Greetings and salutations everyone and welcome to another blog here on BlueCollarBlueShirts.com. WOW!
I can’t believe that I’m saying this – but I’m starting to believe in the Rangers again!
Granted, while I’m extremely hesitant to proclaim that “THE BLUESHIRTS ARE BACK!” – as after all, I’ve had this Rangers’ rug pulled out from underneath my feet before – and too many times where I’ve lost count as well – but following Tuesday night’s 5-0 defeat of the Senators – and believe it or not – and the Blueshirts actually control their own playoff destiny:
The Blueshirts, recently four-points back of a playoff spot, but also four-points away from last-place in the Eastern Conference too, are now steaming ahead towards their mission of a postseason invite.
Not only are they now eleven-points removed from the last-place Sabres – but they are now two-points out from a playoff spot too.
Furthermore, with many four-point games in the standings still remaining as of this writing – then it’s up to the Rangers to nab at least the second wild-card seed – if not a position more comfortable than that.
After all, the Devils are struggling these days – and who knows – perhaps a divisional berth can still be had.
But of course, I’m getting way ahead of myself here – and let’s see this team move into a wild card slot before thinking about anything else beyond that.
And yes – I’m still going to maintain my low expectations with this team, because one, it’s been working out and two, it’s been tough to trust this team throughout this 2024-25 campaign.
That said, then if you’re an optimist, then it’s a good thing that the Rangers are heating up at the right time.
Perhaps that Eastern Conference Final loss to the Panthers put the team in such a tail-spin, that as a result, they needed some time, a terrible six-weeks in the process, in order to get over it.
Heck, that’s what I predicted going into the season – but of course – I also thought that they’d be ping-ponging between the second- and third-seeds in the division – rather than completely hitting rock bottom.
Speaking of such a thing, rock bottom?
Then there was nowhere to go up from there – and where after this 5-0 drubbing over a team that they are chasing – then perhaps the sky is still the limit for a team that’s now resilient and resounding again.
And oh yeah – the Blueshirts are now 1-0 under the administration of POTUS #47!
(You had to know that I’d fit in that remark somehow!)
The Rangers, while not mathematically in “MUST WIN” situations just yet, do need to emerge victorious from this point out – and especially in these crucial four-point games.
They accomplished that feat once again on Tuesday night – and where really – it’s tough to single out any one player for the 5-0 shutout against Ottawa – as everyone, sans the grossly overpaid Mika Zibanejad, contributed.
While tonight’s tilt wasn’t as exciting as the one that preceded it, the 5-4 overtime loss to Montreal from Sunday night – it almost reached that fever-pitch – or at least during the final frame anyway.
Prior to a bonkers third period, and the opening stanza was pretty much a boring twenty-minute affair, and one that was plagued with never-ending whistles for offside infractions, pucks out of play and icings.
Then, and with 1:12 remaining, Alexis Lafreniere cleaned up with a rebound goal, which not only was the first goal of the game – but wound up becoming the game-winner too.
For the first-overall pick of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft – this was his third game in his last twenty-one played where he scored a goal – but also his second consecutive contest with a score next to his ledger.
In football, and where this new stat is prominently used at the collegiate (NCAA) ranks rather than at the pro level (NFL), then such a thing as “The Middle Eight” has become mainstream.
This stat accounts for all scoring plays during the final four-minutes of the first half and then the first four-minutes of the second half.
The teams that lead “The Middle Eight” statistic, and as Notre Dame did prior to their National Championship loss from Monday night (ugh), usually have a high success rate when it comes to winning games.
If we were to cut this stat down to the “The Middle Four” – and then applied it to hockey – then the Rangers were a net positive of two goals on Tuesday night.
Following a slow-as-molasses first period sans the Lafreniere goal, then it was the newest Ranger in-town, Arthur Kaliyev, who put the Blueshirts up 2-0 – and as he did following a wicked shot from the boards at just the 1:50 mark of the second period.
Rookie goalie, the Finnish Leevi Merilainen, was embarrassed here – and where despite playing well going into this game – had a rough night.
How rough was it?
The third-string goalie (Linus Ullmark remains injured) also allowed two goals that were later overturned due to video replay review.
A Sam Carrick goal was overturned before Lafreniere had scored in the first period – and as it should’ve been – as Matt Rempe was blatantly offside by a country mile.
Furthermore, and it was Rempe who screened the Finn too.
In other words, Rempe’s offside did impact Merilainen’s chances of making a save.
The Blueshirts, now up 2-0, seemingly had made it 3-0 at the 4:59 mark of the second stanza – and where it looked like Kaliyev had another goal too – but upon video review – and Chris Kreider was offside by a c-hair.
