Game #79: Skimpy Saturday – Blues 3, Devils 2 (OT)

Posted on March 31, 2019 by hasan4978

Thank goodness me and my friend had the club seats for last night’s home game, since nothing else about ‘Fan Appreciation’ night quite measured up.  From the game itself – the worst possible result that satisfies neither the Lose for Hughes contingent or the screw the lottery odds contingent – to the utter lack of giveaways or general fan perks, it was the second worst Fan Appreciation game I’ve been to surpassed only by the Rangers clowning us during Lou Lamoriello’s final days and getting that dopey team picture of an empty locker, perfectly symbolizing the Devils as a franchise at that time.  Not that things are much better now…oh sure the team has a direction, but whether that direction is going to lead forward or just to spinning our wheels eternally like other perennial loser franchises will be determined in the next season or two.

Before I go off further, I might as well start with the positive first – the club seats were as usual terrific.  Somehow I didn’t remember actually being in them late last season but last night me and my friend were there again.  Other than our odd seating location right behind the Blues bench just a handful of rows back which was too close to the ice for me but my friend loved it, overall that part of the game was spectacular – we sampled tons of good and delicious food from pizza burgers to steak slices with mac and cheese flavored mashed potatoes to carrot cake dessert and a ton of other things that were a good aggregate dinner.  So at least the Devils’ season ticket holder rewards program did something for me and my friend on Fan Appreciation Night.

There’s not really much else to say about the game or the team, it was at least a more entertaining game than I figured with us playing the superior Blues coming off a bleh game at the Garden on Friday night.  Drew Stafford continued his late-season contract drive with a second-period power play goal and Joey Anderson scored on a masterful deflection, also in the second period.  However, in this game the Devils never held a lead and only went to OT after a strange late-game power play by the Blues could have ended it with a more lottery-friendly zero point game, it almost looked as if they were running out the clock to ensure their own point with a ton of cautious overpassing.  I doubt they were literally doing that since they had clinched a playoff spot already, but as it turned out it only set up a fitting coda for our season at the tail end of OT when defenseman Vince Dunn turned on the jets and blew past Nico Hischier and Will Butcher to power home a goal past the star-crossed Cory Schneider for yet another useless defeat.

Cory may not want to hear this but I still haven’t seen a home victory from him since 2017, other than the playoff game last year which looks like a minor miracle now.  Not that last night was his fault, it was an even game and his worst mistake (a horrible puckhandling gaffe) he skirted away from without any damage.  Not that I’ve seen many home victories period since December – a mere one to be exact.  I was still conflicted last night whether I even wanted to see another one, most of the time I was silently just rooting for the loss but did stand up and clap in a rote way for the goals and had brief periods where I was like ‘screw it, let’s just win and go out on a good note’.  At least nobody can accuse us, or any of the other teams in the lotto for tanking.

Detroit’s domination over us since, and the Kings’ mildly surprising win last night were just the latest examples of how teams out of it are still playing hard in spite of the lotto odds, or perhaps in part because there isn’t enough of a tangible difference in them to care.  That’s where I vacilate too.  Is the 13.5% chance of winning the top pick from the 2-hole really all that much different from the 9.5% chance from the 4-hole?  Still you’d rather have better odds than not, and even our improved results lately don’t augur much hope for next season other than in the play of the goalies.  I mean really, Stafford scoring three goals down the stretch helps us how?  So we sign him as opposed to some other old, slow fourth-line plug?  Like former NBA player (and New Jersey Net) Derrick Coleman once famously cracked, ‘whoopdie damn doo’.

My real source of annoyance last night even above the lousy loser point was the utter lack of pomp around the supposed Fan Appreciation Night.  A team poster giveaway?  Hah, we got purple Pepsi sugarless soda cans with a Devils logo on it.  Prize giveaways during play stoppages?  Not yesterday.  The only real indicator of it being ‘Fan Appreciation’ night was the 40% discount at an overly crowded Devils Den which would be more meaningful to me if prices weren’t marked up by 40-50% in the first place.  Maybe they’ll have the actual giveaways during Monday’s home finale which would be utterly stupid.  Last night you had 17000 fans in the building willing to be there and chant for the team, Monday you’ll be lucky to get half that many Devil fans and most will be largely apathetic and looking to peel out early from a weeknight game.

To wit, literally a ton of our friends were also at the Saturday game – a lot more people I know than were at maybe the last ten games combined I’ve been to – but since we had the club seats we didn’t want to venture out to see any of them, particularly since we were in the lower bowl and they were all in the upper deck.  Most of them we’d already seen the previous week anyway.  Fortunately the game itself was at least a quick execution, even with the OT we got out of there and home by 10:15.

For the first time maybe ever (or other than the aformentioned 2015 game against the Rangers), I had no feeling of too bad I don’t get to come back here again till October.  I was just glad to get it all over with.

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Game #78: Fickle Friday – Red Wings 4, Devils 0

Posted on March 30, 2019 by hasan4978

Last weekend it felt like an empty win when the Devils beat Arizona, because of how it negatively impacted draft positioning and didn’t really mean anything for us this season.  After last night I felt much the same – empty – after the Devils got their ‘needed’ loss to Detroit for draft positioning.  Empty because what, exactly about last night’s game would give anyone hope things could be different in the immediate future for a Devils team who may finish with its lowest point total since the relocated team in the early ’80’s (and these teams have the loser point, to boot)?

