Greetings and salutations everyone and welcome to another blog here on BlueCollarBlueShirts.com. I can’t believe it either!
While I’m aware that no one who intensely follows these 2024-25 Blueshirts needs a history lesson here – but yeah – and this needs to be said anyway:
After hitting rock bottom – then finding even lower and undiscovered levels afterwards to submerge to – and somehow – and someway – and these Rangers are back on track.
And perhaps the reason for that is Matt Rempe!
While “THE REMPE EFFECT” is real – and more about this phenomenon below – but of course – and everyone else is upping their game too – that is – except for Mental Mika.
I don’t want to travel down the pessimistic road when beginning tonight’s tome – but I have to get this out of my system first – and then I will move on:
These Rangers, dead-and-buried just three-weeks ago – so much so that the tombstone was already ordered – are now right back in the thick of things – and by this time next week – should have a firm control over a playoff spot.
As Chris Tucker once asked Jackie Chan, “Do you understand the words that are coming out of my mouth?”
Heck, I’m not even sure that I can comprehend them either – or to be more specific – I don’t know how we got here at all!
That said – and I riddle you this, you Blueshirts’ Batman:
What’s it worth, and come the playoffs, when your $8.5M alleged first line center is an abject failure in every which way – and when his contract is almost as big as an albatross as he is?
The answer – another postseason exit – and another year without a Stanley Cup.
My negative point following a positive victory?
Easy, this one:
General manager Chris Drury needs to give Missing Mika “The Goodrow Treatment,” “The Trouba Boot,” call it whatever you want – and in turn – eliminate #93 from this roster – and PRONTO at that.
If not?
Then it’s just the textbook definition of the word “insanity” – and where you should need no reminder of such a definition.
What amused me the most, and following the Rangers’ 6-1 decimation of the Flyers from Thursday night, is how the majority of the fan base were proudly proclaiming that “THE BLUESHIRTS ARE BACK!”
After all, and similar to me – and these same residents of Rangerstown, USA were talking about the draft lottery just a mere three-weeks ago – and how James Hagens centering a line for the Rangers come the 2025-26 season would be the best thing possible moving forward.
While I’ve never disparaged and/or discouraged any optimist, nor any “Blueshirts’ Believer” either – aka people who thought a night like the night of January 24th would ever take place – which is to be taken as the formerly rock bottom Rangers rocketing their way up the standings; then many of these fans, mainly young, had no problems with insulting the likes of people who have been around the block a few times before, including people like Ron Duguay and Stan Fischler for keeping such faith.
Another thing that all of these people like Duguay & Fischler (and me too!) have said all-season as well?
This:
“MATT REMPE MUST PLAY!”
For the fans screaming the name of “JAMES HAGENS” some three-weeks ago, while also insulting the likes of Duguay, Fischler and other open-minded observers – then you my friend – owe all of these people a big fat apology!
Me?
Since I never insulted Duguay, Fischler, nor the rest of the glass half-full ilk either, then I’ll just say this:
You were right, I was wrong – and where I’m happy to be dead-wrong too!
After all, I just want to see one Stanley Cup as an adult before I die – and where I hope that Zibanejad is still around come that day – in order to lower my casket – and just so he can let me down one more time!
Last time, I promise:
Mika has to go in order for this team to have any shot of replicating the 2019 St. Louis Blues – and where Duguay, Fischler and their brethren have also said the same.
Just sayin’!
CZAR IGOR entered tonight’s Broad Street v. Broadway rivalry game with two consecutive shutouts to his name.
He should’ve finished Thursday night’s tilt with his third straight no-no – and had he – then he would’ve became the first Rangers’ goalie in 91-years to accomplish such a historic feat (Lorne Chabot).
Rather than another shutout, then instead, what transpired in reality is what I’ve been talking about for some time now – and even just two-days ago to boot!
The Blueshirts are always prone to one early defensive brain-fart at the start of any game played, where in turn, the opponent scores within three-minutes or so – if not in the first-minute.
After that?
CZAR IGOR buckles down and that’s that.
If you recall, then during the first four-years of his career – and CZAR IGOR led all NHL goalies in one-goal allowed contests.
If it weren’t for these frequently often early defensive lapses, then CZAR IGOR, and ever since his January 2020 NHL debut, would be leading the league in “NYET NYET’S!”
