|
| 37 | 2 | 35 | .946 | 29 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 60:00 | 0 |
THREE STARS:
As I was in bed and groaning about the early start time (I have always felt that hockey is best played during the evening hours – and yes – I say that as a night owl myself), I then tuned into the M$GN pregame show a few minutes late.
For all of the grief that I give Sieve Vagistat on this site, where despite such a comment, still remains as unbearable as ever on these broadcasts; I have to give him some credit today, as when talking about the line-up changes, he said what they were – a series of moves in order to get only one player going – Stinka Zibanedud.
Henrik Lundqvist, always a baby-face, tried to downplay some of the Ranger issues, as he primarily focused on their winning record.
But even “THE KING OF COMMENTARY” personally knows that you can’t win a Stanley Cup solely through goaltending.
Dave Maloney, who should be Kenny Albert’s M$GN TV partner next season, informed us that Fox was happy to have Lindgren back as his partner, as the former captain of the club reiterated the obvious – these two are close friends and have known each other for a long time.
To be clear, Maloney wasn’t knocking Miller or anything like that, as he was just saying what it was – Fox is more comfortable with Lindgren than anybody else on the Rangers – and really – in all of the NHL too.
Come 1PM, Sam and Joe hit our TV screens, where I was expecting Rosen to proudly belt out, “OH JOE, GIANTS VS JETS JOE, LIVE FROM THE POLO GROUNDS JOE!”
While that didn’t happen, what actually transpired was Micheletti playing the role of CZAR IGOR’s agent, and hoping for “MVP, MVP, MVP!” chants for the future highest-paid goalie in the league – and rather than the customary “IGOR, IGOR, IGOR” chants that we hear every night – and chants that we’d soon hear again on Sunday.
It was hard to argue against Jumpin’ Joe.
GAME REVIEW time!
FIRST PERIOD
The Islanders started this game by pretty much controlling the puck in the Rangers’ zone – and this trend would play out more times than not as the game progressed.
And really – if it weren’t for the Rangers’ super special teams – then shudder the thought!
The new lines, and predictably, needed some time to get going, which in turn, meant that CZAR IGOR had to make several big saves early, including on both Noah Dobson and John MacLean’s kid.
At the 3:12 mark, and with the Rangers having no shots on goal on the board just yet, we had a captain-on-captain penalty, when Trouba held the stick of Anders Lee as the Isle was racing towards CZAR IGOR’s net.
Prior to what took place next, the Rangers’ PK, overall 31/34, was ranked tops in the league.
The Isles’ power-play was ranked 24th-overall.
End result after today’s game?
The Blueshirts’ boosted their league-best penalty kill numbers by going a flawless five-of-five.
And oh yeah – they scored another shorthanded goal too:
#1 PK team in the NHL strikes again #NYR pic.twitter.com/VDbQl3mvQD
— David 🏒 (@DaveyUpper) November 3, 2024
1-0, GOOD GUYS, following a give-and-go shorty goal, as set-up by the BFF, Zibanejad and Kreider.
At this rate, can we consider Mika as a “SPECIAL TEAMS MERCHANT?”
Of Mika’s three assists, this was the one that he truly earned and worked hard for.
And for CHRISTOPHER JAMES KREIDER?
This was his ninth short-handed goal ever since being first placed on the penalty killing units by former coach, “THE TURK,” Gerard Gallant.
These nine goals are also the most short-handed goals scored in the league by any one player since the 2021-22 season.
Impressive!
The penalty kill wasn’t done yet either.
Right after Kreider’s beaut, the PK2 unit came on and Reilly Smith was just absolutely robbed by Sorokin on what should’ve been the second shorty of the same penalty kill.
Granted, perhaps Smith abetted Sorokin a bit, as he didn’t lift the puck; but either way, this post-to-post save was highlight reel stuff.
No matter what – and this was a perfect PK – and one that didn’t allow one Islander SOG either.
Following the successful kill, then you thought that the Rangers would gas up and pump in more goals.
That’s not exactly what happened, as rather, the Isles remained the aggressor and better team at even-strength.
And again, this was an Islander team that struggles to score even when fully healthy, much less when beaten-and-battered by injuries.
But alas, the Rangers have that CZAR IGOR guy, and a #31 who went a perfect 11-of-11 in this first frame.
