Greetings and salutations everyone and welcome to another blog here on BlueCollarBlueShirts.com. The Rangers sure are a big fan of the rock act “The Who.”
After all, “Baba O’Riley” has been their playoff anthem for some time now, and where following these past two games played – both wins – and all I can hear is another hit from “The Who” – and you may know it too –“Won’t Get Fooled Again!”
(And yep – I remain leery, jaded and skeptical about the Blueshirts – and where I refuse to allow that “Rangers’ Rug” to be pulled out from underneath my feet ever again too!)
On Wednesday night, and very much similar to their win from Sunday against the Vegas Golden Knights – and the Blueshirts needed another third period comeback in order to erase a previous forty-minutes of uninspiring hockey.
But for a beer-bellied-and-butt blogger who sure loves his adages and a colloquialisms (big word for a blogger), then here’s another:
“It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish.”
From the glass half-full perspective, then the Rangers, and for the first time this season, have strung back-to-back victories via the third period comeback – and where prior to this month – the Blueshirts had only won once whenever entering a game trailing in the third period.
(Conversely? The Bruins were 16-0-4, now 16-1-4, whenever leading while entering a final frame.)
The word “resilient,” a positive adjective, is the first word that comes to mind after seeing these past two games.
On the other side, the glass half-empty perspective, then this style of winning is not sustainable – and where let’s face it – the Blueshirts also caught both the Knights (struggling/low point of the season) and the Bruins (the schedule/travel) at the right time too.
But of course, no one cares about style points right now (nor what the opponent is enduring either) – as it’s all about winning – and making sure that your foe, and especially should they reside in the Eastern Conference, doesn’t leave the rink with a point either.
I know that nobody wants to read or hear about the Blueshirts being bad, especially even more so following a win, but we must tell the truth here:
The Rangers have been more lucky than good – and where again – catching these teams under unfortunate circumstances has benefited the Blueshirts too.
The first period from Morgue $quare Garden was a complete snoozefest – and where it was blatantly obvious that the Bruins were worn out after playing the night before.
Conversely, the Rangers had the past two-days off – and despite their own current predicament of playoff peril – never displayed one ounce of desperation.
“Lavy’s Lot,” which had every advantage imaginable when entering Wednesday night (their starter vs the B’s back-up, home ice, rest, etc), never capitalized during the early stages of this match.
Put it this way:
The Bruins didn’t record their first shot on goal until there was only 7:21 remaining in the first frame – and where they wound up totaling only three SOG during the opening twenty-minutes.
The Rangers?
They managed eight shots on goal – which also doubled-up as their most amount of SOG in any period.
Much of this game played out like every single other game ever since Matt Rempe’s return from suspension – and where in a new kicker – it was actually REMPESTEIN who finished with a game-high four shots on goal too.
In other words?
The fourth line, now featuring Jimmy Vesey for the injured Adam Edstrom (more below), remained as the most consistent, productive and best Rangers’ trio – and even if the black-and-white box score suggests otherwise.
(And that’s why the EYE TEST trumps all – and this also applies to the first goal that the Rangers scored tonight too.)
After a first period that was like watching paint dry, then the only place to go from there was up.
Artemi Panarin opened up the scoring at the 6:07 mark of the second stanza – and where J.T. Miller, who made the whole play happen, didn’t even receive an assist (EYE TEST)!
Miller, who as a result of being slighted by the official statisticians (but they weren’t wrong either – however – if he were Wayne Gretzky, then he’d get this point), had his point streak snapped come the final horn.
But for the people who realize that black-and-white stats and ANALytics never tell you the full story (hence why a site like the one you’re reading is needed), then everyone knows that it was Miller who went to the boards, won a battle, dug deep, looked to pass to Mika Zibanejad, connected on it (with a Bruin touching the puck first, which is why the assist wasn’t rewarded), and where as a result, Mika found Panarin for the easy one-timer.
Mika and Panarin get all the credit – but again – this goal never happens without the newest two-time Blueshirt.
In a game where both teams did a good job of limiting each other and forcing each other to the perimeter – then it was a sixteen-second hiccup that screamed “RANGER DANGER!”
At the 15:03 mark, David Pastrnak, who is not competing in the NHL cash grab Four Nauseous “Best vs Best” Tournament because he hails from the wrong country (Czech Republic), beat CZAR IGOR, who is also not participating in a tournament that nobody cares about, and only because the league (and the IIHF too) punishes players who before even leaving the womb, dared their parents to procreate in Russia, for the 1-1 equalizer.
