NYR/COL 1/14 Review: Rangers’ Fourth Line – “Carrick Carries,” “Steady Eddie” & “REMPESTEIN” – Puts Forth a Flawless Performance – But Big Buck Blueshirts Brutally Betray Them; CZAR IGOR Out-Played By Blackwood Too, Bullish Breakaways & Missed Nets Bury Blueshirts, Kreider & Chytil Are Back; Rangers Return to Losing Ways Too, The Laughable “Resurgence” of Same Old Missing Mika; FAT CAT Lafreniere Not Much Better, Optimum v. M$GN Update, Mid-Season Report Card, Updated Standings, Tony DeAngelo is Home & More

The Blueshirts, who need to gain every point possible if reaching the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs still remains as the mission, extended their point streak total to five consecutive games on Tuesday night in Denver, Colorado. However, and following their 3-2 overtime loss to the Avalanche from the night of January 14th – it’s the lost point – and not the point gained – that’s the lede story throughout Rangerstown, USA. I’m not exaggerating when I say this: “Lavy’s Lot” had about fifty different chances to put away this Colorado crew – and where in addition – the Blueshirts had a bevy of breakaways as well – and a 4 x 3 power-play in overtime too, when attempting to do so. Simply stated? They failed – and they failed big-time – which of course – is not new in these parts. Instead – and unfortunately – it’s routine for these Rangers.

Greetings and salutations everyone and welcome to another blog here on BlueCollarBlueShirts.com. Can anyone hit a net around here?!?!?!?!

While we all know that shooting percentage statistics are somewhat akin to baseball batting averages – meaning that if you fail every seven out of ten times – then you’re doing pretty well; but seriously speaking – then how do the best hockey players in the world fail to miss the net time-and-time again – and then a billion more times too?

I just don’t get it.

Perhaps Chris Drury should get an optometrist on payroll.

Granted, while the Rangers can’t afford to give up any more points in the standings – and because of the predicament that they put themselves in; but at the same time – had the Blueshirts been “GOALIED” on Tuesday night in The Mile High City – then at least that would’ve been acceptable – or at the very least – understandable.

Admittedly, the new big-earner in Denver, goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood, did have a tremendous game in New York’s 3-2 overtime loss.

However, and despite making 27 saves on 29 shots – he easily watched thrice that amount either sail wide aside him or high over his head.

Simply stated: The Blueshirts let him off of the hook – and in turn – pissed away another point.


As noted many times on this site throughout this season and Sam Carrick has more than earned his $1M in salary. Better than that? Then once the calendar flipped to 2025 – and the fourth line center has become a scoring machine too. Carrick, and his two flanks, The Skyscrapers, Matt Rempe and Adam Edstrom, were the three best skaters that the Rangers had against the Avalanche. Unfortunately, this line, not even making a collective $3M in total, didn’t get an ounce of help from all of the Big Buck Blueshirts – aka – THE FAT CATS.

There are many phrases that yours truly, and many others, perhaps including yourselves, have used when talking about this team and their games played this season, including “WORST LOSS OF THE SEASON” and “BEST WIN OF THE SEASON” – and where sadly – there are a whole lot more candidates and contenders for the former rather than the latter.

This 3-2 overtime loss?

This description:

“MOST HEARTBREAKING LOSS OF THE SEASON.”

And you can add “BIGGEST GUT PUNCH GAME OF THE CAMPAIGN” too.

There were only three players in Rangers’ white that not only performed – but executed too on Tuesday night – Sam Carrick (1 goal, 1 assist , +2), Adam Edstrom (1 goal, +1) and Matt Rempe (+1).

To a lesser extent and the Blueshirts’ second-pair of rearguards, K’Andre Miller and Big Billy Borgen, also had a good game.

Everyone else?

While I wouldn’t knock them for a lack of effort – but there was certainly a lack of production – and where everyone with fat paychecks failed to deliver.


