Greetings and salutations everyone and welcome to another blog here on BlueCollarBlueShirts.com. WE’RE GOING TO THE FINAL ROUND!
WE WANT THE CUP!
WE WANT TO BE WORLD CHAMPIONS!
START THE PARADE!
But of course, and despite the Rangers’ 3-2 overtime win against the Devils from Thursday night – then I’m not talking about the Blueshirts right now – as instead – I’m talking about Notre Dame and the FIGHTING IRISH:
I won’t go on-and-on about college football tonight, as one, I know there’s only a few of you that care – and two, where of that few – not many root for Notre Dame either.
(But that’s your loss – and Penn State’s loss too)!
That said – what an inspiring and heroic victory for the FIGHTING IRISH – and a comeback thriller that will never be forgotten.
And oh yeah – when the game is on the line – and you have a guy with the surname of Jeter out there – then it’s a lock!
I do bring up this Notre Dame 27-24 victory against the pedophiles over at Penn State in this year’s Orange Bowl for one reason (and outside of gloating) – I was severely distracted when watching tonight’s Rangers vs Devils game.
After all, I wasn’t really expecting much out of the Blueshirts on Thursday night.
Going into this game and Lavy’s Lot had been previously blown out by their Hudson River rivals twice this season – and where on each occasion – the dirty Devils posted five goals a piece.
(5-1 and 5-0 Ranger losses – and where both of these games were pretty much over with by the halfway mark of the second period).
Compounding matters in regards to my Rangers’ viewing experience was that I was also watching this game from work – and where very conveniently – our WiFi went out during our extended dinner break.
While ESPN+, who had the rights to the Orange Bowl, worked with no problems on one of our screens; sadly, none of the illegal hockey streams did, as it was nothing but non-stop buffering.
As our work computer had as much active activity as a Filip Chytil brain scan, then we (my co-workers and I) were forced to huddle around my phone – and where every other minute – I had to keep pressing refresh after our illegal stream (or is it “unlicensed?”) crapped out more times than someone who had just finished devouring ten crave cases at White Castle – and then washed it down with a dozen chalupas from Taco Bell.
(But what dedication – as I never gave up – and much like the Rangers on this night!)
As noted all-week on this site; then while I have had no issues whenever being forced to watch these illegal streams at home – I’m still going to find an alternative route, a legal one, moving forward – and most likely over this weekend when I have the time.
In other words, if you have suggestions, then fire away – as I am cutting the cord.
Keep in mind, I’m somewhat of a “BOOMER” with new tech (this website’s layout should tell you as much) – and I have no clue what a Roku box is – nor know how to obtain a “jail-broken” fire stick either.
(But I’m a whiz whenever opening up my Mario Kart app against my nieces!)
If these weren’t enough woe-is-me and “first-world problems” for you, then due to my WiFi being down, then Twitter/X, which I use to post live notes to refer to whenever writing one of these GAME REVIEW blogs, was kaput too.
And for those asking – yes – I did get a lot done at work – as I work as hard as Sam Carrick – then take my extended break once all tasks are completed!
(And then I punch-out these 10,000 word blogs once returned home from work too. Champion – and like Notre Dame will be on 1/20!)
What a model employee!
But unlike SAM I AM – then I don’t think that my boss is giving me a “First Star” of the night!
And what a long way to say that the GAME REVIEW segment will be shorter than usual – but I do guarantee that I have more Rangers’ information and news for you than anyone else on this night of January 9th!
Now, and with all of this word-salad consumed, let’s roll and talk Ranger hockey.
As stated last time around (https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/1725/ ), then heading into Thursday’s tilt with the Devils – and I didn’t see a realistic path to a Rangers’ victory – that is – unless eighteen red-and-black attackers all came down with the Bubonic Plague all at once.
(And even then – I wasn’t so sure!)
That’s why it’s always good to have low expectations with these Blueshirts – as this way, you can never be disappointed – and if they win, then you can get excited!
Similar to many of you – and the Blueshirts have broken me this season.
The days of “glass half-full” have long been spilled over.
As shared a bunch of times with you guys and gals throughout these past ten-weeks – and I refuse to have the “Rangers’ Rug” pulled out from me anymore.
That’s why I’ve been betting against them – and making money too.
And if it wasn’t for that pesky Sam Carrick – then I would’ve collected again tonight – but hey – I’m more than happy to donate $10 if it means a sticks up salute at center ice:
If it wasn’t for Carrick’s overtime heroics, where not only did he score the walk-off winner, but he set the whole thing up too – and as he did when he forced Jack Hughes to cough up the puck; then the bulk of this blog, and many other game recaps throughout the land too, would be a ton of talk in regards to the Blueshirts’ inability to score at 5 x 5 – and of course – Vincent Trocheck and Reilly Smith being unable to score while on a two-vs-zero rush too.
