Greetings and salutations everyone and welcome to another blog here on BlueCollarBlueShirts.com. Better late than never, am I right?
I also can’t say that I wasn’t expecting this.
Off puck drop (this morning), then this will be a short GAME REVIEW – as just like the Rangers – I also worked overtime at the real j-o-b on Wednesday.
However, and unlike the Blueshirts – I worked ten-hours of overtime – and rather than the 4:07 that the Rangers “worked.”
And with sixteen more hours of overtime in my future between now and Saturday, when “Lavy’s Lot” plays next – then needless to say – I’m exhausted – and extremely busy too.
But at least I’m here now!
Let’s (quickly) roll.
The Rangers, after defeating the third-worst team in the NHL on Sunday (Nashville), then destroyed the third-worst team of the Eastern Conference on Monday (the Islanders).
Come Tuesday, and with “Lavy’s Lot” idle, then all the Rangers could do was relish in the fact that two of the teams that they are currently chasing for a wild-card berth, the Red Wings and the Blue Jackets, both lost.
The end result?
The Blueshirts, who despite presently enduring one of their most disappointing seasons in franchise history (and that covers a lot!), now had control over the second wild-card seed.
By the end of Wednesday night, and as a result of their 3-2 loss to Washington coupled-in with Ottawa’s 4-3 victory over the Blackhawks – and the Blueshirts were right back to their familiar status – “outside-looking-in.”
But this was to be expected – as after all – we can’t have nice things with this team!
As talked about following the 4-0 win against the lowly Islanders (https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/3325/ ), then this game against Ovi’s Men was the first match of an eventual eleven consecutive contests where the Rangers, who have the toughest schedule remaining among all 32-NHL squads, would be playing against a playoff bound and/or jockeying team.
In other words?
There are no more bottom-of-the-barrel Predators and Islanders to kick around anymore.
That said, and the Rangers, who previously fell twice to the Capitals this season (5-3 on 10/29 and 7-4 on 1/4) did make a game of it on Wednesday night – and they even received a precious point in the standings too – but it was also more of the same:
The FAT CATS, your top and highest-paid stars, don’t show up.
Conversely, and the best players for a franchise that’s won a bunch of Presidents’ Trophies under Ovechkin’s leadership (and that 2018 Stanley Cup too), did make their presence felt.
The Paper Tiger Blueshirts, who opened the season with a 12-4-1 record by beating-up on a slew of bad NHL teams, only to later be exposed as frauds with a 4-15 stretch, were right back at it on Wednesday night.
After all, remember when I was using the phrase “litmus test game” during the early months of this season on a daily basis?
Furthermore, do you remember how putrid and poor the Rangers’ record was in such matches?
This game against Capitals, the best of the East, was another litmus test game of many for the Blueshirts this season – and of course – their biggest yet. (And as you all know, many more, perhaps even ten straight of them, will follow.)
Everything that’s plagued the Rangers during this 2024-25 season returned in this game – and despite the one-goal overtime loss.
Let’s count the ways:
— Another early goal surrendered by CZAR IGOR and the Blueshirts – and where for the twelfth time this season – the Rangers opened a game by giving up a score no less than two-minutes after first puck drop.
— And yep – the Blueshirts have a firm control and lead in this statistic – and one that doesn’t account for all of the early goals that they’ve also given up at the start of second and third periods neither.
— A god-awful power-play, one so pathetic and disgusting, that not only did the Rangers finish 0-4 – but they also couldn’t score a goal despite having an uninterrupted four-minute man-advantage too.
— The Caps? Despite not receiving their first power-play until the Rangers had three – and they finished 1-4.
— What’s that phrase again? Oh yeah – “Special Teams Swing Games” – and with a final score featuring a one-goal margin – and it was this Washington power-play goal, scored by who else, Alex Ovechkin, that was the difference between a win and a loss.
— The soon-to-be highest-paid goalie being out-played by a much cheaper peer. In a match featuring two recently re-signed backstops – and it was Ryan Lindgren’s brother, Brother Charlie, that out-played CZAR IGOR. While neither man had impressive stat lines (Lindgren made 15 saves and finished with a .882 save percentage, while Shestyorkin made 23 saves for a .885 save percentage); but it was the Caps’ netminder that came out bigger when it mattered most.
