Greetings and salutations everyone and welcome to another blog here on BlueCollarBlueShirts.com. WAKE UP JAMES DOLAN!
Off puck drop tonight, there’s a lot to get into, including the loss to the Kings that I didn’t write about on Saturday night, but I do want to first start off by talking about Sunday night’s 3-2 loss to the St. Louis Blues – and of course – an overall state of the team diatribe to boot!
After that, then we’ll get into everything else – and where there’s a lot “else” to talk about too!
I just hope you have the “fresh legs” for it!
I am not breaking any news to you here:
The Rangers are an all-out mess – and where not even a gaggle of your finest cleaning women could rectify this filthy room as it’s presently constructed today.
While there’s a lot of finger-pointing to go around, and where as a result, no one gets a “free pass” either; but either way – it’s time for James Dolan to make changes now – or else this franchise will continue to slide to the depths of hockey hell.
What stood out the most to me following the team’s disgusting 5-1 loss to the Kings on Saturday afternoon, was when Vincent Trocheck openly admitted to the media that his team hasn’t been putting in the effort.
But of course, Trocheck, and his teammates too, also said the same-old-shit – you know – “we have to get better, we have to battle more, we have to fight back, we can take something away from this” and blah-blah-blah.
Such words have never rung more hollow.
When Trocheck’s self-admission to his own lack of effort, and his team’s lack of effort too, escaped his lips – then these three-words immediately popped into my Blueshirts’ brain:
CHANGE IS NEEDED.
Sure, we all know about my Laviolette/Lateralette stuff that’s been written here during the past two-years (the core is rotten and no coach in the world can save them); but as I’ve been saying for some time now in this space – he’s just as guilty for this team’s inability to show up at the start of the games – much less trying to win them.
Just watch any post-game interview following any one of these recent losses from the past two-months and you can see it – this Rangers’ core, and as they always do, have already given up on this head coach – and while Laviolette doesn’t shoulder all of the blame – what else can be done?
After all, you can’t fire every player.
What’s most bothersome to me, and why I’m urging James Dolan to intervene as he once did in May of 2021, is that general manager/team president, Chris Drury, has assembled a bunch of weak-minded individuals.
Put it this way:
The Columbus Blue Jackets, a team most strife and bereft with tragedy (the franchise endured the death of goalie Matiss Kivlenieks in 2021, and then perhaps suffered the worst calamity in all of hockey history when the Gaudreau brothers were killed by an egotistical drunken driver over the summer), have not given up.
The team from Ohio could have very easily tossed-in the towel this season – and where it should also be noted that prior to the murder of Johnny Gaudreau – then this club had finished in last-place with him during the past two seasons.
Despite being dealt the absolutely worst hand imaginable – in both life and in hockey – and the Blue Jackets are playing their hearts out every night.
In essence, the Blue Jackets have rallied for Gaudreau while paying honor to his memory, rather than by folding and solely mourning him.
(And I hope the sentence above comes out right and as intended – as in no way, shape or form, am I trying to disrespect Gaudreau, his family, nor the CBJ either.)
The Rangers?
They have the brownest of poo-poo and woe-is-me looks all over themselves – and where such poor body language seems to be permanently affixed to their faces too.
And over what?
The trade of Barclay Goodrow?
The trade of Jacob Trouba?
While I wouldn’t say that Drury handled his business with class and due diligence; at the same time – HOCKEY IS A BUSINESS.
And that’s the bottom line.
Making trades, especially ones of a salary cap nature, in this profession, are just part of the job – and whether anyone likes it or not.
Here you have the Blue Jackets giving it their all every night, a team that would have every valid excuse in the book to play the sympathy card; yet it’s their Metro Division rivals, the Rangers, that want your tears and empathy – and because of what – the big bad general manager who made two trades?
The Rangers should receive no respect from anyone – and to use Drury’s “betrayal” as a reason to give up is the softest story in all of sports today.
As previously explained, while I can’t let the players off of the hook for being upset with their boss; at the same time, Drury is not without fault either.
While his moves made at the 2022 Trade Deadline are to be praised-and-lauded, and acquisitions which perhaps were the second-best deadline deals in franchise history too (1994 can’t be topped); but ever since that time, and it’s been nothing but misses.
I don’t even know where to start when discussing Drury’s failures.
Between acquiring a ton of GRIT and SANDPAPER types at the start of his tenure (Sammy Blais, Barclay Goodrow and Ryan Reaves headline this class), only to then remove all of them quickly afterwards; the still unexplained firing of long-time trainer Jim Ramsay; the dismissal of Gerard Gallant; never holding Mika Zibanejad to any standard of accountability; ignoring multiple legends from the rafters of M$G; his belief that Vitali Kravtsov would be able to replace Pavel Buchnevich; doing nothing at all during the 2024 Trade Deadline when his team was at the height of their powers; and many other events that I don’t have the time to get into tonight – and much like his tenure as team captain – and despite two ECF appearances too – and his run as Team President/General manager has been an abject failure.
Drury’s most recent miscue, now forever known as “THE MEMO,” when he told every team in the league that nearly all of his players were available, has sunk his soft-as-baby-shit squad.
But to be fair to the players – would you want to work hard for a boss that’s openly telling every competitor on the block that they can have you?
However, and as I give you both sides of the story here – but there has to be some level of pride, a sense of responsibility if you will, from the players too.
After all, if these players (who mind you – are still being handsomely paid) showed up for work everyday – then there would have never been a “MEMO” issued to the Rangers’ 31 opponents in the first place.
At the end of the day, this is the roster that Drury put together – and it’s a roster that won’t win a Stanley Cup too.
