Greetings and salutations everyone and welcome to another blog here on BlueCollarBlueShirts.com. I was wrong.
In fact, I was dead wrong.
At this time, let me offer you my apologies (and perhaps condolences should be afforded too), as just a few weeks back, even before Turkey Day in the U.S.A., and while talking about the Blueshirts’ malaise – I said that the Rangers hadn’t hit rock-bottom yet – and despite such talk being the popular opinion from the majority at the time.
As regular readers of this site already know, then I said the day when the Rangers would officially hit rock-bottom would be on December 9th – and when the team was scheduled to host the worst team in the league, the Chicago Blackhawks.
And as everyone knows – that’s exactly what happened – as the Blueshirts were embarrassed on home ice by a final score of 2-1.
What I didn’t know then, but what I now know today, is that the Rangers didn’t hit rock-bottom after that pathetic loss to Chicago.
Instead, this date, December 17th, 2024, is now forever known as the day when the 2024-25 Blueshirts have hit rock-bottom – and even as I write these words – who knows – worse events may lie ahead – and where the grossest event of them all would be a Mika Zibanejad contract extension!
The Rangers, who entered Tuesday night in Nashville as losers of ten in their last thirteen games played, concluded the evening by becoming losers of eleven in their last fourteen games played – and in a season where there’s been a ton of contenders for this distinction – then this 2-0 loss was easily “THE WORST LOSS OF THE SEASON.”
Sadly, and previous to tonight – and then I have already deemed about ten other losses with such an “earned” title.
But make no bones about it – getting shutout for the first time this season and by the worst team in the league for that matter too – well, that takes the throne.
And no – I don’t think that Artemi Panarin would’ve made a difference either.
That’s how bad these Blueshirts truly are.
While I didn’t know back on 12/9 that this day would come; but I did expect it following Sunday’s loss in St. Louis.
For those who need a reminder, then this is how I closed my last blog entry to you:
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.
If there’s anything consistent about these 2024-25 Rangers, and aside from their immaculate penalty kill, then it’s definitely the fact that they remain undefeated as “SLUMP BUSTERS” – as every bottom of the barrel team in the league has their best games and wins against them.
Tuesday night was no different.
As just touched upon and the circumstances heading into Tuesday night’s game, featuring two of the worst teams in the league, favored the big buck Blueshirts.
After all, not only was Nashville with one win in their last ten-games played, but they were also missing half of their defense, including former Norris Trophy winner Roman Josi.
This forced general manager Barry Trotz and head coach Andrew Brunette into throwing a bunch of AHLers into their line-up – but not that you would’ve known this had it not been told to you when watching this shit show, starring the New York Rangers, on ice.
The Predators, with problems as serious as the Rangers, although not as intense (after all, while Nashville has grown into a hockey-happy city – it’s not N.Y.C – and furthermore, the expectations are far greater in the Big Apple than they are in Smashville – and only because of how each team finished last season – and oh yeah – Trotz is more beloved than Drury too), entered this match with their season nearly flushed down the toilet.
By the end of the night, they pulled the handle on the turd bowl known as the Blueshirts – or is it the “Blueshits?”
It’s funny, when I was watching this game, then I also had my eye on another game featuring two of the worst teams in the league – the Montreal Canadiens vs. Buffalo Sabres match – and where Marty St. Louis’ boys extended Lindy Ruff’s losing streak to eleven straight games, following their 6-1 victory.
That game north of the border was sloppy – but it was also energetic throughout.
Over in the Music City and this game was nothing but slop – and the energy came in-and-out like one of those old rabbit ear antenna big-box televisions from the late 1990s when seeking out pornographic “scramblevision.”
This game, largely plagued by never-ending icing calls, turnovers, missed connections and shots that came closer to hitting Sam Rosen than the intended net itself, was for the taking.
Instead, the Rangers gave up.
Sure, they all said following the game (interviews included below) how they played well, things were clicking and other such falsehoods that only amplified their lack of a self-awareness – but such hollow talk was just that – and as empty as their goose egg in the box score.
What was apparent throughout the sixty-minute affair, and despite how bad both teams are/were, was that Nashville wanted it more.
For example, the Predators out-blocked the Rangers at a ratio of a little over 2:1, 29-14 in total.
At one point, the men in yellow were actually out-hitting the men in blue too, but because of a final frame where the visitors did a lot more chasing than attacking, then it were the Rangers that out-hit the Predators by a 35-27 tally.
While the black-and-white hit stats suggest that the Rangers were the more effective brutes; such an idea is a fallacy.
In reality, and in what we’ve seen a lot of all season, it were the Blueshirts’ opponents will, drive and integrity that led to another Rangers’ demise.
Case in point:
During nearly every puck battle, “dirty area” one-on-one battles, and other such feats of prestigious battle-arts – and it were the Predators giving it their all – while the Rangers seemed resigned to taking it up the ass again.
While CZAR IGOR was largely fine tonight (you can’t win if you can’t score); but there were an abundance of scoring chances generated by Nashville, as the Blueshirts lost most of these battles, and where the end result more times than not, saw “Lavy’s Lot” unable to clear pucks because of an aggressive Predator forecheck, where in turn, forced #31 to make the extra saves that should’ve never been tasked upon him.
