Greetings and salutations everyone and welcome to another blog here on BlueCollarBlueShirts.com. Dare I ask – SAME OLD RANGERS?
I hate to begin tonight’s tome by pissing on everyone’s parade, as following Friday night’s 3-1 victory in Dallas, I saw many Blueshirt backers celebrating in the streets of Rangerstown, USA – and as if they were New Year’s Eve revelers; but let’s face it – without CZAR IGOR, and the best POWER KILL in the league too – then Lavy’s Lot may have given up double-digits in the scoreboard for the first time this season.
Thankfully, and as we heard many times over throughout the M$GN broadcast – and the Stars had the flu – and a flu so bad that it zapped them of their talent during seven separate power-plays – including a final one that ran for five-minutes.
But at this stage of the season, and by now, you’re all keenly aware of how bad things have been for the Blueshirts too – then no one cares about such things as “style points,” “winning the right way” and “playing a team game.”
The Rangers needed to find a way in The Lone Star State on Friday night – and that’s what they did – and even if it was another one-man show.
How did they do it?
By reverting to what worked in the past, and even as most recent at the start of this 2024-25 campaign when the club opened at 12-4-1 – by singularly focusing on their goaltender to carry their carcasses across the finish line.
Granted, while the Rangers, following a poor start, were collectively able to pull their heads from their asses – but no matter how you slice it – and this game isn’t won without CZAR IGOR – and a newly minted netminder who sure as hell did his best job when trying to prove to the world that he deserves to be the richest goaltender in all of hockey today.
As I recollect my thoughts about the 3-1 victory in Dallas, then it just amazes me how this team never stops making news.
While the 2020-21 campaign will always be the most craziest to me; this current season is contending for such a distinction.
After all, with the Rangers at the forefront of every media story across the land – and in Canada too – then at this rate, any story, and no matter the reporter, will be taken as gospel – and no matter if there’s any veracity to it or not.
And after a night like tonight, where the Blueshirts actually won a game?
Even then, and it’s still hard to take this team seriously and positively – as you’re just waiting for the other shoe to drop.
This is my way of saying that Friday’s night victory didn’t change a thing – but at least the situation in the Big Apple didn’t worsen either.
After all, the Rangers weren’t going to lose fifty games straight – and in turn – they’d have to win again eventually.
And while yes again, and just to be clear one more time – the Rangers needed a win in any way that they could get it – but at the same time – did you see anything that gave you confidence in this team and/or anything to suggest that a corner was turned?
This match felt like the majority of Rangers’ wins from the past four-seasons – bleed a ton of shots on goal and then hope that CZAR IGOR, or whoever that night’s back-up goalie is, can carry you to victory.
In the latest episode of “As The World Turns,” now starring the New York Rangers, and right away, as in 1:15 in, and Jamie Benn had seemingly struck first, following what we thought at the time was a 1-0, bad guys, goal.
And of course, the same old terrible Mika Zibanejad was on the ice, doing his El Matador act, when being embarrassed by another opponent.
However, and following a lengthy review, and Benn’s goal was ruled offside – a break for the Rangers – as the offside had nothing to do with the goal scored itself.
But come 31-seconds later?
Roope Hintz, with of course, another fellow member of the Blueshirts’ alumni assisting (Nils Lundkvist), scored a goal that couldn’t be reviewed, which in turn, put the Stars up on the scoreboard, 1-0, and just 1:46 into the game.
Had Zibanejad not been completely useless as usual on this play?
Then who knows – CZAR IGOR may have posted a shutout tonight – as the Stars, and despite about 98767867986798679867967986 chances – would never score again.
The next 58:29 of play saw the Rangers take a season-high seven penalties, where many of these infractions were defiant acts of pure laziness, where in turn, “Lavy’s Lot” also killed a season-high seventeen minutes of opposing power-play time.
As noted many times over on this site during the past few weeks – and despite how bad the Rangers have been at everything else – and extremely bad at that – but for whatever reason – and their penalty kill, or as I call it, their “POWER KILL,” has remained elite – and as in first-overall among the 32 NHL squadrons.
While no ifs, ands or buts about it, as CZAR IGOR was without question the best player on the ice in Dallas; but at the same time, the two man-down units were nearly equally as impressive.
