Well, I guess this game should quiet the doom and gloomers until at least Wednesday. If any one out there can point to a Ranger deficiency in this game, let them speak now or forever hold their peace. Statiscally, the Rangers were better at every aspect of the game, with the exception being shots on goal (27 Penguins/ 26 Rangers).

The Rangers out hit, out faced off, out fought, out goaltended, out penalty killed, out powerplayed and out hustled the Penguins tonight. This was their best game of the season. And yet, I still am reading message boards with the vindictive, bitter ravings of a lunatic fringe out there who attribute this victory to some perceived notion that it was a “walk in the park” against the slumping Penguins.

Please. Although the Penguins may be slumping, they are still the Penguins, with CryBaby Crosby, Genie Malkin and MA Fleury and the refs of this league in their pocket. The geniuses on Versus attribute the decline of the Penguins to the loss of Sergei Gonchar. I think these guys are hitting the same bong their tech crew was hitting tonight that caused the HD feed to black out. Versus must be owned by Disney because it continues to prove itself to be a Mickey Mouse network.

The Rangers held the Penguins off the boards despite ice-tilting by the referees in what I would characterize as one of the most brutally called games all season. These refs were embarrassingly trying to turn the game around for the Poster Boy and his buddies. Weak calls on the Rangers and no call on the Penguins. Shameful. Great job by the Rangers to kill all those penalties. Despite the bogus calls on the Rangers, Renney remained his usual controlled self. Those who want Renney gone would prefer to see a hot head like Tortorella behind the bench throwing folding chairs and cursing.

All of this aside, the biggest question one must ask oneself is, Why don’t the Rangers play like this all the time? They had 2 powerplay goals on 8 opportunities. (25%). They won 100% of their face offs, 8 for 8, on the powerplay. They even had a shorthanded goal when they were down 6 on 4. Does that Shorthanded goal expunge 2 of the 12 shorthanded goals previously scored against them. It damn well should.

Looks like every player bought into the “system” and that the “system” worked tonight. How is that? I thought this coach had lost this team. I though that this team had turned Renney off, that they weren’t buying in to his game plan. Did every single Ranger on the ice somehow have an epiphany tonight? Was every single Ranger suddenly blinded by the light like St. Paul on the road to Damascus?

Why can’t the Rangers play like this all the time? I am not saying that the coaching staff is perfect, far from it. But when the players execute the game plan, they win. When one sees a complete turn around like tonight, it clearly demonstrates that winning and losing is in the hands of the players themselves. The coaches and training staff can do their best to ensure the team has every advantage. But, at the end of the day, it’s up to the players  to play like they know they can and they will win.

I’ll shut up now and savor the two points. I encourage everyone to do the same.

Let’s Go Rangers

Last night I was a guest on the New York Hockey Talk Radio Program.  Have a listen here:

http://www.nyhockeytalk.com/

Download here:

http://sportsradiony.hipcast.com/download/0f1ec7a3-3c02-f498-94d1-cbe23ce13609.mp3

Posted under New York Rangers

Unlike the loss to the Caps where the Rangers blew a 4 goal lead, last night’s loss to the Caps was not due to a lack of effort on the part of the Rangers.  The first period was pretty much even. The Rangers killed off two penalties and failed to score on their one powerplay. No harm, no foul. 

Again, up until Prucha’s deflected goal on what was probably a blown offside call, both teams were playing an even game. That says a lot to me about the Rangers defense first system. Marc Staaal was able to rag Ovechkin. The Rangers were able to keep the Caps, who are tied for 4th place in goals in the league with San Jose, off the board for almost 30 minutes.

Once the Rangers failed to clear the puck and allowed Green’s powerplay goal less then 1:30 seconds after Prucha scored,  the Caps had the better of the play for the rest of the period. The Caps had the puck in the Rangers zone for almost the entire  4 on 4, following an improbable altercation between Gomez and Nylander, of all people.  

