Greetings and salutations everyone and welcome to another blog here on BlueCollarBlueShirts.com. It’s getting really tough to write these daily manifestos this season.
Heck, that’s the reason why I took off last night, following the 4-3 overtime loss in Ottawa – but perhaps “day drinking” – and having fun with both my buddies and family alike – also contributed!
And after a weekend like this, then this graphic has never been more appropriate:
I don’t even know what to say anymore about this team following Sunday night’s 7-3 smackdown sustained by the hands of the team hailing from the state of Ohio.
Then again, I guess it was fitting – as after all – Jackets always cover up Shirts.
Everything that I’ve been saying on this site all-season played out once again – and by now – you should know all of it, including, but not limited to, the following:
— The power-play sucks.
— The head coach sucks.
— The stars, aka THE FAT CATS, rarely show up.
— The defense sucks.
— The 5 x 5 play sucks.
— The general manager sucks.
And so on and so forth.
For a Rangers’ team that always invents new ways to lose – then Sunday night’s crime committed against professional hockey was no different.
In their latest disgrace to the sport and if you can believe it, then the Rangers actually gave up three pairs of goals within two-minutes or less.
But in a same-old wrinkle – then the Blueshirts also instilled temporary hope before letting it all unravel – again.
The Rangers, fresh off choking a pair of multiple-goal leads to the Senators just a day earlier, never had any jump during this game – that is – sans for their penalty kill and fourth line.
At just the 5:56 mark of the match and the Rangers found themselves in their usual situation – down by one – following a tap/tip-in goal from Justin Dansforth, as potential 2025 Norris Trophy winner, Zach Werenski, had made a beautiful pass to his teammate on a shot that the Blueshirts’ goalie on this night, Jonathan Quick, never had a chance on.
This was also more of the same, as just prior to the goal allowed and the Rangers had a firm control of the puck – and a major SOG advantage too; but as always – if you can’t do anything with your fortunate circumstances, then more times than not, your opponent will score first.
As the Blueshirts were set to enter the locker room down 1-0 at the end of the first period – then – and once again, they did what they always do – they kept some faith alive – and of course – only to then kick all of that out the window soon thereafter.
In this latest occurrence, then, and with only 28-seconds remaining in the frame – and there was the struggling Alexis Lafreniere sending another shot way wide of another opposing goaltender.
However, this time, and Artemi Panarin, blocking the boards where the puck was sent at, connected with the rubber instead, and as a result – the Blueshirts benefited by scoring a heartbreaker against their fellow Metrosexual Division foe.
Better than that?
Just seven-seconds later and Brett Berard had drawn his second penalty of the game – and a power-play that would later extend into the second stanza.
But alas – and the two letters of PP, which indicate Power-Play, may as well stand for Piss Poor – or perhaps POO POO.
The Rangers’ power-play, which of course failed following both penalties that Berard had drawn, eventually finished by going 0-4 on the night – somewhat ironic considering the fact that they lost by four goals too.
How bad has the power-play been?
Then not only are the Rangers zero of their last eleven, but they also have only one power-play goal scored in their last twenty-one tries too – and where yes – all of these stats began when the quarterback of the man-up team, Adam Fox, went down with his suspected broken collarbone injury.
Also for your consideration?
Then down late, and with the final result already long determined – and the Blueshirts couldn’t even score on a 6 x 4 power-play (goalie pulled) either.
IMPRESSIVE!
After their second power outage of the game, and as Sam Rosen was shrieking, “OH JOE, COLUMBUS IS ONE OF THE WORST SECOND PERIOD SCORING TEAMS IN ALL OF THE LEAGUE” – aka “The Rosen Mush” – and Adam Fantilli, who Rosen made sure to remind us no less than 79867868679869697769 times tonight that he was twenty-years-old – scored a pair of goals within 26-seconds – and as he did at both the 3:07 and 3:33 time-stamps.
2-1, bad guys.
3-1, bad guys.
As you were resigning yourself to the fact that this game was already over – then the one positive asset that the Rangers have had going for them all season continued to display themselves – their penalty kill – or should I remind you of its nickname – THE POWER KILL.