(What a Kamala Harris “word-salad” inspired paragraph! And “Holy Bad Grammar Batman” too! But it’s late, so bear with me!)
(Also, and because I don’t steal, I just promote: The “Four Nauseous” joke credit goes out to Eddie Gieck of “The Blueshirt Underground Show.” Look them up on YouTube and on Facebook, as they have the best Rangers’ show around.)
Sixteen-seconds after Pastrnak’s goal and Elias Lindholm fired a puck at CZAR IGOR – and one that took a bounce off of Adam Fox’s skate too – which resulted as the 2-1, bad guys goal.
Thankfully, and where the Bruins’ tired legs was just as part of it as the Blueshirts’ defense was – and this was the final goal that the visitors would score on this fateful evening.
Boston, who could never get their power-play going (0-3), blew an excellent chance to up their lead to 3-1, as Vincent Trocheck was boxed for interfering with Brad Marchand with only 47-seconds remaining in the second period.
The Rangers, who successfully killed off this penalty, then soon received a power-play themselves – as Marchand, “The Rat,” committed a dumb penalty himself at the 3:25 mark of the final frame – and as he did when he intentionally skated into CZAR IGOR.
On a night where the Rangers’ power-play was no better (0-3 – and where this really speaks to PP1 more than does about PP2), couldn’t muster up much.
However, the second man-up quintet showed signs of life as the power-play was expiring – and just two-seconds after it concluded – and just as Marchand got his second skate on the ice too – and there was Trocheck tipping in a puck shot from the point from the other Miller, first name K’Andre.
2-2.
The turning point for either side took place with 9:58 remaining, as referee Kelly Sutherland, a Rempe Hater from day one (who can forget how he was verbally admonishing and berating the big man last year against Carolina?), sent #73 to the sin-bin for two-minutes for a wishy-washy holding infraction.
As it goes for Rempe, then if anyone else did what he did, then nothing would have been called.
In a way, he’s become the NHL’s version of the anti Patrick Mahomes, so much so, that after Troy Aikman recently called out the NFL officials for favoring Mahomes and his Chiefs (in their playoff win against the Houston Texans), that during this TNT broadcast, and Brian Boucher was criticizing the NHL officials for targeting Rempe.
The Rangers rallied behind this latest travesty of injustice – and rather than letting it to derail them.
As the Bruins’ gifted power-play was set to expire, then, and just eight-seconds before such an event could transpire – and there was Chris Kreider, flying down the ice as if he was Usain Bolt running a 50-meter race, to take a pass from his BFF, and then bury the puck behind Jonas Korpisalo from a tough angle.
What’s that famous quote of mine?
Oh yeah, this one:
“SPECIAL TEAMS SWING GAMES!”
And the Rangers’ PK sure swung this one!
3-2, good guys, following Kreider’s twelfth short-handed goal scored since the 2021-22 season – and where not only does he have more shorties than any other player since that time – but he only started his penalty killing career during that Gerard Gallant led campaign too – as it was “The Turk” who first noticed that CK20 had the makings of a varsity penalty killer.
There was 8:06 remaining in regulation when Kreider put the Rangers ahead – and despite pulling their goalie and having several “GOOD LOOKS” too – and there was never a time where you thought that the Rangers would blow it either – which I think also speaks to how bad Boston looked too.
On a night where CZAR IGOR didn’t really have to do much (he only faced a season-low 17 SOG, but also finished with a meager .882 save percentage) and the Rangers got goals and assists from their brand name players, including Panarin (1G), Trocheck (1G), Kreider (1G), Mika (2A) and Fox (1A).
And of course, there was also the non-credited assist that J.T. Miller had too.
But despite all of the big buck Blueshirts, aka THE FAT CATS, and it was still my opinion that it was the fourth line that stood tall amongst all.
That said, and as we all know too, then for the Rangers to pull off any sort of miraculous run to the playoffs – then they will need their top-stars to shine – as it just can’t be the fourth line every night.
And you’d also like to see these stars shine early – because once the silly tournament wraps up – then the schedule really ramps up – which in turn – you’d like to see some blowout wins as part of the equation, as a way to conserve energy/wear-and-tear.
Final thought of this intro?
At this rate, then nothing really matters right now except the answer to this question:
“Did The Rangers Win?”
On to the next one – and on to our next segment too!
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, fifty-three down, twenty-nine 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 wouldn’t bet on it.