Unlike the Carrick reversal – and this was the type of overturned goal that you just detest, hate and despise – as Kreider being offside by a millimeter had nothing to do with the goal that resulted.
And as I always say – had video replay review been around during Wayne Gretzky’s days in the NHL – then Alex Ovechkin would’ve surpassed him a long time ago for the all-time goal scoring record.
The Blueshirts never allowed these two calls that didn’t go their way to deter them – nor were they bothered when Big Billy Borgen was falsely accused of interference perpetrated upon Brady Tkachuk at the 5:50 mark of this period either.
Travis Green, bench boss of the Senators, pulled his rookie back-up in favor of his newfound starter, Anton Forsberg, following the Kaliyev disallowed goal.
Green, who hoped to gain momentum after the switch, thought that such a scenario would play out with this gift of a power-play given to him by the boneheaded officials.
Not so fast.
The Blueshirts’ PK, now elite once again, not only stunted the Senators’ man-up teams during these two-minutes – but they’d do it again later on in the period when Filip Chytil was boxed for holding Tim Stutzle at the 13:08 mark.
The most impressive thing about the Rangers’ penalty kill on this night?
Not only did they go a perfect 2 of 2 – but they didn’t allow one shot on goal either!
WOW!
Once the two teams headed to their respective locker rooms at the second intermission and the Rangers still maintained their 2-0 lead.
For these Blueshirts, who have had a knack for finding new ways to lose games this season – then they couldn’t let such an ugly thing to rear in its ugly head tonight.
Enter Matt Rempe!
At the 3:34 mark of the final frame, and the two newest skyscrapers in NYC, Rempe & Big Ed (Adam Edstrom) had a 2 x 1 odd-man rush against Forsberg – and where it was Rempe who looked like the second coming of Petr Forsberg himself – as he buried a puck, backhanded, right past the Sens’ goalie.
3-0, good guys – and where on this night – and especially with the Rangers limiting the Senators to only 20 SOG in total (5 in the first, 7 in the second and 8 in the third – and where CZAR IGOR was only really challenged once or twice) – then you knew that the Bleushirts wouldn’t blow it this time around – and as they had done several times recently in their overtime losses to Dallas, Colorado and Montreal.
But we weren’t done yet.
This team, one that looked like individuals rather than as a collective unit more times than not this season, all rallied together at the 7:09 mark – and of course – it was two-thirds of the fourth line – and Schneider & Vaakanainen too – that valiantly defended their goaltender, a one CZAR IGOR himself.
As the Sens crashed CZAR IGOR’s net, the goaltender was fallen – and where at the time – you feared the worst too – another injury sustained by a backstop that’s been prone to them – as #31 was writhing in agony afterwards.
Rempe, Edstrom, Chytil (Carrick hadn’t made the change yet) and the two rearguards wasted no time when attacking every opposing jersey on the ice – and where CZAR IGOR alleviated our concerns too – as once returning to his feet – he immediately lunged at Sens’ captain Brady Tkachuk – and got a free shot in too!
I also want to reiterate what I’ve been saying about Chytil for some time now – and ever since returning from his latest injury too:
Despite most likely a vegetable status in his future – and there he was again, in another physical situation where he’s risking his long-term health – and by just going balls-to-the-wall for his teammates.
That’s great for the Rangers – but that’s probably the worst thing for him too.
On a night where Morgue $quare Garden only increased the decibel levels whenever chanting the names of “REMPE” and “IGOR” – and all 18,006 patrons were going nuts as all six Rangers were fighting in honor of their sweater – and even if it was perhaps not the right time to do so – but only considering the fact that they already had a three-goal lead – and as a result – they couldn’t risk giving the Senators a chance to comeback via the power-play.
Sometimes, grit is rewarded – and as it was here.
Following a slew of penalties exchanged (including one against CZAR IGOR too – which the crowd, in a response, roared in appreciation about) – and it were the Rangers who got a power-play out of this.
They also got another power-play when Mike Amadio (accidentally as opposed to intentionally) collided with CZAR IGOR while the Rangers were on their 5 x 4 man-up attack.
As a result, the Blueshirts received 33-seconds worth of a 5 x 3 power-play.
We’ve seen these guys fail before in similar situations – but they weren’t denied tonight.
In fact, they scored two consecutive power-play goals, with Panarin scoring the 5 x 3 goal at the 9:01 mark, followed by a CUYLLE HAND LUKE 5 x 4 power-play goal some 56-seconds later.
4-0, good guys.
5-0, good guys.
Down to ten-minutes remaining and there was only one thing left to do, aside from winning.
Getting CZAR IGOR his second consecutive back-to-back shutout.