Super Mario Trocheck dominated at the circles on Tuesday night behind a season-high showing of 19 wins and only 4 losses (82.4%). However, and just like everyone else earning big money – and he too not only couldn’t put a puck into the back of the net – but he also missed the net time-and-time again. Photo Credit: Mrs. Trocheck

The Blueshirts, who have somewhat found their mojo following their 2024 finales and flops in Florida (6-2 loss to the Lightning on 12/28 and a 5-3 loss to the Panthers on 12/30), are now 5-1-2 during this first month of 2025.

And if it hadn’t been for the final eight-weeks of the previous year, then you wouldn’t be upset about the two overtime losses sustained during these past two-weeks either (the 1/7 game against Dallas, a 5-4 final, being the other OTL).

While the Rangers did blow third period leads in both of these games – at least you couldn’t question their effort against these “litmus test” teams – and where questioning the Blueshirts effort – or lack thereof – has been a regular occurrence.

The Rangers not only played well enough to win at the Ball Arena on Tuesday night – but they should’ve won the match – and they should have won it about one hundred times over.

Between the likes of Artemi Panarin, Vincent Trocheck, Filip Chytil, Chris Kreider and where there were no two bigger Blueshirt offenders of missing wide-open nets and blowing chances like both Alexis Lafreniere and Mika Zibanejad – then due to their lack of execution – you can point all of your fingers at THE FAT CATS for this latest failure.

And yep, you can blame CZAR IGOR too, the starting backstop who continues to lend credence to my original talking point from over eleven-years ago – blasphemous to many at the time but now commonplace today – you don’t need to make your goalie the highest-paid in the league, nor dedicate 10% of your salary cap dollars to him either.

(But to be fair – CZAR IGOR doesn’t possess any of these traits just yet. Instead, they both kick in next season when his new contract goes into effect.)

Similar to CZAR IGOR and Mackenzie Blackwood will be earning the most money of his career next season, following his five-year pact worth $26,250,000 ($5,250,000 annually) that was agreed upon a few weeks back on December 27th, 2024.

But in the present?

Then Blackwood is currently a $2,350,000 cap-hit for the Avalanche, while the 2022 Vezina Trophy winner is earning over $3M more – or $5,666,667 to be specific.

And as we see daily throughout the league – as this isn’t a problem solely exclusive to the Rangers (after all, and Jonathan Quick, at $1,275,000 this season, has out-played – and beat – many goalies earning more than him) – and once again a much cheaper goalie out-performed one of the upper-echelon earners amongst his fellow backstop brethren.

That both said and out of the way – we shouldn’t even be talking about CZAR IGOR vs. Mackenzie Blackwood right now – as rather – we should be talking about how the Rangers won Tuesday’s tilt – and not in overtime either – but during regulation time instead.


I couldn’t stop laughing on Tuesday when Newsday reporter, Colin Stephenson, and even both Sam Rosen and Joe Micheletti, were doing this too, was talking about Mika’s “resurgence.” Really? He’s turned the corner in their eyes just because one of his millions of missing one-timers found the groin of Trocheck in Vegas, which in turn, led to an assist? On Tuesday night, and this Blueshirts’ Bum, Miserable Mika, failed at the circles (46.2%), “led” the Rangers to an 0-3 power-play, finished as a game-low -2 – and for the rotten cherry on top – couldn’t beat Blackwood on a breakaway while in overtime – nor bothered to play defense on Devon Toews walkoff winner either. What a resurgence! Furthermore? And his returning BFF, Chris Kreider, removed from this headcase, was actually making plays (and where he should’ve had at least three assists to his name – and for a guy who only has two on the year – that would’ve been huge) – but his linemates – and just like the rest of the Top-9 – failed to finish on every occasion.

The Rangers had to survive a storm – or pardon the pun – an “avalanche” – during the early beginnings of Tuesday’s contest in Denver.

However, between CZAR IGOR making some key stops, Borgen saving goals with timely blocks and Lindgren blocking everything that he could too (game-high 5 blocked shots), and the Blueshirts were able to get out of it.

Speaking of blocked shots, then these Blueshirts, who just sacrificed their bodies last time around on Saturday night, when they blocked 21 different Vegas attempts, finished with 22 blocked shots on Tuesday.

