Dr Jekyll/Mr. Hyde Hockey Team, What a Ride

New York Rangers' Petr Prucha gets the puck past Philadelphia Flyers' goalie Antero Niittymaki for a goal during the first period of their NHL hockey game Thursday, Jan. 31, 2008 in Philadelphia.

It is a guess every night which Ranger team will show up. Last night it was the work there asses off, drive to the net and play unreal defense. Tonight vs. the Devils it could be shot from the perimeter, play awful transition defense and lose 3-1. The Devils usually wake the Rangers up, so I expect them to play hard and well, a win I am not so sure. They need these 2 points bad.

They have played most games of any of the 4-5 teams battling for seeds 5-8 so they have to get to the top of that group in case teams win those games in hand. One good thing, all the teams in seeds 9-15 have played the same amount of games or only one less (except Buffalo who have 3 games in hand) so they are a legitimate 8 seed, as only the Sabres and Isles could catch them if they win all of there games in hand. What a race this will be to the final playoff spots.

Quick Notes
Doesn’t it seem every time Renney tweaks the lines he finds a diamond in the rough line that sparks the team? Once it was putting Gomez with Shanny for a stretch, then Gomez back with Jagr. He did the kid line for a couple weeks, put Avery with Jagr and now put 2 hard nosed players with talent on Drury’s line. That line clicked all night. I still think Avery should be with Jagr/Gomez and then Shanny with Straka/Dubi but that is just me. If this Drury line plays this hard every night have to keep them together.

Power Play- I have said it all year this is the key to this team. I was not overly impressed last night with the PP but they did play well 5-5 and did not need the PP. That will not happen every night. Anyone notice the one PP goal they did score it was a wrist shot from the point with 2 Rangers in front…….interesting concept! I do not love Renney but he was yelling all AM skate to drive to the net boys, with some F-bombs thrown in (per beat writers Glen Sather is on this trip so they are not surprised Renney was acting this way, Thanks for this info Bob).

Player of the Game

Drury- 1 goal, 1 assist 5 of 7 on Face-offs, integral part of holding # 1 PP team in league to no PP goals. THIS IS WHAT WE ARE PAYING FOR!!!

Side note: Much props to Valiquette and his first career shutout. While he was not tested most of the night, he did make a couple saves in first period that were important. Although, with the Rangers defense Steven Mcdonald could have shut out the Flyers last night (okay that was wrong and even I am a little offended by that sentence….)

New Half, Same Team

Carolina Hurricanes' Scott Walker (24) scraps with New York Rangers' Marc Staal (18) and Sean Avery, as Rangers' Jaromir Jagr (68), of the Czech Republic, battles with Carolina Hurricanes' Tim Gleason (42) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2008.

I am about done with this team. They play a team that is awful in there defensive zone, they give a solid effort, but they can not score. You know going in vs. Carolina they will have 2-3 odd man rushes a period as they are an unreal transition team, but as a trade off you will likely have just as many if not more transition rushes as they attack all game and get caught.

Well that is exactly what happened, except Carolina had maybe 5 break-ins and odd man rushes and scored on 3 of them. Henrik can not be blamed as the goals were all one odd man rushes/breakaways but we needed the king to make 3 spectacular saves and he could not. The problem with this team yet again was the PP was awful, except for the first one, and when they got chances they either missed the net (one by Tyutin was so bad it created a 2-1 the other way leading to a Carolina goal) or Ward was there.

Quick Notes:

Refs---wow are the refs getting worse as the season goes on? Gomez drilled from behind, and I mean drilled, no call. Avery had every right to go after the Carolina player and we get a man disadvantage. I mean give one Carolina guy 2 minutes in that scrum to even it up, especially with the missed call. Much props to Jagr for dropping the gloves (he did not fight) but, he was the first one in to help Avery.

Then Orr levels a Carolina player which should have been a penalty (hit from behind, it was open ice but it was from behind). A Carolina player jumps Orr and they fight. Well of course they will give an instigator to Carolina correct…..no of course not. I am in no way blaming the refs for this lose but man they were awful. Do not even get me started on the Jagr dive call, that is just wrong, I have no idea what Jagr did to the refs but he is the most disrespected superstar I have ever seen.

GOAT OF THE GAME:

Offense- Until they start scoring on PP’s and on shots right in front of the net, they are the downfall of this team. I mean Carolina, as stated above, is one of the worst defensive teams in the league and Rangers score 1 goal.

Offense does not start to bury it’s chances this team will be on the outside looking in come playoff time.