— As noted – nothing from the FAT CATS either – sans a fluky Panarin goal that probably was scored while the Rangers were offside. (The Caps thought about reviewing it, but decided not to – as after all – they knew that they could get it back.)
— And whenever the Rangers find themselves in important situations? Then Mika Zibanejad, who many fools claimed “was back” (after being carried by J.T. Miller), was once again nowhere to be found. As it always is, then when the games get big, then Mental Midget Mika gets small.
— Laviolette being out-coached out of his pants – and where again – he never has a feel for what’s going on in front of him. In this particular case, Lateralette never strayed away from the same players on his 0-4 power-play – and despite two players from his fourth line, Matt Rempe and Sam Carrick, playing heads-and-shoulders better than his FAT CATS. As it’s been and Lavy is a firm believer in the textbook definition of the word “insanity.”
The above instances were just the normal things that cost the Rangers on a night-in and night-out basis.
Elsewhere, and then it was blatantly obvious come the end of the game that the Blueshirts’ lack of size was a glaring issue.
While the Rangers’ fourth line was effective again; but among the top-nine – and the Capitals were able to have their way – and where of course – once Tom Wilson finally got mad – and the Rangers soon got bad.
For a Blueshirts’ team that hasn’t won three games in a row since Veteran’s Day – then as a result of this loss – and they’re now back to square one.
As we’ve seen so many times this season – and as noted above – 12 times to be exact; then once again and the Rangers quickly found themselves trailing in this one.
Just 1:04 into the match, and Pierre-Luc Dubois, who is having a career renaissance in Washington, beat CZAR IGOR – the end result of a broken bang-bang play.
1-0, Caps, just like that.
Following the goal – and both teams clamped down a bit – as defense was a priority over offense.
As it usually is, then it was Lateralette’s fourth line that really dictated the pace – as once again – Rempe made the head coach look like a jackass for banishing him to press boxes and Hartford during the majority of the season.
Another player hellbent on showing up his out-of-touch coach?
Zac Jones, as once again, and ever since Adam Fox’s injury – and the player who is still seeking a trade out of town played well.
At the 13:37 mark of the first period and still trailing by a goal – and it was a Jones’ rip from the circle, that incidentally caught a piece of both Panarin and the skate of a Caps’ defender, that knotted the game at one-all.
While it was Panarin who received credit for the goal, but make no mistake about it either – this scoring play started-and-ended with Jones.
The crowd at M$G, now awoken from their slumber, had more cheer to about come 4:30 remaining, as it was another fourth-line player, Brett Berard, who drew a power-play for the Rangers – and better than that – of the four-minute/double-minor variety.
All that Ethen Frank could do, after high-sticking and drawing blood on Berard, was sit and hope that his teammates could bail him out.
And that’s what they did.
The Rangers’ “heralded” power-play during these four-minutes?
Only one shot on goal.
And by now, you should know what I always say whenever a team has a double-minor, five-minute major or a 5 x 3 power-play.
This:
If you can’t score during these most fortunate circumstances, then you don’t deserve to win.
For the FAT CATS, they didn’t deserve to win – but for the Rangers’ fourth line?
They were screwed by the players making multiple-times over their salaries.
Still tied at 1-1 to open the second stanza – and just forty-seconds in – and the Capitals had a chance to score another early goal – but K’Andre Miller was able to prevent Andrew Mangiapane from eating.
Despite the stop – but this was just another example of the Rangers coming out of the locker room with their heads up their five-holes.
In a game featuring the two worst offenders whenever taking Sieve Vagistat’s favorite bedroom penalty – too many men (Caps have taken 11 of them, the Rangers have been penalized 9 times over for this); then at the 4:42 mark, Washington was boxed for having six skaters on the ice, where as a result, the Rangers were now back on the power-play.
You had to know this in your bones:
The Rangers had received six-consecutive minutes of power-play time, while the Capitals were yet to receive one power-play.
In other words, the Blueshirts had to score here, because it was only a matter of time before the referees would even things out.
How did the Rangers handle this power-play?
By going 0-3 – and despite receiving their second no call of the game (the Rangers being offside on Panarin’s goal being the first) – as the Blueshirts actually had too many men on the ice during their own power-play – but such an event wasn’t detected by the zebras.
The Rangers, while 0-3 on the power-play at this point, soon went 3-3 in the no-call department.
As a result, they picked up a pair of goals – their only goals of the game – during these three no calls.
