A Pens win clinches top 3, 1 point clinches top wildcard for Rangers

Posted on March 31, 2017 by Derek

The Rangers take on the Penguins at the World’s Most Renovated Famous Arena tonight. It’s a match that doesn’t have much significance. The first of two against Pittsburgh at MSG with a rematch in the final regular season game on Sunday, April 9.

Both teams can clinch something. A Pens win guarantees either a 2nd or 3rd place finish in the Metro. One point for the Rangers and they are a lock for the top wildcard with a potential crossover first round against Montreal. The Rangers can still catch the Pens but it would become virtually impossible if they don’t win in regulation.

I know how this might sound. But I’d prefer to play Columbus. They are still young and inexperienced. Plus those games have been competitive. The Blue Jackets took the season series 3-2. Unfortunately, that’s a long shot.

The Pens are the walking wounded with Malkin, Letang and a host of others still out. They do get Jake Guentzel and Ron Hainsey back. Matt Murray starts against Henrik Lundqvist, who hopes to be better than his first two starts in which he allowed 10 goals in losses to the Ducks and Sharks. Not that it was all his fault.

The Rangers are resting captain Ryan McDonagh. The D looks like this. Don’t cry. It’s only a meaningless game:

Holden-Girardi 😛

Staal-Klein 😮

Skjei-Smith 😉

Because obviously, it hasn’t dawned on our coach that Skjei and Smith should be higher on the depth chart. Even better (well ya), J.T. Miller stays on the fourth line at least to start while Grabner and Fast remain with Kevin Hayes. Umm. Puempel is in over Vesey, who is benched following a bad game. At least the Vesey bashers are happy. Buchnevich is with Zibanejad and Nash. Stepan stays with Zucc and Kreider.

They have started already. So, I’ll get off now. Post forthcoming later on what should be a mess of a game. Especially vs Crosby.

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Patrik Elias officially retires

Posted on March 31, 2017 by hasan4978

This has been inevitable for a while with Devils legend Patrik Elias having not played at all in the ’16-17 season after barely playing in 2015-16, but that doesn’t make today’s announcement of Elias’s retirement any easier to take.  From a personal standpoint he’s been my favorite Devil for at least the last twelve years, partly because of his elite two-way game, his classy personality and partly for a personal reason I’ll get into later.  And just from a symbolic standpoint, Elias was truly the last link left to the great Devil teams from 1994-2012.  After the departures of Lou Lamoriello, Scott Stevens and Martin Brodeur from the organization in recent years, Elias leaving provides a finality to that era of Devil greatness.

Seeing highlights of Elias on the NHL Now show, I’m floored by the fact he ever wore a number other than #26, it doesn’t seem real seeing him with the #22 on his back scoring a soccer-style goal.  Yet it’ll be #26 that people will remember him forever in and the team’s already announced it will be raised to the rafters sometime next season.  In the meantime Elias will say goodbye to the fans this week during the Devils’ final homestand, dropping the puck before their game with the Flyers on Tuesday, attending an open practice Friday afternoon and finally doing ‘the final lap’ leading the team onto the ice for the final home game of the season next Saturday against the Isles.  Of course I’ll be at both the Tuesday and Saturday games but I’m happier that I was at the home finale last year, which turned out to be Patty’s final game and on my birthday no less.  Patty finished with a flourish putting up a goal and two assists with a +4 in just 14:27 of icetime in a rout of the then-cellar dwelling Maple Leafs (my, how things have shifted in a year).

While the fan in me wanted to see him play some more this year, part of me was hoping it was his last game cause it was a fitting way to go out, rising to the occasion again as Patty had done so many times throughout his career.  When you think of Elias you think of special moments – his two goals against the Flyers in Game 7 of the 2000 ECF as the Devils completed a 3-1 series comeback with a taut 2-1 win in the City of Brotherly Love.  Of course most fans will remember just as keenly Elias’s cross-ice pass to Jason Arnott in double overtime of Game 6 against the Stars just two weeks later to clinch the franchise’s second Stanley Cup.  More recently you think of Patty’s stealing the show in 2009 at the Rock on St. Patty’s Day fittingly enough, setting the all-time franchise scoring record on the night Brodeur set the all-time wins record for a goalie, and coming out for his second star wearing a goofy green Irish hat and doffing it to the crowd.

I’m sure there’ll be more Patty moments I remember when I read all the tributes and see all the videos I can watch of him over the next few days.  His deflection goal down on one knee in the 2003 Stanley Cup Finals was one of my favorites.  Even in his later years, he was still clutch getting a key early goal in the 2012 Stanley Cup Finals to help the Devils get up off the mat in Game 4 down 3-0 in the series.  Another favorite (goofy) Patty moment wasn’t even on one of his goals, but when he blatantly ducked and avoided the attempted embrace of Czech buddy Petr Sykora after an Adam Larsson goal to hug the young Swedish defender first.  Wearing Sykora’s jersey on the ice after the 2000 Stanley Cup win when Sykora was in the hospital after a dirty shot from Derian Hatcher. Obviously countless others I’ve overlooked at the moment.