In the latest display of the “dreaded first three-minutes,” then it only took 85-seconds for Owen Tippett to score the first goal of the game – and as he did during a 3 x 1 Flyers’ odd-man rush – and where the puck deflected in off of his skate no less.
Who was at fault for such a “phortunate” Philly opportunity could be pinned on either Filip Chytil or K’Andre Miller – if not on both of them at the same time.
But when speaking about such a misgiving, then you can also credit both of them for one goal a piece.
The Rangers, down 1-0 early, not only came back to win the match – but they scored an unanswered touchdown too – and count ’em all – 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 goals in total.
At the 9:00 mark, there was #4 on the Rangers, Braden Schneider, but looking like the legendary #4 from Boston, Bobby Orr, who put on the moves when tying the game.
Granted, his shot did bounce off of a Flyers’ defenseman before crossing the goal line – but without these moves that you’d normally see out of someone akin to the likes of Cale Makar – then this equalizer never takes place.
1-1.
Up next?
Similar to the recent NHL commercial featuring a tip jar – and the Blueshirts, whether subliminally or not – had such advertising tattooed on their brain.
The second goal of the match – the eventual game-winner too – was of the tip variety, as BIG ED, government name Adam Edstrom, tipped a Ryan Lindgren shot from the point behind the orange-and-black goalie, Sam Ersson.
2-1, GOOD GUYS – and no less than 90-seconds removed from Schneider’s tying goal.
Once entering the second stanza, and with this 2-1 score still in-tact, then come the 4:44 mark, there was K’Andre Miller who was able to capitalize following a perfect pass received from Big Billy Borgen.
3-1, GOOD GUYS.
The Flyers, who did total 34 SOG against CZAR IGOR on this night – but where it also felt like #31 only had to make two or three tough saves in the process – they just looked helpless when trying to mount their comeback.
Such a thought – a Flyers’ comeback – was blown to smoke come the “phinal phrame.”
Philly, still down 3-1 as the third period commenced, soon found themselves trailing by three at the 5:15 mark – as this time, Filip Chytil had tipped/deflected a puck past Ersson – and as sent off of the stick of Urho Vaakanainen.
4-1, GOOD GUYS.
This was also a “historic,” or a “trivia,” goal too – as with U.V. receiving the helper – then that meant that all six Rangers’ defensemen had picked up a point in the game.
Such an event hadn’t taken place since December 8th, 2019 (against Vegas) – and when Tony DeAngelo, Adam Fox, Ryan Lindgren, Brady Skjei, Marc Staal and Jacob Trouba contributed during the Blueshirts’ 5-0 shutout victory for goaltender Alexandar Georgiev.
Even crazier than that?
Zibanejad also scored a power-play goal on that date – a game that took place during his prime season (2019-20) – and the one that COVID-19 eventually ended.
(As noted many times over on this site, and “The Mika Virus” has never been the same since.)
As the clock wound down, then come 4:33 remaining, and Artemi Panarin, who has yet to really find his game on a consistent basis this season, took his second penalty of the game.
In a response, Flyers’ bench boss, John Tortorella, pulled his goalie for the sixth attacker with his team down by three goals.
Adam Fox put the orange-and-black away once and for all – and as he did following his 5-1, GOOD GUYS, empty net goal – and officially a short-handed one at that!
For the 2021 Norris Trophy winner – and this was his third goal of the season – and where two-thirds of them have been scored without a goalie in-between the pipes. (The other goal? A somewhat fluky power-play goal after a quick Vincent Trocheck faceoff win.)
So yeah, you’d like to see Fox boost his 5 x 5 goal scoring – and where his next one will be his first one!
But of course – that’s an issue for another night.
After all, the Rangers weren’t done yet either!
With only 1:56 remaining and Trocheck was slashed by Noah Cates just as he got to Ersson’s crease.
Nine-seconds later?
Reilly Smith scored the 6-1, GOOD GUYS goal – via the power-play.
As a result, that meant that the Rangers had scored an empty-netter, a power-play goal, a short-handed goal – and a few even-strength goals mixed in-between too!
They have now become a team that no one wants to play against as well.
And as previously noted in this space a few times during these past ten-days – then this is why I hate this upcoming cash-grab NHL’s Four Nations Tournament – as all it can do is stunt the team’s momentum – while also allowing teams on a downswing to regain their game.
(Plus, it’s not truly a “best vs. best” tourney either – and especially with Russia excluded.)
