Greetings and salutations everyone and welcome to another blog here on BlueCollarBlueShirts.com. This one is on the head coach.
And in a rare event – you can’t blame the Rangers lack of effort for this loss either.
As you all are probably aware of, then prior to puck drop in Sunrise, FL on Monday night, then just 24-hours earlier, Larry Brooks, from the New York Post, who has quid-pro-quo relationships with both team owner James Dolan and general manager Chris Drury (and I’ve fully explained this “you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours” bond – and I have also you given numerous examples of this mutual handshake agreement in this space throughout the years too – so check the archives of this site if you’re not up-to-date), wrote his most scathing article about this team yet – and where as a result – this following image blazed throughout the streets of Rangerstown, USA like a subway fire:
Brooks, the Hall of Fame scribe that’s now been reduced to a rumor-mongering sensationalist in order to drive traffic for his pay-to-read pieces (how’s that Brady Tkachuk trade coming along?), obviously has the loudest and most heard voice among everyone involved with the Rangers’ media today.
Put it this way: Dolan isn’t doing interviews with the Wince’s, Colin’s, Mollie’s and the all-jokes-are-offensive liberals over at “The Athletic” of the world.
(If you recall, then when Dolan fired the previous regime in 2021, then, and as he has done in the past, the owner granted an exclusive interview to Brooks – and where such a chat should suggest to you one of Brooks’ sources.)
Brooks has also grown quite the ego in recent times (somewhat earned – longevity will do that – and he is good at what he does), as during his most recent article, he actually had the audacity to take personal shots at former captain Jacob Trouba – and even going as far as calling him the worst captain in franchise history.
(And keep in mind – just a month ago – and Brooks said that he was just doing his job when burying Dr. Kelly Tyson-Trouba. For a comparison, then I never heard Brooks talk about Henrik Lundqvist’s wife when it was obvious that “The King’s” royal contract was a major detriment to the Rangers’ overall team success.)
Of course, Brooks’ top source of today, former captain and now GM Chris Drury, was not listed as the absolute worst captain in franchise history – and as an official historian of the Blueshirts (as decreed by “The Maven” Stan Fischler – and hey – how about my ego now?) – then I can tell you, and with no ifs, ands or buts about it – that it was Drury – and NOT Trouba – that holds that distinction as the worst captain that the Rangers have ever had throughout their near one-hundred-years of existence.
After all, how many Eastern Conference championships and Presidents’ Trophies did ZOOM ZOOM Chris lead the Rangers to?
Like Brooks’ credibility on this subject – ZERO.
I bring up this article as penned by Brooks for one reason – he absolutely ripped them to shreds.
Heck, he basically went Hiroshima and Nagasaki on this sorry sack of losers.
While both Drury and Laviolette got off easy, the players did not – and I must admit – I thought that Brooks was dead-on the money when he echoed what I’ve been saying for months – these players are screwing the fans – you know – the customers who pay the highest prices in the league in order to attend home games at Morgue $quare Garden.
This is also my way of saying that the Rangers, during tonight’s tilt, and following both “THE LETTER” and “THE MEMO,” were just 8:22 away from authoring “THE ARTICLE” – as following Brooks’ rip-job (and he wasn’t wrong – in fact – he was 100% correct – so let me make that clear) – and the Blueshirts were giving one of their best efforts yet.
While yes, a lot of the same old problems remain, and yes, it was all of the same old suspects too (Mental Mika, Minus Miller, Lackluster Lavy); but regardless of these three stooges – and the Rangers were holding their own with not only the most recent Stanley Cup champions – but a Florida Panther team that directly caused their epic decline too.
Despite all of the (earned) negativity going into this game, and an early 2-0 hole to dig out of too – and the Rangers were not only able to respond by scoring two goals of their own in order to even things up – but once trailing 3-2 – and there was Chris Kreider scoring a power-play goal, the first Rangers’ PPG since god knows when, to erase a second Panther lead.
Say what you want about all of the bad plays and miscues (and there were a myriad of them); but with 14:41 remaining, not only were the Blueshirts playing their best hockey in months – and against the best team in all of the league too – but they had all of the momentum in this then tied 3-3 match to boot.