And for a Rangers’ team that’s never won a game whenever entering the third period trailing – and prior to tonight, that was never shut out before either – then during a one-goal game when entering the final frame – and it was Nashville that was out-shooting the Rangers, 10-5, prior to CZAR IGOR being pulled.
The Blueshirts just extended Juuse “Don’t Call Me George” Saros third period save total to eight during the final one-hundred seconds.
In a game devoid of much scoring, it was former Ranger prospect, Jonathan Marchessault – and a man who’s grown into a “Ranger Killer” himself (and no one knows more about this topic than me – heck – I’ve literally written the book on this subject), who scored the game’s first goal – and as he did at the 13:37 mark of the first period.
As we’ve seen time-and-time again – and it’s always one little error that always winds up into the Rangers’ net.
This time, it was Chad Ruhwedel’s turn to err – and no – I still don’t know why he played tonight either.
As the two teams went back-and-forth, it was Adam Wilsby who said “good night” to the Rangers – and as he did when he scored with only eight-minutes remaining in regulation.
For the next eight-minutes, there were only two questions left remaining:
One, would Nashville score an empty-netter, and two, would someone on the Rangers score an A-Rod goal?
The answer to both of those questions were “NO,” but it didn’t matter, as come the final horn, Predators 2, Rangers 0.
And had the league started a month ago, and had the Rangers not beefed-up on their easy schedule at the start of the campaign – then without doubt – and hands-down – then it’s these putrid 2024-25 Rangers that would officially be deemed as the worst team in the league.
While I’m sure that day will soon become official; instead, they are now under .500, with a pathetic record of 15-15-1.
There’s a lot more to get into tonight – but up first – a reminder about my daily disclaimer.
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.
However, I do want to remind you that this disclaimer has always implied that the Rangers would reach the playoffs.
In other words, and for the first time in four seasons as well – it’s now high time to start judging these guys in the regular season too.
After all, there may be no post-season in New York this year.
Here is our 82-game mantra, which is also known as my 33-word daily disclaimer, that I post on this site after every game played:
“WHATEVER THE RANGERS DO FROM NOW UNTIL THE TRADE DEADLINE DOESN’T MATTER. THEY CAN ONLY BE JUDGED BY WHATEVER THEY DO FOLLOWING THE DEADLINE AND BY WHAT THEY DO IN THE 2025 PLAYOFFS!”
In other words, thirty-one down, fifty-one 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 wouldn’t bet on it.
In case you missed it, then here’s where I last left off – the Rangers spiral in St. Louis:
The Rangers, following their failures on Saturday (5-1 loss to the Kings) and Sunday (3-2 loss in St. Louis), traveled to Nashville afterwards, where come Monday, the team had a league-mandated (CBA) day off.
As most of Rangerstown, USA was waiting for some sort of news, whether it be a new general manager, a new head coach or a trade involving players; instead, it was nothing but tumbleweeds – as everything remained the status quo. (That’ll show ’em!)
While the Big Apple streets remained quiet; over in Canada, and Steve Dangle, a prominent Toronto YouTuber (he’s even featured in the official NHL video game), who on occasion, breaks hockey news too, had a bunch of information to report in regards to the Rangers.
To watch the full episode, then click the play button below:
Among what Dangle, who obviously is more in-touch with this team than the beat reporters who are paid to cover them are, reported, was the following:
— There recently was a players’ only meeting where everyone expressed their disinterest in the job that Chris Drury has been doing. All of the players were upset in the way that their general manager handled both the exits of Barclay Goodrow and Jacob Trouba.
— During this same meeting, the players gave a vote in confidence for their head coach, Peter Laviolette – although it’s unknown how Kaapo Kaako reacted during this alleged closed-doors soiree.
— Speaking of Kakko, and from the “Department of DUH” too: Everyone expects the Finn to be gone by the time the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline rolls around.
— Trouba’s comments following his departure/trade to Anaheim, and an interview which was also featured on ESPN, spoke for the entire team – especially when he said, “it’s a rite of passage to be fired by M$G.”
— The players, already furious with Drury for leaking information, were also extremely aggravated when they heard that Chris Kreider was one of the Blueshirts that the GM was toying around with.
— Dangle, nor no one else for that matter, knows how the players actually sent their message about their general manager to team owner James Dolan, but with this podcast/YouTube show page now public, then you have to imagine that Dolan knows about it now.
When I first heard this news, then I wasn’t really shocked.
After all, just 24-hours prior, and I was clamoring for Dolan to make wholesale changes.
I will say, while I don’t think that Drury, nor Laviolette neither, are exactly doing a great job right now; but at the same time, this GM did give this core three different head coaches during the past three calendar years – and yet – the players have tuned all of them out.
To me, this felt like “millennial entitlement,” as no where in Dangle’s report (nor in post-game player interviews either) did it mention that the players were looking at themselves.
