NYR/CBJ 3/15 Review: Flawless Victory! Blueshirts Pass Biggest Test Yet; Regain Full Control Over Playoff Fate, A Winning “Blueprint” Achieved – FAT CATS Feast; Role-Players Beast, Another 4-0 Shutout For CZAR IGOR, Interesting Healthy Scratches, No JD/Rosen Reunion – But Maybe on 3/22, McDavid Next & More

Greetings and salutations everyone and welcome to another blog here on BlueCollarBlueShirts.com. I can’t say that I was expecting another 4-0 win – but I’ll take it!

As a result of the Blueshirts’ strong effort in Columbus, Ohio, then it’s now two in a row for your 2024-25 New York Rangers – and should they win again in no less 24-hours time (Sunday against Edmonton) – then it will be the team’s first three-game winning streak since Veteran’s Day.

My point?

I am elated and have nothing negative to say about the team’s performance from Saturday night (and that’s a rarity this season!); but despite the flawless victory – and I still remain jaded, leery and skeptical about their playoff chances.

Prove me wrong!

Everyone knew what the stakes were when entering Saturday night at Ohio State.

The winner of Blue Jackets vs. Blue Shirts would be crowned as the second wild-card of the Eastern Conference – and where following the contest – it would be up to the victor to then protect – if not extend – such status.

Despite the Rangers’ 2-1 lead in the season-series against this particular foe, then it was tough to imagine the Blueshirts executing a perfect game-plan come puck drop.

After all, just six nights ago and it was this Columbus team, while at M$G, that just absolutely annihilated the Rangers by a 7-3 result. (Full recap here: https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/3925/ )

However, the NHL remains as an “Any Given Sunday” league – and where 180s are routine and commonplace too.

The Blue Jackets, who were without their starting goaltender for this clash (Elvis Merzlikins is presently away from the team as he’s expecting the birth of his new child), allowed Daniil Tarasov, who actually has better numbers against the Rangers than “The King of Columbus,” to stand in-between their pipes.

While who knows what would’ve happened had Merzlikins been available; but what we do know is this – you can’t win if you can’t score – and between stellar defense and CZAR IGOR making all saves required – then it ultimately didn’t matter who started in net for the Blue Jackets.

Another thing that we know?

On a Saturday night, where more times than not, fans are at their loudest and rowdiest (and yes – alcohol does play into this!) – and the Rangers were quick to take the air out of the lungs from the hometown crowd.

One more thing that we now know?

It was Tarasov that contributed to his team’s eventual demise.

At just the 1:43 mark of the match and Alexis Lafreniere, who last scored a goal when Joe Biden or one of his handlers was still President, scored his 15th goal of the season.

While the score was both fluky and a gift – but hey – they all count too.

As Tarasov left his net to play a puck, the former alleged first line center, now a second-line right-winger today, Mika Zibanejad, got to the rubber first – and in turn – dished it right towards the first-overall pick of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft for the no-doubt-about-it score.

Not even Lafreniere could miss this vacant and gaping hole of unprotected twine.

And just like that – 1-0 – GOOD GUYS.

58:17 seconds later?

This goal held up as your game-winner too!

The Rangers, absolutely brutal at 5 vs 5 against this team six nights ago, were much better in Columbus than as they were in New York.

Duh!

While the Blue Jackets had long stretches of time when they dominated both the puck and zone possession, and mainly during the odd-numbered periods at that – but it were the Rangers that fended off everything.

Put it this way: We all know that CZAR IGOR is my favorite Ranger and that even going back to 2017, I was calling for his Big Apple arrival – but among his 21 shutout saves – and only one of them was memorable.

And to be clear – that’s not a knock on Igor.

Instead, that’s a raving testimonial about the team in front of him – and as the Rangers’ total of seventeen blocked shots would suggest.

Furthermore, it wasn’t just about the large amount of blocked shots either, as constantly and the Blueshirts were clogging lanes and making the ice look like the Long Island Expressway at rush hour.

The Blue Jackets, who just scored a touchdown and kicked the extra point too six nights ago at M$G, couldn’t do anything when at home on a Saturday night.

While they did string a few shifts of elongated zone time together; but they could never get any Alain Vigneault “GOOD LOOKS” at the Rangers’ net.

The superstar duo in Columbus, one that just wreaked havoc on the Rangers during their last outing, potential Norris and Hart Trophy winner Zach Werenski and young stud Adam Fantilli, were barely noticeable – and where if you didn’t see this game – then you’d have to check the box score to see if they had even laced their skates.

