Those are Martin Brion’s numbers. Yep. Noticing a trend? It’s called, shitty goaltending. Yep. That’s what we’re getting. Biron wasn’t the sole reason we lost tonight, but he certainly was a MAJOR culprit. The Rangers were rolling. Controlling the game, then Biron gives up a goal on an unscreened shot from the top of the circles. Peewee goalies could stop that. Unless it’s Zdeno Chara ripping that shot, your goalie has to stop it. I don’t care how tough you are mentally, to have your goalie hand back a lead on a silver platter like that has to be devastating. Then, he gives up 2 more goals because he has zero semblance of rebound control.

Again, Biron isn’t the only reason we lost, but you need your goalie to make timely saves, and Biron crushed this teams spirit with the goal he gave up.

Scream all you want about an putrid power play (though it did actually generate a few chances, just couldn’t finish it off.) or a lineup where John Scott has the most dangerous chance of the night. Those are valid concerns, but I bring it back to the goaltending. Biron hasn’t been good for a while, and Henrik has been merely mortal for a while. Hence why we are in a semi-tailspin. Rangers are used to their goalie keeping them in games. Right now, the goalies aren’t. Neither of them. Until they start playing better, you can expect to see more of these games on the horizon.

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The Rangers blueline was a horror show tonight. There’s just no other way to put it. Dan Girardi was benched. The entire D would throw the puck away with tape to tape turnovers like they didn’t care what would happen if they did. Even Ryan McDonagh, the pillar of the Rangers D (yes, I think he’s been more important, and a better player than Dan Girardi this season) was awful in his own zone, blowing a tire leading the Rangers to fall behind early, and just not looking like he had the same jump and the same strength as he has in the past.

In short, the Rangers laid a huge egg at the Rock tonight. The Defense was awful, the Offense was mediocre at best, and Henrik Lundqvist, while good, wasn’t good enough to bail out this team tonight. It’s not like the Devils played a great game either. They really didn’t. They were guilty of some turnovers themselves, they weren’t killing the Rangers with sustained offensive zone chances, none of that. The Rangers were just….stupid. I’m just not used to seeing a John Tortorella coached Rangers team be both lazy and stupid in the same game. Tonight we saw both. Marian Gaborik has had much better games. The play where he waited in the slot with the puck on his stick for like 2 hours and 18 minutes while the entire world had enough time to jump in and steal the puck from him…what the hell was that all about? Ryan Callahan was a complete non-factor. And Torts’ decision to scratch Mitchell in favor of Scott? What in holy hell was that about? What does Scott bring to this team? He had his first fight ever as a Ranger and I’d call it a draw at best. The guy brings nothing to the table other than his fighting, and even that it’s not like he’s exactly intimidating when Janssen can hold his own against him. Torts needs to have his head examined for having Scott in for this one. Losing Dubi early on didn’t help either, as he’s a guy you can usually count on for a few decent hits, or at least hold the boards there for the Rangers.

All in all this was just a clusterfrak. One of a seldom few thankfully. It’s hard not to be furious after what you saw tonight, but really, all you need to do is look at the NHL standings. The Rangers are still running away with the Division & Conference crown. You can’t win every game.

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I apologize guys, but no post game wrap today. I played 3 hockey games myself today, and watched the Rangers game, all while being awake for 48 straight hours. I’m going to bed.

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The Rangers weren’t flat for just 20 minutes, they were flat the entire night. Henrik Lundqvist wasn’t all that great, making some good saves here and there, but giving up 4 goals for him is simply unacceptable (spoiled much?). The real culprit though was the defense. Consistently beat on the boards, unable to contain Lecavalier or St. Louis, and unable to bury offensive chances when they had the chance (talking to you Girardi), the D just flat out didn’t play all that great.

It’s really not all that surprising though. Rangers are a little banged up, are running away with the conference, and don’t have all that much to play for. Granted they haven’t locked up the conference title, but it’s going to take a pretty epic collapse, or a pretty epic comeback, or a combination of the 2, for someone to overtake the Rangers this late in the season. I think complacency might be setting in, and the guy who really keeps the team in check, Ryan Callahan, has been out for a few games. Words can’t describe how important captain Cally is to this team. He’s everything Chris Drury wasn’t. A guy who leads by his persona, for sure, but a guy who also gets the job done in every situation. Drury could kill penalties and play a decent even strength game, but Cally can take over games in every facet with just a rock solid overall game. The Rangers need their captain. Now.

Luckily they got a bounceback performance from Brandon Dubinsky to help steal them a very undeserved point. Dubi was flying out there, playing himself from the 4th line center, to the top line left wing in about 45 minutes. Dubi was a force out there, creating chances, moving his feet, and driving to the net. Good for him.

Rangers could use a bit of good news, getting some defenseman back ASAP. Michael Del Zotto was sorely missed tonight.

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Strong defense, physicality, grinding on the boards, taking advantage of the oppositions mistakes. Say hello to New York Rangers hockey.

Of course you’ve seen this game countless times this season. Rangers just gutting out win after win after win. Turning 60 minute games into mini-wars that they intend to win by attrition. Pound the opposition into submission, and eke out a win. It helps to get good goaltending, and for the first time in a while, they got that from their backup goalie. Biron wasn’t outstanding or anything, but he was solid. The first time I can say that in a long while. Again, give the Rangers credit, they only gave up 19 shots on goal so again, Biron had a game with a SV% under .900, but he was definitely sharper than he was in the past. He could still be better, but he gave us a chance to win. He wasn’t a big gaping black hole for the team, he was a good player for them. That’s what we need.

Without regulars Ryan Callahan, Michael Del Zotto, and Brandon Dubinsky (a benching, and rightfully so, for taking a stupid frikkin penalty) the Rangers were still able to get 2 points on the road. Give this team a lot of credit for the guts they show. Carolina has been a good team, only losing once in regulation in the prior 11 games or something. That’s impressive no matter what the name on the front of the jersey says. But the Rangers, as usual, wore them down, got timely goal scoring, and picked up another win.

A win tomorrow and the Rangers can have 90 points before any other team in the East hits 80. Not too shabby. Keep this train a rollin boys.

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