Valiquette was the difference between the score remaining tied until the Caps short handed goal. With about four minutes left in the period, the Caps were out-shooting the Rangers 14 - 7.  Still, the Rangers (Valiquette) were able to keep the Caps off the board. With 1:58 left,  the most dangerous time of any period for the Rangers,  the Caps took a delay of game penalty. Too bad  the Rangers can’t decline powerplays.

The Rangers worst nightmare of this season happened again. Ovechkin comes back  to score a shorthanded goal after a shot by Dubinsky careens up the boards and lands on Greens stick.  Green and Ovechkin come up ice as the Rangers are changing. Green, along the boards, passes cross ice to Ovechkin.

Ovechkin goes around Redden and takes a shot that deflects off Redden’s stick and goes over Valiquette’s right shoulder for the shorthanded goal. Would Henrik have had that? Maybe. But, if I’m Redden, I trip Ovechkin before he can get that shot off. Take the penalty. The Rangers once again fail to score on the powerplay and are burned for their 13? shorthanded goal of the season.

That’s all she wrote in the scoring department. The Rangers once again play the third period to a tie when they are down by one goal and lost based on the shorthanded goal they allowed at the end of the second period. The Rangers actually outshot the Caps 7 to 5 in the third period and continued to keep the Caps off the board. They just couldn’t put the puck behind Theodore, who played well for the Caps.

You got to see Wade, the Wimp, Redden show some fire by nearly knocking out Clark. You got to see Gomez and Nylander getting jiggy with each other. As if that wasn’t enough grit and enough fire, you got to see Renney deploy Marc Staal. Staal got so far under the skin of  Ovechkin that Ovechkin took a run at Staal in retaliation for  Staal’s clean check on Semin at center ice.

By the way, another nice double standard by the officials in this league. How was that not a charging/boarding call for Ovechkin’s hit on Staal. After Staal is hooked and grabbed by Schultz behind Theodore, Ovechkin takes at least four big strides and brings his stick up into Staal head as he slams Staal into the boards. No headhunting there? I guess a different set of rules apply to Crosby and Ovechkin when it comes to cheap shot penalties.  Too bad the Rangers only play the Caps once more. Ovechkin better keep his head up on February 11th at the Garden.

There was no dishonor in this game for the Rangers. They were in it to the end and the showed the Caps that they aren’t going to get pushed around. The Rangers still must solve their special teams issues but right now there is no use in beating a dead horse.

So, to all the Ranger fans out there who are peeved and are still calling for Renney/Pearn to be fired, players to be waived/traded etc. I ask, was this game sufficiently entertaining for you or would you rather have gotten a point or two in a shootout?

The Rangers are winning games against teams they should be beating and holding their own against the tougher teams.  This week they play four games in six nights. They need to beat the teams that aren’t playing well of late, the Penguins, the Senators and the Sabres.  The game against Montreal should be a good test at the Garden.

Let’s Go Rangers!

PS. Note to Alex Semin: If you are going to fight like a little girl, keep your jersey tied down so the rest of the league can’t see your pink underwear!

Posted under New York Rangers

Dolt that I am, I forgot to Tivo last night’s game on Versus. When I got home, I had to watch the game highlights on NHL on the Fly. Bill Berg, a commentator who once played for the Rangers made some excellent points about the rivalry. He said that no matter what position either team had in the standings (for this go round, bottom dwelling Islanders against the division leading Rangers), the outcome of all Islander/Ranger games is always unpredictable and thus very entertaining.

He also went on to say he felt the rivalry between Islander and Ranger fans is unique in the league. He found the originality and vociferousness of the Ranger fans very amusing. He cited the famous game at the Coliseum when the Islanders introduced the Gorton’s Fisherman jersey back in the 80’s. He was playing for the Rangers then. The Ranger fans in attendance started the “We want Fishsticks” chant. He didn’t go into the “Potvin Sucks” or “Beat your wife Potvin” stories. That would have been unsuitable for the young viewers in the audience.