But you can only deal with the game (and schedule) in front of you on any given night – and on this night – the Blueshirts most certainly did just that.
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, forty-eight down, thirty-four 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’m now thinking about betting on it!
In case you missed it, then here’s where I last left off – the Rangers’ bell-to-bell dominating performance against Ottawa:
NYR/OTT 1/21 Review: Surging Rangers Put Forth Another Successful Team-Wide Effort; Blueshirts Regain Control of Their Playoff Destiny, REMPEMANIA RUNS WILD; CUYLLE HAND LUKE Delivers Too, CZAR IGOR Picks Up The Easiest Shutout Win of His Career (And That’s a Compliment!), Are L.A. Fans Giving Kaliyev “The Kraken Kakko Treatment?” J.T. Miller Trade Update, Optimum Responds to Latest M$GN PR Stunt; War Wages On, Tkachuk Who & Missing Mika Ineffective, “The Middle Four” Stat & More
Following the Blueshirts’ sixty-minute hatchet job against the Ottawa Senators from Monday night, then come Tuesday, the team held a lightly attended optional practice.
A day later, Wednesday morning, and the Blueshirts held another optional A.M. skate – and where this time – most of the team was in-attendance – including Mika Zibanejad who usually skips these things.
Perhaps the dry-haired hippie was practicing breakaways!
(Not that anyone would have noticed after tonight’s game!)
But of course, with the team playing their best hockey of the season – then there was no reason to tinker around with what’s been successful – so you can see why the head coach was okay with giving his team some extra rest.
After all, it’s been a busy three-weeks, including a three-game road trip which was then followed with only one day off – and a back-to-back set immediately afterwards too.
Come the conclusion of the pregame morning skate and Laviolette didn’t have much to say outside of, “Shesterkin in net, same line-up.”
Here was Laviolette’s line-up for the forty-eighth game of this 2024-25 season:
FIRST LINE: Panarin/Trocheck/Lafreniere
SECOND LINE: Cuylle/Mika/Smith
THIRD LINE: Kreider/Chytil/Kaliyev
FOURTH LINE: Edstrom/Brodzinski/Rempe
FIRST PAIR: Lindgren/Fox
SECOND PAIR: Miller/Borgen
THIRD PAIR: Vaakanainen/Schneider
STARTING GOALIE: CZAR IGOR
BACK UP GOALIE: Jonathan Quick
HEALTHY SCRATCHES: Zac Jones, Jonny Brodzinski and Jimmy Vesey
BOX SCORE time.
The following graphics and information come from ESPN.com:
SCORING:
PENALTIES:
TEAM STATS:
GOALIES:
|
PHI
|
|
SA
|
GA
|
SV
|
SV%
|
ESSV
|
PPSV
|
SHSV
|
SOSA
|
SOS
|
TOI
|
PIM
|
| 36 | 5 | 31 | .861 | 28 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 58:35 | 0 |
|
NYR
|
|
SA
|
GA
|
SV
|
SV%
|
ESSV
|
PPSV
|
SHSV
|
SOSA
|
SOS
|
TOI
|
PIM
|
| 34 | 1 | 33 | .971 | 32 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 59:55 | 0 |
Since I was at the real j-o-b on Thursday night – then I didn’t have any time to watch the M$GN pregame show.
However, I wouldn’t have watched it had I been home anyway – as once again – and the always-annoying-and-aggravating Sieve Vagistat was left to his own chart-plugging devices – and where such made-up shit can never accurately depict the value of someone like a Matt Rempe either.
Come 7PM and since Gotham Sports only works on Fire Sticks (check out my last blog for more), then I was forced to find an illegal stream – or perhaps “unlicensed means” sounds better – and where I could only find the Flyers’ broadcast.
I gotta say – having an off-night from Sam Rosen and Joe Micheletti worked out – and where I’d even say that it was PHABULOUS not to hear from either one of them for one game!
That said – and this Flyers’ broadcast had to piss off Philly fans (and aside from the game itself!) – and just as much as I get pissed-off whenever Sam & Joe are fellating and singing the praises of the other team.
No joke?
These two, Boucher & Jackson, must’ve spent halph the game doubling up as the agent of REMPESTEIN.
(Are these ph/F “jokes” getting old yet? PH-U if you think so!)
