Greetings and salutations everyone and welcome to another blog here on BlueCollarBlueShirts.com. Same Old Rangers.
And perhaps it’s high time for Artemi Panarin to shave his pussy – and where in this case, the word “pussy” is solely intended for #93, a disgrace to the jersey/number that the likes of Petr Nedved and Keith Yandle once wore so proudly – Stinka Zibanedud!
As talked about last time in this space (https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/11425-2/ ), then due to my real-life j-o-b, and I wasn’t able to post a GAME REVIEW blog on Friday night.
Fast-forward some 24-hours following that 4-1 feel-good win in MoTown?
Then that game against Detroit now feels like it took place ages ago – and where after this 5-0 shutout loss on Saturday night against the nomadic Islanders – then that result is pretty much forgettable.
As also brought up during my Rangers/Hurricanes GAME REVIEW blog from Tuesday night?
How I was offered free tickets to tonight’s game at M$G – and where following that blog posting – I then had someone else offer me a night out at the World’s Most Expensive Arena on the arm.
In other words, I had two chances in order to attend this “epic” rivalry game for free – but instead – and I decided to take the overtime money presented to me at my real place of employment.
And as I write these very words to you right now?
What a WISE decision!
5-0 loss to the Islanders!
OO-FA!
But don’t worry – the FAT CATS, while always meowing on the ice like the weak kittens that they are, will always talk big in their pregame and post-game interviews!
Trust the system!
Believe in the structure!
After all, then all you hear these days, and after sixteen-games played, is “THE GOALS WILL COME!”
Please.
And oh yeah – this game also marked the 20% mark of the season – so if these ALLEGED goals are going to come – then they better come soon – and they better come at a consistent rate too.
Pardon me – but I won’t hold my breath!
I’ll share some thoughts about the Rangers’ 4-1 win at the Pizza Palace from Friday night below; but for now, then I want to repeat something here that I said both during and after that game:
“Panarin has been a volume producer this season. Of his minimal points gained, four of them were in one game against Montreal, and three more were added to his paltry totals against the Wings.”
Following arguably Panarin’s best game of the season, and where it should also be mentioned that the Red Wings had alumni/charity events (and where perhaps a few drinks were enjoyed too) the night before – and once again – and NADA from the Rangers’ highest-paid player on Saturday night.
Joining Panarin in the pointless party on Saturday night were the rest of the FAT CATS – and where just like the alleged sexual assaulter – then all of these players also finished with a minus-two in the box score each – Stinka Zibanedud, Alexis Laissez-Faire and J.T. Miller.
For Zibanedud, the team’s second-highest paid forward, he led the team with SOG (6) – but once again – and the most overpaid player in all hockey today couldn’t find the back of the net – aka – the usual.
It still surprises me every day that he has a child – but I guess that he has better success scoring in the bedroom than he does on the ice.
And to Zibanedud’s credit – then all of his sexual activities are consensual – which is much more than I can ALLEGEDLY say about Panarin!
While it’s extremely easy to kick the two usual suspects when they are down (which is a frequent occurrence – and where this happens after every big game too – as after all – when the going gets tough – then these two are nowhere to be found); but I also thought that Miller was just as equally as offensive as these two routine playoff failures.
Want some dark-humor and irony?
Here you go:
Back in January of 2021, during a 4-0 Rangers’ loss to the Islanders, and Tony DeAngelo, while playing for David Quinn, was ultimately exiled from the team – and all because he slammed a penalty box door.
Fast-forward just a tad over four-years later, and Miller, with DQ still behind the Rangers’ bench (albeit in an assistant head coach capacity), slammed-and-broke his stick no less than three-times tonight.
Do you think that Chris Drury, and like his predecessor before him, former general manager Jeff Gorton, will hold a public press conference denouncing Miller, while also telling the whole world that “Miller will never play for the Rangers again”?
(Ah, Tony DeAngelo for Sam Bennett – what could have been – but I may have mentioned this proposed trade of mine once or 677679676638467833784 times before.)
You all know that I can’t stand that smug asshole, the seven-foot jackass, Sieve Vagistat.
With that said, then imagine my horror when the worst goalie in Rangers’ history, and a former Islander douchebag himself, the Clear-Sighted Analytical Asshole, was saying on M$GN post-game airwaves what I was saying on social media at the same time.
As I said – and as Vagistat was also saying – and all of Miller’s crybaby antics were a bad look.