After giving up a pair of goals to Fantilli in a short amount of time – then the Rangers responded with a pair of their own – and both of the short-handed variety.
Following Will Cuylle’s infraction at the 6:13 mark, then Braden Schneider scored the first shorty of the contest at the 6:54 mark with a snipe of a shot. 42-seconds later, at the 7:36 mark to be specific, and the BFF’s, Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad, had a 2 vs 0 breakout against Columbus backstop, Daniil Tarasov.
As CK20 and MZ93 passed the puck to each other about 87878789292882 times – and where at the time – you knew that all of Rangers’ social media would have exploded had both of them been as unselfish to you know – actually shoot the puck – and there was Kreider finally doing as such.
3-2, bad guys.
3-3 – all new ballgame – and where Kreider just continued to up his lead as the league’s best short-handed scorer ever since 2021 – which you know – is when “THE TURK,” former Ranger head coach Gerard Gallant, first employed the longest-tenured Ranger on his penalty killing units.
Up next?
Two things that I have said a lot of this season.
First, as Ranger fans, we are not allowed to have nice things.
The second?
How I refuse to allow “The Rangers’ Rug” to ever be pulled out from underneath my feet ever again.
This is my way of telling you that despite M$G rocking at the time – as after all, two Ranger shorties hadn’t been scored during the same kill in over ten-years (the 2013-14 season to be specific – and where no – this current team won’t have a Cinderella run like that squad did) – then even so – and there wasn’t one moment, not even with the score tied, where I thought that the Rangers would win.
That’s how much that both the feelings of belief and optimism have been beaten out of me this season.
Granted, now tied at a field goal a piece – and the Rangers had most of the momentum.
That is, until they didn’t.
In game that felt like “Buy One Goal, Get One Free,” then that’s what happened next on the scoreboard, as at the 17:03 mark, Matthieu “OH JOE, HE WORKS SO HARD JOE, I WANT TO SUCK HIS PENIS JOE!” Olivier made it 4-3, bad guys, while just 1:44 later, at the 18:47 mark, and Dante Fabbro scored the 5-3, bad guys goal.
Entering the final frame with this two-goal Rangers’ deficit still in-tact – and everyone on M$GN – and when they weren’t promoting “WWE NIGHT” (more in the GAME REVIEW segment) – was telling us how the Blueshirts could come back.
Have they not been watching this team this season?
An early power-play received couldn’t change the Rangers’ fortune – but that was no surprise.
Come the 10:17 mark, then, and during a broken play – Jones batted a puck into his own net – which was also good for Olivier’s second goal of the game.
Touchdown-field goal, bad guys.
But the misery wasn’t over yet.
Just 1:34 later, and with only 8:09 remaining in regulation – and Fantilli made sure to put the rotten cherry on top – via his 7-3, bad guys, hat trick goal.
As thousands of fans had already departed “The World’s Most Expensive Arena,” while many others were still checking train times; then the only thing left to note from the box score is when BIG BILLY BORGEN defended the honor of Vincent Trocheck – as he quickly disposed of Luke Kunin in a one-punch knockout of a fight with only 7:19 remaining.
This fight was the only thing that the Rangers won tonight – and where this feature of fisticuffs on “WWE NIGHT” was not only another example of “too little, too late” – but a major showcase of “WAY TOO LITTLE, WAY TOO LATE” as well.
7-3, bad guys your final – and while this game was a blowout as the final score suggests – then in reality – it was even much worse than that if you can believe it.
After all, how many times do you see two shorthanded goals scored on the same shift?
For the Rangers, this weekend, where they picked up only one point of a possible four against the two teams that they are presently chasing for a wild card berth, was a complete “Blueshirts’ Bust.”
And as noted on this site last week after the loss to Washington (https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/3525/ ), then this game against Columbus marked the third match of a present eleven-game stretch where the Rangers would be squaring off against a team with playoff-bound intentions.
The Rangers are now 0-3 in this consecutive trio of “litmus test games.”
Up next?
A Tuesday night tilt against a team that was in the same position as the Rangers were in last year – the Winnipeg Jets – who like the Blueshirts at this time no less 365 days ago – are also flirting with the Presidents’ Trophy.