As I said earlier, it’s for all those reasons Patty became my favorite Devil even as other big names remained, but also due to a purely accidental but nice connection I had with the man himself in 2006.  Unfortunately Elias was still on the sidelines in December that year with the hepatitis he contracted during the yearlong lockout that cost many players including Patrik a full year of his career.  During a tumultulous period for the Devils, coach Larry Robinson resigned and GM Lamoriello moved down to do double-duty as head coach.  I happened to be at Lou’s first game as coach – at Madison Square Garden – which the Devils won 3-1.  I also happened to be wearing a white Elias jersey at the game.

On my way home on the train a couple of fans saw my jersey and excitedly told me Patrik’s right in front of us.  At first I didn’t know what the heck they were talking about but eventually I figured out they were talking about #26 and when I looked at the seat in front sure enough he was there.  Eventually I went over to talk to him and he said nice jersey (of course) and I wound up sitting with him for a half hour till his stop in East Orange – I think.  It was a nice conversation though most of the details are lost to me at the present time, but one of the things I remember vividly was him asking me without prompting what I thought of the new arena in Newark and I said I liked it and he said he was looking forward to the new arena himself.  Given his FA status and the fact he took such an interest in Newark and what I thought, it was sort of a good sign to me that I didn’t really have to fear him leaving even though it sounded like he gave it serious consideration after the 2006 season.  Still, I’ll always believe he just used the speculation from other teams including the Rangers to squeeze a no-trade clause out of Lou.  After all, Elias if nothing else was a very cerebral, smart person and player.

Now that Elias’s career is offically over the clock can start retroactively on the wait for him to be voted into the Hall of Fame.  Will he make it in first ballot?  I don’t know but by all rights he should.  Yes his overall stats aren’t overwhelming compared to some other HOF’ers (1240 GP, 408 goals and 1025 points), but when you factor in the majority of his career was spent in the so-called dead puck era before that aformentioned 2004-05 lockout – and with the Devils themselves where stats frequently got suppressed for the good of the team, his numbers are far more impressive on that curve.  As former GM Lamoriello said on NHL Now talking about Patty, he was the type of player you wanted in all situations – up a goal late, down a goal late, power play, PK, even-strength.  That kind of excellence it’s hard to quantify in stats but it was there for anyone watching those great Devil teams of that era.  His playoff numbers were just as steady with 45 goals and 80 assists in 162 career playoff games.

As a person Elias was also a clear HOF’er dealing with anything that could be thrown his way with grace and poise.  Early in his career he butted heads with hard-line coaches like Jacques Lemaire and Pat Burns but was always able to respect and learn from them.  Patty might be too classy to say any different about Brent Sutter – who unfairly took away the C on his jersey after a meh year in 2006-07 wearing it – but I still look on that as an unneccesary dark moment in franchise history that maybe only Patty could have handled as well as he did.  And after the hepatitis that could have been career threatening, Elias came back to play at an MVP level with an unreal 61 points in 47 games combined between the regular season and playoffs – granted that was the live puck post-lockout year where a lot of screwy offensive numbers happened, but still impressive.

Clearly Elias preferred the coaches that just left him alone and let him be himself – Robbie Ftorek who helped form the so-called A-line with Elias-Arnott-Sykora that terrorized the NHL for three seasons, Larry Robinson under whom Patty had his best season ever (96 points and a +45 in 2000-01 playing only 18:44 a game) and in later years Pete DeBoer, under whom Elias had his last top-shelf season with 78 points in 81 games, during a year where the Devils made a surprise run to the Stanley Cup Finals.  Elias was a key cog on many winning teams, making the playoffs his first twelve seasons in the league and appearing in four Stanley Cup Finals during his illustrious career, winning in 2000 and 2003.

Before Elias can make a stop in Toronto for the HHoF, there’ll be a series of short goodbyes next week followed by a long celebration of his career next season.  I’ve never come close to tears for any of the previous retirement ceremonies but I might on this one.  Both because of who Patty is and because he has such a knack of balancing out being serious when the occasion calls for it and at the same time throwing in a deadpan bit of humor to the moment.  Here’s to you #26!

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Ugly first period dooms fading Islanders

Posted on March 31, 2017 by Derek
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A miserable first period was highlighted by two Gordie Howe hat tricks including one by Flyers power forward Wayne Simmonds, who beat Anders Lee in what amounted to another costly loss for the Islanders. AP Photo via Getty Images

They had played so well since interim coach Doug Weight took over. It looked like the Islanders would make the playoffs for a second consecutive year, rallying around Weight. Since beating the Rangers and Penguins last week, it’s been a nightmare. An ugly first period in a must win game against the Flyers resulted in a third consecutive loss by a count of 6-3 in the City of Brotherly Love.

Home defeats to competitor Boston (2-1) and the out of conference Predators (3-1) put them in this precarious position. Not long ago, the Islanders controlled their own destiny. But costly losses on home ice (0-4-1) since returning from a successful nine-game road trip in which they went 5-3-1 have put them on the ledge. With six games remaining, they now find themselves six behind the Bruins for the second wildcard. In the mean time, the red hot Canes and Lightning have passed them. Both winners to stay within striking distance.