Listen, we all know that this is an emotional game – and where furthermore – then it is okay to physically vent out your frustrations – and even by using a piece of lumber too!
(Personally? Then I use my writing to vent out my frustrations with this team!)
But three times?
Overkill – and perhaps even more overkill than all of my NDArtemi Panarin material/daily reminders!
What Vagistat also said (which again – I was surprised that we were thinking alike about this subject too) is that since Miller is the captain – then he’s setting a bad example for everybody else.
After all, and the following isn’t up for debate either – then this is a “monkey see, monkey do” copycat league.
In other words, then if your captain can have daily bitch-fits – then why not the younger players on the team as well, such as Noah Laba, Jaroslav Chmelar, Adam Edstrom, Matt Rempe, Matthew Robertson, and to lesser extent, the grossly overpaid Alexis Laissez-Faire too?
In addition?
Then I was saying all of this when Henrik Lundqvist used to do this stuff – and where at the time – Vagistat, via social media, condemned me for doing so.
Ah, how the tides have turned – and where once again – I’m proven correct over time too!
Again, and just to be clear and to put a bow on this topic – then it’s okay to go nuts once in a while – but three times in one game is just too much.
As captain, not only are you telling your opponents that they have you beat (and in your head), but it’s just what a leader should not do either.
After all, if “leading by example” is a thing – then tonight’s outrage was a negative thing too.
Saturday night’s sickening defeat to the Islanders was pretty much deja vu from the home loss that preceded this one (Carolina, 3-0) – but due to the opponent, the final score and the Rangers’ love for losing – and make no bones about it – and this game was significantly worse.
Once again, and as it was against Rod Brind’amour’s Brood – and the Rangers just dominated from the onset.
But alas, and again once more – and the Blueshirts could never finish.
It’s just a shame that the Rangers don’t give out white towels before these regular season games (and as they do during the playoffs) because if they did – then they could just throw them on the ice once their opponent scores first at M$G.
As it was before against Carolina, Edmonton, Washington and Pittsburgh – then once the Islanders were able to survive the Rangers’ initial flurry – then blammo – they scored and that was it.
Game over.
Following the Rangers’ own (and failed) odd-man rush (Will Cuylle and Alexis Lafreniere), then the Isles received one of their own – and then made the most of it too – as Bo Horvat beat CZAR IGOR for the icebreaker (and the word “heartbreaker” also applies) at the 10:29 mark.
1-0, bad guys – and yep – your fifth opposing game-winning goal this season at M$G as a result of a 1-0 score too.
Just like last season – and the Rangers wilted come the first sign of adversity.
Since things didn’t come easy for them – they then let their frustrations overwhelm them.
And you always know when the Blueshirts are completely rattled whenever they give up late goals at the end of the period.
How rattled were the Rangers during this tilt?
They allowed the Islanders to score a late goal in all three periods.
Jonathan Drouin put the Isles ahead 2-0 with just 33-seconds remaining in the first frame.
Horvat picked up his second goal of the game in the middle period, a rare Islanders’ power-play goal at that (their third man-up goal in their last twenty-seven tries), with just 78-seconds remaining.
Notorious Ranger Killer, Jean-Gabriel Pageau, added to the blowout when he scored a 4-0 empty-netter with just 121-seconds left to be ticked in regulation time.
Not to be outdone, and Isles’ captain, Anders Lee, added insult to injury with his 5-0 eff-you goal with only thirty-seconds remaining in the match – which in turn – dropped CZAR IGOR’s save percentage to a disgustingly low .840% (21-of-25).
CZAR IGOR’s BFF, Mr. Sorokin?
A perfect 33-of-33 performance.
I know that much will be made ado about CZAR IGOR’s showing in net tonight – but to solely blame him for this loss is a fool’s errand.
After all, you can’t win if you can’t score.
Furthermore?
Then as I always say on this site, “SPECIAL TEAMS SWING GAMES.”
The Rangers, who drew the first two power-plays of the game, went 0-2.
The Isles scored on their first man-up try, which as a result, meant that Patrick Roy’s nomads opened up this match as a perfect three-of-three while on special teams.
There was also some stat that Kenny Albert said a few times on-air tonight in regards to Igor v. Ilya – and where the Rangers’ goalie was 6-1 (now 6-2) in head-to-head matches against his fellow comrade.