To set the stage for you, then previous to this point, the 3-3 score; and Eetu Luostarinen scored just 3:04 in, while Mackie Samoskevich upped the home team’s lead to 2-0 at the 5:21 mark.
For whatever reason, and Laviolette, despite no strong evidence to suggest goaltender’s interference, challenged the call.
Five-seconds later, the refs laughed and the goal stood – which then led the Rangers into killing their first of four Panther power-plays.
It should also be noted that Florida had two man-advantage tries before New York even received one – so in other words – had the champion’s man-up teams been clicking – then this game could’ve been 3-0, 4-0, over, by the time the first intermission hit.
The Blueshirts, still down 2-0 once the second stanza commenced, had a bizarro world period for them.
Having been outscored 21-6 in these middle frames in December – and the Rangers had their best twenty-minutes yet – as Filip Chytil scored at the 14:25 mark and with Ryan Lindgren, deflecting a puck from his BFF Adam Fox, scoring another goal at the 16:17 mark.
2-2.
However, the tie score was short-lived, as just 38-seconds later – and Jesper Boqvist scored – and during a play where it was obvious that CZAR IGOR was interfered with.
Despite the referees giving Laviolette seemingly a year-and-a-day to ask for the clear-as-day challenge – and the head coach adamantly refused.
WHAT DID HE HAVE TO LOSE?
(His answer to this boneheaded decision below.)
The two 2024 Eastern Conference Finalists took a 3-2 Panther lead into the final frame – and at the 5:19 mark, this is when CK20 scored his first PPG in forever, thus lifting the proverbial monkey off of his back – and without Mika around to monkey around with his business too.
At this point in the game – and it was all Rangers.
The SOG total of 36-26, Blueshirts, would tell you as much – but what these black-and-white stats don’t tell you is that Chytil hit a crossbar on a breakaway, how Florida goalie Sergei Bobrovsky robbed Will Cuylle on back-to-back chances and how Big Bob also made big saves on both Vincent Trocheck and Brett Berard too.
Also telling from this paragraph above?
It was this third line that was generating the most offense all game – and where at the same time – you weren’t getting anything out of the GAG LINE 2.0 – which the Panthers basically gagged themselves.
A bang-bang Boqvist brothers goal, with younger sibling Adam assisting on big brother Jesper’s 4-3 goal, took place with 8:22 remaining.
With this stage now set for you, the Rangers, and despite trailing, still remained more effective at five-vs-five play – and even with everything that we’ve endured during the past two-months – and perhaps I’m a tad delusional when saying this too – but you really felt it in your bones that they’d make one more comeback.
Laviolette prevented that.
Following several Bobrovsky robberies, and if only Cuylle could lift a puck or two over a pad as well; then the Rangers got a chance to at least receive one point in the standings, as with just 2:50 remaining, and the Blueshirts’ forecheck forced Florida into taking their second consecutive delay of game penalty (puck over the glass).
Mopey Mika, absolutely the drizzling shits again (-1, 1 SOG), was demoted from the team’s first power-play unit – and a “too little, too late” decision about 100 games in the making.
In his steed was Alexis Lafreniere – and while we’ve wanted this change for some time – there were better options than the former first-overall pick today.
But hey, at least Laviolette finally addressed a man-up unit that entered Sunrise 0-21 on their last 21 tries during their past eight-games.
Following an offensive zone faceoff win, CZAR IGOR left the bench for the extra attacker – and where every Ranger fan and their mother was expecting to see Filip Chytil.
After all, not only did Chytil score in this game – and hit iron as well – but he also set a career-high in shots on goal too (7).
And without a shadow of a doubt – he was the best skater on the ice too.
Laviolette’s response?
Eff that.
As regular readers of this site already know, and perhaps you “newbies” are aware of this fact too – then no one was more of an ardent supporter of “THE TURK,” Gerard Gallant, than yours truly.
I’m not going to rehash all of this again, as I am up against the clock tonight – so check the archives for all it.
But suffice to say – past blogs and social media postings don’t lie – I thought (and still believe) that Gallant did a great job – and I most certainly didn’t think that he deserved to be fired.
And isn’t it funny how once again, what I said/opined back then is being proven correct today?
After all, who was the first person to accuse the core of being rotten – and how no different head coach would save them?
Hmmmm….
LATERALETTE anyone?