Sure it was another decent game for Mackenzie Blackwood, who only allowed three goals including this junktime goal by Andreas Athanasiou where he sped past Mirco Mueller as if he was standing still to get his 30th for the season.   However, getting shut out by a mediocre Wings team at home with two mediocre goalies doesn’t exactly speak well for our younger offensive players, nor does getting outplayed – again – to the extent they did speak well for coaching or the defense, most of whom will be here next year.

Moral of the story: Meaningless hockey stinks all around.

Of course last night was a good one for Tankathon month, since the Rangers’ surprise comeback and upset of the Blues kept them safely in front of us while losing to the Wings in regulation obviously helped our position the other way around.  I don’t feel like making too much light of it though, just in case the joke is on us in the end.  It’s eminently possible we do get higher odds than the Wings for the lottos but they wind up winning a top three pick and we don’t.  As Devil fans we’ve only seen the good side of the lottery in recent years, perhaps a small penance for 1984 (which is a seperate story itself) so odds are many in the fanbase need a reminder this stuff is truly random.

Tonight will be my most divided home game yet, going with my friend to Fan Appreciation Night against the Blues.  I honestly don’t remember feeling this conflicted in 2011, 2015 or 2017 – other ends of long, meaningless seasons.  Of course in 2011 the lotto didn’t exist in its current form, and quite honestly that season’s finish helped in 2011-12, if we kept going the way we were in the historically bad first half, nobody will ever confince me it wouldn’t have been near impossible for the franchise to recover from that.  In 2015 we were so far above the bottom teams it wasn’t exactly an issue since we were more or less trapped in the 6th spot.  Clearly two years ago was the closest I’ve gotten to this kind of lotto angst when a mere point seperated 2nd from 5th in the odds, but things worked out for us in the end anyway by actually winning the lotto, so John Moore’s OT goal which knocked us down two spots in the lotto odds wound up not mattering.

Maybe the constant losing and the fact there’s been no hope since Thanksgiving has just beaten me down.  Not to mention this season’s been the biggest of all letdowns after the promise of 2017-18.  Nothing else I’ve experienced as a hockey fan has come close to that.  To a degree maybe missing the playoffs in 1995-96 off of being defending champs, but at least that season had meaningful hockey throughout and there was still light at the end of the tunnel despite the trolls mocking our ‘half-a-Cup’ the year before attempting to de-legitimizing our lockout win the way no other team’s lockout win in the NHL or NBA has gotten scrutinized since.

Am I actively going to root against the team?  Not really, once you’re in the arena it’s trollish to cheer for the tank.  It’s fan nature to want to see wins live and really if you’re there, that’s what you care about.  Would I be lying if I said I wasn’t silently cheering against the team tonight?  Yes.  Of course without Blackwood in net it’s a bit easier (sorry Cory), but now that we’re almost at the end I just want this season to be over with and to have the best odds possible for the lotto.  T-10 days to the drawing and counting.  The Fan Depreciation Recap may be my final true recap of the season since I don’t plan on watching the last three games to be honest.  I’ll obviously do some form of season wrapup next weekend after the end of the regular season and a special Draft Lotto thoughts post, then go into hiding until the draft at least.

For me, emotionally the season ends today, not counting the lotto itself.  Even if there are three more games left to be played and it could be a big deal in lotto positioning, or in the Hurricanes’ case for a playoff spot.  Even playing spoiler to Carolina holds no charms for me since we’d only benefit Columbus and Montreal though, big deal.  Not that I’d be able to watch that game Thursday regardless.  And what’s the point in watching Monday when we play the Rangers or next Saturday at Florida in games meaningless to all other than for draft positioning?  That’s part of my reason for not watching lately and avoiding going to games as much as possible…it’s easier to hope for the 2-1, 3-2 loss when you’re more detached from it.

It does help tonight that me and my friend will be in the club seats – a pre-planned season ticket points upgrade I would rather not have chanced using in the winter.  How was I to know I’d lose interest in going to games for the whole last three months?  So if we miss action getting something or maybe spend too much time outside the club seeing someone during an intermission that won’t exactly bother me.  It wouldn’t even bother me if the game was 5-1 after two periods and we decided to leave early or just find an excuse at the arena to ignore the rest of the game.  Other than the fact they do have prize drawings on Fan Appreciation Night.  I’m not exactly expecting to win anything in the drawings though that’s certainly possible so I guess I should stick it out tonight, especially with it being the final time I have to deal with going to a game this season.

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Game #77: Reunited KZB Line and Georgie spark Rangers to satisfying victory over Blues

Posted on March 30, 2019 by Derek

Thank You! A victorious Blueshirts salute the fans following the 4-2 victory over the Blues. AP Photo via Getty Images courtesy NYRangers.

It was Fan Appreciation night at The Garden. Even though they won’t participate in the playoffs a second consecutive year, these Blueshirts don’t know the word quit. It’s not in their vocabulary under coach David Quinn.

They fell behind the playoff bound Blues 2-0 in the first period, but recovered strong by scoring four unanswered goals for a satisfying 4-2 victory over a good St. Louis team. It was a good night for the reunited KZB Line and rookie Alexandar Georgiev.

With Chris Kreider deeming himself ready to go, he wanted to get back in. That’s commendable. With nothing but pride on the line, it sets a good example. Despite what NY Post columnist Larry Brooks says, Kreider has proven he should stay. He entered with just two goals over his last 21 games. But we know he hasn’t been 100 percent. The combination of size, strength and speed are areas this team lacks without the valuable alternate captain. That’s why I’d extend him this summer.