Granted, while I don’t put much weight into goalie head-vs-head records (the teams in front of them change, the goalies don’t shoot at each other, roster injuries, travel/schedule, etc) – but this result wound up becoming a rare victory for the Islander netminder against the Rangers’ goalie.
It was also another game for CZAR IGOR this season, where the best goalie in the league today (which #31 is) was out-played by an opponent who was enjoying his best performance of this particular 2025-26 campaign.
(I first made this point three-weeks ago. Brian Boyle is now repeating it – and where no – I don’t think that he’s “stealing” from me – it’s just as clear as day now.)
Sorokin, who entered this game under shaky circumstances, put forth his best showing of the season.
After all, #30 in orange-and-blue, entered this game with a GAA above 3.50 and with a save percentage under .890.
He also didn’t have any shutouts prior to tonight either.
But of course, this was all too familiar for these “on-brand” Blueshirts – as no one gives up more opposing firsts, nor allows players to shine more on their own ice, than these here Rangers.
While I thought that CZAR IGOR didn’t get much help (but I’m not excusing him for a 4.00 GAA either); but either way – and Sorokin, and without a shadow of a doubt, was much better between the two life-long mates – and where he had a tougher workload than his BFF to boot.
In case you missed it, then here’s where I last left off – Tuesday night’s 3-0 home loss at M$G – and where I must still care about these Blueshirt bums – as I went off the rails during this one:
Let’s now attempt to blow through all of the pregame news (and the Detroit game too) as quickly as possible.
After being shutout on home ice for the fourth time in six games this season, then the Rangers received another “well-deserved” off-day on Wednesday.
I don’t get it.
Even if there was a CBA-mandate about having days off (I’m not 100% sure if that was the case here – but I know it’s the case very often throughout the season), then you’d think that at least some of these guys would show up for an optional practice at the team’s training facility in Tarrytown.
By taking the day off – then it tells me that these guys just don’t care.
Come Thursday, and prior to boarding their bird to Detroit, the team reconvened for practice.
It was revealed during this A.M. work-out that NDA Panarin had shaved his head – and where similar to his flip phone – this fact made Mollie Walker extremely hot in the pants.
But to be fair to the resident airhead of the New York Post – and it wasn’t just her – as Wince “Feed Me More” Mercogliano, Colin Stephenson and even Johnny Lazarus (who I do like), were all ranting-and-raving about Panarin’s reverted cue-ball look.
As every beat reporter were beating their chests and promoting Panarin’s once again shaved chrome dome – and yep, you know it – not one word about his public NDA.
Instead, and all these writers did was express their condolences and sympathies towards the team’s highest-paid player – because as you see – #10 won’t negotiate a team-friendly deal with the Rangers.
Oh no!
A guy who has earned over $100M in career-salary is up-at-night worrying about what his next contract will be!
Sorry, but as a blue collar guy who has to work weekend overtime in order to make ends meet – then pardon me if I don’t share this same sentiment.
The Blueshirts, who after Tuesday night, had the league’s worst power-play in the (dead-last, #32-overall), decided to make changes.
Or should I say, one change.
Off of the first power-play unit was Lafreniere. In was Cuylle.
And wouldn’t you know it?
This move did work out in Detroit – but of course – not so much on Saturday night.
As noted up top (and with this blog going way over my usual disgustingly long 10,000 word-count too), then just a few thoughts about what’s now a “so what” win in Detroit.
However, then if you do want my complete play-by-play from that game, then you can find all of it here: https://x.com/NYCTheMiC
— I thought that Noah Laba was the Rangers’ best skater – and how can you not be happy for the rookie?
— Not only was he dominant and wreakin’ havoc all-game – but the hometown kid also scored a goal in front of his sixty family members and friends.
— I was shocked when Sully’s power-play change paid dividends – and kudos to Cuylle for getting on the board.
— I know that Panarin (1G, 2A) got a lot of talk – but again – he’s racking up all of his points in singular games – and in turn – he’s been ineffective for the majority of Ranger contests.
— Suffice to say, and the team’s best skater (at least on paper – and regardless – and he still is the greatest free agent signing in franchise history) has been extremely inconsistent (duh).
— Lafreniere scored his second goal in fifteen games played. Throw a parade.
— Jonathan Quick continues to defy all logic in his second act as a back-up goalie. Not only was his place in the Hall of Fame long secured by the time that he came to town – but he’s also now challenging for the title of “Best Blueshirts’ Backstop” in franchise history too. (Gilles Villemure currently holds that title.)