Drury, who a little over three-years ago, also masterminded the Blueshirts’ back-stabbing of his mentor, John Davidson – and long before Goodrow & Trouba could ever say “Et Tu Drury?” – and it’s now high-time for Dolan to do what Laviolette never does with his players – hold his top employee accountable.
Based on poor play, lack of effort and routine performances that are beyond putrid – and it’s obvious that the hardest assets to move – the players – have given up on both the head coach and the general manager – and where as noted – the players are now openly admitting to this fact – and as Trouba recently did once being jettisoned to Disney Land.
Granted, a new GM will want to make his own changes too – but at least these crybaby Blueshirts won’t feel betrayed by a new voice in the room – as there’s no previous relationship.
Can the Rangers be saved?
For James Dolan’s sake, and for the sake of us, the paying customers/loyal fans too – then you sure as hell hope so.
It starts by Dolan wiping the slate clean prior to the extended Christmas break – and that means saying toodles to both Drury and Laviolette.
As far as a next GM?
There are plenty of candidates out there, and ugh, maybe Dolan lets Sather run the team in the interim too – but as long as it’s not Drury – then maybe the players will remove their heads from their asses.
As far as a next head coach?
I’d go with a taskmaster type, and since John Tortorella is unavailable – then yes – I’m talking about Joel Quenneville right now.
But heck, even if it was Mark Messier, whose name always pops up whenever a vacancy opens up – then anything is better than the no-longer-heard voice of Laviolette – who now in his second season in the Big Apple – has lived up to his reputation – and one that’s a strong first season followed by mass debris strewn all over the place in Year Two.
And for Laviolette, whose hair is visibly thinning-and-graying by the day – then perhaps such a firing would be welcomed by the head coach who looks completely defeated during every press conference conducted.
To be completely transparent with you – then I was not shocked at all with Sunday’s 3-2 loss.
After all, not only did I bet on the Blues to emerge victorious (as previously noted in this space, whenever I bet against the Rangers, and in an act of complete degeneracy too, then I’m hoping to PAY for a win), but I also bet on Pavel Buchnevich to score the game’s first goal to boot (proof provided during the GAME REVIEW segment).
And if you didn’t know that Buchnevich would score against these here reeling Rangers, then you my friend, must have your head up your ass – and just like everyone associated with this organization today!
By now, and as explained on this site, then you can’t believe one word that these players say.
After all, actions speak louder than words.
Get embarrassed in another “worst loss of the season” candidate, and on home ice no less, a day prior?
Then such events doesn’t matter to these guys – and despite the Blueshirts’ big words of bogus ballyhoo.
Even long before the news of Artemi Panarin’s injury, Kaapo Kakko being scratched; then I didn’t have a hope in the world that the Rangers would be able to beat a bad team on Sunday night.
Heck, I placed my Blues’ wagers on Saturday night – and while the Rangers were still in the air to St. Louis!
These Rangers, just pathetic these days, squared off against a Blues’ team that had played the night before in Dallas, where they lost in overtime, and where in turn – it were actually the Blueshirts that arrived to Missouri before the home-team did – and something like five-hours ahead.
You think that mattered?
In a first period where both teams were trying to find their legs, and where a lot of sloppy play resulted, it was of course the former #89 of the Rangers, “Captain Happy” himself, Pavel Buchnevich, that struck first blood – and as he did with just 69-seconds (nice) remaining in the frame.
And had this goal not been scored so late – then I think a levee of goals would have been allowed until the end of this first period too. (As you’ll soon see in the GAME REVIEW, I even said as such in real-time.)
Rather than a barrage of tallies allowed at the end of the first, instead, the Rangers gave them up in the second stanza.
At the early onset of the middle-period and Jonathan Quick, who deserves no blame for this loss (and like most Blueshirt barrel men this season), was forced to come up with big save after big save.
But then the dam broke.
In a game where it felt like the Blues had an odd-man rush or breakaway every other shift, and Jordan Kyrou made it 2-0 at the 6:33 mark, while Robert Thomas extended the home team’s lead to 3-0 at the 10:28 mark.
Game over.
The Rangers had little interest in competing – and akin to a mother dragging her young children around when shopping for clothes.
But when speaking of “young children,” it were a pair of 22-year olds, the rookie Brett Berard and the sophomore Will Cuylle, that tried to reverse the Jack Kevorkian fate that these Rangers were aiming and striving for.
These two Blueshirts’ “YOUTS” goals, were scored within a time-span of 1:19, with Berard first catching Blues’ goalie, Joel Hofer, off-guard, with a 3-1 goal at the 10:18 mark of the final frame.
Cuylle, after a great pass from new linemate Alexis Lafreniere, brought the Rangers within one – and in a game that they never had any business being in for that matter too.
Down to 9:42 remaining in regulation, and where Laviolette deployed new lines too; then it was obvious to all – it were the KIDS, “OH JOE, THE KIDS JOE!”, that were giving it their all – while the FAT CATS were fine with resigning to another listless loss.
As the likes of Cuylle and Berard were generating offense, and where at the time, you could tell that the Blues would’ve given their right testicle in order for the clock to flash triple-zeroes; then we got into crunch time – and with Quick being pulled with 2:33 remaining.
Despite Zibanejad being benched for long portions of the game (he only played 13:04 – his lowest amount of time ever since becoming a full-time Ranger while not being impeded by injury – and that covers nine-years of hockey) – and with the game on the line too – and that’s when Laviolette said goodbye to his only two forwards displaying offense, Cuylle and Berard.
For the next 2:33, and with a timeout sandwiched in-between too – and we never saw Cuylle and Berard again.