My Barry Horowitz (self-pat-on-the-back) act aside; then I bring up Gallant here for one reason:
All I heard from his detractors, haters and illogical fans that would never point their fingers at the core, was how “The Turk” never made in-game adjustments – and let’s face it – they said this stuff ONLY AFTER Gallant was fired – and as decreed to them by Brooks – who was just writing what Drury told him to write.
To be crystal clear, then you never heard anything about how Gallant was a bad in-game manager, didn’t make adjustments, etc when he was here – as those weak talking points only took place following his “my feelings, MA, my feelings!” core-mandated firing.
This brings us to the do-or-die, make-or-break, moment of the game.
As we’ve seen multiple times over this season – and yet again – Laviolette refused to acknowledge what had transpired throughout the first 57-minutes of this contest.
Hell, even Stevie Wonder, Helen Keller, Terry Schiavo and you can also include Charles Dolan here too, could have told you that Chytil was the best Ranger on the ice – and no hand was hotter than the Czech’s.
This collective of names could also tell you that no one was more ice cold than Miserable Mika too.
Chasing a goal, a hopeful equalizer, with 2:50 remaining – and Laviolette stapled #72 to his bench – and then went right back to the dry-haired loser in the #93 jersey.
Zero Zibanejad?
The predictable result was two-fold.
Not only did the new PP1 unit get away from doing what had worked earlier without Stinka on the ice – but they went right back to featuring Zibanedud – and his no-Ovechkin one-timer too.
Meekly Mika immediately tried a backhanded shot attempt – and of course it went wide.
The Swedish-Iranian dee-jay then spun another shot – and of course that went wide too.
And in our third “of course” in three-sentences – following his latest misfire – and there was Aleksander Barkov to deposit the puck into the empty net, the 5-3, game over goal, with just 37-seconds remaining.
And oh – how could I forget?
Once Barkov called game, then Mika was returned to the bench, while Lavy told Chytil, “hey, get at it kid!”
The Rangers played well enough to win – or at the very least – earn an overtime point.
Laviolette shit all over that idea – and he also gave his goalie, the now 29-year-old CZAR IGOR, a nice steamy dump as a birthday present.
Between his nonsensical views on challenges and force-feeding the team’s worst player while his best player of the night sat – then Monday night’s 5-3 loss – a rare game where the team actually came out to play – falls squarely on the shoulders of the head coach.
And if you’re still thinking about the 2019 St. Louis Blues – then not only did that team have a hell of a captain in Alex Pietrangelo (and need I remind you that no team has won the silver without a captain since the 1972 Bruins?) – but they also made a coaching change in-season too.
In other words, if you’re still clinging onto the idea of the Blueshirts going on a historic run here – then the black shoe-polished hair on Laviolette’s clown head must roll too.
At this time, let’s get the disclaimer segment out of the way before talking about everything else from another fracas, this time in Florida.
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-six down, forty-six 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 – another tumultuous night in Tampa:
NYR/TBL 12/28 Review: Rangers Continue To Unearth New Levels of Rock-Bottom; Bolts Bash Blueshirts, Clown Head Coach Refuses To Address His Special Teams Circus; Missing Mika Exempt From Being Held Accountable, Miller’s Famous Last Words, Tampa Mentally Tough; New York’s Fragility, “Tradeable” CZAR IGOR Pulls a Kakko; Throws Team Under The Bus, Looking At What Could’ve Happened Had Ryan McDonagh Never Been Traded, Best M$GN Broadcast Yet, Sam & Joe Go Scorched Earth; Boyle Is Baffled By Badness & More
On Sunday, following another debacle in Tampa, the Rangers were now at the Panthers’ practice facility in Fort Lauderdale, FL – and where it was revealed that the clown head coach needed to see 35 games of Mika Zibanejad on his first power-play unit in order to make a change.
After yours truly, and many of you too, have been pleading with Laviolette to demote Zibanejad and promote Alexis Lafreniere to PP1 (and this begging even goes back to last season too), the head coach finally pulled the trigger.
But since he pulled it about thirty-five games too late – then let’s face it – all he’s shooting is blanks.
Once the practice concluded (and keep in mind – and as I’ve been saying & proving for weeks – the birdbrain beat reporters would never dare to ask the head coach about making this switch), Laviolette said that the power-play wasn’t producing, thus he needed to do something.