Even though the cohesive trio only combined for two goals, they easily could’ve had more. A wonderful play started by Kreider with Buchnevich passing for Zibanejad for a beautiful finish was negated by a tacky goalie interference challenge. Despite Brendan Smith making contact with St. Louis rookie goalie Jordan Binnington outside the crease before the Zibanejad shot, they overturned his goal. Of course they did. The NHL seems to have it out for our team. I like conspiracies, but rarely in sports. Let’s just say I’ve had it with the league screwing the Rangers.

What should’ve been a 2-1 game instead was 2-0 after one period. The Blues able to score their two goals 27 seconds apart. On a innocent looking play near the net, Vladimir Tarasenko caught Georgiev off his post to squeeze his 30th in. It was one he wanted back. On the next shift, Jaden Schwartz set up David Perron for his 21st for a two goal St. Louis lead.

Despite playing well by outshooting the Blues 11-10, the Rangers found themselves in a undeserved hole. The top line created some chances aside from the negated Zibanejad goal. Buchnevich had a good backhand sail wide. The second line was also involved.

In the same game Kreider returned, Marc Staal also was back replacing a ineffective Fredrik Claesson. Fourth line secret weapon Brendan Smith shifted back to defense. He paired with Neal Pionk while Staal reunited with cohesive partner Tony DeAngelo. Brady Skjei and Kevin Shattenkirk have been working together for a while with mixed results. It’ll be interesting to follow what they do with the blueline moving forward.

It’s funny how things turn out. The first was very competitive and the Rangers trailed by two. The second was mostly Blues, who held a 20-9 edge in shots. It didn’t matter due to Georgiev, who recovered well by making 20 of his 44 saves, earning the game’s number one star. With the poised 23-year old dialed in, his teammates responded.

Ryan Strome continues to play very well down the stretch. He scored his 17th goal on a net mouth scramble to cut the deficit in half. It was his fourth goal over the last five. He’s now up to 16 as a Blueshirt since being stolen by GM Jeff Gorton from the Oilers for Ryan Spooner (LMAO!!!!!). Since posting 2-1-3 in a home win over the Devils on March 9, Strome has nine points (6-3-9) over 10 games. He’s proving to be a good top nine player who can play center or right wing.

Eighty seconds later, Kreider lifted the stick of a Blue to keep a play alive for Zibanejad. He then perfectly set up a Buchnevich one-timer for his 19th to tie the score. A very unselfish play by the team’s leading scorer, who is looking like the next captain with his actions on and off the ice. Kreider didn’t get a point, but it was his smart play that led to the goal. They missed what he brings when he was out. I’d love to see what that line is capable of now that Buchnevich is a much better player. Let’s hope!

The reason the game was tied was Georgiev, who answered the bell. If he wasn’t as sharp in the loss to the Penguins last time out, he more than made up for it. It shows a lot of character and proves that he should be the backup again behind Henrik Lundqvist next year. That’s even if they sign Igor Shestyorkin. He can be developed at Hartford. There’s no rush.

So, the Blues got 16 of the 21 total shots in the third. Like a broken record, it didn’t matter. Georgiev made the key stops and the Rangers did the rest.

It was the supporting cast that worked hard for the game decider. On a gritty shift, Vinni Lettieri and Brett Howden combined to set up Jimmy Vesey’s 17th at 5:47. Vesey had gone 13 straight games without a point. He got off the schneid.

After missing what seemed to be a easy empty netter, Buchnevich got the puck over to Kreider for his 27th with eight seconds left. Both grinned and for good reason. Kreider because it had to feel good to score after his slump. Buchnevich probably due to Kreider giving him the business on the missed chance for number 20.

It was nice to see. A good night for a team that hadn’t beaten any quality competition since the deadline. It had to feel good to also get the home crowd a win.

BONY 3 STARS:

3rd 🌟 Mika Zibanejad, Rangers (primary assist on Buchnevich tally, goal taken away for tacky challenge, first NYR center 25 or younger with 30 goals since Darren Turcotte)

2nd 🌟 Pavel Buchnevich, Rangers (19th goal and assist to give him points in six straight)

1st 🌟 Alexandar Georgiev, Rangers (44 saves including 36 the final 2 periods)

Funny stuff with Staal during his interview. 😂

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Game #76: Big Bad Bruins humiliate Andersson and Rangers

Posted on March 27, 2019 by Derek

David Pastrnak torched Henrik Lundqvist and the Rangers for a hat trick and five points in a 6-3 humiliation at Boston. AP Photo via Getty Images

I don’t often start off recaps like this. But I’m pretty ticked off at how that game ended. By that, I mean the way the big bad Bruins had to avenge Patrice Bergeron for a questionable hit by Lias Andersson that from my vantage point, didn’t look intentional.

Of course, after the awful refs handed them a gift 5-on-3 on a phantom high stick they made up on Brendan Smith, the Bruins turned a close game into a 6-2 laugher. They scored on both ends with David Pastrnak completing his fourth career hat trick and then setting up a Bergeron tip in that poor Henrik Lundqvist had no chance on.

The final wound up being 6-3 due to Mika Zibanejad scoring number 30 with four seconds left from Vladislav Namestnikov. His 30th goal was also his 70th point, making him the first Ranger to reach 70 points since Marian Gaborik did it in ’11-12 with 76. Zibanejad had two goals to get there in defeat.