According to them, blaming Drury for doing his job – making the team as best as he sees fit – is the reason for this inexcusable season thus far.
For a team that begged for an accountable head coach after they pleaded for both the firings of David Quinn and Gerard Gallant – it is now both sad and ironic that they are crying about their general manager for holding them accountable.
But in an update to this story, and as tonight’s game was taking place too, and Jonny Lazarus, the part-time Blueshirts’ beat reporter, and one that arguably does the best job of it too, denied Dangle’s report.
Lazarus even reached out to me on Twitter/X to refute what Dangle had said.
However, the story doesn’t end there, as ESPN’s Emily Kaplan, while working for the world-wide-leader on Tuesday night, also said that such a closed-doors meeting had taken place.
Of Dangle, Lazarus and Kaplan, then it’s Lazarus that’s closest to the players.
But Kaplan is rarely wrong either.
And when it comes to Kaapo Kakko?
Then all three of these people agreed that he’ll soon be shown the door – and perhaps by the time that you read these very words.
As Dangle’s podcast was devoured by every Blueshirt ear – and where all hearing organs then felt like Vincent Van Gogh’s afterwards; then also on Monday night, the Rangers, as a group, took in the lively streets of “Smashville.”
The picture posted above was circulated throughout all Ranger social media outlets.
The only thing that I wondered about this picture, aside from everyone dressed in black?
This one thought:
Is there currently a one-eyed Nashville waitress or bar maid right now seeking damages for her unfortunate predicament, following Zibanejad’s dart shot going wide?
On Tuesday morning, the team reconvened for a pregame skate – and where obviously – everyone anticipated the fate of “The Feckless Finn,” Kaapo Kakko, who received the third-biggest scratch of his flailing bust of a career on Sunday.
And as noted on Sunday night – while I would’ve traded Kaako a thousand times over by now, and where I agreed when both Gallant and Laviolette scratched #24 from their line-ups during two separate Eastern Conference Final appearances (2022 and 2024) – I didn’t agree on this St. Louis scratch.
As you already know – I would’ve scratched the dee-jay instead – and one that’s been playing like a broken record for the past two-years now – Missing Mika.
Prior to what both Kaako and Laviolette said following the practice – where no shocker here – the team refused to share both of these interviews on their official YouTube account; then it was revealed at the skate that Artemi Panarin is still out with whatever is plaguing his “upper-body,” while the U.V. ray of Anaheim sunshine, Uhro Vaakanainen, was now off the injured reserve.
As you’ll soon see below if you don’t know it by now, then Uhro (his last name makes my spell-checker go batty), made his Rangers’ debut in Nashville.
For whatever reason, Connor Mackey, one of the more active Rangers, and definitely the most physical, was put on a practice fourth-pair with Mancini – and to accommodate not only Uhro – but Chad Ruhwedel too.
Apparently, Uhro and Ruhwedel have fresh legs.
And come 5PM Tuesday?
Mackey was returned to the Wolfpack – but this may be a paper transaction with the team still on the road and set to play in Dallas on Friday night.
“I was surprised. I know that we’re losing games, but I think it’s just easy to take the young and guy and put him out. That’s how I feel,” said Kaako to a gaggle of blood-thirsty reporters. “I haven’t been on the ice too much when [opponents] score a goal. I have not been the worst guy [on the team] but it was me out of the line-up,” added the Finn.
“I’m not going to do that. They’re going to say something if they have something to say, but I’m not going there,” replied Kakko when asked if he approached the coaching staff about his one-day scratch.
“I’ll keep those messages between him and I. I think it’s okay to be frustrated, okay to be upset. Everyone wants to play. I get that 100%. I understand that,” replied Laviolette when asked about Kakko’s comments.
“There’s been older players who have sat out as well. The decisions that I make, they’re tough decisions. Our team, Kaapo, everyone – we need to play better. We’re 3-10 in our last thirteen games and that’s not good enough. We need to play a better brand of hockey, all of us,” added Laviolette.
In a non-Kakko comment, Laviolette, when asked if he was concerned about his future, retorted, “Those are things that I can not control. I’ve been in this for a long time. There’s always those conversations wherever you go, especially if you’ve been doing this for a long time. My real concern – my only concern – is getting a win tonight, getting back on track and getting back into the playoff race.”
So much for that.
When it comes to what both Laviolette and Kakko said prior to tonight’s tilt, then really, I could see both sides.
Keep in mind, this was also the same head coach, that both following the ECF loss to Florida and at the start of this 2024-25 season as well, said that he wanted to make it his mission to get Kakko going this year.
Obviously, Kakko’s future in New York won’t be for long – which is why I did find it interesting that #24 was in Lavy’s Line-up tonight.
After all, check out my pregame predictions:
Pregame #NYR v. Preds Predictions :
—- An angry and on the trade blockko Kakko scores – but he also gets hurt again, thus postponing any potential trade.
— Mika is asked to pay for a Nashville cleaning crew in order to remove all the rubber stains he leaves on their…
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) December 17, 2024
We’ll get into all of it during the GAME REVIEW – but spoiler, not a spoiler alert – and Kakko didn’t score, nor was he injured.
