Probably be a bit abbreviated since I need to get a few movies back to blockbuster before it closes. Anyway, it boggles the mind just how many own goals this team has had this year. I’m going to do a bit of investigating to see if I can find a website that shows which team has the most pucks go in off of their own players, but I would have to believe the Rangers are by far and away the most. Not only that but I bet their differential between the amount of own goals they have, and the amount of own goals theyve been the beneficiary of is extremely lopsided.

Still though, I did not feel the team played bad, but clearly they ran out of gas. Not only playing with several banged up players (Jagr, Straka, Mara, etc) but like I mentioned in my previous post, they also have lost Rachunek, likely for the rest of the year.

It is staggering the amount of injuries this defense has taken, lets take into consideration that Darius Kasparitis did NOT recover from his injuries last year, nor, apparently, did Sandis Ozolinsh, so the list goes something like:

I honestly dont know how many teams can afford to lose 4 starting defenseman to injuries, but somehow the Rangers have managed to not only survive, but to play very well defensively. But the minutes are going to catch up to them, its just a fact of life. Guys like Rozsival and Malik who are typically 2nd or 3rd pairing defenseman (going by their skill level) are now playing close to 30 minutes a night. Dan Girardi who is a rookie only playing in his 21st CAREER NHL game is getting 2nd pairing minutes. The kid is good folks, but hes a (steady) 3rd pairing defenseman, nothing more. Still though, take solace in the effort level, it was there tonight, as was the ever important “playing smart” they just got some bad bounces. It happens. Weve still got plenty of games to get our playoff spot. Projections later tonight/early tomorrow but I expect they show us out of the playoffs at the moment.

-Inferno

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This isn’t the first time Jed has flubbed a pass or a clearing attempt or failed to get “all” of a shot. It happens so frequently I’m not sure why it hasnt been resolved yet. Ortmeyer needs new sticks. It just comes down to that. The kid consistently shoots over the puck, and has to adjust for the awkwardness of that by bending down to one knee when he shoots. Its a strange thing because if he just gets a stick more suited for his “touch” with the puck, I think it would be resolved.

I wasnt expecting a win in this one to be honest, I sort of have this road map of what I think the Rangers will do to get into the playoffs and this was one of my few losses that I picked on the schedule. Getting anything here would be a major steal if you ask me. So lets not completely blow it by at least picking up 1 points.

BTW, whats up with the walking wounded? Add Rachunek to the list of sprained MCLers, he will likely be out 3-4 weeks as well. Speaking of the walking wounded, did you guys catch Brendan Shanahan mentioning that he was skating into boards on purpose to test the concussion. Gotta love the guy, hes just so damn likable its crazy.

-Inferno

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So heres the funny thing. I thought the Senators actually played a better period overall except for 1, very very very important facet of the game. They played just horrendous defense right in front of their net. Did you see the overhead replay that was zoomed out on the 2nd Nylander goal? Count the amount of Senators within 3 feet of the puck who stood still watching the play. I counted 3. When you have a loose puck, 2 feet from the goal mouth, and 3 players sitting around watching the play instead of getting their butts to the front of the net and crosschecking the crap out of the Blue Jersey players, youve got grounds for benchings galore. Several plays the Rangers had 2 and 3 men in front of the net, and the Senators just didnt try to move them out. They allowed them to park themselves there. While there is of course interference rules on the Rangers side, you NEVER see the Rangers parking themselves there without taking at least 2 or 3 crosschecks to the back. The problem today, the players werent between the Rangers and the goal, they were between the Rangers and OUR goal, looking to trap men behind the play. The trouble with playing like that is 2 fold. 1)If you dont score on your chances, you are up the well known creek. 2)If you allow the players that positioning, IF the puck gets there, you need to fight around them to get to the puck.

Now watch how the Rangers played in front of their own net. With the exception of the first shift for the 4th line (where they got caught on the ice for nearly 2 minutes, the bulk of it in their zone) the Rangers did a MARVELOUS job of keeping themselves between the opposing players, and the net. You of course sacrifice some offensive chances by doing this with 3 men down low continually, but you also save your own butts.

This is why the Rangers have been winning as of late. Their commitment to keeping the puck out of their zone. Now if they can just keep netting goals to make sure they get off the dreaded 2 goal lead, they should be ok.

Lastly, anyone else notice how the “Shoot The Puck” mantra seems to have sparked the Rangers?

-Inferno

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