As I said last time around (https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/3725/ ) – “what a difference a year makes.”
And what a major difference at that too, as following tonight’s loss, then I have hit the final stage of grief – and have accepted the fact that my 1994 age-12 year will always be the peak of my Rangers’ fandom.
(Like most high school athletes, then I too, have peaked early!)
I have also resigned myself to the fact that I’ll never see this franchise ever win the Stanley Cup ever again – and where furthermore – I feel for the fans now into their early 30s – aka fans who have never seen this team enjoy a parade down the Canyon of Heroes.
Heck, this team is nothing else but a deep Canyon of Zeroes.
That’s how bad these Blueshirts are – and don’t let their present place in the standings fool you either:
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-four down, eighteen 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 still says “highly unlikely.”
In case you missed it, then here’s where I last left off – the Rangers at the deadline:
Chris Drury Addresses State of the Rangers Following The Trade Deadline – And The Ten Questions That The Blueshirts’ Birdbrain Beat Didn’t Ask Too, A Look At The Revolving Rangers’ Door – And The Players Who Remain, Pizza Man Gets “Soucy;” ZOOM ZOOM GM Leaves Money On The Table – But This Deadline Isn’t As Bad as Last Year’s & More
Since the Rangers choked away another point in the standings on Saturday; then as a result, we had no pregame news to speak of come Sunday.
And since I had no interest in writing after enjoying a day out with friends and family (the game sucked – but at least we had fun), then at this time, some quick thoughts about the 4-3 overtime loss to the Senators – and then right back to this garbage from Sunday.
The less said about Saturday’s 4-3 loss in Ottawa the better, but since I didn’t write a GAME REVIEW following that mess, then at this time, just a few thoughts:
— The Rangers’ power-play (0-2) remains abysmal – and where the head coach is no better.
— Although the Senators power-play went 0-5, which in turn, meant that the Rangers’ PK went a flawless 5-5; but once again, and a Blueshirts’ man-up goal would have changed the outcome – and more importantly than that – the final score too.
— CZAR IGOR played out of his mind – and his black-and-white box score (33 saves, 4GA and .892 save percentage) does NOT tell the full story. Suffice to say, then without him, and the Rangers don’t even get a point – much less hang around in the third period.
— Go figure: For the first time in 2025 and both Artemi Panarin and Mika Zibanejad scored goals in the same game. But of course, Brady Tkachuk, the trade target of every resident of Rangerstown, USA, scored two himself – including the overtime game winner.
— Speaking of the overtime game-winner, then K’Andre Miller’s turnover didn’t exactly earn him any respect, nor flowers either, from his allegiance of haters. And yeah, I guess this play didn’t help out his defenders as well!
— How about Carson Soucy, who became the third Rangers’ defenseman during the past dozen years, to score a goal in his first game played as a Blueshirt? That’s a future #CadillacTrivia question.
— Alexis Lafreniere, JT Miller and Will Cuylle combined for zero shots on goal. So that wasn’t good.
— I thought that once again, and as usual, the Rangers’ fourth line was their best trio throughout – and why Lateralette continues to give them no power-play time remains a fact beyond me.
— However, I didn’t understand scratching Brett Berard, and in favor of the likes of both Brennan Othmann (goose eggs around the box score) and Jusso Parssinen (no points, no shots on goal and a -2 next to his name). Funny how it took Lateralette more time than I did to realize this (check the LINE-UP segment below).
— Defensively, I thought that Big Billy Borgen had a hell of a game, while everyone else, sans Soucy, struggled a bit. That’s not good either.
— Did you see Brady Tkachuk’s post-game interview in front of the elated Ottawa crowd? Is there one Ranger that would draw the same reaction under similar circumstances? Perhaps Rempe?
— The Rangers are now 1-6 in overtime this season, which is just another reason why this team remains as “outside-looking-in.”
I’ve had enough about Saturday, so let’s now take a Xanax, and perhaps some fentanyl too, and finish covering the rest of Sunday’s mess.
