Bleeding Blue   Just Another Fan's Stupid Opinion !

I have some new designs, old designs, something for everyone at the Bleeding Blue Store. Haha. How was that for a sales pitch. Well, that’s as good as it gets here folks. There are “Zeke Speaks” items available now, “The Avery Rule” items, as well as all the older BB.net stuff. Check them out, and if you have any suggestions, post away. 

Sounds like Jagr really wants to be back. I would take him back at least for one year, maybe a two year deal. Well, here are two articles that surfaced this week. It is few and far between in terms of newspaper reports (regarding the Rangers anyway), at least until July 1st, when things should heat up. 

NY Post – 68′S PRIORITY ONE - JAGR LOOKING MORE LIKE CAPTAIN COMEBACK

Newsday - Game at Yankee Stadium in doubt

Here is an article (which are harder and harder to find!) on Sean Avery and his impending free agency……

Daily News – $ATHER’S HARD LINE ON AVERY WILL COST RANGERS

To borrow the phrase from a Clash song seems to fit the situation. Jagr – going or staying. Shanny – going or staying? Straka – same. There is a laundry list of free agents, both restricted and unrestricted, that the Rangers need to sort out. Here is the list:

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS

Jaromir Jagr
Brendan Shanahan
Martin Straka
Darius Kasparaitis
Marek Malik
Michal Rozsival
Sean Avery
Steve Valiquette
Jason Strudwick
Andrew Hutchinson

RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS

Nigel Dawes
Fredrik Sjostrom
Greg Moore
Hugh Jessiman
David Leneveau

Really, the only two I really want back are Jagr, and Avery. What about you? What are your thoughts?

Local Rags:

NY Post : RETURNS IFFY FOR JAROMIR & SHANNY

Newsday: Jagr wants to extend his stay with Rangers

Daily News: Jaromir Jagr wants to stay on Broadway

NY Times: Jagr Will Take Some Time to Decide Future

Local Papers:

Newsday - Rangers might have salary cap room to maneuver

NY Post - AVERY EXPECTED TO MAKE FULL RECOVERY

Daily News - No summer vacation for Rangers, hard work ahead in offseason

NY Times - The Rangers May Pursue the Player Who Ended Their Season

What else is there to say? This team was built for the playoffs, and it failed miserably. Don’t get me wrong, making to the second round two years in a row is great, considering we had such a playoff-dry spell up until 3 years ago. Now we want more!

To say we played like a team that lost the series 4 games to 1 doesn’t do the Rangers justice. The first game was ours to win, but we couldn’t hold the lead. This game easily could’ve been ours. Game 1 also had ol’ Sid the Swan diving with under 2 minutes to go in a tied game, which led to Malkins PP goal, and the win. This game should have made it to OT, where it’s anyones guess who would’ve won. Game 2 had the Refs hard at not-working again, with the quick whistle on Straka’s tying goal in the third period. The third game, was a 1-0 game (with an empty netter), this game as well could’ve gone either way. Game 4 we won decidedly (The only game won by either team with decisiveness) . And then there was yesterday’s OT loss. So, on paper it looks like we got whitewashed, but in reality it was a lot closer. 

Say goodbye to Malik, Mara, Straka, Jagr, Avery (I hope he resigns), Shanny and Rosival. The announcers must’ve been insane yesterday. I heard them say “Rosival has had a great day”, I guess 3 minor penalties in the first half of the game is considered stellar play…who knew. Tell that to the guys on the bench who are getting cold while the penalty killers are using valuable energy. Good job Rosie! The good news is with all these departures, we have a lot of cap space freed up. As long as Sather doesn’t resort to his old tactics of getting every big name out there, while not worrying about the chemistry of the team, we should get some decent players to fill the voids. Can we please get a quarterback for the pathetic PP?? Maybe a big defenceman who can actually move some bodies out from the front of the net. What has to be addressed more then anything, is once again the POWER-less PLAY. Had we had a decent PP, this series could’ve been won by the blueshirts.

Our goaltending is set for next 6 plus years. 

We need to keep Tom Renney. This coach does not get the accolades he deserves. He has been a great coach – dealing with both the youngsters and the superstars. Calm, cool & collected ALWAYS! Keep, Keep, Keep!!!

Oh yeah, if you check my live game report below….I called the Hossa OT goal…yippeee

Also, new items in the Bleedingblue Shop….if there are names you would like, or you have any ideas for a shirt email me at bleedingblue94@yahoo.com and let me know! 

Game Reports (Local & P’Burgh)

Newsday - Rangers’ season ended by Hossa’s OT goa

Newsday - What’s next for the Rangers?

Newsday - Jagr says he’ll keep playing, but where?

