Greetings and salutations everyone and welcome to another blog here on BlueCollarBlueShirts.com. Throw a parade – the Rangers won a game!
I hate to sound so sarcastic, negative and down following a rare Blueshirts’ victory – but since I don’t have dementia, nor amnesia either, then it’s really tough for yours truly to get excited about a 6-2 win in Chicago – and especially since such a victory reminded me a lot of what I said at the start of the campaign (when the team opened 12-4-1) – PAPER TIGERS.
For a team that’s suffered through several four-game losing streaks this season, more than I care to count at the moment; then just take a look at the upcoming schedule following this Ranger win against the worst team in the league:
Tuesday (1/7) against Dallas, Thursday (1/9) against New Jersey and then the start of a western road-trip where the Blueshirts will play guest in Sin City on Saturday (1/11) and then travel for a game in Denver next Tuesday (1/14).
Suffice to say – and I’ll be shocked if the Rangers win any one of these games – and I’ll be flabbergasted if they go 50-50.
But should they sweep these next four games?
Then perhaps an inkling of positivity will return to these daily manifestos.
After all, who wouldn’t mind a five-game winning streak for once?
To just pile on here, then do you know how impressed I was with Sunday’s 6-2 win against the Indian head?
No joke?
I immediately took a nap afterwards – hence the delay in publishing this GAME REVIEW blog.
Granted, perhaps another boring Giants game, their final and merciful loss of their season, which preceded this puck drop in the home city of Ferris Bueller, led to my fatigue; but regardless – and this Original Six tilt had all of the routine boring cliches attached – for example, like watching paint dry – and it was met with as much disdain as a little boy feels for his mother whenever being dragged around for a round of clothes shopping.
But for a bad Blueshirts’ team that’s had nothing but negative trends associated with them all season, including a one of their last thirty-two power-play attempts – and a man-up unit that didn’t get any work today, which in turn – only added to the overall feeling of drowsiness; then the Rangers did create a positive trend after this match – and try this one on for size:
The Blueshirts, currently 3-0 against Detroit, 2-0 against Montreal, 1-0 against Boston, 1-0 against Toronto and now 1-1 with Chicago, are now 8-1 whenever playing a fellow Original Six peer.
Get the confetti ready – and especially if you can ignore/forget how the team is also 2-14 whenever playing in contests that I’ve dubbed as “litmus test games” this season.
Following the game, and all over Rangerstown, USA, and in most recaps of this match too, and it was touted that this 6-2 victory was the “best” that the Blueshirts have had since their 4-0 win in Motown.
But of course, such a sentiment couldn’t be any further from the truth.
In reality, Jonathan Quick had a showing for the ages and where on that night, not even a power-play quintet featuring Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Alex Ovechkin, Sidney Crosby and Bobby Orr, and all in their primes, would have been able to beat him.
Quick was simply lights out – and during a game featuring never-ending breakaways and odd-man rushes – and the future Hall of Famer shut the door on all of these most fortunate opportunities for the Spoked Wheel.
In other words – and much like Quick’s most recent win against Boston – then this win in Detroit was all about the goalie – and nothing else.
It was also Quick’s best performance of the season.
To me, then Sunday’s 6-2 win against the worst team in the league, a Hawks’ team that’s now lost six of their last seven, was the “best” Blueshirts’ all-around/team-wide win since October 22nd – when the Rangers downed the Canadiens in Montreal by a final score of 7-2 – and where afterwards, Lavy’s Lot improved their record to 5-0-1.
(Doesn’t that feel like ages ago today?)
And despite Montreal ahead of New York in the standings today – but at the time – the Habs were the worst team in the league.
Again, we go back to those two-words – PAPER TIGER.
If there was really one story to keep an eye on following this extremely and super rare Rangers’ blowout, then it’s the status of Chris Kreider – and especially as the team now embarks on a tough four-game stretch.
Prior to the game, and it was announced that Kreider had an “upper-body injury”- and how long he remains out for is anyone’s guess.
While many, including yours truly, are speculating that it’s back-related – we don’t know that to be a fact either.
However, if he needed a one-game spell, then much like the third-string goalie that head coach Peter Laviolette deployed, Louie Domingue – the time and place was most certainly in Chicago – and again – against the worst team in the NHL – and a fact that was often lost throughout the ESPN broadcast too. (More on this below.)