Rather than having a feel for the game, nor noticing what was taking place in front of his own two eyes too; instead, Laviolette went back to his “same old shit” sack of tricks – and every Mika shot went wide, while Chris Kreider, a game low minus-two, couldn’t capitalize on one rebound afforded by Hofer either.
While it was nice to see Chytil and Lafreniere out there (both assisted on Cuylle’s pure line goal); without question – it should’ve been #65 and #50 out there during this pivotal time – and not #20 and #93.
In turn, and when the final horn buzzed with the Rangers trying to prevent an empty net goal in their own end, Blues 3 – Blueshirts 2.
It was also another case of “too little, too late” for this 2024-25 club – and one that will probably grow only softer and more emotional following the head coach’s decision to scratch a healthy Kaapo Kakko – and because the bench boss wanted “fresh legs” in his line-up.
Apparently, such thinking only applies to a third-line 23-year-old – and not a 31-year-old failure who is playing the worst hockey of his career.
And who could’ve predicted it?
As forecast in these pages on Wednesday night, when Zibanejad finally scored his second power-play goal of the season in 28 games played against a bad Buffalo team – then you couldn’t expect Missing Mika to show up against L.A. or in St. Louis.
And don’t expect him to show up in Nashville or Dallas either.
The only question on Mika’s mind now is this:
“When do we play Montreal again?”
The only thought on Laviolette’s mind after this?
“How do I block Chris Drury’s phone number?”
As you may have noticed, then I didn’t post a GAME REVIEW blog following whatever that was against Los Angeles from Saturday afternoon.
If you follow me on social media (https://x.com/NYCTheMiC ), then you already know that I took in this game from my local watering hole – and where afterwards – sadly, there were no shots of fentanyl offered to befuddled Blueshirt backers.
After watching that mess, where the 2014 champions prevailed against the Rangers again – and where it was already 5-0 by the 25-minute mark of the match – then there was no way in hell that I was going to waste my time rushing home and hammering out a blog.
Instead, I decided to drown my sorrows – and then prepared to sing the Blues on Sunday.
Since my last writing to you took place this past Wednesday, when the Rangers were celebrating like world-beaters after being a team on a seven-game losing streak by one goal, then at this time, let’s chronologically recap everything that I’ve missed.
Following Wednesday night’s win in Wing Land, then come Thursday, the team had an undeserved day off.
As you had people like Stan Fischler from Israel, Tony DeAngelo from Russia and Ron Duguay from wherever Sarah Palin is setting up camp, all tweeting their concerns about the Blueshirts – and especially as other teams in the conference were leap-frogging “Lavy’s Lot” in the standings; then I found this AI video of Jacob Trouba’s recent interview on ESPN to be most hilarious:
I didn’t make this but this is the funniest #NYR video that I have ever seen. pic.twitter.com/A9ktlZgEBC
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) December 13, 2024
Sadly, and after watching this video on late Thursday night/early Friday morning – and this was the last time that I have smiled since.
Come Friday The 13th (my dad’s 74th birthday too – HBD, D.O.D.), and the Rangers reconvened for practice at the team’s training facility in Tarrytown, NY.
Once high-noon hit, then it was reported that K’Andre Miller, who left the game against Buffalo after receiving a soft shot from Jordan Greenway, had been placed on the injured-reserve, and as a result, would not make the upcoming three-game road-trip.
In corresponding moves, both Connor Mackey and Chad Ruhwedel were recalled from Hartford, with the former filling in for Miller in the line-up, and the latter returning to his usual seat in the varsity press box – or so we thought at the time.
Obviously, while you don’t want to see anyone hurt – losing Miller wasn’t the worst thing in the world for the Rangers – and now – you could send him to Hartford once healthy for rehab games too should the Blueshirts’ brass be willing.
However, and on the flip side, this news also means that it will be tougher to trade Miller too – and especially before the league’s annual holiday freeze which begins this Wednesday.
As far as anything else, then the line-up, aside from Mackey for Miller, remained the same – including Zibanejad on the team’s first power-play unit.
And that would all change come Sunday too.
There’s no way that I’m going to relive all of Saturday’s malaise, a game that was a complete fiasco from the jump, but just a few thoughts about the 5-1 drubbing:
— CZAR IGOR, with five goals allowed and a .762 save percentage, was pulled after giving up the Kings’ 5-0 goal – and at only the 25:04 mark of the match.
Granted, while you could hardly blame him for anything, as the defense, both the rearguards and forwards, were absolutely dreadful – but either way, and as my buddy “The Maven,” always likes to point out – when you’re the highest-paid goalie in the league (or at least he will be come next season), then you’re always going to receive criticism after showings like these.
For a team that may need a rebuild rather than a retool, then you have to wonder why Chris Drury was so eager to make CZAR IGOR the highest-paid backstop in the league – because and as we’ve seen many times over – you can have the greatest goalie in the world, and as assembled by DNA engineers in some sort of a backstop superlab – and even then – that science project wouldn’t be able to solve the Rangers’ problems.
It should also be noted that CZAR IGOR’s new deal (with a complete NMC) doesn’t go into effect until next season – which is my way of saying that he still can be traded should things continue to fall into a dark age abyss.
And with an eight-year deal that only the Rangers could have provided him already signed, then I wouldn’t 100% rule out such a scenario either.
And just to jump ahead for a bit – then I thought it spoke volumes with his team hitting the skids again, that Laviolette went with Jonathan Quick, who played 35-minutes on Saturday, come Sunday in St. Louis.
You’d think that his starter would be chomping at the bit to get back out there.
There’s no fight from anyone on this team, with the exception of Will Cuylle – and perhaps Vincent Trocheck too.