As we crossed the half-way mark of the period and the Blueshirts had more short-handed shots than while at full-strength.
But of course, a SOG wasn’t recorded when Filip Chytil heard a <DING> with 10:15 remaining.
CZAR IGOR continued to match his buddy, Sorokin, by making highlight reel saves himself, including when he stopped Kyle Palmieri from point-blank range.
Speaking of Palmieri, the ex-Devil-turned-Islander took a nasty cut to the face on a Rangers’ follow-through, which as a result, he looked like he was cut-up by Edward Scissorhands.
After getting stitched up – he never missed a shift.
Yeah, he’s an Islander and we hate him for that, but this too – HOCKEY PLAYERS.
Down to nine minutes remaining and the Rangers had five shots on goal – and where three of them were shorthanded.
The Isles continued to attack by putting together several lengthy shifts in the Rangers’ zone.
It was the Lindgren and Fox pair that ended one of these attacks, and in turn, they had the best 5 x 5 shift of the period, where they forced Sorokin into making stops on both of them with 6:30 remaining.
Now down to 5:40 remaining and Sam Carrick had all day to pot a puck past Sorokin, but perhaps because he was so shocked that he was all alone, he was unable to do so.
However, this play did speak to Carrick’s ability to get to the net – and much like his wingers, Edstrom and Vesey (the latter never missing a beat in his return) – he was great all game.
Heck, I’d say that the fourth line was the best Rangers’ trio of this contest.
The two Russian BFF backstops continued to exchange saves as we made our way to the end of the period.
1-0, GOOD GUYS, after twenty-minutes.
Here’s what I said at the time:
1-0, GOOD GUYS, after 20. 1P Thoughts:
— Again – CZAR IGOR, CZAR IGOR, CZAR IGOR – 11 saves.
— Sororkin, 10 saves, has been equally as impressive.
— Took some time for #NYR to find their 5 x 5 game – at least the PK remains elite.
— Watch Panarin – he’s taking some big…— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) November 3, 2024
SECOND PERIOD
As you were just begging for the 5 x 5 game to get going, Vincent Trocheck took care of that – and just 1:21 into this middle period:
Trocheck with his 200 career goal #NYR pic.twitter.com/0HMAWQmCb5
— David 🏒 (@DaveyUpper) November 3, 2024
2-0, GOOD GUYS!
This was a hell of a cross-ice goal, as Smith, reunited with Trocheck for the first time in seven-years, found his new center for this 2-0 bang-job.
Similar to the Kreider shorty, and you thought that following this goal, the Rangers would dominate.
Again, that’s not what happened, as instead, the Isles’ continued to be the better team – but they weren’t better than CZAR IGOR.
As CZAR IGOR continued to make the stops (17 of 18 in the period), Vesey almost came close to giving the Rangers the “dreaded three-goal lead,” one that’s plagued the Isles for years – but Sorokin wasn’t having any of it.
In the biggest “WHAT ARE YOU DOING K’ANDRE?” moment of the game, and of many; Miller was stripped of the puck at the Rangers’ blue line by Bo Horvat, which then led CZAR IGOR into making a breakaway save with 16:00 on the clock.
What could’ve been Isles’ momentum soon turned into Rangers’ momentum.
Or at least temporarily.
Just a few seconds later, and following an initial save on AHLer Pierre Engvall, and Casey Cizikas poked a puck past CZAR IGOR.
2-1, good guys.
CZAR IGOR thought he had stopped Engvall cleanly, but as you can tell, this wasn’t the case.
Since he doesn’t give up many of these, then yes, this was the worst goal that CZAR IGOR has afforded all season.
Despite the two goals that he’d later go on to score (power-play and empty-netter), then I thought that Panarin was rendered ineffective with Mika as his center.
Since Mika isn’t physical and doesn’t hit anyone, then he doesn’t open up space for “The Breadman” like Trocheck always does.
Keep an eye on this in future games, assuming that these new lines aren’t reverted.
Up next was a series of penalties:
— Kreider hooked Wahlstrom with 14:05 remaining – a call that I thought was soft.
— With 37-seconds left on the kill without their best PKer, the Rangers took another penalty, thus giving the Isles a 5 x 3 power-play, when Fox blatantly airmailed a puck over the glass.
