Greetings and salutations everyone and welcome to another blog here on BlueCollarBlueShirts.com. FUGLY.
And similar to the Rangers – I should go home early here and then call it a night.
But alas, I put more effort into both this site and into my writings than the Rangers exhibit during their games played – but of course – that doesn’t mean much these days either.
Akin to most losses sustained this season that continually raises the concern level to an all-out state of extremeness – and I don’t even know where to start tonight.
However, I guess that I can tell you that I saw this coming the whole way – and as my previous GAME REVIEW blogs have indicated/explained.
Plus, there’s also a reason why I’ve reprinted these following words of wisdom about 767786987 times ever since the date of June 1st, 2024:
“When it’s all said-and-done, then the Rangers’ 2024 Eastern Conference Final loss will go down as the peak of this present core.”
Furthermore, and just to prove to you that I’m not bullshitting you when telling you that I knew that the Rangers would get molly-whopped on Monday – then, and for the first time ever – I actually bet against our beloved Blueshirts on this date of December 2nd, 2024:
I guess the most depressing fact after this 5-1 shellacking – and where really – it could’ve been 6-1, 7-1, hell 12-1 too – is that there’s no silver lining to be had – and no matter what the head coach said following this sixty-minute shit-show.
(More on Laviolette, and his future, once we get there.)
Once again, the team’s FAT CATS were nowhere to be found – that is – unless you were doing cartwheels and backflips over a meaningless Chris Kreider power-play goal, where at the time, made the score 4-1 – and in favor of the visitors.
For CZAR IGOR, or as my friend Stan Fischler calls him, “PIGGY IGGY” – it was another debacle in the barrel.
While granted, not every goal allowed falls squarely and solely on the shoulders of the goalie; but at the same time – he gave up five – and no matter how you cut it – that won’t do.
Speaking of the number five, this also marked CZAR IGOR’s fifth consecutive loss – his career-high – or is it his career-low?
Previously, and when entering this game, CZAR IGOR had only lost four games in a row once before – the four straight losses sustained during the 2022 ECF.
Similar to Mika anchoring and dragging down anyone who even comes close to him; Minus Miller did the same to Braden Schneider tonight.
In a match where every other Ranger finished with a zero or minus-one rating; it was the Miller/Schneider pairing that “surpassed” everyone, and as they did with their identical -3 plus/minus ratings.
Will Cuylle, who has been one of the rare bright spots during dark times for the team, also had a bad night at the office, as he helped create one opposing goal, while also not being the routine force as he normally is.
Filip Chytil, now returned for his second consecutive game until his next injury, didn’t even register a SOG. Neither did Reilly Smith, who looked like he had nothing to prove following his one-game scratch from Saturday afternoon.
Defensively, while Adam Fox (5 SOG) finished second-best to only Vincent Trocheck (7 SOG) in this department – it’s now 24 games played without a goal for the 2021 Norris Trophy winner.
In other words – NOT GOOD.
The other rearguards not listed already, Zac Jones, Jacob Trouba and Ryan Lindgren, combined for only one SOG – and where as a result – Devils’ goalie, Jacob Markstrom, recorded his one save from this trio, an innocent one at that, on Jones – you know – the guy earning the least amount of money amongst all Ranger defensemen.
The head coach is not without blame either.
While I’ve already discussed why I wouldn’t fire Peter Laviolette about 798678786896 times already in this space (this core doesn’t deserve a fourth head coach – and where in addition – I would’ve never fired Quinn or Gallant either – as all of the blame should be directed at the extremely high-priced FAT CAT players); the bench boss isn’t without his own shortcomings either.
In a game where the Rangers had four power-plays, and two separate man-advantages before their opponent had one too, the Blueshirts finished 1 of 4 (25%) in this department.
In a tale now as old as time, and in a record that’s been scratched to a complete state of decay too – Mika Zibanejad remains on Laviolette’s top power-play quintet – and where through 24 games – the Swedish-Iranian dee-jay has only spun one man-up tally – and that took place in Game 23 – and against the worst team in the league no less, the Canadiens.
(Another prediction of mine made on Saturday that hit tonight? Zibanejad wouldn’t score a goal against an upper-echelon team. SHOCKER!)
Another bone to pick with Laviolette?
Despite all of his team’s horrid first period outings, nearly 24 in all (and I think he deserves some blame here – but again – not all of it) – and yet nothing has been learnt.
Note to Laviolette: You can use a timeout in the first period – rather than saving it for the final minute of regulation when you’re trailing and chasing an equalizer.