While that total is extremely impressive – and these guys were stepping in front of pucks whenever they could – it should also be noted that the Blueshirts had blocked 18 shots through forty-minutes of play – and where come crunch time – they couldn’t keep up that pace.

But it is worth mentioning that these two past games have been a little bit of John Tortorella hockey – and right down to low scoring matches too.

Despite what looked like escaping an initial onslaught, it were the Avalanche who struck first – and early at that too – as a brain fart on defense, where all three forwards (third line) were caught near the blue line, led to a wide-open Parker Kelly scoring at the 4:53 mark.

However, the Rangers are used to trailing – and only recently – have had a flair for the comeback too.

At the 11:02 mark and still down 1-0 – and Kreider was sent to the sin bin for tripping Cale Makar.

The Blueshirts, now without their best penalty killing forward, had to prevent one of the better power-play quintets of the league from making this a 2-0 game.

Leave it to Sam Carrick, who continues to earn Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award consideration on a game-by-game basis, to dig the Rangers out of it.

Carrick, no stranger to the heroics these days, and where his overtime winner against the Devils has been one of the biggest Blueshirt highlights of the season, scored another huge goal without ten skaters on the ice.

At the 11:55 mark, when shorthanded and after capitalizing on a Makar turnover too – and Carrick delivered a breakaway goal.

1-1.

Crazier than that?

The Rangers had about 6756757575757685 breakaways in this game – but it was this Carrick man-down breakaway that resulted in the only “Lone Ranger” mano-a-mano goal.

These two teams, tied at 1-1 come the start of the second stanza, exchanged a bunch of big blows with each other and where very quickly, what began as a one-sided affair had turned into an electrifying and exciting two-way hockey game.

However, whenever the Rangers took the advantage – and I’ve already made mention of this a few times already – and they never could make it count.

Heck, during one Blueshirts’ power-play – a rare two-minutes of time where pucks actually hit the net – and Blackwood totaled seven saves.

Conversely?

The Avalanche had three man-up attempts of their own, and where not only did they give up a shorty to a fourth-liner – but they didn’t record a SOG during their first two tries – and then only managed one chance against CZAR IGOR on their third.

To quickly go back to goalie salaries and the workload tonight?

Then Blackwood totaled ten short-handed saves – so ten-times the amount that CZAR IGOR finished with.

Again, the Blueshirts’ fourth trio, who could do no wrong on this night, and in both ends as well, put the Rangers ahead at the halfway mark of both the game and the second period – as an alert Carrick sprung a wide-open Adam Edstrom for the 2-1, Rangers, goal.

Earlier in the match and Edstrom was denied on his own breakaway – so this was also a “redemption” score for a player, that very much like his center, is starting to pot pucks.

Furthermore, and both Edstrom and Carrick left Colorado with a total of four goals on the season too.

As the second stanza became the final frame and the score remained the same.

Colorado’s inability to score goals was mainly because of the Rangers’ defense – who didn’t really allow much.

Put it this way: None of the name-brand Avalanche (MacKinnon, Rantanen and Makar) scored goals against the Rangers on this night – and as mentioned – nor while on three different power-plays.

But of course, and the same can be said about the big-named Blueshirts too.

However, and unlike their opponents, it wasn’t defense that did them in.

Instead, the Blueshirts pretty much “Plaxico’d” themselves (shot themselves in the foot) – as the Rangers just blew breakaway-after-breakaway and many odd-man rushes too.

And yes – I know that I’m getting repetitive here – but that’s intentional – as I wanted to reflect how repetitive the Rangers were when both missing every net imaginable, while also shooting 99.9% of all pucks high or wide.

As the clock was winding down, and where it looked like the Blueshirts, and despite their inability to score goals, would come out of this as a winner – and as usual – they “Ranger’d” it up.

After killing their third-and-final power-play of the game with only five-minutes remaining, then and as we hit the two-minute warning – and Blackwood’s butt was on the bench for the extra attacker.

A few seconds later, and with only 73-seconds left on the clock – and CZAR IGOR gave up a rebound on a Rantanen shot that Lindgren was unable to clear – and as a result – BANG – there was Artturi Lehkonen to pick up the loose change with the 2-2 equalizer.