Combined with only scoring two goals in six periods at Barclays Center, a mind boggling first really hurt the Isles. For some reason, they weren’t ready to play. Facing a team they last handled in the same building over a month ago, they allowed five goals to the Flyers in the opening 20 minutes. It was so bad, both Dale Weise and Wayne Simmonds each recorded Gordie Howe hat tricks in the same period. That hadn’t happened since 1985. In fact, Weise’s Gordie Howe hat trick was the fastest ever recorded. He scored, assisted and fought in the first 8:28.

Goals from Weise, Sean Couturier and Radko Gudas chased Islanders starter Thomas Greiss. He was faultless after allowing three goals on eight shots. Next, Travis Hamonic tried to provide a spark by taking on Weise. It was a gutsy move by the defenseman who’s had a tough season. But it didn’t work.

Instead, Jordan Weal rudely greeted Jaroslav Halak by finishing in front on a pass from Simmonds when he was left wide open. Weal literally had all day to stand unguarded before staying hot with his seventh from Simmonds and Valtteri Filppula. The goal came less than a minute after Hamonic’s fight.

It got even worse when Simmonds had a Shayne Gostisbehere shot go off him and Johnny Boychuk for an odd goal which gave the gritty power forward 30 for the season. The goal was so weird, a clearly in pain Simmonds couldn’t even celebrate with teammates. But a few minutes later, he was okay to throw down with Anders Lee in an entertaining scrap he won with seven seconds remaining in the period.

Predictably, the Flyers sat back while the Islanders fought hard. They out-shot the Flyers 22-3 in a lopsided second spent almost exclusively in the Philadelphia zone. It was about as dominant as you can get. But the Isles were only able to get one goal with Cal Clutterbuck providing it on a feed from Stephen Gionta. They weren’t closer due to Steve Mason, who finished with 38 saves.

Goals from Jason Chimera (18th) and Andrew Ladd (21st with 3:58 left) in the third made it interesting. But it wasn’t enough. Filpulla scored into a vacated net with 1:41 remaining from Simmonds- giving him a Gordie Howe hat trick and another assist. The Flyers’ best player by far. Don’t believe me? Go look at Claude Giroux or Jakob Voracek in the second half.  Talk about overpaid. If the Flyers do make a change, they should look to dump one or both those contracts. Good luck. This also happened:

Philly actually tied the Islanders in points with 82. The Isles remain ahead by virtue of one extra game remaining and three more ROW. None of that matters for either unless they basically run the table and get lots of help. It will take a miracle for the Islanders to make it.

The Islanders remaining six games:

Fri 3/31 Devils

Sun 4/2 vs Sabres

Tue 4/4 vs Predators

Thu 4/6 vs Hurricanes

Sat 4/8 vs Devils

Sun 4/9 Senators

Notes: In a what the heck does it even matter stat, the Isles out-attempted the Flyers 80-46. … Flyers blocked 27 shots with four each from Brandon Manning and Ivan Provorov. The Isles only blocked 12. … John Tavares had no points and went minus-two with three shots, five attempts in 29 shifts (21:17). The Islanders captain has no points in the last two with a minus-four. Ugly. … In relief Halak stopped 19 of 21. His second appearance since returning on loan from Bridgeport. He had a feel good shootout win at Pittsburgh last Friday. Had they recalled him sooner, maybe the Isles are higher in the standings.

Gif of Game: Simmonds not celebrating with teammates after the odd goal that hit him:

Hamonic challenges and takes on Weise:

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Rangers make playoffs, lose 5-4 to Sharks in overtime

Posted on March 29, 2017 by Derek
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Brent “Caveman” Burns ripped home his 28th goal for a new Sharks’ record for a defenseman on a power play in a wild 5-4 overtime win over the Rangers who still clinched the playoffs. AP Photo via Getty Images courtesy NHL PR.

With one point earned in a wild and crazy 5-4 overtime loss to the Sharks, the Rangers made the playoffs for a seventh straight year. While Sam Rosen and Joe Micheletti propped that up as only they can for MSG with the Knicks a pathetic mess, there wasn’t much cause for celebration.

Any rational Blueshirt fan who watches this team on a regular basis knows why. This is the most befuddling team on the verge of 100 points I’ve ever seen. At times, they can play up to their potential. At others, they can be exasperating to watch. The second period was awful. Despite getting badly outplayed, they came away 1-1 with a Derek Stepan power play goal with 23 seconds left in the period spurring a third period comeback.

The problem remains the same. For long stretches, the Rangers can be dominated in their end by quality teams. The Sharks had lost six in a row in awful fashion. They had their way in the second doubling up the Rangers in shots 14-7 while controlling puck possession and attack time. I am not a big advocate of Corsi. But I bet if we looked it up for the second, it would be ugly. The Sharks turned Henrik Lundqvist’s net into a shooting gallery. That he somehow escaped with only one goal allowed was a miracle.