— Quick was fantastic – and by now – I think that everyone (and despite how silly this is – as he was playing to win the Cup too!) has long forgiven him for the 2014 Stanley Cup Final.
— Similar to the Rangers at M$G – and the Blueshirts had Detroit completely befuddled and discombobulated on the Wings’ home ice.
— Just like every M$G match – and the Red Wings looked frustrated, and without answers either, and for long stretches of time at that.
— The FAT CATS showed up – but this was a rare occurrence. As I noted on X – these can’t be “now-and-again” things. It has to be consistent. We haven’t seen that yet.
— Plus, and as previously noted – and despite the FAT CATS getting on the board too – and the three best players for Sully were Quick, Laba and Cuylle – and not Mika, Panarin and Lafreniere.
— Consider me as a new fan of Jaroslav Chmelar – so much so – that I don’t need to use spell-check for his surname anymore – and where furthermore – I can now pronounce it with no issue either!
— Needless to say, and this Czech isn’t like the concussed Czech that preceded him (Filip Chytil) – and as was evident via his quick work against Travis Harmonic.
— My biggest takeaway from the 4-1 win (and as you’ll see below)? Easy. Can the Rangers not only do it at home – but against the Islanders too?
— Ugh.
To close on Friday night, then here’s what I said after each period played – and some of the highlights & post-game stuff too:
1-1 after 20. 1P Thoughts:
— Special Teams Swing Games, #NYR PP 1-1, PK 2-2
— Sully’s lone change on the power-play worked too – Cuylle for Lafreniere – but Laf was very Laissez Faire on the goal allowed.
— SOG 13-8, home team – and where DET’s PP has looked very…— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) November 8, 2025
2-1, #NYR, through 40. 2P Thoughts:
— Rangers’ special teams have looked good – Laba has looked reeeeeeaaaaal good.
— Ditto Cuylle – he’s probably had 12 goals overturned in his young career too.
— SOG 24-19, home team, but it feels like NYR have dominated this game -…— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) November 8, 2025
https://t.co/TER3ksWwbI pic.twitter.com/hAJ47b5oqu
— NHL News (@PuckReportNHL) November 8, 2025
4-1, #NYR final. No https://t.co/pbL0K5NsMb blog tonight – got work tomorrow – but a double-bubble after the Isles game. Thoughts:
— Lots of slumps broken – but Panarin is just a volume producer for now – needs to be more consistent, rather than racking up a bunch in one game.…— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) November 8, 2025
One thing is for sure – Chmelar is much tougher than Filip Chytil #nyr https://t.co/FZBZT9MCxO
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) November 8, 2025
Noah Laba talks about the emotions in his Detroit homecoming:
“It’s hard to really explain. I’ve been to a lot of games at the Joe Louis [Arena], a lot of games here [at Little Caesars Arena]. To be able to score in this building in the National Hockey League is pretty special” pic.twitter.com/eh1Igke8xX
— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) November 8, 2025
“He really looked like he knew what he was doing, I’ll tell you that”
Mike Sullivan talks about Jaroslav Chmelar’s fight and NHL debut tonight: pic.twitter.com/zV8AjsxzJd
— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) November 8, 2025
As far as any other remaining Saturday pregame news, then Connor Mackey, who was recalled after the Urho Vaakainanen injury, was returned to Hartford.
Furthermore, and both Vincent Trocheck (LTIR, but now practicing with the team) and Adam Edstrom (day-to-day) were unavailable tonight.
It is thought that #16 will be back for the Rangers’ next game (Monday v. Nashville) – but that hasn’t been confirmed just yet.
And with the way that Chmelar has played – then I’m not so sure that it’s a lock that he’ll be sent back to Connecticut once Edstrom is healthy-and-able.
Instead, and it might be time to give one of the FAT CATS an accountable and deserved time-out spent in the press box – but likelier than that – a night off for the likes of future one-and-done Rangers, Connor Sheary or (hahaha) team goal-leader, Taylor Raddysh.
Here was Sully’s line-up for the sixteenth game of this 2025-26 season:
(Of note: The Blueshirts’ bench boss also hit the line blender in the third period – and with no results gained afterwards following his brainchild move of flip-flopping Raddysh and Sheary.)