Similar during the infrequent times when Matt Rempe gets called-up, then the rarely-used Connor Mackey also fought during his first game played of this 2024-25 campaign.
And just like it was in Ottawa last year, when Mackey took down Sens’ captain Brady Tkachuk – and Mr. Mackey decisively won his bout against Samuel Helenius. Heck, not only did Mackey win this fight with ease – but you also had Henenius beg for the officials to break it up too!
But while that’s all great for both Rempe and Mackey (and what does it say that Rempe could play for a Presidents’ Trophy winning team last year, but can’t slot onto a bad team this season?) – where’s the fight and passion from the regulars?
I know that much is being said about the team checking out after the way management handled both the Barclay Goodrow and Jacob Trouba situations – but that’s an excuse.
After all, no player wants to look like shit on an everyday basis – and if they are so emotionally broken after seeing two of their buddies traded away – then they are in the wrong business/profession.
Special Teams Swings Games.
As predicted in this space on Wednesday night, then I told you that Mika Zibanejad, after scoring his second power-play goal in his 28th game played this season (and both against woeful foes, Montreal and Buffalo), would do nothing of the sort against a red-hot Kings’ team.
Speaking of, this loss to the Kings, a playoff team from last season and one currently in post-season positioning today, marked the eighth consecutive loss (0-8) that the Rangers have sustained in “LITMUS TEST GAMES” during this present campaign.
How impressive.
And as it usually goes whenever matched against one of the league’s top-sixteen – and the Rangers power-play was as silent as Morgue $quare Garden was on Saturday afternoon – another 0-fer performance (0-3).
If there’s anything positive to be said, then despite how bad the team has been, and their penalty kill, tops in the league, was once again perfect against L.A. (3-3).
For the life of me, I don’t understand how this POWER KILL, which not only kills off nearly every penalty taken, but also creates a bunch of man-down scoring chances too, can be so successful – and especially since the Rangers, whenever on the power-play or at even-strength – looks so listless, disinterested and flat-out awful more times than not.
Make it make sense!
Every -less was exhibited on Saturday.
Gutless, listless, feckless, whatever, and all of the -less’ were there for you on Saturday.
Until L.A. had enough of running up the score, then for the Rangers, all they did was bleed a limitless amount of 2 x 1 and other odd-man rushes attacks – and where if you didn’t know any better – then you would’ve thought that these players had some sort of grudge against their goalie.
And while on the topics of the goaltenders again, then as I did on this site, and also on social media too – I opined prior to puck drop that I would have started Jonathan Quick – and solely for the revenge factor.
While the Kings did pull back their reigns after CZAR IGOR was pulled; Quick, and to his credit, also had a heavy work-load and stopped all of the eleven shots that he faced while in relief.
While the number eleven may not sound like a lot, most of these saves were of the HIGH-DANGER variety – a Rangers’ staple.
Lavy’s seat has to be getting hotter, right?
We’ve done this talk before (which is another reason why I didn’t write a GAME REVIEW on Saturday – as it was all the SAME OLD RANGERS – and nothing really new had transpired), but even if it isn’t the head coach’s fault, and as my LATERALETTE moniker implies too – then you have to think that Lavy’s days as bench boss of the Blueshirts are coming to an end.
After all, and as we all know with this rotten core – you can’t fire players, but you can fire coaches.
Today, and whatever the head coach is saying is not being heard.
And you can see it on Lavy’s face during the games, his tone during his interviews and his agitated body language that’s now displayed on a 24/7 basis.
That all said, and as I’ve written in this space before – despite the players’ routine failures – and it’s not like the stubborn head coach has done anything to address any of them – including his non-stop refusal on the idea of giving Zibanejad a timeout.
This was the worst loss of the season.
For a season that’s had many contenders, then it says a whole lot when another home game was your absolute WORST LOSS OF THE SEASON – and mainly because there was no effort whatsoever displayed.
But that won’t ruin Drury’s Christmas.
And for the fans who paid boffo bucks to attend – then don’t expect a refund either.
At this time, let’s get the disclaimer segment out of the way before rapid-firing through the rest of all things related to Rangers’ misery.
Here is our 82-game mantra, which is also known as my 33-word daily disclaimer, that I post on this site after every game played – and one that I even need to read a few times over in order to calm myself down:
“WHATEVER THE RANGERS DO FROM NOW UNTIL THE TRADE DEADLINE DOESN’T MATTER. THEY CAN ONLY BE JUDGED BY WHATEVER THEY DO FOLLOWING THE DEADLINE AND BY WHAT THEY DO IN THE 2025 PLAYOFFS!”
In other words, thirty down, fifty-two 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?
You make the call.
In case you missed it, then here’s where I last left off – the Rangers being extremely proud of themselves for extending Buffalo’s losing streak to eight straight games:
Prior to puck drop on Sunday night, then the useless idiot, the birdbrain herself, Mollie Walker of the New York Post, reported that Brennan Othmann was back – and then suggested that he could save the Blueshirts from their present state of decay.
Of course, Walker ignored that Othmann, while having some flashes of brilliance in Hartford, has had some rough times whenever up with the varsity team – times so rough that he couldn’t even make the team out of camp – and despite being given the most amount of playing time amongst all players during the preseason.
And really, what good is it for Walker, or anyone else for that matter, to put the onus of saving the Blueshirts on the back of a rookie?
For the Rangers to be saved, then it must start with their FAT CATS earning their hefty salaries – and rather than playing like clumps of kitty litter.
In other words, then in the infinite wisdom of the clueless scribe, it was up to Othmann to return – and then pull the nose up before this team crashes once and for all.
Similar to the head coach, and Walker doesn’t hold the likes of Mika Zibanejad accountable either.