But he did play a team-low 10:14 – so Lavy’s leash wasn’t long with the fat-mouthed Finn.
Seriously, this egomaniac, who has been demanding first-line minutes and PP1 time ever since arriving in 2019, has the AUDACITY to throw his teammates under the bus and question their play?
Not only has Laviolette made a healthy scratch out of fellow bottom-sixers such as Jimmy Vesey, Jonny Brodzinski and Reilly Smith – but the Blueshirts’ bench boss has scratched these players multiple times over.
Granted, I do think that this is a case of “two conflicting things both being true,” as while I don’t think that Kakko “earned” his most recent scratch – but at the same time – he’s been so freakin’ bad throughout his career, that everyone who once had expectations of “elite scorer” for him, have now settled for “a bottom-six defensive forward.”
Jonny Brodzinski can do that.
Ditto Jimmy Vesey.
So can any other player making under seven-figures.
But since Kakko has the draft status as a former second-overall pick – then he’ll get more chances than most – and where no one can debate this:
HE’S BEEN A FAILURE DURING EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM.
While I understand that he’s doing better in his now diminished role (and where it’s often lost that he’s no longer playing against opposing top-sixes anymore either, as rather, he’s up against bottom-sixers instead); but for this malcontent to throw both his head coach and teammates under the bus?
Well it doesn’t sit good with me.
Conversely, had Will Cuylle been bitching about being stapled to the bench during the final 4:50 of the game in Missouri, then I would’ve defended him to all corners of the earth.
Here was Laviolette’s line-up for the thirty-first game of this 2024-25 season:
FIRST LINE: Lafreniere/Chytil/Cuylle
SECOND LINE: Kreider/Trocheck/Berard
THIRD LINE: Smith/Mika/Kakko
FOURTH LINE: Edstrom/Carrick/Vesey
FIRST PAIR: Lindgren/Fox
SECOND PAIR: Jones/Schneider
THIRD PAIR: Vaakanainen/Ruhwedel
STARTING GOALIE: CZAR IGOR
BACK UP GOALIE: Jonathan Quick
DAY-TO-DAY: Artemi Panarin
IR: K’Andre Miller
HEALTHY SCRATCHES: Jonny Brodzinski and Victor Mancini
BOX SCORE time.
The following graphics and information come from ESPN.com:
SCORING:
PENALTIES:
TEAM STATS:
GOALIES:
|
NSH
|
|
Juuse Saros#74
|
|
SA
|
GA
|
SV
|
SV%
|
ESSV
|
PPSV
|
SHSV
|
SOSA
|
SOS
|
TOI
|
PIM
|
| 25 | 0 | 25 | 1.000 | 19 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 60:00 | 0 |
|
NYR
|
|
SA
|
GA
|
SV
|
SV%
|
ESSV
|
PPSV
|
SHSV
|
SOSA
|
SOS
|
TOI
|
PIM
|
| 32 | 2 | 30 | .938 | 27 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 58:18 | 0 |
Prior to tonight’s pregame show, then I was wondering – for a roster that hates their general manager so much – then why not take a page out from the movie “Major League”?
While I don’t have the time to explain the plot from that film to you here; but regardless, and many of you should recall this iconic photo from one of the best movies of the 1980s:
Since none of the core players have balls – but they do have tears; then perhaps someone with passion, like a Cuylle, could create this:
And when I’m doing bits like this – then it tells you how sad things have become for this feeble franchise.
As the clock struck 7:30PM, I tuned into the M$GN pregame show, and where thankfully – Lundqvist was there to off-set some of Vagistat’s never-ending bullshit.
I’m not making this up:
Vagistat must’ve plugged his shitty little fake news ANALytic company that no other broadcast, team or anyone else with a functioning brain uses today – and he did as such no less than ten-times too.
And I’m still waiting for a Stanley Cup winner to thank their analytic team.
I can hear it now:
“COME TO CENTER ICE AND GRAB THE STANLEY CUP MATT TKACHUK! WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SAY?”
“COMMISH BETTMAN, WE WOULD’VE NEVER DONE THIS WITHOUT EXPECTED EAST-WEST STATS! A BIG THANK YOU TO THE SEVEN-FOOT C-SUCKER OUT IN NEW YORK!”
As Vagistat began by telling viewers that the Rangers may be focused on Christmas (how idiotic); someone who actually played the game, Lundqvist, said the obvious – a win would’ve been nice tonight.
So much for that – and I hope that Vagistat gets a lump of shit in his stocking too!
In what was telling, M$GN didn’t have any visual or audio clips of the Lavy and Kakko interviews which were conducted earlier in the day.
This told us that that Rangers, who didn’t upload them, also censored their own network from airing them.
However, and to their credit, and M$GN just ran text graphics displaying the quotes that I reprinted for you above.
And once again, “THE KING OF COMMENTARY,” a 42-year-old eye-test guy like myself – said exactly what I wrote earlier – and even what I wrote on Twitter/X in real-time too – and when he said that he saw both sides of the Kakko/Lavy story – and how both individuals had merit.