And for good measure?
The PENALTY KILL scored another short-handed goal too – this time Reilly Smith – and as he did at the 10:44 mark following his breakaway strike.
A Vincent Trocheck goal, scored at the 15:20 mark of this same first period, put the Rangers ahead, 2-1 – but where we didn’t know at the time that this would hold up as the game-winning goal.
For as ELITE, and where I don’t use that word lightly, as the Blueshirts’ POWER KILL has been; then conversely, the Rangers’ power-play has been absolutely and equally as putrid.
The returning REMPESTEIN, government name Matt Rempe, had a game for the ages.
Not only did he log a game-high five-hits, but to start the second stanza – and he drew three consecutive penalties on three consecutive shifts – and as he did at the 1:50 mark, 5:47 mark and 8:41 mark.
The Blueshirts, who had previously killed three Dallas power-plays, now had three consecutive power-plays of their own – but yet again – posted another 0-fer in the box score.
And of course, it’s more of the same old story, as that disgusting loser, Mika Zibanejad, who must have blackmail on Peter Laviolette, still remains on the first man-up quintet.
I mean, how many times do I have to say it?
PUT LAFRENIERE ON THE FIRST POWER-PLAY UNIT.
And as said just last night – PUT MATT REMPE ON THE FIRST POWER-PLAY UNIT.
Hell, I rather see the Rangers skate the ghost of Rod Gilbert these days.
After all, Zibanejad is more invisible than such apparitions these days!
Shit, you need “THE GHOSTBUSTERS” to find him!
And what does it say about the stubborn and pig-headed bench boss, when after watching Mika fail-and-fail-and-fail again, while one player single-handedly draws three power-plays on his own – yet #93 continues to do nothing during all of the situations – while all #73 can do is sit and watch this horror unfold?
WHEN DOES LAVY WAKE UP AND MAKE THE NECESSARY CHANGES?
The Rangers, up 2-1 in this one-goal game – and they could never score the insurance goal following these three penalties drawn by Rempe – and you can thank that sorry sack, Stinka Zibanedud, for that.
But thankfully, and for as bad as the Rangers’ 0-3 power-play was – and the Stars were much worse – going an ungodly 0-7 – and where their seventh-and-final man-advantage was of the five-minute major variety.
The M$GN broadcasters, Sieve Vagistat, John Giannone, Sam Rosen and Joe Micheletti, must’ve mentioned no less than 7986798686798696798698 zillion times that the Stars were battling the flu tonight.
However, and based on how their power-play looked – then I’m to wonder if they contracted the Bubonic Plague instead.
But since the Stars were never able to capitalize on their chances, and you can thank CZAR IGOR for that, and the game remained a one-goal lead for the Rangers – and with Rempe now tossed from the game following his vicious elbow to the head of the superSTAR defenseman, Heiskanen.
More on Rempe’s latest ejection, his fourth in twenty-two regular season games played, below during our GAME REVIEW segment.
As CZAR IGOR stopped everything and anything; over in the other end, and the Rangers couldn’t muster up anything themselves, as Dallas goalie, Jake Oettinger, was also up for the task.
However, and despite how well “The Big O” played for “The Big D” tonight – he wasn’t able to GOALIE his team to a win – and as CZAR IGOR did.
Despite several breaks that fell in favor of the Rangers, including Benn’s early goal being disallowed; the biggest break for the Blueshirts was their backstop in the barrel himself.
And of course, another break was the fact that the Stars looked completely helpless on their power-play – and an anemic man-up attack that nearly took up one-third of the contest.
And since the Stars were unable to score during their seventeen-minutes of power-play time, then I thought that the Rangers caught another break when Dallas head coach, Pete DeBoer, pulled his goalie early – and as he did with nearly 3:00 remaining – and rather than during the orthodox time of 90-120 seconds still left on the clock.
With Oettinger removed from the game with 2:56 remaining, the Stars had a half-hearted attack – and that was it – as following Cuylle driving to the net, only to be interrupted once there, then an awaiting Kreider retrieved the rubber and then deposited it into the empty net.
3-1, good guys – and with 2:06 still on the clock.
