NYR/SJS 3/29 Review: Rangers Rebound Against League-Worst Sharks; Temporarily Regain Control Over The Second Wild Card Spot Too, Alexandar Georgiev Blows Up In Net Again; Blueshirts Put Up a Touchdown, Mopey Mika Ruins Jonathan Quick’s Shutout Bid; Putrid Power-Play Lingers, Rough Schedule Stretch Ahead, Another Bout of Sam Rosen Tomfoolery; M$GN & More

Greetings and salutations everyone and welcome to another blog here on BlueCollarBlueShirts.com. Throw a parade – the Rangers finally did what they were supposed to do!

Then again, what the Blueshirts are supposed to do and what they actually do have been polar opposites throughout this 2024-25 season.

And you may have already been aware of this fact too!

My point?

The obvious:

This win didn’t change a thing – or at least not my feelings about this team – and not one iota whatsoever.

If you’re looking for a rah-rah raving review of this Rangers’ recent victory; then sadly my friend, you’ve came to the wrong place.

After all, am I supposed to have amnesia and dementia about the majority of the 72-games played before this one?

Heck, am I also supposed to forget about Game 72 itself – you know – the one that was just played this past Friday night in Anaheim?

(And if you missed my GAME REVIEW of that loss, then check out: https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/32825/)

For these woeful Blueshirts, then they did just what they were supposed to do on Saturday night – run up the score against the worst team in the league – and a franchise also sporting the worst goaltender in the NHL today – former Ranger netminder, “The Bulgarian Beast,” Alexandar Georgiev.

Granted, and as opined last night on this site, then it wouldn’t have surprised me either had Georgiev, who has excellent numbers against the Rangers ever since his departure (full details below), won via the shutout – and it also wouldn’t have been a shock to me had Barclay Goodrow or Alex Wennberg, a pair of alumni themselves, had scored the game-winner too.

But despite these bru-tal Blueshirts dropping many games against inferior competition all season long (twice to Buffalo, Chicago, Nashville, Anaheim and the list just goes on-and-on) – then I did feel like they’d tease us with a win tonight.

After all, this franchise is built on heartbreak – and where as mentioned several times before on these pages throughout these past few months – then I’m expecting the Rangers to go on a mini-run (and where most certainly – the teams also vying for the final wild card berth spot losing a bunch has helped too) – only to then drop a do-or-die must-win Game 82 of the season (4/17 vs. Tampa).

It’s just “The Rangers’ Way.”

Going into this game against the teal adorned team, then it was my opinion that if the Rangers could score first, then the floodgates would open – and as I reiterated following the first goal of the game – Panarin’s opening strike at the 12:04 mark:

Once you get one past Georgiev, they usually then come in bunches #NYR

— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) March 30, 2025

And that’s what happened.

The Rangers, who just dominated the Sharks in a wire-to-wire fashion, saw their former goalie amass ten saves, including four short-handed saves on the Blueshirts’ first of an eventual 0-2 power-play, prior to Panarin kicking things off.

And heck – you could argue that “The Breadman’s” goal was somewhat fluky as well – as it was the end result of Urho Vaakanainen breaking his stick – and then Braden Schneider finding the greatest free agent signing in franchise history wide-open for the “excuse me” goal.

Should that be your opinion, then that’s fine.

But if that’s the case – then you can’t say the same thing about the next five goals scored.

It only took Panarin less than two-minutes to score his second goal of the game (1:54 to be exact) – and as he did at the 13:58 mark – following another pass from another right-handed defenseman, this time, Big Billy Borgen.

2-0, Rangers.

Despite Lavy’s Lot having played the night before (and in overtime no less, albeit, for only 59-seconds), and with the Sharks having off on Friday too – and the first period, and just like the rest of this match, was all Blueshirts.

The 14-5 SOG statistic, in favor of the road team, after one period of play, would suggest as much too.

The Rangers, who not only won the game, but every period played too, saw an Adam Fox goal, scored at the 4:48 mark of the second stanza, hold up as the only score of that frame.

3-0 Blueshirts – and the first primary assist of Brennan Othmann’s career too.