Of course, the Rangers came back with a strong third getting the next two goals from Jesper Fast (tip in) and Alain Vigneault’s whipping boy J.T. Miller (power play goal). In response to being demoted to the fourth line due to a poor game in the loss to Anaheim, Miller scored twice and was the team’s best forward. Of course he did. He always responds when Vigneault punishes him because he has character. Honestly, Miller should’ve had his first career hat trick. He came close a couple of times. If only he had gotten it before the predictable collapse.

Supposedly, the Rangers are a good third period team. Sure. If you go by the statistics, it says so. But the eye tells us a different story. They wilted at home in an ugly one-goal loss to the Islanders, who haven’t won since and are on the verge of a collapse. They then were brutal at Anaheim getting outscored 3-0. For an encore after controlling most of the third, they blew the lead thanks in large part to declining defenseman Nick Holden.  His struggles are being ignored by Vigneault. He was on his back as noted sniper Chris Tierney put home his second of the game with 2:15 left.

Of course, Marc Staal was out too. Holden was out of the play completely as Tierney put in a rebound past Lundqvist to force overtime. At what point does the coach finally acknowledge Holden’s struggles and scratch him? Somehow, he has stuck with him and Staal on a mind boggling second pair. If they were a third pair, it would be tolerable. Brady Skjei and Brendan Smith should be the second pair. They are much better. Skjei had another huge game recording three assists as he’s nearing the 40-point mark for a rookie defenseman. He plays with the poise of a veteran.

At this point, I would replace Holden with either Adam Clendening or the injury riddled Kevin Klein, who after one game back, was out with back spasms. It’s a shame what’s happened to him. At least if they reinsert Clendening, he’s a puck possession guy who can work well with Staal and ease the transition. I’m not counting on it.

So, were there any positives? For starters, Miller tallied twice for numbers 21 and 22. Kevin Hayes was reignited registering a pair of assists on nice set ups that led to Fast’s redirect of a Skjei point shot and Miller’s PPG off a wonderful pass from Skjei. When Hayes is engaged, the team is much better. Ditto for Miller, who when he produces is a dangerous offensive player. He nearly set up Michael Grabner in the three-on-three with a brilliant bank lead pass only to see a snake bit Grabner stopped by Martin Jones. Grabner can’t buy a goal. He certainly had his chances getting six shots including a couple shorthanded only to be denied. The effort is unquestioned. The Rangers need him to snap out of it.

Another positive was Stepan scoring for a third consecutive game. He’s finally starting to catch some breaks. He’s putting himself in the right spots and getting rewarded. Leading scorer Mats Zuccarello set him up perfectly on a diagonal feed across the crease for a tap in. When Stepan plays with Zuccarello and Chris Kreider, good things happen. For a second consecutive game, Kreider was flying. He nearly had a clean breakaway but was stopped by Justin Braun, who made the defensive play of the game not taking a penalty.

This was a weird game. It had to be when you have two slumping teams who are both in the playoffs. As fate would have it, my goalie hiccups continued. In a head to head match-up, Lundqvist and Jones managed to allow nine combined goals on 63 shots. Yikes. That’s not good for the GAA or save percentage. But I’ll take any win I can get right now. My team is in a hell of a drag race with three other teams. So yeah.

Before you could even get settled in, the Rangers saw their collective shadow allowing another first goal to someone. This time, it was Jannik Hansen, who got his first goal as a Shark 1:44 in. It resulted in this funny tweet from a loyal Blueshirt fan:

https://twitter.com/swagelin/status/846915085650006020

What can you say? She definitely sums up how we feel. That’s what it’s like rooting for our team. They can frustrate you and impress you during the same game. Jekyll & Hyde. That’s your Broadway Blueshirts.

Of course, Miller tied it while on the fourth line on an assist from Matt Puempel (remember me?). You really have to ask why Pavel Buchnevich was scratched. Is it the back? Or is this just another glaring example of Vigneault putting the handcuffs on a kid? Puempel took one shift in the third. So did Oscar Lindberg. Jimmy Vesey got none.  I’m not sure what they did to deserve that. But AV shortened the bench and it worked. I still don’t like it. You’re telling me he still can’t trust Lindberg or Vesey. It wouldn’t have hurt to have Lindberg out protecting a one-goal lead. Not this coach. #NotMyCoach

The Rangers gave up another shorthanded goal. This time, it was Melker Karlsson who fooled Lundqvist on a clear shot. It’s true that Kreider didn’t get back while a tired Miller at least tried to. They took away the pass and gave Karlsson the shot. There’s no explanation for Lundqvist allowing it. You’d like to see more hustle from Kreider. But it’s a bad goal any way you slice it. Chalk it up to rust. So far in two games, Lundqvist has allowed 10 goals 68 shots. Not that it’s entirely his fault. Have you seen the way they play in front of him? At times, it’s like a Chinese fire drill.