In case you missed it, then here’s where I last left off – the Rangers having one good period against Vegas:
NYR/VGK 2/2 Review: Jonathan Quick Becomes First U.S. Born Goalie To Reach 400 Wins; JQ32’s N.Y. Legacy, Rangers Use Rare Comeback to Beat Knights; Blueshirts Open Two Cans of MILLER TIME, “J.T. Effect” Has Already Emerged; “The Great Eight” Carrying The Offense, Mika Hits Scoring Quota For the Month; Panarin Back On The Board Too, Special Teams Swing Games, Standings, “Too Little Too Late,” M$GN & More
Following the Blueshirts’ pair of back-to-back matches over the weekend (Saturday at Boston, Sunday against Vegas), then come Monday and the team had the day off.
On Tuesday, at the team’s training facility in Tarrytown, we finally got an update on Adam Edstrom, who was injured this past Saturday in Beantown.
Sadly for Big Ed, Steady Eddie or whatever other moniker that you want to use – and it was revealed that he’ll miss anywhere from ten-to-twelve weeks (or in other words, up to three months) with a lower-body injury.
The specifics of Edstrom’s injury, and as is always the case, weren’t shared.
As a result, then all anyone can do is speculate about it, and where the top guess is some sort of a soft tissue ailment.
Unless the Rangers make the playoffs, then Edstrom’s sophomore season, this 2024-25 campaign, has come to an end.
For the super-sized Swede, this injury, the first of his pro career, comes at a bad time – but where really – all injuries are bad no matter when you receive them.
Edstrom, and as we all know, has been playing fantastic this season.
He’s also one of a select and rare few to have shown up in every game and where only his linemates, Matt Rempe and Sam Carrick, can say the same.
To a lesser extent, you can also include back-up goaltender, Jonathan Quick, with this fourth line crew.
(And of course, you can say the same thing about J.T. Miller – but it’s only been for three games.)
Good luck Edstrom and we all hope to see him back next season (I just don’t see this team reaching the playoffs).
As far as Tuesday’s practice goes, and where this Edstrom news was a godsend for Jimmy Vesey too (nobody roots for injuries, but this Edstrom injury opens a door for a player that was just asking to be traded over a week ago because he wasn’t getting any playing time), then the line-up remained the same from the team’s win against the Knights on Sunday.
On Wednesday morning, game day, the team had an optional A.M. skate, and where once again, the line-up, and the special team units too, also remained in-tact.
After all, the only two players to show up to the optional morning skate were Zac Jones and Arthur Kaliyev, which as a result, confirmed that they would be the two healthy scratches for this prime time tilt on TNT.
Or so we thought.
Just prior to pregame warm-ups and it was announced that Urho Vaakanainen was sick, and as a result, he wouldn’t be able to play.
In turn, Zac Jones played for the first time since December 23rd.
We all know how Vesey and Jones have been seeking new employers, but for GM Chris Drury, having roster depth is also important, which is why both are still here in the present.
I thought that both Vesey and Jones played well enough on Wednesday night – but at the same time – they didn’t really do anything of significance in order to usurp who they were replacing.
In the case of Vesey, then he’ll be safe for a bit since Edstrom’s injury is long-term – but that’s also assuming that Drury & Laviolette don’t look to rework this fourth line.
However, why would they, as Vesey has flourished in this role.
For Jones, then it’s hard to see him back when the Rangers play next – and with the current state of the defense – it is best for him to move on elsewhere – and you have to feel for him too – as he did every right thing but was always passed over for somebody else.
Here was Laviolette’s line-up for the fifty-third game of this 2024-25 season:
FIRST LINE: Panarin/Miller/Zibanejad
SECOND LINE: Smith/Trocheck/Lafreniere
THIRD LINE: Kreider/Brodzinski/Cuylle
FOURTH LINE: Vesey/Carrick/Rempe
FIRST PAIR: Lindgren/Fox
SECOND PAIR: Miller/Borgen
THIRD PAIR: Jones/Schneider
STARTING GOALIE: CZAR IGOR
BACK UP GOALIE: Jonathan Quick
DIARRHEA: Urho Vaakanainen
LTIR : Adam Edstrom
HEALTHY SCRATCHES: Arthur Kaliyev
BOX SCORE time.
