NYR/WSH 12/9 Review: BULLIED! Another Candidate For “Worst Loss of the Season;” Blueshirts (Sans Lafreniere & Vesey) Show No Effort in Lavy’s “Revenge Game,” Excuses vs Explanations; Gustafsson vs Kakko, Struggling Shestyorkin, Rangers Shutout For the First Time; When They Lose Then They Lose Bad, Negative Trends, Infuriating M$GN & Birdbrain Mollie Add to the Frustration & More

Greetings and salutations everyone and welcome to another blog here on BlueCollarBlueShirts.com. Garbage!

Praise the hockey gods that my close-and-dear friend, my neighbor and my road-trip buddy, “TEN O’CLOCK TOMMY,” had to work tonight.

So there’s that.

Prior to “TEN O’CLOCK TOMMY” receiving word earlier this week that he would be needed at his place of employment this weekend, it was our intention to board an Amtrak train bound to D.C. on Friday night – and then take in the Rangers vs Capitals game on Saturday night.

Man oh man, am I ever so glad that these plans were foiled by “the man!”

(And my sympathies also go out to blog reader and friend, Kana “Andy Pettitte” N. – a loyal fan who attended this tragedy.)

Had my original plans come to fruition, then Tommy and yours truly would’ve sat through another brutal road loss – and just as we did earlier this season in Columbus.

(Once again, my sympathies go out to Kana N.)

So once again, there’s that – and sadly – that’s the only positive takeaway I have from tonight’s 4-0 loss in our nation’s capital – and a personal one in nature.

But before recapping all of Saturday’s scorched earth in Rangerstown, USA for you tonight; at this moment, I do want to share with you my season-long daily disclaimer that’s posted every day on this site – and especially since it’s this mantra that may help you in recovering from this brutal Capitals’ shellacking of the Blueshirts:

“WHATEVER THE RANGERS DO IN THE REGULAR SEASON DOESN’T MATTER. THEY CAN ONLY BE JUDGED BY WHATEVER THEY DO IN THE 2024 STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS!”

Furthermore, and in case you missed it, on Friday night, I covered all of the news from the past three off-days, while providing a special segment entitled “33 Notions” too, and you can find that blog here: https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/12823/

With that now all out of the way, at this time, let’s get into Saturday night’s horror show.

During Saturday night’s match, and now after it, I had 98678767676896 different thoughts racing around my mind. Here are just a few of them that are still rattling around my Blueshirts’ brain – and thoughts that I want to purge from my system before getting into everything else:

— Can anyone on this Rangers’ team, and I mean ANYONE, fight back against the Capitals? We all know what Tom Wilson did some thirty months ago – and despite that embarrassment – it’s like nothing was learnt from it.

— When Jimmy Vesey is the only player willing to throw down, while that’s good for #26 – that’s not good for the Rangers – and as we saw when Nicolas Aube-Kubel quickly took down Vesey in the lone “fight” of the game.

— The Rangers had three-days off and were up against a reeling Capitals’ team – and a D.C. team that had just lost to the lowly and nomadic Arizona Coyotes by a 6-0 final. This is how the Blueshirts respond?

— I talked all about the “LAVIOLETTE REVENGE FACTOR” last night – and for a team that continually praises this head coach to kingdom come – this is how they reward him? By displaying no effort whatsoever?

— I’m also sure that Lavy is thinking about another one of my cliches right now on the team’s trip back to the Big Apple – “actions speak louder than words.”

— Speaking of the bench boss, what happened to all of “the structure,” “the systems” and the “1-3-1” style of play?

— Once again, and despite limiting odd-man rushes allowed being the biggest focal point of the past three-days at practice – the Capitals had an abundance of never-ending odd-man rushes tonight.

— If you’re an optimist, then you’ll excuse this loss by saying that the Rangers had $10M in cap-space away from the ice (Filip Chytil, Kaapo Kakko and Barclay Goodrow), while also adding that Lavy had two AHLers (Jonny Brodzinski and Riley Nash) in his line-up too. But that’s what that is – an EXCUSE – and simply put – the lack of effort tonight was INEXCUSABLE.

(Don’t forget – the Capitals also have their own injuries too – and including potential Hall of Famer, Nicklas Backstrom.)