Lundqvist did come back to make some big saves to give his team a chance. One huge one with help from a diving Lindberg in front prior to Stepan’s power play tally that made it a one-goal deficit headed to the third. When the regular season finishes up, it will be statistically Lundqvist’s worst year. None of that will mean a thing if he turns it up in the expected first round Original Six match-up against the Canadiens. The Rangers will be underdogs. We’ll see what happens.

They’re going to have to be a lot better than this. It’s very messy right now. There’s just too many deficiencies which are problematic. Too much inconsistency shift to shift. They can’t lock down a game in the third anymore. We don’t know what Vigneault’s plan is with the lineup for the postseason. The D particularly. The mysterious Buchnevich scratches. The penalty kill which of course gave up a power play game-winner to Brent “Caveman” Burns on a 4-on-3 set up by you guessed it. A Holden penalty (holding the stick). How appropriate.

It was Burns’ 28th goal and ended a 16-game drought. He no longer is a lock to win the Norris. Erik Karlsson has basically caught him and has had a much better defensive year on the Senators. Victor Hedman is the third candidate with over 50 assists on the Lightning. Two Swedes and a Canadian for the top defenseman. Joe Pavelski made the wonderful pass with the two switching places and Burns’ wicked one-timer easily beating Lundqvist far side at 3:10 of OT.

Honestly, the 3-on-3 is a gimmick. It’s fun to watch. But it’s not real hockey. And when you take an undisciplined penalty, you’re usually gonna get beat. That was after Miller’s bank pass for Grabner which saw him stoned by Jones. Jones is a good goalie. But his save percentage has taken a beating. Save percentage. A category my team has really struggled in.

That’s gonna do it for this recap. At the end of the day, it’s just another game. The Rangers were always going to make it. With the Bruins and Maple Leafs winning big games, they really have put the Islanders on the pressure cooker. The Isles lost two bad games in a row. They’re now in trouble. The Hurricanes were winners again. They’ve tied the Isles in points with 82. Each has seven games left but trail second wildcard Boston by four with the Bruins holding the first tiebreaker 38 ROW. The Isles have 33 and the Canes 32. The Lightning have 83 points with 33 ROW and seven remaining. These teams need help. They have to outpoint the Bruins, who have six left or hope Toronto remembers they’re not supposed to make it.

It was a huge night for two reasons. With Boston and Toronto winning combined with Carolina defeating Detroit in a rematch following a scary moment when Eddie Lack was taken off on a stretcher following Andreas Athanasiou’s overtime winner in which his leg collided with the Canes goalie as both teams stood in unison, the Red Wings were eliminated from the playoffs. After 26 straight years making it, they will not be in the postseason. The streak began in 1990-91 when I was a freshman in high school. It ended in 2015-16 before I turned 40. From the glory days of riding the S74 to Staten Island Tech collecting Upper Deck cards pulling a Fedorov rookie to the crazy social media Twitter/Facebook and I-Pad craze. Things sure have changed. One thing remains the same. The class shown by hockey players:

So The Streak ends. But it comes at a good time for Detroit who moves into a brand new arena in 2017-18. The Joe will close. It had so many great moments producing some of the game’s best. Nobody better than Mr. Hockey. God bless Gordie Howe. Those three Stanley Cups with the final one in ’02 having nine Hall of Famers (Fedorov, Yzerman, Lidstrom, Robitaille, Chelios, Hasek, Larionov, Shanahan, Hull). God bless Mike Ilitch. The Red Wings also won one more time in 2008 with future Hall of Famer Pavel Datsyuk. I’m not sure Henrik Zetterberg has enough to make it. But I certainly enjoy seeing him play. His next point will be number 900. He’s seven games away from 1,000 for his career. Actually, Zetterberg’s numbers are similar to Datsyuk, who wound up with 918 in 953 games before returning home to Russia to play in the KHL. Maybe he will make it. I hope they both get in.

I want to say one other thing. Congratulations to the Edmonton Oilers on making the playoffs. It will be their first postseason since 2006 when they made a great run all the way to the Stanley Cup Final pushing Carolina seven before losing. A team that had Chris Pronger. Led by Hart candidate Connor McDavid– the league’s leading scorer who now has 27 goals with an NHL-leading 62 assists for 89 points- the Oilers being back in is great. Before the season, I picked McDavid to win the Art Ross and Hart. We’ll see if he beats out Crosby.

Kudos to Cam Talbot on doing an awesome job for Edmonton in net. In on his second season as a starter, he’s up to 38 wins and is tied for second in shutouts (7) trailing last year’s Vezina winner Braden Holtby, who won his 40th in a Caps’ 5-4 overtime win over the Wild. Talbot has done more with less and should be up for the award with Holtby and Sergei Bobrovsky, who I believe deserves to win his second Vezina. You can’t beat Bobrovsky’s numbers (41 W, 1.97 GAA, .935 save percentage, 7 SHO).

It’s gonna be great to see Edmonton and Calgary back in the playoffs. With the Kings basically done, the Flames are getting in along with the Preds and Blues. The Western playoffs should be very exciting and could prove unpredictable with Minnesota’s struggles and the Blackhawks coming back to earth. Right now, Anaheim is playing the best hockey. They won again and now lead the Pacific with 95 points. Two up on San Jose and Edmonton for the division. San Jose has the first tiebreaker with 41 ROW.