Lateralette altered his line-up on Sunday – and where “The Feckless Finn 2.0,” Juuse Parssinen, now joins “The Reclamation Project from L.A.,” Arthur Kaliyev, in the press box.
I thought this was a wise decision – but at the end of the day – it didn’t matter.
After all, the FAT CATS need to carry this team – and not role-players making or just exceeding the league’s minimum salary.
If there was any other nitpick that I had, then I would’ve left Sam Carrick in his natural role as the team’s fourth-line center.
But that’s all it is – a minor quibble – and one of no relevance either.
Plus, both Carrick and Brodzinski are interchangeable – so such a swap didn’t really make a difference.
Here was Laviolette’s line-up for the sixty-fourth game of this 2024-25 season:
FIRST LINE: Panarin/Trocheck/Lafreniere
SECOND LINE: Cuylle/Miller/Mika
THIRD LINE: Kreider/Carrick/Berard
FOURTH LINE: Othmann/Brodzinski/Rempe
FIRST PAIR: Miller/Borgen
SECOND PAIR: Vaakanainen/Schneider
THIRD PAIR: Soucy/Jones
STARTING GOALIE: Quick
BACK UP GOALIE: CZAR IGOR
LTIR: Adam Edstrom
IR: Adam Fox
HEALTHY SCRATCHES: Calvin de Haan, Juuse Parssinen and Arthur Kaliyev
BOX SCORE time.
The following graphics and information come from ESPN.com:
SCORING:
PENALTIES:
TEAM STATS:
GOALIES:
|
CBJ
|
|
SA
|
GA
|
SV
|
SV%
|
ESSV
|
PPSV
|
SHSV
|
SOSA
|
SOS
|
TOI
|
PIM
|
| 35 | 3 | 32 | .914 | 21 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 60:00 | 0 |
|
NYR
|
|
SA
|
GA
|
SV
|
SV%
|
ESSV
|
PPSV
|
SHSV
|
SOSA
|
SOS
|
TOI
|
PIM
|
| 27 | 7 | 20 | .741 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 57:24 | 0 |
Sunday’s M$GN pregame show was one of the better ones – and especially since Sieve Vagistat was nowhere to be found.
Instead, we were treated to the likes of “THE KING OF COMMENTARY,” Henrik Lundqvist, John Giannone and Dave Maloney.
After Lundqvist told us how much that Saturday sucked – and how that flight from Ottawa to New York wasn’t fun either; then Giannone and Maloney gave us some FAKE NEWS.
After all, you have to be brain-dead to consider Mental Midget Mika as an “elite” player in this league.
Heck, he hasn’t even been the top center for this franchise in some time now – and how can you forget that he’s not even a center anymore to begin with!
What once was allegedly an elite first line center has now become a second-line winger that needs to be carried by J.T. Miller.
Such a fact tells you what a failure that both Zibanejad, and his contract too, has been – for the now “has-been.”
When it comes to the Rangers nearly leading the league in Vagistat’s favorite bedroom penalty, “too many men” infractions; then Laviolette, when responding to Michelle Gingras, said, “I told them to count how many guys are on the ice – and just like how they count the money that they earn from their terrible NMC contracts!”
I may be making this up.
Something else that I’m making up?
Then, and following Sam Rosen pestering and bugging Joe Micheletti for his almighty “TACO BELL TAKE,” this exchange:
“OH JOE, THE BLUE JACKETS JOE! THE CIVIL WAR JOE! NORTH VS SOUTH JOE. THE RANGERS DON’T PLAY NORTH SOUTH HOCKEY JOE! ULYSSES S. GRANT JOE! “
“Sam, slavery is absolutely fabulous! Sieve Vagistat tells me all the time how he loves being a slave in the dungeons located in the Village of the City! His expected glory hole stats are 4.6 schlongs per-second!”
Ugh.
In reality, then all Sam and Joe told us were the ages of every Blue Jacket, what they ate for lunch, if they worked hard or not, their inseam sizes and whether they liked long walks on the beach or if they preferred sipping Mai Thais in lounge chairs.
Ugh again.