— Will Sam Rosen and Joe Micheletti ever stop furiously rubbing themselves whenever praising the other team? Seriously – what Ranger fan wants to hear them go on-and-on about the Capitals when our beloved Blueshirts are getting molly-whopped?

— Speaking of “Molly,” or should I say “Mollie” – this birdbrain twit added to her collection of stupidity tonight – and as I’ll show you below.

— As a DAY ONE CZAR IGOR fan, and I shouldn’t have to give you my resume anymore – I’ve never seen him look so “human” before.

While he wasn’t the reason for tonight’s loss (you can’t win if you can’t score), but with that said, and as someone who has been watching him ever since 2017 when he was in the KHL (SKA) – I’ve never seen him give up as many big-and-bad rebounds, nor frequently find himself out of position either, and as much as he is doing today.

— Once again, this was another game, win-or-lose, where if the Rangers’ top line of Panarin/Trocheck/Lafreniere can’t score, then the alleged “first line” of this team, featuring the BFF connection of Zibanejad and Kreider, aren’t able to do any of the heavy lifting.

It can’t just be the Panarin line starring in every game – they need help too – especially now with Blueshirt opponents dedicating all of their efforts against this line.

— Perhaps an unpopular take, but bear with me: This recent Rangers’ slide, their first dip in play of the season, all started back when Erik Gustafsson was returned to the third-pair once Adam Fox was able to leave LTIR.

While I’m not suggesting that Fox should drop down in the line-up, I am suggesting that perhaps “THE GUS BUS” should be paired with Jacob Trouba on the second-pair.

— Seriously speaking, and this isn’t a knock on him whatsoever: Has Gustafsson been noticeable ever since Fox’s return?

At the very least, #56 hasn’t been as noticeable ever since #23’s return.

— Conversely, and I believe that Jim S. of “The Blueshirt Underground Show” first said this on Wednesday night (and this opinion was then echoed to me from several others) – the Rangers’ recent losing ways also began when Kaapo Kakko went down with his leg injury in the game against the Sabres.

— I only bring up Kakko to mention it – and in an effort to be fair too – because really – I don’t buy this theory/take.

After all, while okay defensively, I don’t think that the Rangers miss Kakko’s three-points in twenty games, nor his 9:00 TOI average either.

For me, and as stated, I think it all begins with Gustafsson – and especially when you throw the two s-words around, “systems” and “structure.”

I don’t mean to sound like Michael Stipe right now – “it’s the end of the world as we know it” – because deep down, and like the final lyric from that famous REM song – I do “feel fine!”

But even with the Rangers’ first-place record – I do think that there is a cause for concern – especially as the other teams in the division are now finding their grooves (the Islanders, Devils, Capitals and Flyers) – and while the Blueshirts are also now experiencing their first rough-patch of the season.

I think what makes the “GLOOM AND DOOMERS” go absolutely bat-shit bonkers is the fact is that when the Rangers lose – then they lose BAD.

Like Rod Serling from the “Twilight Zone,” “for your consideration” (or “submitted for your approval” – although who would approve any of this?) – a quick look at the Rangers’ regulation losses this season:

— A 5-3 loss to the last-place Columbus Blue Jackets.

— A 4-1 loss to a horrible Nashville Predators team.

— A 6-3 loss to a top team, a rare litmus test for the Blueshirts thus far, the Dallas Stars.

— A 5-1 embarrassing shellacking to a last-place Buffalo Sabres squad.

— A 6-2 smashing perpetrated by the last-place Ottawa Senators.

— And now, after tonight, a 4-0 loss to the Capitals.

As you can see, when the Rangers lose – then they don’t lose close games.

Instead, the Blueshirts get blown out – and an alarming tend if I say so myself!

And unlike the previous losses that this team has endured this season – the Rangers can’t blame the schedule on this one – which is why tonight’s loss to the Capitals was INDEED the WORST LOSS OF THE SEASON!

At this time, and since I’m all over the place (anger does that), let’s get into all of the pregame news and notes (not much since I covered all of it last night), and then into this sordid GAME REVIEW.

Prior to tonight’s game, Laviolette quickly addressed the media and only said the following:

— CZAR IGOR would start.

— Barclay Goodrow didn’t make the trip.

— Riley Nash would be replacing Goodrow on the fourth line.

And that was that.

