NYR/PIT 2/7 Review: “The Find A New Way To Lose” Rangers Do It Again; Blueshirts Befallen By The Beat-Up & Putrid Penguins, Laviolette Calls Out His Players; But It’s More “Too Little, Too Late,” Panarin & Mika No Shows During Another Big Game, Minimal Playoff Chances Diminishing, Sam Rosen To Be Honored by M$G; Continues To Read Wikipedia Entries On-Air & More

Greetings and salutations everyone and welcome to another blog here on BlueCollarBlueShirts.com. Pitchers and catchers report in how many days now?

On Friday night, the Rangers, who entered Morgue $quare Garden on a two-game winning streak, personified this appropriate moniker for their arena – as they were lifeless themselves.

And these poor suckers who continue to shell out the big bucks to see these FAT CATS enter the fetal position on a daily basis.

(I truly feel bad for the little kids – and their well-intentioned parents too – who only have the means to attend one game per season – and then get a game like they saw tonight.)

There is no need to explain the Blueshirts’ current predicament to you – as after all – you’re all too well aware of it.

But needless to say, and “Lavy’s Lot,” who on Friday night, pretty much needed to win 23 of their final 29 games, now require these same (and extremely hypothetical) 23 wins in their next 28 games played.

(And I know that Sieve Vagistat said that the magic number of wins desired was 20, but he’s an idiot – as he’s not accounting for the teams ahead of the Rangers – and where as noted about 97679867986978 times before – these teams are guaranteed wins since they all play each other down the stretch.)

The Blueshirts, in their penultimate game prior to the “Four Nauseous” break, had everything in their favor when the first puck dropped at M$G at 7:08PM EST.

Not only have the Penguins been struggling as of late, but they were also without their best two players, Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.

If there was any game that the Rangers should have won on paper (and we know how that goes – and as we experienced once more tonight), then this was it.

But as they’ve done so many times this season, and whether it be to bottom-feeders like Chicago, Nashville, Buffalo, Montreal, Philadelphia, St. Louis and others – and the Blueshirts blew it – and they blew it badly – and as they did this time to Pittsburgh.

Sadly, and I can’t say that I’m surprised about this either.

After all, I did just open with this following passage after the Rangers’ Wednesday night win against Boston:

If you couldn’t see this loss coming from a mile away, then you haven’t been following this team that closely this season.

After all, all they do is suck you in – then only to let you down at the worst possible moment imaginable.

And go figure:

The Blueshirts, in Game One of this 2024-25 failure, molly-whopped the best version of the Penguins by a 6-0 score – which took place all the way back on October 9th.

In the rematch, played back on December 6th, and the Blueshirts triumphed again, and this time by 4-2 decision.

Friday night marked the third time where these teams met in their eventual four-game season series (the final game between these clubs takes place on February 23rd – which is when the cash grab gimmick tournament wraps up) – and where I must stress this point once more – in a contest where neither Crosby or Malkin were available.

The Blueshirts, who went a week without a victory prior to their back-to-back wins over Vegas and Boston, needed to extend their winning streak to four-games prior to the tournament that nobody cares about commences.

Of the four games (at Columbus tomorrow/Saturday/February 8th), and it was this game against the Penguins that the Rangers needed to handle and take the two-points away from the most.

Again, while we all know that the games are played on the ice – and not on paper; but either way – and this was the most winnable match of the quartet – and where the Rangers no longer have the luxury of taking ill-afforded losses.

Furthermore?

This was not only a game that the Rangers had to win – but they should’ve taken care of business with ease too.

After all, and as I just said 48-hours ago in this space:

While Jonathan Quick has been heroic for this club ever since his arrival; but when push comes to shove – then you’d prefer a rested CZAR IGOR to have an easy night against Pittsburgh – and then be ready for the second half of a back-to-back start in Columbus – and where Saturday’s game against the Blue Jackets is a four-point swing in the standings.

While it remains to be seen if CZAR IGOR gets his first back-to-back start of the season; but at this point, does it even matter anymore?

Stick a fork in them.

The Rangers are done.

I talked about this following the win against Boston – and really – for some time now too; but here’s another iteration of it:

I never felt that the Rangers, and despite their perilous situation, ever displayed an ounce of urgency or desperation in this game.