And if that was the case, then perhaps in such recounts would be the fact that the Blueshirts nearly played a full sixty-minute game – but where things such as “moral victories,” “giving effort,” “showing up” and other such participation trophy phrases are long dead-and-buried for this 2024-25 group.
By now, Game 41 of the season, the official mid-way point – and there’s only one word that everyone who has a rooting interest in this team wants to hear following every game – “WIN.”
The Blueshirts did just that – and where now, and as the team approaches the second-half of the campaign – they are going to need a whole lot more of putting wins together under their belt- and where one-point overtime losses won’t be suffice either.
One last reminder before pressing on – I had a hell of a time when trying to watch this game – where in turn – I did miss some of the action due to buffering, lagging and refresh issues.
That said, and I thought that this match, played on Thursday, January 9th, was the best win of the season – and where yes – the opponent, a much heated-and-hated rival, is part of it.
However, the Devils are the best team that the Rangers have beat all season – and where as previously mentioned in this space a few times this season – I don’t put any stock at all into the earlier victory against Toronto – as after all – the Leafs are even bigger pretenders than their Original Six rivals.
Heck, the Leafs have even eclipsed the Rangers’ previous “Curse of 1940,” one that lasted 54-years – and where presently up north, the blue-and-white haven’t seen a Stanley Cup in 58-years!
I will say, then had the Blueshirts been performing to expectations this season, then you’d love this win a whole lot more – but we’ll get more into the standings once we get there.
This is also my way of saying that you could nitpick some things from tonight’s outing – but at the same time – I also thought that the positivity outweighed the negativity – and furthermore – I don’t even think that’s up for debate either.
Since there wasn’t that much negativity, we can get that out of the way first.
Here were my pessimistic thoughts following the 3-2 OT win:
— Arthur Kaliyev was exactly who I said he was when Drury first claimed him – another Kakko. (Full details here: https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/1725/ )
Granted, it’s his first game with a new team – but I didn’t even notice him on the ice at all – and I had to check the box score to see if he even played.
His stat line? Zero goals, zero assists, zero points and zero shots on goal.
Yeah, he was kind of thrown into the fire a bit, but we’ve also seen plenty of other veterans, and even rookies too, have a stand-out showing during their Rangers’ debut.
Matt Puempel anyone?
Vinni Lettieri?
And let’s not forget about Derek Stepan either!
Tonight?
And Kaliyev played to the reputation that he “earned” in L.A.
— Speaking of that word, “reputation,” and what I felt about Matt Rempe going into this game (check the pregame news segment below) played out to a tee.
While “The Rempestein Monster” did record a game-high four-hits, none of them were memorable either.
Now as a marked man and in the ire of the NHL’s eye – and Rempe was hesitant.
I think it’s going to be a phase for him, as he learns how to adapt to a league that wants him out of it.
The biggest question is – will his head coach give him the time to do so?
— Usual Suspect, Missing Mika, was again terrible.
In a game where the Devils scored two goals, while the Rangers scored three – and Mental Mika finished as a -2.
To be fair, he did pick up an assist on an Artemi Panarin rebound goal – but that was more about #10 than anything else.
This was also another affair where Zibanejad’s contract continues to plague the Rangers – and especially when you consider that he earns $4M more than Jack Hughes (1 goal, 1 assist, +1).
I will also say, I find it both amusing and pathetic, that whenever Mika sneaks his way to a point in the box score, then how many gullible, or perhaps the better word is “hopeful,” people will say that “MIKA IS BACK!”
That’s how low the bar has dropped – and where if Miserable Mika isn’t turning over the puck left-and-right – then it’s considered as a Hall of Fame showing.
— No five-vs-five goals.
As alluded to earlier, then had the Rangers lost this game, then there would be a whole lot more about this.
And we can ax all of the negative talk here – and in turn – now talk about this game from a positive perspective.
Outside of Carrick’s heroics – and where it should be mentioned that it just wasn’t the overtime goal – as he was solid throughout – and barring only one game this season – as he usually is; then my old adage, one first coined on this site some eleven-years ago, rung clear as a bell:
SPECIAL TEAMS SWING GAMES!
The Rangers’ power-play, previously their bread-and-butter, has been ice cold this season.
They sure heated up tonight – as they went 2-3 – and where they scored on their first two attempts too.