(And just to say it – then without question – this was Othmann’s best game yet as a Blueshirt – but that should’ve been the case – and due to both his own progression and the AHL-level of competition on the other side.)

As the Rangers were cruising to victory because of their offense, then the strong work that Jonathan Quick provided in net can not be overlooked either.

In a second period where each side totaled eight SOG a piece, it was Quick that had the tougher workload between the two back-ups that have played under CZAR IGOR – as JQ32 made three consecutive 2 x 1 ten-bell saves against the Sharks.

Without these saves, then who knows?

After all, while the second period did end at 3-0 – it could’ve been just as easy for these two teams to have been tied at 3-3.

The home team opened up the third-and-final frame on a 1:45 power-play, as with 15-seconds remaining in the middle period, Will Cuylle, perhaps wanting to keep Quick’s shutout in-tact, hooked his former teammate, Alex Wennberg, thus preventing a breakaway against his goalie.

The Blueshirts made short work of this Sharks’ power-play and that was that.

Up next featured two more goals for the Big Apple club, as Jonny Brodzinski, who had a nose for the puck all night (he was credited with 3 SOG – but it felt like he had thrice that amount), made it 4-0 at the 3:08 mark.

For the former captain of the ‘Pack, a man who has spent most of his time with the club this season either in the press box or in the bottom six, it was his tenth goal of the season – or six less than Mika Zibanejad – you know, the alleged #1 center who plays top-minutes – including every second whenever the first power-play unit is out there too.

For those who don’t know what I’m getting at, then Mental Mika is paid $8.5M per-season for his “services.”

Brodzinski earns $787,500.

And some people will still claim that Jacob Trouba’s former contract was the worst in the land!

Following Jonny Broadway’s goal, then it wasn’t long before Fox, at the 5:47 mark to be precise, increased the Rangers’ lead to 5-0.

During a mad scramble at Georgiev’s net, J.T. Miller seemingly had scored, but upon replay, it was revealed that Fox’s extra shove of the rubber past the goal line was the difference.

So instead of another goal for Miller, it was a goal for the 2021 Norris Trophy winner – and with both Miller’s assisting.

This also meant that every Blueshirts’ rearguard had picked up a point too – that is – sans for Carson Soucy.

Now up 5-0 – and if you didn’t feel it before – then you knew at the time that the Rangers were going to win this.

Unlike many previous games this season – then the FAT CATS weren’t going to choke this one away.

Outside of looking out for potential Fox and Panarin hat-tricks, then all of the attention was in regards to Quick’s shutout bid.

Down to 3:33 remaining, and Laviolette’s hand-picked boy, his former charge in Washington, Nicolas Aube-Kubel, took a stupid penalty – and as he did when he went after Luca Cagnoni for no reason.

However, it looked like this penalty kill, the Rangers’ third of the match, would become the cherry on top – and as it seemed to be the case when only 26-seconds into it, the other BFF’s of the team, Trocheck and Miller, connected on a 2 x 1 short-handed odd-man rush – and as they did when Trocheck scored the 6-0 touchdown goal.

With 3:07 remaining – then all that was left to do was to get Quick his shutout.

Enter the useless piece of shit, Mika Zibanejad.

The Rangers, who had previously scored two short-handed goals while on the same penalty kill earlier this season (against CBJ), had a chance to do it again – as Zibanejad, while on the PK, was left all alone for a one-vs-one breakaway against the worst goalie in the league.

Rather than kicking the extra point and going up 7-0; instead, the failed Swedish-Iranian deejay gave the bumbling Bulgarian his biggest highlight reel save of the game.

And just seconds later – blammo – there it was – a Cam Lund power-play goal with only 2:14 left in regulation.

6-1.

And of course – not only was this Lund’s first power-play goal of his career – but his first goal scored too.

After all, nobody gives up more “firsts” than the Rangers themselves.

While it would’ve been nice to see Quick get rewarded with a well-deserved shutout; but at the end of the day, the only thing that mattered was the win – and as a result – the two-points netted in the standings too.