— CZAR IGOR made a monstrous BESSIE glove save on the 5 x 3 PK – and then made a “kiss my ass” swagger move afterwards.
— The Rangers killed the Kreider penalty.
—- Now on the traditional 5 x 4 power-play, such a man-advantage was negated when Lee tripped/interfered with Trouba.
— We now had some foreplay.
— We then had an abbreviated 43-second Ranger power-play.
— We also had a 5 x 3 power-play for the Blueshirts, as with 10:11 remaining, Pulock hooked Trocheck.
— Rosen was going on-and-on about how great Lafreniere is – but yet – he still remains on the rarely used PP2.
Then and with only seconds remaining on the Pulock penalty – Breadman baked from DOWNTOWN JULIE BROWN:
ARTEMI PANARIN!
IT’S A POWER PLAY GOAL! pic.twitter.com/W96vGpWEYn
— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) November 3, 2024
3-1, GOOD GUYS – and your game-winning goal too.
Mika & Fox were given assists on this goal, Panarin’s eighth of the season – but I thought these helpers were fugazi.
As they normally do, the Rangers passed-passed-passed, and Panarin tried a HAIL MARY from the blue line – and a prayer that was answered.
Who really deserved the assist on this power-play strike?
Panarin’s now former regular center, Trocheck, as he had Sorokin partially screened.
The other two?
They just happened to be the last two people to touch the puck before Panarin shot it.
As the fourth line continued to motor, while CZAR IGOR did the same, Micheletti once again made it clear that the Rangers’ starter will one day get paid.
Down to 5:24 remaining and Sorokin made an all-worldly save when he absolutely robbed Lafreniere.
Despite what the 5-2 final suggests – and this was a goalies’ duel.
I said it at the time (check my Twitter page at @NYCTHEMIC for the evidence), but as we got under five-minutes remaining and the Rangers got sloppy – and where you felt like an Isle goal was coming.
The Isles’ caved in the Chytil line with 4:00 to go.
Miller lost his stick when trying to check the new Russian in blue-and-orange, Maxim Tsyplakov, which then forced CZAR IGOR into making a pair of saves with 2:42 to go.
CZAR IGOR then made a save on an Isles’ redirection that just screamed goal.
And then, and with only eight-seconds remaining, Palmieri finally got that goal for the Isles, as after making Trouba look foolish, while Miller was doing god-knows-what, Palmieri found Nelson to Igor’s weak side for the easy, and no-doubt-about-it, tap-in goal.
3-2, good guys – and a real bad taste in your mouth.
We remained with that score as the period concluded.
Here’s what I said at the time:
3-2, GOOD GUYS, after 40. 2P Thoughts:
— New line-up, same old #NYR – relying on CZAR IGOR all game and despite the Isles missing five starters – only lead by one.
— Panarin, despite the PPG, has been neutered.
— Despite five total goals, this has been a goalie’s duel.
—…— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) November 3, 2024
THIRD PERIOD
Following never-ending Kamala Harris commercials promoting abortion, and as if these procedures can be had of the BOGO free variety, the final frame commenced.
While it was messy like an abortion, the Rangers would soon abort the Isles’ chances of winning this game.
It wasn’t just me saying that the Rangers didn’t match-up well with the Isles at five-vs-five:
Sam and Joe, like all of us, are absolutely befuddled over the fact that Isles are dominating this game, getting a zillion shots on goal – and all of this while missing five guys and not doing much scoring even when 100% healthy. #NYR
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) November 3, 2024
To open the period, CZAR IGOR made a pair of two-vs-one odd-man rush saves and also got bailed out when Nelson went wide on another.
As the Rangers continued to complain about not getting calls (Chytil thought he drew one prior to Nelson’s goal – but you’d never see such a call made in the playoffs which is why I was fine with the no call), the Rangers finally received a two-minute power-play when Holmstrom held Kakko at the 1:42 mark.
There was nothing doing on this Rangers’ power-play (Thanks Mika Virus), that is, except for Kakko being unable to score into an empty net, as big man Scott Mayfield got to him first.
Up next, a save to remember:
Isles kill the #NYR PP and CZAR IGOR prevents the jack in the box 2 x 1 try from Holmstrom to Horvat, remember that save.
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) November 3, 2024
Following the save?