And that’s what happened – and for a goalie that’s had to make 40+ saves on a routine basis – then he could’ve left his net for long stretches – and his shutout would have still been preserved – as that’s how dominating the Rangers were from a defensive standpoint.
No joke?
As someone who has seen every single game of CZAR IGOR’s career – and this match, and without a shadow of a doubt – was not only the easiest shutout that he ever recorded – but the easiest win that he’s ever picked up too.
The twenty saves required would suggest as much too.
After all, the Senators’ grand total of twenty shots on goal was the fewest amount by a Blueshirts’ opponent all-season – and while Ottawa looked flat and uninspired – you also have to tip your cap to the smothering and stifling Rangers’ defense.
Come the final horn?
The 5-0 final remained as unmolested – and where following “WORST LOSS OF THE SEASON” after “WORST LOSS OF THE SEASON” candidates – we now had our third “BEST WIN OF THE SEASON” contender.
(I’d still rank the victories over the Devils and Golden Knights over this one – but who cares? All that matters is that we have more contenders in the running for this distinction!)
The Rangers are nowhere out of the woods yet – as there’s still a long way to go – and where even a two-game losing streak could derail them – but for this night, the evening of January 21st, 2025 – and it feels like this team has not only pulled up the nose of their plane – but have now pulled a complete 180 from where they were just three short weeks ago.
And oh yeah – the Blueshirts are now 7-2-3 this season whenever Rempe is in the line-up.
They’re also 5-0-2 since Rempe returned from his eight-game suspension.
Perhaps they would have had a playoff spot sewn up today had the clueless Laviolette not punted him to Hartford thrice over during this campaign.
But for now, what’s done is done – and we can only move ahead.
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-seven down, thirty-five 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’m now thinking about betting on it!
In case you missed it, then here’s where I last left off – the Rangers’ exciting collapse in Montreal:
NYR/MTL 1/19 Review: Habs Outlast Blueshirts in The Most Exciting & Entertaining Game of the Season, “Lavy’s Lot” Pisses Away Another Point at The Poutine Palace; Finds Four New Ways To Lose Too, Third Time’s Not a Charm For Gutsy Jonathan Quick; Dave Maloney – Bonafide “Groinacologist,” WiFi Knocks Out Rempe’s Connection, Schneider Avenges Trouba; Tells Larry Brooks To Eff-Off Too, Sam’s Sad Senior Moment, M$GN, Standings & More
Following the back-to-back set from the weekend, where the Rangers gained three of a possible four-points in the standings, then come Monday, the team had the day off.
On Tuesday morning, game day, the Blueshirts held an optional practice where not much came out of it.
For a team that’s been in the headlines all season, then this latest case of “no news is good news” can only be taken as a net positive.
That is, unless you’re Zac Jones, who once again, remains chained inside of Lavy’s doghouse – and without a way to break these proverbial shackles.
Once the tune-up was complete, then Laviolette confirmed the obvious – the same line-up and CZAR IGOR in net for this big four-point tilt with the Senators.
Here was Laviolette’s line-up for the forty-seventh 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:
GOALIES:
|
NYR
|
|
SA
|
GA
|
SV
|
SV%
|
ESSV
|
PPSV
|
SHSV
|
SOSA
|
SOS
|
TOI
|
PIM
|
| 20 | 0 | 20 | 1.000 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 60:00 | 2 |
|
OTT
|
|
SA
|
GA
|
SV
|
SV%
|
ESSV
|
PPSV
|
SHSV
|
SOSA
|
SOS
|
TOI
|
PIM
|
| 16 | 2 | 14 | .875 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24:59 | 0 |
| 13 | 3 | 10 | .769 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 35:01 | 0 |
In the latest update between the battle of the billionaire bozo companies – and M$GN landed another haymaker prior to this Rangers/Senators game commencing on Tuesday night.
According to M$GN, they are willing to allow Optimum Altice to air their games – and are also agreeable to having a third-party arbitrator negotiate their dispute.
In a response, then Optimum Altice released this statement:
A few blogs back (https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/11425/ ) and I gave you my Optimum update as one of their tortured customers.
Long story short?
They gave me a total of $950 in order to stay (between gift cards and credits toward my bills).
Quick word of advice?
If you’re an Optimum customer and haven’t called already – then do it now – as who knows – this ordeal could be settled by the time that you read these words.
On Tuesday evening, M$GN released their latest statement, which Optimum then replied to, and as shown above.
It’s truly difficult to side with either greedy outfit – but I will say – M$GN looks like the blue-eyed baby-face in this fight, while Optimum comes off as the cowardly heel.
That said, M$GN has also turned down negotiations with Comcast and Xfinity – so this war with another cable company, Optimum in this instance, isn’t new for them.