But with a 5-1 final tonight, such a pause in play was never entertained, nor required for that matter either.
The Blueshirts’ once elite penalty kill also got banged-up a bit, as they only prevented the Devils from scoring on half of their chances (2/4).
Compounding Monday’s misery?
Listening to Sam Rosen and Joe Micheletti for nearly three-hours – as no joke and despite there being about 7986786786976 contenders for this following distinction too – this was the worst game that these two bozos have ever called.
Long-story short? (Easy for me to say!)
This team, this broadcast and even the fundraiser that took a hit as a result of it, was the most brutal night of the season.
Sure, there have been worse losses to inferior competition this season (Sabres and Blues); but for many, this felt like rock-bottom for the Blueshirts.
Sadly?
I don’t think that the Rangers have even hit rock-bottom yet – as rather, I feel like this group will only grow worse as time moves on.
During our first annual “Garden of Dreams” fundraiser of the season, where kids with cancer received one-day contracts with the team, while others with unfortunate circumstances were there too – and the Rangers treated these children, many who were attending their first game in their lives, as if they were Michael Jackson – or dare I say Brad Aldrich?
Seriously?
It’s like the Blueshirts decided to become a bunch of unregistered pedophiles on Monday – as they just screwed every kid imaginable.
All that was missing was Chris Hanson directing a Ranger “to take a seat.”
This game, which pretended to be competitive on the scoreboard after twenty-minutes, was done-and-over-with once the two warring sides of the Hudson River returned to their respective tunnels during the second intermission.
As a result, then it should come to nobody’s surprise that this fundraiser “only” raised $49,000 – and a figure reported by John Giannone some thirty-minutes following the game’s conclusion.
(The reason why I was watching the post-game show when this information was revealed is explained below.)
Previously, and during a ten-year time period/sample, where in most seasons, the team has averaged two Garden of Dream charity drives – and come the third period – and the M$GN crew is always telling us how $100,000+ has been netted – and where on one occasion, the organization actually generated over $200,000.
Just to say it here and then move on – while the game itself turned off viewers/donators, and where I’d also imagine that the TV rating sunk like Zibanejad and Miller as it progressed; but for whatever reason, and Henrik Lundqvist wasn’t there.
I have no clue where Lundqvist was tonight – and I’m not blaming him for his absence either.
After all, I don’t know his schedule, nor have knowledge of what he has going on.
That said, you’d think that both M$GN and the Rangers would wait until “THE KING OF COMMENTARY” was around when trying to promote such a philanthropic endeavor – you know, a Lundqvist who also serves as the official ambassador of each entity – and in order to raise as much money as possible.
I mean really – did M$GN and the Rangers think that the worst back-up goalie in franchise history, the chart-humping Sieve Vagistat, was the best pitchman possible?
(What we do know with a degree of 100%, is that he turned off any Devil fan from donating – and yep – more on this below.)
And with Sam & Joe going on-and-on about their infatuation with everything black-and-red all night – then who would want to help out these two schmucks?
Perhaps if Sam and Joe had promised to retire immediately after the game had $100,000 been raised – then this figure would’ve been hit five-minutes into the contest.
I don’t think that I’m breaking any news to you here:
Lundqvist on-air, combined with the Rangers not looking like “Terry Schiavo: The Musical On Ice,” would raise the most money possible for the Garden of Dreams.
Instead, it was a Garden of Nightmares for everyone involved.
I don’t know if it was CZAR IGOR’s rejection of Chris Drury’s $88M contract ($11M annually – which would be the most lucrative goalie contract in league history) that has got into his head or what – but ever since getting mad about this leak (and Drury sure loves leaking information to Canadian reporters these days) – and he just hasn’t been the same.
As noted several times on this site throughout these past three-weeks – perhaps Drury dodged a major bullet when CZAR IGOR banked on himself and told his general manager “NYET” to this proposed deal that I’d argue (and as I’ve been arguing) that was far too lucrative than it needed to be in the first place.
But when you have a loser center making $8.5M per-year until 2030 – then I guess that I couldn’t blame #31 if he wanted $85M a season.
In a way, and while this could all turn on a dime – then it’s like CZAR IGOR is trying to do everything that his predecessor, Lundqvist himself, once accomplished – but in a faster amount of time – and that includes the downfall too.
After all, it took seven-years for Lundqvist to win his first Vezina Trophy (2012), while CZAR IGOR won it in his first full 82-game season as a Ranger starter (2022).
Lundqvist, who made three ECF appearances in his career, needed nearly a decade to reach his first – while again – CZAR IGOR did that in his first full season.
