Bleeding Blue   Just Another Fan's Stupid Opinion !

Two games, 2 in the hole. Heck the islanders are above us in the standings. Well, at least we can take solace in the fact that we were 0-3 after three last year. Right? Can we?

Well, well, well, what have we here….an abbreviated 48 game season. I’ll take a 48 game season over no season anytime. Click below for full sched. First stop is Boston, on the 19th!

http://rangers.nhl.com/club/schedule.htm

Ahhhhh. Nothing better then a game 7, especially if we get the “W”. If the Rangers can put together a solid 60 minutes (or more if OT comes a knockin), then we march on into the second round of this years playoffs. And, if we do march on, we have the Washington Capitals waiting in the wings. As the old cliche goes….we can’t look ahead past today’s game though. As a fan , you have to have confidence in this team, that was almost a President’s Trophy winner. That we are playing a seventh game against Ottawa really isn’t a surprise…that team was the worst possible match up for the blue shirts. As long as the officials don’t allow penalty kicks or yellow card anyone, we should do OK, better than OK, we will win. We have a solid team. We are at MSG….OUR HOUSE! Bring it!

(This is in no way to be perceived as cockiness….but confidence)

New York Links

NY POST – Rangers winger knows spotlight is on in tonight’s Game 7

NY DAILY NEWS – NY Rangers looking for Madison Square Garden crowd to be lively for Game 7 vs. Ottawa Senators Thursday

NY TIMES – Banged-Up Rangers Hope to Feel Better After Game 7

OTTAWA LINKS

Ottawa Citizen – Senators believe this Game 7 will be different

Ottawa Sun – Sens need to make Game 7 history

Sens’ Karlsson needs to do more

Well, the 7 game home stand got off to a nice start. Snapping the 3 game losing streak against the Isles….even better! Richards seems to be heating up at just the right time. Gabby has been himself. Cally needs to rest for the playoff grind. Apparently I’m writing short statements.

All kidding aside, the Rangers, with Pittsburgh breathing down our necks, have 14 left, and the next 6 at home. Thursdays match-up should be fun at the ol’ garden. Pitt Vs. NYR! If the team keeps up their winning ways, when the post season begins, we will probably be matched up with Ottawa, Washington, or even Winnipeg or Buffalo, if either team can sneak in. Who do you want to see them play? Ottawa is always trouble for the blueshirts. Other then Ottawa, I have no qualms with playing any of the other teams mentioned. Any team, any night can be trouble. This year though, the Rangers have bred confidence in their followers with their work ethic, and commitment to blocking everything. Hopefully us gun-shy fans can have something to celebrate about after the next 14 games.

NY Times – Late Goal Jolts Rangers Out of Their Slump

NY Daily News – Rangers Get Winner From Gaborik

NY Post – Rangers defeat Islanders in OT

Hey, I’m back. Haven’t been able to post and/or update, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t been watching religiously. With four kids, finding time to do this regularly, is tricky. I’m going to try though, especially as we move towards the trade deadline, and furthermore, the playoffs.
The Rangers are definitely “Nash”ing their teeth over the potential trade, that would land the 27 year old power forward on garden ice. If the Blue Jackets want Dubinsky…fine, if they want Erixon….fine, draft picks? they can take their pick! I don’t see the Rangers dangling Kreider in the deal though. Sather seems to have learned his lesson about selling the farm for one or two hired hands. The team we have now is largely because of the fact that Sather modified his deadline/offseason antics. This team is young, and has grown from within. The next few games will probably determine where Nash goes. We could use a power forward that consistently gets around 30 goals a season….especially with the playoffs on the horizon. Who would you want in that situation Dubinsky or Nash?

Links Du Jour
NY DAILY NEWS
Ray Whitney, Pavel Kubina, Hal Gill and Brad Boyes make quartet of potential NY Ranger deals

NY POST
Rangers’ next two games will influence Nash deal

Well, well, well. Now the season officially opens (at least in my eyes). The “new” Garden is being unveiled, along with our new savior Brad Richards, and our new captain, Callahan. We finally get to watch a game that doesn’t end at 1:00 AM or start at 1:00 PM. Ahhh. good ol’ 7:00 PM starts…..who thought we’d miss them. Let the puck drop, and let’s get this going.
Gabby has four goals so far. Richards with helpers on all of them. Let’s hope that trend continues. Sauer is coming back tonight, albeit with a wonky shoulder. We’ll see how many shifts he’ll last. The biggest, and worst news, Staal is still out with lingering concussion symptoms., Not a good sign. Look for a defenseman to be signed or traded for in the upcoming weeks, as insurance in case Staal stalls (get it…stalls) Well, anyway, another season underway for both the Blueshirts, and bleedingblue. Bring it on!

ESPN
http://espn.go.com/new-york/nhl/story/_/id/7152259/new-york-rangers-defenseman-michael-sauer-set-return-ice

NY Daily News
NY Rangers home opener Thursday vs. Toronto Maple Leafs is the end of a long, strange road trip

NY Post
Rangers face Maple Leafs in first game at new MSG

Well, July 1st, one of the NHLs biggest days for transactions has started up the 4th of July fireworks a little early. The Blueshirts got a little “R”ichards & “R”upp, with a sprinkle of Fedotenko. Richards has agreed to (hasn’t physically signed yet) a 9 yr. deal with average annual salary of about 6.5 mill. Rupp signed for 3 yrs. at 4.5 mill. Fedotenko was given a 400,000 raise from last year.
One other thing….
Jagr will haunt us….remember you heard it here!

Linky Links

Richards Broadway Bound

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=370694

http://nydn.us/l6d78L

Rupp

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=370628

The year in fights. Almost all Ranger fights have been cataloged in the “Drop the Gloves” section. That’s the fourth tab from the left you lazy bastard. Enjoy! Watch some of these to get fired up for Game 5, which starts in about a half an hour. LGR!!!!!

Hey, what am I gonna write here. Of course I am the eternal optimist, even when the Blueshirts are down 3 games to 1. So, cliche, cliche, cliche. One game at a time. Blah, blah, blah.
Seriously, the series really could’ve been 3-1 in the Rangers favor at this point. They have played very well, save for that atrocious third period meltdown in game 4, which incidentally, was the first game all season where they have lost a game when leading going into the third stanza. Figures. Once the announcers proclaim “The rangers haven’t lost a game when leading going into the third period”, it’s over. meltdown commence. Oh yeah, same game right before Semin decided to wake up, the announcers happened to mention something to that effect. Superstitious? Absolutely! I am the most superstitious human being when it comes to hockey, and hockey only. So, as we lead up to today’s playoff match-up, which could end the Ranger’s season, or prolong it for yet another game. (Remember….one game at a time!) Let’s go Rangers! Stay alive! Knock on wood….

Today’s Articles:
NEW YORK
Daily News – Rangers now need monumental comeback in NHL playoffs after Capitals pulled one in Game 4 2OT win

Marian Gaborik’s miscue hurt Rangers in Game 4 vs. Capitals, but he knows comebacks from Wild days

Well, a total of 5 points – Carolina losses/Rangers wins – is where we at right now. If the Rangers can squeeze 2 points out of tonight’s game against the Bruins. That magic number becomes 3!!! Hank will be starting in his 24th straight game. If any Ranger fans want to stay up-to-the-minute informed, I highly suggest you follow @stevezipay on the ol’ twitter (If you aren’t already). He gives insight and important info right up to, and including, during the games. Keep up the great work Mr. Zipay!!