GAME REVIEW time – and I’ll try to shorten some of the Rangers’ induced agony for you too.
In other words, if you want the complete play-by-play from this fiasco, then check out my Tweeter/X feed over at https://x.com/NYCTheMiC/
FIRST PERIOD
Since I wasn’t around last night, then I do want to make it clear with you that I had no “Blueshirts Belief” heading into this game.
Not only did I place a $100 wager on the +128 Blue Jackets (yes – I’m trying to “pay for a win” – but I’ll take the free beer money too); but I also said this two-hours prior to puck drop:
Don’t have a good feeling about #NYR today – #CBJ comes in rested and just seems more disciplined and hungry.
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) March 9, 2025
This is my way of saying that I wasn’t surprised that Columbus struck first.
However, I must admit that I also wasn’t expecting a touchdown – nor an extra point kicked either – on the board some two-and-a-half (in real time) hours later.
Once Sam and Joe were done reiterating that this was another “MUST WIN GAME” for the Blueshirts (and where their approximate 2-30 record in such non-mathematically applicable contests wasn’t mentioned either), then Lateralette opted to start his third line – and where Carrick lost the first draw of the game.
After that, and Sam & Joe did their first of 7986798698679867869 WWE NIGHT plugs – and where Rosen’s wrestling plugs were about as good as the ones in his hair.
“OH JOE, THAT JIM CENA JUST TURNED HEEL ON CODY STREETS JOE! AND DID I EVER TELL YOU WHAT IT WAS LIKE WHEN I SAW THE GOLDEN GOOSE JIM LONDOS SELL OUT THE ORIGINAL M$G WHEN I WAS A KID?”
(If you’re new here, then yes, I’m a life-long wrestling fan. Heck, I was even an indy wrestling promoter for ten-years – which now feels like a lifetime ago. Furthermore, and I will try to limit the wrestling references tonight whenever I can – but admittedly – I love making them. After all, many of my piss-poor photoshops throughout the years have been 1980s WWF inspired!)
The first shifts of each line were telling – as they predicated what was to come – and let me explain:
— Chris Kreider looked healthy and engaged – and where it looked like his previous back issue was of no regard. He was simply flying out there and making plays in both ends of the ice.
— Mika could never get anything going while at 5 x 5. Most of his passes, the majority of them intended for Cuylle, were errant or completely intercepted.
— Panarin was incessantly turning over the puck.
— Rempe and Co. spent about thirty-seconds, which is a long-time in real-time, winning a corner puck battle in the boards. Again, I can’t praise the fourth line enough.
Following Rempe’s puck battle win and his line then had a 90-second attack – while also creating two shots on goal too.
However, and with 16:30 to go and Tarasov came up with this pair of saves.
As Columbus was looking for their first SOG five-minutes in – and Sam did what he always does – as he told us who played for the Islanders and Devils – while also making sure to tell us that every Blue Jacket “works hard.”
I’m still waiting for Sam and Joe to tell me who doesn’t work hard – but I already know the answer;
THE RANGERS’ FAT CATS!
As noted above, and despite it being all-Blueshirts early; then once again – it was the other team that finally scored after successfully surviving such an elongated attack – and as Justin Danforth did:
Zach Werenski ➡️ Justin Danforth 🚨#CBJ
— The CBJ Center (@CBJcenter) March 9, 2025
1-0, bad guys.
In our first instance of non-stop breakaways and piss-poor goaltending; then right after the goal and both teams exchanged breakaways, as Columbus first went wide on theirs, while Brodzinski was stopped in the other end.
Speaking of JONNY BROADWAY?
Then the fourth line center finished with a game-high five SOG – and where YAWN – one more time – his line, the team’s fourth triumvirate, spent most of their minutes attacking Tarasov.
In a funny moment, and when detailing Soucy’s misplay on Danforth’s goal, then Giannone said, “Soucy still has to learn Laviolette’s defensive system.”
This news was interesting – as after all – I didn’t know that Lateralette had one!
And can you remember way back when, when Lavy was first hired, when the words “structure” and “systems” were repeated to the point of no end?