In a way, and it felt like they entered The World’s Most Expensive Arena with a sense of entitlement – and where the Penguins were just supposed to fold like one of Sieve Vagistat’s cheap suits.

While it was Vincent Trocheck who struck first, and as he did from the slot after capitalizing on a Penguins’ mistake at the 8:31 mark of the match; it were still the black-and-gold that out-shot the Blueshirts, 11-8, following twenty-minutes of action.

The Rangers, who entered the first intermission with this 1-0 lead in-tact, then traded goals with their Metro rivals – that is – until the Penguins took the lead for good.

Blake Lizotte scored at just the 2:25 mark of the second stanza, so while it wasn’t technically another goal allowed within the first two-minutes of a period – but for all intents and purposes – and it practically was.

However, and now tied at one-all, and Adam Fox responded with his first five-vs-five goal of the season – and as he did at the 3:39 mark – or just 74-seconds following Lizotte’s score.

2-1, Rangers – and where maybe they realized that they had to get their heads out of their asses too.

Much like their playoff aspirations and as we all saw – FAT CHANCE.

Rickard Rakell, or as I like to call him, “Rakell, Rakell, “The Musical” – “A Man’s Journey from Milan-to-Minsk-to-Anaheim-to-Pittsburgh” (yes, that’s a Seinfeld reference), tied the game once more, and as he did at the 9:07 mark of this here second period.

The Penguins, who despite being the sixth-best team on the power-play this season, were also without a man-advantage goal during their past fourteen tries – and where I guess this stat/fact was somewhat meaningless at the time too – as after all – there was no Crosby or Malkin in Mike Sullivan’s line-up tonight.

(I’m also wondering about this: Is Larry Brooks and his hole still claiming that Sullivan will succeed Gallant in New York? Hmmm!)

Leave it to the Blueshirts to embrace their role as “slump-buster” again.

At the 11:02 mark of period two, and there was Anthony “OH JOE, DID I TELL YOU THAT HE ONCE PLAYED FOR THE ISLANDERS YET?” Beauvillier being tripped by Will Cuylle.

57-seconds later, and Philip “OH JOE, FORMERLY OF NASHVILLE JOE!” Tomasino broke the tie – and the Pens’ power-play drought too – with a 3-2, them, goal.

What’s that phrase that I always use?

Oh yeah – this one:

“SPECIAL TEAMS SWING GAMES!”

And once again – and the pendulum swung out of favor for the Blueshirts.

Tomasino’s power-play tally would eventually go down as the game-winning goal.

Furthermore, and the Blueshirts’ penalty kill was forced to come up with another stop, as with nearly two-minutes remaining and Reilly “OH JOE, FORMERLY OF THE PENGUINS JOE!” Smith tripped the former Islander.

In the end, and the Rangers’ PK finished two of three tonight – but it was the one Tomasino goal that changed everything.

As the two teams returned to their respective locker rooms, and the Penguins, kind of down-and-out, and who entered this match as +250 underdogs, had not only out-shot the Blueshirts during another twenty-minute period (15-9), but they were also up where it mattered most – the scoreboard.

As a result and Lavy’s Lot entered their third consecutive final frame trailing by a goal.

In other words?

This wasn’t new for the Rangers, and especially not recently, following their rare back-to-back comeback wins against Vegas and Boston.

Up next?

The straw that broke the camel’s back for a team that’s seemingly looking for one last knife to kill them (death by a thousand cuts).

If you can believe this, then here’s how the final frame played out:

— The Blueshirts continued to show no signs of desperation or urgency.

— Lavy played Zibanejad every other shift – as the head coach still believes that he’s the smartest man in the room.

— Lafreniere had his playing time taken away.

— Ditto the fourth line, who once again, was arguably the Rangers’ best trio on the ice.

— The Blueshirts were gifted two late power-plays (had these calls gone the other way, then Ranger fans would be screaming bloody murder) – and despite a 6 x 4 empty net attack – only recorded two shots on goal during these crucial four-minutes of man-up time.

— In total? The Rangers only challenged Pens’ goalie, Alex Nedeljkovic, seven times – and where the new starter in the Steel City went a flawless seven of seven during this third period.