The Stars pulled Oettinger once more, but there was no reason to worry about the final result any longer – and where CZAR IGOR only added to his save totals – and where I’d reckon that about 75% of his 41 denials were of that lovely “HIGH DANGER” variety.
That’s why I felt that this game was “THE SAME OLD RANGERS: VERSION 1” – and rather than the second version that we’ve seen during the past month where the goalies were unable to seal up the never-ending defensive leaks.
After all, it were the same old culprits being unable to produce, and where Zibanejad, following his game-low minus-one, now ranks 778th overall among all 781 NHLers in this almighty plus/minus stat – and where his sickening -17 would be even worse had it not been for the play of his two goalies this season.
And it wasn’t just all Minus Mika either.
After all, Panarin didn’t score tonight. Fox, with only one empty net goal to his name this season, was unable to pot a puck. Kreider still can’t do anything positive during even-strength play. Both Lindgren and Chytil took inexcusable penalties. Lafreniere is still searching for his first goal in his last dozen games played. The power-play is abysmal. The coaching is questionable.
But thankfully, CZAR IGOR was at his Vezina level best – and that’s why the Rangers finally won their first “LITMUS TEST” game of the season – and after previously dropping their last nine.
And of course, no good things come without controversy for this team either – as once again – another Rempe penalty, perhaps another “REMPUTATION” call too, somewhat took a little away from what CZAR IGOR did – or at least when it comes to all of the mainstream recounts of this match.
Last but not least when closing out this extended intro – this can’t be it.
It can’t just be one win – and where I do fear that the Rangers are KING KONGING their chests on their flight back home – and akin to a child winning a participation trophy.
Beating Dallas doesn’t excuse the past six-weeks of losses, and especially not the embarrassing defeats sustained by the likes of Chicago and Nashville.
For things to really change in this now UNDEFEATED POST KAAPO KAKKO ERA, then the Rangers must really go on a run – and continue to knock off NHL heavyweights too – and as they’ll try to do during this toughest stretch of the schedule yet.
It simply can’t be one win here, followed by another string of never-ending and miserable losses.
Duh.
But as I try to close this intro on a positive note – at least you were able to relax a little bit – and even if it’s only for a short amount of time.
At this time, let’s get the disclaimer segment out of the way before rapid-firing through the rest of CZAR IGOR’s victory.
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-two down, fifty to go, and then the real hockey, the only games that matter, begin.
But at this rate – will the Rangers even be there for the real hockey?
I still wouldn’t bet on it.
In case you missed it, then here’s where I last left off – the Seattle deportation of Kaapo Kakko:
The News Never Ends! Rangers Finally Trade Away The Egotistical Kaapo Kakko; Chris Drury’s Delay & What Could’ve Been, Kakko Fares No Better in Finn’s First Game as a Krakhead, Laviolette Favors Fun & Games Over Days of Yore, Potential Next Captain Vincent Trocheck Clears The Air; Clears The Reputation of the ZOOM ZOOM GM Too, M$G Powers-to-Be Alleged To Have Created a Hostile Environment; No One Dares To Explain Why Jim Ramsay Was Fired & More
Following Kaapo Kakko’s last game as a Ranger in Nashville (https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/121724/ ), and the two newsworthy off-days too that featured Kakko being shipped to Seattle (https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/grkk/ ); and come Friday morning, and the Rangers held an optional pregame skate.
As far as what was revealed at the AM practice, then the only things to note were that Panarin was there without a no-contact jersey and that both Zac Jones & Jimmy Vesey would join Jonny Brodzinski in the press box.
At the time, Panarin was listed as a game-time decision; but since Vesey stayed on the ice late, and since Brodzinski wasn’t there either, then it pretty much told you that “The Breadman” would be a go after previously missing the past several games.
When it comes to the Jones scratch – then I don’t get it.
Again, refer to what I’ve recently written this week – but how does Chad Ruhwedel, who Laviolette wouldn’t even allow to play in Edmonton a few weeks back (he flew in Victor Mancini, who was some 3,000 miles away in Hartford, instead), bump Jones?
Perhaps Jones’ legs weren’t fresh.
I really felt for Jones tonight.
I truly did.