The Blueshirts’ penalty kill, first-overall in the league at Christmastime, only to dip to seventh-overall entering this match, redeemed themselves with a flawless four-of-four showing (100%).
Keep in mind, in the Rangers’ final game prior to Santa Clause sliding down the chimney, which was back on 12/27 against these very same Devils – and New Jersey scored three straight power-play goals, enroute to their 5-0 blowout.
While yes, you’d like to see more five-vs-five scoring; but you’ll take a win any way that you can get it.
And let’s face it – these Rangers, and for some time now, live-and-die with their special teams – which is why it’s so depressing whenever the plug is pulled out from the power-play for games on-end.
Perhaps most impressive, aside from a near wire-to-wire complete effort (and don’t forget – the other team is paid to play – and score goals too), was the fact that the Rangers were without their longest-tenured franchise player, Chris Kreider, while also missing their best player of the past three-weeks, Filip Chytil.
Even without this duo and the Rangers were able to down a top-tiered Devils’ squad.
In net for the Rangers was the returning CZAR IGOR – and a starting goalie who really showed no signs of rust at all.
While his workload was lighter than usual (21 saves on 23 shots, .913 save percentage); his eleven stops made in the first period, more than half of his final total, kept the Rangers in this game.
For the Rangers to have any chance at reaching the playoffs, then the Blueshirts will need PLAYOFF IGOR to arrive now – and then stay throughout – while also hoping that this annual injury sustained is now over with too.
Adam Fox and Artemi Panarin, the two-highest paid skaters on the team, finally scored tonight.
For the 2021 Norris Trophy winner, his power-play goal was his first non-empty net goal of the season.
While Fox is mainly a playmaker – and not a goal scorer – then without completely examining the obvious – then he needs to have more than two goals to his name during the next 50% of the season.
For Panarin, then I believe this was his first goal scored during his last nine games played. (I may be off by a game – and in either direction.)
From the “No Shit Sherlock” Files:
The Blueshirts need Panarin to go on a monumental heater during this upcoming second-half.
And when you break it all down – then the three best players on the team – your best forward, your best defenseman and your best goalie too – all delivered.
The Rangers also received secondary help too.
That’s a recipe for success – and how sweet were the Devil tears tonight?
(That said – I’m not gloating – nor will I be King-Konging my chest over this win either. After all, I know what transpired during the last two games against the red-and-black attack; how the Rangers have played all-season; and what the standings look like today. However, I will enjoy this victory – but not as much as I am beating my chest right now over Notre Dame’s Orange Bowl win!)
One more time – I was shocked not only about the win – but how motivated the Rangers looked throughout Thursday night’s match.
While there were some hiccups without (and again – to be expected considering the high-level of their opponent) – and the Rangers were, and by far, the better team bell-to-bell.
Perhaps the previous two losses, both of an embarrassing nature, was the extra kick in the pants that this team needed.
In what started out as a somewhat slow and meandering game; then come the end of regulation time – and it was a complete barn burner – and a goalie’s duel too.
The Blueshirts, who had to kill two Devil power-plays (and they somewhat did it with ease) by the time the ten-minute mark of the first period had hit, then received an odd-man advantage of their own – and when Kurtis MacDermid, the Devils’ response to Rempe, took one of the most idiotic penalties of the season – and as he did at the 12:00 mark when he cross-checked Ryan Lindgren from behind – and with the puck nowhere in sight.
In a response, then Lindgren’s BFF, Adam Fox, scored five-seconds later, as following Trocheck’s o-zone faceoff win – then Fox slap-shotted his way to his second goal of the season.
In a tight checking game, but one that also featured a ton of near-misses (wide and high shot attempts), then it were the Devils who not only tied the game – but who also took the lead.
Trailing by one entering the second stanza – and Sheldon Keefe’s Queefs made the Rangers live up to their reputation – as once again, “Lavy’s Lot” were outscored during the middle period.
At the 4:03 mark, the newly minted and bonafide “RANGER KILLER,” Jack Hughes, scored a deflection goal following a tip on an “OH JOE, JOE PESCE JOE,” shot.
1-1.
Jesper Bratt, someone else who is no stranger to killing the Rangers, put the Devils ahead, 2-1, at the 8:28 mark, following a pass received from who else – Jack freakin’ Hughes.
(And for those who care – then I don’t hate Hughes. I’m just jealous that the Devils have him – and I will always wonder what would’ve happened had the Rangers had the first-overall pick one-year prior than they actually had. I’ll also tell you this – I’ll be rooting for him whenever he’s representing Team USA – as despite his rival status – I love good hockey – and he’s one hell of a player to watch.)
