NYR/CBJ 1/7 Review: The Bi-Polar Broadway Blueshirts Jekyl & Hyde Themselves to a 3 Goal Papa John’s Third Period Victory, AV Climbs The Rankings, Clendo & Grabner Steal Two Points From “Arthur Tortsarelli” & Much More At the Rangers Bye

I don’t think John Tortorella was giving the thumbs up to Curtis McElhinney after tonight’s gam

Welcome everyone to another blog here on BlueCollarBlueShirts.com. After tonight’s thrilling 5-4 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets, the New York Rangers head into their 5 day bye week. For the Rangers, due to an impressive third period, most of the articles, blogs and radio you will see about this team will be positive. If it wasn’t for a lucky goal by Adam Clendening and Grabner cashing in on an incredible breakaway, the tone about this team would sound different right now.

However, the Rangers stole two points from Columbus tonight. With Michael Grabner scoring during one of the most exciting plays of the season, with 16 seconds left on the clock to boot, the Rangers not only stole two points from Columbus, they prevented Columbus from getting the OT point. As a result, here are the updated Metropolitan standings. I’ve only listed the teams that matter in the Metropolitan division:

#
Metropolitan Division
GP
W
L
OTL
P
GF
GA
Diff
L10
STRK
1
Blue Jackets
38
27
7
4
58
130
84
46
8-2-0
L2
2
Rangers
42
28
13
1
57
146
107
39
7-3-0
W2
3
Penguins
38
25
8
5
55
133
107
26
7-1-2
W4
4
Capitals
39
25
9
5
55
111
83
28
6-2-2
W5
5
Flyers
41
21
15
5
47
122
127
-5
3-5-2
W1

As you can tell, the Rangers are already over the halfway mark of their season. During their bye week, first place Columbus, third place Pittsburgh and fourth place Washington will catch up. While no game is a must win at this point in the season, for the Rangers, this was a great win before heading into the break. The Rangers closed the gap between themselves and first place Columbus to one point, although Columbus has four games in hand. As I’ve stated earlier on this site, I feel that Columbus peaked too early and will eventually come back to earth. That said, with the way they are playing, it’s hard to see them missing the playoffs, unless something really drastic happens.

For the Rangers, what worries me the most is another potential first round match-up with the Penguins. As I’ll state when I get into the CBJ/NYR portion of this blog, the Rangers beat a back-up goalie tonight. They didn’t face the leading Vezina candidate in Sergei Bobrovsky. Of course, you can’t say Columbus would’ve definitely won if he played, but with the Ranger effort & type of goals they got, it’s hard to imagine the Rangers keep Columbus pointless tonight.

Once again, Henrik Lundqvist struggled against another good team. He gave up four goals, again. Before the win against Philly, he gave up four goals in four out of his last five games played. It’s an alarming trend. As I always say, I would love his contract off this team and use the money elsewhere. You’re getting better production out of Raanta anyway. I just don’t see how this Rangers team, in its current incarnation, can beat the Penguins 4 times in 7 games, unless Crosby gets another concussion & both Penguin goalies get injured again.

However, that’s a discussion for once the playoffs begin. Who knows what the roster will be like when we get there anyway. While it wasn’t pretty and the Rangers caught a break drawing McElhinney over Bobrovsky for this game, the Rangers took care of business on the road, with a bunch of unlikely heroes leading the way.

Adam Clendening, getting rare ice time, helped propel the Rangers to victory, with two goals in the third period. That was more than good enough for the Broadway hat tonight!

This was another Jekyl & Hyde game for these Bi-Polar Broadway Blueshirts. They looked terrible and horrendous in the first period, but by the time the third period came around, they looked like they were playing for the Stanley Cup. While it is exciting to see wins like this, it does bother you that you don’t get a full 60 minutes out of this team sometimes. Especially in a game like this, where you’re battling the top team in the NHL.

While McElhinney got the call for the Jackets, Lundqvist got the call for the Rangers.  Raanta still hasn’t played in 2017. I’m assuming he will get a start next weekend. As I said in my last blog, Raanta should start Friday at home vs Toronto and Lundqvist should take the harder start in Montreal on Saturday. Of course, that goes against what AV has been doing all season, as usually Raanta gets the harder game. However, Montreal is a playoff team and Hank has struggled mightily there. He should play that game and try to figure out the Habs at the Bell Center, during a game that is essentially meaningless during the Rangers quest for the Cup.