In fact, it’s old hat.
Furthermore?
When Verizon’s contract runs out with M$GN next year – then I expect those customers to go through what Optimum customers are experiencing right now.
Truth be told – and I fully believe that M$GN is trying to distance themselves from every cable company – as they rather people be forced to cough up $30 a month for their Gotham Sports App that only works on an Amazon Fire Stick.
(As discussed, and in-detail before, then I can never get Gotham Sports to work on my laptop, nor on my PlayStation either. Also mentioned on this site in the past? As part of the $950 Optimum gave me, then $50 of it was for a new Fire Stick.)
At the end of the day, both of these companies do look bad – and I can’t believe their issues with one another haven’t already been solved.
In the latest saga concerning J.T. Miller, then we do have an update.
It’s now being reported that neither Zibanejad, nor Miller, have been asked to waive their NMCs.
In addition, it’s also being reported from various Canadian outlets that the Rangers were willing to send Filip Chytil, Ryan Lindgren, several prospects from Hartford (Adam Sykora, Jaroslav Chemlar and Bo Groulx) and a first-round pick to Vancouver in exchange for Miller.
While I’m not questioning the likes of Elliotte Friedman, Frank Seravelli and other reporters of this ilk (but I’ll always question Larry “Clickbait & Paywall” Brooks – and as outlined last blog) – but at first glance – then such a package to the Canucks does seem excessive.
I mean, five players and a pick for Miller – and where Mika isn’t one of the players going the other way?
Yikes.
Apparently, Vancouver GM, Patrik Allvin, was willing to make this trade.
The last-second hold up, from Chris Drury’s end, has been reported to have been one of two things – if not both of them.
From what’s out there, then Drury wanted Vancouver to retain some of Miller’s annual cap hit of $8M.
In other reports, Drury also wanted protection on the first-round pick (meaning that if the Rangers finish with a Top-10 pick or better, then they’d retain it – and as a result – give up a first-round pick in another year – or perhaps give up a second-rounder instead).
It’s also being reported that the two GMs aren’t done with each other yet – but where two Metro rivals, the Hurricanes and Islanders, have also made calls to Allvin’s offices in British Columbia.
You have to think that Miller will be dealt eventually – and where in a way – and after last year when Jake Guentzel went to the Canes for their playoff run, while the Rangers just added nothing to their ranks while on their way to the Presidents’ Trophy – then I wouldn’t be surprised to see Miller wind up in Raleigh.
As they say, time will tell.
Before getting into the M$GN pregame show, then I wanted to share a pregame tweet of mine with you:
For the third consecutive game when playing a team ahead of them in the standings, then #NYR will draw the opponent’s back-up – as these teams don’t take the Rangers seriously either. Leevi Merilainen (I’ve barely heard of him either), gets the nod for the Sens tonight.
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) January 21, 2025
After tonight?
Then after playing Daniil Tarasov to a 0-0 overtime draw – and then beating him in the shootout – which was followed by a 5-4 loss to Jakub Dobes in Montreal – the Blueshirts ran off Merilainen tonight.
Prediction?
The Rangers won’t be seeing too many back-ups and third-stringers any more – and especially not from the teams that they are chasing in the standings.
After all, the Blueshirts (might) be back!
Tonight’s M$GN pregame show was horrid, as while “THE KING OF COMMENTARY,” Henrik Lundqvist, was back – sadly, and so was Sieve Vagistat.
It’s the same old thing with Vagistat – not only does he feel the need to speak over Lundqvist whenever possible – but he’s also name-dropping Benoit Allaire whenever he can too, while also comparing his crappy NHL career to Lundqvist’s Hall of Fame career.
He’s just nauseating – and it’s time for M$GN to give him his walking papers.
Hell, they should’ve done so ten-years ago – but I think that I have made my point on this topic about one or a 98679867867986896786798679869867986798 zillion times before!
Lundqvist, back from skiing in Austria, brought up how the Rangers have turned the corner a bit.
Speaking of Lundqvist, then for a guy who needed a heart surgery, a medical procedure that forced him into retirement, then it is pretty amazing how active he is today.
Not only is he out there skiing, playing in exhibition games and doing other physical activities – but he’s also trying to fend off a seven-foot ANALytical shithead every night.
It makes you really appreciate the marvels of modern medicine – and where Lundqvist, and everyone else, needs a Vagistat-ectomy too!
You can see that Lundqvist was kinda getting fed up with the worst goalie in franchise history too, as after being cut-off by this jerkoff for the 3437384738738783738748th time – and Lundqvist gave his former back-up a weak smile, where the word “cringe” was written all over his face, as Vagistat was relaying Allaire war stories to him.