If you take anything out of this, then the point that I want to stress the most is that it was completely irresponsible to write an article for the masses where you tell everyone that Othmann could potentially be the savior.
Why put such stress and unrealistic expectations on a player who hasn’t even experienced a full rookie year in the NHL?
And why not put such grand hopes of delusion on the players that are actually here – and earning top dollars too?
While we’ll get into the Kakko stuff once we get there, as I’m trying to keep this chronological right now; but prior to the game, and before any line-up information was released, Laviolette briefly spoke to the media.
When it comes to his team not playing well, Lavy said, “Just watching the way we played in the last dozen games, there’s been too many games where it has not been good enough. So for me to sit here and say, ‘No, we’re good, we’re fine,’ that’s not true. That’s not the message that is being sent.”
“When we’re not winning hockey games, then have to account for everything and everybody,” the head coach added. “And it starts with the guys that take down the minutes, the guys that can really have an impact”
However and curiously at that, Laviolette, never accountable himself, then called out his role-players, rather than singling out his fat cats, when he said, “But it’s not just relying on them [highest-paid players] as well. The secondary scoring, that needs to come into play as well. The guys that are young here and new, that needs to come into play also. You can’t just rely on one person to get things done. It’s got to be a group effort.”
How ironic – as Laviolette did a complete 180 on that – and as he did when he told Berard and Cuylle to take a hike with 2:33 remaining in St. Louis.
And if the words from the head coach hold no value, then how can you expect his players to play for him?
Come 5:30PM Sunday, a half-hour before puck drop, and the Rangers announced the following:
UPDATE: Artemi Panarin (upper body, day-to-day) will not play tonight.
— NY Rangers PR (@NYR_PR) December 15, 2024
Whatever is ailing Panarin is presently unknown – and Laviolette didn’t talk about it after the game either, aside from saying that all health matters “are handled internally.”
With Panarin unavailable, then that meant that Laviolette had to make some changes to his line-up – and rather than doing something simple such as a one-for-one substitution- he chose violence instead.
While you can check the line-up segment featured below for all of it; but come puck drop – and there was no Kaapo Kakko – who later on, was confirmed as a healthy scratch – as unlike Panarin – he wasn’t ill or hurting – that is, at least physically.
Since Kakko was made a healthy scratch, this then led to the natural speculation that he may be soon traded – and especially since ESPN’s Emily Kaplan hinted as such just last week.
When it comes to this SCRATCHO of KAKKO, then unlike his previous two big scratches, the 2022 ECF and 2024 ECF (and by two different head coaches no less), then I thought that this one was COMPLETELY UNJUSTIFIED.
Mind you, I’ve never been a Kakko fan ever – and heck – I’ve been championing for a trade of “The Feckless Finn” for years on end now!
But to blame him for this present state?
Hardly.
In fact, I’d even say he’s been one of the better players this season – and even if his usual struggles remain – he can’t score goals.
But I rather Kakko in my line-up these days than Zibanejad.
While it was Kakko who was banished to the press box, it was also interesting to see not only Laviolette break up the BFF duo – but to place Mika on his third line and Kreider on his fourth.
I’d be fine with Mika gone forever, but even with Kreider struggling (and I think it’s mainly because of Mika), then I’m not so sure that a fourth-line demotion was the greatest idea in the world either.
And nothing against the returning Jonny Brodzinski – but a top-six winger – C’MON MAN!
Defensively, and I thought it was silly to scratch a player that you’re trying to develop, Victor Mancini – and for Chad freakin’ Ruhwedel of all people too.
After all, and keep in mind, this is the same organization, while in Alberta just a few weeks back, that wouldn’t allow Ruhwedel to play (Edmonton), and in turn, flew Mancini some 3,000 miles from Hartford.
In turn, is Lavy really blaming Mancini for the five goals allowed to Los Angeles?
And for a team that’s expressed their dissatisfaction with management all season, then what did Lavy expect to get out of a player that he previously indicated was no good to play, while as a result, now telling a rookie that he was to blame for the team’s most recent slide?
Wake up James Dolan!
Lastly, while Quick was reliable as always, I still thought it was dumb to keep CZAR IGOR on the pine too.
Here was Laviolette’s line-up for the thirtieth game of this 2024-25 season:
FIRST LINE: Cuylle/Chytil/Lafreniere
SECOND LINE: Brodzinski/Trocheck/Smith
THIRD LINE: Berard/Mika/Vesey
FOURTH LINE: Edstrom/Carrick/Kreider
FIRST PAIR: Lindgren/Fox
SECOND PAIR: Jones/Schneider
THIRD PAIR: Mackey/Ruhwedel
STARTING GOALIE: Jonathan Quick
BACK UP GOALIE: CZAR IGOR
DAY-TO-DAY: Artemi Panarin
IR: K’Andre Miller & Uhro Vaakanainen
HEALTHY SCRATCHES: Kaapo Kakko and Victor Mancini
BOX SCORE time.
The following graphics and information come from ESPN.com:
SCORING:
PENALTIES:
TEAM STATS:
GOALIES:
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STL
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Joel Hofer#30
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SA
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GA
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SV
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SV%
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ESSV
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PPSV
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SHSV
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SOSA
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SOS
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TOI
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PIM
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| 28 | 2 | 26 | .929 | 24 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 60:00 | 0 |
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NYR
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SA
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GA
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SV
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SV%
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ESSV
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PPSV
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SHSV
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SOSA
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SOS
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TOI
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PIM
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| 24 | 3 | 21 | .875 | 20 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 57:27 | 0 |
The M$GN pregame show was its same horrible self – and especially since “The Instagram Analyst,” Sieve Vagistat, was again left to his own devices and self-serving bullshit.