One thing that always plagued Lundqvist during his final and out-of-prime years?
He was always prone to give up an early goal – and usually within the first ninety-seconds of a game.
Today?
CZAR IGOR is there – and he’s been there for some time now too – hence his current career-high five-game losing streak.
Similar to Lundqvist from his last years – and not every early goal allowed is all on CZAR IGOR.
And while CZAR IGOR isn’t quite yet the highest-paid goalie in the league as Lundqvist once was; but at the same time – you gotta make the damn save.
If not, then the team falls into an early hole – and that’s that.
And for a CZAR IGOR who would like to become the first goalie in franchise history to score a goal?
Then you won’t get many cracks at an empty net when it’s already 2-0, the opponent, by the time fans can settle into their seats – and as it once was again tonight.
Laviolette, who just earlier in the day, complained about his team’s lack of speed and non-stop odd-man rushes afforded (video below), only had to wait 87-seconds for such traits to show up again – and as Jesper Bratt did when he capitalized with a 2 x 1 goal scored against CZAR IGOR.
1-0, bad guys, and just like that.
Come the 7:10 mark and the Devils doubled their lead to 2-0, as this time, Dawson Mercer benefited from a Cuylle turnover – and perhaps a bigger charitable donation than any Ranger gave the Garden of Dreams on this night too.
Sheldon’s Keefe team maintained their 2-0 lead at the end of the period – and you can thank CZAR IGOR, a failed Rangers’ power-play starring that freak show Zibanejad, and a <ding> or two along the way for that.
But for Ranger fans at this time – then you already knew the final result – but you just didn’t know how bad it would be.
Following penalties assessed to both Smith and Fox near the mid-way point of the game/second period, the Devils soon found themselves on an abbreviated 5 x 3 power-play.
Come two-seconds remaining on it?
A Hughes pass intended for Bratt skipped on by to an awaiting Dougie Hamilton – and a Devils’ rearguard that pounded home the one-timer as a result.
3-0, bad guys.
A few minutes later, and after killing off the Devils’ traditional 5 x 4 power-play, the Rangers then saw the Hughes’ brothers hook up for a goal – Brother Luke, CZAR IGOR Rebound, Brother Jack – and where following #86’s goal – then every Garden patron sitting underneath Sam and Joe had to bust out their umbrellas – as Rosen was slobbering, and most likely ejaculating too, afterwards.
4-0, bad guys, and officially at the 12:38 mark.
An A-Rod power-play goal, the Rangers’ lone tally of the game, took place at the 13:29 mark, as Kreider shoveled in some garbage past Markstrom.
4-1, bad guys – and for the franchise’s soon-to-be leader in this department – (Camille Henry finished with 116 of them, Kreider is now sitting on 114 PPG’s) – this may have been his least meaningful power-play goal yet.
And with the temperature rising in Rangerstown, USA – will Kreider even get a chance to surpass Henry’s record?
The Rangers, somewhat now exhibiting more effort than before (and that isn’t meant to be complimentary), then petered out and gave up once Jack Hughes made it 5-1, bad guys – and as he did with only 1:04 remaining in this second stanza.
The Blueshirts, now down by four goals when entering the final frame, had a power-play to open up these twenty-minutes.
Once being shut down by the Devils’ penalty kill – that was it.
No joke – not one Ranger broke a sweat during the final eighteen-minutes – and where the Blueshirts may as well have kicked ice/snow showered every Garden of Dreams kid in-attendance too.
The Devils, now laughing about the Blueshirts throwing in the towel, were more than obliged to sit back and protect their lead – and all while red-and-black fans cheered the road team the whole way.
As noted earlier, while the losses to Buffalo and St. Louis were bad – this final frame was the worst twenty-minutes of the Rangers’ 2024-25 season thus far – as they didn’t have a care in the world.
Broken.
Defeated.
Effortless.
Inexcusable.
And of course, unacceptable – and a word that should also double-up as the team’s slogan these days too.
“No Quit In New York?”
HA!
At this time, let’s get the disclaimer segment out of the way before recapping the rest of this pig sty and sloppy showing.
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, twenty-four down, fifty-eight 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?
In case you missed it, then here’s where I last left off – the Rangers’ one-goal and ref-abetted win over last-place Montreal:
Following their back-to-back matinees played on Friday and Saturday; come Sunday, the team had the day off.
A day later, Monday morning, the team reconvened for an A.M. skate where it was revealed during the light practice that Brett Berard, who after getting crushed several times in Saturday’s win against Montreal, was now day-to-day with a suspected shoulder injury, but officially, listed as an “upper-body injury.”