Here was Laviolette’s line-up for the twenty-fifth game of this 2023-24 season:

FIRST LINE: Panarin/Trocheck/Lafreniere

SECOND LINE: Kreider/Zibanejad/Brodzinski

THIRD LINE: Cuylle/Bonino/Wheeler

FOURTH LINE: Vesey/Nash/Pitlick

FIRST PAIR: Lindgren/Fox

SECOND PAIR: Miller/Trouba

THIRD PAIR: Gustafsson/Schneider

STARTER: CZAR IGOR

BACK-UP: Quick

HEALTHY SCRATCH: Jones

NOT WITH THE TEAM: Goodrow

LONG TERM INJURED RESERVE: Chytil and Kakko

BOX SCORE time.

The following graphics and information come from ESPN.com:

SCORING:

PENALTIES:

TEAM STATS:

GOALIES:

In a way, you knew that the Rangers were going to be doomed tonight when it was reported that Charlie Lindgren was announced as the starter for Washington – or at least you knew that this broadcast would be doomed anyway.

Once Lindgren was announced as the starter, I immediately heard all of the “ROSEN-isms” in my head, such as:

— “OH JOE, CHARLIE USED TO STEAL MONOPOLY MONEY FROM RYAN JOE! RYAN COULD NEVER BUY PARK PLACE JOE!”

— “OH JOE, THEY HAD DINNER LAST NIGHT TOGETHER JOE! THEN CHARLIE MADE RYAN POP-TARTS FOR BREAKFAST JOE!”

— “OH JOE, CHARLIE AND RYAN, RELATIONS JOE!”

— “OH JOE, IT’S LIKE CAIN AND ABEL OUT THERE JOE!”

And I think you get my point.

In other news, and also equally as concerning to Brother Ryan – T.J. Oshie, recently on Washington’s LTIR, was reported as returning to the Caps for this game.

If anyone was owed a “receipt” in this game (and we can leave Tom Wilson out of this), then it was Oshie.

(If you recall, then you remember how Oshie cowardly boarded/crosschecked Lindgren last season, which then pretty much ended #55’s 2022-23 regular season run.)

But of course, the Rangers don’t have that killer instinct in them during situations like these, so in turn, Oshie skated around with no issues tonight – and for good measure – also helped the Caps score their game-winning goal too – and at just the 43-second mark of the game. UGH!

At 6:30PM, I tuned into the M$GN broadcast, and once it was revealed that Henrik Lundqvist wasn’t there (he doesn’t do Saturday night games – and I don’t blame him) – but Sieve Vagistat was – I then returned my clicker (still in the NERF football) to the NHL Network.

As I was scrolling around Twitter/X from 6:30PM-7:00PM, I saw that Alex “METH” Monaco was going to be on the Rangers’ pregame show.

Here was my response:

Horrible content to be pushing to kids watching this broadcast, only a matter of time before the FCC nixes this stuff like cigarettes. #nyr https://t.co/TPkYInG2RM

— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) December 9, 2023

As repeatedly mentioned in this space – these M$GN broadcasts have never been worse – and I think it’s absolutely disgusting that half of these pregame shows are dedicated to pushing gambling onto children and teenagers.

I get that this is just the way of the world right now – but it would be nice if one entity would just SAY NO to the 9857675675685786565 gambling commercials, ads and paid spots on their broadcasts.

Maybe it’s just me.

PROMO CODE: GRUMPY ASSHOLE

Come 7PM, I returned to the M$GN, where right away – Sam and Joe were talking about the Lindgren brothers:

“OH JOE, THE LINDGREN BROTHERS JOE! I AM AS HARD AS A FROZEN ROCK JOE! BONER JOE! WHO NEEDS BLUECHEW JOE WHEN YOU HAVE THE LINDGREN BROTHERS JOE!”

Okay, Rosen didn’t really say that, but that’s what it felt like.

To close up on their limited pregame show time, Sam and Joe then told us how Alex Ovechkin sucked this season, how the Washington power-play sucked, how they were concerned about Ovi and the Capitals not scoring and how every member of the Capitals should apologize to their families for sucking so much.

In turn, and you already knew at the time that this was the SAMMY WHAMMY – the Capitals then played their best game of the season.

Most shocking?