And they weren’t wrong either – but even I, as a huge DAY ONE fan of #73, was saying, “Okay, I get it!”
I’ll bring up some of their remarks below, but the most scathing and accurate one?
When both of them called out Laviolette for not using Rempe during the majority of the first-half of the season – and where like yours truly – they too were baphphled (baffled – stick with me here!) about the head coach thrice sending down this unicorn.
Yeah, the Rangers are hot now – but don’t forget why you’re feeling good today.
And if you don’t get my point, then here it is phor (I can’t stop) you in black-and-white:
Pistol Pete pissed away a lot of points this season – and where had he kept Rempe as a regular – then perhaps the Rangers would be contending for either a first- or second-overall spot in the division today.
GAME REVIEW time – and where due to my busy real-life work schedule – I have to give you the abridged version (but this Rangers’ recount will still be longer and more detailed than anything else that you can find online – I guarantee it).
However, if you want the full play-by-play, then as always, it’s available over at my Tweeter/X account, which you can phind here: https://x.com/NYCTheMiC
FIRST PERIOD
Here’s Tippett’s ice breaker – but one that would be phorgotten about (assuming that you weren’t hellbent on CZAR IGOR posting his third consecutive SO) come the end of the game:
Owen Tippett picks up his 14th of the year! Frosty (14th) and Konecny (34th) with the assists. 1-0 baby!!!pic.twitter.com/rfWRzZ5KmG
— TLY (@TheLibertyYell) January 24, 2025
As noted up top – feel free to go after Chytil or Miller here – but I’m giving them a pass.
After all, both went on to play well and didn’t let this early mistake to wreck their nights.
But yeah – had the Rangers lost by one-goal tonight – then I’d be dissecting this goal allowed like a junior-high student with a fetal pig during science class.
I’d much rather focus on the Blueshirts’ pigging out on goals scored instead!
Phollowing the goal allowed and the Rangers did admittedly struggle against the Travis Konecny line – but as you already know – this Flyers’ line never scored again.
Ditto everyone else representing Philly.
Just 3:37 in, and with Carrick kicked out of the circle, Rempe lost a d-zone draw. This then led to our first of many pro-Rempe conversations on orange-and-black airwaves – and where it was even noted that #73 had scored his first goal against the Philadelphia phranchise.
The turning point of the game, even at this early stage, took place at just the 4:47 mark – as Lindgren was boxed for cross-checking Cates.
The elite Blueshirts’ PK, who ultimately phinished (I’m beating this joke to death) a successful 3 of 3 (only 1 SOG allowed too) – and with a shorty to boot – had their opponents help them out here – as at the 6:17 mark, Brink interfered with Kreider.
In other words, the Flyers, up by one, had a chance to go up by two via their power-play – but instead – ended their own man-advantage with a dumb penalty of their own.
It was Philadelphia who almost scored on this New York power-play – but one Gritty supporter took an extra glide, thus skating himself out of a scoring opportunity.
Following the miss and Chytil had a breakaway – but since he’s not a phourth liner like Sam Carrick, Matt Rempe and Adam Edstrom – then he couldn’t score on it.
Remember when the Blueshirts’ biggest problem was at the dots?
Those days feel so long ago – and where in the present – the team’s biggest weakness is whenever they have a breakaway – and if you don’t believe me – then you haven’t seen Mika Zibanejad attempt to play hockey this season.
Speaking of Zero Z., then during his latest gaffe of embarrassment and he whiffed on a wide-open one-timer – his specialty – which as a result – gave the Flyers a phree clear – and the kill too.
This miss was so bad that not only was Rosen’s toupee knocked off of his head – but the Flyers’ broadcasters were having a hearty chuckle about how bad Mika has been during the past two-years.
Hurry up Drury – make the trade!
Once returned to even-strength then it only took B-Schneids 43-seconds to do his Orr impersonation:
Schneider scores to tie the game 1-1 #NYR pic.twitter.com/qTieBvfnVo
— David 🏒 (@DaveyUpper) January 24, 2025
1-1.
Good things happen when you shoot the puck.
Up next – more praise for Rempe out of Philly – and a goal for his line too:
As the Flyers’ broadcasters are raving about Rempe & Edstrom – and with 9:36 to go – Lindgren rips a shot from the point and Edstrom gets a piece of it. 2-1, GOOD GUYS, off the deflection & Rempe screen goal. #NYR erase the deficit.