(If you recall, then I brought up Berard taking big hits whenever going for his wraparound move – and also shared a clip of him leaving the game during Saturday’s blog, and one that you can find here: https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/113024/ )
It was also at this practice, where once again, Laviolette juggled his line-up, as this time, Jimmy Vesey drew the short straw as the team’s lone forward healthy scratch, while Reilly Smith, who was told to take the day off some 48-hours ago, was now returned to the line-up.
While speaking about the line-up, and especially with the Berard injury, then I was surprised that Matt Rempe wasn’t recalled.
After all, he had success against the Devils last year, even KOing a member of the red-and-black attack (Jonas Siegenthaler) during his limited time on the ice – and physical success so grand & noticeable that in a response, New Jersey general manager, Tom Fitzgerald, then immediately sought out the services of another NHL heavyweight, Kurtis MacDermid (then of the Avalanche).
The Devils, who acquired the brute on March 1st, 2024, then re-signed him to a three-year deal worth $3.45M overall some two months later – and where the common belief amongst Ranger fans – solely to deal with the emerging Rempe.
But Rempe didn’t play on Monday night, and for that matter, neither did MacDermid.
Here was the morning edition of “LAVY’S LOUNGE,” and where the head coach did address some of his team’s speed issues too:
Here was Laviolette’s line-up for the twenty-fourth game of this 2024-25 season:
FIRST LINE: Panarin/Chytil/Lafreniere
SECOND LINE: Cuylle/Trocheck/Kakko
THIRD LINE: Kreider/Zibanejad/Smith
FOURTH LINE: Edstrom/Carrick/Brodzinski
FIRST PAIR: Lindgren/Fox
SECOND PAIR: Miller/Schneider
THIRD PAIR: Jones/Trouba
STARTING GOALIE: CZAR IGOR
BACK UP GOALIE: Jonathan Quick
DAY-TO-DAY: Brett Berard
HEALTHY SCRATCHES: Jimmy Vesey & Chad Ruhwedel
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
|
| 28 | 5 | 23 | .821 | 18 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 59:58 | 0 |
|
NJD
|
|
SA
|
GA
|
SV
|
SV%
|
ESSV
|
PPSV
|
SHSV
|
SOSA
|
SOS
|
TOI
|
PIM
|
| 39 | 1 | 38 | .974 | 25 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 60:00 | 0 |
As noted, tonight’s broadcast was a Garden of Dreams fundraiser – and where as always mentioned on this site whenever these charity drives are promoted – if I ever win anything signed by Sieve Vagistat – then I will record myself burning whatever the item is!
The only thing I’d like to win for my $100 donation? (I’ve won in the past – a signed stick from Mats Zuccarello – and as I did in either 2015 or 2016 – it’s so long ago and I can’t remember now.)
A puck inscribed with the word “FABULOUS” on it – and as signed by Jumpin’ Joe Micheletti.
As every member of the M$GN crew were telling us to go broke and donate every last cent that we could get our hands on (but while also saving some money to gamble on this game too); at the same time, no one on-air wondered if Zibanejad should be donating some of the $8.5M he’s being paid this season – if not all of it.
After all, he’s not doing anything to earn his money these days – so he may as well “pay forward” the charitable donation that the Rangers are giving him – and by passing it along to the people who really need it.
Dave Maloney, my favorite broadcaster, then brought up my season-long mantra. While he didn’t say my 33-words verbatim, he did remind everyone that as long as the Rangers reach the playoffs, then no one will care about their regular season.
And yep, while both of us are right about this – these words are also being shared under the assumption that the Rangers are a playoff team – and to just jump ahead bit – here are the updated standings after tonight’s loss:
When the clock struck 7PM, then Sam and Joe were there to tell us how great Jack Hughes was – and where I was surprised that neither man told us how big Hughes was in the pants – and what it tasted like either.
I was also expecting the forgetful Rosen to belt out, “THE FIELD OF DREAMS JOE! JOHN DUTTON WAS MURDERED JOE!”
“That Sarah Atwood is a fabulous bitch Sam!”
Sadly, such words, in reference to Yellowstone, were never spoken.
And at this time – the GAME REVIEW – and I’ll try to limit some of the pain as well.
FIRST PERIOD
Despite possessing a third line making nearly $20M this season, Lavy started his Trocheck line – and where #16, who went an impressive 20-5 at the dots tonight (80%), took a rare loss here.