Despite giving up the demoralizing goal – and the Rangers still had chances to put this to bed.

Following Lafreniere missing the net (you would’ve been in an ER room, getting your stomach pumped, if you took a drink whenever Rosen said, “Lafreniere, shot goes wide” on Tuesday night), then overtime was required.

Just 45-seconds into the bonus time and Rantanen had interfered with Adam Fox.

As a result, the Blueshirts had the most opportunistic power-play imaginable – as with a 4 x 3 – you get more room to work with as opposed to the traditional 5 x 4 variety.

I’m not making this up – as this is how Rosen called these two minutes:

“Panarin shoots, save for Blackwood, Trocheck shoots, save for Blackwood, Zibanejad shoots, shot goes wide, Trocheck shoots, it goes wide, Lafreniere with a shot and it goes high, Adam Fox hits the side of the net, Panarin goes wide, Trocheck hits the side of the net, Mika – and OH JOE – it goes wide and Colorado clears the zone.”

And even after blowing this power-play – and the Rangers still had one last chance to emerge victorious.

But when the pig-headed head coach continues to never hold Zibanejad accountable – then you reap what you sow.

Rather than relying on Carrick more, instead, Laviolette continued to feature Missing Mika more and more.

Nearing the final minute and Mika had a chance to prove that he has had a “resurgence.”

The idiot couldn’t beat Blackwood on a dead-to-rights breakaway – nor did #93 use his patented backhand either.

Zibanejad, when he was at the height of his powers, would even pull “The Forsberg” in these situations – but since he’s cold as the Colorado snow – it was a simple shot – a sigh of relief for Blackwood – and then worse than that – an immediate Avalanche goal in the other end.

Following Mika’s latest dance with deficiency, the Avs marched up ice, Mika looked like that he didn’t have a care in the world, and your alleged first line center, stealing $8.5M annually from this franchise during the past two seasons, made a lame and half-hearted swing of the stick, as a MacKinnon pass found Devon Toews for the one-timed game-winner – and with only 37-seconds left before a potential shootout.

In a game that they could’ve won multiple times over – and one where they did display effort but not execution – the Rangers, as a result, then boarded their Utah-bound plane with slumping shoulders and poor posture – and rather with their heads held high – and as should’ve been the case.

And just to jump ahead a bit, and to follow-up on what I’ve been saying for some time now – then here are the updated standings:

As I’ve repeated to the point where I’m now blue in my Blueshirts’ face – and it was foolish to say that “The Rangers were ONLY four-points out of a playoff spot” when entering Tuesday night. The reality of the situation is that the Blueshirts have to leapfrog six other teams, while trying to fend off two more – an insurmountable task when also considering that all of these teams play each other a lot during the stretch, which in turn, means that on any given night, then one of them will walk away with two points – and where the loser could even get a point too. Photo Credit: ESPN

At this time, let’s get the disclaimer segment out of the way before talking about everything else from another Rangers’ loss – but where at least it was Blackwood – and not previous Colorado starter, Alexandar Georgiev, that did them in.

However, I do want to remind you that this disclaimer has always implied that the Rangers would reach the playoffs.

In other words, and for the first time in four seasons as well – it’s now high time to start judging these guys in the regular season too.

After all, there may be no post-season in New York this year.


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:

“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, forty-three down, thirty-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?

I still wouldn’t bet on it.


In case you missed it, then here’s where I last left off –my 11th annual Mid-Season Report Card:


While Laviolette has cost this team many points this season, and mainly because of his obsession over Zibanejad; but he wasn’t the reason why the Rangers lost on Tuesday night. That said, and I’m still waiting to see if the head coach will ever give this sorry sack the “Zac Jones Treatment.”

I previously covered all of the off-day news here: https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/ms25/

As far as Tuesday’s optional morning skate went, then both Chytil and Kreider were there – but Laviolette wouldn’t confirm them as able to go following the practice.

However, we found out at 5PM that at least Chytil would make his 987676796676786th epic grand return of his career, as the Blueshirts announced that “center insurance policy,” Bo Groulx, previously called-up for Brett Berard, had been returned to Hartford.