After all (and blog archives don’t lie – as I was saying this stuff at the time too), then when the Rangers dealt Nils Lundkvist to Dallas, as the Swedish malcontent was crying about how hard it would be to crack into the Blueshirts’ defense (then at the time, featuring Fox, Trouba and Schneider), then Jones, and unlike the bust first-round pick, embraced the challenge.
Not only did Jones not pout about his future, but he let it fuel him.
Rather than crying like a bitch, instead, Jones, who didn’t need to do this, captained the Rangers’ prospects in a pair of exhibition matches against the Flyers.
Jones, who thought that he was NHL ready at the time, accepted every assignment to Hartford too – and even if he didn’t agree with such designations.
And after seemingly earning a regular roster spot towards the end of the 2023-24 season, then only to be scratched in favor of a returning-and-still-obviously-injured Trouba?
Jones, and unlike another entitled Euro like Lundkvist, Kaapo Kakko, didn’t say boo.
He just continued to soldier on – while knowing that his hard work would eventually pay off.
Come the start of this season, and with a new threat in town now to tangle with, Mancini – and Jones continued to work his tail off – and then won a regular spot in the line-up too.
But for whatever reason, and in a game where Jones would’ve had the chance to show up Lundkvist – and Laviolette decided to go with the lumbering veteran Ruhwedel instead.
I just don’t get it – but since the Rangers won this game – then this story will fall to the wayside – nor will be mentioned by any beat reporter neither – and not even from the woman who has a teenage crush on him – Mollie Walker of the New York Post.
Here was Laviolette’s line-up for the thirty-second game of this 2024-25 season:
FIRST LINE: Panarin/Trocheck/Lafreniere
SECOND LINE: Kreider/Chytil/Cuylle
THIRD LINE: Berard/Mika/Smith
FOURTH LINE: Edstrom/Carrick/Rempe
FIRST PAIR: Lindgren/Fox
SECOND PAIR: Schneider/Borgen
THIRD PAIR: Vaakanainen/Ruhwedel
STARTING GOALIE: CZAR IGOR
BACK UP GOALIE: Jonathan Quick
IR: K’Andre Miller
HEALTHY SCRATCHES: Jonny Brodzinski, Jimmy Vesey and Zac Jones
BOX SCORE time.
The following graphics and information come from ESPN.com:
SCORING:
PENALTIES:
TEAM STATS:
GOALIES:
|
NYR
|
|
SA
|
GA
|
SV
|
SV%
|
ESSV
|
PPSV
|
SHSV
|
SOSA
|
SOS
|
TOI
|
PIM
|
| 42 | 1 | 41 | .976 | 19 | 21 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 60:00 | 0 |
|
DAL
|
|
SA
|
GA
|
SV
|
SV%
|
ESSV
|
PPSV
|
SHSV
|
SOSA
|
SOS
|
TOI
|
PIM
|
| 29 | 2 | 27 | .931 | 21 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 57:48 | 0 |
As noted last night, then going into tonight’s game, then it wasn’t my idea to make the Rangers my number one priority.
While of course, I was always going to watch this game; but not only was I at the real j-o-b (it was a slow night because next week is five-days of vacation time for all of us), but my favorite college football team, Notre Dame, was playing in their first ever playoff game of this new NCAA format.
Thankfully, we do have two screens at work – but since the Notre Dame game was much bigger than this Rangers/Stars match – then the hockey was relegated to the smaller screen – and where it was impossible to get that horrible Gotham Sports app/crap to work too.
Hello Methstreams!
Since THE FIGHTING IRISH dominated the night, then I didn’t watch a second of the M$GN pregame show – and especially when I found out that the moronic Sieve Vagistat was once again left to his own devices.
And when the Rangers fell early 1-0, while ND was well on their way to scoring?
Then it felt like it would be the same old losing script for the Rangers, thus limiting the excitement.
However, things would soon change, as while Notre Dame was blowing out Indiana, the Rangers, behind CZAR IGOR, rallied back.
And come the second period – the Rangers returned to their usual place – on the bigger screen at work!
By the end of the night?
My favorite team in all of sports, the Blueshirts, finally won a game, while Notre Dame moved into the second round – and where they will neuter the Bulldogs come 1/1/25!