I also pulled a Rosen not even a minute into the game too:
CZAR IGOR stops Hischier at the 55-second mark – so no early goal allowed in the first-minute #NYR
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) December 3, 2024
Pardon me Sam, it was an early goal allowed at 1:27, Jesper Bratt, 2 x 1 against Miller. Yikes. #NYR https://t.co/xNNuKgoOVZ
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) December 3, 2024
And here’s the Schneider and Miller pair picking up their first minus of the night – and CZAR IGOR’s first of five allowed too:
Jesper Bratt wasted no time 🔥 pic.twitter.com/9AhC9wMIg5
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) December 3, 2024
One-zip, bad guys – and where I have to look this up, but I’m pretty sure that I’m right, when relaying to you that CZAR IGOR has given up six early goals during his last seven starts.
As Sam and Joe were amazed when praising every Devil on the ice, we then were soon informed that New Jersey rookie, Nathan Legare, “works hard.”
Thank god Micheletti told us that or else we would have never known.
Come the 3:00 marker and Adam Fox came close to tying the game, but instead, just missed.
There’s a reason why he has zero goals scored this season – and I guess that I should mention that he had one taken back too (an offside review).
Up next featured Sam and Joe presenting a five-minute “ODE TO BRETT PESCE.”
“OH JOE, JOE PESCI JOE, HE’LL WHACK YOU JOE!”
(And if you recall, then some three seasons ago, when the defenseman was in Carolina, and Rosen was calling the Canes’ rearguard “Joe Pesci” all game.)
Bless Sam’s heart – and an announcer, who just two-weeks ago, when being interviewed by Lundqvist during a “CLUB 30” podcast appearance, said that he can’t remember a time when he made a mistake.
Again – Bless Sam’s heart.
And I don’t think that Sam was lying either – he’s just senile these days.
As Hischier had a one-hand tuck denied, while Legare beat out Lindgren to prevent an icing call – and come the 7:10 mark – Mercer made it 2-0, bad guys:
Dawson Mercer takes a quick 2-0 lead for the @NJDevils in the Hudson River Rivalry! pic.twitter.com/rRcB0FL8V8
— Devils on MSG (@DevilsMSGN) December 3, 2024
This was just bad, bad, bad, and did I say bad, all-around – from the defense, to the forwards and <GULP>, to CZAR IGOR himself.
The Devils?
They were now shooting at a 50% success rate.
As the Rangers did little-to-nothing, nearly seconds later and Hughes almost kicked the field goal – but CZAR IGOR was able to deny the Devils’ star on his breakaway attempt.
Sadly (and I’m using that word a lot tonight – as no other word will do), this save will be forgotten, like a Rosen memory, and yep, due to the final score/five goals allowed.
Out of a TV timeout and Rosen’s favorite player, Jack Hughes, relayed to an in-between-the-benches John Giannone, that he wanted to congratulate the future retiree.
Rosen blushed – and he may have made a romantic explosion in his tighty-whities too
As the Rangers continued to do next to nothing, and this is when Rosen and Micheletti, who rarely call what’s in front of them, then talked about how the Devils gave the HOF announcer a bottle of wine before the game.
“OH JOE, MERLOT JOE! I WANT TO CORK SCREW HUGHES JOE!”
While Sam didn’t really say that; what actually happened was Micheletti saying how they needed to bust out the bottle right there-and-then – as that’s how bad the Rangers were playing.
All of this then led to more gushing praise for Hughes – and you tell me which line I’m making up below:
“Sam, the Hughes’ parents are hardworking fornicators. They have produced three fabulous young men Sam!”
Or:
“Sam, I know the Hughes’ mother personally. We got very close in 1998 in Nagano Sam!”
The answer?
The latter – and where again – whenever I’m railing on Sam & Joe, then it tells you how bad the game was.
It also tells you how much in love these two jackals are with the Hughes’ family – and really – any Ranger opponent for that matter too.
With 10:44 remaining, the Rangers got another power-play to fail on, as this time, Hamilton was boxed for interfering with Trocheck.
And yep, that long-haired hippie, the useless sack of shit, Mika Zibanejad, remained on PP1 – and for good measure – he never changed during these two-minutes either.
Selfish and egotistical.
This Rangers’ power-play saw Bratt just miss the net while on a short-handed breakaway, where elsewhere, Pesce and his teammate blocked two shots a piece.
End result?
An 0-1 power-play.
Say what you want about CZAR IGOR these days – but you can’t win if you can’t score – and where I also believe that the Rangers are averaging under two goals scored during #31’s past five starts.
Down to 6:30 remaining and the Devils had three chances to push their lead, but thankfully at this time, the Rangers survived.