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) January 24, 2025
Edstrom makes it 2-1. Rangers 4th line is on fire. #NYR pic.twitter.com/CsUeHpWpVo
— David 🏒 (@DaveyUpper) January 24, 2025
2-1, GOOD GUYS – and your game-winner too – and as of course – as produced by the best fourth line in hockey today – and even if Laviolette hasn’t noticed this himself.
While CZAR IGOR did make ten saves in this period, then aside from the first SOG faced, then he was only truly tested once more afterwards.
Once phreezing a Flyers’ attack with 6:21 to go and this is when Jackson & Boucher really revved up the Rempe lovefest – and so much so that Boucher even remarked, “I don’t know what Laviolette was thinking when he took Rempe out of his line-up.”
“And he did so many times over too,” replied Jackson.
Here’s the moron screwing up another breakaway with 4:40 to go:
Everyone else just yell at Mika for not shooting ? #NYR pic.twitter.com/O9LvkknQcH
— David 🏒 (@DaveyUpper) January 24, 2025
One word:
DEPORT
Two words?
TRADE NOW!
Down to 2:45 remaining and another successful Rempe forecheck produced a SOG each for his two linemates.
But yeah, tell me how he’s just a goon – and if you believe such a thing, then you’re a hockey retard!
(I love that we can use the r-word again without people getting offended anymore! And credit to “South Park” for never wavering either!)
As we got under two-minutes remaining – and I thought that we had lost Chytil again:
Chytil runs into his own team more than any other player 😂 He’s ok. #NYR pic.twitter.com/DPfqxv4Cto
— David 🏒 (@DaveyUpper) January 24, 2025
No joke?
Following Chytil’s latest collision with a teammate – and I was waiting for the Rangers to tweet out, “Chytil ruled out for remainder of the game with an upper-body injury.”
However, Chytil didn’t miss a shift – but who knows what the next day will bring?
Phollowing another turnover from the loser in the #93 jersey with 25-seconds remaining and we soon reached the end of the period.
2-1, GOOD GUYS, through 20-minutes.
Here’s what I said at the time:
2-1, good guys, after 20. 1P Thoughts:
— #NYR settled down after the early goal allowed.
— Flyers lost their mojo after they took a penalty on their own PP.
— SOG, 15-11, home team.
— Fourth line looking great, Mika is still trash.
— Flyers’ broadcast is actually pretty…— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) January 24, 2025
SECOND PERIOD
The Flyers had some phire to open this stanza, as Brink backhanded a puck right into CZAR IGOR’s mask, which in turn, left the goalie’s mask on the ice as a d-man collided with the netminder when defending the shot.
The refs did the right thing here – as they let play continue – as it was the Rangers’ fault why CZAR IGOR’s head was left as naked as a jaybird.
But once the Blueshirts touched up – and a whistle was immediately blown.
Come the 2:25 mark, Chytil had Kreider wide-open, dead-to-rights, on a 2 x 1 odd-man rush – but waited one extra second to deliver the pass – which in turn, put the longest-tenured Ranger at an impossible angle – thus no SOG registered.
Right after that, and the Flyers hit the post for a <DING>- and one so loud that I imagine that even Rosen heard it.
The Blueshirts continued to march on after the meeting of rubber and iron – and as a result – the following with 15:16 remaining:
Miller makes it 3-1 #NYR pic.twitter.com/5Mj6Hugtug
— David 🏒 (@DaveyUpper) January 24, 2025
3-1, GOOD GUYS.
Three things to note about Miller’s third goal of the season:
1) With Schneider and Fox also scoring goals tonight, then Miller joined them in the “3-Goal Club.”
2) What a pass by Borgen – who ironically picked up his third assist of the season on this goal. PH Kakko – and screw his Phanboy cult too!
3) This was another goal that led credence to my “SCREENED ASSISTS SHOULD BE TRACKED” theory – and how screened assists are usually more important than secondary helpers – if not primary assists too.
In other words, while Panarin got the “cheap” secondary assist here – but this goal doesn’t happen without Trocheck screening Ersson.
A bonus fourth point? Then here you go:
4) With the Rangers scoring deflection, tip and screened goals – well that tells me that they are a good team again – as this is how every good team scores. (And they have to keep on doin’ it too!)