— Silver lining? (Ha-Ha!) CZAR IGOR also went flawless in these final twenty minutes of crunch time – but unlike Ned’s 7/7 showing – then CZAR IGOR DIDN’T EVEN RECORD A SINGLE SAVE!

— That’s right, the Penguins didn’t even put a shot on goal during this third period – nor did they ever register a shot attempt either.

(Following the game, and for whatever reason, and the official statisticians rewarded them with three shot attempts – and where I’m to believe that these three shot attempts were just long distance tries at an empty net – and where all three of these Hail Mary’s went for icing calls.)

So yes, and to be clear, as I know that this sounds made-up:

THE PENGUINS NEVER PUT A SHOT ON GOAL DURING THE THIRD PERIOD!

THE RANGERS HAD TWO POWER-PLAYS DURING THE FINAL 6:15 OF REGULATION!

3-2, bad guys, your final – and where just to jump ahead – a loss that pissed off Laviolette to no end too- as the normally long-winded head coach conducted his shortest post-game press conference of the season:

I saw some fans, pundits and other witnesses of this latest Rangers’ tragedy, describe this game as a “choke.”

For a person who said that the Rangers choked last year – and in every which way imaginable (and that includes Chris Drury’s 2024 trade deadline too) – then I am not inclined to agree with such a label.

After all, you have to be good to choke.

The Rangers have been shit all season, they’ve done this act too many times to recall, and as said when I opened this intro – this was to be expected.

It’s just what they do.

And that’s why I refuse to have any expectations at all, and where yep, you know what I’m going to say next – I will no longer allow “The Rangers’ Rug” to be pulled out from underneath me anymore.

And yep, I gotta say this for the 97676986986798679886th time this season too:

Laviolette is equally as guilty as his core – and especially whenever he chooses Mika Zibanejad to save the team during desperate do-or-die situations.

How many times does Lavy need to see Missing Mika fail?

Apparently the previous 27 losses weren’t enough for the stubborn and thinned-hair head coach.

UGH!

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-four down, twenty-eight 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’ back half of a two-game win streak:

NYR/BOS 2/5 Review: Deja Vu! Rangers Use Another Rare Third Period Comeback in Revenge Win Against Bruins; But Blueshirts Still Have A Long Way To Go, J.T. Miller & Vincent Trocheck = The New “Adam Fox is From Jericho, NY;” All Friends Play Well, It’s Not How You Start – It’s How You Finish, Matt Rempe = The Anti Patrick Mahomes, Nobody Cares About “Four Nauseous” & More

Following Wednesday night’s win against Boston, and with a back-to-back scheduled prior to the “Four Nauseous Tournament,” and the Rangers had off on Thursday.

Come Friday morning, game day, and the Blueshirts held practice at their training facility in Tarrytown, NY – and where the line-up remained the same.

This meant that Urho Vaakainnen was still sick – and as the Rangers confirmed.

That must’ve been one bad burrito for the Finn.

Here was Laviolette’s line-up for the fifty-fourth 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:

If there was ever a game to deliver a short GAME REVIEW of, then it was this one (but let’s face it – this will be the most detailed and lengthiest recount of this fiasco anyway).

Not only do the Rangers have a quick turnaround in Columbus, but this game was a shit show too – and where I don’t think that many Blueshirt backers will want to relive every single moment of it either.

(But I do like to try to give every game equal attention – and just for posterity purposes.)

Furthermore and personally?

Since I was at work (I time my dinner breaks around these games – what a fool!), then I missed the M$GN pregame show – but it’s not like that I would have watched it had I been home anyway – as the useless seven-foot pile of shit, Sieve Vagistat, was left to his own solo devices – and where as a result – he just bombarded viewers with his made-up & fake news numbers.

Whenever I start one of these GAME REVIEW segments, then I add that you can find the complete play-by-play of the game over on my Tweeter/X feed, which is located here: https://x.com/NYCTheMiC

This game?

And such live commentary, my blog notes, were cut-off after the first period.

Despite the Rangers leading at the time (1-0), then prior to the start of the second period and I wrote on Elon Musk’s app, “I hope that Matt Rempe punches somebody in the face,” as I was commenting about the Blueshirts’ lack of physicality, urgency and desperation.