After Micheletti astutely informed us that “Danforth works hard Sam;” then and with 13:08 to go, Berard, scratched the night before, forced Tarasov into coming up with a big save.
Once that was over with and Sam & Joe were right back to WWE plugs – while also reading the entire Columbus roster to us – and where of course – and don’t you forget it – every Blue Jacket “works hard.”
Down to 8:14 remaining, and Berard, who must not work hard since it was never brought up, drew Kent Johnson for interference – as Berard was slammed into the vacant space where the door is at the bench.
I know that the NHL is looking to amend their rules about this – as they don’t want the door open anymore – but since that regulation hasn’t gone into effect just yet; then, and as a result, and the Rangers soon blew their first power-play of the game.
Following another garbage power-play, then, and down with 3:40 remaining, and Kreider created offense in one end, while racing back and making a defensive play in the other.
Again, this speaks to how healthy and vibrant he looked.
As Rosen, forever the mush, was telling us how much Columbus has sucked on the road this season – then, and down to 2:00 remaining – and Wereneski just missed on picking up his second helper of the match.
(I’m really killing the “, and then” style of writing tonight! Holy Bad Grammar Batman!)
Come 28.1-seconds remaining – the puck luck, but they all count, Panarin deflection goal:
Panarin ties the game 1-1 #NYR pic.twitter.com/eoo7b4l9D0
— David 🏒 (@DaveyUpper) March 9, 2025
1-1 – and where right after – Berard then drew his second penalty of the game.
We remained at 1-all through twenty-minutes.
Here’s what I said at the time:
1-1 after 1. 1P Thoughts:
— That late Panarin goal changed everything, felt like #CBJ was calmly wearing them down.
— #NYR have a 1:39 PP to open 2P – zero of last eight, one of last eighteen. Need to score – and need to put Rempe out there too.
— Berard has drawn 2…— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) March 9, 2025
SECOND PERIOD
During the first intermission, and Michelle Gingras interviewed WWE wrestler Ethan Page – and where it was revealed that Page didn’t know anything about hockey – nor had he ever watched it before either.
Really, that’s the best WWE representative that they could find?
While I doubt that CM Punk was around; but if NYR/MSG could have found someone like him, as Punk is a devout Blackhawk and NHL fan, then this interview spot would have worked better.
In other words, this Page interview, and much like this game, was a mitigated disaster.
Up next – something that I’m making-up – this self-conjured-up exchange:
“OH JOE, IT’S WWE NIGHT AND THE RANGERS ONLY HAVE ONE ROYAL FAMILY. THE PATRICK’S JOE. NOW PLAY MY THEME SONG! HERE IT GOES JOE:
ADRENALINE, IN MY SOUL
IT’S ABOUT TIME FOR A POWERPLAY GOAL (JOE)
WHOOOOOAAAAA!”
Ugh.
After playing hot potato with the puck during the remainder of the power-play, and where Tarasov never had to make a save either; then the Rangers’ man-advantage now sat at 0-2 – and where they also had two power-plays before their opponent had drawn one.
Prior to what happened next – and Columbus only had four shots on goal at the 23-minute mark of the game.
They’d have six a few seconds later – and goals scored after half of them too.
Here’s Fantilli’s pair – the first after beating K. Miller on a two-vs-one (and Quick should have had this one) and the second where Fantilli also made Quick look silly:
WHAT A SNIPE! 🚨@FanaticsBook | #CBJ pic.twitter.com/aYqrJad9eo
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) March 9, 2025
2-1, bad guys.
Adam Fantilli scores two goals in under five minutes ✌️ pic.twitter.com/Qdhi31555I
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) March 9, 2025
3-1, bad guys.
Columbus almost made it 4-1 – twice at that – but Borgen cleaned up Quick’s then vacated net – which was only followed by Cuylle’s penalty too.
Up next?
Since there was a lot of time remaining, then the Rangers decided to create more WWE-inspired comeback drama – and by scoring their pair of shorties:
Schneider gets a shortie 3-2 #NYR pic.twitter.com/Iv9PZayr4c
— David 🏒 (@DaveyUpper) March 9, 2025
3-2, bad guys.