When John Giannone told us that Brady Tkachuk was struggling – then it was at this moment where I was expecting a big night out of the Ottawa captain.
Fortunately, such an event didn’t transpire – and where speaking of Tkachuk – how’s that Rangers trade for him coming along Mr. Clickbait & Paywall Brooks?
As Lundqvist said that both Tkachuk brothers, Matt and Brady, were the heart-and-souls of their respective teams, Giannone then responded by reminding Lundqvist that the Senators owned his ass in the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
While what Giannone said was true (that damn Jean-Gabriel Pageau) – I don’t know why he felt the need to bring it up here.
If I was Lundqvist, then like he probably would have liked to have done to me during that series (just go back and check this site’s archives from the time), then I would’ve given Giannone a backhand, John McEnroe style, right across his face.
Following another tedious-and-tired commercial featuring Stifler’s Mom for Discover – and a few blaring gambling ads too – we then went to Sam Rosen and Joe Micheletti – and where the former was much more lucid and aware than as he was over the weekend.
However, these two yokels couldn’t break their habit of incessantly talking whenever the referees were reading out penalties to us tonight – and you had to go online and check the box score to see what was assessed – as these two missed every penalty call as they preferred yammering on about anything else instead.
GAME REVIEW time – and as always, for the complete play-by-play, then wander over to my Twitter/X account at https://x.com/NYCTheMiC
FIRST PERIOD
This period, as noted during tonight’s intro, was a snoozer.
While the Blueshirts weren’t playing bad or anything like that – it was just boring – and especially even more so when compared to the game that they played on Sunday night.
No joke?
The biggest highlight of the first ten-minutes, one full of whistles for non-penalty infractions, was when Sam Carrick lost a skate blade.
Since there was nothing else going on, then Sam & Joe dedicated five-minutes of air-time to this – and where Rosen also astutely explained that if skate blades can pop-off, then they can be popped-in too.
Riveting.
It was also apparent from puck drop that this crowd had no life at all either – and really – outside of the late Lafreniere score – and then the madness from the third period that followed – and you could hear fans making post-game dinner plans with one another.
(I heard “ROSES PIZZA” a few times too!)
There was also one time where I believe that Micheletti let out a squeaker of a fart, as Rosen lost his train of thought (I know that’s commonplace for him – but hear me out) and started chuckling at the audible ass blast emission.
(I wish @DaveyUpper posted that clip!)
As we hit 9:45 remaining (and we can skip to this point – as there’s no reason to recap every icing, offside and shots from the perimeter) and the SOG statistic favored the home team, 6-2.
With nothing going on and M$GN then focused on the two head coaches, the chinless Travis Green and a Laviolette who didn’t douse his head with black shoe polish for this one night.
Following a Chytil shot being deflected out of play, and Rosen remarked, “OH JOE, WHAT A SCHEDULE THE RANGERS HAVE JOE!”
Even he was in auto-pilot at this point.
After Smith was denied after deflecting a puck at the net, in the other end, and with 6:57 to go, CZAR IGOR made his third save of the game, and as he did on Matty Highmore.
And yep – after last game feeling like a postseason contest – and this one felt like a preseason match.
After our normal Tkachuk Family Tree segment, where Sam and Joe repeat everything they’ve said about 79867986787879868 times in the past; then a noticeable K’Andre Miller broke up a Sens’ 3 x 2 – their first odd-man rush of the game – but one that didn’t produce a SOG either.
It wasn’t until there was 2:28 remaining when we first saw some offensive signs of life.
Here’s how I recapped it at the time:
SUPERMAN Sam “I Am” Carrick does it again – because you know the bitch in the #93 jersey won’t! Carrick with a rip from the low circle, Rempe was right there for the rebound if needed too. 1-0, good guys – but wait a minute – with 2:28 to go and Ottawa is challenging for offside.…
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) January 22, 2025
Here’s the clip of the play:
Carrick scores!! Rempe is offside, so no goal. #NYR pic.twitter.com/eXygsVtQjm
— David 🏒 (@DaveyUpper) January 22, 2025
As you can see from the clip – and an excited Rempe, who did the right thing by crashing the net and looking for an eventual rebound if afforded – was also way offside.
And I had no problem with this goal being overturned either.
You could also see that Rempe was upset for costing Carrick a goal, but the center, a team player, let his flank know that it was okay and to keep on going.
Returned to a scoreless affair, and it only took a tad over a minute later for a Rangers’ goal to count:
Laffy scores!! Rangers lead 1-0 #NYR pic.twitter.com/mTBJwDaQLI
— David 🏒 (@DaveyUpper) January 22, 2025
This was a good shift from the GAG LINE 2.0.
