While the Rangers may have played with conviction as a team  last night, the play of Gomez, Drury , Naslund and Redden only served in my mind to convict them of their duplicity in the demise of Tom Renney.

You can’t tell me that Jim Schoenfeld’s method acting strategy, having the players lay on the ice and imagine themselves pucks, made such a difference in scoring production.  The simple fact of the matter was that the “leadership” on this team finally decided to show up and play hockey.

It doesn’t hurt that the Rangers defeated one of the worst teams in the NHL. With 57 points on the season, the once mighty Avalanche are in line for the 3rd pick in the draft.  They have lost all the games they have played so far on their east coast road trip. A Ranger team with it’s present talent should absolutely beat a team like the Avs, no less run up  a score of 6-1.

In a way it’s too bad that the Rangers have no more games before the trade deadline to showcase  Gomez, Drury, Naslund and Redden. It diminishes the chances of  Sather moving one of these slackers and getting a big contract off the books.  No trade and limited movement clauses be damned, the only way Sather can redeem himself in my eyes is to move or buy out one of these guys either now or after the season is over.

Finally, last night’s histrionic displays by some of the players and by Jim Schoenfeld was just enough of a smokescreen to placate the fans in the stands who believe the team lacked heart under the Renney regime. What some of the players on this team lacked under the Renney regime was a spine.

 What some of the players on this team lacked under Renney was the loyalty they were shown by their coach. So, if Gomez, Drury, Naslund and Redden think they can slack under the new regime, they should waive their no trade/limited movement clauses now and get the hell out.

Last night may have been an aberration. Unless and until I see this team play every single game left the way they “played” last night, they aren’t going anywhere and frankly they don’t deserve too. It’s just to bad that the good kids on the team have to suffer because of the bad decisions of the few.

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

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