However, and long before that, and there was Sam & Joe, and for whatever reason, had to tell us that Miro Heiskanen was a horse.
Apparently, these two recently had a trip to Mexico – and where they are now infatuated with all things horse and donkey show related – and especially since they bray like two jackasses throughout these broadcasts.
As Sam then added that the Rangers “have been a nightmare” (and kudos to him for being honest), then Joe talked about the Kakko trade, where he informed us, “Sam, Kakko is a good man Sam.”
One last thought on the Kakko trade?
With Kakko gone, then we will never hear Rosen say again, “OH JOE, KAAPO KAKKO, KAAPO KAHOKEN, NO RELATIONS JOE!”
Bless Sam’s heart.
And I’m not making this up either.
To close their opening segment of face time, Sam referred to the Rangers’ opponent as “The Dallas Texans,” and then said how great it was to see Matt Rempe back and starting tonight’s game.
Sam then quickly corrected himself, and said, “OH JOE, THAT’S NOT MATT REMPE. PARDON ME JOE, THAT’S ACTUALLY ARTEMI PANARIN JOE!”
A ten-foot cow-shittin’ Canadian brute and a small sized Russian.
I can see how Rosen confused them for one another.
Bless Sam’s heart!
GAME REVIEW TIME – but with this note:
It’s very late as I write this, I pretty much covered all of the important stuff above, so I’m just going to keep this to what you need to know – and of course – chime in my two cents on the latest REMPUTATION penalty heard across the league.
However, if you want the full play-by-play, then you can check my Tweeter feed here: https://x.com/NYCTheMiC
FIRST PERIOD
This game had an odd start, as just thirteen-seconds in, Oettinger left his net, which then allowed Trocheck to score into it. However, the refs immediately waved off the goal, as they had already blown their whistle for a Ranger offside.
The Rangers followed this no goal by then allowing the Stars to get four shots off against CZAR IGOR after two turnovers committed and where Benn had seemingly scored the first goal of the match following another bone-headed play by lazy Mika.
Following a lengthy delay, and where it’s my opinion that if it takes you five-minutes to review a play, then let the call on ice stand – then the officials ruled no goal – a most fortunate break for Minus Mika.
However, and of course, just 31-seconds later and this is when Hintz scored the lone goal for the Lone Star State:
One goal didn’t count for offside, but both Goals here are on Mika. #NYR pic.twitter.com/oyQmzGtj3K
— David 🏒 (@DaveyUpper) December 21, 2024
1-0, bad guys.
Minus one, Mika.
Praise the hockey gods for CZAR IGOR – as that was it for the rest of the game – as he saved many Rangers from having minus dashes next to their names in the box score.
Following the goal and Dallas then spent the next six-minutes carving up and caving in the Rangers in their own zone.
During the first real Rangers’ attack, which took place at the near seven-minute mark, and a Lafreniere drive to the net was voided when Braden Schneider took the net off of its moorings.
As Dallas continued to hem-and-haw, Micheletti actually called out the Rangers for looking disinterested whenever on defense.
That kinda remained true throughout the game – but only if you don’t consider the penalty kill and the goaltender.
After all, CZAR IGOR had another game where he had to make 40+ saves.
When it rains it pours for Zibanejad, as with 10:54 to go, the third line center found Berard on a 2 x 1, but Oettinger prevented another goal for the rookie with a spectacular save.
On Berard’s rebound, Mika had all day to shoot at a vacated net, but Stars’ d-man, Lian Bichsel, who was an absolute stud all-night, was able to swoop away the puck with his stick.
In a response, Mika slashed him for the first of seven different Ranger penalties.
And this is when the league’s best penalty kill scored another shorty too – and as Reilly Smith did with 9:16 remaining:
Smith!! It’s a Shorthanded Goal! #NYR pic.twitter.com/6je25K2sDo
— David 🏒 (@DaveyUpper) December 21, 2024
1-1, following Smith’s seventh goal of the season.
In a response, Sam and Joe lamented that Reilly’s brother, former Ranger Brendan, was a healthy scratch for the Stars.
“OH JOE, BRENDAN SMITH ISN’T PLAYING TONIGHT JOE! HIS PARENTS ARE HERE JOE! WHAT A TRAVESTY JOE!”