The following graphics and information come from ESPN.com:
SCORING:
PENALTIES:
TEAM STATS:
GOALIES:
|
BOS
|
|
SA
|
GA
|
SV
|
SV%
|
ESSV
|
PPSV
|
SHSV
|
SOSA
|
SOS
|
TOI
|
PIM
|
| 22 | 3 | 19 | .864 | 17 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 58:01 | 0 |
|
NYR
|
|
SA
|
GA
|
SV
|
SV%
|
ESSV
|
PPSV
|
SHSV
|
SOSA
|
SOS
|
TOI
|
PIM
|
| 17 | 2 | 15 | .882 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 60:00 | 0 |
As noted earlier, tonight’s tilt was broadcasted on TNT.
Since I was at work – then I didn’t see any of the pregame show – outside of the end of it.
I only mention this because I just found it bizarre, spooky and somewhat poetic too, that Henrik Lundqvist was asking Jonathan Quick about what it was like winning his 400th game as a Ranger.
Those ghosts of 2014 will never leave me – although my former hatred of the best American goalie in league history has long escaped me!
As far as the TNT broadcast itself goes, and one that I’ve routinely praised as the best in the business ever since they got the rights to these games – and I felt this was the worst one that I’ve ever seen.
While Kenny Albert remains as my favorite play-by-play man in the game; I just thought there were too many bits that screamed “CRINGE.”
There were about five-minutes of his partners, Jody Shelley and Brian Boucher, going back-and-forth about their own careers – and where we were also shown clips of their playing days too.
In TNT’s defense – the first period was a snoozer – and really – outside of five-minutes of action – and this game was pretty boring too.
But it was just too much – and where it also felt like M$GN at times too – and that’s not a good thing.
After all, I must’ve heard that J.T. Miller and Vincent Trocheck were BFF about 7986786986986986686 times – and where such talk is already as tiresome as, “OH JOE, DID YOU KNOW THAT ADAM FOX IS FROM JERICHO, NY JOE?”
I guess that I see the other side of it, as one, I’m not a casual and two, this was for a national audience.
But after the 767867863784th mention – and TNT could’ve moved on from there.
And I don’t know if it was just me, but I also felt like TNT was experimenting with new camera angles, as at points, this game felt like it was being shot from the hands of Michael J. Fox.
Again, “NHL on TNT” is my favorite television show today – but like other high quality shows – and this just felt like a bad episode of a top-notch series.
At least it had a good ending!
GAME REVIEW TIME – and where as always, for the live and complete play-by-play, then check out my Tweeter/X feed over at https://x.com/NYCTheMiC
FIRST PERIOD
As I was wondering why the Bruins didn’t use their starter, Swayman, in what was a four-point in the standings match, then CZAR IGOR and Jonas Korpisalo exchanged glares as Zibanejad was winning the first faceoff of the contest.
However, and at just the 41-second mark, and there was Ryan Lindgren taking another bad penalty in a first period – and this time for tripping Lindholm.
The Rangers’ PK, who just gave up two PPGs to Boston this past Saturday, were much more formidable here – and again – I think that the Bruins’ schedule was a big part of that.
(But to be clear: Every team has schedule issues, and where for all 32-teams, all of this stuff balances out in the end.)
The Bruins never put a SOG during this power-play, nor ever truly set-up their attack either.
Down to 16:21 remaining and now out of the box – and Lindgren forced Korpisalo into making his second save of the game.
After that, Panarin perfectly set-up Fox, but the 2021 Norris Trophy winner couldn’t find twine.
As we hit the seven-minute mark and the SOG stat read as NYR 2, BOS 0 – so there wasn’t that much going on.
I even said this at the time:
Rangers really need to get the first one before BOS gets their legs back after playing last night. #NYR
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) February 6, 2025
I then said this in real-time:
Frederic tries a wrap around, it’s defended, Cuylle with an intercept and BOS still without a SOG with 10:30 to go. #NYR needs to take advantage of them while they are tired.
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) February 6, 2025
Outside of dump, chase, turnover and repeat – then this game was as exciting as watching grass grow – and almost as boring as Sieve Vagistat talking about his made-up stats.
In fact, and with tumbleweeds blowing around on the ice – this then led Albert, Boucher and Shelley into a riveting five-minute conversation about suits – and where the punchline at the end of this idle chatter was about how Henrik Lundqvist has never worn the same suit twice.
The topic of conversation changed when Pavel Zacha, Pavel Zacha, dormez vous, dormez vous, registered the first Boston SOG – CZAR IGOR’s first save of the game too – and when there was only 7:21 left to play.
A few seconds later and Rempe set-up Schneider – but Korpisalo made the save.
Following the freeze-and-whistle, and the Bruins tried to engage Rempe into taking a stupid retaliation penalty.