After Markstrom stopped Fox and Kakko, Schneider fumbled a puck when trying to clear it, and had J. Hughes waited an extra second – then it would’ve been a 2 x 1 down low against CZAR IGOR – and rather than the correct offside call assessed to him.
As Sam and Joe, and everyone else for that matter too, continued to plug the G.O.D. fundraiser (which were the rare times when they weren’t performing a verbal fellatio on a Hughes’ brother) – I had to wonder – maybe the official foundation of the organization should be donating to us!
After all, who’s really suffering here?
(I kid, I kid – or am I?)
Down to 5:02 remaining and Mercer hit the iron – and where he should’ve scored here too – as this was a reverse mirror image of the play that Zibanejad failed on during the final seconds against Philly.
As we got into the final minutes of this period, we soon saw two different scrums in front of Markstrom’s net.
As every Ranger was involved and pushing-and-shoving – there was one Blueshirt who skated away – and yep you guessed it – it was team leader, your alternate captain too, Mika Zibanejad, who avoided all contact – while also not spending one ounce of energy to protect a teammate either.
For a player who isn’t held accountable in the first place, then what kind of message does this send to the BLUESHIRT YOUTH when the second-longest tenured player on the team can’t be bothered to help his peers?
Pu$$y.
To continue this merry mess, come 2:05 remaining and Miller hit the iron.
Micheletti, and in a surprise, not Rosen, confused Miller for Chytil.
After all, they look so alike.
Then again, I guess both players are soft, so maybe that’s where the mistake was made.
We remained at 2-0, bad guys, come the horn.
Here’s what I said at the time:
2-0, bad guys, after 20. 1P Thoughts:
— Feels like the Flyers game all over – give up two early goals and tough to climb out of the hole.
— #NYR have had chances, Markstrom has denied all.
— That power-play was horrendous.
— Mika must go.
— Kreider has been noticeable,…— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) December 3, 2024
SECOND PERIOD
These twenty-minutes felt like an eternity to play – and mainly due to all of the penalties called – and Devils goals scored too.
During intermission, and as I was wondering if Trouba would ever consider throwing Zibanejad into the blue seats, ala a Nick Fotiu with warm-up pucks, and in homage to the captain’s “helmet game” from two-years back as well; then, and for whatever reason, Sieve Vagistat, the only person from this M$GN crew to not be in love with Hughes – trashed #86.
And who can forget about the time when the seven-foot jackass, and in his infinite wisdom, boldly predicted in 2019 that Kaapo Kakko would not only get off to a better start than Hughes – but who would also wind up becoming the better player amongst the top two picks of that year’s draft too.
But as long as you have blackmail on M$GN executives, then you can keep your job – and where as a bonus – you can promote your shitty little fake news ANALytical company too.
Following a CZAR IGOR save on “Unibrow” Meier just 1:45 in – and I’m not making this up either – Rosen actually had the audacity to praise the good name of Akira Schmid – and the work he did during the first-round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
If anyone personally knows Rosen, then please ask him why he thought it was a good idea to get on his knees and praise the now AHL goaltender – and as the Rangers were getting their dicks kicked in here?
Still only down by two, and the Rangers had a chance to score again, as this time, and with 16:50 remaining, Rempe’s old pal, Jonas Siegenthaler, hooked Edstrom.
But when Miserable Mika remains on your PP1 – and when he won’t change either – then you know how it goes.
0-2 on the power-play after these two-minutes.
Up next – the turning point of the game – and assuming that this tilt wasn’t already turned:
— With 12:55 remaining, Smith took an o-zone infraction when he tripped the apple of Rosen’s eye.
— This then gave us a match-up of the league’s best power-play against the league’s second-best penalty kill.
— After Bratt hit iron, Carrick and Kreider had a 2 x 0 man-down rush – and on his shot – Kreider whiffed.
— Then, and with only 22-seconds from killing off Smith’s penalty, Fox took one himself, as he had hooked Mercer.
— And with just two-seconds remaining from getting out of the 5 x 3 Devils’ power-play, the Rangers watched this:
Tfw Dougie Hamilton loads up. 😵💫 pic.twitter.com/J1yYTQhpUB
— Garden State Parkway to Hell (@HIGHWAYTOHELLNJ) December 3, 2024
3-0, bad guys.
There wasn’t that much CZAR IGOR could do here – as not only was he down two men – but this was also a “puck luck” play too.
But when you’re playing good, then you create your own luck too.
As Ranger fans were checking early train schedules, this is when the Devil supporters got loud – and they’d take over the crowd noise from this point on, including when they started mocking Igor’s name here.