For the Rangers to make any attempt at reaching the playoffs – and then win once there – then they’ll need Kreider around.
(What, did you already forget about his Game 6 hat-trick against Carolina?)
And even if you’re in the “TRADE CHRIS” camp, then you still need him healthy enough for a rival team to seek out his services.
Since the Rangers are off on Monday (as mandated by the league’s CBA – players are required to be given the day off after a back-to-back set), then we won’t get a Kreider update until Tuesday.
While the first period from Sunday’s matinee will most likely be forgotten; but it should be said that for the first ten-minutes of the match, then it looked like the home team would pull it out.
A nice set-up from Connor Bedard to Tyler Bertuzzi led to the game’s first goal at the 5:37 mark – and perhaps a response after going 0-1 on their power-play that featured no shots on goal.
However, the Blackhawks soon played to their reputation, as despite their present place in the standings, they lead the league in taking 1-0 leads (25) – only to then cough up 99.9% of them.
Once the half-way mark of the period came-and-went – then it was obvious – the ice had tilted – and in favor of the Rangers.
Up next for the Blueshirts were five unanswered goals – and peculiar for this team – all of the five-vs-five variety.
Jonny Brodzinski, drawing back into the line-up for the first time since god knows when (due to the Kreider injury), tied the game at the 15:12 mark after a wicked wrister.
For Jonny Broadway, he now has as many goals as Lafreniere has scored in his last twenty games played, while also one more than “The Breadman” in his last six.
You can also make the same recent goal scoring comparisons between Lafreniere and Panarin with the newest Ranger, Will Borgen, as it was the big right-handed d-man who put the Rangers up, 2-1, and as he did with only 1:38 remaining in this first frame.
Furthermore, it wasn’t only about these two much needed goals either, as defensively, the Rangers, once giving up the Bertuzzi goal, then shut down the Blackhawks for a stretch of 14:23 – and where Domingue could’ve left his net for some spicy pork and broccoli (yeah – I had to get this stupid and overdone joke in somehow).
After racking up four early SOG, the Blackhawks only added two more after Bertuzzi’s score.
The Blueshirts, notoriously prone for having dreadful second periods, reversed course during this twenty-minute stretch.
Already having scored two unanswered, the Rangers soon upped that total to five straight unanswered.
Filip Chytil scored at the 3:28 mark – a highlight reel of a snipe at that – and in what turned out to be the game’s winning goal too.
A Reilly Smith breakaway, potted past Arvid Soderblom, put the Rangers up 4-1 at the 9:54 time-marker.
A Vincent Trocheck deflection, off of “The Breadstick,” gave the Blueshirts a 5-1 lead with 4:44 remaining in this second stanza.
It was simply all Rangers here – but of course – not all habits die hard either; as Wyatt Kaiser scored the first goal of his career with two-minutes remaining – as nobody gives up more opposing “firsts” than the Big Apple club.
But at the end of the day, all this Kaiser Roll meant was that it was Chytil, and not Borgen, who would be credited with the game-winner.
And it was Chytil who also saw Kaiser’s one goal and raised him two, and as #72 did at the 8:36 mark of the final frame, following a “butt goal” – as the Czech was the recipient of a Miller shot at net – and then the beneficiary of a terrible Soderblom rebound.
6-2, and where for fifty consecutive minutes – it felt like the Rangers were a real team again.
But of course, you can’t ignore the past 38 games played either, nor the fact that their opponent is the most dreadful in all of the league today.
That said, a blowout win is much better than the alternative – which would’ve been another loss sustained to the dregs of the NHL
I don’t want to say that this victory in Chicago was a “MUST WIN,” as truthfully, I think those days are now behind us (I just don’t see the Rangers reaching the playoffs at all); but these two points gained should instill some confidence and hope – that is – until the Blueshirts play again.
At this time, let’s get the disclaimer segment out of the way before talking about everything else from a rare Rangers’ win.
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-nine down, forty-three 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 – Quick had a night against Boston:
NYR/BOS 1/2 Review: “The Greatest American Goalie of All-Time” Brick Wall Jonathan Quick Wins Another Duel; Absolutely Sizzles In A 60-Minute Highlight Reel Performance, “Same Old Rangers” Strike Again, Brett Berard Scores First Ever GWG; Missing Mika Sighting Too, Another Accidental Collision, What’s Going On With The GAG Line 2.0, Can’t Relax; No “King-Konging,” M$GN & More
Since I was at my local watering hole’s viewing party for Saturday’s matinee in Washington, then I wasn’t around to post a GAME REVIEW blog following the 7-4 loss.