And come puck drop – and as it was during Monday’s practice too – and both Kreider and Chytil returned – and where the latest soon-to-be failed reclamation project, Arthur Kaliyev, joined them on the team’s latest rendition of a third line.

In other news from the Tuesday, a story about a member of the alum:


DeAngelo, 6-26-32 in 34 games played this season for CZAR IGOR’s former club, SKA, had been playing well for one of the worst teams in the KHL today.

I have no clue what DeAngelo’s family situation is.

Perhaps that was his uncle at the Eagles game last week that was cursing out that female Packer fan!

Then again, maybe he just wants to be home for the big party this upcoming Monday – when the greatest president of our life-time, Donald Trump, gets inaugurated for the second time.

And of course – I’m also wondering about an NHL return for a player that could boost any team’s power-play.

While DeAngelo 2.0 won’t take place in New York with Chris Drury still here; but he’d be a super-cheap addition (at a veteran’s minimum prorated salary) for somebody else.

Going into this 2024-25 campaign and DeAngelo waited until the last second, and once receiving no NHL offers, he then went to Russia.

If there’s anything that could hurt DeAngelo’s dream of returning to the show, then it’s what has hurt him in the past, and for as right or as wrong as it may be, his Twitter account.

While I believe that DeAngelo, and others like him, have been vindicated for their previous opinions on Trump – and as this 2024 Presidential Election proved – he’s still going at it with no-name fans on Elon Musk’s app.

But I’m sure that if a job offer came his way, then he’d cease his routine online squabbles with losers.

We’ve done the DeAngelo deep dives before, so no need to do it again here.

The best of luck to him and his family.


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

FIRST LINE: Panarin/Trocheck/Lafreniere

SECOND LINE: Cuylle/Mika/Smith

THIRD LINE: Kreider/Chytil/Kaliyev

FOURTH LINE: Edstrom/Brodzinski/Rempe

FIRST PAIR: Lindgren/Fox

SECOND PAIR: Miller/Borgen

THIRD PAIR: Vaakanainen/Schneider

STARTING GOALIE: CZAR IGOR

BACK UP GOALIE: Jonathan Quick

HEALTHY SCRATCHES: Zac Jones, Jonny Brodzinski and Jimmy Vesey


BOX SCORE time.

The following graphics and information come from ESPN.com:

SCORING:

PENALTIES:

TEAM STATS:

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS:

GOALIES:

NYR
SA
GA
SV
SV%
ESSV
PPSV
SHSV
SOSA
SOS
TOI
PIM
26 3 23 .885 22 1 0 0 0 64:16 0

 

COL
SA
GA
SV
SV%
ESSV
PPSV
SHSV
SOSA
SOS
TOI
PIM
29 2 27 .931 15 10 2 0 0 63:15 0

Place your bets, place your bets! When will Filip Chytil get injured again? Someone start a date pool! I’ll take January 27th!

Due to the late start of this game, my own busy work schedule and the fact that I had to watch this contest on an illegal stream that froze more times than a Chytil brain scan, then I don’t have a detailed GAME REVIEW for you tonight.

Furthermore, and again “my job, my job, waa waa,” then I passed out once returned home too – as I’m now writing this at 7AM – and where again “my job, my job, waa waa,” I have to be back in at 11AM.

UGH!

However, I did get some minimal play-by-play coverage of this game over at my X account, which you fan find here: https://x.com/NYCTheMiC

In short, just the highlights tonight – and where really – I pretty much summed this game up during the into.

And really, all that you need to know is that Zibanejad sucks and that this team can’t hit a net if their life depended on it.

With this cheery GAME REVIEW preamble out of the way – let’s now get into it!


Here’s a picture of Kaliyev with his former team, the L.A. Kings. I share this picture with you because you might not know what he looks like as a Ranger – as after all – he’s barely noticeable. Photo Credit: LA Kings

FIRST PERIOD

After laughing at Colin Stephenson proudly proclaiming that Zibanejad is back – and as if he was George Costanza doing the same; then Sam and Joe parroted Stephenson to begin the broadcast.