Adam Clendening also played his second straight game with Marc Staal out with an upper-body injury. I talked about Clendo last game, I didn’t think he was any better or any worse than Staal in Philly. Maybe you can blame a few of his turnovers in Philly on the rust from the press box, where AV has had him planted for seemingly the whole season.

I still don’t get the issue with Clendo. AV said a few times this season that he was going to rest his regular defensemen, specifically Dan Girardi, so Girardi would be 100% for the playoffs. Instead, Clendo has only played for Girardi once and is only getting starts when someone is injured. Clendo isn’t playing regularly at all, which makes it even more impressive that not only was he sound defensively tonight, he potted two goals, including the game tying goal in the third period. Clendening joined Holden and Puempel as an unlikely Rangers hero during this recent stretch of away games. However, good teams get production from every line and every D-pair. The Rangers, to their credit, are doing that. You can’t expect Kreider or a Rick Nash to get 3-4 points a game.

Speaking of the Rangers health issues, while on the name of Rick Nash, he is expected back after the bye. Pavel Buchnevich, in a salary cap move, was sent down to Hartford, where he played last night (Scoring a goal) and will play the rest of the week until the bye is over. I wonder what Buchnevich thinks of Hartford vs NYC. That left turn at the Hartford Yard Goats baseball field has to be throwing him off!

The other major Ranger injury, the leg of Mika Zibanejad is supposedly healing according to schedule. While nothing has been reported about his return, he has been skating. To be honest, I say wait until after the All-Star break.  When he comes back, it will be a whole new season for him and he will develop the chemistry needed by the time the playoffs roll around. There’s no point rushing anyone back on this team, since the Rangers, RIGHT NOW, are in no fear of missing the playoffs.

The big question for the Rangers is who goes bye bye when the three big names return. Obviously, Marek Hrivik and Nick Jensen will go back to howling in Hartford. That leaves one more guy to go down. To me, it’s Oscar Lindberg, despite his first goal of the season tonight.  I really don’t think Jesper Fast has been that great this season, but I don’t see the Rangers benching him either. After a strong start, Brandon Pirri has taken a dip production wise. Sometimes I have to look at the box score to see if Pirri is still with the team!

Plus, don’t forget Matt Puempel. Before his concussion, he scored a hat trick. However, that might be his career highlight this season, as he was really only brought in to replace Z-Bad. It’s hard to see him getting time if the team is 100% healthy.

What does need to happen is a trade before the deadline. The Rangers will have to sacrifice some forwards if they want to have a chance of enticing a team with a Top 4 defenseman. I wouldn’t mind trading Fast & Lindberg & prospects/picks to land a top D man. I wouldn’t go nuts though, and give up a Zucc, a Kreider, or a combo of Miller/Vesey or anything silly like that, which I’ve seen proposed by others.

Let’s take a look at what happened tonight. Here’s the ESPN official box score of the game, with my thoughts to follow:

1st Period Summary

Time Team Scoring Detail NYR CBJ
1:54
Markus Nutivaara (2)
Assist: Josh Anderson
0 1
4:37
Cam Atkinson (19) (Power Play)
Assists: Sam Gagner, Nick Foligno
0 2
14:01
Oscar Lindberg (1)
Assists: Michael Grabner, Nick Holden
1 2
15:57
Scott Hartnell (10)
Assist: Sam Gagner
1 3
Time Team Penalty Detail
4:27
Ryan McDonagh: 2 Minutes for Cross checking
8:12
Mats Zuccarello: 2 Minutes for Tripping
11:15
Marek Hrivik: 2 Minutes for Hooking
18:19
Chris Kreider: 2 Minutes for Roughing
18:19
Scott Hartnell: 2 Minutes for Roughing

2nd Period Summary

Time Team Scoring Detail NYR CBJ
3:00
Lukas Sedlak (4)
Assists: Scott Hartnell, Jack Johnson
1 4
4:12
Michael Grabner (17)
Unassisted
2 4
Time Team Penalty Detail
8:50
David Savard: 2 Minutes for Slashing

3rd Period Summary

Time Team Scoring Detail NYR CBJ
1:22
Adam Clendening (1) (Power Play)
Assists: J.T. Miller, Kevin Hayes
3 4
12:57
Adam Clendening (2)
Assists: Oscar Lindberg, Jesper Fast
4 4
19:43
Michael Grabner (18)
Unassisted
5 4
Time Team Penalty Detail
0:13
Nick Foligno: 2 Minutes for Tripping

Goaltending Summary

New York Rangers Goaltending

Player SA GA Saves SV% TOI PIM
H. Lundqvist 37 4 33 .892 60:00 0

Columbus Blue Jackets Goaltending

Player SA GA Saves SV% TOI PIM
C. McElhinney 34 5 29 .853 59:37 0

M. Grabner (Rangers – RW): Goals: 2, Assists: 1

A. Clendening (Rangers – D): Goals: 2, Assists: 0

S. Hartnell (LW)

Photo credit: NYR
Ever since scoring the first goal of the season against the Islanders, I’ve heard many “GRABNER BY THE PUSSY” jokes. That means Grabner is scoring a bunch. In fact, he leads the team with goals with 18.