Despite the REVERSE CURSES, BLACK MAGIC AND ROSEN VOODOO – Ovechkin didn’t score tonight – and not even on the power-play.

And when this is one of the rare positives from tonight’s tilt, then that’s all you need to know.

<DEEP BREATH>

GAME REVIEW time.

FIRST PERIOD

You could’ve turned off this game within the first minute.

Following Zibanejad’s first faceoff loss of the game (he finished 2-9 – 18.2% – his lowest faceoff percentage of the season) – and like clockwork – Sam Rosen then started waxing poetically about the Massapequa, NY born native, Sonny Milano.

Rosen also mentioned that this was Oshie’s first game back too.

A nanosecond later?

Martin Fehervary found Sonny Milano all alone down low, on a mini 2 x 1 play, for the no-doubt-about-it slam-dunk goal.

1-0, bad guys, your game winning goal, and as scored at just the 43-second mark.

This was B-R-U-T-A-L, as K’Andre Miller got caught puck watching, where as a result – CZAR IGOR never had a chance.

And Mika “I only show up when the Flyers are on the docket” Zibanejad didn’t look so hot on this either.

I think reader/friend of the site, Mike Silvers said it first:

“It’s not a good look when your first line gets caved in on their first shift of the game.”

And did I mention yet that the Rangers were extremely well-rested prior to puck drop?

UGH!

At the 1:20 mark, C. Lindgren stopped R. Lindgren for the first time, as brother Charles stopped his younger sibling on three separate occasions throughout the course of this game. More on this below.

As I was hoping that Miller would shoot a puck at Sam and Joe’s teeth, it was woefully apparent, and just like in Nashville and in Ottawa, that the crowd in D.C. was as dead-and-silent as Congress listening to one of AOC’s speeches.

As Sam and Joe then continued to talk about everything Washington Capitals, and as if they were 1010 (AM radio) news (“You give us ten minutes, we’ll give you the Caps!”); Micheletti then brought up how all of the trainers in Washington loved Laviolette – but not one word was uttered in regards to what Evgeny Kuznetsov had said about his former bench boss.

Down to 15:05 remaining, CZAR IGOR prevented a quick Caps’ strike, where in a response, the two announcers then ranted-and-raved about the fourth line – the Washington fourth-line that is.

Following a Lindgren save on Schneider, Not Rick Nash won an o-zone draw, Fox got the puck to Pitlick and then Lindgren came up with another one of his 31-saves on the night.

After that, and as Sam and Joe read us the Capitals’ injury report, Miller politely shoved Oshie (and then presumably said “I’m sorry” afterwards) with 13:30 remaining. Man, oh man, was I hoping for a TROO TROO Train stop tonight, but alas, it never came to be.

A minute after that, Schneider blocked an Ovi shot, Ovi then forced Schneider into a turnover and then, and with CZAR IGOR way out of position at the time too – THE GUS BUS prevented a goal.

Despite Protas hitting our Lindgren in the head with 11:30 left to play – not one Ranger responded – despite #55 having noticeable swelling under his right eye.

For the love of the hockey gods, I must ask again – CAN ANY RANGER STEP UP AND MATCH THE CAPS’ PHYSICALITY?

The only thing that was a physical nuisance tonight was your ears after listening to this M$GN broadcast.

After Sam wished us a “Merry Hanukkah,” the Caps’ Lindgren stopped Lafreniere.

No joke, there were about four different times where #13 could have scored – and in just this first period alone – but between both the goaltender and missed connections – the red lamp behind good old Charlie remained off.

Two more of these scoring chances took place with 8:30 remaining, as Lindgren made a save on Lafreniere following a Rangers’ o-zone faceoff win (Trocheck) and when Schneider, following a nice little deke in the Caps’ zone, then saw Lafreniere shoot wide from the doorstep.

Ugh.

Up next, and now under six-minutes remaining, a Trouba-to-Mika deflection missed, followed by a Mika-to-Kreider deflection missing too. Sam’s response, you ask? The following:

“OH JOE, JONATHAN QUICK WILL START TOMORROW AGAINST THE KINGS JOE. DO YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED IN 2014 JOE? NO? WELL I’LL LET YOU KNOW AGAIN FOR THE 967567576565TH TIME THIS SEASON JOE!”

He may have not said those words verbatim, but that’s what it came off like.

