Just like last year the Rangers and Flyers played a heck of a game with severe playoff implications for both teams, granted more important for the Rangers than the Flyers. Just like last year the game was not decided in 60 minute regulation. Just like last year the game was not decided in the 5 minute overtime. Just like last year it was a shootout that picked the winner. But this is where things go awry. Unlike last year the Rangers were the victor, and boy oh boy did we need these 2 points desperately.

The Rangers, just a week ago were strongly in the playoff picture, and then the house came tumbling down and now here we are hanging on for dear life. Luckily the Rangers do tend to play pretty well in games against teams that are better than us, and today was nothing different. The Rangers brought their level of play back to where it needs to be after 2 highly discouraging efforts against the Sabres and Islanders.

Huge kudos to Marc Staal and Dan Girardi who 34:01 and 32:36 respectively. Those are mind blowing minutes to give to these guys, but they handled it with aplomb giving us over half the game of steadily played defensive hockey. Despite their monstrous nights though, to me the player of the game had to be Marian Gaborik. Gabby had a bounce back effort tonight, saving multiple high quality scoring chances with relentless backchecks, and generating numerous scoring opportunities. He didn’t score tonight, but he sure as hell played an outstanding game.

Those shootout specialists sure come in handy aye? I’ll tell ya, in this day and age, they are FAR more valuable than goons are. I think the days of wasting a spot on a goon are gone. Nowadays, teams are going to keep spots on their roster just for guys who are awesome in shootouts.

OK, thats all for now, got my own hockey game to get to!

Rangers Review | Comments Off

The Power Play? Pathetic. The Offense? Pathetic. The Defense? Pathetic. The Puck Pursuit? Pathetic. The Goaltending? Pathetic. Worst of all, The Effort Level? F!&*ING PATHETIC!!!

This was a disgraceful performance by the Rangers. All that crap at the end was meaningless. As of a few fights will nullify a team simply not showing up in a game they absolutely 100% HAD to have. Now the Rangers have to hope the Canes lose against the Caps in order to maintain their tenuous hold onto the last playoff spot. I tell you, if the Rangers miss the playoffs, this will be the game you point squarely to as the reason why. Not the one against the Panthers, not the one against the Senators, not the one against the Sabres…This one right here. It was a gutless, pathetic effort and it was right on through the lineup. Ryan Callahan, no show. Brandon Dubinsky looked like he belonged in the ECHL. Marian Gaborik looked like something you step in after your neighbor walks their dog.

I’ve been upset before at the Rangers play, but I try to keep an even keel. I almost pride myself on not flipping out when the Rangers lose a few, and to not go over the top with praise when they win (though I’ve been guilty of this moreso this year because of the effort level 99% of the time). But tonight? No sir, not when you have that kind of a showing in a game you effing have to bank.

I don’t blame Torts for not wanting to address anything tonight, because I’m sure he is a lot like me right now, ready to rip someones head off at the slightest provocation. I’m just lucky I watched this game on DVR after I finished up my day, because if I watched this garbage live, I might be having one pissed off girlfriend right now.

That’s it, I’m done for today before my blood pressure gets into whatever the hell is above the red.

Rangers Review | Comments Off