NYR/WSH R1G3 4/26 Review: “The Natural Born Penalty Killers” Go a Perfect Six of Six in THE BEST IN THE WORLD BLUESHIRTS Dominating Win; Goody Scores a Shorty Too, Horrendous Officiating Remains; Lavy’s Lips Are Closed on the Matter, “The Unseen Heroes of the 2023-24 Rangers,” Everyone Pitching In, Rempemania Continues to Run Wild; Gives Another Strong Fan-Friendly Interview, One Win Away From History, DQ Done in SJ & More

Greetings and salutations everyone and welcome to another blog here on BlueCollarBlueShirts.com. Three down, thirteen to go.

Off puck drop, sorry, but not sorry, about the tardiness of this Game 3 GAME REVIEW blog – but as mentioned many times over – I must do my part for this team too – and even at the detriment of my own health and lack of sleep!

As David Puddy once said, when talking about the losers from Newark, aka the New Jersey Devils, “you gotta support the team!”

For new readers unaware of what I’m talking about, then I’ll fill you in.

As regular readers of this site are already familiar with, heading into Friday night’s Game 3, our merry crew over at my local watering hole were 9-0 whenever watching the Blueshirts play while sitting on our favorite bar stools this season.

Today, and following the events of Game 3, you can now update that stat to 10-0! (8-0 in the regular season, 2-0 in the playoffs and one black liver!)

Between non-stop overtime at work, perhaps an extra alcoholic beverage or twenty consumed after the win, this wretched dinosaur computer of mine and for the kicker – having to drive my sister, her husband and my nieces to the airport for their Las Vegas bound flight early Saturday morning (and man, oh man, am I jealous that I’m not going with them!) – then that’s why this blog is being posted nearly 24-hours after the fact.

But at least I’m here now!

And hey, I may be late, but I’m not a dollar short either!

Since I’m “sports superstitious,” hence why I feel like I have to be at the bar whenever the Rangers play these most important games of the season (and even if my liver feels like it was hit by Matt Rempe), then in turn – posting timely material goes to the back-burner – because let’s face it – the motto for this team is “JUST WIN” – and that’s exactly what the Blueshirts have been doing all postseason.

Plus, and despite my “elite status” as a world-wide famous author and prolific Blueshirts’ blogger – who wants to watch these games cooped-up and confined at home anyway?

After all, sports, and no matter which league and team you follow, is “The Great Uniter” – and there’s nothing like watching your favorite club with your family and friends – and especially whenever you’re 10-0 when doing so this season!

With these personal stories out of the way, let’s now get into the huge Game 3 win, and where my impression at the early onset of the match, and one that remained both during and after the game, was this:

The Rangers just dominated.

Seriously.

Down 2-0 in the series and now on home ice for the first time, you would have thought that the Capitals would have come out with fire and guns blazing.

Instead, it were the Blueshirts that completely controlled play right from the first puck drop – and where their momentum was only ruined by the usual suspects – the officials.

While not as egregious as the events that we witnessed during Game 2 (https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/42324/ ), once again, and for the second consecutive game – the officials made their presence known – and where you have to wonder if they know that they aren’t eligible to win the Conn Smythe Trophy too.

And once again, the Rangers overcame all of it.

Talk about resilience and their testament to overcome all adversity thrown their way.

The Blueshirts’ special teams, mainly the penalty kill (and more about this below), were the heroes of Game 3.

On a night where they were tasked to kill six separate penalties, these NATURAL BORN PENALTY KILLERS went a perfect six-of-six – and for the cherry on top – Barclay Goodrow scored a short-handed tally too – and the game-winner may I add!

While everyone involved on the team’s two PK units, including players such as Vincent Trocheck, Jacob Trouba, Ryan Lindgren, Mika Zibanejad, Adam Fox, K’Andre Miller, Chris Kreider and of course, Barclay Goodrow himself, all deserve their flowers; perhaps no player was greater than my favorite goalie and yours, CZAR IGOR – and a #31 who went flawless whenever shorthanded (eight-of-eight).

And just to think, you had some fans, MORONS at that, from the ANALytical community, who were calling for CZAR IGOR and Goodrow to be traded all season.

Gee, I wonder who was correct about these two when saying earlier this season that CZAR IGOR would be fine and that Goodrow would play his best hockey of the season (and prove his true value) come the playoffs?