Not mentioned by these three?

How Zibanejad ranks 778 of 778 players in the plus/minus stat and how the Blueshirts’ power-play are 2 of their last 35 tries with him out there.

RESURGENCE indeed!

Then again, maybe these Three Stooges are trying to help the Rangers out – by pumping him up to other teams.

Following Zibanejad losing the first draw of the game, which as a result, almost led to an Avalanche goal, then, and just one-minute in and Rosen and Micheletti felt this was a good time to give us a deep dissertation into the state of Winnipeg Jets hockey.

Sadly, I’m not making this up.

Just 1:42 in and Borgen blocked a shot – and because my stream was going in-and-out – I didn’t see the Avalanche who shot it. But CZAR IGOR left the net open and the big-bodied Borgen was able to prevent another goal allowed within the opening first two-minutes of a match.

After surviving Colorado’s initial onslaught, and where the SOG totals already favored the home team by a 4-0 tally – Edstrom recorded the Rangers’ first SOG – but as noted earlier – and Blackwood denied this first of 798679679679679898 different Blueshirt breakaways.

Following Lindgren missing the net twice, then each goalie came up with a big save of their own, as CZAR IGOR stopped MacKinnon while Blackwood denied Cuylle.

As Rosen was talking about the Kreider and Chytil returns – and I’m not making this up – he said, “KREIDER ON THE LEFT, KALIYEV ON THE RIGHT, OH JOE, I’M STUCK HERE IN THE MIDDLE WITH YOU!”

Okay, he didn’t say  the Gerry Rafferty song title verbatim – but he did mention who was flanking Chytil – and in this fashion.

And similar to being stuck in the middle – so were the Rangers with Missing Mika and the Concussed Czech – and where that song is stuck in my head too!

Speaking of Half-Glass Fil, then Mr. Brittle had a chance to score from one-foot out. He missed the net which then allowed the home team to march up ice and easily beat CZAR IGOR:

 


1-0, bad guys.

And while I can understand why Chytil’s head is in the clouds, the usual location for him after all of his concussions – but I have no clue what Kreider and Kaliyev were doing here.

That said, and the Avalanche wouldn’t score again for another 55-minutes or so – but yep – when they did – it was a game-changer.

Right after this and MacKinnon, who struggled at points, couldn’t beat CZAR IGOR on a 3 x 1 odd-man rush.

Here’s how I summed up the half-way mark of the period:


The Rangers’ PK finished 1-1 – and this is when Carrick scored too:


1-1.

Here’s a thought:

What would Sam Carrick bring back in return at the trade deadline?

While I’m not advocating for such a swap; but you have to think that a few contending teams would be interested in him – and just like how the Oilers were at last year’s deadline – you know – an Edmonton that then went on to lose a Game 7 of a Stanley Cup final.

All short-handed goals are big – but this one especially so – as it kind of took the life out of the Avalanche – and of course – their home crowd too.

With 5:10 remaining, Keaton Middleton, “OH JOE, NO RELATIONS TO BUSTER KEATON OR KATE MIDDLETON JOE,” airmailed a puck over the glass.

The Rangers’ power-play here you ask?

After dishing the puck around, they tried to set-up Mika – who then shot the puck right at the Big Foot on Blackwood’s chest.

End of threat – and the end of the 0-1 power-play too.

We remained tied at one-all after twenty-minutes.

Here’s what I said at the time:


An AI rendering of JFK today had Zibanejad been the shooter.

SECOND PERIOD

As Sam and Joe were lamenting about only Carrick having success on breakaways, then they didn’t bring up how if Zibanejad had one at this point, then he would’ve knocked out a twerking and Tik-Tokking for Larry Brooks, N.Y. Post airhead Mollie Walker, in the press box.

And as you already know – Zibanejad would get the biggest breakaway of the game – and then mess it up as usual too.

Seriously, when was the last time Mika scored in this easy fashion?

Against his wife when he impregnated her two-years ago?