There was also this. Apparently, a tweet of mine made MSG’s postgame. Kudos to my favorite Rangers beat writer Rick Carpiniello for the hot tip:

I would guess it was this tweet on the shorthanded goal Lundqvist allowed in which I said it was one he would want back but also noted the lack of hustle back which hurt.

I didn’t even know because I went up to recap the game and also put up some stuff on the playoff races, the Red Wings streak ending and the Oilers and Cam. That’s pretty cool. I’ll take it. And with that, good night. 😉

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Ducks quack the Rangers in third period outburst 6-3

Posted on March 27, 2017 by Derek
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Ryan Getzlaf recorded his first four assist game of the season highlighting a Ducks 6-3 quacking of the Rangers in a game Gordon Bombay would’ve been proud of. AP Photo via Getty Images courtesy Anaheim Ducks.

Quack. Quack. Quack. Mr. Ducksworth. Oh how I miss those fun quirky days of The Mighty Ducks. That’s how hockey came to Anaheim. It’s almost like they want to forget that part of their history. They’re now the Ducks. But they’ll always be the Mighty Ducks to me or any hockey fans who have seen the Disney movie starring Emilio Estevez and Joshua Jackson. With coach Gordon Bombay telling Charlie Conway to take your best shot on the triple deke he’s been practicing against the evil Hawks.

If only the Rangers could borrow that Hollywood movie script after tonight’s debacle. They fell to the real NHL Ducks 6-3 at The Pond. Yes. That’s what I still refer to it. Not after a company that makes my car even though I love Honda. They were brutally terrible in a ugly loss. It was the second game of a back-to-back in California. But this was self inflicted.

In what was billed as Henrik Lundqvist’s return, the Rangers rolled out the welcoming mat for their number one goaltender by having a baker’s dozen of turnovers and blown assignments. This was bad. Lundqvist allowed five goals on 33 shots. None of what I would consider bad. He must’ve felt like going back on vacation. They didn’t treat Prince Raanta this way.

You have to wonder why they play fundamentally poorer in front of Lundqvist. If it continues, maybe they should seriously consider Raanta in Montreal when the first round starts. That’s assuming they remain in the first wildcard and don’t go in the tank completely. They need two points to guarantee the playoffs. That’s a certainty. Outside of that, I have no clue how far they’ll go with puzzling performances like this and the incomplete against the Islanders. Those are playoff caliber teams. Even if they don’t make it, the Islanders play hard and don’t mail it in.

There won’t be any blame game at Dan Girardi or Tanner Glass. Alain Vigneault ended that narrative by resting Girardi in the second game and reinserting Kevin Klein. He got his turn with Ryan McDonagh. He didn’t make any glaring mistakes. So, that’s a plus. He got over 20 minutes including 1:36 shorthanded in 25 shifts going even. However, both Klein and McDonagh were out for a Ducks power play goal from that jerk Ryan Kesler. But it was a nice deflection from distance that somehow found the back of the net tying the game at two in the first period. They reviewed it for a high stick but it looked like Kesler’s stick was crossbar height which made it a good goal.

The Ranger special teams were another sore spot. They allowed a power play goal in three chances to a bad Anaheim man-advantage and gave up a shorthanded goal to known offensive defenseman Josh Manson. The Hansons would be proud. So would father and former NHLer Dave.

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There also was a hellacious third period in which the Ducks dominated outscoring the Rangers 3-0. That included a odd go-ahead goal from iron man Andrew Cogliano off a Kesler face-off in which he went forward getting the shot on goal to surprise Lundqvist. Apparently it also fazed Brendan Smith and Mats Zuccarello, who didn’t bother to pick up Cogliano. Kesler beat Derek Stepan with the odd play resulting in a bizarre game-winner.

A couple of minutes later, Ryan Getzlaf picked the pocket of Michael Grabner by lifting his stick. The Ducks captain went the other way and helped set up a back breaking goal from Patrick Eaves. Getzlaf absolutely dominated recording four assists. He has been on fire lately. After a bad first half, the Anaheim captain is showing why he’s still a dangerous player. The four assists give him 52 on the season. In case you’re wondering, those 52 helpers are three less than Rangers scoring leader Mats Zuccarello (55). I was wrong about Getzlaf. He’s still got it. The pass he made to Manson for the shorthanded goal was a beauty.

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Nick Ritchie added an empty netter with 1:38 to go. It made a winner of Jonathan Bernier. The former Leaf made 25 saves to pick up another victory. Given the current state of my goalies who are imploding at the wrong time, I regret not making that move. Lundqvist is now in the same company as Martin Jones and Corey Crawford. My team went from first to fourth in less than a week. So much for finishing in the money.