The big man wouldn’t oblige – but it’s not like that would matter – as Sutherland has it out for him anyway.
Down to 5:10 remaining and Trocheck had all-day to shoot at the net from the slot – but he went wide.
This just can’t happen.
The puck has to go on net – and even if the goalie cleanly makes the save, then at least you have a better chance of a getting a rebound goal when compared to just flinging the rubber at the boards – ala – “The Mika.”
Rempe, who had a nose for the net all game, almost scored with 2:05 remaining – and after guess what – a rebound following a Korpisalo save on Fox.
The Blueshirts’ defense, as mentioned earlier, did a great job of keeping the Bruins to the boards, which also explains their paltry SOG total.
One example of this was with a minute remaining – as K’Andre Miller calmly forced a streaking Pastrnak to the boards, penalty box side.
Nada after one period.
Here’s what I said at the time:
Scoreless after 20. 1P Thoughts:
— Not much going on.
— Lindgren anytime penalty prop bet hits.
— Bruins don’t get a SOG until there was 7:21 to go, #NRY lead this dept 8-3.
— Fourth line = best line – we’ve said that a lot this season.
— Rangers screwed themselves -…— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) February 6, 2025
SECOND PERIOD
The first five-minutes of this game was a promotional spot for the cash grab gimmick tournament – and where B’s GM, Don Sweeney, was there to shovel this shit down our throats.
But again, there wasn’t much to talk about either, as both teams picked up from where they left off.
No joke?
Not even 5:30 in and I was rubbing my eyes.
But my eyes perked up, like a cocaine addict taking that first big whiff and sniff, when at the 6:07 mark, Miller set-up Panarin’s opening strike:
Panarin opens the game up 1-0 #NYR pic.twitter.com/kuKGfdN23O
— David 🏒 (@DaveyUpper) February 6, 2025
1-0, good guys – and finally – some life too!
While the Rangers weren’t bad or anything like that; but at the same time, you can’t win if you can’t score – and finally – we had a score.
The Blueshirts then had two chances to extend their lead, as at the 7:36 mark, Geekie tripped Brodzinski, while at the 11:01 mark, Peeke high-sticked Trocheck.
(And doesn’t “THE GEEK & THE PEEK” sound like a great podcast name?)
However, both of these power-plays were awful, and where only Brodzinski, while on PP2, registered a SOG.
In other words – an 0-2 power-play with only one SOG.
Down to 6:02 remaining – the following:
#NYR 👀 https://t.co/GcsIh6xmJW pic.twitter.com/sAkb4kXkdR
— David 🏒 (@DaveyUpper) February 6, 2025
Had Rempe scored on this backhanded breakaway attempt, and as he did earlier this season – then you’d have city workers still cleaning up the roof of M$G that had blown off into the streets of NYC.
While Rempe didn’t score here – the Bruins soon did – and they did so twice:
David Pastrnak finds twine for the 28th time this season, tying it up for Boston!#NHLBruins pic.twitter.com/2yvtvemhQl
— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) February 6, 2025
1-1.
Sixteen seconds later, the following:
Two goals in 16 seconds for Boston as Elias Lindholm rips one home!#NHLBruins pic.twitter.com/nJGgGJZkAS
— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) February 6, 2025
2-1, bad guys – and where let’s face it – all of us were fearing the worst – another Rangers’ loss.
What had been a seven-save shutout at the 35-minute mark of the game was now a one-goal deficit for the Blueshirts.
And one last time:
At this point of the game, the Rangers had blown multiple power-plays and never came out of the gate hot against a tired opponent.
You just felt the inevitable would be the final result – but thankfully – the Rangers turned the tables on such talk.
While we know the final score now; but at the time, and things looked extremely bleak for the Blueshirts when Trocheck cross-checked Marchand (it was called interference for whatever reason) and as he did with 47.3 seconds remaining.
The Rangers escaped these crucial final seconds without surrendering another score.
2-1, bad guys, through forty-minutes.
Here’s what I said at the time:
2-1, bad guys, after 40. B’s open 3P with a 1:14 PP. 2P Thoughts:
— That got ugly fast. B’s two goals in 16 seconds after #NYR opened up 1-0.
— Well, the Rangers did save their best for last in their last game played (VGK).
— Lots of blown opportunities – had to score in 1P…— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) February 6, 2025
THIRD PERIOD
Once again and the Blueshirts’ PK never allowed the Bruins to set-up.