My biggest issue was how ridiculous the Bruins acted. But you just knew they would seek retribution even if the odd Andersson hit where he wound up with his back turned to catch Bergeron upstairs, wasn’t intentional. Bergeron jumped on top of him and let go of a few punches. Somehow, Boston got a power play out of that BECAUSE of bleeping course they did! God forbid the league officials have a brain. Not when it comes to the Rangers. The most penalized team in the league. Some of it self inflicted with two more mind boggling bench minors turning David Quinn into Wily E. Coyote on the bench.

If you think sending out an overpaid experienced veteran like David Backes is justified to go after our 20-year old rookie, you’re either delusional or a drunken idiot from Boston. BTW the “Yankees Suck,” chants make you look self absorbed. God. I hope a bird craps all over the field when they have their World Series ceremony. They’re such a joke. Either that or sleet. It’s the idiot fans who I can’t stand. I respect the Red Sox except their trashy manager. I guess I’m ready for Opening Day.

I’m ticked off at the garbage the Bruins pulled. It’s not like Backes has the guts to face Brendan Lemieux, who actually had some interesting words for Zdeno Chara late in the second period when the chaos began.

At the end of the day, it’s a 6-3 loss for the Rangers. One I’m sure Andersson won’t soon forget. He plays the game hard. There’s an edge to the 2017 first round pick that’s already been written off by the pundits. Some, you can really tell a lot about someone’s character by how quick they are to judge a first-year player at the beginning of their career. These are the same clowns who never went through 1997-2004. Poor judgment and impatience are showing.

It’s too bad the team was so undisciplined because Lundqvist played great the first two periods. He looked as sharp as he’s been since the All-Star break. It was a shooting gallery highlighted by six Bruins power plays. They went a ridiculous 4-for-6. That should tell you everything.

It’s sad that Lundqvist only wound up with 26 saves on 32 shots. Most were created off the man-advantage. When they weren’t, he made point blank stops like this one to rob Chris Wagner during a wild sequence in the first.

Truthfully, he had no chance on five of the six they scored. They were great set ups. That included Pastrnak’s hat trick goal that was a one-timer he saw. But it was struck with such velocity that Lundqvist had the puck take a weird hop and go through him.

It’s a shame Zibanejad had his two goals to reach 30 and make 70 points feel so out of place. That’s what happens when you lose.

That is number 29 which I described in the earlier post on the wonderful conception of a power play goal from Ryan Strome and Pavel Buchnevich.

This is number 30 which also came on the power play due to the Boston idiocy on Andersson. Tony DeAngelo’s point shot rebounds off Jaro Halak and Namestnikov digs it out to set up Zibanejad for his first career 30 goal season.

At the end, it’s just book keeping. I’m sure Zibanejad wished it came in a win. He’s your next captain. Number 93 has been exemplary for this younger team. He continues to put in the work and it’s nice to see him get rewarded. He’s done it without Chris Kreider, who missed another game. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s shut down. There are five games left.

There’s nothing else to say about that game. I have two particular words in mind. But I can’t do it. You can figure it out. 😉

BONY 3 STARS:

3rd 🌟 Ryan Strome, Rangers (goal, number 15 as a NYR, primary assist)

2nd 🌟 Mika Zibanejad, Rangers (2 goals for 30 and hits 70 points)

1st 🌟 David Pastrnak, Bruins (4th career hat trick, 2 assists, dominant)

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Lias Andersson hit on Bergeron

Posted on March 27, 2019 by Derek

Late in the second period of a one goal game, rookie center Lias Andersson caught Bruins star center Patrice Bergeron with this hit. It’s interesting. Of course, he got a double minor for it while Bergeron got only two minutes for jumping him.

At this point, I don’t know what to say. It’s iffy. The hit is eerily similar to the Mika Zibanejad one that somehow was called a major and game misconduct, which was later rescinded by the NHL.

I think Andersson plays a hard nosed game. He’s a young player who’s quietly making progress now that David Quinn has him centering the third line. You see subtle plays where he’s involved. I hope he doesn’t get suspended for that hit. It’s not worth it.

There was also this between Brendan Lemieux and Zdeno Chara.

The Bruins lead 2-1 on a pair of David Pastrnak goals. There could be some fireworks in the third.

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Freeze Frame This

Posted on March 27, 2019 by Derek

The Rangers are tied with the Bruins 1-1 after a period in Beantown on NBCSN. It didn’t start ideally with David Pastrnak getting his 34th on a early power play for Boston due to another bench minor. That’s gotta be 11. Yikes.

But following a great diving stick save by Henrik Lundqvist to rob Chris Wagner, the Rangers responded with some good play. Eventually, they earned a power play. Mika Zibanejad drew it. It was only fitting he would be the beneficiary on just a great rush up the ice for a beautiful power play goal that tied the game.

Zak of 4everBlueshirts provided it. Look at the quick transition. I love the Ryan Strome pass to a cutting Zibanejad for the sweet finish for number 29! Just wonderful.

The power play has been a sore spot. They rank close to the bottom. But this is how you draw it up. Credit Pavel Buchnevich too by drawing two Bruins as he gained access. The pass trapped them giving Strome time and space to find Zibanejad for his 69th point. One more to 70. It’s been a while since a Blueshirt reached that number. I’ll give you a hint. They’re retired.

