Bleeding Blue

Get it….1940….a significant date in Rangers history….let’s see when the site hits 1,994….and maybe even 2,008….hehehe

Well, well, well, the power play actually helped us win last night…even without Prucha in there. Shanny on the first pp goal, Backman with the second one, and a fluke goal by Dawes sealed the win with a little over three minutes remaining in the game. Imagine how many wins more we would’ve had if the PP clicked for even 2 goals a game! Oh well, at least this is a start. Maybe they will see that if you try to put the puck on the NET, good things happen. We don’t need to see that perfect cross-ice pass to Shanny, who is sitting in the high slot area with his stick cocked (so he can telegraph the play for EVERYONE!!!), waiting for a one-timer. Gomez came back from his lil’ bruised ribs to provide the team with someone who has an inkling of what to do with the puck (on the rush or otherwise). Backman redeemed himself, after what could be called THE WORST GIVEAWAY OF THE SEASON SO FAR!!!!! I mean, I’ll give Parise some credit for swatting the puck out of the air, but to try and throw the puck towards the middle of the ice with pressure on when you could just use the wall to bank it out….that is something you learn in peewee hockey. I guess Malik has taken him under his wing to teach him the fine art that is “the giveaway” (see last years playoffs against the Sabres for Malik’s infamous blunder).Hey, what the heck am I saying….we won, and are inching closer to the playoffs as the season dwindles down….it’s all good right now. I save the negative words for later…haha.GAME REPORTS:

• NY Post - FORMER DEVIL GOMEZ PROPELS BLUESHIRTS
• Newsday - Odd goal produces crucial win
• NY Times - The Rangers Go 7 for 7 Against the Devils
• NY Daily News - Seven up! Rangers ice Devils again

Welcome back, Ranger’s fans…for another installment of Zeke Speaks……

Let me start off with a simple question…How nice would it have been to see Jagr finally bend the nets with about 3 minutes left in a huge spot to win the game?…ahh, forget I even asked.  Anyway, the Rangers completed the task in the shootout with a pretty goal from our new go-to guy Nigel Dawes.

Not a bad 2 points when Callahan is by far the best player on your side.  Without a lion-hearted performance by Callahan, the Rangers would have skated softly to the showers wondering if it was even worth dressing for the occasion.  King Henrik did play well in goal and of course Drury, who shows up to play every night, seems to find himself in the right spot when a big goal is needed.  It seems to me that when the Rangers come out the aggressors early, they roll.  When the opponent comes out hitting and dictating the pace, it seems like you don’t hear much from guys like Shanahan, Jagr, and Gomez.

By the way, let’s leave the fighting to Colton Orr.  When he gets into a scrap, the job gets done and it seems to energize the team.  Last night’s duel seemed to flatten the team more then the punches did to the left ear of Avery. Don’t get me wrong…I appreciate Avery’s energy and style of play (it definitely makes the Rangers a better team), but keep it controlled and timely.

Here are your shootout top three the rest of the way:

Shanahan

Dawes

Sjostrom (you may think I’m crazy, but watch the hands on this guy)

Followed by Drury if needed

Let’s go Rangers fans—it’s almost playoff time and the Isles are on the outside lookin’ in!!!

Until the next time Zeke Speaks!!!!

This “slacking off” was, to be honest, in protest. This has been my way of holding my breath until I turn NYR blue. I wanted Prucha back in the line up, and I wanted it yesterday. How anemic does a power play need to be before you put perhaps your best PP guy into the games (let alone the PP). I know, I know this will have good ol’ Zeke fired up for his next edition of Zeke Speaks!(This was written prior to last night’s OT loss to Philly where the PP went 0-4) 

Sorry, technical difficulties (Combined with my innate ability to procrastinate) didn’t allow me to update for about a week or so. More goodness to come. Soon.

About 13 games to go until playoff hockey. We are continually improving our seed as the days go on. A far cry from October/November, when they couldn’t score to save their collective rear ends. Henrik notched his 9th shutout of the season, and became only the second goalie to record 30+ wins in each of his first three seasons…the other one was thumped by the Rangers in ‘94 (in the first round against the Icelanders!) Any guesses?? He was balding, hit his stick repeatedly on the pipes, and if I’m not mistaken, the first to score with a shot on an empty net. Tonight they face the Sabres…two more points could very well be coming our way. The Brian Campbell-less Sabres are 4 points out of the playoff eight right now, but will surely put up a fight to gain on the pack.GAME REPORTS: 

• Newsday - Lundqvist’s ninth shutout lifts Rangers
• NY Post - DAWES BREAKS ICE RANGERS ROLLING WITHOUT JAGR SCORING
• NY Daily News - Nigel Dawes scores lone goal, lifts Rangers to 1-0 win over Bruins
• NY Times - Lundqvist and Rangers Finally Gain on Bruins
• NHL.com - Rangers’ rookies coming of age at right time

Check out the new addition to BleedingBlue…an editorial entitled “Zeke Speaks!”  Written by a knowledgeable, lifelong fan, he is sure to impress you. Get his page on the links to the left…or click here.

Here are some highlights from the second game…

I also threw in a Nystrom Vs. McPhee fight for old times sake…

Rollin’, Rollin’ Rollin’. Nice defensive first period yesterday. Both starting goalies out before the 2 minute mark of the second period. Stevie V. owning the Flyers as he has the past two times against them. More points for us going into the home and home with the Icelanders on Tuesday and Thursday of this week. We can shove the Islanders further out of contention with two wins…I’ll keep my fingers crossed…

• Newsday - Rangers beat Flyers in a shootout 
• Daily News - Steve Valiquette lifts Rangers to shootout win over Flyers, 5-4 
• NY Times - After Wild First Period, Rangers Outlast Flyers  
• NY Post - RANGERS WIN 4TH STRAIGHT AFTER SHOOTOUT