The Blueshirts had several scoring chances after Miller’s insurance goal, but Carrick was stopped with 13:01 to go, while Lafreniere & Trocheck had a 2 x 1 odd-man rush try broken up some ninety-seconds later.
Come the halfway mark of the game & period – and the Flyers had their best shift of the game – two-minutes spent in the Rangers’ zone – but nothing came out of it.
However, a phrustrated Panarin, who didn’t look so hot tonight, took a lazy hooking penalty, on Nick Seeler, with 7:25 to go.
But when you have one of the best PK’s in hockey – then I guess you can do such silly things.
The Blueshirts didn’t allow a SOG during these two-minutes – and once returned to even-strength – and Panarin sprung Mika for a breakaway.
But you know the deal – it’s the shell of the player that once scored five goals against Washington five-years ago – so in other words – Miserable Mika went wide on this glorious jack-in-the-box chance.
Barry Horowitz time (self pat on the back) – as this is what I said with a little over 4:00 remaining:
CZAR IGOR shuts down Couturier with ease with 4:18 to go – and where this game is what I said on the site two nights ago – the reason #31 doesn’t have as many SO’s as he should is because of one bad early play by the D – then he’s lights out afterwards. #NYR
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) January 24, 2025
To close this second stanza, Mika coughed up another puck in the o-zone (3:30 remaining), Panarin caught Mika-itis too (failure on a breakaway with 2:06 to go), and Cam York, with CZAR IGOR beat, missed the exposed top shelf (54.9-seconds left on the clock).
As we got to the end of the period, there was a scary play where Miller got away with an elbow on Anthony Richard, which as a result, knocked down the Flyer.
As Richard was going down to the ice – his phace had a violent meeting with the back of Miller’s boot.
Somehow – and luckily at that – and Richard missed Miller’s skate blade.
While he was down for a bit – his face had only hit the boot – and not the blade.
Richard never missed a shift – as he was only temporarily shaken up after this brush with death.
HOCKEY PLAYERS – but yeah – a major catastrophe averted too.
3-1, GOOD GUYS, through 40-minutes.
Here’s what I said at the time:
3-1, GOOD GUYS, after 40. 2P Thoughts:
— This is like #NYR of last year – a brainfart on defense leads to an early goal allowed, then CZAR IGOR puts them away for the next 57+.
— SOG, 27-24, Philly, but where Igor has had to make maybe two tough saves.
— Rangers with better…— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) January 24, 2025
THIRD PERIOD
Following the Flyers’ broadcast team paying their respects to Sam “OH JOE, I LOST MY SPOT JOE, WHERE AM I JOE?” Rosen – and the orange-and-black attack continued to lack.
After CZAR IGOR made an easy glove save on York with 2:29 remaining, then, and on the next Flyers’ possession – there was Rempe just owning NHL tough guy Garnet Hathaway – and as he did after the Rangers’ goalie had frozen the puck – and with Philly trying to get cute too.
While this wasn’t a phight – Rempe just took down Hathaway – and then smothered him as if he was Roy Nelson (and if you don’t get thi reference, then google “Roy Nelson + UFC + win.”) – but this was another example of “The Rempe Ephphect!”
Following Rempe’s most recent neutralization – then Jackson & Boucher were right back to praising the big man – while also essentially, but not verbatim, calling Laviolette “a jackass of the tallest order.”
In another example of the Flyers’ callers acting like Sam & Joe – and I’m not making this up either – then Boucher & Jackson then spent two-minutes waxing poetically about Ryan Strome’s time with the Rangers.
If I had cheesesteak drool all over my mouth – then I’d be spitting it all over the place after hearing this.
Want more?
After our Ode to Ryan Strome, then both Jackson & Boucher pondered about how great it would be if J.T. Miller returned to the Big Apple.
Flyer fans had to be irate.
Come the 5:15 mark – another deflection goal – and Chytil’s 11th of the season:
Chytil scores!! Rangers lead 4-1 #NYR pic.twitter.com/8HghIEFffF
— David 🏒 (@DaveyUpper) January 24, 2025
4-1, GOOD GUYS.
Two-minutes later and Schneider and Rempe tried the same thing – a dephlection!
While it didn’t work, just the phact that they came close tells you how in sync this team is becoming.
Let’s get to the end.
After Panarin’s dumb penalty, Fox sealed the deal:
Foxy makes it 5-1 #NYR with the empty net goal. pic.twitter.com/ewcL95JFoe
— David 🏒 (@DaveyUpper) January 24, 2025
5-1, GOOD GUYS.