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Lost In Translation: Tony DeAngelo

Posted on March 27, 2019 by Derek

AP Photo courtesy Getty Images via NY Post.

For those hockey brethren who are easily upset by a interesting young player who doesn’t have the best history so far, you might want to take a second look at Tony DeAngelo. In his second season with the Rangers, the 23-year old Sewell, New Jersey native looks to have finally found a home.

A former Lightning first round pick in the 2014 NHL Draft taken number 19 overall, the smooth skating right defenseman has taken some positive steps in his development. Following a trade from Tampa to the Coyotes, he only lasted 39 games with Arizona going 5-9-14 with 37 penalty minutes and a minus-13 rating as a 21-year old in ’16-17. Ironically, the second round pick the Bolts acquired from Arizona was used to select Libor Hajek. A D prospect they packaged with Vladislav Namestnikov, Brett Howden, a first round pick and conditional second to the Rangers in exchange for Ryan McDonagh and J.T. Miller. Go figure.

I found it odd that the Coyotes gave up on DeAngelo so early after acquiring him. There’s more than meets the eye when it comes to the emotionally charged defenseman. He’s had discipline issues dating back to his Junior days with the Sarnia Sting. When a talented player of his caliber gets suspended for abuse of an official more than once including as a member of the Coyotes, it speaks to a maturity problem.

After being mishandled by former coach Alain Vigneault after coming over with 2017 seventh overall pick Lias Andersson for Derek Stepan and Antti Raanta, DeAngelo has been handled much better under first-year be changed boss David Quinn. However, that doesn’t mean DeAngelo hasn’t tested Quinn’s patience. On more than one occasion, he’s been a healthy scratch for off the ice issues that won’t be tolerated. An area Quinn has hammered home while also disciplining other young players to toughen them up. He’s been very successful.

On the ice, DeAngelo gives the Blueshirts something they don’t have much of. A good skating defenseman who’s fully capable of contributing offensively. Even though he sat out a lot of games in the first half, the lightning rod with the killer personality has responded well to criticism.

On a offensively challenged team especially since the departure of top six forwards Mats Zuccarello and Kevin Hayes, DeAngelo leads all Ranger blueliners in D scoring with 28 points. That includes 24 assists with many primary helpers setting up goals like the power play tally Vinni Lettieri scored on Monday night for his first goal at MSG.

DeAngelo is a superb skater who possesses good vision. Able to find open teammates to create good scoring opportunities like the pass he made to Namestnikov who was robbed by Pens netminder Matt Murray, DeAngelo is a very good passer of the puck. Sixteen of his 24 assists have come at even strength. He’s also scored all four of his goals in that facet.

He’s also picked up eight power play assists. The latest example the perfect cross ice feed for Lettieri’s one-timer in Monday’s 5-2 home loss to Pittsburgh. By comparison, Kevin Shattenkirk has seven power play points including six assists on the man-advantage. Even with Quinn shifting him back to the top unit, most of the veteran’s success has come at even strength. Nineteen of his 25 helpers are at even strength. Similar to DeAngelo.

With six games remaining including tonight’s tough Original Six match up at Boston, DeAngelo needs two more points for 30. That would be a good achievement considering what he’s been through. Mostly self inflicted.

A restricted free agent this summer, he’s the most skilled defenseman the current roster features. DeAngelo has shown a propensity to play the game on the edge. He’s been a willing participant during scrums and isn’t shy about dropping the gloves if it means standing up for teammates. Unfortunately, Kyle Okposo learned the hard way.

Thankfully, Okposo has been able to come back for the Sabres. I wasn’t sure he would given his injury history. I’m glad he’s okay.

The thing about DeAngelo is he must learn to channel his anger. Quinn wants him to keep his emotions in check. He’s replaced Neal Pionk in the top four by forming a solid pair with veteran Marc Staal. They’re much more effective due to DeAngelo being more consistent than Pionk, who’s the same age. The difference is he wasn’t drafted or highly thought of.

In 55 games, DeAngelo has four goals and 24 assists for 28 points. He’s also a respectable plus-three on a team that was eliminated from the playoffs for a second consecutive year on Saturday. But he also has 60 penalty minutes which is the most of any current Blueshirt. One more than recently converted forward Brendan Smith.

If he is to become more successful in the future, DeAngelo must stay disciplined on and off the ice. He still has a tendency to take ill advised penalties. With the coaching staff trusting him to play key minutes (19:17 ATOI), they need him on the ice. Not in the penalty box.

They also don’t need these type of risky hits like the one he delivered on Jared McCann.

https://twitter.com/G_Off817/status/1110339392437137410?s=19

The hit caught a prone McCann up high and was dangerous. It could easily be a suspension if NHL Player Safety deemed it worthy of say two games. You never know what they’re thinking. The last thing DeAngelo needs is to further damage his reputation.

If he can keep his head screwed on straight, he has a chance to be a good player for the Rangers during their rebuild. Maybe he can even fulfill that potential. It’s up to him.

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Islanders get blanked by Bobrovsky and Blue Jackets

Posted on March 27, 2019 by Derek

The Islanders remain a great story this season. On the verge of clinching a playoff berth under Jack Adams candidate Barry Trotz, they entered last night’s road game in Columbus fresh off two big wins this past weekend. Consecutive victories over the Flyers and Coyotes put the Islanders within a point of first place Washington. Both were in action on Tuesday.