In this day and age, high scoring games like last night’s are few and far between. The Islanders are a better team then their record suggests. Right now, regardless of their first place standing, the New York media and some fans would have you believe that the Rangers are a worse team then their record suggests. While I won’t deny that the Rangers are still abysmal on the powerplay, 0 for 5 last night, they managed to score 5 goals and not give up any powerplay goals or any shorthanded ones. That’s definitely an improvement over their last three games.

This match ran the gamut for a hockey game, short of a penalty shot. We saw the return of Petr Prucha who scored a nifty goal and played his usual high energy game. When his goal was announced and assists were given to Dubinsky and Redden, the crowd chanted Proooooo for Prucha, Doooooo for Dubinsky and Boooooo for Redden. The Garden crowd gets an A for originality. Both Colton Orr and Nigel Dawes won their respective fights. I give Orr a lot of credit. Mitch Fritz is a behemoth with a far greater reach then Orr. Orr made chop meat of Fritz’s face. Ah but a hockeyfighter’s reach should exceed his grasp or what’s an enforcer for. Callahan made a highlight reel hit on Trent Hunter that Hunter won’t soon forget. Fewer pansies on the Rangers in this game.

I am really starting to feel sorry for Kalinin. He falls down, takes Drury out of the play and the puck is coughed up to two lone Islanders for an easy goal. Sather better send this guy down to Hartford before a lynch mob forms on Seventh Avenue. As bad as Kalinin has played, I think Redden deserves the derision of the Garden faithful more then Kalinin. Redden better clean up his act and start busting his butt or he’ll really be the target of the Boo-Birds. It’s already starting.

Lastly, King Henrik certainly is in the December Doldrums. He has allowed an un-Kingly 13 goals in the last three games. Last night he let in 4 goals on 24 shots. He should have had the third goal last night. Notwithstanding the Rangers swiss cheese defense and that atrocious powerplay, Henrik needs to be the best he can be. Seems long layoffs are not good for him. I don’t know if it’s something physical, knees maybe. He just doesn’t seem to be tracking the puck as well as usual.

The Rangers won last night but not before a seat of your pants finish with the game in jeopardy to the final buzzer. Okay, it was against the Islanders, the team with the worst record in the league. But like the astute Versus commentator Bill Berg pointed out, anything can happen during a Ranger/Islander game. This time the Rangers came out with the two points.

The crowd walked out of the Garden smiling and, dare I say, sufficiently entertained.

Posted under New York Rangers

I am literally sick and tired. I have had a terrible head cold since Tuesday. I also buried my Aunt on Tuesday. I spent Christmas Day alone at home nursing this cold and to top everything off, I had to have minor surgery on Friday.  

Through all this, I still went to work and did my job. I also went to both the games on Tuesday and yesterday only to see the Rangers turn in two embarrassing and lackluster efforts. This has been one Christmas I won’t soon forget.

Aside from being physically sick and tired, when it comes to the Rangers, I’m mentally tired and sick to my stomach. What in the world is going on with this team? They haven’t played a full 60 minutes of hockey since they defeated Anaheim on December 16th.

Not for nothing, but someone from the Rangers  (hint - maybe their Captain) needs to stand up and be accountable to the fans for what has transpired over these last two games. I just learned that Gomez has the flu.  That’s a good reason for not skating hard or hitting.  Why did Renney play him? His lost 13 out of 15 faceoffs. Anyone else on the team have the flu?

I don’t need Chris Drury telling me to put anymore games in the garbage can. Maybe some player’s can  needs to be put in the garbage.  Nice pass to Dubinsky last night that lead to the shorthanded goal, Captain. I don’t blame the kid. I blame Drury. What the hell was he thinking? Jagr wouldn’t have been able to handle the puck Drury dished to Dubinsky. Nice Job, Cap’n.