Again, this moron waited just two-days shy of the New Year in order to rectify this year-long problem.
Stinka Zibanebad, more delusional and conceited than ever, said that this relegation had nothing to do with him and how the club was just shaking up things.
A smug and no accountability comment like that is why I can’t stand this guy – and why I also hope that Donald Trump deports him come his inauguration.
Either Mental Mika is brain-dead – or he’s so full of himself that he can’t see the forest through the trees.
Come Monday, CZAR IGOR’s 29th birthday, and the Rangers didn’t have a morning skate.
However, during his mandatory pregame press conference, and Lavy announced that the birthday boy would be getting the nod in net against another fellow comrade, Sergei Bobrovsky.
Sadly, CZAR IGOR was bested again – and where I still believe that you need to trade him before it’s too late. (Check the past month’s worth of blogs for the detailed explanation on this.)
Here was Laviolette’s line-up for the thirty-sixth game of this 2024-25 season:
FIRST LINE: Panarin/Trocheck/Lafreniere
SECOND LINE: Kreider/Mika/Smith
THIRD LINE: Cuylle/Chytil/Berard
FOURTH LINE: Edstrom/Carrick/Vesey
FIRST PAIR: Lindgren/Fox
SECOND PAIR: Miller/Borgen
THIRD PAIR: Vaakanainen/Schneider
STARTING GOALIE: CZAR IGOR
BACK UP GOALIE: Jonathan Quick
SCAPEGOATED: Matt Rempe
HEALTHY SCRATCHES: Jonny Brodzinski and Zac Jones
BOX SCORE time.
The following graphics and information come from ESPN.com:
SCORING:
PENALTIES:
TEAM STATS:
GOALIES:
|
FLA
|
|
SA
|
GA
|
SV
|
SV%
|
ESSV
|
PPSV
|
SHSV
|
SOSA
|
SOS
|
TOI
|
PIM
|
| 36 | 3 | 33 | .917 | 21 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 60:00 | 0 |
|
NYR
|
|
SA
|
GA
|
SV
|
SV%
|
ESSV
|
PPSV
|
SHSV
|
SOSA
|
SOS
|
TOI
|
PIM
|
| 25 | 4 | 21 | .840 | 15 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 57:51 | 0 |
Once again, and I thought that the M$GN broadcast, now bumped up to M$G2 after being relegated to M$G3 on Saturday, had a strong showing.
And of course – all of these broadcasts are leaps-and-bounds better whenever Brian Boyle, and not Sieve Vagistat and his made-up charts, is around.
Boyle opened up by saying the obvious – you’d think that the Rangers would be seeking revenge against the team that not only ended their Cup hopes last season – but had completely derailed them ever since too.
When Boyle said that, I didn’t agree.
After all, and based on how pathetic the Rangers looked in their first ECF rematch earlier this season – then I bet on both the over (six goals) and the Panthers puck line (win by at least two).
And while both bets eventually did hit (nearly $350 in profit – but I would’ve taken a Ranger win instead) – the fashion in the way these bets hit was something that I did not predict at all – not even close – as no joke – I thought that Florida would go double-chili (ten goals) tonight – and I never saw the Blueshirts testing them.
As Giannone was actually wondering aloud on air “if the Rangers can use the embarrassment factor to their advantage;” such sad state of affairs commentary was then followed-up by re-airing Loud Mouth Miller’s remarks following the loss to Tampa.
How did K’Awful follow up his big-time boasting?
He finished with a game-low -3 – and where once again – he just refuses to step in front of a shot.
I’m not making this up:
At least fifteen goals allowed this season could have been prevented had Miller had the Dan Girardi gene in him.
After telling us that Laviolette was going to run-out the same-old-shit, because obviously, insanity always works whenever trying to end a monstrous losing streak; it was reported that Lafreniere has one goal in his last seventeen games played.
FAT CAT disease is contagious – and after tonight – that streak has now been upped to one goal in eighteen games.
And while I have championed for anyone but Mika on PP1, including Lafreniere specifically; but just watching this team, and I even said this in real-time too, then I would’ve went with Cuylle tonight – and as the game progressed – then I would’ve given the ball to Chytil.
However, for Peter The Red-Nosed Reindeer Clown – insanity, and not riding hot hands, is how you win hockey games.