I think you know the self-pat on the back (aka The Barry Horowitz) answer!

Thankfully, and as it always is – the EYE TEST TRUMPS ALL – and Sieve Vagistat, and his filthy and made-up charts, grow even more meaningless with each game played.

When you break it all down, this 3-1 victory, and while the talent disparity between these two teams was also part of it, largely boiled down to one thing – the will to win.

While the Rangers would later receive four power-plays themselves (where they went 1-4 – but never got the kill-shot either – so this is an area that still needs some addressing for the later rounds); come the 11:07 mark of the second stanza, and the Capitals already had four man-advantages, while the Rangers only had one.

And to be fair to the Rangers’ 1-4 power-play, Vincent Trocheck scored the insurance 3-1 goal on the team’s second man-advantage, and where following this strike – the Blueshirts weren’t really looking to press the issue – as they closed out the game by focusing on defense and by taking the correct conservative approach.

Furthermore, and most impressive when looking at these past 180-minutes of playoff hockey played, is that the team is getting contributions from everyone.

The goalie is showing up. The big stars, THE FAT CATS if you will, are scoring. The defensemen are all in-sync and have completely rendered one of the greatest players of all-time, Alex Ovechkin, as completely useless. The Young Guns, the Baby Blueshirts, or whatever other phrase that you want to use to describe these under-24-year-olds, have all grown up, including rookies such as Will Cuylle and Matt Rempe – and where the latter, AND AS SUCCESSFULLY PREDICTED IN THIS VERY SPACE – has completely rattled all Cap cages.

And of course, a major tip of the cap goes to the coaching staff too, which brings us to our next segment.

As everyone long knows by now, Stan Fischler, “THE MAVEN,” is one of my closest friends. Not only has he bestowed upon me the title of “RANGERS’ HISTORIAN,” but he’s also written the forewords to some of my books too.

He’s also the biggest advocate of my writing (so blame him!) – and these unique (but definitely too long) blogs too!

Prior to Game 3, on Thursday night, Fischler asked me to write something for his soon-to-be released column over at “The Hockey News.”

Since I tend to go long, extremely at that, in my Ranger diatribes, Fischler usually edits my work to fit his space allotment whenever my name pops-up over there.

The mission tasked upon me by Fischler, and one that I chose to accept, was to write something about “The Unseen Heroes of the 2023-24 Rangers” – and specifically – the assistant coaching staff.

What you’re about to read below is the original version of whatever will appear on THN sometime this week – and where I hope to go extremely long-form on this topic in the near-future – and following the fifth Stanley Cup win this June – or at least I hope!

Enjoy!

When it comes to the “Unseen Heroes of the 2023-24 New York Rangers,” aka the club’s coaching staff, perhaps the most visible man of many is none other than Benoit Allaire – the long-time goaltender coach who will celebrate his twentieth anniversary with the club come July 15th of this year.

Primarily known for assisting a then young Swedish pupil named Henrik Lundqvist, Allaire, following all of his teachings, then watched his greatest student under his tutelage receive Hall of Fame honors this past November.

While Lundqvist’s career should be what gets Allaire his deserved spot in the hallowed halls in Toronto one day too; for the French-Canadian goalie whisperer, he’s more than a one-man show.

Just ask former Ranger back-ups such as Cam Talbot, Antti Raanta and Alexandar Georgiev all about Allaire – a trio of netminders that following their respective stays at Hotel Allaire, they all then went on to receive starting jobs – and millions upon millions of dollars paid to them too – and they’ll tell you the same.

You can also ask both Igor Shesterkin and Jonathan Quick about Mr. Allaire and they’ll champion this fact too.

Shesterkin, the successor to Lundqvist’s throne, has already won one Vezina Trophy (2022) under the learning tree of Allaire. Super Shesty is also now prime to become the second goaltender in franchise history, a history that nearly encompasses one-hundred years, to win both the Vezina and Stanley Cup trophies (Dave Kerr, 1940).

And let’s cross our fingers and hope this thought becomes reality this June!

Quick, a future Hall of Famer and three-time champion in his own right, has been sipping at the fountain of youth this season (if not diving and skinny dipping in it too!) for the Blueshirts, as following the worst season of his career in 2022-23, where the long-time King not only departed L.A. – but was traded twice in-season too – the Connecticut-born life-long fan of Mike Richter’s Rangers has been a hockey godsend for the Big Apple team.