FIRST LINE: Panarin/Zibanejad/Raddysh
SECOND LINE: Cuylle/Miller/Lafreniere
THIRD LINE: Sheary/Laba/Brodzinski
FOURTH LINE: Parssinen/Carrick/Chmelar
FIRST PAIR: Gavrikov/Fox
SECOND PAIR: Soucy/Borgen
THIRD PAIR: Vaakainanen/Schneider
STARTING GOALIE: CZAR IGOR
BACK UP GOALIE: Quick
HEALTHY SCRATCHES: Matthew Robertson
DAY-TO-DAY: Adam Edstrom
IR: Matt Rempe
LTIR: Vincent Trocheck
BOX SCORE time.
The following graphics and information come from ESPN.com:
SCORING:
PENALTIES:
TEAM STATS:
GOALIES:
|
NYR
|
|
SA
|
GA
|
SV
|
SV%
|
ESSV
|
PPSV
|
SHSV
|
SOSA
|
SOS
|
TOI
|
PIM
|
| 25 | 4 | 21 | .840 | 17 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 56:56 | 0 |
|
NYI
|
|
Ilya Sorokin#30
|
|
SA
|
GA
|
SV
|
SV%
|
ESSV
|
PPSV
|
SHSV
|
SOSA
|
SOS
|
TOI
|
PIM
|
| 33 | 0 | 33 | 1.000 | 29 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 60:00 | 0 |
Come 6:30PM, I tuned into the M$GN – and where sadly – Sieve Vagistat, and all of his crappy plugs for his garbage ANALytical company that no other broadcast or entity in the league uses, were there.
Once returned to the network at 7PM, then I was surprised that there wasn’t much talk in social media land about a real #1-overall pick, the Isles’ Matthew Schaefer.
Not only has Schaefer been needling and talking about the Rangers from day-one (I admit it – I love that about him – he gets it!) – but just a few nights prior – and he was ribbing Henrik Lundqvist about it on TNT.
Tonight’s game was another gimmick night – and where afterwards – the Rangers are now 0-3 in their new centennial jerseys.
For as kick-ass as these new baby blue threads look – then all of this losing can’t be what’s best for sales either.
Saturday’s gimmick was “Milestones and Moments” – and where I was just laughing when the M$GN was promoting the Rangers’ history against the Islanders in the playoffs.
Sure, there was 1994 – but there was also 1975 (the end of the Emile Francis era) – and the less said about the early 1980s, the better.
I was shocked when I saw that Kenny Albert was back at it tonight – as after all – he still has his Sunday NFL commitments.
As the resident king of all-broadcasting things related (this is a compliment), Mike S., told me (@msilvers1979 on X), Albert will be in Washington tomorrow for the 4:25PM kickoff between the Lions and Redskins.
No one travels more in sports than Albert.
Nobody.
And nobody is better than him either.
(Furthermore? Then going into the game, and with Sam Rosen already announced as being there as the emcee of this gimmick night – then I thought that either Rosen, or the best pinch-hitter in the game today, Alex Faust, would assume Albert’s duties.)
While Albert was there, Dave Maloney was not.
I’m not sure if Maloney had a vacation, was sick or had a family obligation. (I’ll have to check with Mike S.!)
Filling-in for the youngest captain in franchise history was Brian Boyle – and where much like his former teammate, #30 of the Rangers – and the former double-deuces of the Blueshirts has taken to his new media gig like a fish to water – or like Panarin signing an NDA!
Boyle, whether in-studio or in the broadcast booth (and god-bless him – as I don’t know how he deals with Mollie “Pavel Burr” Walker on a weekly basis either), has been excellent.
I forgot to say this earlier (I write these blogs from a stream-of-consciousness perspective); but I failed to mention that I watched Friday’s game from Detroit’s side of things – as once again – and the Gotham Sports Crap didn’t work.
I also couldn’t find an M$G-friendly link on the dark inter-webs either.
That said, and the Wings’ broadcast was fantastic – as it was their own centennial night – and much like the Rangers – and they looked like shit during it!
But all jokes aside – and the Red Wings’ feed was amazing – as you had all of their old alumni on-air kicking the shit (read my X feed for all of it – including a great interview with one of my favorites, Sergei Federov).
Better than that?
Then unlike the Rangers – and the Wings honor ALL of their Cup-winning and Hall of Fame alumni.
But I may have talked about this subject once or a 7867869779667896 zillion times before – so I’ll leave it at that.
During the “Milestones and Moments” “ceremony,” and Sam Rosen, in his first night back at M$G since retiring, opened up by plugging “Caesars’ Sportsbook.”