Ditto the guy who is climbing the franchise’s all-time points and assists d-man leader boards, Adam Fox.
(Fox is now surpassing Hall of Fame names such as Brad Park and Harry Howell – high company – but where yes – you do have to consider the eras too – including the fact that Howell, who did play more games than any other Ranger, also played during one of the worst periods in franchise history too.)
Prior to the rebound goal and Fox made a crazy pass to Lafreniere which never had a shot of connecting, but Trocheck received the puck and shot it – and after bouncing off of two Sens’ d-men – Lafreniere buried home the easy rebound for the 1-0, GOOD GUYS, goal.
In a way, and you felt like the Rangers’ defense rewarded them with some offense here – and with the way they played tonight – it’s of no surprise that this eventually became the game-winning goal too.
We remained at 1-0, GOOD GUYS, through twenty-minutes.
Here’s what I said at the time:
1-0, good guys, after 20. 1P Thoughts:
— A very boring period until the Laf goal – but boring is good for these Blueshirts.
— #NYR out-shooting them at 2:1 clip, 10-5 officially – and that doesn’t include Carrick’s goal being erased.
— M$G either needs a mascot or a cocaine…— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) January 22, 2025
SECOND PERIOD
After Rosen informed us that it gets cold in New York during the winter (“OH JOE, SHRINKAGE JOE!”), then Zibanejad won the first faceoff of this here second stanza.
For as unnoticeable as Mika was tonight, I should also say that he finished with a game-high 77.8% faceoff percentage, as a result of his 14 of 18 showing.
But I’d still trade him for J.T. Miller tomorrow!
The Rangers got a break just 45-seconds in, as Drake Batherson whiffed on an easy one-timer.
This then allowed the Blueshirts to attack, forced the Sens’ goalie to make save, and where in turn, the Rangers got a change – and an o-zone draw too.
Everything fell right for the Rangers tonight, as the worst faceoff center in the league, Filip Chytil (he finished 40% after a 4 of 10 performance), actually won this draw – which as a result – set-up Kaliyev for his first goal as a Blueshirt at M$G:
Kaliyev gets his 2nd as a Rangers to make it 2-0 #NYR pic.twitter.com/VwgDtFm5Hs
— David 🏒 (@DaveyUpper) January 22, 2025
2-0, GOOD GUYS.
No disrespect meant to Kaliyev here – but Merilainen didn’t look so merry here – and this was a bad goal to allow too, as the former King desperately shot the puck from the far boards.
Thought?
I wonder if Kings’ fans, and much like the Cult of Kakko, went bat-shit over Kaliyev scoring for his new team – and how these idiot Kakko fans do whenever the former #24 of the Rangers scores for the lowly Krakheads?
Hmmm….
And I’m through with the Kakko stuff, except for to say that he never panned out in New York, I don’t think he would’ve ever thrived in the high-pressure environment that the Big Apple provides and he was always better off going to a small market team where there is no pressure or expectations.
This Kaliyev goal, his second as a Ranger, also meant that he had scored more 5 x 5 goals than Artemi Panarin has scored ever since his arrival from the west coast.
Just sayin’.
Schneider almost scored a third goal for the Blueshirts with 16:32 to go, but even with Rempe screening him and the Sens’ goalie picked up his 14th save of the match.
Merilainen then made his best stop of the game when he denied Trocheck with 14:55 remaining.
26-seconds later?
And Kaliyev seemingly had his second goal of the night:
Kaliyev scores his 2nd of the game, but it’s Offside.. No Goal. This is the second goal this game deemed offside. #NYR pic.twitter.com/HGzrlHIQQW
— David 🏒 (@DaveyUpper) January 22, 2025
This was the Kreider offside by a c-hair review – and where one more time – I abhor this style of replay.
This is also when Merilainen was pulled in favor of Forsberg – as while this goal, and like the Carrick one before, didn’t count – he also didn’t look so great either.
Furthermore, and with the Rangers controlling the game, then Green was looking to jump-start his flat as a plate of warm piss team.
And it almost worked – as the officials, perhaps who wanted to keep the game close, then decided to assess Borgen with a FAKE NEWS penalty:
Borgen gets 2 min for nothing. #NYR pic.twitter.com/gn1aBl9u7J
— David 🏒 (@DaveyUpper) January 22, 2025
Tkachuk charged into Borgen at his head, Borgen defended himself and the referees thought this was a good time to give the Senators a power-play.
No matter, as the Blueshirts’ PK laughed their way out of it – and where as noted above – didn’t even allow the Sens to set-up – much less offer them a SOG either.