While Blueshirts’ bench boss Peter Laviolette inherited Allaire when he first became the 37th coach in franchise history this past June, his three assistant hires haven’t been shabby either.

Michael Peca, a former Islander who once served under Lavy during their days at Nassau, has improved the team’s faceoff percentage.

Prior to Peca’s arrival, the Rangers were perennially ranked bottom-five in the league at the dots.

This year, and as led by Vincent Trocheck (58.3%), the club finished seventh-overall (52.3%) in this department, and where just a few more wins would’ve ranked both Trocheck and the team top-five.

What a turnaround – but where it should also be mentioned that Nick Bonino, who began the season with the club before being waived at the All-Star break, also contributed.

Also “contributing?”

The loss of Filip Chytil, whose season-ending concussion prevented last year’s worst center at the circles from dragging this statistic to another rock-bottom level.

Phil Housley, the Hall of Famer forever associated with the Sabres, but who also spent time with eight other franchises during his illustrious career as both a player and coach, has done it all, that is, except for winning hockey’s holy chalice.

A heck of a defenseman himself, Housley has the Ranger rearguards playing at an elite level. While everyone knows all about 2021 Norris Trophy winner Adam Fox, younger players such as K’Andre Miller, Braden Schneider and even Zac Jones have taken big leaps under Housley’s watch.

Furthermore, even veterans such as the reliable Ryan Lindgren, captain Jacob Trouba and off-season import Erik Gustafsson are enjoying the fruits of Housley’s labor too.

Dan Muse, no stranger to Laviolette, having served under him for nearly three years in Nashville, and like Housley, is one of the reasons why the Rangers’ penalty kill is one of the best in the NHL this season.

For the career coach, who got his start at the college ranks (Yale) before leading the USHL Chicago Steel to a championship in 2017, the 41-year-old has also been assigned with getting the “Baby Blueshirts” to adulthood.

Today?

Following three seasons of “will he or won’t he break out,” and Alexis Lafreniere, who struggled during his first three NHL campaigns (and where the pandemic was part of it too), just completed his best regular season yet.

The first-overall pick, now under his third head coach as well, is now playing like a player worthy of that distinction, as not only did he play on the team’s top line all-season with Artemi Panarin and Vincent Trocheck – but he also finished second-overall to “The Breadman” (38) in even-strength goal scoring too (26).

For Laviolette and his highly heralded coaching stuff – the sky – and the Stanley Cup too – is the limit – and with some thrifty roster maneuvering from Rangers’ general manager Chris Drury included – these men have as good of a shot as any of delivering the long overdue fifth Stanley Cup to New York.

The hockey gods sure know it’s about time for such a blessing to take place!

I know that the following might sound blasphemous, and out-right outlandish to say as well – but alas, it’s true to me anyway:

There was never a moment during Game 3 where you ever thought that the Rangers were in risk of losing the game.

Or at least I didn’t.

And yes, these strange, yet welcomed feelings, are a new experience – as I was much too young (eleven-years-old) when the Rangers were last as dominant as they are today – and as it was in 1994.

(And no disrespect to the other thirty-incarnations of this team between 1994 and 2024 – but the 1994 team was just on a whole different level and even when compared against the 2014 and 2015 clubs.)

While of course, a sweep is what’s best for the Blueshirts; a Game 4 loss wouldn’t be the end of the world either – as it’s hard to envision the Rangers blowing what’s now become a “no sweat series.”

But you don’t want this first-round series to go six or seven games either – and we all know the reason why. (REST!)

Despite CZAR IGOR gifting John Carlson an “excuse me” goal at the 5:34 mark of the first period (and go figure – the Capitals would never score again following it), I still never had a doubt that the Blueshirts would prevail.

After all, for a team with 28 comebacks during the regular season, and one more during these playoffs, I just knew that comeback number-thirty would soon be on its way.

(And everyone at the bar with me on Friday night can confirm that I said this in real-time too!)

And that’s exactly what happened – and where the comeback began just 34-seconds after Carlson’s opening fluke goal.

The Rangers’ second line, even if they are promoted as the team’s first line trio by others, Kreider/Zibanejad/Roslovic, immediately responded to Carlson’s gift goal allowed, as Mika “I’m Back Baby” Zibanejad and Jack “Filip Who?” Roslovic assisted on Kreider’s equalizer at the 6:08 mark.