It is a really bad state of affairs when little Dawes throws one of the few and best hits of the game. Can Drury, Naslund, Gomez or Redden please take a body? Can they finish a check? These are the veteran leaders on this team and they do not lead by example. 

For goodness sake why is Kalinin still on this team? Why is Voros playing and Prucha and Fritsche sitting? If Voros isn’t using his size and his grit, then sit him. At least Prucha will finish checks and hit.

When this  team has played the system, when they commit to playing 60 minutes of hockey, they have won.  The powerplay has never worked. It has been a problem since the first season after the lockout. And yet, Perry Pearn is still here.

What really sickens me the most is the knee/jerk reaction of fans who call for Renney to be fired. They should be calling for Sather to be fired. He signed the bad contracts. He put this squad together. He is ultimately responsible for the result on the ice.

Last time I looked, an NHL team needed at least 6 defensemen. Sather has given Renney 3.5. Last time I looked, an NHL team needed at least one scoring line.  Trying to take the host of spare parts Sather signed and mold them into scoring lines would try the patience of any coach. He can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear.

What are the remedies to what ails the Rangers? Larry Brooks would have the Rangers re-aquire Avery. Yeah Larry, that will work. Not.  Avery burned his bridges here. There’s no coming back for him.

Here are my remedies.

The team, coaches, players and management all need to acknowledge to the fan base that this is not the year for a Cup run. It ain’t gonna happen.  

Forward - Either get rid of Drury or Gomez. Drury is a center not a winger and has been misused. Drury also has a no trade clause. If the Rangers want to resign their RFA youth this summer and Zherdev,  they need to move salary. If that means Adios to Gomer, que lastima.  No hard feelings Scottie just don’t resign with New Jersey.

Defense -Embarrass Redden into agreeing to be traded to any team that will take him off our hands. Give him the Malik treatment. Redden is the worst signing Sather has made during his tenure since Holik.  Waiving  Kalinin would truly be addition by subtraction. Bring up Potter permanently and get a rental to replace Redden.

Scoring - Resign Shanahan. He’ll bring leadership and scoring for the rest of the season. Say what you want about his having lost a step and his grit, Shanny has it in him to still score goals.

Coaching- Renney has worked with everyone Sather has thrown at him with a great deal of success, more success then anyone should have expected. Firing Renney is not the answer. Pearn must go. Three years with no powerplay is not acceptable. Shanahan could be their powerplay coach.

Management - Sather must go. What the hell does this guy do with his time?  Sather had to go out and hire  “Cap Expert” Cam Hope to help him do the job a GM is supposed to do. Sather needs to get off his ass and do something. Renney didn’t sign these ineffective players, Sather did. Time has past Sather by. He clearly is incapable of operating as a GM in this salary capped environment.

Posted under New York Rangers

I think many people who read Chris Drury’s comments after last night’s games are missing the point. I certainly do not think Drury was being flippant or cavalier in his dismissal of last night’s miserable loss to the Caps in overtime. What I think he was saying is that the Rangers have had losses like this before.

They have come back from such devastating losses and won their next games (ie in Anaheim after losing badly to the Devils.) To dwell on this loss or the losses in Montreal and Pittsburgh last season or the loss in New Jersey two weeks ago is counterproductive in the short term. As a player and a team, you have to keep positive and focus on the next game.

By gaining one point, Drury is trying to see the glass as half full. Granted two points would have been better. Yes, the Rangers blew a point. In the grand scheme of things if it is this one point that loses them a playoff spot or home ice advantage, it will suck. But it might be the point that puts them over the top.

While many fans, this one included, were both angry and disgusted at last night’s game, we must ask ourselves some questions. Are we perfect fans? Do we always bring a perfect attitude to the game? Are we always supportive of the team? Do we sometimes unduly criticize them? It’s like we only expect them to win and win big. We want this team to dominate their opposition. We never seemed to be satisfied with the fact that they are leading their division. It’s either feast or famine with this team and its fans.