After a meaningless Trouba hit on Cotter, CZAR IGOR robbed Luke Hughes with 7:40 to go.
But at this point, it was too little too late – and the Rangers hadn’t scored yet either.
Up next?
Rosen, and as if he were P. Diddy, busted out the baby oil and had a freak-off with Micheletti following this 4-0, bad guys, goal:
Hughes news in NYC: Jack scored a beaut. pic.twitter.com/0xwNKTIppd
— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) December 3, 2024
There was no coming back from this.
Heck, this game was donezo after the first period.
Down to 6:55 remaining, and in a rare road team miscue too, this is when Johnathan Kovacevic put a puck over the glass – a DOG penalty – which then put the Rangers on the power-play again.
The Blueshirts, Kings of The Meaningless Goals, saw Kreider pick up his A-Rod goal here:
Chris Kreider gets one back for New York with his 10th tally of the year, power play goal!#NYR pic.twitter.com/PWYMyBDzM4
— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) December 3, 2024
4-1, bad guys.
The Rangers, where you had to assume some momentum was gained after this goal (okay – I couldn’t even type that with a straight face), immediately gave up this perceived advantage, as Jones airmailed a puck over the glass himself with 5:59 remaining.
Mika had a short-handed one vs one chance with Markstrom during this Devils’ power-play – but you know how that goes.
To his credit, CZAR IGOR denied three Devil shooters and that was that for this Rangers’ PK.
It was also at this time, and where it sounded to me like Rosen was trying to save Lavy’s job, when the announcer proudly proclaimed, “THE RANGERS HAVE 31 SHOTS ON GOAL.”
The Rangers wouldn’t pick up shot number 32 until fourteen minutes of game-time had elapsed.
As we got under two-minutes remaining, and the officials, who gave the game to the Rangers on Saturday, went the other way here, as after a Dowling trip on Cuylle – #50 was also boxed – for embellishment.
I don’t know about you, but if someone rushes at me, hits me and puts a stick in-between my legs – and while I’m on skates too – then I’m most likely going to fall down.
The refs didn’t see it that way.
And to be clear – while this was a horrendous call – this isn’t why the Rangers lost this game either.
Far from it.
And the Devils weren’t done yet either.
The two minus M&M boys, Mika and Miller, soon had a 2 x 1 odd-man rush while on the foreplay, but the defenseman went wide on his shot, where as a result, gave the Devils a 3 x 1 odd-man rush.
Kreider interfered with J. Hughes to prevent a goal – but it was for naught.
Now on the power-play again – and Hughes, who drew the penalty, scored again.
5-1, bad guys – and a one happy Sam Rosen too.
That’s where we remained at the end of this period – and here’s what I said at the time too:
5-1, bad guys, after 40. 2P Thoughts:
— #NYR will never change for the better with Mika still here.
— To a lesser extent, ditto Minus Miller.
— Don’t think this coach deserves a new coach (and I hated the GG firing too), but we might see Coach Q behind the bench when the…— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) December 3, 2024
THIRD PERIOD
During intermission, and I’m not making this up, and Vagistat was talking about karate.
I’d like to see someone, perhaps Red Foreman, put one foot in his ass – and then lodge the other in his mouth too.
We can blow through this final frame.
After Jones drew an interference/roughing call against Haula at the end of the second period, the Rangers then proceeded to do nothing on their ill-afforded power-play gained.
Following the failure, and it got so quiet at M$G that you could hear the hairs on Micheletti’s forehead hit his desk, while also hearing Rosen rub his hands like a creep whenever praising the Hughes’ family.
I’m not joking when I say this:
The Rangers did absolutely nothing this period.
I’ve seen little kids look more interested when going shopping with their mothers than the Blueshirts looked here.
A lot of irony took place here too, including when the Rangers were playing Nirvana songs during breaks.
Why was that ironic?
Because like Kurt Cobain, and most Blueshirt fans at this moment too – I also wanted to blow my head off when watching this.
There’s nothing else worth talking about from this period – but I did enjoy all of the Vagistat bashing (so I guess there was one silver lining tonight!), including when I saw these two tweets:
I’m watching the rangers broadcast and this dipshit is bitching and moaning that nobody fought Jack Hughes for doing a move on Shesterkin instead of shooting it sooner because that’s straight up disrespect to a goalie like Shesterkin
Do they pay these guys??
— The Bratt Pack (@TheBrattPack63) December 3, 2024
All peaks, no valleys tonight. pic.twitter.com/C2XbhcZS6O
— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) December 3, 2024
As stated and opined about 4098709878870987709874098738409837 zillion times on this site throughout the years – Vagistat has to go.