I can’t lie.
Down 2-1 – and yep – I proudly proclaimed that this game was over – as the Devils how now found their mojo.
I’ve never been happier to be more wrong.
The Rangers, so prone to just throwing in the towel whenever things don’t go their way, reversed that trend.
Rather than skating themselves to another pathetic loss; instead, and like John Cena, they said, “WE NEVER GIVE UP.”
Down to 4:20 remaining and still trailing 2-1 in this second frame, and we had some captain-on-captain violence – as Devils’ leader, Nico Hischier, had slashed the defacto captain of the Blueshirts, Vincent Trocheck.
Laviolette, who didn’t want to use his second quintet of man-up skaters on this night, kept his PP1 out there, and where in turn, these five men, Lafreniere, Panarin, Trocheck, Zibanejad and Fox, had two long attacks at Markstrom and Co.
The second one produced Panarin’s first goal of 2025 – and where finally – the bakery was rising some dough again.
As the two teams took their 2-2 tie to the locker room at the second intermission; once returned to play for the final frame – and these two warring sides of the Hudson River put on a show.
Simply stated?
This third period is one that you’d show to a new fan looking to get into the sport.
It was non-stop action for twenty-minutes – and where the wide-and-high shots had you on the edge of your seat – while the goaltenders pushed you off of it with their jaw-dropping denials.
However, and come the end of it – there wasn’t a tie-breaking goal scored – and you didn’t care that much about that fact either – as you just wanted to see these two teams continue and fight to the death.
Now into the 3 x 3 overtime – and there were many people wondering what a fourth line center, like Sam Carrick, was doing out there in this most ultimate display of a do-or-die skills competition/circus side-show.
Furthermore, and there were many people also wondering what the hell he was doing out there against one of the best players in the game, Jack Hughes.
Silencing the critics, and making Zibanejad look like an asshole too – and there was Carrick, who forced Hughes into an o-zone turnover, which in turn, led to a Rangers’ 2 x 1 rush against bratty Jesper.
In what essentially was a give-and-go, and Reilly Smith, who has been able to showcase the fact that he can play with anyone and with any line on this roster, dished the puck back to Carrick – and boom – the first Rangers’ overtime win of the season – and their best victory of their nineteen in total.
Look at this site’s name – BLUE COLLAR BLUE SHIRTS.
In other words, then it should come as no surprise to you that I was beaming with joy when seeing a fourth-line grinder, a mucker, a grit guy, a sandpaper man, a lunch-pailer, and yes, A BLUE COLLAR player too – calling game.
Better than that?
Watching every single one of Carrick’s teammates, and the coaching staff too, being as equally elated as I was.
For the Rangers to really turn this season around – and then hopefully repeat what the 2019 St. Louis Blues did – you need this bonding, this chemistry, the all-out support and love for your fellow teammate, in order to do so.
For the first time this season – and I think that we saw that on Thursday night – and at a M$G that didn’t sound like a morgue anymore.
At this time, let’s get the disclaimer segment out of the way before talking about everything else following a rare and exhilarating 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, forty-one down, forty-one 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 – “Lavy’s Lot” enduring their second overtime loss of the season:
NYR/DAL 1/7 Review: “The Find a New Way To Lose Rangers” Do It Again; Blow “The Dreaded Three-Goal Lead,” Latest Implosion Prevents Quick From Win #400, Minus Miller Takes The Heat – But It’s “The Breadman” Who Should Be In The Kitchen, Chytil Joins CK20 & CZAR IGOR on Walking Wounded List, Questioning Missing Mika to Vancouver Rumors, New Blueshirt Arthur Kaliyev Becomes Latest “Rempe Roadblock,” Hockey Fights Cancer; Good Luck Giannone, League Fails Lyubushkin, Rosen’s Obsession with the Smith Brothers; MSGN, Rare Frank Boucher Photo Unearthed & More
On Wednesday, and coming off the heels of the 5-4 overtime loss to Dallas – then once again, the Rangers had a busy twenty-four of news on another non-game day.
In some positive news, M$GN’s John Giannone, who had just revealed his recent prostate cancer diagnosis with fans on Tuesday night, followed up what he said on Twitter/X when he posted the following:
Hi all- As I said last night on @MSGNetworks, the support since my prostate cancer diagnosis has been overwhelming and SO impactful. And that goes tenfold for what I’ve seen here today. THANK YOU 🙏 for all the well wishes. I have read them all. And I will cherish them all. ♥️💪🏻
— John Giannone (@jaygeemsg) January 8, 2025
As said last time in this space, and as I’ll say again here, GOOD LUCK TO JOHN GIANNONE (from the Projects in Boonton)!