Not to be outdone, and Cates took a dumb penalty on his own, which then led to…
Smith makes it 6-1. It’s a Power Play Goal. #NYR pic.twitter.com/uRLkCnFuDi
— David 🏒 (@DaveyUpper) January 24, 2025
6-1, GOOD GUYS, a Smith PPG, his tenth score of the season too – and where 6-1, GOOD GUYS, remained as your score come the final horn.
As we near the go-home point of this blog, then I must admit – I was expecting the Blueshirts to lose – as after all – that’s how I always feel – but where it also would’ve been so on brand for them to drop this game with a playoff berth so close that you could taste it.
Suffice, and perhaps needless as well, to say – and these aren’t your late November/all of December Rangers anymore.
Finally.
Here are the jubliant postgame inteviews:
Up Next For The Rangers: Hopefully two days of optional practices – as it’s been working!
I’m not sure what the practice schedule will look like, but if I had to guess, a day off on Friday followed by a mandatory practice on Saturday.
After that, a matinee on Sunday at M$G against Colorado – and right before the NFL kicks off their two Conference Final games too.
The Blueshirts will look to even the season-series against the Avalanche after their brutal 3-2 overtime loss sustained no less than two weeks ago. (Full recap here: https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/11425/ )
It will also be the Rangers who will enter this game with a schedule advantage, as while they are off on Friday & Saturday, the Avs will play the Bruins on Saturday at 1PM – or 24-hours before puck drop on Sunday at M$G.
Up Next For Me: Yaaaaaaawwwwwwn – I’ve been up for 20-hours – and I need my bed – and I need bed now. Call JG Wentworth – I need my bed right now!
Up Next For You: Your favorite segment, which brings us to…
PLUGS TIME! (Buy a book and support my Rangers’ induced therapy bills. After all, I don’t run ads on this site!)
My fourth title and tenth book is now available!
“The Top 100 Villains of New York Rangers History,” is now available for sale!
For complete information, please visit: https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/rangerkillers/
My second plug of tonight’s blog – the mandatory plug for my book, “The New York Rangers Rink of Honor and the Rafters of Madison Square Garden.”
As mentioned previously, the book is now available in hardcover, in paperback and in Kindle formats. To purchase a copy of the book, visit this link:
https://www.amazon.com/Rangers-Rafters-Madison-Square-Garden-ebook/dp/B09CM5N2WD
For those still looking for signed paperback versions of the book, I have re-ordered more copies. I now have a few signed copies for sale at $25 a pop (includes shipping price) through me directly. Here is all the information on that:
Order “The New York Rangers Rink of Honor and the Rafters of Madison Square Garden” Book Today
My four-volume set of books, “One Game at a Time – A Season to Remember,” is a game-by-game recount of the Rangers 2021-22 campaign.
My second title as an author, “One Game at a Time – A Season to Remember,” is now available in eBook, paperback and hardcover formats.
To obtain signed copies, visit: https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/onegamebook/
To purchase all four volumes on Amazon, visit: Amazon.com – “One Game at a Time.”
The greatest volume-set of books on Rangers’ history today!
“Tricks of the Trade – A Century-Long Journey Through Every Trade Made In New York Rangers’ History,” a four-volume set of books that meticulously covers every trade made in franchise history, is now on sale.
All four volumes of the title can be purchased on Amazon.com and are presented in three different formats – eBook, paperback and hardcover.
To purchase Volume I: Conn Smythe (1926) – Craig Patrick (1986), visit Amazon.com
To purchase Volume II: Phil Esposito (1986) – Neil Smith (2000), visit Amazon.com
To purchase Volume III: Glen Sather (2000-2015), visit Amazon.com
To purchase Volume IV: Jeff Gorton (2015) – Chris Drury (2022), visit Amazon.com
To purchase signed copies of all four volumes, visit https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/tricksofthetrade/
If you haven’t already, subscribe to this blog for the next update:
Don’t forget to order my four-volume set of books, “Tricks of the Trade!”
If you don’t order through me, all four volumes are now available on Amazon.com
For more details, check out: https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/tricksofthetrade/
Thanks for reading.
LET’S GO RANGERS!
Sean McCaffrey
BULLSMC@aol.com
@NYCTHEMIC on the Tweeter machine