As Sam and Joe got on their hands-and-knees and begged for an Ovechkin goal, while also making mention that they’d like to massage Backstrom’s hips (presumably with their salivating tongues); with 3:20 remaining, Lafreniere failed on his fourth chance, this time after being set-up by Panarin.

We can say “it’s just one of those nights,” but this is also becoming a trend.

Now under two-minutes left in this first frame, the two Russian superstars were stopped, as Panarin was blanked by Lindgren while CZAR IGOR stoned Ovechkin.

Come forty-seconds left to be ticked, CZAR IGOR prevented Nicolas Aube-Kubel (NAK) from scoring a backbreaker. However, and with just 19-seconds remaining, Brodzinski hooked/held Wilson.

CZAR IGOR made one last save on Ovechkin to close the period.

1-0, bad guys, through twenty.

Here’s what I said at the time:

1-0, bad guys, after 20. 1P Thoughts:
— If I didn’t already shave my head, then I’d be pulling out every hair after listening to Sam and Joe. NAUSEATING.
— Lafreniere could’ve had four goals this period, he’s playing well, just need the scoring to be consistent.
— Vincent…

— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) December 10, 2023

SECOND PERIOD

An utter disaster.

It should be noted that around this time, Patrick Kane scored his first goal for the Red Wings.

In other words, Kane now has as many goals as Chytil has this season – and is only one shy of Kakko too.

Just sayin’!

This was all brought up during the M$GN 150 segment – well at least Kane scoring his first of the season was!

With the Rangers on the penalty kill, CZAR IGOR came up with a robbery save right away and where the Blueshirt backers in-attendance quickly replied with “IGOR! IGOR! IGOR!” chants.

And this would be the last time when we heard these chants.

As Sam and Joe said that they’d sacrifice all of their children, and grandkids too, should the hockey gods allow Ovi to score on this Caps’ power-play – such a sacrifice never occurred.

The Rangers’ PK did their job – or so we thought – as just one-second once returned to full-strength – Anthony Mantha scored with 18:17 remaining in the period.

2-0, bad guys – and while this wasn’t a power-play goal – the Mush of Rosen lived on.

With 16:26 remaining, more Lindgren-on-Lindgren violence, as the older brother stopped the younger brother.

Birdbrain Mollie Walker’s response, an unqualified scribe who makes the New York Post look like the National Enquirer with her shoddy reporting? The following:

I really don’t know how this dingbat thought it was “cool” when the Rangers were being blanked and smacked around all over the ice.

I am also 100% sure that she never heard of the Esposito brothers, Phil and Tony, either.

And I can one-million percent guarantee that this gash never heard of Tiny and Paul Thompson too.

Another new low for this horrible Rangers’ beat.

Down to 16:16 remaining and Bonino’s wrap-around try was swatted away – and as if C. Lindgren was Dikembe Mutombo.

Right after that, THE GUS BUS broke up a Caps’ 3 x 2 odd-man rush – another odd-man rush allowed of many.

As Sam and Joe continued to relentlessly promote Kuznetsov to us, one thing, aside from not repeating what Kuznetsov had said about Laviolette, that was also not mentioned?

HOW CHARLIE LINDGREN HAD A SHUTOUT GOING!

After all, and as you all are aware of – even if it hasn’t happened yet this season – whenever CZAR IGOR has a shutout going – then these two men with red noses will say the word “SHUTOUT” no less than 96679567565865 billion times.

Another “cool” moment for birdbrain Mollie took place with 15:25 remaining, as Tom Wilson, along with Ovechkin by his side, on a 2 x 1 odd-man rush, pumped a puck top-shelf past CZAR IGOR.

3-0, bad guys – and where you had to wonder if tonight was “Terry Schiavo” night for these lifeless Rangers.

Seriously, where was the fight? Where was the pride? Where was the effort?

And these are three questions that I’m sure that Laviolette was asking himself too.

As the Rangers continued to skate to their demise, a Mika-to-Kreider try was whiffed upon.

When it rains it pours.

FOLLOWING ANOTHER ODD-MAN RUSH ALLOWED, this time of the 4 x 2 variety, the Rangers received a rare break here, as it was now Ovechkin’s turn to whiff at the puck.

Two minutes later?