Seriously, I just can’t stand the sight of him – which is sad – as previous to the past three-years – and he was a good Ranger – but that contract – and his overall attitude – has made me do a complete 180 on him.

He can’t be traded away soon enough.


As Rosen gave us a Colorado geology report, and where the word “altitude” must’ve been repeated no less than a thousand times too, the fourth line had another good shift – and the Rangers missed on another breakaway – and as Lafreniere did at the 2:30 mark.

As noted in the Mid-Season Report Card – and Lafreniere has been awful ever since becoming a FAT CAT.

As the two goalies traded saves – one thing became apparent – Colorado’s big guns couldn’t score – but the Blueshirts were also shooting blanks too.

After talking about how solid that Blackwood was looking, Rosen remarked, “OH JOE, BLACKWOOD HAS BEEN GREAT EVER SINCE REPLACING FORMER RANGER ALEXANDAR GEORGIEV WHO WON A CUP HERE JOE!”

Micheletti didn’t allow this stupid comment to go unchecked – as he quickly corrected his senile buddy and reminded him that it was Darcy Kuemper who won the Cup in Colorado in 2022 – and where Georgiev was then sent to Denver in the summer that followed.

As every shot was going high-and-wide, here was my live stream-of-consciousness tweet:


Here’s the fourth line all picking up a plus in their ratings:


2-1, fourth line – and the last Ranger goal of the night too.

The Blueshirts got even more breaks, and as they did with 7:31 remaining, as U.V. got away with a penalty while CZAR IGOR pulled a Holtby (threw his mask) in order to prevent a Colorado goal.

After that and O’Connor hit a post which then led Carrick into cross-checking him in order to prevent a rebound goal.

I gotta admit – I was hoping that Carrick was going to drop the gloves here – and just so that he would’ve recorded a Gordie Howe hat trick!

The Rangers’ penalty kill, and as they did the first-time around, didn’t allow a SOG during these two-minutes of man-down time.

Once returned to even-strength, and with 4:15 to go, and Ross Colton tripped Fox.

Blackwood made seven saves during this Rangers’ power-play – so even when the FAT CATS were putting shots on goal – they couldn’t make them count on the scoreboard.

2-1, Fourth Line, after 40-minutes.

Here’s what I said at the time:


I don’t think that CZAR IGOR was bad or anything like that – he just wasn’t as good as Blackwood. Photo Credit: NYR

THIRD PERIOD

UPDATE TIME

As I have been bitching about ever since it happened, then as an Optimum customer, I don’t get M$GN anymore.

I was thinking about switching to Verizon, because as a BOOMER, then I do like flipping around with the remote – and I still have no idea what a FUBU or Roku box is either.

On Tuesday morning, I called Optimum.

It was my intent to cancel their services and then go with Verizon (who is offering extremely cheap packages as an incentive to get customers to switch).

To show you how desperate that Optimum is right now – where let’s not also forget – not only are they fighting this battle with M$GN – but they also have to deal with thousands upon thousands of customers cutting the cord altogether too – then after originally offering me $300 to stay on – and while on the phone going back-and-forth with them for ninety-minutes too – they ultimately offered me $950 to stay.

Per their terms, they offered me $550 in credits (money off of my bill) – and then a $400 Visa gift card on top of that.

Presently, I still remain as an Optimum customer – but should this stand-off between Optimum and M$GN continue once my $550 in credits run out – then I’m going to call up and threaten to cancel again.

Long story short?

If you’re an Optimum customer (and spread this to your friends and family who don’t care about M$GN too – as they’ll get money off of their bills as well), then ring them up, ask for the retention department, let them plead their case with you – and then haggle with them to see what you can get.

You’ll at least get the $300 offer to start – and where you’ll have to channel your inner attorney to receive even more.

And oh.

Another reason why I didn’t switch to Verizon?

Because their contract expires with M$GN next year – and where I’d bet my life savings that what’s going on today with Optimum will soon take place with Verizon too.

M$GN are just greedy scumbags – and you can ask Comcast and Xfinity customers for the confirmation – who still don’t have the network following nearly 600 days of “negotiations.”


I’m running out of time.