But of course, it was more of the same, and as it’s often the case – “The Find a Way To Lose” Rangers struck again.
Furthermore, after that dreck, I wasn’t going to rush home and try to write anything – and especially with the quick turnaround (the 3PM Sunday puck drop in Chicago).
However, just for the sake of posterity, a few thoughts from Ovi’s men making mincemeat of the Blueshirts:
— The Rangers were gifted an early goal when Caps’ goalie, Logan Thompson, left his net and threw a puck directly towards Chris Kreider for an easy 1-0 goal – although perhaps I’m using the word “easy” very liberally here – as after all – the Rangers do have problems scoring empty net goals!
— The Blueshirts once again have trouble scoring power-play goals too, as despite four chances, they went 0-4 and where Alexis Lafreniere, after three tries with the first power-play unit, was removed and in favor of Mental Mika. The team’s hottest three players, if such a thing exists, Filip Chytil, Will Cuylle and Brett Berard, didn’t get a spin with a PP1 unit that finished 0-4.
— The Rangers once elite penalty kill had another dreadful showing, this time finishing at 50% (2 of 4). Once again, my motto applies, “Special Teams Swing Games” – and with the game’s final goal being of the empty net variety (Tom Wilson – of course!) – these two Capital power-play goals were the difference.
— It should also be mentioned that when entering the Christmas break with the top penalty killing units in the league, the Rangers are now sixth-best overall today.
— Poor Jonathan Quick, who after playing his second-best game of the season against Boston on Thursday night, didn’t have much help in front of him, and in turn, gave up six goals on twenty-seven shots faced (.778 save percentage).
— Once again, we saw more of the NHL not being able to get out of their own way. A Will Cuylle goal was overturned because Brett Berard went offside by a c-hair, which in turn, led Caps’ bench boss, Spencer Carberry, to not only use a timeout, but then his challenge too. About three-hours later, and the referees wiped the goal from the board – and I believe this is the sixth time in Cuylle’s young career where this has happened.
— As I always say, if it takes you longer than a minute whenever attempting to overturn a goal, then it’s a goal. There’s no reason for these lengthy reviews – as it just hurts the game.
— And yep, I wonder how many of Wayne Gretzky’s 894 goals would have been overturned under these ticky-tack video replay reviews of today.
— As is usually the case, then when entering a second period tied – and the Rangers just got pummeled in the second period, 3-1.
— Come the final frame, and the Rangers, who were 0-17-1 whenever entering a third period trailing, “increased” that total to 0-18-1. At least they are consistent!
— In a powerhouse vs bottom-of-the-barrel game, we saw why good teams always find ways to win, while bad teams always find ways to lose. Whenever the Rangers were able to bring the game within one score – then boom – the Caps found a way to return themselves to a two-goal lead.
— Sam Carrick, who “capitalized” off of a turnover (har-har-har), made the game 3-2 at the 16:26 mark of the second period. No less than two-minutes later, and Connor “FU LAVY” McMichael, scored a power-play goal.
— Still 4-2 at the start of the last stanza and Filip Chytil scored a breakaway goal at the 8:32 mark. Once again, although a little longer (2:18 to be specific) and Alex Ovechkin scored a backhanded goal to make the game 5-3.
— And when Missing Mika scored his “A-Rod Goal” at the 13:04 mark to make the game 5-4, home team? Then there was another young player once punished by Laviolette in Washington, Aliaksei Protas, to make the score 6-4 just 56-seconds later.
— I joked on Twitter, and even used a #GODFATHER hashtag to imply that I was kidding around while frustrated with this team, that I can see why Mika Zibanejad and other Rangers had baby girls over the summer, while Ovechkin has two sons. After all, and to paraphrase/take off the late great Luca Brasi, “there’s nothing masculine about the Blueshirts!”
— Laviolette, in another empty net situation, used Mika as his sixth skater, while telling Chytil to take a seat. I just don’t get it.