The lack of offense from the home team was so bad (HOW BAD WAS IT?) that even Sam Rosen and Joe Micheletti struggled when trying to praise them – and as these bumbling buffoons are always prone to do.

The Rangers’ elite penalty kill, which killed off two penalties before the team received their lone power-play of the contest, somewhat set-up the second goal of the game.

Following a two-minute timeout for Zac Jones at the 9:12 mark, which as a result, meant that Panarin had to bide his time on the Blueshirts’ bench; then just 24-seconds later, the 11:36 mark to be specific – and there was “The Breadman” finally rising to the occasion in a big game with his huge insurance 2-0 goal scored.

While it were the Rangers with a two-nothing lead; it was both teams of this Metrosexual Division rivalry that prioritized defense over offense.

In a way – then this game should have been sponsored by a company that manufactures condoms – as it was nothing but safe play and protection.

Need the evidence? Then here you go:

The Blue Jackets out-shot the Rangers 9-4 in the first period. The Blueshirts, who played their best twenty-minutes of hockey in the second period, out-shot their opponents 11-6.

Come the third-and-final frame, and following ten-minutes where “Lavy’s Lot” out-shot Columbus 2-0 – and each team finished the period by recording six shots on goal a piece.

Furthermore?

The Rangers scored on half of their shots taken during the final ten-minutes – and with Vincent Trocheck, who many would like to see become the next captain of this franchise (although there is a lot more chatter for J.T. Miller ever since his return), scoring both goals.

As noted, while Columbus wasn’t really getting any GOOD LOOKS at CZAR IGOR – but they were threatening and had the Rangers on their heels somewhat.

In other words – then you couldn’t really exhale and relax – that is – until there was just 5:22 remaining – as Trocheck, after a perfect feed from Panarin, blasted a puck past Tarasov.

3-0 – and despite the adage of “the dreaded three-goal lead” – and the Rangers weren’t going to “Islander” this up.

As the two morons in the M$GN announce booth were repeatedly shrieking the word “shutout,” as neither man believes in jinxes, hexes, voodoo and curses – nor for that matter, tradition either – then, and down to 3:59 remaining – and Columbus, who was just shutout in their last game played against Vegas, had a good chance to end their scoring schneid.

Speaking of the word “schneid,” then it was Braden Schneider, the overtime hero in Minnesota, that received a tripping penalty after a foul committed on Kirill Marchenko, which in turn, led Columbus, now on the power-play, into pulling their goalie too, for a 6 x 4 empty net attack.

The Rangers’ PK, again, just absolutely phenomenal tonight, wasted no time.

Forty-seconds into the Columbus one-and-a-half man-up attack – and bang – there was J.T. Miller, unselfish as ever, passing up the chance to pad his goal scoring totals – as instead – he passed the puck to his BFF (and this was a difficult pass to make – and where taking the shot provided the least path of resistance too) – and BLAMMO – 4-0 – and another short-handed goal for the league leader in this department.

(Holy run-on sentence Batman!)

As we hit triple-zeroes, then 4-0, the Rangers, perhaps now returned to GOOD GUYS status – and forever as long as that may last – your final.

The only thing that you could gripe about tonight?

Then the fact that it looked like John Davidson has been exiled like Jim Ramsay – as despite this being Rosen’s last game in Columbus – and the Blue Jackets’ head honcho was nowhere to be found.

However, a little birdie is telling me that the reunion that all long-time fans want, myself included, Rosen & JD, is scheduled for 3/22 when the Rangers host Vancouver.

But be clear: I AM NOT REPORTING THIS.

To be even clearer: THIS IS A RUMOR.

I am just telling you what I’m being told from someone who would know – as I have not double-sourced this story, nor has anyone working for the organization told me this either.

But I do believe in the person that is telling me this – or maybe I just want to believe it!

Speaking of “believe,” then tonight was a bombastic night for the “Blueshirts’ Believers” – a group that not only believe that the Blueshirts will qualify for the playoffs – but once there – will do damage to their opponents too.

(And I hope that these fine folk, and unlike me – a doubter – get the last laugh – or is it “Last Laf(riene)?”)

At this time, let’s take a look at the updated Eastern Conference wild card standings:

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, sixty-seven down, fifteen 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?

Magic Eight Ball is now saying “very probable.”