At the 8:05 mark, and Carrick, who picked/interfered with a Capital at their blue line, was told “play on” by the officials – and as a result – he was then able to score.
2-1, Rangers – and despite everything – a lead.
This fourth line goal was also the last goal that the Rangers would ever score – because after all – you can’t expect 25% of your payroll, Mika Zibanejad and Artemi Panarin, to ever show up in games of this magnitude.
At the 8:38 mark, Urho Vaakanainen interfered (but it was assessed as roughing) with PLD.
The Rangers, now on the penalty kill for the first time, were phenomenal – so much so that Alex Ovechkin looked frustrated – as the Blueshirts, and seemingly for the first time in league history, were successfully able to prevent “The Great Eight” from ever entering his office at the faceoff circle to the right of the goaltender.
Following the Rangers going 1-1 on the PK, and as it’s largely been this season – and it were role-players, guys barely earning the league-minimum, who did everything in their power when trying to attain a win.
At the 12:54 mark, there was Rempe – who got right into the face of Tom Wilson – as the long-time Rangers’ heel was doing everything that he could in order to get his team the win.
While these two powerhouses were jacking jaws and drawing all attention; over by the boards and there was Sam Carrick and Brandon Duhaime exchanging punches – as both had dropped the gloves while everyone was looking at #73 and #43.
Neither man won this fight, as it was a standing draw; but since the Ranger didn’t lose either, then M$G was juiced up as both combatants went to the box to serve their respective five-minute majors.
In what was telling at the time, then out of a TV timeout, and Laviolette, during a bench interview with TNT, told the league’s broadcasting partner that his team was playing well – and where he listed the name of every high-salaried player for contributing.
Holy Fake News Batman – and where it was absolutely detestable that Bozo The Bench Boss omitted the names of his fourth liners during such praise too.
In another example of role-players doing what they could, while The Fat Cats looked like dead wood; then, and down to 5:02 remaining, Brennan Othmann was crushed near the corner boards by Matt Roy.
As Othmann came up lame (he’d later return in the third period – so we are to assume that he’s fine following this game), there was the newest Ranger, “The Feckless Finn 2.0,” Juuso Parssinen, to defend his honor.
In a complete mismatch – and Roy quickly disposed of Parssinen.
However, you have to tip your cap and give all the credit in the world to Parssinen – as he had no business fighting at all – yet he valiantly took on the challenge when standing up for a teammate.
That’s more than I can say about Mika Zibanejad.
Ditto the original “Feckless Finn” too, Kaapo Kakko!
As a result of Roy’s roughing penalty on Othmann – and the Rangers now had their fourth power-play.
Following two Zibanejad turnovers – and the man-advantage didn’t even run the full two-minutes – as Trocheck, with just 14-seconds before both teams could return to full-strength, had held Lars Eller.
But, and as repeated many times over on this site this season – and if the Rangers have only one positive area of consistency – then it’s their penalty kill.
Just as it was the first time – and the Blueshirts’ PK didn’t allow Ovechkin to set-up at all, which in turn, depleted the Caps’ man-advantage.
Come the end of the period and the Rangers, despite an 0-4 power-play and only 13 SOG, still led by a razor-thin one-goal margin – but where of course – a 2-2 PK – and three no calls in their favor – abetted them too.
Now entering the final frame of regulation, and with many fans hoping for a third tilt too (Rempe v. Wilson) – and it was once again the fourth line driving all play for the Rangers – and where again I must ask you:
WHY WON’T LAVIOLETTE GIVE THEM A CHANCE ON THE POWER-PLAY?
What, they can’t go 0-4 too?
How many times do I have to say it?
Just try Rempe out on PP2 to start – and then see what he can do by having him camp out in front of the opponent’s net.
I’m sure that he’ll pick up a few screens, deflections and tips – and a PPG or two as well!
Another impressive feat by the fourth line tonight – and one that almost got a Gordie Howe hat trick from Sam Carrick? (Don’t forget, Berard drew that four-minute power-play too.)
Rempe’s two shot blocks – two which perhaps prevented goals allowed – including one with under two-minutes remaining when he stopped a rifle from John Carlson.
While the fourth line weren’t allowed to sniff the ice during power-play situations; but finally – and they were allowed to play major minutes as the game entered crunch time.
As we were approaching ten-minutes remaining, and this is when the TNT b-team broadcasting crew, Darren Pang and Brendan Burke, were going on-and-on when begging for Ovechkin to score.