I’ve talked about the inconsistencies of the Rangers before. They just have these woeful first periods, but spring back to life in the third period. This was that game for the Rangers.

The Rangers looked horrible in the first. As what is the usual for Lundqvist these days, he gave up a bad early goal. Raise your hand if you’ve seen Lundqvist give up a goal in the first two minutes or last minute of a period on a regular basis. Markus Nutivaara was the latest person to victimize the overpaid goalie. Of course, Joe Michelletti was talking about screens and deflections which wasn’t there.

It’s so funny how according to Michelletti, only Lundqvist is screened and deals with deflections. I guess the same didn’t happen to McElhinney tonight? I understand being a hometown guy and all, but Michelletti can not say a bad word about Hank. Even when Hank gave up that 100′ goal in Buffalo, Michelletti was making up stories about bad ice, which a zamboni just left 5 minutes prior. I rather a guy like Ron Duguay, who in studio, blasted this team for their first period tonight. Give it to me straight. Save the rainbows and gum drops for the kids. That’s why, while I did miss Sam Rosen a bit on Wednesday, I didn’t miss Michelletti, as Eddie O. was a straight shooter all game.

Cam Atkinson made the Rangers pay less than three minutes on a power play goal. Lundqvist had no clue that Atkinson was standing right next to him. Give Columbus credit, when they were on the PP, they generated a ton of chances and moved the puck well. They were near Lundqvist all night, as opposed to the Rangers PP, which seems them pass the puck from 30 feet out.  2-0 Jackets early.

The Rangers were very sloppy in the first period, committing four penalties. I know they can’t practice during the bye week, but this was no way to practice your penalty kill. The Rangers wound up going 2/3 on the PK. (One penalty was off-setting with Columbus.)

The lone Rangers goal in the period came from Oscar Lindberg, his first of the season, as he sniped one past McElhinney. The scoreboard read 2-1 Columbus, but it felt like you were watching a game where Columbus was up by 3.

Hoping for a one goal lead going into the intermission, so the Rangers could talk it over and rebound, Scott Hartnell prevented that, as it was his turn to beat Hank in front of the net. 3-1 CBJ after twenty minutes. While the Rangers looked flat, Tortorella was looking smart by allowing Bobrovsky to rest against Tortorella’s former team.

Both teams would add a goal piece in the second period. Lukas Sedlak would push the score to 4-1, three minutes into the period, giving Columbus a 3 goal lead. Plenty of time for the Rangers to come back, but also plenty of time for CBJ to run Lundqvist to the bench. However, the 3 goal lead was the best CBJ could do, as Michael Grabner scored a quick goal right after Sedlak’s goal. That seemed like a role reversal, as it is usually the Rangers giving up bad goals after they just scored. After a period where the Rangers started to show a little sign of life, the two Metro teams skated to the second break 4-2, CBJ.

The Rangers woke up in the third period like a phoenix rising from the ashes. Lundqvist and the Rangers were stronger. After giving up 13+ shots a piece in the first two periods, the Rangers limited CBJ to only 9 shots. CBJ also didn’t get the same shooting angles and lost some of their intensity near the net. Again, Lundqvist will be credited for a win, but McElhinney really earned his loss. Neither goalie was that great in my opinion. I don’t think this game hits the over in the second period if Raanta & Bobrovsky were playing!

“Hey Torts, guess who just passed you in wins by a Rangers coach!” AV earned his 172nd win, good for fourth best in the Rangers 90 year history. He will most likely pass Frank Boucher this season, for third all time, as Boucher has 181 wins.

The Rangers got the scoring started early in the third period. After a Nick Foligno penalty, Adam Clendening scored a powerplay goal, edging the game to 4-3. Give it up for the Rangers defensemen, with the strong game Clendening had tonight coupled in with the effort we’ve been getting from Nick Holden, it’s like the Rangers have two mini Orr’s out there. After all, Clendening wears 4 and Holden’s number adds up to 4! Ok, I’m exaggerating, which sadly, isn’t obvious to some, but 4 and 22 have been making the most of their time in recent games.