With a possibility of over taking the Capitals, the Isles got blanked by the Blue Jackets 4-0. They were unable to muster any offense against Sergei Bobrovsky. The red hot former two-time Vezina winner stopped all 26 shots en route to his eighth shutout. Six have come since the All-Star break.

Columbus was in desperation mode. Having gotten a Bobrovsky shutout in Vancouver to conclude a bad road trip, they knew the Canadiens were in action at home versus the crappy Panthers. They entered yesterday two points behind the Habs for the second wildcard.

Even with the additions of Matt Duchene and Ryan Dzingel, the Blue Jackets have had a hard time scoring goals. They haven’t jelled quite the way management envisioned. Instead, inconsistency has lead to costly losses putting the playoffs in jeopardy. Duchene hasn’t produced like he did in Ottawa. Both Artemi Panarin and Cam Atkinson entered with scoring droughts.

John Tortorella’s team has had to rely heavily on Bobrovsky and emerging power forward Josh Anderson. He has them playing a tight checking style eerily similar to the way the Rangers played under him.

It wasn’t surprising to see how hard fought every inch of the ice was for the Islanders. Even in a solid first period that saw them outshoot the Blue Jackets 10-7, one undisciplined mistake put them behind early on. A bench minor for too many men on the ice handed Columbus an early power play. One of the lowest ranked man-advantages in the league, they made it work when Zach Werenski passed across for an open Dzingel, who beat Thomas Greiss from the left circle at 5:43.

That was the game’s only power play. The only other penalties came with 50 seconds left in the period when Mathew Barzal took exception to a Pierre-Luc Dubois hit that caught the Isles leading scorer down. He went back at Dubois near the benches leading to matching roughing minors.

The odd thing about the first was that despite only a three shot differential, the Isles were in control at five-on-five thanks to their forecheck. They got some good looks on Bobrovsky, who was sharp throughout. His best work came when he robbed Josh Bailey with glove save. He also flashed the leather on Nick Leddy.

In the second, it was a lot of hotly contested battles during shifts between the clubs. You had some edge during scrums. Something you’d expect with a lot on the line. Both Bobrovsky’s glove saves on first Leddy and Bailey came in the first few minutes. He heard the cheers from the fans who earlier in the year had booed him for uncharacteristic play. That hasn’t been the case for two months. Counting last night’s game, he’s 14-7-0 with a 2.00 goals-against-average, .930 save percentage and six shutouts in February and March.

The best chance the Isles got came when pesky checking center Casey Cizikas got behind the Columbus defense and had a breakaway. In an earlier Islander win over Bobrovsky, he victimized the Blue Jackets netminder twice. That included his bread and butter backhand deke off a similar rush. This time, he got back pressure from a hustling Adam McQuaid. Cizikas went to the same move, but McQuaid might have prevented a goal by diving to get his stick on Cizikas’ stick as Bobrovsky made a diving stop to deny the bid.

It was essentially the last great scoring opportunity the Isles had. They didn’t get many more shots on Bobrovsky the rest of the period. Columbus picked up their game to outshoot the Isles 15-9. Greiss gave them a chance by stopping all 15 shots to keep it a one goal deficit headed to the third.

On a shift less than three minutes into the final stanza, a sloppy back pass resulted in a turnover that had an ugly end result for the Islanders. Duchene gathered the mistake and fed Atkinson, who passed for a wide open Panarin behind everyone for a clean breakaway. Having been in a cold streak this month without a goal, the Bread Man didn’t miss. He went high glove side on Greiss for his first goal in 13 games at 2:38 for a 2-0 Columbus lead.

Given how well they checked, it was asking a lot for the Isles to come back. Another mistake led directly to the Jackets third goal. Behind his own net, Johnny Boychuk sent a clear around the boards that was intercepted by a pinching Alex Wennberg. A player who’s struggled mightily, his battle kept the play alive for Oliver Bjorkstrand. He turned and fired a quick wrist shot that surprised Greiss for a unassisted goal with 8:48 remaining.

With the game all but over, Trotz still pulled Greiss even though his team was down three. Seth Jones and Duchene combined to set up Atkinson for an empty netter that erased a eight game drought. It was his 39th.

For the Blue Jackets, it allowed them to keep pace with Montreal, who blew out the defenseless Panthers 6-1. Montreal has 90 points with five games remaining. Columbus has 88 points with six left. In what amounts to a playoff game, the Blue Jackets host the Canadiens tomorrow night.

At the same time, the Hurricanes will host the first place Caps in the second game of a home and home series. Washington took the first game 4-1. Alexander Ovechkin scored his league-leading 49th. Washington is up to 98 points. Three ahead of both the Pens and Isles. All three teams have five games left. The Islanders final five are at Winnipeg tomorrow, home for Buffalo this Saturday with the Maple Leafs visiting Nassau Coliseum on April Fool’s Day, followed by a road game at Florida April 4 and the final game of the season at Washington April 6.

As far as the wildcard race, Carolina is still in the first wildcard with 91 points, 40 ROW (Regulation Overtime Wins) and six games remaining. Montreal is in the second wildcard with 90 points, 39 ROW and five left. Columbus has 88 points, 41 ROW and six remaining. ROW is the first tiebreaker if two teams are tied. So, that could favor the Blue Jackets. However, the importance of their game against the Habs is huge.

Thursday will be a great sports day. Opening Day features the Yankees against the Orioles and the Mets against the Nationals featuring freshly extended Cy Young winner Jacob de Grom versus Max Scherzer. Plus the first part of the Sweet 16 games. I’ll be flipping back and forth between the college hoops and the two gigantic hockey games that will impact the race.

