After another gutless, heartless uber-embarrassment by the New York Rangers tonight, there is one person out there for whom I truly feel sorry.  The person I feel badly for is my dear friend Scott  who, at no little expense, made the trip down to Washington to support his team. Too bad he showed up and the Rangers didn’t.

I do not feel badly for John Tortorella.  What in the hell was this man thinking about?  He scratched one of the few players on this team that always goes balls to the wall. Tortorella chose the worst possible time to make a point. His castigation of Avery played right into the Caps hand.  Avery gets regularly screwed by the officials. But today, he was royally screwed by his own coach.  

I do not feel badly for Sean Avery. He made his bed by taking stupid penalties on Wednesday night.  But, I don’t think those penalties warranted being scratched in the most important game of the playoffs. Would his presence in  the lineup have changed the outcome of this game?  Based on all the stats regarding the Avery Effect, I have to believe it would have.

If there was ever a more convincing argument for Scott Gomez to be gone at the end of the season, this game stands as a testament. He lost 66% of his face offs and he has been nothing more then a turnover machine during this whole series. When he  isn’t noticed for some boneheaded play, he is invisible.  The same  can be said for  Mara, Zherdev, Redden, Morris, Voros, and Roszival tonight. Drury is playing injured but he was -3 tonight. Minus 3.

My friend Scott is always telling me I gotta believe. After tonight, I wouldn’t blame him if he stopped believing so unfailingly. I think Scott needs a healthy infusion of skepticism and I’m just the person  to do it.

I’m tired of this team. I am tired of getting sucked in only to have my hopes dashed and suffer the unending embarrassment of being a Ranger fan. Tonight’s game once again makes the Rangers the laughing stock of the league and by association, their fans.

So to all who believe in this team and that they can get it done, I say to you and Scott that

Rangers:

21 shots/17 missed shots/35 hits/5 giveaways/2 takeaways/21 blocked shots/20 faceoffs won/46 lost faceoffs

Caps:

35 shots/16 missed/27 hits/11 giveaways/7 takeways/10 blocked shots/46 faceoffs won/20 faceoffs lost.

The final score was 4-3 but only because Theodore was vulnerable and Lundqvist was kingly and kept the Rangers in the game in the first period, when they were completely outplayed by the Caps.

My stars of the game are Henrik Lundvist, Ryan Callahan and Blair Betts. They stopped the Caps offensive juggernaut by making saves, dishing and taking hits and killing penalties (sometimes without sticks).  Wade Redden was not as terrible as usual. Staal, Girardi, Mara, Roszival and Morris were superior to the Caps defensemen, even Green.

I don’t know if  Avery got under anyone’s skin but he certainly got under Green and sent him ass over tea kettle into the Ranger bench. Callahan put Ovechken on his kester at mid-ice. The way for the Rangers to get into the heads of the Caps is to continue to take the body. 

The only two Ranger players I had any big issue with was Gomez and of course, Naslund. Naslund is the new Captain Hook for the New York Rangers. He took three minor penalties and the Caps made him pay for the one legitimate call the refs made on him. Tortorella can’t sit him with Drury out . Despite his goal and assist tonight, I just wanted to strangle him.

Scott Gomez made yet another boneheaded giveaway pass that I thought for sure would have cost the Rangers a goal. And, while Dubinsky and Bett’s faceoff win percentage was slightly lower at 39%, Gomez needs to pick up his game on faceoffs especially if Drury is going to be out. Gomez had a key momentum shifting goal and two assists but his defensive play left a lot to be desired.

Lastly, the officiating was once again very tilted toward the Caps. Questionable calls on the Rangers and non-calls on the Caps, especially the Green boarding of Sjostrom. That’s a penalty on the Rangers if they did that to Semin. These Refs Suck! (just warming up for Monday).

They scored two powerplay goals and two more at even strength to beat the offensively dominant Caps and kept their defensive composure.

Feelin’ good now, yeah but I can’t explain…

Whether the Ranger’s faced Tim Thomas, the brick wall in Boston or the Ovechkin/Semin/Green firing squad in Washington, the odds of their weathering the first round rest squarely on the shoulders of the King, Henrik Lundqvist. With the scoring power of the aforementioned unholy triumvirate, poor Lundqvist will be flashing his glove in his nightmares until Wednesday.