Two-minutes later?

Following a questionable cross-checking penalty assessed to Ryan Lindgren at the 7:58 mark – BANG – just ten-seconds later, and on the team’s first penalty kill no less – and Goodrow scored his shorty to make the score 2-1, GOOD GUYS.

Comeback complete – and your game-winning goal too.

Following the GOODY GOT IT GOAL, the officials extended the Rangers’ never-ending parade to the penalty box – and where once again, we had another “REMPUTATION” penalty – as this time – the big man was wrongly accused of interfering with Trevor van Reimsdyk.

Once again, due to both his size and sheer strength, #73 received a two-minute timeout – and where in addition – TVR, after being cleanly hit by this monster amongst men, never returned to the game.

And let me be clear about this:

It is bad karma and extremely classless to root for injuries; but at the same time, this is now another player that Rempe has knocked out from a game – a defenseman no less – which just forced Caps’ coach, Spencer Cadberry Egg, to play with five d-men – and where the injuries to the Washington rearguards continue to amass.

In other words?

“THE REMPE EFFECT” is real – and he’s been making a major impact in this series (and this fact is another loss for the chart nerds that pollute the hockey world); but at the same time – these officials have got to let him play his game.

While Rempe continues to be falsely alleged of infractions, “REMPUTATION” penalties; I guess he needs to build up a reputation like another famous hockey big man, Zdeno Chara, before these officials finally learn how to call his games.

That said, and despite the little ice-time that he receives (5:16 in Game 3) –  and without a shadow of a doubt – no one maximizes their minutes in the fashion that Mega Matt does.

Still leading 2-1 when entering the second period, at the time, the Rangers were out-shooting their opponents to a tune of 10-8.

This second stanza, full of penalties, saw each team put seven shots on goal – and where Trocheck’s power-play goal scored at the 15:22 mark held up as the last goal of the game – and the 3-1, GOOD GUYS final score too.

Whether DRAFT KINGS or another one of these 96786767679686786 gambling sponsors influenced the events of the final frame or not I do not know; but with the road-team up in the series 2-0, and on the scoreboard 3-1, two quick penalties were then called against both Goodrow and Cuylle – and where the magnificent Rangers’ penalty kill denied the Caps on their fifth and sixth power-play tries too.

It was also in this crunch-time period where CZAR IGOR shone at his brightest.

While the Rangers only mustered up five shots on goal (and keep in mind – they were playing this game conservatively with the two-goal lead) against Chuck Lindgren; conversely, CZAR IGOR, the 2022 Vezina Trophy winner, went a flawless fourteen-of-fourteen – and where many of these saves were pure jaw-droppers.

For the Caps, stifled and frustrated all-game, and even more so after Rempe’s wreckage of TVR (more on this below), they could never truly make a game out of this – and come Sunday – I’m predicting that they won’t make a series out of this either!

If there was any concern on behalf of the Blueshirts following this game, then it was the fact that “The Breadman” didn’t get on the board again – and where he didn’t even register a shot on goal either.

But of course, his playing time was limited, due to all of the never-ending penalty kills.

Furthermore, and as the Rangers are doing to the other big name Russian on the other side, Caps’ captain Alex Ovechkin – Washington is trying their best to prevent Panarin from beating them – which in turn, and again as predicted on this site – is presenting more favorable match-ups for the Mika line – and a line that’s taking advantage of all of these match-ups.

The other player that you somewhat worry about remains the same – Kaapo Kakko.

While he loves talking the talk – he never walks the walk – and as his lone one shot on goal would suggest.

But we’ve gone down this road before, and if you’re looking for a poor man’s version of Jesper Fast (although the Finn is paid handsomely), then he’s fine as a defensive bottom-six type.

But if you think that he’s going to break out and play to his draft status (and as Alexis Lafreniere is doing), then that’s not going to happen.

That said, Kakko can find some inspiration in teammate Jimmy Vesey and perhaps his role in the NHL will never be as a prolific scorer – but as a shutdown winger.

But it shouldn’t be forgotten that it’s the fourth line, Vesey/Goodrow/Rempe, that’s made a much more significant and positive impact in all three of these games than Lavy’s third line.

Last “but?”

When the team’s third line is your weakest link (and that’s assuming there is one – as this line is just playing to their role) – then you, my friend, don’t have much to fret about.