Again, that game in Philly was Clendening’s first game in ages, so who knows what he really can do. He’s been with 5 teams already and is young, so you know he wants a home. With the Rangers terrible contracts to defensemen, cough Girardi cough Staal, it’s hard to see AV benching those guys on the regular for a cheap pick up in Clendening.

Clendening would tie the game up later in the period, after the half way point expired. This time, Clendening took a pass from the behind the boards, and from the boards, located just near the faceoff dot to McElhinney’s left, just threw the puck near the net. Somehow it went in. I don’t know how it went in, but it went in! Horrible goal for McElhinney to give up. No word from Michelletti if it there was a screen. There was also no word from the Ranger fans, who live in their mother’s basement, who blame the Rangers defense every time Lundqvist is beat, if every Columbus defenseman was at fault!

Seriously though, this was a lucky goal, but hey, good things happen when you shoot the puck. I stated during the game on my twitter that I thought the Rangers were giving McElhinney an easy night. You got a back up goalie who doesn’t play much. This guy isn’t Raanta. Fire the fucking puck! The Rangers did just that, logging more shots in the third period than the other two periods and as a result, had a three goal third period.

During this game, I was watching the Oilers/Devils game on my other TV. The Oilers/Devils were 1-1 and going to OT. The Rangers/CBJ were 4-4 and it looked like they were going in OT too. However, leave it Michael Grabner to become hero again! Within a 5 minute span, Grabner won the game for the Rangers and the Oilers w/Talbot beat the Devils. It’s your turn next, NY Football Giants!

I talked about Grabner in my last blog and I posed the question that I wonder if Grabner lost some steam after the passing of a close personal family member. Again, I’m not trying to be callous when saying that, it’s just that we all are affected when we lose someone close to us. Grabner was on fire before his grandmother’s passing, slowed down a bit, but has recently picked up the jets again.

Grabner won the game for the Rangers with 16 seconds left. I was fucking ecstatic, although maybe not as ecstatic as Don La Greca:

As a result of Grabner’s difficult breakaway goal, the Rangers were up 5-4 and they completely deflated the Blue Jackets. Because Torts is Torts, I have to include his reaction to Columbus blowing a 3 goal lead and losing the game in the final seconds:

 

Make no bones about it, this was a huge win for the NY Rangers. Like an NFL team, you always want to go into the bye week with a W. As I say frequently on this blog, you can’t overreact to a win like this, just like you can’t overreact to a loss, like the one against Buffalo. I’m inclined to agree with Tortorella and Steve Valiquette (from the MSG Post Game Show) – this game came down to goaltending. Columbus didn’t have their best out there. Yes, you play the hand your dealt, but to start tweeting at Columbus saying “YOU SUCK” like I’ve seen others do, is just puerile and insane. Then again, Nash and Z-Bad didn’t play either, so go ahead, send out your silly tweets!

I just want to include the official Rangers post game news & notes at the bye, before concluding this blog:

Credit: BLUESHIRTSUNITED.COM

Team Notes

  • WINNING WAYS – The Rangers’ 28 wins in 2016-17 are tied for the second-most the team has earned through the first 42 games of one season in franchise history. The Blueshirts have earned at least 28 wins in their first 42 games of a season four times in franchise history (1970-71, 1971-72, 2011-12, 2016-17), and the only season in which the team earned more than 28 wins through the first 42 games was 1970-71 (29). The Rangers lead the NHL in wins in 2016-17. New York has won 12 of its last 17 contests (12-5-0), including 11 of its last 15 games (11-4-0), eight of its last 11 games (8-3-0), and five of its last six games (5-1-0).
  • COMEBACK KIDS – For the third time this season, the Rangers registered a win in a game which they trailed entering the third period. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the last time the Rangers won a game in which they trailed by three or more goals at any point in the contest was on Oct. 27, 2014 vs. Minnesota (trailed 3-0 entering the third period and won the game, 5-4). The Rangers have posted an 11-8-0 record in games which they have allowed the first goal in 2016-17.
  • ROAD WARRIORS – New York leads the NHL in road wins this season (15) and leads the NHL in road wins since the start of the 2013-14 season (87). The Rangers’ 87 road wins since the start of the 2013-14 season are tied for the most road wins the team has earned in any four-season span in franchise history (the Blueshirts also earned 87 road wins from 2011-12 – 2014-15). The Rangers have won each of their last four road games and have outscored their opponents, 22-11, over the four contests. The Blueshirts have earned a win in 14 of their last 18 road contests (14-4-0), including eight of their last nine road games (8-1-0).
  • 30-FOR-30 – Five Rangers have registered 30 or more points this season (Stepan, Kreider, Zuccarello, Hayes, and Miller). Prior to 2016-17, the last season in which five Rangers recorded at least 30 points through the first 42 games was 2000-01 (Messier, Leetch, Fleury, Nedved, Dvorak).
  • THREE’S COMPANY – The Michael Grabner-Kevin Hayes-J.T. Miller line recorded five points in tonight’s contest (two goals, three assists), and each of the three players tallied at least one point in the game. Over the last two games, the three players have notched 12 points (six goals, six assists).
  • GOALS GALORE – The Blueshirts lead the NHL in goals this season (146 – includes two team goals awarded for shootout wins). The Rangers have recorded 31 goals over the last seven games, registering at least four goals in six of the seven contests, and the Blueshirts have tallied five or more goals in four of the last five games. New York is the only NHL team that has tallied five or more goals in 15 games this season.
  • BLUE (JACKET) NOTE – The Rangers have won eight of their last nine games against Columbus, dating back to Jan. 16, 2015 (8-1-0).
  • WINNING ON THE WEEKEND – The Rangers have posted a 13-2-1 record in games played on either a Saturday or Sunday this season, including a 7-1-0 record in games played on a Saturday.
  • POWER SURGE – The Rangers were 1-for-2 (3:09) on the power play in the contest. The Blueshirts have tallied a power play goal in four of the last six games (8-for-20; 40.0%) and have registered seven power play goals over the last five contests.
  • SHOOTING GALLERY – The Blueshirts registered 34 shots on goal in the contest, including 27 shots on goal over the final two periods. The Rangers have recorded at least 30 shots on goal in four of the last seven contests.
  • HOT AT THE DOT – New York won 35 of 63 faceoffs in tonight’s contest (55.6%).

Three Stars on Broadway

  • Michael Grabner registered three points (two goals, one assist), including the game-winning goal, and tied a single-game career-high with a plus-four rating for the second consecutive contest. He has registered six points (four goals, two assists) and has posted a plus-eight rating over the last two games. In addition, he has recorded seven points (four goals, three assists) over the last four contests. This season, 25 of Grabner’s 26 points have either been a goal or the primary assist on a goal. Grabner has tallied each of his last nine points and 17 of his last 18 points in games on the road. Grabner leads the Rangers in goals this season (18).
  • Adam Clendening established a single-game career-high with two goals, registered his first goal as a Ranger, and recorded four shots on goal in the contest. He has recorded a point in four of the 11 games he has played this season (two goals, three assists). Entering tonight’s contest, Clendening had registered two goals in his NHL career. Clendening is the first Rangers defenseman who tallied two goals in one period since Michael Del Zotto did so on Mar. 30, 2012 vs. Montreal, as well as the first Rangers defenseman who recorded two goals in one period of a road game since Michal Rozsival on Nov. 17, 2007 at Pittsburgh.
  • Oscar Lindberg tied a single-game career-high with two points (one goal, one assist), won nine of 14 faceoffs (64.3%), and posted a plus-two rating in 14:47 of ice time. He has notched a point in three of the last four games, recording four points (one goal, three assists) over the span. Lindberg has registered five points (four goals, one assist) in five career games against the Blue Jackets.

