What the hell happened to Brandon Prust? He certainly isn’t playing like a Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award Winner. Is Prust playing hurt? It may “only be pain’ to Prust but he has been painful for us to watch.

He had an horrendous giveaway at center ice tonight that makes you wonder where his head is at. Sure, he is about the only guy on the team that can throw down (the other is Rupp). But when your team is ahead in a game, there is no reason to fight.

In 35 games Prust has 2 goals and 5 assists for a total of 7 points. He’s a -2. He’s on a pace to score about 6 goals. He is nowhere near equaling his record of last season. In 82 games last season, Prust had 13 goals and 16 assists for a total of 29 points and was a +2.

One might point to the comparative horrific season the other Brandon is having. At least Brandon Dubinsky is making an effort. Dubi has 4 goals and 14 assists  for 18 points and, unlike Prust, Dubi is a +8. Because he isn’t scoring, Tortorella has buried Dubi on the checking lines.

To add insult to injury, Torts has continued to play Prust while scratching Avery. Since clearing waivers in November, Avery has played in 15 games scoring 3 goals for a total of 3 points and is a +2. Avery probably has half the ice time of  Prust. Prust should have been scratched to send a message.

I guess the powers that be feel there is more upside to the enigmatic Wolski. Yeah, like Wolski has any jam at all. He won’t hit a fly. Christensen is another skell who needs to go. In 20 games he has 1 goal and 5 assists for 6 points and hes a +2. With shoot outs few and far between this season, Christensen is superfluous.

Boyle isn’t lighting up the score board either. Boyle has 2 goals and 6 assists for a total of 8 points and he is a +6. Boyle isn’t the sharpest knife in the draw. The only difference I see between Pruster and his roomie Boyler is more consistent effort on Boyle’s part.

The only conclusion to be made is that Tortorella has a hard on for Prust and Boyle and tolerates Christensen and Wolski. Torts really must loathe Sean Avery. It may come back to bite Tortorella in the ass. Never underestimate the power of the “Avery Effect”, especially come playoff time.

Sean Avery is a better player them both Christensen and Wolski. If Tortorella cannot put aside his prejudice and see this, he’s doing the team, the organization and the fans a disservice.

Posted under New York Rangers

Last night the New York Rangers gave their fans the best Christmas gift of all, first place in the Atlantic Division. It’s been a long time coming. And for as much as I complain and say nay, I am proud of each and every player on the team. I’m even beginning to have more faith in John Tortorella. No contribution, no matter how much or how little, should go unnoticed.

The Garden was rocking last night and I don’t think the crowd gave a damn about HBO being there. The fans were there to cheer on their boys and celebrate vanquishing a mortal enemy. Although I was hoping for another shut out for Henrik and for a blow out, 4-2 will certainly do. If Marty Brodeur wants to see what a real rivalry is like, he should watch Rangers in 60 today.

Even though is was a pleasure to see unhappy faces in orange jerseys exiting the building with their tails between their legs, I was most unhappy hearing Ranger fans boo-ing Jaromir Jagr. Jagr carried this franchise on his back and brought the franchise back to respectability after the lockout. He holds the Rangers’ all time season scoring record. Anyone who boo-ed him should be ashamed of themselves.

The best Christmas present of all was to watch the game in the bosom of Section 409 and share it with old friends like Bobby and Ron Doda and Joe and Tim. I think back fondly of the days when the 7th Ave. side of the section was all together. We missed Nick, Kevin, John the Hat, Matt, Mike, George and Joanne last night. We know you were all watching somewhere. Here’s a big high five for every goal the Ranger’s scored. We will always be together in spirit.

I would be remiss if did not thank my dear friend Nick Annunziata for so generously sharing his season tickets with us and enabling us to enjoy watching the team and the game we love best, live. All the happiness and blessings of the season to you and your family.

Before the game yesterday we  wandered around the City taking in the Christmas spirit. As I watched all the people buzz around, it reminded me how wonderful New York City is and how proud I am to be a native New Yorker and a fan of the New York Rangers.

We visited the Museum of the City of New York where we saw some possessions that once occupied the house of Clement C. Moore. He wrote “A Visit From St. Nicholas” better known as “T’was the Night Before Christmas”. The Moore family’s estate “Chelsea” is commemorated by Clement C. Moore Park on 10th Ave. and 22nd Street. Moore was a native of the West Side. If he was alive today he would surely be a Ranger Fan.

I’d like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas, Channukah, Kwanza, Festivus or whatever holiday you keep. Let’s hope our Rangers can keep their battle level up through the New Year.

Here in it’s entirety is the Clement C. Moore poem:

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;
And mamma in her ’kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap,
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;
"Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky;
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St. Nicholas too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a pedler just opening his pack.
His eyes—how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly.
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle,
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night."

Posted under New York Rangers

12/28/2011 – Correction. Gaborik had a 2 point night and was a +1. That will teach me to put on my glasses when reading the Event Summary. My apologies.

After watching the Rangers fail to score 5 on 3 and give up a shorthanded goal, I had every confidence the Rangers would lose their third straight game in the desert. Santa must have visited Phoenix tonight because the Rangers got their Christmas present early.

Numbers wise, the Yotes out hit and out faceoffed the Rangers big time tonight. The Rangers did out shoot the Yotes and the last shot was the one that counted.  The Rangers big name players came up big. The defense managed to get it done despite losing Eminger to a shoulder injury. Looks like Steve Eminger is going to miss some time on IR. Santa giveth and Santa taketh away.