Not mentioned once throughout the pregame show, nor during the game either by Sam Rosen and Joe Micheletti?
What Brooks’ wrote (and his article did hit the mainstream media too – including in Canada), nor the Jones scratch either.
And finally, GAME REVIEW time, and since I have to make this quick tonight (or at least for me – as I promise you that you won’t find a longer game recount than the one you’re reading right now), then if you want the complete play-by-play, then visit my Tweeter/X page over at https://x.com/NYCTheMiC
FIRST PERIOD
As Sam and Joe were practically saying that they’d jump out nude from a CZAR IGOR birthday cake should the Rangers be able to prevail; then in our first Laviolette mistake – and Mika’s line started.
And just to go back to everything Mika v. Chytil tonight – and it was this absolute walking mess, Mika Zibanejad, that received more ice time than Filip Chytil too (16:25 – 14:52).
But yeah – tell me more about how Gallant never made in-game adjustments.
As I was watching Sam Bennett carve away at Zibanejad, then I couldn’t be helped to remind myself that Sam “NO RELATIONS TO TONY JOE” Bennett, could have been a Ranger – but former GM Jeff Gorton thought that publicly slamming and shunning Tony DeAngelo was more important than improving his team.
While Rosen didn’t bother me at all tonight (and I actually enjoy Rosen and Micheletti embracing their heel turns – as they are not holding back any more); but at the same time, I didn’t need to hear the HOF caller praising the Panthers for beating the Rangers in the 2024 ECF either.
Following a good attack from the fourth line, the Mika line came on – and both on cue and on brand too – there was that loser, a disgrace to Petr Nedved’s old number every day, “assisting” on the first Florida goal:
Florida goal!
Scored by Eetu Luostarinen with 16:56 remaining in the 1st period.
Florida: 1
New York: 0#NYRvsFLA #TimeToHunt #NYR pic.twitter.com/bCaQI6oVVf— NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) December 31, 2024
1-0, champs, following another Mika miscue – and in a case of where two conflicting things can both be true – a shot that CZAR IGOR should have stopped too.
I’ve never wanted Zibanejad deported more than I do today.
As the game progressed, and this is when Rosen mentioned the Boqvist brothers for the first of 679867986786786789678678969867867869 times – as no one loves siblings and family trees more than the soon-to-be retiree.
And of course, the Boqvist Bros then went on to have their best game, when together, this season.
Just 2:17 after the gift from Zibanejad and this is when Kulikov scored – but after the game, the goal was then accredited to Mackie Samoskevich:
Dmitry Kulikov gives the Panthers an early 2-0 lead! 🐆 pic.twitter.com/c8JGL5qRIy
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) December 31, 2024
2-0, champs – and this game was just barely five-minutes old.
This is the goal that Laviolette challenged – despite no evidence to suggest such an overturn.
The refs spent about five-seconds before giving Florida their power-play for the failed challenge.
And just to give you both sides of the story here – since CZAR IGOR was complaining about being screened – then I guess this was Lavy’s birthday present to him – trying to get another early goal allowed removed from his ledger.
The Rangers’ penalty kill, ranked tops in the league just a week ago, is now fifth-overall, following the five PPGs in total given up to New Jersey and Tampa.
They almost gave up another here – but CZAR IGOR made two saves during an early Panther onslaught – and after that – the Rangers’ man-down units took control – and took over too.
Down to 11:45 remaining, and an undisciplined and rattled Lafreniere took a double-minor, for roughing, as he attacked Tomas Nosek from behind.
Kudos to “Jumpin’ Joe” here too – as he actually said that #13 was “reckless” and “stupid.”
And Micheletti was right – as the Rangers were already down by two – and giving Florida another power-play was just that – reckless and stupid.
Thankfully, the Blueshirts’ PK, which now seems to be back on track after their two-game hiccup, killed off another – and where it was actually the Rangers that had better scoring chances here – as a Trocheck breakaway was denied by Bob – and a Fox (only one ENG this season) follow-up also received the “Nyet, Nyet” treatment.
As Micheletti was telling us how the former Ranger, and currently injured Panther of today, Niko Mikkola, was the best d-man in Sunrise; down to 5:20 remaining and Chytil & Berard had a 2 x 1 odd-man rush.