Seriously, and especially now with the team in a complete state of disarray, then does anyone ever tune into this broadcast and say, “GEE, I REALLY WISH I COULD HAVE MORE CHARTS AND GRAPHS FROM THE WORST BACK-UP GOALIE IN FRANCHISE HISTORY!”
I rather listen to Dave Maloney go nuts about this team for thirty-minutes, seven-days of the week, twice on Sundays too!
As I was in-and-out of this broadcast, and I’M NOT MAKING THIS UP, “The Ramrod’s” favorite customer, Vagistat himself, then started going on-and-on about his undying love for hard dumps and (anal) rimming.
On brand.
I still wonder what type of blackmail Vagistat has on the powers-to-be at M$GN.
Come 6PM, and with Vagistat’s routine bullshit now over with, we then went to St. Louis where a beaming ear-to-ear Sam Rosen greeted us.
I’ll give him some credit – as I have no clue how he remains so giddy about this team.
Maybe he’s being shot up with something – but it’s definitely not truth serum!
Micheletti, much more aggravated than his partner, brought up how the Rangers admitted to giving no effort (the Trocheck interview after the loss to LA) – and how that could not be tolerated.
My hats off to Jumpin’ Joe for saying this on a state-owned broadcast.
As I was laughing at Mike Silvers new nickname for Laviolette (he calls him LAVIOLETDOWN); I remarked the following in real-time – and how right I’d soon be proven to be:
Hall of Famer Jonathan Quick v. Joel Hofer in nets. Lavy’s line blender will get all talk after this game – win or lose. The worst faceoff center in the league, Chytil, loses the draw and we are underway from Budweiser Country – try the tour – I’ve done it and had a blast. #NYR
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) December 15, 2024
Now after the fact?
It feels like the head coach, and the general manager too, are the ledes; while the Rangers’ poor play, expected as such, falls to the wayside.
And ugh.
GAME REVIEW time – and let’s get through this ASAP.
FIRST PERIOD
As every Ranger fan was worrying about the perilous state of this team, and I’M NOT MAKING THIS UP – Rosen, after puck drop, then started lamenting about St. Louis’ travel schedule – and for good measure – got in some talk about Taylor Swift too.
Micheletti at the time?
He started pondering about what trades the Blues would soon make – and nary a word on what the Rangers might actually do – you know – stuff that viewers may have wanted to hear – and especially with Krakko scratched and all.
After Rosen informed us that Colton Parayko was a horse for the first of ten times tonight (“OH JOE, HE’S A HORSE JOE, YOU SHOULD SEE HIS SHOW IN MEXICO JOE!”), the first several minutes of this game were painstakingly slow, as the two teams tried to figure out each other while on dead legs – and during a period of time where we must’ve had about twenty different whistles for stoppages too.
In a game where the Rangers didn’t really rally up many shots on goal until it was too late, Hofer made his first save on Trocheck with 16:23 remaining.
Twenty-seconds later and Quick stopped the Horse in the updated Blues threads that were donned in this tilt.
As I was wondering how Matt Rempe could play for a Presidents’ Trophy winner, but not with this sorry bunch of maligned misfits; Sam and Joe then started talking about the state of the Ducks – and where Trouba’s name never received a mention.
While this was going on, ignored by the two bozos in the booth was Quick’s third save of the game, on Kyrou, and with 14:14 left in the period.
Come 12:30 remaining, and the Blues had another lengthy attack, one that Quick derailed, which then led Mika into shooting wide in the other end – aka – the usual.
A minute later and Brodzinski was assessed with the game’s only penalty of the night, when he was boxed for tripping Alexandre “NO RELATIONS TO MARK” Texier.
What transpired next was the best two-minutes of hockey that the Rangers played in St. Louis – that is – until Berard & Cuylle went on to score back-to-back goals.
As noted above, and really all-season too, and for whatever reason, the Rangers’ penalty kill has survived and thrived amongst all.
I don’t know what it is, but these days, it feels like the Blueshirts are better off playing a man-down all game.
Whether it’s the fact that they can ice the puck to their heart’s content, having a sense of responsibility to not let down their goalie or what; but once again, this penalty kill remained as magnificent – while also generating some scoring chances too.
Quick was barely tested during this Blues’ PP, as instead, Hofer made two jaw-dropping stops – a save on Fox while on a 2 x 1 rush, then another on Trocheck during a 3 x 1 rush.
Once the PK successfully concluded, and the Chytil line and Mackey/Ruhwedel pair had a good shift with 8:20 remaining – and that was that.
A minute later and the SOG tally was Blues 5, Rangers 4 – and where half of the Blueshirts’ shots were while short-handed.
After Sam and Joe told us how Ken Hitchcock was a great man; the Blues’ top line then ate up the Chytil line for nearly a minute – but Quick was able to prevent any damage.
Up next?
The famous announcer’s jinx, as while Micheletti was going on-and-on when telling us how Buchnevich “WORKS HARD” – boom – there was the former Ranger on cue to break-up the nil-nil tie:
Former Ranger Pavel Buchnevich opens the scoring for the Blues 🤪 pic.twitter.com/AN0v8Ipf5M
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) December 15, 2024
1-0, bad guys, following Buchnevich’s snipe.
At least this goal made me some money too:
Do I know these Rangers or what? I should’ve bet $89! #nyr pic.twitter.com/lyr9FrKkvt
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) December 15, 2024
As noted above – had this period had anymore time remaining – then I think the Rangers would’ve folded like a cheap burgundy Sieve Vagistat suit.
We remained at 1-0, bad guys, after twenty-minutes.