Blueshirt Breakdown

  • Alain Vigneault earned his 172nd career win as the Rangers’ Head Coach in tonight’s contest, passing John Tortorella for sole possession of fourth place on the franchise’s all-time wins list among head coaches. The only head coaches who have earned more career wins with the Rangers than Vigneault are Emile Francis (342), Lester Patrick (281), and Frank Boucher (181). Vigneault has now earned 594 career wins as an NHL head coach, and he has coached 1,094 career games in the NHL.
  • J.T. Miller tallied an assist and posted a plus-one rating in 17:14 of ice time. With the assist, Miller extended his career-high point streak to five games (three goals, five assists over the span), and he extended his assist streak to three games, tying his career-high (four assists/points over the three-game assist streak). Miller is tied for the team lead in games with a point this season (22), and the Rangers have posted a 20-2-0 record in games which he has registered a point in 2016-17.
  • Kevin Hayes recorded an assist, led the Rangers with five shots on goal, and posted a plus-one rating while skating in his 200th career NHL game. He has registered a point in five of the last six games, tallying eight points (two goals, six assists) over the span. In addition, Hayes has notched 12 points (three goals, nine assists) in the last 15 contests. Hayes is tied for the team lead in games with a point this season (22), and the Rangers have posted a 21-1-0 record in games which he has tallied a point in 2016-17.
  • Nick Holden recorded an assist and posted a plus-two rating in 22:01 of ice time. He has recorded eight points (four goals, four assists) in the last 10 games, including six points (four goals, two assists) in the last six contests.
  • Jesper Fast tallied an assist and posted a plus-two rating. He has registered an assist/point in three of the last five contests (three assists over the span).
  • Henrik Lundqvist made 33 saves to earn his 18th win of the season. He has made at least 30 saves in eight games this season (including each of the last two contests); he has posted a 7-1-0 record, along with a 1.98 GAA, a .944 SV%, and 1 SO in games which he has made 30 or more saves in 2016-17. Lundqvist appeared in his 714th career NHL game, passing Andy Moog for sole possession of 23rd place on the NHL’s all-time appearances list.

 

The Rangers will need Nash to play like the way he is being paid if they want a crack at the Cup

For the Rangers, this thrilling come back win was a good way to go to the bye, as they keep their heads high. However, this win kinda exposed the Rangers flaws a bit. Lundqvist isn’t the same Lundqvist people think he is from 2012. He can be beat and it’s easy to put up multiple goals on him. The defense can be very iffy, especially when Girardi is out there. It’s hard to imagine Dan Girardi as a top 2 defenseman on any other team. While it’s a heart-pumping roller coaster when you win these seat of your pants games, the balloon usually pops on teams like this in the playoffs. The Rangers have to dedicate themselves to playing a full 60 minutes every night. Far too often are the Rangers prone to these WTF periods.

It’s really hard to assess what this team is, because a trade for a defenseman has to be coming down the pike. I just don’t know what goes in the other direction. The Rangers have an abundance of forwards, but you don’t want to give up too much and break up what you got either.

While Senile Sather was the biggest loser and failure in NY sports history as a GM (Not one other GM in NY sports history had a job for 15+ years without a championship), Gorton has been doing better than his predecessor, in his short run. Halfway into the season, Grabner and Holden have worked out. Vesey and Buchnevich fell into his lap. Keeping Raanta was wise. The Rangers biggest limitations are due to Gorton’s mentor. Hopefully Gorton can Theo Epstein a team that needs a championship so desperately.

As far as this blog, I got a busy work week before heading off to Montreal on Thursday. If something comes up, I’ll try to pump out a blog. Due to being in Montreal, I doubt I will recap the Toronto game, as I plan on pounding authentic Labatt Blues in Montreal!

Perhaps I will get some of my Montreal trip blog done on the plane back to NY, as I’m flying home early Sunday, just in time for football. Let’s just hope the Giants are playing Dallas when I return!

Of note, there is a good chance that Officer Steve McDonald may no longer be with us by the time I get to another blog. Check out this link, if you’re not familiar with the story already: http://pix11.com/2017/01/06/nypd-det-steven-mcdonald-paralyzed-for-over-30-years-after-shooting-suffers-heart-attack/

Officer McDonald is currently on life support and surrounded by his family. While I don’t want to be morbid, you usually don’t see many people kick out of this. My thoughts are with his family at this time. I have a great deal of respect for the NYPD and like many of you, have friends and family in the NYPD. I hope McDonald is able to make a miraculous recovery but I think we all know it doesn’t look good. Some media outlets have already falsely reported his passing, on just the assumption of the life support.

What Officer McDonald does with the Rangers is inspiring and it’s always great to see him at the last home game of the season to present a player with an extra effort award. Whatever happens, I hope this tradition continues. Lives come and go, but their impact can always stay with us. Thank you for your service Officer McDonald.

In Eli We Trust!

I don’t want to close this blog on a sad note, so in closing, let me say LET’S GO BIG BLUE! IT’S GAME DAY! The drive for five begins now!

If I don’t see you sooner, see ya after Montreal. Enjoy the stress-free bye week and expect a sloppy as hell game between the Rangers and the Leafs on Friday night.

LGR

LGGMEN

Sean McCaffrey

BULLSMC@aol.com

@NYCTHEMIC on twitter

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