With Berard wide-open at the backdoor like Vagistat on a Grindr date – Chytil took the shot instead – a break for Bob who then made the save.
However, Barkov was then assessed with interfering with Berard, where then in turn, gave the Rangers their first power-play of the game – now featuring Lafreniere.
The Blueshirts did get GOOD LOOKS (hello Alain Vigneault) – but Trocheck, with a gaping net about three-feet from his nose in front of him – missed.
End result?
An 0-1 power-play – and one that hadn’t scored on their past 22 consecutive tries.
As Rosen was asking us to vote on our top Ranger of the week (I guess Zac Jones – as after all – he hasn’t been involved in these bad losses); Luostarinen just missed from kicking the field goal, as his backhander went slightly wide.
We remained at 2-0, champs, after twenty-minutes.
Here’s what I said at the time:
2-0, champs, after 20. 1P Thoughts:
— At least we’ll be spared Lavy’s usual postgame comments of how they had a good first period.
— #NYR have been brutal in 2Ps this season – expect Florida to go nuts.
— Mental Mika will never be held accountable.
— Igor being outplayed…— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) December 31, 2024
SECOND PERIOD
Here’s how this period began:
Kreider gives Mika a hug #NYR pic.twitter.com/5j1z51By5u
— David 🏒 (@DaveyUpper) December 31, 2024
We never got the answer to this – but what looked like a “LAVY LINE BLENDER” move (Chytil for Mika) was most likely an equipment issue.
In other words, Chytil took one shift with Kreider and Smith – and then after that – reverted back to his spot on the third line.
As I was expecting Florida to run up the score in what’s usually a dreadful second period for the Rangers; the Panthers got two quick SOG – and it would take nearly ten-minutes for them to pick up SOG #3. (They eventually totaled eight in this period.)
Come 16:16 remaining and Florida’s momentum was stunted, as they took a bench minor for too many men on the ice – and a penalty that we’re seeing called a lot more of these days.
This is when Chytil hit the crossbar on a breakaway – and where at the end of it – the Rangers’ PP was now 0-2.
And while the power-play looked good during these two tries – we’re long beyond that – and for all of the obvious reasons.
Simply stated, it’s strictly a results business.
Come 10:55 remaining and Berard, wide-open and a foot-away – missed an easy open net to bang the puck home into. This wide shot was another break for Bobrovsky – but of course – elite goaltending makes shooters overthink too.
Two-minutes later, and after initially breaking up a Cats’ 3 x 2 – and Berard was boxed for tripping Uvis Balinskis – and where hey – wouldn’t you like to name your first son after what sounds like an homage to the almighty ovary – or should I say Zibanejad?
The Rangers’ PK was once again flawless here – and didn’t allow a SOG either.
And once the kill was complete?
Then the Chytil line came on, and Berard, more aspiring, noticeable and productive than Kakko ever was, set-up his new center for the 2-1, champs, goal:
Chytil gets the Rangers on the board 🚨 pic.twitter.com/oZPCfn1iLK
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) December 31, 2024
Again, I know that we can’t really use the word “deserve” anymore; so since we can’t say that, then we can use this cliche:
“Chytil’s hard work paid off.”
And let’s call a spade a spade here too – this was Chytil’s first goal in his last eight games played.
This Chytil goal put wind into the Rangers’ sails too, as right after this, Panarin recorded his lone SOG of the game (a puck off of Bob’s mask), and once the Rangers changed for the fourth line – bang – tie game:
OK, who had Lindgren scoring on their bingo card. #NYR pic.twitter.com/o5pvpvjzxZ
— David 🏒 (@DaveyUpper) December 31, 2024
2-2!
Not only was I surprised that this game was now even – but I wasn’t expecting Lindgren to pick up a goal tonight either!
And give credit to Sam Carrick (1 assist, +1, game-high 71.4% faceoff percentage) – as following his worst game of the season on Saturday – he rebounded with ease.
In other words, I was glad that Lavy didn’t punish him with a healthy scratch.
It’s just too bad that Mika wasn’t a healthy scratch.
As talked about with Tampa, and as you all know too, then more times than not, hell, as in 100% of the time – then whenever the Rangers play in Sunrise – then the crowd is predominately adorned in blue jerseys.