He will beat this.
In other news away from the Rangers’ roster themselves, then the league announced that the Blueshirts would be returning to the great outdoors for the 2026 Winter Classic – and this time in Miami:
Here’s what the NHL had to say about the game, where in addition, another outdoor game in the Sunshine State, where the Tampa Bay Lightning will host the Boston Bruins, was also announced for February 1st:
Raymond James Stadium, home of the National Football League’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers, will be the ninth NFL Stadium to host an outdoor game and seventh to host a Stadium Series.
This the second time the NHL has hosted an outdoor event in a warm-weather climate. On Jan. 25, 2014, the Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings played a Stadium Series game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.
“Yeah, it’s going to be fun for sure,” Florida center Aleksander Barkov said. “I mean, it’s not the most typical place to hold a Winter Classic, but, why not? Like, if they can make it happen, it’s going to be amazing. And, at our home, too. And playing against the Rangers, the Rangers are such a great organization and franchise and a lot of fans from there. And so it’s going to be a lot of fun.”
With the Columbus Blue Jackets hosting the Detroit Red Wings in the 2025 Stadium Series at Ohio Stadium on March 1, the Panthers will become the 31st of the NHL’s 32 teams to play outdoors, leaving the Utah Hockey Club as the only franchise left.
TNT will broadcast the 2026 NHL Winter Classic exclusively in the U.S. while ESPN will carry the 2026 NHL Stadium Series. Sportsnet and TVA Sports will deliver both games to fans in Canada.
Additional details for each of the two 2026 outdoor hockey events, including start times and ticketing information, will be announced at a later date when available.
My initial reaction to this news was – WOW – as you’d think that if the league was going to host an outdoor game in Florida – then it would be between the Panthers and Lightning.
However, with many New York transplants living in Florida, and a myriad of other Big Apple residents also vacationing in the Sunshine State during the winter months – then it made sense.
That said, I wonder if Rangers vs Bolts and Bruins vs Cats would have been stronger rivalry games for these pair of matches under the sun.
But since “The Winter Classic” is the marquee event – then it’s understandable why the NHL would want the league’s biggest market featured on that day.
As someone who has been to an outdoor game before, now over a decade ago, and as someone who’s seen every wintry game on television too – from at least my perspective – then I think that these games have lost their luster.
Furthermore, after sitting in the freezing cold, and where the sight lines are terrible, then I have no interest in ever attending another one.
But with this Rangers vs Panthers game in Miami, and let’s not forget, it’s still just like any other regular season match (two points with a win, zero points with a loss), then the warm and sunny skies that Florida has to offer is a nice incentive.
A vacation away from the New York weather is also a nice bonus.
In other words, then I think that I have my first road-trip planned for the 2025-26 season!
But since this game is still something like 350-days away, then we can move on from here and talk about it more once we get there.
Following both what Giannone said, and the news about the outdoor game too; then the Rangers were also returned to their training facility in Tarrytown, NY on Wednesday.
Obviously, the big question surrounding the club was the status of Filip Chytil – and where Laviolette wouldn’t divulge any information about his “Concussed Czech” – outside of saying that “he’s progressing.”
I’m also progressing a roast beef sandwich through my intestines right now too!
Since the team is mum on what’s presently plaguing Filip Brittle, then all of the speculation about the center sustaining another concussion only becomes even more amplified.
Had the head coach said something like, “he banged up his shoulder,” or anything else akin to that – then all of this concussion talk would be deaded – and where if this continues – then people will wonder when Filip CTE will become brain-dead himself.
As everyone wondered what’s next for Chytil, it was a player that usually gives concussions, rather than taking them, Matt Rempe, who was at the forefront following practice.
Rempe, now able to publicly speak for the first time since his suspension, made mention that he needs to adjust his game, while also not shying away from the fact that the league treats him differently from everyone else.
Here’s the black-and-white of what Rempe said on Wednesday:
For the color version, where you can detect both tone and inflection, then here are the video clips from his first interview back:
“I’ve got to be smarter than that”
Matt Rempe talks about his suspensions: pic.twitter.com/98x6jKeCjj
— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) January 8, 2025
Matt Rempe plans on “veering on the side of caution for now” because he is a “marked man”
He knows that another hit could lead to a “huge” suspension pic.twitter.com/59IPjUGHxm
— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) January 8, 2025
Matt Rempe is looking forward to getting back in the lineup for the Rangers:
“It’s a dream come true, especially to do it in New York – it’s an honor to play. I’ve got to be smarter, bring that energy, more controlled, but be smarter.” pic.twitter.com/JIIbvKcHEZ
— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) January 8, 2025
While I’ve made it clear that I believe that #73 has developed a “REMPUTATION” throughout the league, and where both the officials and the powers-to-be don’t treat him fairly because of his size; then I also think that he said all of the right things on Wednesday.