BORE FEST/2nd Half Notes

No idea if anyone tortured themselves and actually watched the Skills Competition on Saturday. I DVR’d it and was happy I did, so I could fast forward all the boredom that ensued. Wow, the NHL really has no clue what it is doing and the Atlanta fans were just awful or as bored as I was. All the time it took to set it all up and get it going is just not worth it. The only 2 moments I actually went wow or adjusted my seat was the 3 on 3 young stars game and the fastest shot competition. 3 on 3 young stars had 2 Rangers and both did well, Marc Staal had a sick shot on a breakaway top corner and Dubinsky flashed some quick passes and 2 nice goals. Dubi was even named MVP of the game, I tell you what this kid is impressing me more and more. When Chara blasted a 103 plus mile an hour shot on the last shot it was very impressive. Otherwise the festivities were a complete waste. I did not even watch the All-star game the skills competition bored me so much.

The NHL also tried a slam dunk type competition where there are no rules on a breakaway the guy can skate backwards, juggle the puck with his stick, go around the net 10 times, WHATEVER he wanted to do. Garbonik and Ovechkin must have been the only 2 that got the memo. Something that seemed like a cool premises was just awful. The players were just going on shootouts and trying to score and getting no points for it. Then a guy tried to do some things (Martin St Louis) and Nabokov the goalie came all the way out and poked check the puck away from him!!!!!! What the FUCK NABOKOV this was a display for the offensive guys to try sick moves and you take the puck away when they try it…awful end to an awful night.

VS. is the absolute worst network and it is time to go back to ESPN for free, say what you want about ESPN they know how to do the kind of stuff the NHL needs.

THE START TO THE NEXT HALF

Well it is time to get back to business and to see if what some have been saying (Bryan and Bobby) is true. Will Jagr turn it around as he was saving himself for a run in the second half and the playoffs.

My Five questions and answers for the second half:

1- Will Jagr turn it on and carry this team?

Yes- He has shown signs last 2-3 weeks of coming around and is getting back to the 1.5 point per game pace (last 18 games 24 points). I love Avery with him and I think that line will prosper the second half.

2- Which Henrik will show up the one from the first month or the one that struggled near the end of the All-star break?

I think it will be something in between, which should be good enough. I do not think you can expect a .950 save % and 1.50 GAA from first month, but he will be better then the 3.00GAA and barely .900 save%. He will be somewhere in between but more consistent. We need him to be hot going into the playoffs to have any shot.

3- Will Tom Renney loosen the reigns and let the top lines carry this team?

Not a chance and it will be his downfall, no matter what we say or how fans, media feel about him, Tom Renney loves 3rd and 4th line type players. He will continue to lean on HBO line and make Ranger fans crazy. Tom Renney will be the scapegoat (and rightfully so) if this team does not do well in or get to the postseason.

4- Will Gomez and Drury be the top centers we signed and hoped for?

Gomez has been a top center all year and he has produced what is expected of him. It is time for the fun-loving good interview Gomez to go away and for him to turn the fire on more and get this team to the playoffs. Drury, I am scared of the 2 he will not earn his money this year. Is that Renney’s fault or Drury’s, I think a combo of both. Do not get me wrong I love Drury, but you do not pay a guy 7 million per to be a tough 2 way player, he has to start scoring and producing offensively. I think Renney has handcuffed him as Drury is the type that will do what the coach’s ask and Renney wants him to be a 2 way player with defense being first. My prediction is Drury will keep doing what he is doing and I think Gomez will step it up even more.

5- Will the Rangers make an impact this year in playoffs?

I think they will get to the dance but how far they do depends on where they are seeded. Play Penguins or Ottwa first round there is zero chance they win a round. Any other team they play they can beat in a series. My predication 7th seed Pens first round- out in 6. Overall I am predicting a disappointing season and all hell will break loose this off-season.

LOVE YOU TUBE

Got this from you tube---oh to be young and hockey player- cool warmup game and love this song (yes it is rap but I do like it, leave me alone)

Leetch Night Capped Off With A Victory.

A great ceremony and a great announcement (much props to Bryan for predicting it, right when he said he had an announcement Bryan said Graves is going up to the Rafters) by Brian Leetch. Tie Domi riding in on the handlebars was great moment and overall another classy night by the Garden. The game, what is there to say, The Rangers slept walked through the first 2 periods, played a great 3rd to tie it up and won in a shootout. I can not complain the game was boring (it was), as I will always take a boring win over an exciting loss.

Adam Graves’s announcement is just another way to show how Brian Leetch had absolutely no ego and was the best teammate around. I mean this was his night, should have been all about what he did for the Rangers and he lets Graves still some thunder, class move all the way.

Love the not so subtle knock of Glen Sather last night, he thanked every big wig including Neil Smith for his Ranger career and never mentioned Sather. Then his last part of speech he says “I came back to the garden only one time and sat on that visitor’s bench and you guys (the crowd) made me feel right at home.” Leetch is a good guy, but he knows Sather treated him like garbage and that was his way of letting him know he will never forget what was done to him.