Following all games played from Saturday, then here are your updated standings – and with the Rangers, and some how and some way, returned to playoff positioning – and forever as long as that may last:

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, seventy-four down, 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?

Magic Eight Ball is saying “They don’t deserve it – but who freakin’ knows now?”

In case you missed it, then here’s where I last left off – the Rangers finding a new way to lose in Anaheim:

NYR/ANA 3/28 Review: The “Find-A-New-Way-To-Lose” Rangers Do It Again! Blueshirts Blow a Third Period Two-Goal Lead; Go a Hideous 1-7 on the Power-Play, “The Trouba Revenge Game” That Wasn’t; Young Ducklings Take The $$$ On The Board Anyway, FIRE LAVIOLETTE; HIRE TORTS, This Wretched Season Can’t End Soon Enough, Rempe May Be Done, Georgiev Shutout Incoming, M$GN & More

Since the Rangers played the night before, then we had no news prior to the game – except for the fact that Quick was in, Igor was out.

This also meant that the same line-up that had blown a two-goal third period lead late against the Ducks would remain in-tact.

But of course, and with the team being out West – then there wasn’t much that Laviolette could do anyway with his forwards – that is – sans inserting “The Feckless Finn 2.0,” Jusse Parssinen, back into his line-up.

However, he could’ve re-inserted Zac “Trade Me” Jones back into the line-up – but we all know the deal on #6.

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

FIRST LINE: Panarin/Trocheck/Othmann

SECOND LINE: Cuylle/Miller/Lafreniere

THIRD LINE: Kreider/Zibanejad/Brodzinski

FOURTH LINE: Berard/Carrick/Aube-Kubel

FIRST PAIR: Miller/Borgen

SECOND PAIR: Soucy/Fox

THIRD PAIR: Vaakanainen/Schneider

STARTING GOALIE: Jonathan Quick

BACK UP GOALIE: CZAR IGOR

LTIR: Adam Edstrom

IR: Matt Rempe

DONE FOR THE SEASON: Arthur Kaliyev

HEALTHY SCRATCHES: Calvin de Haan, Zac Jones and Jusse Parssinen

BOX SCORE time.

The following graphics and information come from ESPN.com:

SCORING:

PENALTIES:

TEAM STATS:

GOALIES:

Since time is of the essence for me (you know the deal – all the overtime at my real j-o-b and blah-blah-blah – and where this late game doesn’t help matters either); then I’m just giving you the quick-and-dirty tonight.

Included below are just the scoring plays – and what I said in real-time following each period played too.

But with that said – at least I’m giving you a ton more than the regular birdbrain beat reporters – you know- a collection of yokels that didn’t bother to make this trip to California – much less even cover the games from the luxury of their own couches.

Since I’m about 15-20 years older than most of them; then this is telling.

My generation still knows how to work – while these pansy punk asses are crying about doing the job that they are paid to do.

“WOE IS ME! I HAVE TO WATCH HOCKEY AND WRITE ABOUT IT! THE HUMANITY! OH, WHAT A WORLD, WHAT A WORLD, IT DESTROYS MY BEAUTIFUL WICKEDNESS!”

(And yes – I did bite off “The Wizard of Oz” above too!)

I also guess that the softness under Bozo The Bench Boss is contagious – so much so – that the horrible beat reporters have caught it!

Just some M$GN broadcast thoughts before getting into the GAME REVIEW.

One, I thought that Brian Boyle, who thankfully was there instead of the loser Sieve Vagistat, was again excellent.

We need more eye-test types – and less ANALytical assholes.

Heck, only Ranger broadcasts features Vagistat’s made-up junk – as no other broadcast in the league, national or otherwise, can be bothered with his self-serving garbage.

Boyle, who despite his Boston roots, always allows his Ranger colors to shine through, opened the broadcast by saying how the Rangers should be angry after the loss to the Ducks.

He also said the obvious – every night has been a gift for the Blueshirts this season – because despite their own lack of efforts throughout this campaign – and the other teams chasing them haven’t been winning either.

In a quote that should be on tee-shirt, Boyle added, “Anger is your greatest weapon.”

