Bleeding Blue

Great, the only team we can’t beat, is one we should be beating every single time. They are not a great hockey team. But, for whatever reason, the Rangers can’t get it done. DP is the most over rated goalie in the game….big deal, he can handle the puck. WooHoo. Their defense is comprised of a bunch of second and third liners at best. Their O is non-existent. But, can we beat them this year – not yet.Game Reports: 

•  The Post - Isles Domination
• The NY Times - Isles Domination
• The Daily News - Isles Domination
• Newsday - Isles Domination

Game Reports:

• Newsday - Rangers Beat Flyers in Shootout 
• Post - Winning Ugly 
• Daily News - Rangers Beat Flyers

Here is a quote off of hockeybuzz.com “The Rangers are still “quietly” talking with the Coyotes regarding a possible d-man. A source has told me that it “all depends on where the Rangers find themselves come the deadline” so don’t look for this to happen tomorrow. Jovo and Morris are both candidates.” Eklund gets his rumors right about 50% of the time…he seems to have good sources…either that or he is a serious BS’er. I would think Morris is more likely considering Jovo’s crazy salary, which wouldn’t fit under our cap with the help of a cro-bar. Check out our salaries and what counts towards the cap here.  TC 

Check out Don Cherry’s comments on Avery and his penchant for pre-game chattering here; and The Avery Vs. Tucker fight from last Saturday after said chattering; and the clip right after Avery V. Tucker is a doozy…Chara breaks Koci’s nose and then some…blood galore!

Sorry about not posting in a while…computer issues. But I digress. Rangers once again ice the Devs (3-0 so far). The kids finally are getting on the board. Staal had his first goal in his NHL career – which looks like it could be a long one. Dawes chipped in another as did Dubinsky. Oh, Jagr had the other talley right at the end of the 2nd period. Not bad. Seven wins out of the past eight games. Starting to look like the team everyone expected. Tonight we have Philly (game is under way as I write this).  We win this game and we hop into first place…right where we belong. Game reports from the local rags…Newsday emphasizes Staal’s first goal; the Post talks about the RED HOT RANGERS!; the Times takes the same angle; and the Daily News has an article on how Jagr and the rookies lifted the Blueshirts over the Devs. 

Avery made his return last night at the Garden. Avery started getting under the skin of the Devils during warm ups. Just yapping away as he does…at Brodeur, at Clarkson…gettin in their heads early. What Avery brings to the table was missed in the past month…agitation, grit, the odd goal, and most importantly the ability to spark his team. What he brings is not something one can measure with stats, as he found out when he was put through a rough arbitration hearing. I’m just glad he’s back, and in rare form. Let’s hope he doesn’t ding up his shoulder again any time soon. Gomez scored and Prucha had the lone shoot-out goal on a nifty pump fake and then a shot to the same spot he faked to…froze good ‘ol Marty in his skates. Oh, and Henrik was great as usual. He has to be the best in the league when it comes to stopping breakaways/penalty shots/shoot-out attempts…talk about patience. He seldom makes the first move. The move he does make is almost always the perfect choice. All hail King Henrik. Game Reports: Newsday talks about Prucha’s shoot-out goal, as does the NY Post;  the Daily News takes the Lundqvist angle; and the NY Times praises Hank and also touches on Avery’s return. Next Game: Monday 7pm vs. Flyers (on Versus) – should be a good one! 

Here are all the local paper’s reports on the 2-0 win last night, as usual.

The NY Post discusses how Henrik lifted the Rangers yet again, the NY Times brings up the fact that that was Hank’s 3rd shutout this season already, the Daily News talks about Henrik and how he lifted the Rangers again, and Newsday has an article entitled “Drury Scores, Henrik Shines”

Next up – Devils at Rangers, Sat. 7pm

The wins are coming while the Goals Against Average is plummeting. The team is currently one of the three stingiest teams in terms of goals allowed in the NHL. That’s more like it. While the offense isn’t exactly on fire, we’re getting some wins. Henrik is on top of his game, as is the defensive corps. Drury finally got a goal (first since the first game of the season). He has been getting better shots lately. Gomez is still MIA. If that’s what 7 mill a year gets you, we are in trouble. Long contract, big money against the cap. On Friday morning, I will have the local rags reports and whatnot.