Following the kill, and Bichsel, who like Rempe, looks like he’s ten-feet tall on skates, picked a fight with Brett Berard.
Berard never backed down – hell – he was clamoring for it.
RESPECT!
And unlike Mika – there was no hugging here – as Berard was willing to throw down with a giant about five-times his size.
A real-time tweet after this play?
This one:
Berard getting involved in a scrum with someone twice his size, LIam Bischel. Unleash Rempe! #NYR
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) December 21, 2024
What happened next?
Rempe, on his very next shift, absolutely creamed Bischel with a monstrous hit.
ENERGY.
TEAM PLAYER.
MOTIVATOR.
Where was Mika defending his teammate?
Hmmm…..
Another real-time observation of mine?
This one:
#NYR have been able to calm this game down, 4:47 to go
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) December 21, 2024
Like clockwork, and in anti-Rosen jinx too, then just seven-seconds later, this happened:
Trocheck makes it 2-1 #NYR holy shit we’re winning. pic.twitter.com/qp6NhZus4s
— David 🏒 (@DaveyUpper) December 21, 2024
2-1, good guys, following potential future captain, Vincent Trocheck, and his ninth goal of the season.
And for a guy who just set the record straight a day prior – and this goal had to feel good.
And for CZAR IGOR?
He allowed this goal to hold up as the game-winner.
After killing off a U.V. penalty, the Rangers, and for the second-time this past week, took a late too many men on the penalty, and as they did here with 32-seconds remaining.
But by now, you already know that they killed off this third infraction too.
2-1, good guys, after 20.
Here’s what I said at the time:
2-1, good guys, after 20 – and hey ND up 14-0 too! 1P Thoughts:
— The #NYR PK is the only good thing about this team – and they score – and are now 1:28 remaining from going 3-3.
— Rangers are due a PP themselves.
— Mika is god awful.
— Gotham Sports is worse – NEVER…— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) December 21, 2024
SECOND PERIOD
After killing off the remainder of their too many men penalty, the third kill of the game thus far, and this is when the Rangers drew three consecutive penalties of their own – and with Rempe drawing all three of them too.
But prior to going 0-3 on the power-play, we were again reminded for the 97867986869867986th time during the past 15-years or so, that former Stars’ legend, Mike Modano, is Joe Micheletti’s son-in-law.
Not mentioned?
How the Rangers almost killed him – and if you don’t know about this story, then watch this:
Not only did Messier clean Modano’s clock – but for a bonus – the NYC EMTs then dropped Modano from his stretcher.
“OH JOE, THOSE EMTS WORK HARD JOE. THEY DROP PEOPLE HARD ON THEIR HEADS JOE!”
After Mika whiffed on pucks, turned over pucks and did absolutely nothing during three separate power-plays – and while the likes of Berard, Cuylle, Lafreniere and yes, even Rempe, had to watch this shit unfold; then Rosen informed us, and I’m not making this up, that “Bischel is big in the pants Joe.”
This broadcast is incredible.
Sam followed up such words of wisdom by plugging the horrible Gotham Sports app – and how you can find the Mets on it.
A producer then got into Sam’s ear, where as a result, we then heard, “OH JOE, THE METS AREN’T ON THE GOTHAM SPORTS APP JOE! OH JOE, RALPH KINER JOE!”
Can you imagine if Sam, Joe, and heck, throw Mika into this too, had real jobs where any mistake was critical?
These three as doctors would be worse than “paging Dr. Howard, paging Dr. Fine, Paging Dr. Howard!”
I can only imagine what would happen to me whenever running heavy machinery, including tower cranes, if I made as many mistakes – or even one mistake – as this trio regularly does.
Speaking of Mika, down to 7:39 remaining and Bischel tossed him to the ice as if he was yesterday’s trash. It then looked like Reilly Smith was going to come in and defend the dee-jay’s disgraced honor – but when he saw it was Mika laying there – he pretty much said “eff it” and skated away.
After “The Big O.” made a big save on “THE BOREGON TRAIL” (that’s what they called Borgen in Seattle – and as a fan of the old MECC game – I’m all for it); CZAR IGOR responded by making a swagger BESSIE save on Bray Wyatt Johnston – and as he did with six-minutes remaining.