Chris Drury is right. I am not going to let what happened last night ruin my Christmas. I am looking forward to seeing the Rangers play the Devils on Saturday and the Islanders on Monday. I will go to these games with a positive attitude, a light heart and be of good cheer. Life is too short. Each day is a gift and an opportunity to start anew. Enjoy the time off with your family and friends.

The story of the Rangers this season is but half written. It is my humble opinion that the greatest story ever written was “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens. Even Scrooge saw the error of his ways and was allowed to make amends. Are we so perfect, so flawless, that we cannot extend that same charity to the Rangers.

Scrooge was better than his word. He did it all, and infinitely more; and to Tiny Tim, who did not die, he was a second father. He became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man, as the good old city knew, or any other good old city, town, or borough, in the good old world. Some people laughed to see the alteration in him, but he let them laugh, and little heeded them; for he was wise enough to know that nothing ever happened on this globe, for good, at which some people did not have their fill of laughter in the outset; and knowing that such as these would be blind anyway, he thought it quite as well that they should wrinkle up their eyes in grins, as have the malady in less attractive forms. His own heart laughed: and that was quite enough for him.

He had no further intercourse with Spirits, but lived upon the Total Abstinence Principle, ever afterwards; and it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us, and all of us! And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God Bless Us, Every One!

“I have endeavoured in this Ghostly little book, to raise the Ghost of an Idea, which shall not put my readers out of humour with themselves, with each other, with the season, or with me. May it haunt their houses pleasantly, and no one wish to lay it.” - Charles Dickens

Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah, Happy Kwanzaa to All

Posted under New York Rangers

In spite of a third period where the officials swallowed their whistles, the Rangers showed they were  the equal of the Sharks last night. Were it not for the 5 on 3 the Zebrae awarded the Sharks in period one, the Rangers could easily have taken a point, maybe two from the Sharks. 

The Rangers weren’t exactly the chum the Sharks thought they were going to be feed.  Can’t really fault the Rangers powerplay for this loss because they only had two opportunities. No team in the NHL is 50% on the powerplay.

The Rangers showed tremendous work ethic and fortitude to come back and score two goals. They took the game to the Sharks in the third period, out shooting them 17 to 7. They did every thing but put the biscuit in the barrel.

You can’t take anything from Nabakov. He was great in net for the Sharks. Some are saying that Henrik should have had the third Shark goal.  Nabokov>Lundqvist. Maybe this game is just the dose of humility Henrik needs to keep him on the straight and narrow. Maybe he won’t go to the bench and complain to Renney when the defense falls apart in front of him. Everyone makes mistakes sometimes, even the King.

Naslund left the ice after Setoguchi brought his stick up into Naslund arm/shoulder and left his team down a man. If this were the playoffs, I would crucify Naslund for not sucking it up and staying out there. Blair Betts wouldn’t do that. Redden chasses over and watches Girardi with two Sharks around him. Redden doesn’t hustle to take out Setoguchi and maybe block Marleau’s shot. Zherdev just floats around between the circles and does nothing to help out down low either. Win as a team lose as a team, eh? 

The Rangers took 4 out of a possible 6 points from this road trip. Their record against Western Conference teams so far this season is 5-4-2. That’s a whole lot better then last year. Guess this means it’s time to fire Renney, she says sarcastically.

PS. Glad Tom got my memo about judiciously taking time outs. Last night was a perfect illustration.

Posted under New York Rangers

Mats Sundin signs in Vancouver for a prorated $10 million. 

Was there ever a possibility that Sundin would come to New York for the paltry sum Sather would have been able to offer him? Fill in that number here ____.

Frankly,  I’m glad this chapter of Ranger history is over. I could never see the upside of mortgaging the future to buy an aging marque player. No. Wait. The only aging veteran that has recently passed through New York Ranger locker room that was worth his price was Brendan Shanahan.