The Isles want to finish strong. At the moment, they’re considered third behind the Pens due to goal differential. Both teams have 95 points and 40 ROW with five games to go. Pittsburgh is plus-33 in differential while the Islanders are plus-24. Home ice for the Isles in a potential first round against the Sidney Crosby led Pens is essential. Without it, I don’t think they stand a chance.

They’re hard pressed to score goals as it is. Getting that extra home game with the first round being played at their real home arena in front of 13,917 screaming Islander fans at NYCB Live Nassau Coliseum would really help their chances.

BONY 3 STARS:

3rd 🌟 Matt Duchene, Blue Jackets (2 assists)

2nd 🌟 Artemi Panarin, Blue Jackets (breakaway goal for 26th)

1st 🌟 Sergei Bobrovsky, Blue Jackets (26 save shutout for single season career high 8)

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Game #77: Moody Monday – Devils 3, Sabres 1

Posted on March 26, 2019 by hasan4978

I was really debating going to yesterday’s game with the free tickets I got via a team e-mail.  I’d already traded in my normal tickets for buyback credit towards next season’s invoice but clearly a Monday night game between two teams going nowhere didn’t have a lot of advance sales so the Devils offered up comps as if it was a preseason game.  I did actually get tickets in my same section and row but with nobody to go with and the only people I knew that were there possibly sitting in the club section, I really didn’t feel like flying solo for a meaningless weeknight game.  Especially after getting my token 2019 attendance win before the offseason on Saturday.

While I was home, I didn’t really watch much of last night’s odd 3-1 win.  It was odd both in that the team was vastly outplayed by a cold, lousy Sabres team, and also in that you would have thought for all the world Cory Schneider was headed for yet another implosion after allowing a center-ice trickler to get through him in the first period.  Instead, showing a resilience he hasn’t always had as a Devil, Cory rebounded with a stunning 45-save game that earned him a hard-fought win, a first star and the team’s yellow helmet given out for players’ player of the game.  From clod to god all in one night, even if you’re not Cory’s biggest fan it’s certainly another feel-good moment for the embattled goalie down the stretch.  Even if his on-ice interview with Erika Wachter began on a cringeworthy note, where he sheepishly joked, ‘are those mock cheers, or real ones?’.

Obviously if you follow Cory, you know he’s always the first to call himself out for a bad game or goal allowed, so he certainly wasn’t blaming the crowd for what I’m sure was some…vocal pushback after his facepalm worthy start to the game.  If anything his problem (like mine in a lot of cases) is that he’s too worried about letting everyone down at times.  Perhaps the lack of meaning in last night’s game made it easier to bounce back from Sam Reinhart’s dribbler that tied the game after Blake Coleman’s early marker got the Devils off to a good start.  At first I was incredulous when I heard the reports that Cory was playing well after that.  Almost for his sake alone I was rooting for the win once a resurgent Pavel Zacha gave the Devils back the lead early in the third, but of course with only a handful of games left to deal with, the lotto watching has begun in earnest in this corner.

After a great start Buffalo’s been so bad they might even drop below us if they keep sinking.  Few teams have mastered the art of the late-season tank like the Sabres.  Not that things have been so great for me or Derek down the stretch either.  Looking at the Rangers’ recent run of results one thing struck me – other than their weekend OT win over the Leafs, their only wins in the last five weeks have been over us.  Twice.  Our recent two-game winning streak has been the abberation of late after a 2-9-1 stretch seemingly locked us into the bottom four.  Of course, having a bunch of guys return to the lineup probably helped over the last couple games as well.  Even if Sami Vatanen was out of the lineup again last night – this time due to ‘illness’ – and the team was largely outplayed by a Sabres team that hadn’t won on the road in weeks.  Ironically a phantom goalie interference call on what would have been a tying goal for Buffalo in the third period also (cough) helped the Devils’ cause last night.

Just figures that’s when we get our makeup call on a contreversially disallowed goal last December against these same Sabres!  Of course as a fan I’m supposed to dwell on the positives even when the positives mean very little in the grand scheme.  One positive that can have some far-reaching impact into next year has been the recent surge of Zacha in his first three games off of IR with four points.  I have seen this script before though, with Zacha frequently spasming out a couple of games of good play after going back into the lineup then going back into his usual invisible self.  If you want to take his first ten games of the season out of the mix pre-demotion, he has 12 goals and 21 points in 46 games which is mildly encouraging but hardly something where I’d bank on the kid being a top six weapon next year.  He’s going to have to consistently earn his way back up into the mix.

That’s always the danger of grading off of meaningless games, you never know when some of these late-season surges are just mirages.  Zacha and Cory are two of the key faces of that, whether you can bank on their improvement down the stretch as a sign of things to come or not.  For now the only concern for most fans is what kind of lotto odds the team will have two weeks from today, when the drawing for the top three picks is held.  Perhaps the most important game for determining that is our next one, at Detroit on Friday since the Wings are only one point behind us with a game in hand.  I don’t want to get into full reverse order standings here but barring a full collapse by a team like the Rangers or Sabres, it’s likely we’ll finish no better than fourth from the bottom.  Of course I can’t fully root against the team with Mackenzie Blackwood presumably in net on Friday.  If we’ve had a true encouraging sign in the second half of this lost season it’s been Blackwood showing he’s got the tools to be the man in the very near future in net.