At this time, let’s blow through the pregame news and notes – and really, there wasn’t much, as everyone long knows the deal by now – win the Stanley Cup!

Following Tuesday night’s Game 2 win, come Wednesday, the team had the day off.

While these 2023-24 Rangers had a well-deserved day of rest; in news from the alumni, former Blueshirts’ bench boss, David Quinn, who last coached the team during the 2020-21 season, received his walking papers from his “Boston Buddy,” San Jose general manager Mike Grier.

I’m not going to rehash all of my previous writings about DQ again – but you can find all of my thoughts on MR. SWAGGER in this site’s archives.

But the short of it is that I feel that he has never had a true chance in any of his NHL stops, as he was always asked and tasked to take a rebuilding team through their first phase of reconstruction.

It should also be mentioned that despite being at the helm of two different rebuilding clubs, he helped assist two players to the Norris Trophy, Adam Fox (2021) and Erik “Not My Norris Trophy Winner” Karlsson (2023).

And if it wasn’t for that little thing known as the pandemic – then who knows how far the Rangers would have went in the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs, as prior to the pause, you had many Blueshirts experiencing career-best seasons, including Zibanejad, who was flirting with fifty goals at the time.

Furthermore, the Rangers, and to this very day, are still using the same power-play units, or at least some version of it (including Vincent Trocheck for Ryan Strome – and four right-handed shots on PP1 too), ever since DQ’s dismissal – which ironically enough – took place following the shenanigans from a Peter Laviolette led Capitals team in May of ’21.

I’ve often wondered how DQ would do with a real NHL team ready to compete – but I don’t think that day will ever come.

I also don’t see what DQ did wrong with the Sharks either – and to pin their horrendous season all on him is ridiculous.

After all, DQ didn’t trade away all of the Sharks’ top players, he didn’t ask them to get injured and he also didn’t beg of his GM to field a roster that could barely compete in the AHL either.

And with the Sharks not expected to do much next season either – then I don’t see how a new face behind the bench can fix all of the problems that this franchise has, non-coaching issues no less, either.

Good luck to DQ moving forward, but sadly, I don’t see him behind an NHL bench again – at least not as a head coach – but perhaps as an assistant should his ego allow.

Come Thursday morning and now back in Tarrytown, NY, the Rangers held a quick practice prior to their D.C. bound flight.

The only real “news,” news that the ignorant Blueshirt beat reporters made a mountain out of a molehill over, was that Alex Wennberg was withheld from the skate for maintenance issues.

As a result, and until the Rangers’ optional morning skate on Friday, the media tried to sell that Wennberg would be out and Filip Chytil, who did make the trip, could finally return.

Seriously, these people are morons.

After all, it’s not unusual – heck it’s practically the norm – that any playoff player that’s dinged up will trade a practice for a game at better health.

And that’s what played out on Friday – and why I considered this “BREAKING NEWS ON WENNBERG” story to be an absolute nothing burger.

Following the practice and prior to hitting the air, Laviolette spoke for ten-minutes with the mooks on the beat:

This edition of “LAVY’S LOUNGE,” and despite its length, didn’t have much to it.

In fact, it was largely the same old thing – and that’s not a bad thing either – as the head coach just praised every player that he could, while also revealing that Chytil was traveling with the team.

Come Friday morning, and now in Washington, the exact same thing transpired – and in a SHOCKER – Wennberg was right back in “LAVY’S LINE-UP” too.

Here was Laviolette’s line-up for the third playoff game of the postseason – and the 85th-overall game of 2023-24:

BOX SCORE time.

The following graphics and information come from ESPN.com:

SCORING:

PENALTIES:

TEAM STATS:

GOALIES:

Since I took this game in from the pub, then I wasn’t really paying that much attention to the broadcasters themselves (and like I usually do – and don’t we all know it?!?) – and where we watched the M$GN version of it – and with the volume jazzed to the max!

And since M$GN has been horrible – I don’t feel like that I missed anything by not paying attention to the pregame show either.

However, I did find it funny, that during the pregame show, a fellow patron, not much of a hockey fan but up-to-date on the Rangers’ current playoff predicament, openly remarked and pondered, “Who is this guy next to Lundqvist? He sucks!”

I didn’t even have to look at the screen to know that he was talking about Sieve Vagistat!