This third period was a continuation of the Rangers missing the net on every chance that they had, while also blowing every breakaway imaginable.

CZAR IGOR only had to make one save on the Avs’ third-and-final power-play of the game.

With 3:05 remaining, and the 2-1 score still in-tact – and this is when Panarin perfectly set-up Lafreniere with a one-timed feed at an open net – and where the first-overall pick then missed this gaping hole – which may explain why he’s not a father like all of the recent new dads on the club.

Here’s Lehkonen tying the game:


I have no clue what Mika was doing here – outside of acting like the entitled bitch that he is.

Nice temper tantrum too.

2-2 after sixty.

Overtime was required.


Hopefully this takes place on January 20th.

OVERTIME

The Rangers blew their power-play and then Mika blew his breakaway:


Here’s Mr. Selke himself during the game-winning goal – and one that CZAR IGOR should have stopped too:


3-2, bad guys, final.

You can check the Rangers’ YouTube page for all of the post-game interviews – but it was the same old shit – “we have to execute,” “we have to clean up on our chances,” “this was a tough one to lose,” and the rest of the same-old, same-old.


The Rangers play their “Original 32 Rival,” the Utah Hockey Club, for the first time on Thursday night. Photo Credit: UHC

Up Next For The Rangers: A game in Salt Lake City against the former Arizona Coyotes.

Up Next For Me: Hopefully an hour-nap before going back into work! What effort!

Up Next For You: I’ve noticed an up-tick in book sales, so thank you for that, as it’s appreciated. This also brings us to your favorite segment too…

PLUGS TIME! (Buy a book and support my Rangers’ induced therapy bills. After all, I don’t run ads on this site!)


My fourth title and tenth book is now available!

“The Top 100 Villains of New York Rangers History,” is now available for sale!

For complete information, please visit: https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/rangerkillers/


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

My second plug of tonight’s blog – the mandatory plug for my book, “The New York Rangers Rink of Honor and the Rafters of Madison Square Garden.”

As mentioned previously, the book is now available in hardcover, in paperback and in Kindle formats. To purchase a copy of the book, visit this link:

https://www.amazon.com/Rangers-Rafters-Madison-Square-Garden-ebook/dp/B09CM5N2WD

For those still looking for signed paperback versions of the book, I have re-ordered more copies. I now have a few signed copies for sale at $25 a pop (includes shipping price) through me directly. Here is all the information on that:

Order “The New York Rangers Rink of Honor and the Rafters of Madison Square Garden” Book Today


My four-volume set of books, “One Game at a Time – A Season to Remember,” is a game-by-game recount of the Rangers 2021-22 campaign.

My second title as an author, “One Game at a Time – A Season to Remember,” is now available in eBook, paperback and hardcover formats.

To obtain signed copies, visit: https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/onegamebook/

To purchase all four volumes on Amazon, visit: Amazon.com – “One Game at a Time.”


The greatest volume-set of books on Rangers’ history today!

“Tricks of the Trade – A Century-Long Journey Through Every Trade Made In New York Rangers’ History,” a four-volume set of books that meticulously covers every trade made in franchise history, is now on sale.

All four volumes of the title can be purchased on Amazon.com and are presented in three different formats – eBook, paperback and hardcover.

To purchase Volume I: Conn Smythe (1926) – Craig Patrick (1986), visit Amazon.com

To purchase Volume II: Phil Esposito (1986) – Neil Smith (2000), visit Amazon.com

To purchase Volume III: Glen Sather (2000-2015), visit Amazon.com

To purchase Volume IV: Jeff Gorton (2015) – Chris Drury (2022), visit Amazon.com

To purchase signed copies of all four volumes, visit https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/tricksofthetrade/


If you haven’t already, subscribe to this blog for the next update:


Now on sale!

Don’t forget to order my four-volume set of books, “Tricks of the Trade!”

If you don’t order through me, all four volumes are now available on Amazon.com

For more details, check out: https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/tricksofthetrade/

Thanks for reading.

LET’S GO RANGERS!

Sean McCaffrey

BULLSMC@aol.com

@NYCTHEMIC on the Tweeter machine

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