As Boyle was hammering home the point that the Rangers COULD NOT lose this game; it was also brought up that Georgiev, with a 3.60 GAA and a .876 save percentage, was the worst in the league in both statistics.

And after tonight?

Both of those stats only worsened.

That said, and it was also reported that ever since his 2022 New York departure, and Georgiev was 1-0-3 against the Rangers – and with a 1.64 GAA and .946 save percentage too – aka his best numbers against any opponent.

And these numbers took a monstrous hit after tonight too.

After speaking about Georgiev, Boyle, and as if he was directly speaking to me, took a shot at the seven-foot pile of shit, when he said, “I don’t believe in any of the fancy made-up stats. I know what I see.”

AMEN!

“When are you going to start playing like you’re supposed to Rangers?” asked Joe Micheletti during his first moment of face-time – and where Jumpin’ Joe couldn’t have been any more correct.

(It was also hilarious, while spot-on too, when the man with two hairs on his forehead was just hammering the Rangers in the opening minute for allowing two early Shark chances. “Where’s the defensive effort Sam?!?!?!”)

And from the OF COURSE Department:

Sam and Joe, whenever not speaking about getting drunk on all of the free wine that Rosen has been receiving all-season, must have mentioned both Will Smith and Macklin Celebrini no less than 678698679867869868679869698 times tonight.

After all, no one loves “young and hardworking men” like Sam and Joe – and where at one point – then I thought that the bumbling buffoons in the booth were going to give us the DNA types, the social security numbers and penis sizes (but in the metric system) of both players.

I was also expecting this line – but truth be told – and we didn’t get it:

“OH JOE, WILL SMITH JOE! I GOT JIGGY WITH A PROSTITUTE THIS MORNING JOE! MORNING HEAD JOE!”

I think that I’ve gone on long enough.

GAME REVIEW time – and since this will be short – then if you want the full play-by-play, then check out my Tweeter feed here: https://x.com/NYCTheMiC

FIRST PERIOD

Prior to the six-goal explosion – then the man who disgraces Petr Nedved’s former #93 jersey every night erased a goal for Jonny Brodzinski.

And had Mika not been absolute ass here – then perhaps Brodzinski would have scored the game-winner – but such a thought also implies that the man who should be deported would have scored later on during his late 3P breakaway:

No Goal! #NYR Mika went into the crease on his own. pic.twitter.com/6t7DwABRTl

— David 🏒 (@DaveyUpper) March 30, 2025

Panarin opens the scoring. 1-0 #NYR pic.twitter.com/LdbTGM317U

— David 🏒 (@DaveyUpper) March 30, 2025

Panarin gets another one. 2-0 #NYR Panarin is now on Hat Trick watch. pic.twitter.com/nJCJCpa69j

— David 🏒 (@DaveyUpper) March 30, 2025

2-0, Frauds, after 20. 1P Thoughts:
— Best #NYR period since the win against CBJ a few weeks back.
— But consider the competition – the Sharks are the worst team in the league.
— I know that the Blueshirts don’t handle “on paper wins” in a proper manner – but they should be…

— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) March 30, 2025

SECOND PERIOD

Fox makes it 3-0 #NYR Nice pass by Othmann. pic.twitter.com/RmVChTnpgv

— David 🏒 (@DaveyUpper) March 30, 2025

3-0, frauds, after 40. 2P Thoughts:
— #NYR are dominating the worst team in the league – but without Quick, who has made 3 ten-bell saves among his 13 – then who knows?
— I just can’t take the Rangers seriously.
— Can they protect the “dreaded three goal lead?”
— Arguably…

— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) March 30, 2025

THIRD PERIOD

Brodzinski makes it 4-0 #NYR Kreider got an Assist 😮 pic.twitter.com/d0BhGeEvfB

— David 🏒 (@DaveyUpper) March 30, 2025

JT Miller makes it 5-0 #NYR JT Miller has goals in 4 str8 games. pic.twitter.com/uVYz1ceqKm