So, was there anything positive to take? Well, the Rangers started okay. You had Smith go back at Corey Perry eventually dropping the gloves in an entertaining scrap. Perry got the extra penalty for holding the stick. But the power play didn’t capitalize. I really like how Smith plays. He is engaged emotionally and physically. A welcome change from an otherwise weak blue line that rarely goes back at opponents. Smith also got a phantom trip which led to Kesler’s power play goal. The kind of weak call that is agonizing in a league where programmed refs ignore blatant slashes, cross checks, elbows and spears from untouchable superstars.

Rick Nash continued his hot play scoring in a fourth consecutive game. He was able to beat Bernier five-hole for his 22nd from Marc Staal and Mika Zibanejad. Staal made a great read following killing off a Nash penalty. He led Nash with a perfect outlet off the side boards that allowed the speedy power forward to break in and get off a seeing eye shot that went through Bernier for the first goal of the game. It’s great to see Nash getting rewarded. This is encouraging moving forward.

The lead was short lived. It only took 3:01 later for the Ducks to answer back. Eaves scored the first of two when he was able to beat Nick Holden to a rebound of a Cam Fowler one-timer for his career best 26th. At one point, Eaves played under his father Mike at the 2004 World Juniors helping Team USA win their first ever gold medal at the IIHF Under 20 tournament in Finland. Now, he’s having his best season upping his goal total to 27 with the Stars and now Ducks following a trade. I always liked him.

With the game knotted, Stepan scored for a second straight night when he was the recipient of a wonderful cross-ice feed from USA buddy Chris Kreider for his 15th at 14:32. The top line took full advantage of a Ducks turnover with Zuccarello and Kreider combining to set up Stepan for the goal of the night from a Rangers perspective. Here’s how it sounded on MSG from Kenny Albert and Joe Micheletti:

It really was a well constructed play following the Manson turnover. It’s why I questioned Alain Vigneault breaking up Stepan, Kreider and Zuccarello a couple of months ago. It never made any sense. That cohesive trio carried the team for a month when Zibanejad was out with a broken leg. Not surprisingly, Stepan’s starting to score again since they were put back together. Zuccarello leads the team in scoring. Kreider had his most assertive game in a while. He was dangerous throughout using his game breaking speed to get four shots on goal and some high quality chances. They were easily the best offensive line but wound up on the minus ledger going a combined minus-five. They probably were caught on for the empty net goal. Plus that Kesler odd draw resulting in Cogliano’s winner. The other goal was the shorthanded one.

The game got away from them after Kesler’s power play redirect. He was his ornery self picking on Zuccarello, who jawed with him post-whistle. Zuccarello also went for a big hit on Kesler but missed leading to a dangerous Ducks chance which Lundqvist bailed him out on with a huge save. The sad part about the game was Anaheim got these kind of chances most of the night. The defense was much worse than Saturday. They left too many holes. It could’ve easily been 7 or 8 goals.

Following Getzlaf’s great pass on Manson’s shorty, rookie Brady Skjei continued his amazing play by converting on a one-timer for a nice birthday gift off a nice feed from Jimmy Vesey. Thinking back to how the Ducks got that shorthanded goal, it was Zibanejad’s fault entirely. He made a cute play forcing a pass that McDonagh had no chance on. He also was lazy on the back check not picking up Manson.

Zibanejad is a puzzling player. He can make brain farts like that or miss open shots wide or make good reads like the one that led to Skjei’s tying goal making it 3-3 with less than seven minutes remaining in the second. He recorded two assists. So, he’s back to putting up points. But the consistency is still lacking. At least he’s getting back on track. But sometimes, he makes head scratching plays. Is this why Ottawa dumped him on us for Derick Brassard?

Speaking of puzzling, has anyone seen the guy who wears number 13 on the Rangers lately? Kevin Hayes could be found on the back of a milk carton. I have no idea what’s going on. But even with J.T. Miller back on his line with Michael Grabner, Hayes isn’t doing anything. While Miller and Grabner are involved, Hayes has disappeared. Linda Cohn called him out on the post game saying that he played like he should be at the top of the Rangers unprotected list for the expansion draft. She knows of what she speaks. We haven’t found Hayes. But here he is!

Kevin Hayes

All kidding aside, the Rangers need him to be much better. That third line was so good. Without Hayes performing, it can’t get back to being an x-factor. They will need to be better once the first round match-up starts at Montreal. See how I’ve basically given up on Ottawa. They lost three meetings to the Canadiens. I don’t see them winning that division.

The real frustrating part is the Rangers actually had eight shots in that perplexing third. The Ducks scored three times on nine shots. Two which came 2:04 apart basically taking the Rangers out of the game. They seemed to be skating aimlessly. It wasn’t a lack of try. They just were discombobulated.

Well, they do get a day off before visiting the woeful Sharks. Losers of six in a row to suddenly fall behind the Ducks for first in the Pacific, they have killed my fantasy team. Martin Jones was left in for all seven goals by Dee Be Dah. He really does look like Andy Kaufman. I now have a new reason to hate Pete DeBoer.

Dee Bee Dah

Have you ever seen a more awkward photo than DeBoer and Taylor Stevens chest? Just saying. Imagine if Kaufman were alive. Insert dirty boob joke. There was nobody better than Latka Gravas of Taxi.