Now down to 8:36 remaining, Jensen fanned during ANOTHER ODD-MAN RUSH ALLOWED.

Yuck.

No less than thirty-seconds later?

Following Sam and Joe producing ejaculation when raving about the Caps’ fourth line; NAK, from about twenty-five feet out, wristed a puck past CZAR IGOR.

4-0, bad guys.

This was bad – and no excuse can be made for this goal allowed either.

At this point – you do have to wonder about CZAR IGOR’s confidence these days – but more on that at the end of this GAME REVIEW.

Tonight’s #NYR #CadillacTrivia question was, “who were the two Rangers who scored hat tricks during the same road game?”

The answer?

Phil Esposito and Ron Duguay.

Man, oh man, do I miss Duguay on the M$GN more than ever these days.

And really – I’m surprised that his name was even mentioned – as the M$GN have tried to scrub his memory.

I’m also surprised that due to the P.C. nature of this network, that Duguay’s surname wasn’t changed to DuLGBTQ+?!

(Joke credit: CF_DotNet on Elon Musk’s app.)

Ugh.

With 4:33 remaining, Panarin was held by Rasmus Sandin, thus giving the Rangers their only man-advantage of the game.

To fast-forward, as there’s really no point in going on any further, Mika hit the crossbar with 3:37 remaining, and on the ricochet off the iron – the Caps had another odd-man rush – a short-handed scoring attempt that was only denied when a D.C. player was caught offside.

End result? The Rangers’ power-play finished 0-1.

Once returned to full-strength, it was Panarin’s turn to hit the post, as just nothing went right.

4-0, bad guys, through forty.

Here’s what I said at the time:

4-0, bad guys, after 40. 2P Thoughts:
— So glad that my friend had to work today where in turn, we canceled our Amtrak trip to D.C.
— What a disaster, but every team has rough patches in a season.
— Nothing is going right.
— Kane scored tonight, did you hear?
— At…

— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) December 10, 2023

THIRD PERIOD

Why prolong the pain any more?

After all, and as I try to find another positive – at least the Rangers play on Sunday night – and as they will try to rapidly erase this loss from their memories.

But I will say, and after watching the Kings blow a 2-0 lead to the Isles on Saturday night – then I’d expect a pissed-off silver-and-black attack to take out their anger on these despondent Blueshirts.

Let’s just hit the stuff that you need to know, but if you want the complete play-by-play, then visit my Tweeter account over at https://twitter.com/NYCTheMiC

The quick-and-dirty:

— Down by four goals, and with 17:15 remaining, Lafreniere forced a pass rather than taking a shot from two-feet out.

— After taking a dirty hit from NAK; with 16:38 to go, Vesey challenged the Cap to a fight. While both players received five-minute majors, this was more of a Greco-Roman wrestling match than anything else – and a match won by the Capital.

— Following the “fight,” Vesey went to the locker room, as he was bleeding just above his left-eye (Lopez). However, I’m not 100% sure if the leakage was the result of the fight or from the dirty hit.

— The Caps received a power-play here, a correct call from the officials, as Vesey had instigated.

— During this Rangers’ PK, Oshie came up hobbled – but M$GN cameras never caught what happened – but it wasn’t because of a big-time Blueshirt hit. In any event, the pain that Oshie was feeling couldn’t have happened to a nicer person.

— As we got under ten-minutes remaining, I was still surprised about how quiet it was in the arena – especially considering the fact that the entire lower-bowl was a sea of Washington red jerseys. That told me that “real” fans were there, but yet, you thought that these people were attending a funeral for a small child and his puppy dog.

— Down to 8:16 remaining, Trocheck was nabbed for high-sticking Jensen. Give kudos to Lafreniere here, because following the infraction, Wilson wanted to scrap. Lafreniere obliged, but the refs broke it up.

— Also at this time? The Rangers didn’t have one SOG this period – but Kreider would register the first, with 7:50 remaining, following a flubbed two-vs-one odd-man short-handed rush.

— The rest of this game was Sam and Joe begging-and-pleading for Ovechkin to score. This tells me how cold “THE GREAT EIGHT” has been this season – as he couldn’t make this wish come true on behalf of these two bozos.

4-0, bad guys, your final.

To quote my friend, a reader, and the co-host of “The Blueshirt Underground Show,” Eddie Gieck?