Here’s what I said at the time:
1-0, them, after 20. 1P Thoughts:
— #NYR are lucky Buch’s goal was scored late – I could see a three-spot if there was five minutes remaining.
— Betting on Buch to not only score, but score first, was the easiest bet I’ve ever made in my life – should’ve put my house on it.…— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) December 15, 2024
SECOND PERIOD
Unless you’re blind, deaf or flat-out stupid – then you could see the demise coming from a mile away.
Just 31-seconds into the period and Quick made a pair of robbery saves on Toropchenko.
Right after that, and the Blues came an inch shy of scoring a 4 x 2 goal too.
What was noticeable, and because of Lavy’s line blender where not many of these guys had ever played together before, was that the chemistry was off all game.
For most of this period and it was never-ending turnovers – as blind drop passes, headman passes, heck, any type of pass attempt, were then retrieved by the Blues.
Had Lavy had a practice with these lines under his belt – then perhaps you wouldn’t have had all of these non-stop giveaways.
As the wholesale changes continued to produce more turnovers than a bakery; then it was Zac Jones who registered the first SOG of the period for the Rangers – and as he did with 15:47 remaining.
This SOG also ended a nine-minute SOG drought – a Blueshirts’ specialty!
Quick, who sadly, his strong work will be forgotten about because of everything else going on, made one hell of a save on a back-handed Broberg try, as the new Blue got past Mika and Ruhwedel, and as he did with 14:17 remaining.
As Laviolette was chewing through Zyn like a kid going through a bag of Halloween candy, Rosen reminded us that Parayko was a horse, while at the same time, Lindgren flubbed a puck which then set off Kyrou to the races:
JORDAN KYROU HIGHLIGHT REEL ADDITION 🥶
pic.twitter.com/DQ3Ogs3xDr— Gateway Grinders (@gatewaygrinders) December 16, 2024
2-0, bad guys – and another Ranger turnover that wound up into the back of their net.
Right after that, and now down to 12:41 remaining, it was Chytil’s turn to cough up the puck, but a Robert Thomas shot, from three-feet out, crushed the post so hard that Sam Rosen even heard it.
In a response, Rosen added, “Oh Joe, Thomas always plays hard against the Rangers.”
Of course, such words then led to Thomas scoring on his next shift:
Okay we’re fucking sick. The St. Louis Blues are a good hockey team pic.twitter.com/QTtvkaavjZ
— Gateway Grinders (@gatewaygrinders) December 16, 2024
3-0, bad guys.
Rosen’s response?
An exasperated, “Oh boy!”
This is also when M$GN showed us an aerial view of Lavy’s head – and where his increasing amount of thinning gray hairs were featured.
Down to 8:12 remaining and we had another rare SOG – and one that Hofer stopped too, as this save on Lindgren was his 15th of the game.
In a period where the Blues really should have out-scored the Rangers 5-0; the bottom-six Blues then took turns eating the Blueshirts’ top two lines alive – but Quick continued to limit the bleeding.
And when the Blueshirts’ depth hit the ice?
Then the Blues were even exhibiting their power, as they were hitting the likes of Carrick and Mackey with ease.
After a Quick stop on Buchnevich with 3:15 to go, and Sam & Joe did their best when trying to defend “Lavy’s Lot” – but we knew the deal – they were cooked.
If there was something that really bothered me during this time, then it was when Sam & Joe echoed a lot of what many Ranger critics say – how this was the same group from last season and blah-blah-blah.
But it’s not the same group from last season, as not only are team captain Jacob Trouba and alternate Barclay Goodrow gone – but the spark from last year, Matt Rempe, is deemed unfit to play by this head coach.
Such talk also ignores the fact that every NHL team in the league tries to improve themselves over the summer too – so to expect every parameter to remain the same a year later is just the thought of a fool.
As the Rangers continued to do nothing of note, we remained at 3-0, bad guys, through forty-minutes.
Here’s what I said at the time:
3-0, bad guys, after 40. 2P Thoughts:
— I should skip the third – and my GAME REVIEW blog too – and watch the Yellowstone finale instead – but I’m a glutton for punishment – and loyal too.
— Starting to feel like the 1992-93 season.
— I don’t think a healthy Panarin…— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) December 16, 2024
THIRD PERIOD
If there was anything that shocked me from tonight’s game, then it was the fact that the Blues didn’t win by ten – and how the Rangers almost came back too.
But of course, your best players were two players barely over the legal U.S. drinking age – and not one ounce of production from the FAT CATS.
As the Blueshirts continued to look as helpless as Kamala Harris or Joe Biden against Donald Trump in a debate; then, and for whatever reason, Rosen once again talked about how Jim Montgomery scored his first NHL goal against the Rangers.
This clip, and this Rosen voice-over, was the same exact piece that ran when the Blues beat the Rangers back in late November.
But in an update, and why M$GN felt that Ranger fans would want to hear this is beyond me too, then it was reminded to us that Montgomery, in his first game as Blues’ bench boss, defeated the Rangers, and as it was when St. Louis rolled into town and steamrolled themselves to a 5-2 win.
From a Rangers’ perspective – then nothing of note took place during the first ten-minutes – at least not from from a positive perspective.
The Blues just hemmed in the Rangers, Quick made a few saves, and where only Mackey had put a SOG.
My only thought during the first ten-minutes was that if Lavy used a line-blender before the game, then why didn’t he use it in-game when down three goals?
The Rangers, who at the time, had only scored one even-strength goal in their last seven periods of play, flipped the script during the final ten-minutes – but of course – hockey games are contested six-times that amount, as in a full sixty.