Since the Rangers are overloaded with centers and have a plethora of wingers, acquiring Sundin made no sense for the current team. Happily, Mats will make his cents from the Canucks and not us.  While Vancouver has the space under their cap now, the Rangers had no such luxury given the fact that the CBA is set to expire and bonuses can not be deferred for future payment. 

Wouldn’t it be ironic if the Cap number for next season goes down and it puts Vancouver in an untenable position. Did these Owners and General Managers learn anything from the lockout? Did the fans miss a whole season for naught?

So, the whole Sundin Saga has becomes a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury signifying nothing. To Mats Sundin I say, enjoy those longer flights from Vancouver to Stockholm. You could have gone nonstop from Newark on SAS.

Posted under New York Rangers

Breathe deep the gathering gloom,
Watch lights fade from every room…

Cold hearted orb that rules the night,
Removes the colours from our sight.
Red is grey and yellow white,
But we decide which is right.
And which is an illusion?

When I got up to Section 409 tonight, I encouraged some of the Faithful to take a deep, cleansing breath and let it out. I went on to suggest that everyone should put the prior night’s fiasco behind us and to view tonight’s game with a positive attitude. I had no idea that it would actually work.

The Rangers won in a shoot out but not before letting Carolina come back to tie the game twice.  I thought Blair Betts shorthanded goal would have stood up as the game winner but the Rangers couldn’t get another goal on the powerplay or any other way.

After Friday’s track meet in New Jersey, the Rangers taking this game  to the shoot out was indeed miraculous, especially when you consider that the Rangers shut down Carolina’s powerplay.  By the time the two minute five on three was over, Blair Betts could barely skate off the ice.

But, the Rangers stayed in the game and won it in a shoot out. Another two points are in the win column. They didn’t dominate the weaker team. There was no run and gun. No fancy plays. Just fundamental and defensive hockey. It wasn’t exciting but a win is a win. Take it and move on.

The Rangers leave home on a high note for the Western road trip. Let’s hope they treat all these road games like playoff games.

Could someone please tell me why Tom Renney didn’t call time out when he had 1:28 seconds of powerplay time at 18:32 of the final frame? What is he doing, saving time outs to trade for Green Stamps?

Posted under New York Rangers

Recently I have been just as critical of the Rangers as any Ranger blogger. I have been angered, disappointed and downright disgusted quite a few times so far this season. I am sure that I will experience all these emotions many more times as the season progresses. But, to lambaste the Rangers for not soundly thrashing Atlanta last night is a tad unfair. 

As I previously stated in this blog and elsewhere in the Rangers blogosphere, the Rangers early success has lead to unrealistic, and might I say unwarranted, expectations. Let’s face it, the pundits over at ESPN and Fox had the Rangers pegged to be out of a playoff spot this season. All of the Rangers fire power, Jagr, Shanny, Straka and Avery,  left over the summer. The only saving grace for the Rangers was Henrik Lundqvist. One goalie cannot save a team. According to experts, the Rangers would finish near the bottom of the Atlantic Division and out of a playoff berth.

The Rangers came out of the box and surprised everyone, making some pundits look foolish. So, now that the Rangers are finding their level, various and sundry naysayers are having a field day putting down the Rangers for hitting one of many speed bumps on the road to the postseason. Who do these critics think the Rangers are, the Detroit Red Wings? The San Jose Sharks?

Notwithstanding their terrible powerplay, swiss cheese defense and the highest shorthanded goals against record in the league, the Rangers have earned 40 out of a possible 62 points. It means the Rangers have 51 games left in which they can earn 58 out of a possible 102 points to secure a playoff berth. How long has it been since the Rangers were this far ahead this early in the season?

All things considered, I find it annoying that some ”fans” out there are whining about the lack of entertainment value of recent games. The Rangers are attempting to play boring, defensive hockey like their cross-river rivals. I can recall how before the lockout the mantra was that the Devils were destroying hockey by playing the “boring” trap. They may have played boring “trap” hockey but they won. They won the Stanley Cup three times since 1994. The Rangers have won once.