— The line that I once was proud to nickname as “THE GAG LINE 2.0,” Panarin/Trocheck/Lafreniere, had another game to forget. In a heated-rivalry match where you needed your best line to show up – and this trio collectively finished as a minus four, while never registering a point. Something is off – and where it’s not just #13 these days – it’s #10 too.
— I thought the Blueshirts’ bottom-six was again, and by far, much stronger than the top-six. As usual, while that’s good for them, that’s not good for overall team success.
— The left-side of the defense, K’Andre Miller, Ryan Lindgren, and U.V., had another game to forget too. Then again, Adam Fox wasn’t that much better, as the 2021 Norris Trophy winner finished with a game low minus three – and where it could have been even worse if it weren’t for the goalie who kept the team in the game despite having to face nothing but odd-man rushes and a barrage of high-quality shot attempts.
— As ABC/ESPN had a field day dissecting the corpse of the 2024-25 Rangers; I did find it hilarious how Emily Kaplan, Ray Ferraro and really, everyone else, called out the Blueshirts for a lack of physicality, and how it’s now rumored that Rangers’ GM, Chris Drury, is now seeking “meat and potato players with jam.”
— Of course, Drury did as such when he first got the gig three-years ago – and as he did when he brought in Barclay Goodrow, Ryan Reaves and Sammy Blais during his first three moves.
— By now, Reaves and Blais are long gone – and you already know what happened with both Goodrow and former team captain Jacob Trouba.
— In a way, all of this sounded like rehash material.
— You also know it’s bad when Mark Messier is just shredding the team – and he wasn’t wrong – as he talked about Drury’s poor decisions, the team being mentally weak and how this is all just a disgrace:
Mark Messier on how he feels about the Rangers and what’s going on. #NYR pic.twitter.com/DzkjSbUly6
— David 🏒 (@DaveyUpper) January 4, 2025
1st Period Intermission Report, Mark Messier talks about the Rangers core and what needs to be done. #NYR pic.twitter.com/AZ5iPKL0l2
— David 🏒 (@DaveyUpper) January 4, 2025
Granted, while you can say that the Rangers showed effort again – and as they have done lately during their recent games against Florida and Boston – but of course – we are long, and I mean long, beyond such cliches as “moral victories.”
Furthermore, giving effort every game should be automatic, to be expected – and not something to throw a parade over either.
And yep – while I’m also beyond the five stages of grief with this club – while also inventing a sixth (rooting for them to lose – and betting against them too – as after all – I rather a top lottery pick than scraping-and-clawing to a middle-of-the-pack first-round exit), the loss did help my bank account – and to a tune of $500 after hitting a bunch of Capital prop bets – and a Washington puck line win too!
Last but not least, I’m so sick of Peter Laviolette’s hollow post-game interviews.
It’s literally the same old shit.
How about trying to win two games in a row then talk?
“We are dealing with some things,” is what Laviolette said during his Sunday morning edition of “Lavy’s Lounge.”
No shit, as such a quote is the understatement of the year!
However, and to be specific, what the clown head coach was referring to was injuries.
While he didn’t say who was banged up, nor what line-up changes would be made either (outside of the expected Domingue in/Quick back-up switch); at this point, does it even matter?
This roster construction and the fact that Drury has done nothing ever since trading away Kakko, is the textbook definition of the word “insanity.”
Come 2:36 PM Sunday – or 24-minutes before the announced 3PM puck drop, and the Rangers announced the following:
UPDATE: Chris Kreider (upper body, day-to-day) will not play today.
— NY Rangers PR (@NYR_PR) January 5, 2025
With Kreider out (again – suspected to be back-related), then the only change to the line-up was that Jonny Brodzinski was dusted off and then returned – and at the LW2 position.
Talk about a lazy line-up – and what a slap in the face to the third line – who should be the first or second line these days too.
But since they won in Chicago, then none of this will be brought up anywhere else.
Here was Laviolette’s line-up for the thirty-ninth game of this 2024-25 season:
FIRST LINE: Panarin/Trocheck/Lafreniere
SECOND LINE: Brodzinski/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: Louie Domingue
BACK UP GOALIE: Jonathan Quick
SCAPEGOATED: Matt Rempe
DAY-TO-DAY: Chris Kreider
IR: CZAR IGOR
HEALTHY SCRATCHES: Zac Jones
BOX SCORE time.