However, I do wonder if this latest brush with the law will neuter his game a bit, thus rendering him less effective.
In other words, I can see Rempe holding back, where in turn, such future events, indecisive ones, can lead to negative plays, such as turnovers, a weak forecheck and goals allowed.
(Spoiler: That happened tonight against the Devils.)
And while I don’t believe that he needs to fight every game in order to be at his best, but I can also see him hesitating and walking away from challenges, as he doesn’t want to face any more league discipline.
Then there’s also his head coach, Lavy The Clown, who has sent him to Hartford more times this season than I care to count.
Keep in mind, for a Presidents’ Trophy winning team last year, and whenever Rempe was dressed, and the club went 16-2.
Today, and Rempe can barely crack onto a roster that features one of the worst teams in league.
But of course – and the Rangers aren’t exactly known for their elite development skills either.
I wish the best for Rempe’s career, as I really do think that he can be a major asset – and more important than that – help the team win.
However, and as he even admitted, he now has to skate on eggshells – and that’s going to be a major adjustment for a guy who only knows how to play one way.
While on the topic of the Rangers developing young players – or their lack thereof; then come Thursday morning, GAME DAY – and Laviolette made it clear that Jones would be sitting upstairs again.
We all know the deal about Jones – and heck – I’ve been writing about this story during the past month now.
In an update, then Elliotte Friedman (SportsNet), reported late Tuesday night (following the loss to the Stars), that Rangers’ general manager, Chris Drury, had given Jones and his agent permission to seek a trade elsewhere.
It should be mentioned here that if Jones and his agent can find another suitor for his services – then the deal has to make sense for Drury too.
Friedman also made a great point about Jones’ future, as he pretty much reiterated what most of us have said for some time now:
Due to Jones’ small stature, then you’re not going to have many playoff bound teams, squads looking for big brutes and rugged rearguards, knocking at his door.
Put it this way: If a playoff team had to make a trade with the Rangers for one of their blue liners, then Will Borgen would receive all of the attention over Jones.
Either way, then it does feel like Jones has played his last game as a Ranger (barring injury to a regular) and that a trade is imminent.
Elsewhere on Thursday morning and it was reported that Filip Chytil was skating by himself – which seems commonplace throughout his career.
Again, no word on what Chytil’s injury actually is – nor when he’s expected to be back either.
However, CZAR IGOR is back, which means that Louis Domingue is down (he was returned to Hartford at high-noon), and it was the 2022 Vezina Trophy winner that was announced as Thursday night’s starter.
Following the practice and Lateralette announced that Rempe would be returning (but only because Chris Kreider and Filip Chytil remain out) and that the newest Blueshirt in-town, former King, Arthur Kaliyev, would be making his Rangers’ debut.
At the time, this news suggested that Jimmy Vesey would become the lone forward scratch, as he was the one who took the extra skate with Jones.
And that wound up being the case.
Here was Laviolette’s line-up for the forty-first game of this 2024-25 season:
FIRST LINE: Panarin/Trocheck/Lafreniere
SECOND LINE: Cuylle/Mika/Smith
THIRD LINE: Kaliyev/Brodzinski/Berard
FOURTH LINE: Edstrom/Carrick/Rempe
FIRST PAIR: Lindgren/Fox
SECOND PAIR: Miller/Borgen
THIRD PAIR: Vaakanainen/Schneider
STARTING GOALIE: CZAR IGOR
BACK UP GOALIE: Jonathan Quick
IR: Chris Kreider
DAY-TO-DAY: Filip Chytil
HEALTHY SCRATCHES: Zac Jones and Jimmy Vesey
BOX SCORE time.
The following graphics and information come from ESPN.com:
SCORING:
PENALTIES:
TEAM STATS:
GOALIES:
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NJD
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SA
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GA
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SV
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SV%
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ESSV
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PPSV
|
SHSV
|
SOSA
|
SOS
|
TOI
|
PIM
|
| 32 | 3 | 29 | .906 | 24 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 62:48 | 0 |
|
NYR
|
|
SA
|
GA
|
SV
|
SV%
|
ESSV
|
PPSV
|
SHSV
|
SOSA
|
SOS
|
TOI
|
PIM
|
| 23 | 2 | 21 | .913 | 15 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 62:48 | 0 |
I didn’t watch any of the M$GN pregame show tonight – and I wouldn’t have had I been home anyway.