Now returned to even-strength and Marchand did his usual nonsense – and this time – it cost his team:
The Rat is going off for 2 min #NYR pic.twitter.com/KLA72fLoSY
— David 🏒 (@DaveyUpper) February 6, 2025
Down to 14:33 remaining and immediately after the Blueshirts’ PP had expired – and here’s Trocheck tying the game after a point-shot from the Miller who isn’t his BFF:
Vincent Trocheck as the power play expires! Rangers tie it up at 2!#NYR pic.twitter.com/pSGpMShGoi
— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) February 6, 2025
2-2 – and a huge momentum goal for all of the obvious reasons.
It was also hilarious to see how riled-up Marchand was about this goal – and boy, oh boy, did my heart bleed for him! (YEAH RIGHT!)
As both teams continued to limit chances, we then had our turning point:
C’mon Rempe you have to know Kelly Sutherland is watching you like a hawk 🤦 #NYR pic.twitter.com/2SssYOLArf
— David 🏒 (@DaveyUpper) February 6, 2025
After that?
Our game-winning goal too:
Kreider skated 24mph on that shortie. #NYR https://t.co/jv0VPqzCrk pic.twitter.com/hiZS7lxW8L
— David 🏒 (@DaveyUpper) February 6, 2025
I can’t remember the last time I saw Kreider skate as fast as he did here – and where after witnessing this “Miracle on Ice” – then I think we can put to bed all of the talk in relation to his chronic back issues.
That said, and I wish that he’d excuse himself from that stupid cash grab gimmick tournament.
Hell, I wish that every Ranger would pull out of the tournament – as I’m more concerned about the Stanley Cup Playoff tournament rather than the same four teams playing each other for two-weeks.
And does anyone remember John Tavares from the 2014 Winter Olympics?
Following Kreider’s amazing shorty, then it was notable how the Bruins hadn’t registered a SOG since their power-play that opened this period.
As TNT was praising Kreider, while also burying the officials for singling out Rempe; then the Rangers did a good job of locking things down – as the Bruins really never got another good look at CZAR IGOR until Korpisalo was pulled at the two-minute warning.
With the B’s net empty and this is when CZAR IGOR did his job – as he made his two best saves of the game during these do-or-die final seconds.
Down to 1:24 remaining and CZAR IGOR made a monster of a save on Zadorov.
On the Bruins’ last ditch effort, and with only thirty-seconds left to be ticked – and CZAR IGOR made a right pad save on a Pastrnak stuff-in wrap-around attempt.
If this game was played during the final weeks of 2024 – then either one of these shots would have went in.
3-2, good guys, your final – but there’s still a lot more work to do – especially following a Tuesday night where many of the teams that the Rangers are chasing left their games with points in the standings.
Speaking of, here is tonight’s presentation of “STANDINGS WATCH”:
Here’s “Lucky Lateralette,” who even in his postgame interview, realized that he got some breaks along the way:
Up Next For The Rangers: Friday night at M$G hosting the Penguins, followed by a Saturday night game in Columbus.
After that?
The tournament that I don’t care about.
Suffice to say – and the Rangers need to leave both of these games with two-points to their names – and they can’t allow the feel-good team of the league, the Blue Jackets, to get any.
Up Next For Me: ZzzZzzZzz – it’s late and I’m as tired as I was when watching the first period from Wednesday night!
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/
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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/
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LET’S GO RANGERS!
Sean McCaffrey
BULLSMC@aol.com
@NYCTHEMIC on the Tweeter machine
With 29 Games left, you could reasonably assume that the Rangers could manage .500 from here on out, leaving them on at least 85 points.
You have to imagine that won’t be enough to get in, particularly as there’s 5 teams outside looking in (I don’t think the Penguins have it in them to get through).
So the Rangesr will need a decent run or two when they come back to even have a hope. A lot of eyes will be on what will be an absolutely expensive deadline. I think your mantra will stay true, it will depend very heavily on what Drury does with his deadline. If he can grab a couple of decent pieces (and hopefully ditch Mika), then there might be a chance. Feels unlikely though, given, you know, his last 3 deadlines.
It’s also clear to me that’s why Drury gave Igor his massive contract. He’s no fool (in this instance), he knows his goalie steals wins for him, and instead of giving up and rebuilding its him going all-in on another run. He’s hoping enough wins can be stolen to get through to the playoffs. Either way, should be an interesting run to the end of the season!
I do feel for Zac Jones, they pretty much screwed him over which he does not deserve. Hopefully he can find a team where he can play. I must say the Kanye West reference and picture of Kreider and Mika was hilarious, made my night.