At this time, the GAME REVIEW, and where since I’m late to the dance, I’ll just stick with the highlights for tonight.

However and sadly, our boisterous crew won’t be able to make Sunday night’s game at the bar – which for readers of this site – is good news for you – as the play-by-play style of GAME REVIEWS will return for Game 4.

FIRST PERIOD

The Rangers, as mentioned above, came out flying to start, most notably the odd-numbered lines, but it was Carlson, following a floater/knuckler from distance, who scored the game’s first goal.

1-0, bad guys, but this felt more like “aw shit” rather than “OH SHIT!”

We then had “SHIT YEAH!” as Kreider did what he usually does – by tipping a puck home as sent his way by his BFF:

KREIDER GETS IT RIGHT BACK LEVEL pic.twitter.com/kK8OvwXccG

— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) April 26, 2024

Holy Shit!

1-1 – and just like that!

The first of six Ranger penalties took place with 12:02 remaining when Lindgren, the Rangers’ Ryan, was banged for cross-checking Beck Malenstyn while behind the net of CZAR IGOR.

Short-handed?

No problems, as this is when Goodrow struck – again:

GOODROW SHORTY, RANGERS LEAD! pic.twitter.com/OY2sgtfvg7

— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) April 26, 2024

2-1, GOOD GUYS – and really, despite all of the saves that CZAR IGOR would later make – smooth sailing all the way – or at the very least – the Rangers made it look easy.

Up next was the “REMPUTATION” penalty – and where if I was in charge of marketing, then I’d have “MR. CLEAN, MR. CLEAN” sponsor Rempe:

Matt Rempe was called for interference on this hit on Trevor Van Riemsdyk pic.twitter.com/Ohl97EMDfa

— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) April 26, 2024

And to just conflate this latest “REMPE-VERSEY,” where everyone and their mother has an opinion if the big man from Calgary, Alberta is hitting opponents clean or not; Rempe would later tell Tom Wilson, politely at that, to “buzz off,” when #43 was looking to avenge the now fallen TVR:

Matt Rempe declined to go at it with Tom Wilson pic.twitter.com/RLFYvnlHCq

— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) April 27, 2024

As you’d expect, the Caps were crying about this hit, the Rangers were defending it and people with no skin in the game had varying opinions.

(But for what it’s worth, the entire neutral TNT panel, including Wayne Gretzky, thought this hit was clean – and how can one question “The Great One?”)

You already know how I feel, so unlike others, I don’t feel the need to go on-and-on about this latest “controversy” – and quite frankly – I’m already finding such discourse to be tired too.

In short, the refs just don’t know how to call a Rempe game.

Since he’s big and hits hard, and where unfortunately, players are now missing ice time after crossing paths with the clean as driven snow Rempe – legal hits/plays are deemed illegal whenever Rempe is involved.

But it should be mentioned, while Rempe’s ice time was cut in the third period (as it usually is during a close game on the box score), Laviolette continued to play the cult hero once this ridiculous penalty was served.

And since I’m writing this GAME REVIEW way after the fact – it was also announced on Saturday, following Caps’ practice, that TVR is out for Game 4.

I’m sure that the Capitals will try to engage Rempe once again on Sunday – and where I think that Rempe will deny all requests too.

Then again who knows – as I thought that the Capitals would try to muck and dirty it up on Friday night – but that was never really the case either.

They just look like a defeated team – and all the way up from Alex Ovechkin and all the way down to Dylan McIlrath.

Following the team’s second penalty kill of the game, each side exchanged penalties, as Wilson was boxed for interfering with Gustafsson (15:07), and after the Rangers failed to score on what was a blah power-play, the Blueshirts’ PK came up big again when they killed a Wennberg hooking penalty (on Max Pacioretty) at the 18:37 mark.

2-1, GOOD GUYS, through twenty-minutes.

Here were my inebriated live thoughts from the bar at the time:

2-1, GOOD GUYS, after 20. 1P thoughts:
—- Rempe is being targeted by the league.
—- PK is phenomenal
— Blow these idiots out.
—- Charlie looks a little susceptible.
—- Goodrow is amazing in the playoffs – only chart losers didn’t know.
—- The beer is cold at the bar lol
—- LGR…

— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) April 26, 2024

SECOND PERIOD

As once again, Matt Rempe dominated social media and both broadcasts (TNT and M$GN) too at intermission, the puck finally dropped and the Rangers killed off the remaining time left on the Wennberg penalty.