Ten-seconds later, and with the puck back in play, and again, Bischel, who had a hell of a game tonight, laid out Cuylle with a hard, yet clean, hit.
In a response, Lindgren took one of the most blatant cross-checking/boarding penalties that you’ll ever see in your life.
After killing this penalty, their fourth, the Rangers took one last penalty during these twenty-minutes, as Kreider was boxed with 1:56 remaining for a faceoff violation – playing the puck with his hand.
In Kreider’s defense, this was purely accidental, as the puck took a weird bounce off of his shin before hitting his hand – but according to the rules of the book – and this was a valid infraction to call.
CZAR IGOR, who I believe made four saves on this fifth kill, kept the 2-1, good guys, lead in-tact come the horn.
Here’s what I said at the time:
2-1, good guys, after 40. 2P Thoughts:
— CZAR IGOR is doing his best in-his-prime Henrik Lundqvist impersonation – “give me two goals and I got this.”
— #NYR PK four seconds away from being a perfect 5-5 – and with a shorty too. Amazing for how bad they are everywhere else,…— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) December 21, 2024
THIRD PERIOD
As noted earlier, CZAR IGOR’s immaculate showing was somewhat overshadowed by another Rempe incident.
But prior to that, and Laviolette made a questionable decision to open this final frame, as he had his worst faceoff center take this short-handed draw – and where Chytil, and of course, lost it.
In a response, Rosen then told us how the Stars, and much like the Rangers, hadn’t won a game whenever trailing when entering a third period.
He just loves to jinx this team.
Up next for Slammin’ Sammy?
This call, and just 1:24 in:
“OH JOE, THAT SHOT WENT OFF THE POST. NO IT’S A GOAL FOR PANARIN. REFS WAVE IT OFF JOE. WHERE AM I JOE?”
He may have not actually asked “where am I Joe?” – but he did say everything else.
But to be fair to Sam here, this was a bang-bang play, which upon replay, Panarin did hit the post where the iron meets ice, but the puck never dribbled past the goal line.
After that, and Rempe, who was regularly rotated throughout this game prior to his ejection, continued to crush Stars into the boards.
But his biggest hit was still yet to come.
Down to 16:21 remaining and Chytil tried to one-up Lindgren’s blatant penalty when he blatantly tripped Esa Lindell.
Apparently, one of the symptoms of the flu is to play like ASS on your power-play – and as a result the Stars were 0-6 on their power-play, while the Rangers were a perfect six of six on their POWER KILL.
And then it happened.
Another REMPUTATION call to be specific, and as we had here with 12:47 remaining:
You’re watchin the news about a government shut down, I’m watching Matt Rempe trying to make CTE contagious. We aren’t the same pic.twitter.com/qMrxKJE0ov
— Rob Gucci (@heatdaddy69420) December 21, 2024
I’m so conflicted about this penalty – and one that earned Rempe a misconduct – and perhaps another suspension and/or fine come Saturday afternoon too.
On one hand, it’s the same old thing – Rempe is so big, so whenever he hits someone, clean or not, then it just looks even more so malicious and vicious.
On the other hand, was this really a major penalty – and one that after a review – led to Rempe’s dismissal from the match?
It should be noted, that earlier in the game, there were two occasions where Rempe had a Star lined-up for a hit into next week – and where both times – he held up – favoring a small hit rather than ending someone’s life.
He didn’t hold up here, but it’s not like he led with the elbow, nor did he leave his skates at the point of contact either.
However, and as a result of the contact, he did elbow Heiskanen in the head, and both of his skates soon became inches off of the ice.
And oh yeah – he sent Heiskanen right into the boards too – and where I think that Crash Test Dummies had lesser collisions.
If it wasn’t Rempe, and if it wasn’t a star Star too, then maybe this isn’t called.
After all, this penalty wasn’t called on the ice in real-time. This penalty was only called when Heiskanen had trouble getting up – and where once mobile – he then went right to the locker room for repairs.
But Heiskanen, following this five-minute major assessed to Rempe – did return to the game – so I ask – how bad was this hit?