The following graphics and information come from ESPN.com:
SCORING:
PENALTIES:
TEAM STATS:
GOALIES:
|
NYR
|
|
SA
|
GA
|
SV
|
SV%
|
ESSV
|
PPSV
|
SHSV
|
SOSA
|
SOS
|
TOI
|
PIM
|
| 27 | 2 | 25 | .926 | 24 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 60:00 | 0 |
|
CHI
|
|
SA
|
GA
|
SV
|
SV%
|
ESSV
|
PPSV
|
SHSV
|
SOSA
|
SOS
|
TOI
|
PIM
|
| 34 | 6 | 28 | .824 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 59:36 | 0 |
After ESPN gave us their A-Team treatment on Saturday, then, and some 24-hours later, we got their B-Team in Chicago.
Mike Monaco and Ryan Callahan had the call – and where during the game, I wondered if Monaco had ever watched hockey before.
Seriously, and I’m not making this up either; he was asking the most ridiculous questions imaginable, including when he looked to Captain Cally and asked, “Ryan, what does pucks on net mean?”
To give you the other side of it, then I guess that ESPN is trying to educate new viewers to the game – but of course – this BORING affair probably turned off viewers anyway – and have I mentioned yet that this game went head-to-head with “The Witchin’ Hour” of the NFL’s 1PM slate?
In studio on Sunday were Buccigross and noted Ranger hater Ray Ferraro – and where I thought that the member of the alumni was actually better in this role than as he is as an in-between-the-benches roving reporter.
Speaking of, Leah Hextall, granddaughter of a Blueshirts’ legend that the franchise ignores, 1940 hero and Hall of Famer Bryan Hextall, handled all interview duties.
To open, Trocheck told Hextall that he didn’t have an answer for the Rangers’ woeful and worrisome ways, but he did say that the team needs to get back to basics.
Taking on a team that felt like an ECHL squad, while the Blueshirts had an AHL goalie in net, helped the Rangers to accomplish such a feat on this day.
Following the interview, and Ferraro echoed a lot of what’s been opined in Rangerstown, USA – Trocheck should be the next captain.
Funny how Mika was nowhere to be seen – you know – the team’s alternate captain and second-longest tenured player.
As it was brought up that every other team in the league has won two games in a row since Veteran’s Day besides the Rangers, including these bad Blackhawks, then Ferraro brought up Laviolette’s job status – and how he is being paid $5M per-year.
I think we already knew what Lavy’s salary was – but I guess that I forgot about it – which is why I was so shocked when Ferraro brought this up.
Last but not least during this abbreviated pregame show, and ESPN didn’t shy away from the fact that Kreider has back issues – and they also brought up what Kreider said once his name was included in what will forever be known as “THE MEMO.”
GAME REVIEW time – and where I’ll keep it short – but if you do want the full play by play, then check out my Tweeter/X feed over at https://x.com/NYCTheMiC
FIRST PERIOD
Following a Trocheck faceoff loss and the Blackhawks almost scored on their first shift. Once the Rangers got the puck out of their zone, then Trocheck tripped Wyatt Kaiser just 1:13 in.
This was really the only penalty of the game, as aside from some shenanigans with fourteen-seconds remaining, then we never saw another player enter the sin bin again.
As Laviolette was shaking his head on the bench, his team then went on to easily kill this Chicago power-play – and where Domingue only had to come up with one save – and with just seven-seconds remaining on the Rangers’ kill.
Trocheck, once returned, registered the first Rangers’ SOG – and as he did at the 4:52 mark. At the time, the Hawks were out-shooting their rivals at a 3:1 clip.
Come the 5:37 mark, and an all-out Blueshirts’ brain fart led to the first Chicago goal:
Back-door feed from Connor Bedard to Tyler Bertuzzi gets the Hawks up early 🔥 pic.twitter.com/iw1DMh0VVS
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) January 5, 2025
This was kind of a chaotic play, as Lindgren fell down and Mika, as usual, turned over a puck, which then led to this bang-bang Berard-to-Bertuzzi goal.
Speaking of Lindgren falling down, there must’ve been bad ice at the United Center, as about ten other players would lose an edge afterwards – and from both sides.
1-0, bad guys – and the Hawks’ only real highlight of the game too.
However, I can’t lie, as Cally repeated my live reaction after this play – “here we go again” – as after this – I was expecting another Rangers’ loss.