In case you missed it, then here’s where I last left off – a rare win in Minnesota:

NYR/MIN 3/13 Review: Off The Schneid(er)! Depth Defensemen & Fourth Line Carries Fat Cats (Again); Blueshirts Snap Four-Game Losing Streak Against a Walking Wounded Wild, Laviolette Continues To Prioritize Struggling Players At The Expense of Winning; Lafreniere Flipped, Quick Finally Re-Signs For Another Year, The Reclamation Project From LA Injured, Sam & Joe Celebrate Minnesota Night; Give Us Sam & JD This Weekend & More

After their win in Minnesota on Thursday, then come Friday and the Rangers held an optional practice – and where it looked like Adam Fox would be ready to return – and in his first game back since the trade of the only partner that he’s ever known, his BFF, Ryan Lindgren.

Speaking of the former double-nickel of the Blueshirts, then, and with Fox returning on Saturday – and Carson Soucy became the odd-man out.

As a result, then the three newest Rangers acquired at the deadline – Soucy, Juuse Parssinen and Calvin de Haan – all became healthy scratches together for the first time since their arrivals.

Again – and I said this as the time too – so this isn’t a case of hindsight being 20/20:

Everyone involved with this organization – the GM, the head coach and the players themselves, have incessantly been stressing the “p-word” all-season, including today – “PLAYOFFS.”

So if reaching the playoffs – and not retooling – is the goal – then why in the blue hell was Lindgren traded away?

I can’t say that the Rangers will miss Reilly Smith, who with a draft pick received in return, is what they dealt away in order to land Soucy.

But they will miss Lindgren – and to a much lesser extent – Jimmy Vesey too – who is also now in Colorado as well – that is – assuming that they can successfully pull off this postseason push.

I believe this was the fourth consecutive game where both Parssinen and de Haan were scratched – and two players that like Lindgren and Vesey – will become free agents this summer.

So what did the Rangers get back in return when making their present roster weaker?

A pair of late-round draft picks in a draft that’s projected to be one of the weakest in years?

And yep – this is my way of saying that I still hate the Lindgren trade.

As far as any other off-day news goes, then we received more information about the EPIC PREGAME DINNER at Casa Brodzinski when the Rangers were in Minny.

Apparently, every player that once called JONNY BROADWAY captain in Hartford – Othmann, Rempe, Berard, Cuylle and Schneider – all enjoyed the home cooked meal.

And yes – the fact that this is a BIG STORY tells you what the birdbrain beat reporters consider as news.

After all, then I think that everybody already knew that Brodzinski is one fine chap.

Last but not least, there were also reports in regards to Matt Rempe, who in the games against Winnipeg and Minnesota, was falsely accused of committing penalties.

While Rempe’s agent, Drury, Laviolette, nor the players’ association either, have yet to release a statement in defense of #73; it was actually Rempe who defended one of the zebras from Thursday night.

According to the Big Friendly Giant – and the ref who boxed Rempe in the second period actually apologized to him at the start of third.

Apparently the official reviewed the call during intermission and then realized that he loused up.

While that won’t change the fact that Rempe’s PIM increased, nor will the Minnesota PPG be stricken from the record either; but it was nice to see a referee take accountability – and then allow Rempe to share the story.

Hopefully this story will help to buck the trend of “REMPUTATION” penalties, which in turn, will allow Rempe to play his game without fear of FAKE NEWS infractions.

Here was Laviolette’s line-up for the sixty-seventh game of this 2024-25 season:

FIRST LINE: Panarin/Trocheck/Cuylle

SECOND LINE: Lafreniere/Miller/Mika

THIRD LINE: Kreider/Carrick/Berard

FOURTH LINE: Othmann/Brodzinski/Rempe

FIRST PAIR: Miller/Borgen

SECOND PAIR: Vaakanainen/Fox

THIRD PAIR: Jones/Schneider

STARTING GOALIE: CZAR IGOR

BACK UP GOALIE: Quick

LTIR: Adam Edstrom

INJURED: Arthur Kaliyev

HEALTHY SCRATCHES: Calvin de Haan, Carson Soucy and Juuse Parssinen

BOX SCORE time.

The following graphics and information come from ESPN.com:

SCORING:

PENALTIES:

TEAM STATS:

GOALIES:

As noted throughout the past two-weeks on this site, then I’m doing a lot of overtime at the real j-o-b, and in turn, I can’t go as long as I usually do – which may be good news for some – and for the ADD crowd too!

(I know that such news is welcomed by my buddy Stan Fischler!)

In other words, and especially since I kind of hit everything that I needed to hit above, coupled-in with a quick turnaround against Edmonton on Sunday – then no full length GAME REVIEW tonight.

(But I shall provide one tomorrow – I swear!)

However, if you want the complete play-by-play, then you can find it here: https://x.com/NYCTheMiC/

I should also add that this was a perfect game to skip the long-form GAME REVIEW style – as this was a pretty clean affair – and not one featuring much offense either.