— David 🏒 (@DaveyUpper) March 30, 2025

Trocheck gets a shorty to make it 6-0 #NYR Nice pass by JT Miller. pic.twitter.com/DiRshLoILU

— David 🏒 (@DaveyUpper) March 30, 2025

On the bright side, CAM LUND SCORES HIS FIRST NHL GOAL ON THE PP! NO MORE SHUTOUT FOR QUICK!#NYR 6 #TheFutureIsTeal 1 pic.twitter.com/B8ErtjgLTW

— TEAL TOWN USA – A San Jose Sharks Podcast (@TEALTOWNUSA) March 30, 2025

I want to mention here that this Lund goal bothered to me no end – and not solely because of Zibanejad ruining Quick’s shutout.

Also irking me was the fact that Rosen, perhaps drunk on all of the wine that he’s been guzzling, was celebrating this Lund goal as if it was scored during Game 7 of the 1994 Stanley Cup Final.

It was non-stop “OH JOE, WHAT A BIG GOAL FOR LUND JOE! HIS FIRST GOAL JOE! OH JOE, HE WORKS SO HARD JOE! I JUST WANT TO SUCK HIS COCK JOE!”

Rather than that trash, instead, I wanted to hear Rosen say, and in a somber voice/tone too, “Oh Joe, another bone-headed play from Mika Zibanejad cost Jonathan Quick his shutout Joe. Deport him Joe!”

Micheletti, and for whatever reason, decided to pin 100% of the blame on K’Andre Miller instead – as it must be an M$G edict not to call out Zibanejad for his daily follies.

While Miller could’ve been more active; to say this goal was his fault was also ridiculous and ludicrous.

6-1, frauds, final. Pre https://t.co/pbL0K5NsMb #NYR blog thoughts:
— Quick is one of the few who aren’t a fraud – of course it’s that loser deejay that ruins his shutout too.
— They beat the worst team in the league – throw a parade.
— Rangers now have a playoff spot (but…

— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) March 30, 2025

As noted above, this game against the Sharks was the last easiest game on-paper that the Rangers will play this season.

We’ll now see if the FAT CATS are truly frauds – and as I think that they are.

Following a Mika-less March, up next are the final eight games of the season – and all to be played in the month of April.

The Rangers will be off for the next three-days – and where cross your fingers – maybe “Laissez Faire” Laviolette will demand a mandatory practice on both Monday and Tuesday – and instead of his routine optional skates.

(They do deserve an off-day on Sunday – as they did just play a back-to-back – and have the long flight back home too!)

Since the Blueshirts have played more games than the teams also in the mix for the second wild-card, then they won’t return to action until Wednesday night, when they host a Minnesota Wild team that won’t be as banged-up as they were the last time when these two teams met.

After the match against Minny, the Rangers close out the season with this schedule:

— 4/5 in New Jersey – and where the Devils, despite missing both Jack Hughes and Dougie Hamilton, are making a push.

— 4/7 hosting the Lightning – and a team that’s trying to win the top seed in the Atlantic.

— 4/9 at home against the Flyers – and despite their torrid state – they are 2-0 in the post Torts era.

— 4/10 at IBS – and where this game against the Islanders could determine both team’s playoff fates.

— 4/12 in Carolina against a Rod Brind’Amour team that has their eyes set on the Stanley Cup – and one that most certainly wants to move on from the Mikko Rantanen drama.

— 4/14 in Florida – and where we know that the Panthers will claw this crew to death – again.

— A 4/17 season finale hosting the Bolts – where again – not only could this game determine if the Rangers make the playoff cut or not – but could also determine if the Lightning finish with the top seed in the Atlantic.

In other words?

Then outside of the game against the orange-and-black – then of the seven of eight games remaining – and it’s murderer’s row of opponents.

And I wouldn’t count on the Rangers to dole out justice either.

Prediction?

This win against the Sharks will hold up as the last “easiest” game of the season – and where I wouldn’t be shocked to see the Rangers finish the stretch by going 2-6.

Up Next For the Rangers: As noted, a few off-days, then a Wild Wednesday.

Up Next For Me: A well-deserved day off for rest!

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