Yep, as the biggest detractor of Lundqvist’s final contract (and that talk all had merit too – and where now everyone today is talking about the size of every goalie contract in the NHL to boot – but as usual – I was the first – TRENDSETTER!) – and I can’t believe how much we see hockey in the same way either.
(Holy Barry Horowitz self-pat on the back Batman!)
Following this, John Giannone, and with a straight face, told us that CZAR IGOR and Juuse Saros were the two best goalies in the league today.
I spit out my drink.
As Giannone was saying this, a graphic flashed where it was shown that neither goalie had a winning record – and where CZAR IGOR’s GAA was above 3.00.
And I guess that Giannone has never heard of Connor Hellebuyck either.
Up next was the announcer’s jinx – and I even said it at the time:
Giannone telling us how Nashville is the worst team in the league and how they rank last in every major category – so you know what will happen tonight. #NYR
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) December 18, 2024
After that, I couldn’t stand Vagistat anymore so I had to turn the broadcast off. However, come 8:00PM, and I returned, where I then heard the following:
“OH JOE, WE ARE IN THE STEEL CITY, NASHVILLE, TN JOE! BARRY TROTZ IS A GREAT MAN JOE, OH JOE, HE’S BEEN AROUND FOR A WHILE JOE!”
“Sam, the Predators work hard and anyone under the age of 21-years-old is fabulous!”
Okay – that I’m making up – but you would’ve believed it had I said was real!
In reality, Rosen found ten different nicknames for Nashville, and where the ever-so-hip Hall of Famer said the word “SMASHVILLE” four times in four-minutes.
Both Sam & Joe then praised Nashville as one of the best cities in the league – and as someone who’s been to 28 cities in the league – and to “SMASHVILLE” on three occasions – then I’m inclined to agree.
Side-bar?
My top five NHL cities that I’ve visited are Las Vegas, Nashville, Montreal, Tampa and Edmonton.
Ironically, all five of these cities have plenty of good drinking to be found – and major casinos (sans Nashville – but it’s coming) too.
What a degenerate!
After Sam and Joe sung the high praises of Brady Skjei, it was also noticeable that something was going on with Rosen’s wig tonight.
I don’t know if he used a different color, he spilled something on it while in his hotel room, it didn’t dry right or what, but something was off about it.
And when I’m stalling by suggesting that Rosen wears a rug – well that tells you what this game was tonight.
But no joke – something was going on with his fraying follicles.
Enough dilly-dallying.
GAME REVIEW time – and let’s blow through another night of Rangers’ misery ASAP.
FIRST PERIOD
As a generality, the Rangers were, and without doubt, the better team of the first ten-minutes – but of course – and as this team fails to remember on a game-by-game basis – hockey matches are contested under a total of sixty-minutes.
Since this match marked the 600th game in Jimmy Vesey’s career, then his line started – which I was fine with, as they’ve been the most consistent trio throughout this mess – but I didn’t understand why the U.V./Ruhwedel pair was out there with them.
Edstrom, Carrick and Vesey, and as they’d do most of the game, attacked in the Preds’ zone. Once they changed, Berard took one extra stride too many, and if he hadn’t, then perhaps he would’ve scored at the 1:45 mark after a feed from Kreider.
But similar to the fourth line playing well all game, then like Berard’s play here – then this is how this contest went for the Rangers – nothing but near misses and “coulda, woulda, shoulda,” same old shit.
As all talk, no action, Kakko had a puck sent out of play on his first feckless shift; then the guy who disgraces Ryan Callahan’s number everyday then actually put a puck on net – and an easy save for Saros too.
And I gotta give Sam & Joe credit too – they very often ignore anything negative and/or controversial on these broadcasts – but they fully went in on this Lavy vs Kakko story – and where like most sane people, Lundqvist and myself included – both announcers saw all angles.
(This is also my way of saying that many fans, mainly young, but there were some “old heads” like me too, 100% sided with Kakko – and ignored all of his shortcomings – while also omitting the fact that Laviolette had scratched many players before him. Also lost? Not one word from these folk about Victor Mancini being scratched again for a pair of defensemen that have NO FUTURE with this team whatsoever, U.V. & Ruhwedel.)
As Carrick missed the net by a mile (but this tells you that he was attacking again), the Preds had already iced the puck five times in the first 4:30 of play.
After that, Micheletti – and not Rosen as is customary – informed us that the sounds we were hearing after a Saros save were “JUUUUUUUUIIIIIIIIIICE” – and not “BOOOOOOOOO.”
But of course, all boos are reserved for the Blueshirts these days.
Kreider, somewhat reinvigorated tonight but who still can’t score 5 x 5 this season, had two shots blocked with 13:15 remaining, as Schenn blocked one and Jankowski blocked another. This just speaks to what I said earlier about Nashville – and despite their present predicament – playing for one another and sacrificing their bodies.
Down to 12:00 to go and Saros stopped two strong back-to-back plays from new linemates, Lafreniere and Cuylle – and where it’s obvious – it’s #50 not only steering the wheel – but he’s running down the tracks, flying the plane and the only one trying to launch this team to the moon.