He absolutely sucks at his job – and he wasn’t even a real Ranger to begin with.
Heck, he began his career with the Islanders!
Keep Brian Boyle, try to get Lundqvist full-time, and if you have to, see if former captains, such as Maloney, including Ryan Callahan and Mark Messier, are interested too.
And no one cares about Vagistat’s bloody groin – nor his epic tales full of self-promotion from his legendary 46-game career either.
Up next?
The telling post-game stuff.
Let’s start with Trocheck.
I stuck around for the M$GN post-game show for one reason – just to hear what Laviolette had to say for himself.
But prior to that, and Trocheck, who should be at least wearing an “A” on his chest, said this following passage:
“Guys who are usually playmakers who score goals have got to chip it in, grind it out. Guys who aren’t usually hitting have got to start hitting. We’ve just got to play out of our comfort zone to get our way out of this.”
Who else besides Zibanejad could he be talking about here?
I mean, he can’t be talking about his buddy, and usual linemate, Artemi Panarin?
After all, and despite tonight’s game too – and Panarin does score.
Zibanejad has four goals this season – and where one this “elite” quartet are of the empty-net variety – and a gift from Panarin to boot.
Just to hear the words and how they were said, then here’s Trocheck, along with Mika and Trouba, who both did their usual crybaby act – which is by sharing their same old hollow words, too:
For the first time this season following a game – and Laviolette wasn’t the first man to speak on behalf of the club.
Furthermore, and in another first – he didn’t speak until thirty-minutes had expired after the final horn sounded.
At the time, then I can’t lie – I wondered if Drury had already fired him.
And I’m not going to do this rant all over again – so just check this site’s archives for all of it – but NO, I don’t think he deserves to be fired – but YES, and if he is canned – then I do want to see Joel Quenneville get the job.
Sadly, you can’t fire the players with these disgusting NMCs – but you can fire coaches.
And if “CUP OR BUST” remains as the message – then change is needed now – as this team can’t wait until the March ’25 trade deadline.
By that point, it will be too late.
I made mention on social media that Lavy hadn’t addressed the media about twenty-minutes after the game – and where very quickly thereafter – every member of the Blueshirts’ birdbrain beat said the same.
Since he wasn’t fired (yet), then I’m to suspect that he gave his team a stern talking to – and where I hope he stressed that these optional practices that the loser in the #93 jersey regularly skips – are now mandatory.
Hell, and if it wasn’t for CBA rules, then the Blueshirts’ bench boss would’ve had every right to bag skate these bumbling buffoons once the Devils left the ice.
As Vagistat and Giannone were trying to kill time until Laviolette appeared from the shadows, they finally got a break when the head coach decided to show up at the podium.
I thought that Laviolette sounded like a complete moron, if not full-blown retarded, when he said that his team looked better and didn’t give up.
I’m also left to assume that he’s blind too.
Did he watch that third period at all?
Lavy, like his players, made all of the usual excuses – and where yep, you know it – not one member of the beat asked the head coach about his regular usage of Zibanejad on the team’s first power-play unit either.
COWARDS.
Here’s the complete post-game edition of “Lavy’s Lounge” for you:
Up Next For The Rangers: Three days off, and where practice should be held during two of them, prior to a Friday night home meeting with the Penguins.
And with this mini-break – then I wouldn’t be surprised to wake up on Tuesday morning and read that Laviolette has been fired – and even if I don’t believe that he’s the main culprit for this team’s demise.
I also wouldn’t be surprised to hear about a trade or two either – although if I had to predict what happens next – I think Lavy gets fired before a major trade featuring a FAT CAT gets done.
If Laviolette is to receive a pink-slip, then the only way it would be justified to me is because of his non-stop usage of Zibanejad – as it has cost the team points and wins all season.
But with the way things are going now – you can tell that his message is no longer being heard – which has always been the main criticism of Laviolette during his second-year with a franchise.
Plus, the team is now 0-7 in “litmus test games” – so what he’s doing now, even if it’s not all on him, just isn’t working – and more importantly – won’t work come playoff time either.
Up Next For Me: I’ll try to get my Rangers at the Quarter Pole Report Card done between now and Friday – but at this rate – what’s the point? THEY SUCK! (Albeit, sans a few.)
Up Next For You: It’s Christmas time, so why not buy a book for the Blueshirt backer in your life, 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
Could you drink better bourbon? Your blog says it all!!!!
I need a lot of it these days!