And that’s why it’s good to set low expectations with this team – so you have a shot of being pleasantly surprised!
Funny enough, right after this goal and Hextall asked Laviolette what he thinks about his job security.
The head coach, and as you’d expect, blew off the question and just said that he was just focused on winning this game.
But to her credit, Hextall, who I think has improved a lot after her rocky beginnings, did ask.
As noted earlier, the Blackhawks wouldn’t get another SOG following this Bertuzzi opener until some 14:23 later.
Down by one and again, in another rarity, and the Rangers used this predicament as motivation.
Up next?
All Rangers – and where despite several shots going high and wide – they pretty much owned the Chicago zone for the final ten-minutes of this period.
Come 4:48 remaining and this is when JONNY BROADWAY, when drifting to the right circle from the slot, beat Soderblom with a nifty wrister:
Bro gets his 3rd of the year to tie the game. 1-1 #NYR pic.twitter.com/xmOFNa032m
— David 🏒 (@DaveyUpper) January 5, 2025
1-1.
And I was happy for Brodzinski too – as he’s been a good solider throughout all of this.
As brought up on this site ever since all of this losing started and you have many members of the alumni all expressing their thoughts and opinions on what should be done.
Two former captains, Mark Messier and Ryan Callahan, did as such this weekend.
Elsewhere, and you also have Ron Duguay and Tony DeAngelo tweeting (or is it “X-ing?”) about the team everyday.
Duguay’s biggest belief is that K’Andre Miller needs to go, while DeAngelo agreed with Shawn Stein of “The Two Guys One Cup” Rangers-themed podcast – #77 is/was a much better power-play quarterback than Adam Fox – and unless you’re one of these people who just hate DeAngelo over his political opinions – then it’s hard-pressed to disagree with such talk.
The numbers don’t lie either – as Fox has never put up the power-play points that DeAngelo did at the height of his powers (2019-20 season).
And the Rangers never had a 1-32 powerless stretch under TDA either.
A new wrinkle from Sunday?
You now have the fathers of players defending their sons on social media too:
Weird. You must be an expert
— Mike Brodzinski (@DadBrodzy2220) January 5, 2025
I can’t lie – I loved when Mike Brodzinski called out @NYRLouie – although I also believe that the patriarch of the Brodzinski family misinterpreted what Louie meant.
After all, I am also of the opinion that Brodzinski’s best fit with this team is as a bottom-six forward – and not as a top-sixer – and apparently, the franchise thinks this way too – or at least based on what these players are paid.
But when things are bad and when your son is being benched for no reason at all (as noted on this site – I would’ve scratched Mika a long time ago and in turn, then let the hungry former captain of the ‘Pack get a regular shot in the line-up) – and stuff like this happens!
Also transpiring?
Borgen’s first goal as a Ranger:
Will Borgen gets his first as a #NYR .. 2-1 Rangers pic.twitter.com/dM8Fa2Ihq3
— David 🏒 (@DaveyUpper) January 5, 2025
2-1, New York Feelings, following a Borgen rebound from the high slot after Soderblom couldn’t cleanly stop a Vesey SOG.
I gotta say, and to go back to Brodzinski once more, then I thought that Cally was just making things up when he called #22 an “emotional leader.”
After all, this was his first game in a month – and players who don’t play can’t really vocalize in the locker room either.
But it’s true that Brodzinski has leadership qualities – hence his former status as captain of the Hartford Wolf Pack.
I’m just saying that it’s tough for him to be one in New York.
We remained at 2-1, the fifth-worst team in the NHL, after twenty-minutes.
Here’s what I said at the time:
2-1, NY Feelings, after 20. 1P Thoughts:
— SOG, 14-6, #NYR – CHI only 2 SOG after the goal.
— It feels like a Sleepy Sunday Showdown between two bottom feeders.
— Rangers are prone to abysmal second periods, that Borgen goal was huge.
— Tough to get amped even when they…— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) January 5, 2025
SECOND PERIOD
The Rangers had played the day before in Washington – and also had a flight afterwards to boot.
Chicago came into this game well-rested, having last played on Friday against Montreal.
You wouldn’t have known any of that based on this middle period – as the Rangers just took complete control of this game from this point on.
After limiting the Hawks to six SOG in the first period, the home team did one better in this period, seven in all.