No shame, no shame!
Omitted from Rosen’s shilling?
What a Sorokin win and Isles’ 5-0 shutout parlay would have paid out.
The Rangers, and somewhat randomly at that (as why just these guys – and as opposed to “why not more?”), honored Pete Stemkowski, Ron Grescher (whose #4 should be in the rafters), John Davidson (still making M$G appearances after both Drury and James Dolan stabbed him in the back – as he gets that it’s all about the fans – and not the morons running the franchise), Stephane Matteau, Saint Adam Graves, Mike Richter and Henrik Lundqvist.
But I’m missing one name – and let me get to it!
Once Rosen brought out THE KING OF COMMENTARY – then I thought – okay, I get it, Lundqvist is the most recent big name in franchise history.
I was surprisingly shocked when it was revealed that Lundqvist wasn’t the main event name – and where his former teammate, the one he had a major on-ice verbal spat with in his last game played with, Derek Stepan, received top-honors.
While I can’t say that Stepan received a bigger reaction than Lundqvist – it was the second-biggest pop of the night – and where I think that the shock value of seeing him there was part of it.
(And if you don’t know, then Stepan currently works with the Minnesota Wild.)
While I don’t know how the Rangers decided to select only these few men; but it was nice to see Stepan back for the first time.
This opens up a can of worms, and while I understand that these men have obligations elsewhere, but I’d also like to see Ron Duguay, Dan Girardi, Marc Staal, John Vanbiesbrouck, etc (and about 1,000 etcs at that!) get their flowers too.
Hell, I’d even like to see the M$G return of “THE BUFFALO KILLER” too – you know, the undefeated (2-0) Mackenzie Skapski!
And with that, tonight’s GAME REVIEW – and where I’ll try to limit the pain as best that I can.
FIRST PERIOD
Just twenty-seconds in and Sorokin recorded his first of thirty-three saves – as he robbed a Mika-to-Panarin try.
This trend would continue all-game.
After all, SNAP benefits have been pulled – which means no home cooking on M$G ice.
But hey, while Mika and Panarin can’t score – at least Taylor FREAKIN’ Raddysh is lifting the $20.1 ALLEGED 1-2 scoring punch.
As the M$G crowd informed us that “POTVIN SUCKS” following an Igor stop on Kyle Palmieri – then all I could think at the time was wouldn’t it have been something had Potvin accepted Neil Smith’s offer to come out of retirement in 1994? Hmmm!
Tony DeAngelo, hated by ignorant fans because he voted differently from these folks, was booed every time that he touched the puck by the Garden crowd.
While the former #77 of the Rangers has never bothered me – all of the jeers he has received by Blueshirt backers have bothered him in the past – and with three different teams too (CAR/PHI/NYI).
That’s why I don’t mind whenever Ranger fans boo him – as it works – and as two playoff series’ against Carolina will also attest to.
That said?
Once the Islanders just wrenched the life out of the Rangers – and the building reverted back to Morgue Square Garden status – and where it got so quiet that DeAngelo could’ve even heard Rosen adjusting his toupee.
At the 3:51 mark, the Rangers received their first power-play, as Heineman, while in the Isles’ o-zone, had high-sticked Big Billy Borgen.
Captain Miller was horrendous here – as despite two wide-open looks – and he went wide on both of them too (we call this “The Mika”) – which as a result – gave the Isles two free clears.
After going 0-1 on the power-play, Laba had to hustle back in order to break-up an Isles’ scoring threat with 13:25 remaining.
For as much as I loved him five-years ago – and the sight – and stench – of Stinka Zibanejad drives me to the grandest state of ire imaginable.
(I’ve even had to put my five-goal Mika bobblehead into storage – and it just reminds me of what could’ve been – and rather than what can be.)
On the same possession, Mika hit a post and then missed a GAPING net.
Big Game Mika folks – he’s playing penny stocks while earning $8.5M a season.
In what was a fast-paced first period, Matt Barzal was mimicking Panarin – which no – doesn’t mean to say that he was ALLEGEDLY committing sexual assault; as instead, he was doing that dipsy-doodle, Harlem Globetrotter, to nowhere shit.
On this particular instance, then with 10:22 to go, he missed a net.
In our first showing of a rivalry game that later had as much life as the Isles’ (Charles Wang) Lighthouse Project – and two fourth-line heroes, Sam Carrick and Casey Cizikas, were going at it during a post-whistle scrum.