After all, shithead Sieve Vagistat was once again left to his own devices – and where many readers told me that he plugged his terrible ANALytical company, one that we didn’t have to hear during his recent two-week absence, no less than twenty-times.
At this time, let’s get into our shortest GAME REVIEW of the season – a clip-version – as after all, I believe that I already did a good job of telling you what happened.
FIRST PERIOD
In a game featuring a ton of misses, and it was Panarin, then Trocheck, who made Markstrom first let out a sigh of relief.
Fox, and for the first time in a while, displayed his elite skill-handling, and as he did 3:10 in, when he stopped, stalled, turned-and-burned and then went straight to the net with a nifty backhander.
While this shot attempt didn’t lead to a goal – it was encouraging nonetheless.
At the 5:50 mark, you said to yourself, “Oh no, not again,” as it looked like Luke Hughes had scored.
In reality, his shot hit off the crossbar, which in real-time – looked like it had dropped over the goal line too – but it did not.
Following a quick review and the goal was correctly waved off – and where CZAR IGOR, and everyone else too, echoed Markstrom’s previous sigh of relief.
The Rangers had to kill two penalties within the first ten-minutes – a questionable Fox high-sticking call and later, an infraction that every coach absolutely detests – too many men on the ice.
The Blueshirts killed both – but it should be noted that they have been apt to take these Vagistat bedroom penalties far too frequently – which is probably due to the rotating roster and line-ups.
Following the Rangers’ second kill – and there was Missing Mika turning over the puck – again.
The Blueshirts survived the dee-jay’s latest error, which in turn, led to MacDermid taking his stupid penalty against Lindgren – and Fox then avenging the name of his BFF while on the PP:
Foxy!! It’s a Power Play Goal! #NYR pic.twitter.com/jXxLnFonDS
— David 🏒 (@DaveyUpper) January 10, 2025
1-0, GOOD GUYS – and a much needed goal for #23 too.
As noted above, the two teams continued to play a tight game after the opening strike – and by the end of the period – the Rangers preserved their lead.
Here’s what I said come the end of the first frame:
1-0, Feelings, after 20. 1P Thoughts:
— Tonight’s https://t.co/pbL0K5NsMb blog will be tough tonight – the streams aren’t working and the WiFi has gone down too.
— Plus, Notre Dame is about to start!
— Special Teams Swing Games, #NYR PP 1-2, PK 2-2
— Can’t believe the…— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) January 10, 2025
SECOND PERIOD
As the “unlicensed” stream worked without issues at the start of this period – and Rosen immediately told us how the Rangers suck during 2P’s.
He wasn’t wrong – and of course – this reverse curse proved fruitful.
Following horrible misses (these shot attempts should’ve been goals) from Will Cuylle (1:20 mark) and Timo “Unibrow” Meier (3:20 mark), and Hughes, who was already decreed as our player of the game from his most fanatic fan boy, Sam Rosen, knotted things up at the 4:03 mark:
Igor with the giveaway .. tie game 1-1 #NYR pic.twitter.com/5PFgOxgfJs
— David 🏒 (@DaveyUpper) January 10, 2025
1-1.
In perhaps his biggest save of the game is when CZAR IGOR denied a Hughes-to-Mercer one-timer with 11:58 mark.
However, the Devils didn’t relent, as immediately afterwards, Dougie Hamilton leveled Cuylle (and I hate to say it – but this game was arguably #50’s worst of the season – but he’s allowed – as after all – he’s been one of the better Blueshirts thus far), which then led to Bratt picking up the 2-1, bad guys, goal:
Maybe the most fuck you hockey sequence of the year on this shift. Dougie Ferda lays a guy out and then Jesper Bratt does whatever the hell he pleases and buries one like it was easy pic.twitter.com/9scBEAti3O
— Rob Gucci (@heatdaddy69420) January 10, 2025
Also taking place during this period?
A failed 2 x 0 chance between Smith and Trocheck:
I get having to be unselfish on a 2-on-0, but Reilly Smith kinda handcuffed Vinny Trocheck here.
Not much room for Trocheck to do anything, Markstrom read it the whole way.pic.twitter.com/JHtyD6QIbO
— Jonny Lazarus (@JLazzy23) January 10, 2025
You should probably be flogged if you can’t beat a goalie during a chance like this – but since the Rangers won – then this play will fall to the cutting room floor.