“THIS WAS B-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-D!”

I just can’t get over how the Rangers did nothing for Laviolette.

And while the same happened to Gallant in the past when the Rangers first played Vegas under his watch – I now wonder – if the Rangers had played Boston University when David Quinn was here, then would they be made to look the fool in that hypothetical contest too?

Here’s a close-to-the-vest Laviolette after the loss – as he saved his scorn for this team for the ride home, rather than in public:

For Laviolette, who usually orates for days-on-end, to only speak for 53-seconds after this shit show?

That speaks volumes.

As I was watching the end of the Islanders/Kings game on my other television, and since my remote control was still laying on the floor after I threw it at my big TV – I forgot to turn off this broadcast.

The horror.

During the post-game show, that seven-foot feckless smug scumbag, Sieve Vagistat, actually had the audacity to criticize Laviolette – and then make excuses for CZAR IGOR too.

I’m not going to re-watch this for my own sanity, but here’s what Vagistat basically said:

“JOHNNY, SHESTERKIN HAS TO FEEL HORRIBLE RIGHT NOW AND HAS TO WONDER ABOUT HIS HEAD COACH. THE LA KINGS ARE HOT RIGHT NOW, BUT IGOR STARTED AGAINST THIS CAPITALS TEAM INSTEAD. YOU HAVE TO WONDER IF THE HEAD COACH IS PLAYING MIND GAMES WITH HIS GOALIE. DID I EVER TELL YOU ABOUT MY BLOODY GROIN BEFORE JOHNNY?”

After hearing this – this is when I got my fat ass off from my couch and changed the channel.

As said last night on this site – CZAR IGOR JUST HAD THREE DAYS OFF – AND SHOULD HAVE PLAYED AGAINST A RIVAL – AND A TEAM FROM THIS METROSEXUAL DIVISION TOO!

Furthermore, and you can’t do the 20/20 hindsight shit here either – GOING INTO THIS WEEKEND, WOULDN’T YOU WANT CZAR IGOR TO PLAY IN THIS FOUR-POINT GAME AGAINST A DIVISIONAL RIVAL – AND THEN HAVE QUICK PLAY AGAINST HIS FORMER TEAM IN A REVENGE GAME?

Is it me?

I can’t be the only one to see it this way – or so I hope.

But at least I know that this loss wasn’t “cool” – and despite what Mollie The Twit says!

It’s funny, going into this GAME REVIEW, I was prepared to be cool, calm and collected.

So much for that – but even so – I do realize that this is one game out of eighty-two.

In other words, for the readers who have accused me of being “too nice” this season – and for religiously sticking to my daily disclaimer too – I hope that you got what you wanted out of me tonight. (Hello Tom B. amongst all!)

Me?

I hope that I get what I want on Sunday night – Quick’s third shutout of the season.

See ya tomorrow night, following Rangers vs Kings.

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 for preorder!

“The Top 100 Villains of New York Rangers History,” is now available for preorder.

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/

Here are my last few blogs, in case you missed them:

The Rangers & Peter Laviolette Prepare for a Revenge Game in Washington; Follow-Up Questions That The Beat Reporters Refuse to Ask, Injury Updates, Projected Line-Ups and “33 NOTIONS” – A (Friedman Inspired) Complete Team-By-Team Look Around the League!

NYR/OTT 12/5 Review: Don’t Fret – Despite the FIRST-PLACE Rangers Losing Their Worst Game Yet, M$GN Broadcast A Complete Horror; Senator Sammy, Muzzle Micheletti and Sieve “I DID THIS HANK” Vagistat Worse Than the Loss; Rangers’ PP Issues, Lavy, Panarin Continues to Burn Toast; Mika The Ghost, Tarasenk-Show Reaudition, CZAR IGOR Flailing-and-Floundering & More

NYR/SJS 12/3 Review: The Bakery Is Open On Sundays! Breadman Bakes Hat Trick in the Rangers’ Latest “Find-A-Way” Victory; JONNY HOCKEY Maximizing His Minutes Too, MILLER TIME = GWG, Time for a “Breakaway” Coach, Cuylle Hand Luke, Conspiracy Theories, Fourth Line Beasts, M$GN, Kakko Who & More

If you haven’t already, subscribe to this blog for the next update:

Don’t forget to order my recently released 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