Another Shortie and Kreider ties the game 3-3 #NYR pic.twitter.com/j3lPtI9y0a
— David 🏒 (@DaveyUpper) March 9, 2025
3-3 – tie game.
And that would be it for the Rangers on this night – as while their penalty kill remains tops in the league – they still suck the biggest of phallus objects everywhere else.
Seriously – and I wasn’t joking when I said this on Twitter/X at the time either:
The Rangers were better off declining all power-plays – while also only skating four players.
After all, with only four skaters out there – then they wouldn’t be able to take a too many men on the ice penalty either.
What a stroke of genius!
Just call me Scotty Bowman 2.0!
But the Rangers didn’t employ this hair-brained strategy of mine – and despite having the momentum – then soon allowed another pair of opposing goals:
IN OLLIE WE TRUST! 💥@FanaticsBook | #CBJ pic.twitter.com/xicz6LUkTy
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) March 9, 2025
4-3, bad guys.
Dante Fabbro finds twine off Kuraly’s feed for another Columbus goal, 5-3 Blue Jackets!#CBJ pic.twitter.com/8jDWelB5SJ
— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) March 9, 2025
5-3, bad guys.
BRU-TAL!
In a response, and in his infinite wisdom – and Micheletti questioned the effectiveness of the Rangers at even/full strength.
It should also be noted that Rosen had also told us that Columbus was the worst second period road team in the NHL.
In turn, they scored four goals – and finished with a +2 – and a +4 at full-strength.
I’m getting sick – and despite believing that the Rangers would blow this weekend heading into it.
5-3, bad guys, through 40-minutes.
Here’s what I said at the time:
5-3, bad guys, after 40. 2P Thoughts:
— Well, at least you can’t say this game is boring.
— Six goals – and with three instances of two scored within a minute or less.
— #NYR‘s PK remains their biggest positive asset of the season – everything else EL STINKO.
— Not a good…— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) March 9, 2025
THIRD PERIOD
I can’t do this to myself anymore.
In turn, it’s now time for some rapid-fire bullet-points:
— One last WWE thing. I thought it was humorous that NYR and M$GN were plugging a WWE show for Tuesday night – as after all – the Rangers are booked to lose to the Jets in Winnipeg at the same time of the wrestling show.
— I’d also like to see Matt Rempe at a Wrestlemania – while also seeing Brock Lesnar F-5ing Mika back to Sweden.
— I said this on Tweeter/X at the time – so this isn’t a case of hindsight being 20/20. In a “must win game,” then I would’ve pulled Quick at 3-1 – as he didn’t have it tonight. This is my way of saying that I also would’ve pulled him at the start of this period when down by 5-3.
— Then again – the Rangers never scored again – so even an in-his-prime Dominik Hasek in net wouldn’t have made a difference.
— The FAT CATS were just a mess to open the first five-minutes. Panarin missed a net. Lafreniere couldn’t handle a pass from Trocheck. Mika kept on getting blocked. J. Miller, saddled by this loser freak, once again went without a point against a playoff team – and worse than that – finished as a game-low minus-3.
— After Sam’s second “Ode to Luke Kunin,” then, and with 14:03 to go and the Rangers, still down by two goals, were returned to the power-play.
— Up next – a power-play that was now 0-3.
— The FAT CATS couldn’t do anything – and despite everyone with a functioning pair of eyes noticing that the fourth line was driving all offense – they sat during every man-up advantage. I may have mentioned this once or twice before.
— As a result, Olivier soon ended the game (the goal was originally credited to Johnson – but it should’ve been credited to Zac Jones!):
Kent Johnson whacks one past Quick for another Columbus goal, three goal lead in the third!#CBJ pic.twitter.com/bjoYFLLmmE
— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) March 10, 2025
— 6-3, ball game.
— Up next, these two following real-time tweets:
Marchenko <DING>, doesn’t matter – and now Fantilli has his hat trick. Extra point, 7-3 them. I am resigned to the fact that being 12 years old in 1994 will be the peak of my #NYR fandom – feel bad for the younger fans who never saw a Rangers’ Cup win.