Both teams played it tight – but thankfully – and the Rangers were able to break loose.

However, just a few words about M$GN – and then I’ll move on.

First up, Rosen was honored in Columbus tonight – but not by JD – but by former Ranger/future CBJ GM, Rick Nash instead:

Tonight, legendary MSG Broadcaster Sam Rosen will call his last game in Columbus! #CBJ legend and former Ranger Rick Nash presented him with a jersey to congratulate him on his retirement and thank him for all he has done for our sport! pic.twitter.com/HbtWq1Bmj5

— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) March 15, 2025

Again – we’ll see what happens on 3/22.

Come 6:30PM, then I tuned into M$GN – and where it was sadly revealed that Sieve Vagistat was left to his own devices – and where I’m to assume that he plugged his shitty little analytical company that no one uses 79867679696789867986798 times.

Once returning to the network at 7PM, I then heard this:

“OH JOE, THE BLUE JACKETS ARE COMING, PAUL REVERE JOE! AND THAT CANNON JUST MADE ME SHIT MY DEPENDS JOE! POO POO JOE!”

I may have made up the preceding sentences!

Quick-and-dirty GAME REVIEW time – and where after – I have to get my super dirty laundry done.

“BROWN STREAKS JOE!”

FIRST PERIOD

 Here’s Lafreniere’s first goal in a dog’s age – and hey – the game winner too:

Laffy opens up the scoring, Great pressure and pass Mika #NYR pic.twitter.com/8lKnM2i6gf

— David 🏒 (@DaveyUpper) March 15, 2025

Here’s what I said at the end of the first period in real-time:

1-0 #NYR after 20. 1P Thoughts:
— #CBJ has been much better, but one mistake has them trailing.
— Kind of interesting that Columbus went with their back-up for this game – tells you what they think of the Rangers.
— PK remains strong – 1-1 – no SOG allowed either.
— For…

— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) March 15, 2025

SECOND PERIOD

Here’s Panarin scoring a huge insurance goal:

Panarin makes it 2-0 #NYR pic.twitter.com/zyIbteuF6J

— David 🏒 (@DaveyUpper) March 16, 2025

Here’s what I said in real-time at the end forty-minutes:

2-0, #NYR, after 40. 2P Thoughts:
— One of the better periods the Rangers have played in a while.
— Good to see Panarin score in a big game. Can’t just be the fourth liners and depth d-men every night.
— PP 0-1, but 4 SOG and one robbery save – prevented CK20 from taking…

— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) March 16, 2025

Of note: I haven’t talked yet about the one power-play that the Rangers received.

While they didn’t score, and while I didn’t think that the returning Fox made that much of a difference either; but regardless – and this was the best that the first man-up unit has looked in a while – as they recorded four shots on goal – and where Tarasov absolutely robbed both Mika and Kreider – and where in the case of the latter – the chance to become the franchise PPG leader on this night too.

Maybe Kreider scores PPG #117 against the Oilers – and in front of a M$G home crowd too.

THIRD PERIOD

As noted above – the SOG total at the ten-minute mark was 2-0 – and in favor of the home team.

That’s why Trocheck’s 3-0 goal was so important – as it ended any chance of a Columbus comeback.

Here it is:

Trocheck makes it 3-0, What a play by Cuylle. #NYR pic.twitter.com/X96BKQemDS

— David 🏒 (@DaveyUpper) March 16, 2025

Here is J.T. doing a solid for his BFF, V.T.:

Trocheck seals the deal with an empty netter 4-0 #NYR pic.twitter.com/goatBQvZFy

— David 🏒 (@DaveyUpper) March 16, 2025

Last word?

This one:

Dominance.

Up Next For the Rangers: Sunday night against the Oilers.

McDavid and Company trashed the Blueshirts in their previous meeting, back on 11/23, by a 6-2 decision – and where #97, who has just owned the Rangers over the years, scored two goals and picked up one assist in the match.

That said – and both teams are much different today than as they were back then – and where the Four Nations tournament took some piss out of Edmonton too – as they are now 4-6 in their last ten games played.

At the end of the day?

It’s up to the Rangers to earn their first three-game winning streak since Veteran’s Day – or else it will be more of the same from them.

Up Next For Me: Laundry, vacuuming – and egads – it’s about time that I clean my bathroom too.

“OH JOE, HELP ME JOE! BUST OUT THE JOHNNY MOP, HAZMAT SUIT AND BLEACH JOE!”

Up Next For You:

You know it – 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