And when speaking about big hits, over on the TNT broadcast during intermission, T.J. Oshie, when speaking to Paul Bissonnette, said he had no problem with the way that Panarin had hit him in Game 2.

While Oshie has become a Ranger Killer himself, and a nasty little bastard at that too – at least he practices what he preaches – so I have to give him his respect here. He’s consistent and sees it from both sides – and unlike Carberry and other Capitals who were crying about Rempe after the game.

As this game somewhat came to a half during the initial stages of this second act, this is when Wilson tried to get Rempe to drop the gloves – but such a request was not accommodated – as Rempe continues his maturation process.

In one of CZAR IGOR’s many impressive stops of the game, the goaltender robbed Pacioretty from the paint, thus maintaining the Rangers’ one-goal lead.

Since the officials weren’t happy about that, then come the 11:07 mark and The Gus Bus took a ride to the penalty box for slashing Double A, Alex Alexeyev.

The Rangers’ PK, as you already know, did their job here – and they almost had another shorty too – but for whatever reason, on a 2 x 1 with Cuylle as his flank – Kakko decided not to shoot the puck.

Perhaps shooting the puck is part of his gluten allergy.

As CZAR IGOR continued to wow and amaze, we almost had another REMPE HIGHLIGHT, as this time, #73 one-handed dangled the puck towards the net, but lost it at the last second.

And had such a goal came to fruition – then forget about it – and where I don’t know if REMPEMANIA can hit another level as it’s already at the ceiling.

Following the fourth penalty kill for the Blueshirts, Tom Wilson tried to pick a fight with Ryan Lindgren, but this felt forced and a way to rile up his depressing and flat team.

Come the 15:40 mark, we then had our first true scrum of the game – and wouldn’t you know it – K’Andre Miller, no longer Willie Huber 2.0 anymore, was right in the middle of it.

During this sequence, Miller was throwing around Caps left-and-right, and as if he was like a mother hopped-up on adrenaline saving her child from a perilous situation.

The end result?

A double-minor for the Caps’ Nic Dowd and a singular-minor for Miller – thus a two-minute Rangers’ power-play – and one that they soon scored on:

VINCENT TROCHECK. PPG. 3-1 BLUESHIRTS. pic.twitter.com/9D67Nqm5W1

— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) April 27, 2024

3-1, GOOD GUYS – and another give-and-go goal created by the team’s top-two middle-men, Trocheck and Mika.

And while I’m still really hesitant to proclaim that Mika is back and that all of his follies from the regular season can now be forgotten about – what can’t be denied is his current complete 180 ever since the postseason began.

While who knows what will happen next, for right now, we can say that the dee-jay is backing up all of his big words today, as like Panarin, another ghost from last year’s playoff loss to the Devils – this one-two Blueshirts’ scoring punch are rolling.

3-1, GOOD GUYS, through forty-minutes of play.

Here’s what I said after consuming my 10th Labatt and 5th shot of whiskey:

3-1, GOOD GUYS after 40. 2p thoughts:

—- Continue to finish the story

—- Everything looks kosher this Passover, but I wouldn’t mind some matzoh ball powerplay goals too.

—- CZAR IGOR is so underrated – but not by me!#nyr

— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) April 27, 2024

THIRD PERIOD

While I don’t think that the word “boring” is correct when describing this final frame from an offensive perspective – but it was safe, as the Rangers weren’t going to risk anything – and despite CZAR IGOR having his heaviest workload of the match.

Goodrow, who takes no shit whatsoever, was boxed for cross-checking Dowd at the 2:32 mark. Following this kill, and several CZAR IGOR MASTERPIECE THEATER saves as well (and two on Wilson alone), Cuylle was then boxed at the 6:20 mark for boarding Martin Fehervary.

I thought this period was highlighted by the defensive work of the Miller/Schneider pairing, as this new-found duo, influenced by the mentorship of team captain Jacob Trouba, were in a word, OUTSTANDING!

Seriously, you couldn’t have asked for anything better from #79 and #4 – and one more time on this site – Trouba’s willingness to accept his demotion as the team’s third RD (even if he does play during pivotal situations – and as he did at the end of Game 2), speaks volumes about the team’s overall commitment to winning – and from the tippy-top to all the way down – assuming if there is such a thing as a “down” on this club!