I think that these two rough-housers would have dropped the gloves – but the refs didn’t allow it.
Up next, the Cuylle/Lafreniere disconnect, which then led to the Hineyman/Horvat connect:
Bo Horvat is absolutely sizzling right now pic.twitter.com/5xF3yay908
— Rob Taub (@RTaub_) November 9, 2025
1-0, bad guys.
CZAR IGOR tried to buy time by talking to some Rangers’ trainer at the bench who looked like he walked out of a Sex Pistols concert (a disgusting and unkempt mohawk) – but Sullivan wouldn’t oblige his goalie with a timeout.
After all, and as replay showed us – and there was no Islander offside here.
As this mess progressed – and both Barzal and Panarin continued their dipsy-doodle to nowhere act.
Someone equally as terrible with the puck was the new bozo at Belmont, Maxim Tsyplakov – as he baked up more turnovers than the leader in this statistic – “The Breadman” himself!
The Blueshirts, who started strong but finished like a wet fart in the wind, also got their breaks.
With 4:45 remaining, the Isles had a long attack against CZAR IGOR – but Raddysh, when just hoping an icing, was able to hit Sorokin in order to prevent it.
Forty-five seconds later, and Schaefer, after a quick shift, made an erroneous change, which then thwarted what could’ve been a 3 x 2 odd-man rush attack for the Garden guests.
But this didn’t matter, as Roy’s team then had another long attack against the ALLEGED Rangers’ first line – but Igor was able to hold them off – and as he did with 2:15 to go.
But alas – SAME OLD RANGERS.
Here’s Drouin’s 2-0, bad guys, odd-man rush goal – and as assisted by Anthony Duclair – and where all Zibanedud could do was watch:
An outstanding sequence right here.
Heads up stick from Mayfield
The strength from Pageau
Fantastic feed from Duclair and finish from Drouin#Isles pic.twitter.com/DVhYaTZGZX— Rob Taub (@RTaub_) November 9, 2025
Seriously?
And these home ice Rangers are just as predictable as these never-ending M$GN Paul Giamatti and Charles Rivera commercials.
2-0, bad guys, after one period of “action.”
Here’s what I said at the time:
2-0, them, after 20. 1P Thoughts:
— Holy Deja Vu and Same Old Rangers Batman!
— #NYR get off to a hot start, then unravel once the other team scores first.
— SOG, 10-7, visitors – and where the Rangers haven’t had a SOG in over ten-minutes too
— Can they make it EDM Deja…— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) November 9, 2025
SECOND PERIOD
Marek Malik was there for the customary John Giannone first intermission interview.
Not much was said – and while he had one moment – his Rangers’ career wasn’t that very memorable either.
It was also at this time where I thought that in honor of their centennial – then maybe the circus can kick the Rangers out of M$G for a while – as that would help their overall record!
Also during the first intermission segment?
When Sieve Vagistat said that he has studied a lot of two vs one men situations.
Make your own punchline about perhaps the new future spokesperson of “Grindr.”
As Albert informed us that the Rangers have given up the fewest second period goals this season, while the Isles have also given up the second-most – then you already knew what was was going to happen.
In fact, I’m getting sick of this team as I write these words; so if you want the remaining play-by-play, then check out: https://x.com/NYCTheMiC
Among the remaining low-lights that need to be mentioned here:
— We saw a video package of four different Rangers hitting the eighteen-year-old Schaefer – as the 1st-overall pick was the center of Sully’s game plan. Conversely, and Roy didn’t have to worry about Laissez-Faire.
— As DeAngelo led an Isle attack – and there was booing – but not for the former Ranger – but for the Blueshirts of today – as they packed as much punch as Terry Schiavo.
— By the time that the half-way mark of the period/game had hit – and the Rangers looked as flat and as out-of-sync as Detroit had looked against them the night before. Furthermore, and the Garden Faithful were completely drained and devoid of any energy too (but you can’t blame them for that – and where they were hot when this game first began).
— DeAngelo gave the dead-as-a-doornail Rangers some life when he hooked-and-held Carrick with 6:44 remaining.
— This is what I said verbatim on Twitter/X in real-time:
Gotta score here – Isles are due for a PP themselves (none yet).
Mika can’t score from a foot out – yawn.
Mika should have four goals by now, but this is a big game, so you know the deal.
The Rangers’ power-play is now 0-2, very pathetic – and the boo birds are back.