However, while the crowd make-up was more 50/50 than ever before – once Lindgren tied the game – and you heard half of that attendance go absolutely bonkers.
I’m exaggerating a little bit here – but based on the crowd noise – then you would’ve thought that Lindgren’s goal was a playoff walkoff winner.
Sadly, Minus Miller is still on this roster, which meant that the tie score immediately went poof – and as in just 38-seconds later:
Jesper Boqvist scores ! 3-2 Panthers #TimeToHunt pic.twitter.com/d7QiLVrFQM
— Florida Panthers Den (@FlaPanthersDen) December 31, 2024
I don’t get it with Miller.
While he had a rocky beginning, there was a time where it looked like he was putting it all together.
Outside of Zibanejad (DUH), then no other Ranger has regressed worse than him.
Maybe he should be spitting on himself these days.
Speaking of regression and all-out dumbassery too; then this was the goal that Laviolette, AND NO DOUBT ABOUT IT – THIS CAN’T BE DEBATED – should have challenged.
And as noted above – the refs were practically pleading with him to challenge it – as the game was frozen in time in order to allow Laviolette to watch about 79867869678967986 different replays.
Following the game, this clown head coach said that this was obvious goaltender’s interference – but he didn’t want to challenge it because a replay like this went against him last season vs. Boston.
WHO GIVES A FUCK?
(And I rarely use the f-word on this site – as I only want to use it sparingly for effect.)
That was last year.
This is this year.
This team needs wins.
And for those who don’t know (because Rosen erred and said the opposite) – then you CAN challenge any goal allowed that you want in this new era where power-plays are afforded to the other team if you lose the review.
Keep in mind, the Rangers’ PK, aside from the past two games, has been lights-out – and was already 3-3 at the time in this particular contest.
WHAT DID LAVY HAVE TO LOSE HERE?
I’m out on him – but let’s face it – I was never his biggest fan to begin with – but I have always been fair about him – and have praised him a lot too (a Presidents’ Trophy will do that).
This non-challenge was a fireable offense.
I mean, how do you challenge a previous goal that was a clear-as-day good goal – but then walk away from this?
And then how do you say after the game that this was blatant goalie interference (he could be fined for criticizing the officials) – and then do nothing about it?!?!?!?!?!?!
Maybe he knows that his job is safe – and is looking forward to coaching the 2025 first-overall pick next season.
More irony and an item from the realm of WTF?
Just 29-seconds later – and Lindgren was boxed for tripping Sam Reinhart.
The Rangers easily killed this penalty too – thus going a perfect 4 of 4.
Shoot me now – but don’t have Mika take the shot – he’ll miss!
3-2, champs, after forty-minutes.
Here’s what I said at the time:
3-2, champs, after 40. 2P Thoughts:
— Best #NYR 2P – and really period too, in a long time.
— If it wasn’t for the last two months, then you’d feel good about this game, but now, you’re just waiting for the other shoe to drop.
— Rangers’ PK is saving them – a perfect 4 of…— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) December 31, 2024
THIRD PERIOD
In a rarity, and Rosen was trying to “reverse curse” the Rangers in a positive way, as he mentioned that whenever the Blueshirts entered a third period trailing, then they have yet to win (0-15-1 – the one OTL took place during the home opener against Utah).
He also said that the Panthers were 14-0 whenever leading entering a final frame.
And sadly, and as you already know too – both of these streaks were extended some 20-minutes later.
The Chytil line opened up this period by just remaining as a house of fire – as the Big Cats looked like timid kittens whenever trying to stop them.
However, Big Bob was able to claw away every shot attempt.
After Chytil had his sixth and now career-high seventh shots on goal denied; down to 16:20 remaining, and Lindgren, perhaps embracing the tank himself, pushed Bennett, moving like a locomotive, right into CZAR IGOR.
Igor laid on the ice for probably 15-seconds in real-time – but it felt like an eternity.
He remained in the game – but if you’re someone like me, who thinks that he should be traded before his new contract with full no-move protection becomes iron-clad next season – then you did have a little trickle of poo fall down your leg.
As we hit 15:04 remaining, Carter Verhaeghe tripped Lafreniere.