Speaking of going to the Moon, can Donald Trump deport Mika Zibanejad there?
Your alleged first-line center, one stealing money these days to a tune of $8.5M a year?
Another game-low minus-two – and this mental case turned over the puck more times than I cared to count.
FUN FACT (and I’m not making this up):
Among all 781 NHL players who have qualified this season, and this sensitive soft baby with a -17, ranks 777th overall in the plus/minus department.
And some of you people had the GALL to challenge me when I first said two-years ago, and all the way up-to-today, that it was Zibanejad’s contract – and not Trouba’s contract – that was the worst on the team.
You can send your apologies to me now – or find a way to get Mika off this roster!
I’ll take the latter!
As the officials missed an obvious Nashville tripping penalty committed on Edstrom with 11:15 to go (not that the Rangers would’ve done anything on their Mika-led power-play anyway – 0-2 tonight); I soon remarked the following:
10:53 to go in 1P from NSH, TV TO – #NYR are the much better team (doesn’t say much), but I am surprised that even with NSH all banged-up – they aren’t playing desperate – they look like the Rangers against the Kings.
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) December 18, 2024
This would soon change.
Right after that, and the Preds had their best attack yet, with CZAR IGOR making one save on an opposing shot and with Fox blocking the rebound.
When mentioning Fox, he finished with a team-high five blocked shots tonight.
No other Ranger had more than two. (Do you miss Trouba yet?)
Unlike loud mouth Kakko, who finished with zero blocked shots – and at least Fox let his actions do his speaking for him.
Down to 7:23 remaining and Mike McCarron had seemingly struck first, but upon replay, a puck that landed on the top of CZAR IGOR’s net was batted off by his stick, into a Nashville glove and then past the goal line.
The refs got this right – as they were blowing their whistle once the infraction was committed – and then once the puck went in – the goal was immediately waved off.
This was the first of many breaks that the Rangers got tonight – including when they received two power-plays before Nashville had one.
As Saros stopped Berard with 6:33 remaining; ten-seconds later, and with Ruhwedel losing a 50/50 battle and with Mika doing god knows what, the following:
Jonathan Marchessault finishes off the great passing setup from Stamkos and Forsberg, Preds strike first!#Smashville pic.twitter.com/uJcOYqbVXa
— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) December 18, 2024
1-0, bad guys.
And I saw this coming too:
I should add more zeroes to my prop bets, this is free money #nyr pic.twitter.com/wWSWFFDuKW
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) December 18, 2024
A bet that I later hit on tonight?
This one:
I’m getting tired and upset when writing about this mess.
As far as anything else worth noting from this fiasco; then, and with 1:15 remaining, Kakko was set-up all day to bury a puck into a GAPING and vacated Saros net.
Rather than picking his pocket, instead, Kakko saw THE FORMIDABLE FORCE known as rookie Adam “Who” Wilsby – and shot it right at him.
Replay was iffy here, so it was tough to tell if Kakko got a piece of the Swede or if he just flat-out missed.
But Wilsby or no Wilsby – and Kakko had space to find twine.
Too bad he doesn’t shoot the puck in the same way he runs his mouth.
And down to 46.7 seconds remaining, and in a game where both teams mimicked each other’s poor play – and McCarron did the same thing as Kakko – although the net he shot at wasn’t as wide-open as the one afforded to the Finnish egomaniac.
One-zip, bad guys, after twenty – and where it’s worth mentioning that JAM’s goal wound up becoming the game-winner too.
Here’s what I said at the time:
1-0, bad guys, after 20. 1P Thoughts:
— #NYR have been the better team, or at least they were in the first ten-minutes, but again, one bad play goes back into their net.
— Preds could’ve had three goals, but to be fair, so could have the Rangers.
— That Kakko miss captures…— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) December 18, 2024
SECOND PERIOD
In a rarity, not only did Joe say that the Rangers, and not an opponent “WORKS HARD” (albeit, he was only talking about the fourth line); but a Rosen reverse curse actually favored the Blueshirts too.
As Micheletti was talking about Skjei as if he was a girl becoming a woman/having her first period when he said (and I’m not making this up), “Sam, Brady Skjei has really come of age, he’s fabulously matured;” then Rosen responded by lamenting about how the Rangers haven’t been receiving many power-play chances as of late.
Ten-seconds after that remark?
Then at just the 2:01 mark, the Rangers got that wished-upon-a-star power-play, as Lafreniere was tripped by Gustav Nyqvist.
But sadly, when you have a crybaby bitch like Mika Zibanejad still remaining on your first power-play unit – then you can’t expect Rosen to belt out his famous catchphrase either.
(And Lavy should be fired for keeping Mika around on PP1. It’s completely offensive, unaccountable and inexcusable.)
After this long-haired hippie went wide about 86786786869 times, and where on his final shot, he actually hit the net, where in a response, Micheletti even mocked Mika; the PP2 unit came on and where Chytil hit Saros’ mask on a backhanded try.
But the end result – an 0-1 man-advantage attempt.