It should be said that Sorokin isn’t like Lindgren, Silovs, Skinner and Kotchetkov – but this is another game where CZAR IGOR, best goalie in the league, is playing against a goalie that’s having the best game of his season. Has to be frustrating for him.
I just told you that the Isles would get a power-play after the Rangers’ second failure, Sheary, now with Mika/Panarin, is going off for hooking with 3:06 to go. This could be the game here. For what it’s worth, and the Isles’ power-play is also 2 of their last 26…
Horvat, 3-0, just as the Rangers’ PK was set to expire. Another late goal allowed too, 1:18 to go in the 2P – and where this game seems over now after this:
Oh my, nasty pass from Drouin and a dart from Horvat
🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/kLPHNjFpWD
— Rob Taub (@RTaub_) November 9, 2025
3-0, them, through 40, 2P thoughts:
— Special Teams Swing Games – #NYR PP 0-2, Isles PP 1-1
— Another goalie outplaying Igor at M$G – but you can’t win if you can’t score either.
— SOG 19-15 NYI
— I had free tix offered to me for this game – had t turn them down due to OT…— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) November 9, 2025
THIRD PERIOD
Again, this game sucked – so in turn – then here’s what I said on Twitter/X in real-time, as I’m going in copy-and-paste mode:
That win over Detroit was probably more about the Red Wings doing alum/charity events the night before – and where perhaps some pops and belts were consumed too.
Igor stops Barzal just 37-seconds in.
Sully’s big in-game plan was to flip-flop Sheary and Raddysh – shades of Scotty Bowman!
M$G is now playing Nirvana songs – fitting – as watching the Rangers makes you want to put a hole in your dome.
15:16 to go – Isles back on the PP, Laba for hooking.
I don’t see too many people (and reporters too) doing the “OMG OMG OMG, NDArtemi SHAVED HIS HEAD” shit tonight. Another big game, and another no-show.
Rangers’ PK is now 1/2, Schaefer went the whole way again.
The Bald alleged assaulter wonder gets stoned by the struggling Sorokin again, 12:23 to go.
Sorokin prevents a loose change goal for Cuylle, 11:30 to go.
Long Rangers’ shift in the Isles zone, Isles out there for 2:00, Sorokin glove save to end it as we approach 10:00 to go.
Albert now saying what I said in the first period – this is Carolina deja vu, 9:00 to go.
I wonder if Sully will pull Igor early with this three-goal deficit, 7:30 to go.
Sorokin stops Cuylle again, 6:15 to go.
FOXWOODS, 3-0 them, Igor pulled.
Rangers’ net empty, Mika wide, Panarin wide, a minute spent in the Isles’ zone, everything around the boards, Panarin stopped and a clear, 3:40 to go.
Rangers’ timeout with 3:06 to go – watch out Islanders!!!
Blueshirts’ net empty for over 2:30 now and no Isle goal, so there’s that.
Notorious Rangers’ killer, JGP, ends it. 4-0, ENG, 2:01 to go – Miller breaks his stick on the iron after.
LMAO, Anders Lee, another late goal allowed. 5-0. 29.9 to go.
The Rangers suck.
If you want to listen to a bunch of crybabies do their usual woe-is-me act, then check out the Rangers’ YouTube page for all of the post-game waterworks.
I think that I may have already mentioned this – but I’m attending the 11/16 game at M$G (against the Red Wings) – and only because it will be my nieces’ first hockey game.
Sorry to my nieces – as I believe that the Blueshirts will disappoint them on that night – but hey – that’s life for a Rangers’ fan!
Prior to 11/16 and the Rangers have three games to be played between now and then.
Sully’s Squad will host the struggling Nashville Predators on Monday, 11/10.
They’ll either set a league record for going 0-8 to start a season on home ice (which would beat the expansion L.A. Kings) – or get their first win at M$G.
After that, a pair of road-games – a Wednesday national game on TNT in Tampa, followed by a Saturday night soiree in Columbus – which also means that the game I’m going to is the second half of a back-to-back set.
If the Blueshirts can’t declaw the Preds on Monday – then it’s not out line to think that the Rangers will fall to 0-9 on Garden ice come next Sunday night.
In fact, I expect it.
But hey – at least Chris Drury got rid of his two biggest troublemakers, Trouba and Kreider.
Go Ducks.
And what an awful way to get to our last segment, you know…
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