No less than a second later – and my Twitter/X account was locked, and where I quote, “for making violent threats.”

(In other words, no one reported me to Twitter, as instead, my comment was flagged by the app itself.)

Of course I appealed this suspension, where I accurately stated that I was commenting about a hockey game – where punching & fighting are commonplace – but such an appeal fell on deaf A.I. robot ears.

To summarize, then I’m not allowed to jokingly ask a Ranger to punch someone (even if I was half-serious about this!); but Kanye West, and as he did on Friday morning, is allowed to tweet 7986786896879679687969 messages berating Jews, calling for their deaths, declaring his love for Adolf Hitler, using the n-word repeatedly and saying all other sorts of callous and heinous shit.

Thanks Elon!

Long-story short?

(Easy for me to say!)

Our shortest GAME REVIEW segment of the season – as after all – this may be dated by the time you read this.

(Twitter links accounts for half of this site’s traffic.)

Plus, not many fans will want to relive this horror either – and where I’ve already seen many of my fellow “Blueshirt Brethren,” including personal friends of mine (we will miss you Joe L.), jump ship – as they have stopped watching these losers completely – and I’m talking about diehard puck-heads when I say this.

That’s how bad the Blueshirts have broken them.

Let’s get through this mess as fast as possible.

FIRST PERIOD

Sam Rosen and Joe Micheletti were as equally as horrible as the product on the ice tonight – and where once again – I’m impatiently looking forward to their retirements.

After this dynamic duo spent their first minutes of face time singing the good praises of Rakell and Rust, then we had our first instance of Rosen just going bat-shit crazy whenever mentioning where a player once played – and as he always does with Beauvillier.

While I can’t say that I’m a fan of it; but I do understand why Rosen feels the need to explode and mention whenever a former Ranger, Islander and Devil is on the ice – as they are all part of the M$GN family tree.

But Rosen went into overdrive tonight, as he was giving us Kevin Hayes’ life story, mentioning players who played in the Western Conference and where of course, also mentioned no less than a dozen times that Beauvillier once played for the Isles.

We get it Sam.

I’m not exaggerating either, as no joke, anytime a Penguin touched the puck, and Rosen, and as if he was reading their Wikipedia entry, then listed every team under god’s creation that once employed that particular player.

These twilight and senile years of Rosen have not been kind – and where as said about 79868667986786 times before – and sadly, this is how many fans will remember him – as his prime years took place long before many of these fans were born.

J.T. Miller almost scored at just the 13-second mark – and where had this shot went in (a good save for Ned too) – then maybe the events that followed would have taken a different course.

However “OH JOE, THE FORMER DUCK JOE” set-up “OH JOE, THE FORMER ISLANDER JOE,” with a one-timed pass at just the 1:09 mark (or 69 seconds – nice) – and where CZAR IGOR was now tasked to match Ned’s strong save – and as he did.

After Rosen astutely informed us that the Rangers needed to win this game (nothing gets past him – and sadly, I can’t say the same for CZAR IGOR on this night) – and then this is when the HOF caller gave us the life stories of both Kevin Hayes and Vinny Desharnais.

As opposed to the Blueshirts’ last game, where the first period was as exciting as a coma, then each goalie had amassed three saves each at just the 3:00 mark.

Come the 4:25 mark and Mika forced a pass to Panarin that was broken up – and where had this unlikely pass had connected – then maybe “The Breadman” would have baked.

But that’s just how it goes for these two in big games – and where more times than not – then when they do score – it’s when the Rangers already have a lead following goals scored by the bottom-six.

In more from the realm of Sam Rosen just being completely inane and out there, then he must’ve shrieked out “OH JOE, YOUR MOMMA JOE!” no less than 79867869869 times this period, when calling out the man of five NHL games played, Pens’ forward, Bokondji Imama.

As Rosen continued to tell us all about the places where Blake Lizotte once played, then at the 6:30 mark, Bryan Rust pulled a Mika – as he went wide at a GAPING net.

After this, and following a “OH JOE, GOOD PACE JOE” customary remark too, and this is when Rosen gave us the fascinating histories of Michael Bunting and Philip Tomasino.