Down to 4:20 remaining, the Rangers were back on the power-play – and Panarin was finally back on the scoreboard too:
Artemi Panarin ties it up! pic.twitter.com/B2bK7JWbDk
— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) January 10, 2025
2-2 – and where we stayed after forty-minutes.
Here’s what I said at the time:
2-2 after 2. 2P Thoughts:
— Feels like a game from last season – nothing at 5 x 5 for #NYR but elite special teams are carrying them.
— Power-play 2-2, PK 3-3.
— Hughes and Bratt are automatic against the Rangers.
— Sieve Vagistat remains a class A asshole
— Devils…
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) January 10, 2025
THIRD PERIOD
The Blueshirts, as already noted, dominated play – but they didn’t have the goals to show for it.
The Rangers, who only got better as the game progressed, out-shot the Devils at a tune of 2:1 during this final frame (12-6) – but Markstom was able to rack up a perfect dozen of amazing saves.
And really, that’s why the Devils have immensely improved this season – goaltending
Sure, recovering from injuries last season is also a part of it (Hamilton and Hughes) – but without Markstrom and Allen this season – then I don’t think that New Jersey would be a viable Cup contender.
These final twenty-minutes was hockey on both cocaine and Jesse Spano caffeine pills – as it was just non-stop, heart-attack inducing and “exciting” action – and too much for my fat fingers to keep up with.
However, this was also the only period where we didn’t see a score.
I also want to mention here, because I haven’t said anything about them yet, that I thought that the Miller/Borgen pair played well – and maybe they are now finally getting to know each other’s style and preferences.
2-2 after regulation time.
Here’s what I said at the time:
So the Rangers only had one overtime game this season (the home opener), now about to play their second consecutive one here. It’s a point in the standings, good if you want a first round exit, bad if you want Hagens. 2-2 after 60. #nyr
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) January 10, 2025
OVERTIME
CZAR IGOR made one huge save to start.
Markstrom saw that huge save and then called the Russian with one more.
However, the Devil didn’t win the flop – as this is when Carrick went all-in:
Ok, who had Sam Carrick for the OT winner? #NYR pic.twitter.com/xliLopr4Kg
— David 🏒 (@DaveyUpper) January 10, 2025
3-2, GOOD GUYS – and where maybe it moved a little for you downstairs too!
Here’s Carrick’s post-game interview, who admitted that he “blacked out” a bit after his GWG, along with Fox and Smith:
I’ll really take a deep dive into the future of the Rangers when I do my Mid-Season Report Card over the weekend – but one quick glance at the standings – and DUH – the Blueshirts have a lot of work to do.
In short, they desperately need a five-, a six-, a seven-, hell make it a round number of ten- game-winning streak.
With the win and the Rangers maintained their lead over the Islanders, while also jumping Philadelphia.
For those hoping for playoffs over Hagen, then three of the teams that the Rangers have to jump – Montreal, Ottawa and Detroit – can be leapt over.
However, there’s also a ton of division and conference games to be played, which in turn, means that one of these three are guaranteed to win – if not win via overtime (three-point games) too.
Sidney Crosby’s Penguins will be tough to pass – as they still believe they are in WIN-NOW mode – and you have to bet on GM Kyle Dubas to beef-up his black-and-yellow team before the deadline.
The Blue Jackets, a Cinderella team, but also one that everyone wants to root for, are playing their best hockey ever since the days of John Tortorella.
The Rangers have yet to play them – but they will play them four-times between 1/18 and 3/15.
The Blueshirts need to have their own “Ides of March” against this divisional foe.
The Bruins, currently on a six-game losing streak, are trending downwards – and with some wins from the Rangers – a team that the Blueshirts can surpass.
But I do want to add this before closing:
Even if the Rangers are somehow, and in some way, able to claw their way to a second wild card (and for the record – I don’t see it happening – and I hope to be wrong about this) – then they better hope that they don’t draw the likes of Florida, Tampa, Washington or Tampa in the first-round – as all four of these teams will decimate the Blueshirts, in their present state, in a seven-game showdown.
But if the Rangers, who will probably be adding, rather than selling, at the deadline, draw the Leafs?
Then perhaps the league will see a 2019 St. Louis Blues redux – and that’s the one hope that all residents of Rangerstown, USA are clinging onto.
Up Next For the Rangers: A flight to The Strip – and then a Saturday night affair against the Knights.
Up Next For Me: Buying Orange Bowl Champions merch – and bedtime too!
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