NY Post - PENS DEAL RANGERS 2ND STRAIGHT 2ND-ROUND LOSS

NY Post - JAGR WON’T PEEK INTO CRYSTAL BALL

Daily News - Marian Hossa’s OT goal gives Penguins 3-2 win, ends Rangers season

Daily News - Jaromir Jagr skates away in unknown direction after Rangers eliminated

NY Times - Rangers’ Season Ends With More Disappointment

Pittsburgh Post Gazette - Hossa improves playoff image with 2-goal game - OT goal sets up Eastern showdown vs. Flyers

Pittsburgh Tribune - Pens win in OT, advance to conference final vs. Flyers

Not looking good right now…

2-0 at end of the 2nd period.

Some things I jotted down while I am watching:

- Drury big along back boards during 1st period against someone twice his size – LaRaque – and boxes him out of a scoring chance.

- Drury getting a stick to the left side of his face, and NOTHING was called. Should’ve been 4 minutes for Malone. No question. 

- The above mentioned 4 minutes we should’ve been awarded probably wouldn’t have helped, due to the fact that our anemic PP can’t garner ANY shots!

- The Pens PP on the other hand is dominant. Good puck movement. Guys going to the open areas. Oh, and most importantly, THEY get shots.

- Jagr doing his best to impersonate Esa Tikkanen….making pursed lips, mimicking a kissing motion to Ruutu (Pens version of Avery)

-I’m going to get going, the 3rd period is about to begin….LET’S GO RANGERS !!!!!

-2:03 of third, Korpikoski gets his first NHL goal…Rangers 1 – Pens 2

Holy S*%T – 3:25 – less than 2 minutes later Dawes strikes to even it up…adrenaline coursing through the ol’ veins!

Where is Drury, Gomez, Shanny, Dubinsky…they gotta get involved…feel of game has completely changed…Rangers are all in.

Shanny with nice deflection…it caused havoc for Fleury…so close!

Are you friggin kidding me….Drury for 4 minute penalty (against Malone who should’ve had 4 against Drury in the 2nd period). Refs are not perfect, but they should at least be consistent!

OT will begin momentarily…

Period ends, but we still have 2 minutes 41 seconds of Pens PP time to open the OT session….keep the faith! I’m looking for Prucha to score if NYR wins, and/or Hossa if Pitt wins.

Well, it wasn’t Prucha that scored…I’ll leave it at that for now, while I throw various objects in disgust!

Quote o’ the Day ;

Penguins coach Michel Therrien was unhappy about the no-goal ruling prior to the penalty shot “[The officials] said Malkin pushed the goalie,” he said. “That’s the first time I’ve seen a guy on a breakaway finish his check.”

Here is some Saturday morning reading material on an off day…tomorrow should be fun. Futhermore, what was that penalty shot called for on Thursday night’s game? Shoving? Pushing? Neither is against the rules. So why was Malkin awarded a penalty shot? That’s what I was thinking after the play was called. Now it seems the Rangers are asking the league to clarify, so that they know not to push any Penguins around on Sunday….hehe. 

Newsday - Rangers seek clarification of penalty shot

Daily News - Rangers take momentum on road

NY Post - RANGERS NEED REFS TO LET ‘EM PLAY

NY Times - Rangers Find Way to Impede the Penguins’ Advance

Pittsburgh Post Gazette - At last, adversity arrives at Penguins’ door

Pittsburgh Tribune - Pens unhappy with effort in game 4

Pittsburgh Tribune - Is a Rangers comeback crazy?

The march of the penguins has been halted for at least one more game. Great game. Great effort from all players. Great Goaltending. EVERYTHING was great tonight. We go back to P’burgh on Sunday, and if we can steal one there, it’s only 3-2 going back to MSG. Just ask the Yankees, things like that DO happen. Jagr is playing like a man possessed….now he leads all players in playoff points this year. The PP clicked for once, even if it was 2 for 7. Oh, and Hank stopped a penalty shot, that if Malkin had scored, would’ve had the same effect as Hollweg’s penalty the other night. Well, we live for another day, so enjoy it!

Early Game Reports (I will have more of the local flavor tomorrow):

LOCAL:

Newsday - Rangers beat Penguins to avoid being swept

Newsday - Lundqvist stops Malkin on penalty shot

Newsday - Rangers’ Jagr, one of a kind, should keep playing

NY Post - RENNEY HOPES WIN PLANTS SEED OF DOUBT IN PENS

NY Post - KING EARNS HIS CROWN

NY Post - RANGERS AREN’T ON ICE YET

Daily News - Rangers avoid sweep, stay alive

Daily News - Jaromir Jagr takes a big hit and leaves it all out on the ice

Daily News - ‘Classless’ Evgeni Malkin shows frustration in Game 4

NY Times - In Battle With Malkin, Lundqvist Holds Ground

NY Times – With Backs to Wall, Rangers Fight Back

Pittsburgh Tribune - Pens finally fall, 3-0

Pittsburgh Gazette - Penguins fail to get sweep

OTHER (Earlier Reports)

Yahoo Sports – Jagr and Lundqvist keep Rangers alive in 3-0 win over Pens

The Globe and Mail – Rangers stay alive

National Post – Jagr gets last laugh as Rangers stay alive

TSN – Rangers stay alive with shutout win over Pens at MSG