27-seconds later and this is when Kreider erased the second Florida lead of the game:
Just listen to this: “It’s a Power Play Goal!! #NYR pic.twitter.com/iwDATysfRJ
— David 🏒 (@DaveyUpper) December 31, 2024
3-3 – and where Kreider is now one shy of Camille Henry’s franchise record of 116 man-up tallies.
This was also another case of “Special Teams Swing Games,” because at the time, the Rangers’ power-play, which had finally ended their 0-23 drought, was 1-3, while Florida had failed on their quartet of tries.
The Blueshirts, prior to the final minutes, had a chance to go ahead, as with 13:10 to go, and with an aggressive forecheck rockin’; Florida took a delay of game (puck over glass).
I said this at the time (tweets don’t lie): I would’ve replaced Lafreniere with Chytil.
And this isn’t really a slam against Lafreniere, as instead, this is just me saying that I would’ve given my hot hand a chance to tie it.
I don’t know if it’s ANALytics or what – but far too often and Laviolette ignores the EYE TEST – and what’s going on in front of him.
After these two-minutes, and the Rangers’ power-play created a new drought – 0-1.
As we got under ten-minutes remaining in this still tied 3-3 game – and both Lafreniere and Panarin went wide.
All of these misses then led to a Boqvist Bros’ goal – and where CZAR IGOR, after denying two attempts, was beaten on the third – and you can thank K’Awful Minus Miller for that:
JESPER BOQVIST SCORES HIS SECOND OF THE GAME TO TAKE THE LEAD! 🍿 pic.twitter.com/jH1SAlIKoy
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) December 31, 2024
4-3, champs.
After watching this, and hearing Rosen talk about them all game, then I had to paraphrase Al Pacino, when in “Scarface,” he (should’ve) said, “FUCK THE BOQVIST BROTHERS!”
To fast-forward to the end of what should be Laviolette’s last game as head coach (under the assumption that reaching the playoffs is still an objective for Drury), then Cuylle had two chances to beat Bob with 3:00 to go – but he never lifted the puck – which then allowed #72 in red to kick out his right pad on both attempts.
After that, Florida, who couldn’t stifle the Rangers’ attack, saw Matt Tkachuk put a puck over the glass.
And while on Tkachuk, look at him, and then look at the other Big Cats in town such as Reinhart, Barkov (ENG excluded) and Ekblad – they didn’t beat the Rangers tonight.
Instead, bottom-sixers and third-pair d-men did.
Then again, that’s how the Rangers did all of their even-strength scoring tonight too.
As noted above, then with 2:50 to go, the Rangers on the power-play and with Igor on the bench for the extra 6 x 4 attacker – Mika was the sixth skater, Chytil was benched, Mika sucks ass and Barkov ended the Rangers.
5-3, champs.
This is on Laviolette.
This was like watching the Jets.
Here’s Bozo after the loss:
While we all know that I’m not a fan of Ms. Don’t Give a Shit, the resident airhead of the New York Post, Mollie Walker; but whether she was forced into asking this question (everyone and their mother was on social media begging every beat reporter to ask Lavy about this) or she came up with this on her own – but either way – she was the one who finally asked Doink The Coach about his decision to go with Mika over Chytil at the end.
“Yeah, I mean, there’s a group that we work on with things and we go over things,” said the Pennywise of hockey. “There’s a group that’s been together. So, I mean, he [Chytil] played well. He was supposed to be going out on the second unit and he just never got the change with the person he was changing for.”
Mollie, nor any other birdbrain on the beat, pushed Laviolette after this feckless answer, nor asked a follow-up question either.
Rather than that, and instead, this is when Laviolette started crying about the goaltender interference that he never challenged.
I can’t stress this enough – this coach failed his team – again.
And he’ll never hold Mika accountable either.
I’m now also looking forward to how the Rangers receive Brooks when he returns to covering games – as all of his biting comments always takes place whenever the team is on the road – and while he’s at home.
Up Next For The Rangers: Two days off and then the first game of 2025 – an Original Six tilt against Boston.
And who knows?
Maybe Chris Kreider will be thrust into an Eddie Giacomin situation – by playing for the Rangers’ O-6 rival…
Up Next For Me: BED – and that infernal alarm clock that’s soon to aggravate me as much as the Blueshirts!
Up Next For You: Happy New Year
And oh yeah, your favorite segment to, 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
Happy New Year, Sean!