They soon got their wish.
At the 8:56 mark, Jones hooked Eller – which as a result – I’m sure that Laviolette will never play him again.
You see, only Mika Zibanejad is allowed to be held unaccountable.
The Rangers, now on the PK for the third time, once again didn’t allow Ovi to enter his office.
However, Ovi wasn’t going to allow the Blueshirts to shut him down for the third time, so in a response, he worked his way down low – and then banged home a power-play goal with only 9:32 remaining.
2-2 – and a whole new ball game too.
Right before Ovi’s goal, which now puts him ten away from Wayne Gretzky’s 894 goal record, and Borgen had held Mangipane.
As a result, the Caps, now 1-3 on the power-play, immediately went right back on it.
I said this at the time (tweets don’t lie), so this isn’t a case of hindsight being 20/20 here – but I thought that Caps’ coach, Spencer Carberry, should’ve called his timeout – as his PP1 unit, including duh, Ovechkin, were just out there for nearly two-minutes.
Instead, Carberry waited a bit – and only following a CZAR IGOR save on Wilson with 1:09 left on the power-play.
So rather than to use his timeout before his team’s power-play had commenced, instead, and Carberry waited too long, which in turn, also allowed the Rangers’ penalty kill to rest too.
This was another pivotal moment that worked out for the Blueshirts.
After all, who knows?
Had Carberry used his timeout before his power-play began – then maybe the Caps win this game in regulation – which would have meant no points in the standings for the Blueshirts.
But he didn’t, and as a result, the Rangers’ PK finished 3-4 on the night.
As the clock was winding down towards the end of regulation, then another thing became woefully noticeable.
“The Mika Virus” had claimed a new victim – J.T. Miller.
Miller, a revelation ever since his return, finished -1 – and he didn’t even register a SOG in this game either.
While Miller has been able to prop up Zibanejad a bit against bad teams during the past two-weeks; but against a real opponent here – and Mika did what he always does – suck the life out of every teammate on the ice.
He was also the reason for Miller’s -1 too.
The Rangers, who survived, and where only their role-players earned them a point in the standings, remained tied at 2-2 after sixty-minutes of action.
A crucial overtime would decide who walked away with two-points.
The Blueshirts had every chance in the world to pick up their biggest win of the season.
After all, not only did Jones miss a game-winner by an inch or two – but the Rangers also controlled the puck for the first two-minutes of the three-vs-three portion of hockey too.
Zibanejad, who I wish was deported and/or traded by the time that you read this, had a 2 x 1 odd-man rush with Miller by his side with just under a minute remaining.
And as he always does in these situations – his play led to a turnover – and then an opposing goal allowed.
After the latest Mika debacle, Ryan Strome’s brother and Tom Wilson went up ice during a 2 x 1 of their own.
And of course, Wilson, who after the game admitted that this rivalry against the Rangers has been fun for him – and akin to a kid playing with a flimsly toy that the child could easily break; scored the game-winner.
3-2, Caps.
3-2, your final.
One huge point lost – but by now – we’re used to it with these Rangers.
At least it wasn’t the usual two-points lost.
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-two down, twenty 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 says “highly unlikely.”
In case you missed it, then here’s where I last left off – the Rangers making short work of the Islanders:
NYR/NYI 3/3 Review: Rangers Regain Control Of Their Playoff Fate; Absolutely Annihilate & Shutout Lamoriello’s Lifeless Islanders, 4-0 Hits Again; Cuylle Uses His Noodle, Give J.T. Miller The “C” Already – And Make Panarin Give Back His #10 Too, Matt Rempe Continues To Shine; Preserves CZAR IGOR’s NYET NYET, Another Shorty For The Elite PK, Brock Nelson Blows, Huge Eleven Games Up Next, M$GN & More
As noted above, then due to the recent back-to-back set, and the Rangers had Tuesday off prior to this Wednesday night loss.
Everything remained status quo in Rangerstown, USA, as Chris Kreider is still unable to return and where also, Reilly Smith remains shelved for trading purposes.