Up next, one of the few who actually cares these days – CUYLLE HAND LUKE:
Chaos!! Cuylle gets cross-checked from behind, and a team jumps into a fight. Good on Laffy to jump in right away to help. That line looks like a team. #NYR pic.twitter.com/5w4Jzl1h60
— David 🏒 (@DaveyUpper) December 18, 2024
This fracas, which took place at the 10:04 mark, was soon followed by a TV timeout.
When returned, the officials were reading off the penalties – only for these two buffoons in the booth, Sam and Joe, to talk about something else – and over the calls.
In turn, we had no clue what penalties were called – and I had to check NHL.com to see what had happened – as Sam & Joe were too busy yammering on about nothing to tell us what had actually taken place in front of their own eyes.
(You can also check the PENALTY segment for all of the calls.)
I do have to say this though – whatever Cuylle and Marc Del Gaizo were doing was not fighting.
It was more like Greco-Roman wrestling.
But as noted – we never knew that these two fighting majors were assessed – nor the reason why the Rangers got a power-play out of this.
Thanks Sam and Joe!
And oh – this was another break for the Rangers too – because, and as like I always say on this site during plays like these – all penalties should be off-setting.
The Rangers, now on the power-play for the second time, saw the stubborn head coach trot out the worst player on his team.
Seriously, since Cuylle and Lafreniere were in the box at the time, then why not give Berard a twirl with the first man-up quintet?
After all, you already know that the failure that disgraces Petr Nedved’s jersey every day won’t do a thing.
Furthermore, Berard is flowing over-the-brim with potential – and he has been one of the better players during this horrid stretch of games/losses.
End result?
An 0-2 Rangers’ powerplay – but damn it – Laviolette will keep deploying Zibanejad every time out.
Loser.
As the Nashville crowd picked up steam following their second successful PK, then down to 6:30 remaining and Schneider made one hell of a play which as a result, prevented a Stamkos breakaway attempt.
This was Schneider’s finest work yet.
The next four-minutes of this period was an action-packed track meet – and with both teams failing to score – while also turning this game into a goalie’s duel in the process.
Following what felt like Nashville’s 986879686786789679867986679867986986th icing of the game; on the ensuing Rangers’ o-zone faceoff, Reilly Smith took an interference penalty.
I wasn’t mad about this at all.
After all, the Rangers’ PK, officially second-best in the league to these here Predators, but much better overall since they do score shorties, is more effective these days than whenever the team has a power-play or when playing at even-strength.
And wouldn’t you know it?
Trocheck almost scored a shorty here – but his breakaway was denied by Saros.
At least he got the puck on net – unlike the thief stealing $8.5M per season.
The Rangers got their kill and that was that.
We remained at one-nil after forty.
Here’s what I said at the time:
1-0, bad guys, after 40. 2P Thoughts:
— Yeah, Panarin is out, but NSH is the worst team in the league and missing half their defense too, including Josi – and yet – #NYR are losing.
— Remember what I said about CBJ enduring real tragedies, and not loss of players? Look at…— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) December 18, 2024
THIRD PERIOD
The Rangers opened this frame on a 1:56 penalty kill, as with four-seconds remaining in the second stanza, and with many people up and taking a leak – the team was boxed for one of those lovely penalties that Vagistat, who never wears his wedding ring on these broadcasts, loves in his bedroom – TOO MANY MEN.
While such a penalty is horrifying to take, and especially that late into a period; again, I didn’t mind – as the PK is the only thing that the Rangers have going for them today.
But while there was a Forsberg <DING> involved during this 1:56, the Blueshirts’ man-down teams did their jobs again – but it also melted two minutes from the clock with the team chasing a goal.
And that chaser almost came to be, as right after the kill, Lafreniere made a move on Skjei, the former Ranger d-men fell, and #13 had all day to pot a puck past Saros.
Saros denied Lafreniere on this one-on-one backhanded attempt.
With the Rangers not really mustering up much offense, then it was telling when Lavy kept on using his fourth line whenever Nashville had their Stamkos line on the ice. This strategy, and unlike constantly using Mika on PP1, worked.
But with 8:00 minutes remaining and with Nashville largely the aggressor during these final twenty-minutes – some no name rookie soon scored the first goal of his career:
Adam Wilsby dances into space and rifles one home for his first NHL goal!#Smashville pic.twitter.com/5rSc3NPJ1k
— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) December 18, 2024
CZAR IGOR probably should’ve stopped this – but that’s not even close in becoming the lede story after this calamity.
I can’t do this anymore.
The Rangers sucked, and in what was hilarious during this loss to the team that’s officially ranked in dead-last place, is when with 20-seconds remaining, McCarron, with nothing but white ice and an empty net in front of him, broke his stick when going for what should’ve been the no-doubt-about-it, 3-0, empty net goal.
The Blueshirts are awful.
Not only are they growing more detestable and helpless by the day – but they are now becoming unwatchable.
And with what’s going on in Long Island with the nomadic Islanders, then on this date of 12/18/24 – and the Rangers & little brother are looking a whole lot like the two local NFL teams this season, the Giants and the Jets.