And while Chicago doubled their forty-minutes of action 13 SOG total with 14 SOG in the final frame – but there was never a point where you thought that the Blueshirts would blow it – and when was the last time you had such feelings?
As players continued to fall down on what I presume to be bad ice, and as Seth Jones did early on; then the Rangers got a break when a Zibanejad slashing call against Turbo went uncalled – and as we saw just 2:24 in.
The “Kakko Who?” third line, arguably the best trio since being put together, Cuylle/Chytil/Berard, struck a minute following the Zibanejad no-call, as Soderblom stopped Berard and Fox then got the puck to Chytil for the 3-1 strike:
Chytil makes it 3-1 #NYR pic.twitter.com/Va9Q98R7CV
— David 🏒 (@DaveyUpper) January 5, 2025
What a top shelf snipe.
While this doesn’t really matter in the grand scheme of things; but after being robbed of a goal a day earlier, then I thought that Cuylle was robbed of an assist here too – as he made this whole play happen.
But that’s why we watch the games with our EYES – and don’t rely on black-and-white stats.
And you can shove ANALytics up your five-hole too!
Following this goal, and as the Rangers continued to dominate the puck, then you had to wonder what Chicago was thinking.
After all, the Blueshirts had a third-string goalie in net – yet the Hawks never truly tested him.
The SOG disparity continued at a 2:1 ratio, favoring the Blueshirts, as after a 16-8 lead in this department, the Rangers soon beefed it up to 22-11.
As ESPN continued to ponder the state of the Rangers; down to 11:25 remaining and “The Big Rig,” Patrick Maroon, wanted to throw down with Sam Carrick.
Carrick was more than willing to oblige – but sadly – the zebras weren’t allowing it.
I don’t get it.
This is a national television game featuring two of the worst teams in the league – so why not give the willing-and-able players a chance to put on a show?
As we neared the half-way mark of the game/period, the Blueshirts then spent sixty-seconds in the zone – and where Panarin couldn’t hit a net from two-feet out, which in turn, gave Chicago a free clear.
Like many others on this team, and “The Bread” has gone cold.
Not cold these days is Reilly Smith, who with 10:06 remaining, quadrupled the Rangers’ lead:
Smith gets his 8th of the year. 4-1 #NYR pic.twitter.com/LfNgYWdPPy
— David 🏒 (@DaveyUpper) January 5, 2025
4-1, NY Feelings, and where at the time, I was asking myself, “are the Rangers using up all of their goal scoring quota this month in this one game?”
As the Blackhawks continued to look listless and devoid of all life offensively, then I was repeating that question with 4:44 remaining, following a Trocheck tip and a goal:
Trocheck makes it 5-1 #NYR pic.twitter.com/CyEhUUW1l7
— David 🏒 (@DaveyUpper) January 5, 2025
Rout on.
A Kaiser goal, scored with 2:00 remaining, improved things for Chicago.
5-2, Feelings.
Towards the end of the period and we had a controversial no call when Hawks’ captain, Nick Foligno, crushed Borgen at the boards:
Matt Rempe gets life in prison if he throws this hit.#NYR
pic.twitter.com/2p2p1NOQp8— Sean Avery Burner (@AveryBurnerAcct) January 5, 2025
As the caption to this clip alludes to – what would’ve happened if Matt Rempe hit a Hawk this way – and for a cherry on top – what would’ve happened if Rempe hit Connor Bedard like this?
Makes you wonder.
While I believe that this hit should’ve been a penalty, and we all know that all things aren’t called the same; perhaps this was make-up non-call, following Zibanejad getting away with a slash.
But of course, a chopped stick isn’t the same as potential concussion either.
For what it’s worth, ESPN caught Borgen talking to his coaches and teammates on the bench, and where he said, “I’m good, I’m good.”
We remained at 5-2, Feelings, after forty.
Here’s what I said at the time:
5-2, Feelings, after 40. 2P Thoughts:
— Really thought Chicago would show more life, especially with #NYR playing yesterday and at home.
— Gotta keep everything in perspective – the Rangers’ record and where Chicago is today – but even in what’s looking to be a blowout – and…— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) January 5, 2025
THIRD PERIOD
In what we haven’t seen a lot of ever since October – and the Rangers properly closed out a game.