Praise the hockey gods that Rosen only has twenty or so games left to go.

As Rosen was about to give us the DNA type and social security number of former Ranger/current Penguin Ryan Graves; then at the 8:31 mark, Trocheck gave us a temporary reprieve when he scored the game’s first goal:

Trocheck get the game first goal #NYR pic.twitter.com/Mz9VYXiHuv

— David 🏒 (@DaveyUpper) February 8, 2025

It was nice to finally see a Ranger score on a glorious chance like this one.

It should also be mentioned that after recording three SOG in the first 25-seconds, then this Trocheck goal was the Rangers’ fourth SOG of the period.

Right after this, and “OH JOE, HE ONCE PLAYED IN TORONTO JOE,” Michael Bunting, almost scored a carbon copy goal of the one that Trocheck had just potted past Ned.

However, and unlike Ned, and CZAR IGOR made this tough save.

Down to 9:28 to go and the Rangers took Vagistat’s favorite bedroom penalty – “too many men.”

After Rosen gave us his Ode to David Quinn, who heads-up the Pens’ power-play, CZAR IGOR went on to make three saves during this Rangers’ kill – and where it got very hairy at the end of it.

But thankfully, and the Blueshirts’ PK was now a perfect 1-1.

After Micheletti praised David Quinn for making Chris Kreider a penalty killer (fake news – it was Gerard Gallant) – then just a few minutes later and a M$GN producer informed him of his mistake.

Give Jumpin’ Joe credit here – as he rectified his on-air error rather than to ignore it.

In what looked scary at the time was this play with only 1:05 remaining – and after CZAR IGOR stopped the Pens during a mad scramble at his net too:

Tomasino stick gets in Igor blocker and Igor was favoring his right hand. #NYR pic.twitter.com/jBqgT8L6yr

— David 🏒 (@DaveyUpper) February 8, 2025

The Rangers’ trainer came on the ice after this and where CZAR IGOR was trying to shake off the pain.

He never left the game – and where it looked like temporary pain after having his hand bend in an unorthodox way.

In other words?

Then I don’t think that you can use this temporary injury for what I thought was a blah game out of him – and where he’s really going to get a ton of criticism come next season, and the years beyond too (when he officially becomes the highest-paid goalie in the NHL), if he’s on the wrong end of games like these.

One-zip, good guys, after twenty-minutes.

Here’s what I said at the time:

1-0, good guys, after 20. 1P #NYR Thoughts:
— CZAR IGOR with ten straight NYETs.
— Trocheck is heating up with his BFF in-town.
— Gotta monitor how Igor comes out after having his hand dinged up late.
— Sam Rosen needs to cool it – we don’t need to hear where every player…

— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) February 8, 2025

SECOND PERIOD

As has been the case lately – and the middle period was the Rangers’ worst segment of the match.

As noted earlier, then just 2:25 in and Lizotte beat CZAR IGOR, blocker side, with a snap shot – and on a shot that the Rangers’ goalie should have stopped:

Blake Lizotte responds for Pittsburgh off the failed Rempe pass, tying it up for the Penguins!#LetsGoPens pic.twitter.com/iJwWyRk56Q

— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) February 8, 2025

1-1.

Right after the goal?

And another fellow overpaid Swede like Missing Mika, Erik Karlsson, almost scored – but since overpaid Swedes don’t score in big moments – then CZAR IGOR survived this attack.

After Karlsson’s flirtation with a Pens’ lead, Adam Fox made him pay – and gave the Rangers a lead himself – and as he did at the 3:39 timestamp:

Foxy makes it 2-1 #NYR pic.twitter.com/7oFOjP0gbZ

— David 🏒 (@DaveyUpper) February 8, 2025

2-1, good guys – and the final Rangers’ goal of the game too.

And once again, following a goal and the Pens almost scored once more:

Graves with a WIDE OPEN net but can’t finish. Once a #NYR always a Rangers lol pic.twitter.com/FUYpEO5nFy

— David 🏒 (@DaveyUpper) February 8, 2025

While Graves missed a wide-open net here; this play is just an example of the Penguins dominating this period – and as they did.

Heck, and at just the eight-minute mark – and the Pens were out-shooting the Rangers 9-2 in this frame.

Shot #10 you ask?