Here was Laviolette’s line-up for the sixty-second game of this 2024-25 season:
FIRST LINE: Panarin/Trocheck/Lafreniere
SECOND LINE: Cuylle/Miller/Mika
THIRD LINE: Othmann/Parssinen/Brodzinski
FOURTH LINE: Berard/Carrick/Rempe
FIRST PAIR: Miller/Borgen
SECOND PAIR: Schneider/Vaakanainen
THIRD PAIR: de Haan/Jones
STARTING GOALIE: CZAR IGOR
BACK UP GOALIE: Jonathan Quick
LTIR: Adam Edstrom
IR: Adam Fox and Chris Kreider
HEALTHY SCRATCHES: Matt Robertson and Arthur Kaliyev
SCRATCHED FOR TRADE PURPOSES: Reilly Smith
BOX SCORE time.
The following graphics and information come from ESPN.com:
SCORING:
PENALTIES:
TEAM STATS:
GOALIES:
|
WSH
|
|
SA
|
GA
|
SV
|
SV%
|
ESSV
|
PPSV
|
SHSV
|
SOSA
|
SOS
|
TOI
|
PIM
|
| 17 | 2 | 15 | .882 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 64:07 | 0 |
|
NYR
|
|
SA
|
GA
|
SV
|
SV%
|
ESSV
|
PPSV
|
SHSV
|
SOSA
|
SOS
|
TOI
|
PIM
|
| 26 | 3 | 23 | .885 | 17 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 64:07 | 0 |
Due to my crazy work schedule, then I can’t provide a full GAME REVIEW today.
Plus, I think that I already did a pretty decent job of telling you what happened above in the limited time that I have.
However, if you want the complete play-by-play of this match, then check out my Tweeter/X feed over at https://x.com/NYCTheMiC – because as always, I “live-tweeted” this game for blog purposes.
Furthermore, if you want video/highlight clips of the game, then check out @DaveyUpper on Tweeter/X – as no one does a better job of providing pertinent replays like he does.
As a result, then I will just be posting what I said in real-time following each period played – and where I hope to get back to posting normal GAME REVIEWS over this weekend – but Saturday might be tough – but more about that come our outro at the other side of this.
FIRST PERIOD
1-1 after 1. 1P Thoughts:
— Well at least #NYR tied it
— It’s what I always say – if you don’t score on a double-minor, major or 5 x 3 power-play – then you deserve to lose.
— 0-2 on a four-min PP – and Lavy refuses to give Rempe any time on it too.
— All the PP did was…— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) March 6, 2025
SECOND PERIOD
2-1, good guys, after 40. 2P Thoughts:
— It’s amazing #NYR is winning this game – an 0-4 PP and being out-shot 15-13.
— PK 2-2 – and where Ovi can’t even touch the puck – it took 20 years – but a PK has found out how to prevent Ovi from getting to his office.
— NYR have…— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) March 6, 2025
THIRD PERIOD
2-2 after 60. OT is required:
— #NYR need the win to keep pace with Ottawa who won.
— Another big game against a big team and no signs of Mika – besides his turnovers and misses. Can’t expect JT to carry his sorry ass every game.
— Fourth line has been amazing.
— You…— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) March 6, 2025
Up Next For The Rangers: Friday’s 3PM trade deadline – followed by a pair of YUUUUUUUGE weekend games against Ottawa and Columbus.
Up Next For Me: Fingers-crossed – then I’ll return late Friday night recapping whatever the Rangers did at the deadline.
As we all know, then Smith will be gone by then.
I’m also expecting various AHL deals, as Drury always makes these trades of no significance at this time of year.
As far as a major trade?
Then I don’t really see who is out there – and I don’t see the Rangers as buyers either.
More likely?
The Blueshirts, who have something like $10M in cap-space to play around with, can third-party broker some deals for draft capital – but as noted after the Lindgren/Vesey deal to Colorado – this 2025 draft class is projected to be the weakest in years.
Nothing ever works out for this team, as their timing is always off.
Need evidence?
Then just take a gander at the top picks from the 2019 and 2020 drafts.
Furthermore?
Then take a look at how Drury handled last year’s deadline – and then also take a look at how he acquired J.T. Miller one year (some would say two years) late.
As far as the weekend goes, then as of now, I’m off on Saturday.
Should that be the case, then I’m going to my bar’s watch party – because after all – at this old age – who doesn’t love day drinking?
If I can return home in a somewhat lucid state, then I’ll post something about the game against Ottawa – but where if that’s not the case – then I guarantee a full-length GAME REVIEW blog on Sunday following the match against Columbus.
Up Next: 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