Richards and Stepan were abysmal on faceoffs. Gaborik had a four point night and was still only a +1. Brian Boyle played over 10 minutes and Christensen over 8 minutes. Boyle was even and hand one shot on goal. Christensen was a -1 and had no shots on goal. Torts let the returning Rupp play over 8 minutes. Rupp was even and had two shots on goal. Torts gave Rupp time on the powerplay.

Sean Avery was once again a healthy scratch. Torts thinks that Boyle, Christensen and Rupp are better players then Avery. Boyle, Rupp and Christensen stood around like cigar store indians. If the Rangers lose next time they play a really fast team and Avery is a healthy scratch, Torts better take some heat.

Tonight’s victory was also an early Christmas gift for Arizona resident Jim Schmeideberg from Blueshirt Underground Radio/Blueshirt Banter. Jim was at the game with his lovely wife. Hope Jim didn’t have heart attack at the end. I’m sure his next show with The Mouth will be awesome as he regales his listeners with his experience.

http://www.facebook.com/groups/blueshirtunderground/

The Flyers got bushwacked by the Bruins but the Penguins won in Buffalo. The Rangers need to win every game before they play the Flyers on the 23rd. The Flyers and Pens need to lose every game and the Rangers will be on top the division. That would be the best Christmas/Channukah/Kwanza gift of all for New York Ranger Fans.

Posted under New York Rangers

Okay, I am the last person who should ever censor someone for using expletives. I’ve employed them on many occasions. But, the number of times the effing players and coaches on HBO’s effing 24/7 Road to the Winter Classic drop the effing “F” bomb is just effing ridiculous. It’s like they punctuate every effing sentence with the effing word. It’s used as a noun, adjective, verb and effing adverb.

With a few exceptions, Henrik Lundqvist being one of them, almost every person on the show has dropped the “F” bomb multiple times. Henrik clearly carries himself like a gentleman and is guarded in what he says and how he says it. They could all profit by following his good example.

Back in the day if your mother, teacher or some other adult heard you employing the “f” word, you”d get a clip around the ear at least and your mouth washed out with soap at worst. Sounds like most of these coaches and players on both teams could use the old Fels-Naptha treatment.

It used to be that one would employee the “F” word in extremis, when one was very angry or injured in some way. Now, it is so much a part of the vernacular as to be rendered meaningless. It begs the question, what expletive will supersede it? I dread the answer. It might be one of the other seven words George Carlin designated as those you cannot say on television. I don’t think we want our children to hear those.

I am sure the players and coaches try not to drop the “f” bomb while their around the Garden of Dreams Children or Ryan Callahan’s sweet little old grandma. So now everyone’s children and grandmothers have to hear it if they want to watch this program?

Here’s an idea. If the Ranger’s want to raise money for their Garden of Dreams foundation, how about putting a bounty on  cursing and donating the proceeds. Why wait for Lent?

HBO does show the disclaimer AL – Adult Language at the beginning of the program. There’s adult language and then there’s overkill. I would hope our Rangers will turn it around and take the high road for the rest of this series. It might just set a good example for the Flyers.

Posted under New York Rangers

If the NHL wants to hang on to the shred of credibility it has left, Steve Downie should go down for the requisite 10 games for leaving the bench during a fight. It is clearly written in the rulebook (Rule 70.10). And, Tampa Bay should be fined $10,000.00 because their player left the bench to join in the altercation.There is no question as to whether Downie left the bench. It can be seen on the NHL’s Official Scorer’s Sheet for the game.

What Artem Anisimov did may not have been sportsmanlike but he didn’t deserve to be beaten up. He didn’t deserve a 10 minute misconduct. He didn’t deserve 4 minutes for roughing. He was the roughee not the rougher. The player who started the whole melee, Vinnie LeCavalier, didn’t even get penalized. The morons they had officiating this game had their heads up their asses. The NHL should sanction them, Downie and the Tampa Bay Lightning according to the Rules of the NHL.

Wait. I forgot. The NHL has two sets of Rules. One for the Rangers that the league makes up on the fly and the other set of rules the league applies selectively to other teams. It makes one question the whether the leagues’s Vice President of Player Safety is biased in the Tampa/Downie incident because one of his BFF’s is Tampa’s GM. Just a thought.

Posted under New York Rangers

There is no doubt in my mind that if Phaneuf checked Crosby like he did Sauer, he would have been penalized in the game and already suspended. The play should still be reviewed because Sauer has been concussed. Phaneuf should be sanctioned because he’s a repeat offender.

Phaneuf came up high with his hands on someone who was in a vulnerable position (head down looking for the puck). Phaneuf’s intent was to injure. He clearly lined Sauer up. What Phaneuf did was cheap and uncalled for. Isn’t that the criteria for Shanabanning?

He did something similar to Sabre Michael Ryan this preseason. He was suspended for two games. Phaneuf also had a controversial cheap hit on Sens Stephane DeCosta on October 8 that went unpunished.

It was Phaneuf who concussed Kyle Okposo with a cheap charging penalty in a 2009 preseason game. A preseason game! Okposo was also concussed. All Phaneuf got was a roughing penalty.

Phaneuf is a multiple repeat offender. If Shanahan and the league won’t sanction this punk, it’s time for teams to declare open season on Phaneuf.

Who on the Rangers will step up and give Phaneuf a taste of his own medicine next time the Rangers play the Leaves?

Posted under New York Rangers