As loud chants of “THESE REFS SUCK” reverberated throughout the arena, then once returned to full-strength – and Matt Rempe wanted him some of Tkachuk – as #73 wanted to avenge his defenseman.
Tkachuk, perhaps still remembering the name of Connor Mackey, didn’t really oblige – and he more than welcomed the zebras that broke up this potential fight.
I will never understand why the referees do this.
If two players are willing to go, then let them.
After all, this is an entertainment product – and nothing is more entertaining for paying customers, the fans in-attendance, than a fight.
Heck, we haven’t changed much from the days of Roman gladiator fighting!
Come 8:34 remaining and CZAR IGOR flashed his glove on Tkachuk too – even going the extra mile with the swagger save.
It wasn’t until there was 7:56 left to be ticked when Forsberg had to make his first save – as the Rangers, still up by two, were more than happy to focus on defense than offense – and especially with CZAR IGOR in net.
After killing a penalty assessed to Chytil, where again, the Sens’ power-play didn’t test CZAR IGOR once; then right after these two-minutes and it was Fil who drew a penalty himself – and as he did with 3:44 remaining after a Stutzle trip.
This Blueshirts’ power-play was more of the same – pass, pass, pass, Panarin blocked, pass, pass pass, Mika blocked, the other team clears the puck and then that’s that.
We remained at 2-0 after two periods – and where all that was left to do was FINISH – an area of concern for the Rangers lately (based on their three recent overtime losses).
Here’s what I said at the time:
2-0 good guys, after 40. 2P Thoughts:
— CZAR IGOR has a special streak going.
— #NYR have done a great job of stifling these Senators.
— Could have four goals on the board, should at least be three.
— These refs have been very questionable.
— Up to the Rangers to NOT…— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) January 22, 2025
THIRD PERIOD
In Rosen’s best moment of the game, then he reminded every M$GN viewer that the Rangers had an optional practice on Tuesday morning, one that many regulars had skipped – but only because of the recent and grueling schedule that they endured – and in turn – wanted to be fresh for a situation like this.
This did come into play – as the Rangers looked fresh, while the Senators looked as stale as a pile of rotting tomatoes.
I must admit – I was expecting the Sens’ comeback at the time – as after all – I’ve seen this show one too many times before.
But there was no repeat episode on this night.
In the first three-minutes, CZAR IGOR had to make two saves, while Miller stripped Tkachuk of a puck as he was about to go one-vs-one with the goalie.
And then it happened.
MATT F’N REMPE SHOWCASING HIS SILKY AND SWEET MITTS WITH THIS BACKHANDED ROOF JOB:
Rempe shows he has hands to take a 3-0 lead. #NYR pic.twitter.com/PDmdb6oFyU
— David 🏒 (@DaveyUpper) January 22, 2025
3-0, GOOD GUYS – and the best lookin’ Blueshirts goal of the season.
And so much for those mentally ill retards who profess, “HE’S JUST A GOON AND HE CAN’T PLAY!”
Assholes!
Yep, and you know it – and M$G never grew as loud as it got here after this Rempe goal all-season.
That’s why it’s still amazes me that this league will do everything in their power to get one of their biggest draws off of the ice (Rempe still moves merch and his video clips on social media are the most watched in the league too) – and even more perplexing that – why this moronic head coach will try to cast aside this unicorn too.
I’ve even been told by sources that I can not reveal (I do have some low-level ones, but not many), that every player in that locker room, most notably Kreider and Quick, the two oldest players on the team, absolutely love the guy – and have politicked for him to get more playing time too.
(And this isn’t really a case of yours truly breaking a story here either – as others have reported the exact same thing – as that’s how “leaky” this story is – and so leaky that it even travels to the earlobes of a beer-bellied blogger! Plus, it’s already public information that Rempe spent parts of the off-season, and into the season too, crashing at the homes of CK20 and JQ32.)
But like anything positive from the realm of the REMPE EFFECT – and just watch that clip.
I’ve never seen the team celebrate more for a goal this season than this one here – and I am not exaggerating at all.
That’s how beloved this big galoot has become.
Right after this, and another fan-favorite, CUYLLE HAND LUKE, almost scored on a breakaway – but he went wide.
However, he’d later make up for it.
Here were my next two tweets from this game:
Igor stops Greig, fourth line brawl/scrum after, Igor looks hurt, Rempe wants to fight, Schneider has someone and Igor goes after Tkachuk now – holy shit – Rempe jumps after him and protects the goalie, ref won’t allow the fight tho – what is wrong with this ref? Let Rempe go!…
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) January 22, 2025
Zibanejad would never defend Igor like Rempe just did – FACTS. #NYR
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) January 22, 2025
Here’s the always reliable @DaveyUpper with the clip of this Blueshirts’ Brawl For One In All:
Chaos!! Igor goes after Tkachuk, after Tkachuk goes hard into the net and hurts Igor. #NYR pic.twitter.com/1DCQI8duZn
— David 🏒 (@DaveyUpper) January 22, 2025
While you don’t want to see CZAR IGOR risking injury here – but at the same time – you loved this.