Down to 9:42 remaining and this is when Berard sneaked one by Hofer – and on a shot that the Blues goalie probably should’ve stopped.
3-1, bad guys – and where I won’t lie – while not an “A-Rod goal,” but only because it was a rookie scoring it – but that’s what it felt like.
In other words, had Mika scored this one, then I would’ve been screaming “A ROD GOAL” here.
1:19 later and this is when Chytil found Lafreniere, where afterwards, Lafreniere deftly dished the puck to Cuylle for the 3-2, no-doubt-about-it, goal.
Now trailing by one instead of three, and the Rangers juiced up a bit.
This is when Montgomery also used his timeout – and wisely at that.
After all, I’ve been criticizing Laviolette for not doing the same in recent weeks.
As I felt that Quick deserved more praise for even allowing the hope of a comeback to emerge to the surface; then I was also hoping at this time to see more of Berard and Cuylle.
Fat chance – as we got the FAT CATS instead.
As Hofer, and to his credit, stopped Lafreniere and Trocheck as we approached the FOXWOODS FINAL FIVE; the goalie then stopped a screaming shot sent his way by Berard with 2:33 remaining – and then that was it for the rookie.
For the next 2:33 – FAT CAT time.
At the end of it?
A 3-2, bad guys, win.
I’m sure that Mika will get them next time.
Here’s Lavy criticizing his Finn for not having fresh legs:
Here are the players after this sludge:
Not only did I think it was irresponsible to scratch Kakko tonight, but equally as irresponsible was for the two longest-tenured Rangers, two alternate captains to boot, Kreider and Zibanejad, to skip all talks with the media.
Maybe they were too busy hugging and 69ing each other.
It just floors me how the leadership routinely ducks the media.
Say what you want about Henrik Lundqvist, who was never a captain or alternate to begin with (but we all know that it was his team anyway); but despite all of the bad games that he had, especially during the end of his run – and he never shied from the media once.
Mika does this on a daily basis – which is why I also think that he’s a long-haired hippie coward.
And nothing against elder statesmen Reilly Smith (1 SOG) and Jimmy Vesey (0 SOG) – and I didn’t notice their alleged fresh legs either.
And one more time – I say that as a person who would’ve traded Kakko years ago!
Up Next For The Rangers: A Tuesday night tilt in Nashville – and where the Predators are currently experiencing the absolute worst stretch in their franchise history among their 26-years.
After a summer blockbuster of signings, and the Predators are not only in last place – but have only won one game in their last ten played (1-6-3) too.
In other words, expect the yellow to have their best game of the season against the slump-busting Blueshirts – and where I’d also assume that Laviolette will be day-dreaming of the good times he once had there, back in 2017.
And who knows?
Maybe if the Rangers have the balls to fire him, then maybe Preds’ GM, Barry Trotz, will pull a combination of a St. Louis (Bannister for Montgomery) and Buffalo (Lindy Ruff) – and by immediately returning Lavy to his franchise when replacing the equally as flailing Andrew Brunette.
Up Next For Me: Sleep – but I’m going to try to watch the Yellowstone finale too!
Up Next For You: Your favorite segment, which brings us to…
PLUGS TIME! (Buy a book and support my Rangers’ induced therapy bills. After all, I don’t run ads on this site!)
My fourth title and tenth book is now available!
“The Top 100 Villains of New York Rangers History,” is now available for sale!
For complete information, please visit: https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/rangerkillers/
My second plug of tonight’s blog – the mandatory plug for my book, “The New York Rangers Rink of Honor and the Rafters of Madison Square Garden.”
As mentioned previously, the book is now available in hardcover, in paperback and in Kindle formats. To purchase a copy of the book, visit this link:
https://www.amazon.com/Rangers-Rafters-Madison-Square-Garden-ebook/dp/B09CM5N2WD
For those still looking for signed paperback versions of the book, I have re-ordered more copies. I now have a few signed copies for sale at $25 a pop (includes shipping price) through me directly. Here is all the information on that:
Order “The New York Rangers Rink of Honor and the Rafters of Madison Square Garden” Book Today
My four-volume set of books, “One Game at a Time – A Season to Remember,” is a game-by-game recount of the Rangers 2021-22 campaign.
My second title as an author, “One Game at a Time – A Season to Remember,” is now available in eBook, paperback and hardcover formats.
To obtain signed copies, visit: https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/onegamebook/
To purchase all four volumes on Amazon, visit: Amazon.com – “One Game at a Time.”
The greatest volume-set of books on Rangers’ history today!
“Tricks of the Trade – A Century-Long Journey Through Every Trade Made In New York Rangers’ History,” a four-volume set of books that meticulously covers every trade made in franchise history, is now on sale.
All four volumes of the title can be purchased on Amazon.com and are presented in three different formats – eBook, paperback and hardcover.
To purchase Volume I: Conn Smythe (1926) – Craig Patrick (1986), visit Amazon.com
To purchase Volume II: Phil Esposito (1986) – Neil Smith (2000), visit Amazon.com
To purchase Volume III: Glen Sather (2000-2015), visit Amazon.com
To purchase Volume IV: Jeff Gorton (2015) – Chris Drury (2022), visit Amazon.com
To purchase signed copies of all four volumes, visit https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/tricksofthetrade/
If you haven’t already, subscribe to this blog for the next update:
Don’t forget to order my four-volume set of books, “Tricks of the Trade!”
If you don’t order through me, all four volumes are now available on Amazon.com
For more details, check out: https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/tricksofthetrade/
Thanks for reading.
LET’S GO RANGERS!
Sean McCaffrey
BULLSMC@aol.com
@NYCTHEMIC on the Tweeter machine
Emily Craplan knows nothing!