A 2-2 equalizer for Rakell, Rakell The Musical:

Rickard Rakell evens the score once more for Pittsburgh with his 25th goal of the season!#LetsGoPens pic.twitter.com/BPFLGCp2r9

— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) February 8, 2025

No joke?

Then following this tying score – and you could hear the gas escape from Rosen’s head – and the gas escape from Micheletti’s ass too.

M$G was as dead as a door nail – or as dead as the Rangers’ playoff chances.

I think that I even heard some fans in-attendance ask each other, “Do you want to go to Roses for pizza now or wait?”

As far as the goal itself, and while you could blame Lafreniere or Borgen (take your pick), but this is when you need CZAR IGOR to make these big saves.

Then again, how many big saves does CZAR IGOR need to make in every game?

Another counter-point as I continue to talk out from both sides of my mouth?

The Rangers did limit the Bruins to only 17 SOG last game – a win for CZAR IGOR.

Things went from bad to worse with 8:58 remaining following Cuylle’s tripping penalty.

Here’s Tomasino’s game winner:

Philip Tomasino fires Rust’s pass past Shesterkin for a power play goal, putting Pittsburgh up 3-2!#LetsGoPens pic.twitter.com/7USl7cFpqx

— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) February 8, 2025

3-2, bad guys.

And what was Mika doing here?

Loser.

After this goal and this is when Lavy went nuts with the line blender.

Mika and Kreider sat for long stretches, while Brodzinski and Cuylle received extended playing time.

But of course, that all changed during the final frame too.

Down to 6:30 to go and the fourth line created two chances, but a Carrick-to-Fox try was denied. Ditto Rempe’s rebound attempt.

As Cullye played with J.T. & Panarin – and The Breadman was stopped with 4:40 to go.

Following this save, and with not much effort being displayed either, then Ranger legend, Ron Duguay, was begging for Drury to change the head coach on Twitter/X – and as he has been doing all season – and where I couldn’t agree anymore with him than I already do.

With 3:01 left to play, Glass set up Heinen – but this 2 x 1 try didn’t produce a goal. Neither did Letang while the puck remained in the Rangers’ zone. (Again – more examples of Pens’ scoring chances that they didn’t capitalize on.)

Come 2:08 remaining and Smith put the Pens on the PP for the third time after he tripped Beauvillier.

Heinen almost scored 30 seconds into the PP, but after his miss, the BFF, Trocheck and Miller, had a 2 x 1 odd-man rush short-handed try – and where Miller missed the net.

Kreider and Fox then had a try of their own immediately afterwards and where this time, Ned made the save.

End result?

A two-for-three penalty kill.

And a 3-2 Pens’ lead following two periods.

Here was my live-time reaction:

3-2, bad guys, after 40. 2P Thoughts:
— Well that was horrible.
— It would be so on brand for the Blueshirts to lose to a Pens team without Crosby & Malkin.
— #NYR will now look to make their third consecutive comeback – wouldn’t rule out the possibility – but they really blew this. Should’ve taken care of biz right away, make it easy and then enter Columbus as fresh as possible tomorrow night.

THIRD PERIOD

Just reread tonight’s intro.

This sucked.

Two late power-plays – and ones that I thought were gifts from the officials too – and the Rangers did OO-GATZ with them.

And one last reminder – THE PENGUINS NEVER PUT A SHOT ON GOAL AGAINST IGOR EITHER.

Trash.

Garbage.

But don’t worry season ticket holders!

The Rangers will be asking for your money for playoff tickets anyway – as they want to make interest off of your cash.

I wouldn’t say that this was the worst loss of the season (I still think that game where the Sabres blew them out on home ice was) – but this was definitely a Top-5 candidate.

And there were no excuses for this disgusting defeat either.

They didn’t show up.

They didn’t care.

They told every fan who paid for a ticket to go fuck themselves – and as you know – I only use the f-word sparingly for effect.

It’s appropriate to use this rare f-bomb tonight.

Up Next For the Rangers: A somber flight to Columbus (where they are at the time of this writing) and then a game in the Buckeye State on Saturday Night.

Up Next For Me: Alcohol – and preferably 1000% moonshine.

Up Next For You: Read a book, 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