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) March 10, 2025
ADAM FANTILLI HAT TRICK GOAL!
🎩🎩🎩#CBJ pic.twitter.com/c7K1VMbWhR
— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) March 10, 2025
— 7-3, bad guys.
— After that, the Borgen fight that he won and a Rangers’ power-play that despite having a 6 x 4 attack here – finished the game by going 0-4.
7-3, bad guys, final.
Regular readers of this site already know this, but for new viewers, then I sparingly use the f-word on this site – as I pride myself in not using at a frequent rate.
However, this game deserves it:
This was a fucking dog shit of a showing from these bitch-ass Blueshirts.
Another thing that I should remind you of?
Easy.
These blogs is my way of venting-and-purging – and then moving on – as I don’t want to walk around my entire life with non-stop pent-up Blueshirts’ anger – aka – “Repressed Rangers’ Rage!”)
One last thing – and I’m 100% serious when I say this?
I’ve been running this site for eleven seasons now.
This is the worst of the lot – and the least amount of fun that I’ve ever had when covering/writing about this team.
This is worse than the rebuild years too – as at least you had something to look forward to during those season.
Today?
Then unless the Rangers somehow finagle Brady Tkachuk to New York – then I don’t see how this team contends for the Cup anytime soon.
But I shall remain loyal – but for the first time since this site’s inception – then there may be a few self-induced “Blueshirts’ Breaks” for yours truly – and just so I can keep my sanity.
That’s how bad this team, this franchise, these disgusting FAT CATS, have broken me.
There’s no reason covering the post-game interviews tonight – as it was all the same shit:
“We have to play better. We’ll get them next time. We have to move on.”
Simply put?
Actions speak louder than empty words!
Up Next For the Rangers: A three-game road-trip that most likely will produce three straight losses, as the Blueshirts travel to Winnipeg (Tuesday), Minnesota (Thursday) and then to Columbus (Saturday).
After that?
Four-games against Mother Canuckers looking to improve their playoff positioning – Edmonton, Calgary, Toronto and Vancouver.
I’m sure that the Rangers will somehow steal one of the next seven – but extending this current losing streak to ten-straight wouldn’t shock me either.
That’s how bad this season has been.
Due to the back-to-back set played over the weekend, then Monday will serve as a team travel day to Manitoba.
Up Next For Me: As noted last week – my work schedule remains chaotic and hectic – and especially with one co-worker getting the pink slip (who deserved it – he was a thief, a proud racist and sexually harassed women too, among other nefarious activity) and others on vacation time – which in turn – means that I’m eating a lot overtime hours right now.
And please Mr. Trump – can you get that “no taxes on overtime pay” put into law – and retroactive at that?
Good news?
I have a meeting on Tuesday where a bump in pay will be discussed!
I’m also working 16-hours that day – but it’s my goal to get something up on this site after Jets/Rangers – and even if it’s sometime late Wednesday morning.
One last silver lining?
The summer may come early for the Rangers – which in turn – will allow me time to finish my current and 11th book project that I’m working on – an extensive one-of-a-kind biography on Blueshirts’ legend, Phil Watson.
And who knows, maybe I’ll start my 12th book too – but I’m getting ahead of myself – and especially since I’m also dabbling around with spec script on the Life & Times of Tex Rickard too.
If only I wasn’t invested in having money, a roof over my head, food, drink, enjoying time spent with family & friends, and other such “luxuries” – then I’d quit my job and devote all of my time to writing.
(Any “Blueshirt Benefactors” out there?)
And since I should say something positive and nice here – then I’d like to thank the legendary “Young Maven,” a man who should be in the Toronto Hall of Fame today, Stan Fischler, for always inspiring, encouraging and being a sounding board for me.
It’s his approval, work ethic and wise words that keeps my fire burning – and if you can believe it – he’s not only due to turn 93-years-old in a few short days (March 31st) – but he also pumps out more hockey content than any other writer in all of the sport.
LEGEND.
And like I regularly say in these pages – then you should always tell your loved ones how much you appreciate them while they are here.
Stan The Man is one of those people in my life.
Up Next For You: Your favorite segment, and say it with me…
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