My question to fans is: Do you want to be entertained or do you want to be in the playoffs? Not every game will be wildly entertaining. The Rangers need to score more for sure. But, I’ll take some hitting, scoring chances and yes, fighting, where I can get it and put up with ennui occassionally.

Rangers fans sometimes remind me of the actor George Sanders. He left a multi-page suicide note saying he was killing himself because he was bored.

Posted under New York Rangers

I have said that the Rangers failure on the powerplay is the reason for their lack of success, both in the regular season and in the playoffs. I have said it for the last two seasons and until I’m blue in the face. Nothing has changed. I do not understand why this team has failed s to execute on the powerplay for such a long time. The only thing consistent about the Rangers powerplay has been it’s coach, Perry Pearn. When nothing is working, you have to ask yourself if the Coach must go.

Once again last night at the Garden the “Fire Renney” chants began.  The Rangers had thoroughly outplayed the Flames for two periods and lead 3 to 1 in shots on goal. But the Rangers failed to put the puck in the net at even strength. They failed on four powerplay opportunities. They gave up another shorthanded goal.

The fortunate thing is that the Rangers did get off to a good start this season. The unfortunate thing is that the good start was kind of a fluke. It has lead to unwarranted high expectations, especially in light of losing the scoring power of Jagr, Straka, Shanahan and Avery. When all the free agent signings were made this summer and the Jagr era came to an end, many of my fellow bloggers laid down the gauntlet to Renney. Now this team was Renney’s with which to sink or swim. The problem is, this isn’t Tom Renney’s team. It’s Glen Sather’s team.

The buck shouldn’t stop with Renney. It should stop at Glen Sather’s door. Renney didn’t sign the Redden and Kalinin contracts. Sather did. Renney didn’t sign the third and fourth liners, Sather did. It’s Renney’s misfortune to have to evaluate so many surplus forwards acquired by Sather. Is it any wonder that the evaluation period ran to the end of November? Trying to see who fits with whom and how, is no easy task.

What is Renney’s problem is the powerplay. It has been a problem since the rest of the league figured out Jagr’s halfboard patty cake passing fest. Perry Pearn is not getting it done and his “system” doesn’t work. If anyone should go, it should be Perry. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out how to improve your powerplay. Show your team films of the NHL teams that have the best powerplay records and say, “Hey, why not try doing it like this?” It seems like a logical concept.

If the players followed what they were saw successful teams do and if they freakin’ practiced it enough, it might sink in by osmosis. What? Other teams would scout them and find the solution? So, you look at all the successful teams and emulate a few different strategies and mix it up when they are being stymied on the powerplay.

As for the screaming mimis in the stands, who do they think should replace Renney? Tortorella? Maurice? Melrose?  Calling for Renney to be fired is the typical knee jerk reaction of the disgruntled fan. They need to find a scapegoat. They want to fire the guy who got the Rangers to the playoffs for three straight seasons after the lockout. Extremely shortsighted.

For the record I have to sit at the games and watch the same old stuff game in and game out. I’m just as tired of this BS as everyone else. But, it’s not like being at home. At home you can turn the TV off. Last night, as soon as the red light went on for the shorthanded goal, I jumped up and walked out. Rather then boo and scream for Renney to be fired, I suggest everyone just get up and walk out. If enough people do it, it will send a better message then booing.

In the final analysis, it is Sather who has to do something and soon. Come on Glen, come down from your ivory tower and take some of the heat off your coach. Admit this is really your mess and do something about it.  Redden has been a bitter disappointment.  I think this lower body injury is just a smokescreen to save him from further embarrassment. For God sake, Dmitri Kalinin is a -15. Minus Fifteen.

Time to fish or cut bait, Glen. Put on you hip waders and make a few changes or a trade that will shore up the defense and make the powerplay work. Firing Renney is not an option. The last thing Sather should want to do is get behind the bench.

Posted under New York Rangers