Maybe it’s because I’m biased, but I thought that this was a clean, “keep your head up kid,” type of a hit.
But I can admit that I’d be screaming bloody murder had it been a Ranger hit this way – and had a Star hit Chytil in this fashion – then we’d never see the Czech again.
I felt so bad for Rempe after this.
After all, he was playing so well, arguably his finest overall all-around game as an NHLer, then BLAMMO – this happens – and his three penalties drawn, his forechecking, his other hitting, everything else, is forgotten about.
Prior to this ejection and you could’ve argued that Rempe was the best Ranger skater on the ice.
And had Dallas knew how to execute a power-play – then Rempe would’ve been hung had the Rangers lost – and I’m sure that CZAR IGOR wouldn’t be smiling as he was after this game either.
But whether it’s the Stars’ power-play sucks, the Rangers’ PK is super elite, the Blueshirts wanted to play up for Rempe or just that CZAR IGOR was in GOD MODE; then the Rangers killed off these five-minutes – and where really – Dallas rarely put the puck on net.
That’s how dominant the two four-man units were – and of course – the goalie when tasked too.
It’s also worth mentioning here that both of these teams reached their respective Conference Finals last year, where my point is that had things fallen right, then tonight’s game could’ve been a Stanley Cup Final rematch – and where combined – these two teams went 0-10 on the power-play, 23-minutes of man-advantage time in total.
I guess that’s why we saw Edmonton vs. Florida last year.
We’ll see what happens to Rempe next – but sadly for him – he already has a reputation – and his latest bone-crushing hit will now become the top talk of league circles.
Again – even when the Rangers win – and there’s some negative controversy surrounding them.
After their seventh-and-final kill, this Rempe penalty, which as a result, took Panarin off of the ice for five-minutes too, then saw “The Breadman” hop back on once returned to even-strength – and then set-up Trocheck for a beaut of a one-timer – but an even more beaut of a save for Oettinger.
Following another Zibanejad turnover that forced CZAR IGOR to come up with another big save at the FOXWOODS mark of the match; the goalie then made a pair of jaw-dropping saves on the returning Heiskanen and Jason Robertson too.
This then led to Dallas pulling Oettinger with 2:56 remaining, and then Kreider scoring the empty-netter, 3-1, good guys, goal, some fifty-seconds later.
3-1, good guys, your final – and where as noted many times already – the Rangers needed this win – but I don’t think that anything changed either.
In other words – PROVE ME WRONG!
And you could argue that the Rangers caught the Stars at a good time, as their flu had to impact their woeful 0-7 power-play too.
But that’s a Dallas problem – and not one to concern myself with either!
Here are the happy post-game interviews – and where I know that you don’t want me to be negative after a win – but I thought the Rangers “over-celebrated” – and kinda in a “act like you’ve been there before” type of a way:
Up Next For The Rangers: Two more games before Christmas, and a pair of matinees at that – Sunday at 12:30 PM against Carolina, then Monday, 12/23, in New Jersey at 1:00PM.
And again – the Rangers, Giants and Jets will all play at 1PM on Sunday – and where keep in mind – the NHL schedule makers didn’t know that the Giants & Jets would suck ass this year.
(Well maybe they did know that “Big Blue” would blow this year!)
Just terrible scheduling, especially with a flight back from Dallas, followed by a short turnaround with the early start on Sunday.
In other words?
This game should have followed the two local NFL teams, with a start time of 6PM or later.
And while I get that the kids are out of school on Monday, but why in the world is the Devils’ game scheduled at 1PM when most fans, you know, the people who can afford to buy tickets, are working?
Now I’m forced to burn a vacation day on Monday!
These two final games before Christmas could really help the Rangers turn around the season, as both are four-point games standings-wise.
It’s up to them to want it more.
Up Next For Me: I got a work Christmas party Saturday night – so hopefully – I wake up early enough on Sunday for the Canes game!
And since I am burning a vacation day on Monday – then it’s back to the bar for a viewing party come Christmas Eve Eve – and for Budda and people like him – then you know where I’ll be should you be in town!
My poor liver – and one that’s taking a beating worse than usual because of how bad the Rangers have been this season!
Up Next For You:
Last minute X-Mas shopping, 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