Lundqvist has 37 wins, 25 losses, a 2.32 goals against average and a .916 save percentage. Theodore  has 32 wins, 16 loses and 5 overtime losses. His goals against average is 2.81 and save percentage is .901. While Lundqvist  may have slightly better numbers on the year, Theodore has had a better, higher scoring team in front of him.

In their four games with the Capitals this season the Rangers are 1 and 3. The Rangers lost both games in DC and two of the four game ended in shoot outs. The Rangers last defeated the Caps on February 11th in a shoot out 5-4. Unfortunately, there are no shoot outs in the playoffs. The Rangers all time away record against the Caps is 34-46-9-3.

Considering the Rangers have no powerplay, bad defense and have trouble scoring at the best of times, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out the the odds are clearly against the Rangers making it through the first round.  Compound that by the fact that in Alexander Ovechkin the Caps have a superstar that not only can score but hit and fight if need be. Ovechkin is not the whining, diving Poster Boy the Rangers faced last season in Cindy Crosby. He’s the biggest superstar in the NHL. He’s the league MVP.

At least true hockey fans will be entertained by the antics of Ovechkin. Ranger fans should sit up and watch regardless of the outcome. Afterall, we’ll get to see a team the Rangers could have been. Had not Sather kept throwing money and big contracts at mediocre, washed up players since he arrived here, we too might have an Ovechkin We too might be in the Tavares sweepstakes like the Islanders.

I sincerely hope that Henrik Lundqvist and the Rangers make it through the first round. But, like waiting for shoes to drop, I am not holding my breathe.

Granted, the Caps played without two of their best players, Kozlov and Semin, thereby making them easier to play against. But, their number one player, Alexander Ovechkin, was stymied all night by Ranger defensemen Mara and Staal.  AO was indeed growing more frustrated as the game went on. Holding the league’s leading scorer scoreless in regulation is no easy feat.

Not only did the Rangers take the body, they actually took some shots. Fans around me in 409 were feeling a little fatigued from all the goal celebrations.  For a team that has only scored 4 goals in their last 4 games, 4 goals in regulation was a pleasant surprise. Too bad the jubilance didn’t last too long.

After each hard fought goal, we saw the Rangers get scored on by the Caps with equal alacrity. I guess you have to give something to get something. If the Rangers are going think and play more offensively, it might come at the cost of  their defense first play. 

It just irks me that the Rangers always seem to get scored on late in periods.  Their heads seem to go out of the game as periods come to an end. The Caps goal at the end of the first period was the result of  the failure of  Gomez  to pick up the check on Fehr who was behind him. The Rangers were lucky to get out of the period without getting scored on again.

The Rangers tied the score at 3-3 in the second. They then scored a fourth goal to take the lead. With one minute left to play in the period, three Rangers were chasing Nylander with the puck. No one was near Green as he came off the bench.  Nylander dishes to Green and he scores his second goal of the game with 58 seconds left in the period.  C redit where due,  it was a great shot by Green. That made two long shots that Henrik missed. Very un-Henrik like.

The Rangers held the Caps to six shots in the third period but they had only nine themselves. Ordinarily that stat would seem good. But  the Rangers had a full four minute powerplay in which they only managed to get one shot on goal. One shot.  Truly sad.

The Rangers ratcheted up the entertainment value for that portion of the fan base that they continually bore. They earned two points for the fans who care about their position in the standings. Most importantly, they proved that they can win if they follow the game plan. Get shots on net and give and take hits to make plays.

Maybe  the threat of Avery coming back put the fear God (Glen) into them.  It’s amazing what can be done when most of the team shows  up.  Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy were each a +1 tonight. Woo-Hoo.

I hope the geniuses that run the NHL were watching tonight. The two bouts at the beginning of the game clearly illustrate why there is a need for fighting in hockey. When a gorilla like Brashear tries to set the tone before two minutes have gone by, your team needs to answer the bell. 

Colton Orr did just that. I gave the bout to Colton on points. We don’t have to play the Caps again in the regular season but we might see them in the playoffs. Hopefully a message was sent. Colton can take Brashear.

Voros was the clear winner of his fight  but most fans still wonder why he is out on the ice in the first place. He was a -2. He had one shot one goal and two hits. Spending 5 minutes in the box doesn’t show toughness nor is it an indication of value.

If  it’s all about putting pucks in the net, Voros should sit and Prucha should play.

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!

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