Funny enough?
The Rangers have won more games at MetLife stadium than the Giants have this year – and heck – the Islanders have only lost one game there – while Big Blue is 0-8 whenever trying, and ultimately failing, to protect “home turf!”
Here’s what the losers had to say:
It should be noted that team leader and alternate captain, Missing Mika, ditched the media again.
Pu$$y.
And oh yeah – big mouth Kakko was nowhere to be found either after his riveting performance of all-out DIARRHEA!
It should also be mentioned to you, that while M$GN ran Laviolette’s post-game interview (which is why I hang around for the post-game shows when I can during nights like these) – the Rangers decided not to upload it to their official YouTube channel.
Among the bullshit, the following:
Trocheck said this loss wasn’t about a lack of effort, and then doubled-down when he said that the power-play was clicking.
Is he on drugs?
Need I remind you?
NO GOALS SCORED AGAINST THE WORST TEAM IN THE LEAGUE – AND THIS IS AFTER THESE LOSERS ONLY SCORED ONE GOAL AGAINST CHICAGO NINE NIGHTS AGO!
Kreider said that the team needs to find a way to score goals.
YOU’D THINK THAT TONIGHT WOULD BE A GOOD FUCKING TIME TO DO SO!
Kreider also hit the excuse rolodex too, as he had nothing but excuses when describing this loss.
As far as Lavy goes, he said that he didn’t like the third period.
In other words, he liked the first forty-minutes of non-productive, non-scoring, hockey?
He’s lost it – and just like how he’s lost this team!
When asked about the power-outage again, Laviolette, and as if he was Brian Daboll, said that he “needed to review the tape.”
I’LL SAVE YOU TIME LAVY. YOU STILL HAVE MIKA ON YOUR FIRST POWER-PLAY UNIT! WAKE UP ASSHOLE!
I thought Lundqvist, on the M$GN post-game show, perfectly summed up this game when he said that this team is nothing but passengers – but he was quick to mention that Cuylle isn’t one of them.
And unlike yours truly; then my fellow eye-test peer is usually more diplomatic, kinder and nicer than I am whenever talking about this team after unacceptable losses – which means that these regal and majestic words spoke volumes.
Just a few more rapid-fire thoughts before we go home here:
— Emily Kaplan is reporting that Minnesota is interested in Kakko. While he’ll only fetch a late-round pick at this point – I’m crossing my fingers – bring back Mats Zuccarello!
And yes – I know that a Zucc return isn’t in the cards – so you don’t have to tell me!
But seriously speaking?
Who doesn’t love Zucc – and a man/hobbit (I say that with respect) who will always be considered as a beloved Blueshirt.
— I think its poetic, and in a sick way, that the Rangers are playing like this during Sam Rosen’s last year.
After all, he’s the one that first cursed them with that “AND THIS ONE WILL LAST A LIFETIME” line.
Et Tu Rosen!
— I’ve brought up before that this team has a 1992-93 vibe all over it – and where now after thinking about it – this may be the worst Rangers’ team in my lifetime.
As someone born in 1982, then sure, people can bring up the Trader Phil Era and the Dark Ages (1998-2004) too – but when I look at all of the parameters – then these Rangers, in the salary cap era today, should be a slam-dunk playoff team.
They are nowhere close to being that – and as exhibited here:
Sure, the days when Phil Esposito roamed the halls of M$G as GM weren’t exactly the best (and once again – I literally wrote the book on it – check the PLUGS below), but it’s not like anyone expected the Rangers to win the Cup in those days either.
And when it comes to the Dark Ages, then there was also those residual feelings from 1994 attached.
For your consideration:
Had the Rangers won the Cup last year, or heck, even in 2022 or 2023 – then would you really be upset about them failing today?
It’s also why, and yes, this is some revisionist and 20/20 hindsight history too, that you can forget about the 1992-93 failure too.
But unlike this group – and I don’t see these guys winning the Cup next year as those 1992-93 Blueshirts went on to accomplish.
— I may have gone over-the-top with all of my name calling and bad language tonight – but these blogs is my way of venting.
If I kept all of this inside, then I’d explode.
I also don’t think that I’m wrong either.
So thank you for bearing with me in my time of need.
Up Next: There better be some changes to this line-up and/or front office.
The Rangers have Wednesday and Thursday off and will then return Friday night in Dallas – and where I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Stars put up a touchdown – and maybe the two-point conversion too – on the board against them.
The Blueshirts will then presumably limp into Christmas with back-to-back losses to two Metro foes, the Devils and Hurricanes.
Up Next For Me: Punching soft objects, mainly pillows, as after verbally releasing my “Rangers’ Rage,” I must now physically release such anger too.
Up Next For You: Help a Blueshirts’ brother’s beer fund out (I’m going to need a whole lot of adult liquid, more than normal, in order to get through this campaign), 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
I’m sure it’s getting more and more painful to blog these pathetic games. They seem to skate in quicksand and hesitate before shooting, like they do not know the basic mechanics of the game. With that said, man up stop crying bitches about Management, you are paid to do a job, enough with the excuses.