You could hear the “IGOR, IGOR, IGOR” chants in Giants Stadium – as Big Blue were well on their way into losing again at the same time.
(As first brought up on Friday – what moron scheduled this game head-to-head against an NFL local?)
Down to 14:39 remaining – one of the craziest goals that you’ll ever see, and where at the time, three different Rangers (Carrick, Smith and Edstrom) were taking credit for it:
The Rangers extend the lead to 4-2! pic.twitter.com/svlWwZrG4B
— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) November 3, 2024
4-2, GOOD GUYS – and what a way for Edstrom to pick up his first of the season!
Thirteen-seconds after the goal?
No time to relax, as Fox once again put another puck over the glass.
CZAR IGOR made sure that the Rangers’ PK finished as 100%.
As Kakko was turning over pucks, and despite this game nowhere close to being over with 10:00 remaining; Sam Rosen was already in wrap-up mode by talking about how excited he was to see “OLD FRIEND” Lindy Ruff on Thursday, while Joe Micheletti, and only he knows why, was going on-and-on about Joe Montana’s career at Notre Dame.
I’m not making this up.
To fast-forward a bit like Sam and Joe, then the fourth line continued to excel as the game progressed to its finish.
The Rangers also had a chance to seal the deal with 5:26 remaining, but while on a 3 x 2 odd-man rush, Zibanejad shot the puck so soft and meekly that it looked like Sorokin was laughing about it afterwards.
Down to 4:00 remaining and Isles’ bench boss, Patrick Roy, and as the person who created this strategy, pulled Sorokin.
As 18,006 Garden patrons were chanting “IGOR, IGOR, IGOR,” as everyone wants CZAR IGOR’s first goal (and had he scored – then he’d have as half as many goals as Mika has scored this season); instead another Russian scored into the Isles’ empty net, Panarin himself, who put the Rangers ahead, 5-2, with 3:23 remaining.
This is also where Zibanejad (secondary) received his third assist of the game – and really – he had nothing to do with this goal outside of touching the puck.
This goal was solely all about Panarin shooting from behind his blue line after getting a loose puck and finding twine.
Micheletti’s response to the goal?
“The Isles work hard Sam.”
As repeated on this site about 978679869869697986986 times in the past, then I’d love to hear what team that Micheletti thinks doesn’t work hard.
The game wasn’t put to bed just yet, as with 2:07 remaining, Chytil took a stupid penalty when he slashed Mayfield.
Mayfield wanted to fight “The Concussed Czech” right-then-and-there – but the officials stepped in before Mayfield could send Chytil to another hospital room.
And if you don’t believe that would’ve been the case, then just ask Ryan Lindgren.
The Rangers didn’t lose focus here and thus preserved CZAR IGOR’s 2 goals allowed, .946 save percentage, performance.
As triple-zeroes flashed, 5-2, GOOD GUYS, your final – but never a game where you ever felt comfortable, nor one where the Rangers ever excelled at even-strength – their kryptonite come playoff time.
As we get to the finish line tonight, then I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention two anniversaries in franchise history, with both events taking place on the date of November 2nd.
The first one?
Perhaps the most emotional night ever at M$G – the Eddie Giacomin return game (and you can find the full story about it here: “Tricks of the Trade.” ):
The other anniversary is definitely a lot less emotional than Giacomin’s return to the Garden.
Of course, I’m talking about the day when adult film actress, Lisa Ann, called out Michael Del Zotto on what was then a relatively new social media app, something called “Twitter!”
Up Next: As noted earlier, a break, as the Rangers don’t return until Thursday when they will host their WINTER CLASSIC RIVALS, the Sabres.
Of Note: I’m going to Saturday’s game in Detroit (I’ve been to the Old Joe, but I’ve never been to the Pizza Palace in Michigan) and I’m flying out on Thursday.
In other words, I should have something posted between now and Thursday, most likely recapping whatever went down at the practices, but there may not be a Sabres/Rangers GAME REVIEW blog.
I will post something about the Red Wings/Rangers rematch, their third tilt of the season already, but I probably won’t do so until I return home on Sunday afternoon.
Eleven games down for the 8-2-1 Rangers and where they should improve to 10-2-1 by the time Winnipeg rolls into town – the only Jets in sports that matter!
Until next time, it’s now…
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