In other words, it’s not about individuals – it’s about the team’s quest for the Cup – and as a fan – you have to love that.

To fast-forward a bit, come 4:30 remaining and the Rangers were being out-shot by a tally of 9-0.

While that stat looks horrible in black-and-white, it just speaks to the Rangers not wanting to give up any breakaways or odd-man rushes following a potential wayward shot that could’ve been blocked or sent wide (wrapped around the boards).

And while everyone wanted that CZAR IGOR empty-netter, following Lindgren being pulled from his net for the third consecutive time this series – it never came to be.

But such a potential event, while gratifying, would’ve only been the post-meal mug of (Irish) coffee – as the Rangers dined and devoured the main course meal and mission – and as a result, are now just one-game away from ending the Caps’ season – while extending their own.

Here’s what Laviolette said following the game:

Laviolette, who aside from one or two press conferences this season, has always been cool, calm and collected; the head coach displayed such demeanor in this “LAVY’S LOUNGE.”

When asked about the poor and horrid officiating that we’ve seen all series, Laviolette responded with, “I do have my thoughts.”

When asked if he wanted to elaborate on his opinions, Laviolette curtly and tongue-in-cheek said, “I do not!”

In other words, Laviolette knows that the officiating has been piss-poor too – but he’s not going to say anything to give these officials anymore reasons to call one-sided games, nor risk being fined by the league either.

All in all, a strong hardworking win, and where should the Rangers win on Sunday night – then praise the hockey gods – no more Sieve Vagistat this season!

And gee, I wonder why TNT has Henrik Lunqvist on their payroll and not the biggest chart-humper in hockey?

On Saturday, the Rangers held an optional skate, and for whatever reason, the club didn’t upload any of the interviews that took place afterwards.

Not that it would’ve mattered anyway, because as fully explained on this site in the past – the team never uploads any of Rempe’s interviews.

Multi-billion dollar franchise, but a two-cent marketing department.

According to the beat who flock to Rempe whenever they can (and you can’t blame them – as Rempe is not only a hit machine, but a quote machine too), #73, after Saturday’s optional practice, said the following about the Game 3 victory and his time in the NHL in general:

[When trying to block out all of the noise and his new-found fame]: “I feel like I just play my game. If it’s more attention, then I have no issue with that. If there’s good media, bad media, whatever, I don’t care. It is what it is. I’m just going to go play my game. If I’m being effective and making big hits and clean hits and hard hits, then other teams aren’t going to like that. But I got to make sure it’s clean. I thought yesterday’s hit was clean. Obviously, I never want to see a guy get hurt, but I thought it was clean.”

[On being a villain for opposing teams and fan bases]: “I got no issue with it. In New York, they love it when I’m playing hard. If we go on the road and they don’t like it, I mean, you’re playing hard, you’re playing physical, it’s all good. I have no issue with that.”

[On declining fighting Wilson and McIlrath]: “I think it’s a learning process for me with that because I’m trying to now pick my spots, trying to gain momentum, you know? Are we up? What’s the series like? Is that needed there and that type of thing. It’s hard to say no sometimes. Does that make sense? I’m still learning, that’s part of the job as well. I gotta pick my spots. I gotta help. Our job as a team is to win and I gotta make sure that I do right by the team – always.”

One more time on this site (and probably definitely not the last), I must ask of you the following:

HOW CAN YOU NOT LOVE THIS GUY?

Not only does he play the right way, engage the fans in a positive manner and has given this team a new spark of life too – but he says all of the right things to boot – and where as fans – you want to walk right through a wall with him.

And as someone who was on the REMPESTEIN bandwagon from day one, and as an old-school fan too – I’m loving how Rempe is messing up the worlds of every analytical loser out there!

As we get to the end here, the New York Islanders prevented elimination for one day, following their Game 4 double overtime win against the Hurricanes on Saturday.

In other words, should the Blueshirts make it four-straight on Sunday night, then they will be the first club to reach the second-round – and more important than that – get some rest while also preventing unnecessary wear-and-tear.

I know that my heart is taking over my brain these days – but despite my infinite wisdom and Rangers’ knowledge – I want to believe that this team can go all the way.

And should it be heartbreak over parade?

Well I’m used to that anyway!

However, and I’ll leave you with this…

FINISH THE STORY!

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