Of course players and coaches never really try to lose themselves.  Even if some of our ‘injuries’ have been a bit suspect the last few weeks, those decisions are made off the ice in a lot of cases.  Players and coaches need to continually do well to try to ensure their own job security though.  I just wish there was this type of urgency earlier in the year when it could have actually mattered.

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Game #75: Yet another Penguins humiliation

Posted on March 25, 2019 by Derek

Well, at least they started out well. The Rangers actually got the game’s first two goals. Then, the Penguins remembered who they are and humiliated the Blueshirts 5-2 at MSG to improve to 3-0 versus our team. They’ve now outscored us 18-9. There’s one game remaining. Yikes.

On what was our second to last home game, at least the home team scored a couple of goals. The last time out, they got shutout by Carolina on 1994 Night. So, I’m thankful for the two goals we at least got to celebrate in the first period.

Pavel Buchnevich continued to impress by making a perfect cross ice feed for a Brendan Lemieux goal on a odd man rush. Mika Zibanejad added his career high 40th assist. It was a well executed play by the top line.

Everyone knows the power play isn’t good. However, you wouldn’t have known that by the way they moved the puck around on Vinni Lettieri’s first of the season. The second unit got it done. Filip Chytil got the puck to Tony DeAngelo, who made a brilliant pass across for a Lettieri one-timer past Matt Murray, who couldn’t quite recover. The Pens starting goalie sure made up for it later.

But before they could announce Lettieri’s goal, Nick Bjugstad was able to get to a Marcus Pettersson rebound 26 seconds later to make it 2-1. DeAngelo nearly set up another goal. But a sharp Murray robbed Vladislav Namestnikov point blank by getting a piece of it with a glove. The puck stayed out despite being in mid-air. That was a turning point.

The second period was a different story altogether. Outclassed is how I’d summarize it. Anything that could go wrong did. A iffy hi-sticking minor on Brady Skjei resulted in a wonderful power play goal by the Pens. It was set up by who else but Sidney Crosby. After receiving the puck from Phil Kessel down low, the Pens captain went behind the net and made a great pass for a Justin Schultz one-time blast past Alexandar Georgiev over the glove.

Momentum swung completely in favor of the far more talented playoff contender who needed the game to tie the Islanders for second place in the division. It was totally understandable. Unacceptable too even if some of our fake fans are openly rooting for losses due to draft position. Do they even realize how long this rebuilding process could take? What fools.

The Pens outscored the Rangers 3-0 in the uncompetitive stanza. Georgiev had a rough night. Even though four of the five goals weren’t his fault, the Pens game-winner from ageless veteran Matt Cullen was one he would want back.

Following a brutal turnover by John Gilmour that allowed the Pens to forecheck, Cullen took a drop pass and came out and beat Georgiev from a bad angle short side. He wasn’t set and paid for it. Plenty of Pittsburgh fans in jerseys cheered as if it were a home game. It was kinda embarrassing.

The worst moment of the game came on the Rangers’ second consecutive power play, which Lemieux drew. The top unit got victimized twice for Penguin shorthanded bids. On the first, they couldn’t quite score. But the second was a series of dreadful plays by the top unit. They got completely outworked behind the net.

Eventually, Teddy Blueger came out with the puck and caught Georgiev off his near post for a easy backhand into the open side for a back breaking shorthanded goal that made it 4-2 to even more cheers. I don’t know who was behind the net, but Lemieux dove to take away a pass. Instead, he took himself right out of the play. It made it easier for Blueger, who may as well have been named Lex Luger on this night. He also got the lone Pens tally in the third on a rebound Georgiev couldn’t control.

Lemieux did get a chance on the same power play with a mini break. But Murray denied him to keep it 4-2.

The third was just wait and see if they could come back. They couldn’t. Murray made some key saves including a good one on Buchnevich. Eventually, Blueger sealed it by beating the invisible Ranger D to the front for his second.

That was our cue to exit. You learn a lot from these games. Brendan Smith was a standout on the fourth line. He created multiple chances and nearly pulled off a goal of the year candidate on a shorthanded bid. Since being shifted to forward, the veteran defenseman has acquitted himself well. He deserves to stay on the team. His hustle hasn’t gone unnoticed.

I also thought each young center competed well. Chytil recording an assist and working hard throughout. Lias Andersson noticeable on the forecheck and defensively responsible. Brett Howden putting himself in the right spot for a scoring chance off a Pens turnover forced by Ryan Strome. Lettieri turned in his best overall game as a Blueshirt.

In games like this, you have to pay close attention to the details. For all the criticism he gets, Marc Staal was missed. Fredrik Claesson was late on one of the goals. I’m not sure I’d bring him back.

I also liked how Brady Skjei and DeAngelo competed. Ditto for Kevin Shattenkirk. Gilmour had a rough game. Neal Pionk was okay.

The thing that bothered me was seeing some of the “fans” get up during play and leave. God forbid they wait for a stoppage. It’s just sad. Nobody cares. There’s no respect for anyone. Especially when you sit upstairs like we have for so long. These same people arrive late and just go to their seats before a whistle.

I know this will sound negative. But I’m not here to play games. I don’t want to go through another bad stretch like we did in the Dark Ages. If you aren’t old enough to know, you’re lucky. The period between 1997 thru 2004 was unbearable. It was embarrassing. It’s becoming like that again already and it’s only Year Two. I hope I’m wrong about next year.

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