Quick Notes:

Messier, I love you and you will always have a special place in my sports heart, but enough with the tears. You retire, you cry, your number retired, you cry, you get into hall, you cry, but you talking about Brian Leetch YOU DO NOT CRY…….THAT IS MAN LAW 1.2C enough already. Sorry had to get that out of the way.

Tie Domi- I have a friend that works the penalty box/score box etc at every Ranger home game and he said to me Tie Domi was the nicest down to earth Ranger there ever was. He used to take all the NHL guys out after weekend games and get them drinks etc. etc. They actually became pretty good friends. Once Domi got traded he would circle the date the Maple Leafs came to town as Domi would always take the blue collar guys out for a few drinks. Well Domi made it back last night at it was good to see, he should have been given a chance by the Rangers as he turned himself into a damn good player once he left NY and was given ice time. We missed the best times Domi had as a hockey player. Never forget the fight with Probert when he made the mock title belt sign, Classic Domi.

THE GAME

Dubinsky/Dawes yet again are the best 2 forwards all night. It is every night Dubinsky does something or makes a move and I go Holy Shit this kid is fast, or this kid can carry the puck or deek anyone. Last night the only time you shifted your seat and anticipated something would happen was then these 2 were on the ice.

Just an overall boring game where Rangers and Atlanta just wanted to dump and chase and keep pucks deep on each other, it looked like neither team wanted to make a mistake and puck went from behind one net and then out of zone and behind the other net. Oh well they needed 2 points and got them, I will take it any day.

Star of the game

Have to give it to Dubinsky, Dawes made the last pass, but overall Dubinsky was the best player on the ice for the Rangers. Time to move Drury to a wing and let Dubinsky by # 2 Center…….just a thought- trade Malik for a # 3 type center and get Drury on the wing with Gomez/jagr…..hmmmmmmmmmm, nah Renney would get a # 3 center and play him point on the PP, play him 25 minutes a game and see what he can do with Jagr. Sorry can not do a post without ripping Renney.

Leetch Greatest Ranger Ever???

He was at the least the greatest Ranger in my lifetime and could arguably be called the greatest Ranger ever.

He was the first player I ever got a jersey for. I was going to wear it tonight but I put it on and the Large from Junior High just did not cut it. It looked like big guy in a little coat.

I received as a B-day gift this year the 1994 Stanley Cup DVD box set. Unreal is all I can say about the way Leetch carried this team. Yes Messier slayed the dragon and put himself out there, which was a big reason Leetch could just play his game, but Leetch was the Key to that team. Leetch did not like the media attention. His ideal day was AM skate, play and win that night, and maybe a dinner and home. He was not the Derek Jeter date supermodel guys. He just wanted to play the game hard and go home. In 1994 Leetch was like an extra forward on the ice, he would carry the puck in get an offensive chance started and then be the first one back to break up the play.

He was my favorite Ranger of all time and even during the tough years, he was the reason to keep watching the game. Enjoy the video below and remeber the good times Leetchie gave us for his long and great Ranger Career; hey you think he can play the point still:

PS- I could not find any video tributes of leetch on youtube.com except stupid pictures with music. This was only one that was somewhat good. Wish there was better quality but this was all I could find.

Okay a Good Building Block

New York Rangers' Chris Drury, right, comes over to celebrate with teammate Martin Straka (82), of the Czech Republic, after Straka scored during the second period of hockey action Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008 in New York.



It was a dominant game and it is something to build on for the next couple weeks. It all means nothing if the Rangers do not come out hard Thursday and win again and play well again. The lineup shifts worked and Avery added a little something to that Jagr/Gomez line. Overall not really much bad you can say about this game, I actually almost fast forwarded the DVR, but realized these types of performances have been few and far between so I better enjoy it.

Quick Notes:

Dubinsky, wow this kid can flat out play. That move on breakaway was a sick move and he can skate and carry the puck well. This kid is something to build on and him and Nigel Dawes are looking like a solid duo for years to come.

Team play was great last night; I mean not a single shot against until approximately 9 minutes left in the first period. They shut down there team and pretty much dominated the puck all night.

Joe Micelitti says about 1 minute after the face-off the Rangers will have to play .700 hockey to make the playoffs this year. Am I missing something? They are in a battle with 6 teams being 6 points apart and 3 of them are around the .500 mark. So in essence how I take it one and maybe 2 teams that finishe around a .500 will make the playoffs. Yes I want the Rangers to be better then just .500, but we are not in last place and have to catch 6 teams ahead of them. They are battling the Bruins and Islanders not the 1980 Oilers/Islander teams that win every night. They need to play better and get on a run but to say that like it is fact, is just bad color commentary.

Player of the game

I give this guy hell every time he looks flat or just not interested so he deserves props when he has a great game. Jaromir Jagr was the best player on the ice last night and dominated play with Avery and Gomez. He looked like he wanted to play and looked like he actually cared. We will need this type of effort the rest of the year from him.