Very often in hockey, and you hear former players, coaches, GMs, etc, all talk about the difference between the words “TEAM” and “CLUB” – and where the latter word is always used as a derisive adjective.
This was a no-doubt-about-it TEAM play.
But if Mika was on the ice?
Then he’d be looking to hug Kreider – and at the risk of watching his goalie get pummeled.
And again – my hats off to Chytil too – as he should be nowhere involved in a play like this – yet he never backs down from this physicality.
Also?
Another big F-U to the officials – who should have allowed this Rempe v. Tkachuk heavyweight tilt to occur.
In the aftermath, the officials read out a laundry list of penalties – but Sam & Joe would not shut up – and that’s why I always print the PENALTIES section in every GAME REVIEW blog too.
Up next, and following the Amadio penalty too?
A pair of power-play goals scored within 56-seconds:
Panarin makes it 4-0 #NYR pic.twitter.com/V4yaKyXmwO
— David 🏒 (@DaveyUpper) January 22, 2025
4-0, GOOD GUYS – and it was great to see Panarin get back on the board again.
I’ve said this a lot during the past two-weeks – but for this Rangers’ comeback to go anywhere – then the team’s best player must be that – and in every game too.
He’s the Rangers’ McDavid, the Blueshirts’ MacKinnon – and simply stated – he can’t be out-scored by Lavy’s fourth-line every night.
I think that Panarin can do it – while I’ve also given up all hope on Zibanejad ever returning to his prime again – where for the record – was five-years ago – and right before the pandemic too (2019-20).
After the latest baked good, up next was CUYLLE HAND LUKE with this hell of an individual goal:
Cuylle makes it 5-0 #NYR pic.twitter.com/gkz3MCu0Jf
— David 🏒 (@DaveyUpper) January 22, 2025
5-0, GOOD GUYS!
Game over too.
But before triple-zeroes, then it must be said that with 4:40 to go – and Rempe almost scored again – but following another picture-perfect backhander – and Forsberg recited this song lyric – “I won’t be fooled again.”
The Rangers also got another power-play with 3:34 to go, as Nikolas Matinpalo slashed Chytil.
Here’s what I said at the time:
3:34, the 2-3 #NYR PP will go back at it – up 5-0 – and I’d give the fourth line a man-up shift here.
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) January 22, 2025
And that’s what happened – although the PP2 unit got the first crack at it.
While the power-play finished 2 of 4 after this – you can forget about this one – as this was more about running out the clock than anything else.
5-0, GOOD GUYS, your final – and just an excellent effort from top-to-bottom, that is, except from the dry haired dee-jay.
Here are the elated players following the game – including a jovial and thankful Rempe – and a CZAR IGOR who made it known that he wasn’t going to take Tkachuk’s shit either:
All in all – and like Mortal Kombat – “a flawless victory.”
Up Next For the Rangers: Practice on Wednesday followed by an I-95 rivalry game at M$G against John Tortorella’s Flyers on Thursday night.
This game, the second one between Broad Street and Broadway, will also have playoff implications, as both teams have 50-points in the standings, but since the Flyers have played one more game (48) than the Rangers (47), then it are the Blueshirts who lead them.
It should be noted that Philadelphia took the first game of this three-game set, having beaten New York on Black Friday (3-1 on 11/29).
Up Next For Me: Bedtime – as I do have to be up for work in the morning – but it was well worth staying up late in order to write this blog!
Up Next For You: You already 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
@NYCTHEMIC on the Tweeter machine
December was a lost month. Couldn’t even watch most of the games. At least the Rangers are watchable now, but they’re mostly playing teams that aren’t playoff contenders, so it’s too soon to think of NYR as a real playoff threat. Good idea to move Zibanejad if possible, but don’t expect the Convict President to deport him. Trump’s illegal immigrant wife is a more likely deportee, and you know that’s not going to happen. JT Miller is not a good idea. He’s just another over-30 declining star with an overpriced contract. Better to keep Chytil, even with his concussion history. Rempe, Edstrom, Cuylle, and the other young guys are the better option. Big, Fast, and Tough is the way to go.
Which teams aren’t playoff contenders? Everyone during the last three weeks is pretty much in the mix.
I’m only down for Miller if it means Mika is going the other way.
Agree, need more Rempe, Cuylle and Edstrom’s.