To show you how boring and uninteresting this game was – and ESPN was doing chicken parm segments during intermission.
The announcers then followed-up this talk as the game was going on.
That tells you all that you need to know – and I’m not making this up.
Speaking of the announcers and this is when Captain Cally doubled-up as Mika Zibanejad’s P.R. guy – as he was actually talking about how great Mika has been lately.
Again, I don’t know if Cally was championing for a M$GN job or what – but such talk was ridiculous.
Then again, maybe he was trying to boost Mika’s trade value to the rest of the league!
To get through the rest of this one-sided affair, then Domingue threw his stick into a corner when stopping Taylor Hall (4:08 mark), Soderblom stopped Carrick from one foot out (6:20 mark), Fox & Domingue teamed up to stop Foligno on two chances (7:38 mark) and Chytil scored the touchdown, after a butt bounce at the 8:36 mark.
6-2, Feelings.
As far as anything else worth talking about, then Domingue, while looking like that crazed Olympic gymnast having an epileptic seizure last summer, was flopping around all over the place on his side with 3:00 to go. Despite three Chicago shot attempts at a gaping net – and they couldn’t hit on any of them.
Cally then said that the Rangers look to be turning around their season – and again – I don’t know what he’s seeing that I’m not.
He did bring up that the Rangers have done this before – but such talk excludes the fact that the other teams in the division, the conference, heck the whole NHL, have also improved – and not all conditions are the same.
Cally then added that this is the same core that’s done it before – a complete untruth – as the captain of this core is gone (Trouba), an alternate captain who was the most consistent player in last year’s postseason is also removed (Goodrow), and like him or not – and Kakko is no longer here either.
The former #24 (Cally, not Kakko), didn’t mention where Chicago sits in the standings either.
Down to 14-seconds remaining, and with this tiring game long over, and this is when a scrum started and where Maroon was at the center of it.
However, only Craig Smith and Urho Vaakanainen took meaningless off-setting penalties.
It’s also when Maroon skated to the bench, as if he was an agitating Theo Fleury or Tie Domi, and started mouthing off at the Rangers.
Cuylle stood up in a response – and then just laughed in his face.
LOVE IT!
6-2, Feelings – and where I’ll use my usual phrase of “GOOD GUYS” again once I feel good about this team again!
There’s no bother sharing the post-game interviews tonight, because the words feel as hollow as a Paper Tiger.
Furthermore, and the Rangers didn’t bother to upload any of them either!
However, it is worth sharing to you that Team USA picked up the gold medal in this year’s World Junior’s IIHF tournament on Sunday night, following their 4-3 overtime thriller against Finland.
While I didn’t see every Team USA game of the tournament (but I had this gold medal game on in the background when writing this blog), but man oh man – I’m convinced – TANK FOR HAGENS!
I’m not a prospects guy whatsoever (as you all know, my forte is Rangers’ history), but after seeing Rangers’ prospect Gabe Perreault teamed with Long Island’s “Happauge” Hagens (A CENTER – AND THIS FACT CAN’T BE STRESSED ENOUGH) – and I can strongly get behind a Blueshirts’ future with these two in the line-up.
I am fully aware that what goes on in World Junior’s Tournaments doesn’t translate to NHL success too (see Andersson, Lias, Kakko, Kaapo), but a 1-2 punch of Perreault and Hagens feels like a no-brainer.
Then again, I guess that I should be leery – as I’m also aware of the careers that Jamie Lundmark and Pavel Brendl had too!
And oh yeah, and in my best Hacksaw Jim Duggan impression:
“USA! USA! USA!”
For a Rangers team that’s been morbid all year, then it’s nice to enjoy success in a team full of life.
And leave it to me, the alleged fuddy-duddy boomer, to be all about the “KIDS, OH JOE, THE KIDS JOE” – as not only was I proud of these teenagers – but I’m also rooting for my favorite college football team, Notre Dame, to take home the first-ever NCAA playoff tournament crown.
Congratulations to all of the players and staff involved – and a big shout out to the hockey parents too – as these fathers and mothers go beyond the leaps of parental duties when sacrificing themselves for the future of their kids.
Up Next For The Rangers: An off-day on Monday, followed by a home tilt where they will be hosting a Dallas Stars team that won’t have the flu this time around.
Up Next For Me: I need another nap!
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