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Stepan remains a constant for Blueshirts

Posted on March 26, 2017 by Derek

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When one takes a look at Derek Stepan, they immediately point to the salary he makes. In his seventh year for the Rangers, the 26-year old center remains a consistent performer. The 26-year old center ranks fifth in scoring from the 2008 Draft class with 355 points. It’s easy to forget that he was taken with the 51st overall pick in the second round. Unlike the four players ahead of him including Lightning first overall selection Steven Stamkos, he wasn’t a first round pick.

The Hastings, Minnesota native honed his skills at the University of Wisconsin for two years before entering the NHL as a 20-year old rookie in 2010-11. He flourished under demanding coach John Tortorella. From the very start when he had a stunning NHL debut recording a hat trick in a win at Buffalo, Stepan proved he was a reliable player who could be counted on. Playing all 82 games his rookie year, he tallied 21 goals and 24 assists for 45 points. A total that ranked fourth on the team helping reach the playoffs after missing it on the final day of the previous season.

Playing in the second season of a six-year $38.5 million contract that pays him an average of $6.5 million per year, the ’16-17 season has been a challenging one for the always accountable and well spoken alternate captain. Following a strong stretch between December and the first part of January in which he totaled 22 points (8-14-22) over 21 games, he went into a big scoring slump. After recording two goals and a helper in a 7-6 home loss to Dallas on Jan. 17, he endured the longest goal drought of his career- going 23 games without one before finally ending it in a 4-1 win over the Red Wings on Mar. 12.

Through it all, Stepan remained positive. He was at his locker available to reporters. One of the team leaders, he’s spoken at length about the team’s home struggles. They haven’t won at MSG since Feb. 19 when they defeated the Caps 2-1. Coming off another Garden disappointment in a frustrating 3-2 loss to the Islanders due to a bad penalty kill, Stepan discussed at length the challenge they faced. He pointed towards winning the battle of special teams and taking a more simple approach like they do on the road. It helps explain why they enter tonight’s match at Anaheim an NHL best 27-9-1 away from home.

Even while continuing to struggle finishing, a goal in a 3-0 shutout over the Kings gave him his fifth 50-point season of his career. Stepan joins an exclusive list that includes Hall of Famers Brian Leetch and Mark Messier along with fan favorite Adam Graves. Somehow in a tough stretch that’s seen him total 13 points (2-11-13) since the All-Star break (26 games), Stepan still ranks third in team scoring with 50 points (14-36-50). Two behind J.T. Miller (52) and four behind linemate Mats Zuccarello (54).

Stepan will be the first to tell you that he has to be better from a production standpoint. He’s never stopped shooting the puck running into some bad luck hitting goalposts. The effort has been there for the smart two-way pivot who is trusted by the coaching staff to play in any situation. He leads the team in shots with 193. But his shooting percentage of 7.3 percent would be a career low.

Considering that he’s only hit 20 goals twice including last season when he put up a career high 22 despite missing 10 games, Stepan’s totals aren’t far off. His 36 assists are four off his career best set in ’13-14 during the team’s first appearance in the Stanley Cup Final in 20 years. The goals are a little low but he’s never been a great finisher. With him, it’s not always about goals or assists. But rather effort. He never stops working. That’s why he is a good penalty killer who’s totaled seven shorthanded goals in his career.

There’s been some heated debate about what his future holds. Should Rangers general manager Jeff Gorton consider trading Stepan before his no-movement clause kicks in this summer? If he does, who replaces Stepan? From a leadership aspect, maybe Miller who has been instrumental in the cohesive third line centered by Kevin Hayes with leading goalscorer Michael Grabner. But Miller is best suited as a wing where he can use his size and physicality to win battles and make plays.

For as good a first half as Hayes had, he’s struggled with consistency recently. He has one assist in the past seven games. Even Miller is without a point over four. Moved off the third line to a second unit with Mika Zibanejad and Rick Nash, he fits in better with Hayes and Grabner who can take advantage of favorable match-ups.

Zibanejad has picked it up with three assists in the last two games. The ex-Senator remains a puzzle. Acquired for clutch playoff performer Derick Brassard and a second round pick which became defenseman Brendan Smith, the 23-year old right pivot has a lot of ability. It’s all about harnessing it. He hasn’t been consistent since returning from a broken leg. With 11 goals and 20 assists in 49 contests, Zibanejad will be a key to the team’s success in mid-April. He has to prove himself in the postseason. He’s restricted this summer and due to a raise.

Breaking it down, the Rangers’ most effective center has been Oscar Lindberg. A candidate who could be traded due to the expansion draft, it would hurt if they couldn’t keep him. The second-year Swede has had a strong second half. The 25-year old has centered a good fourth line. Whether it’s playing with kids Pavel Buchnevich and Jimmy Vesey or currently Buchnevich and Jesper Fast, Lindberg has been a key contributor posting 12 points (6-6-12) since Feb. 7.

That includes a recent stretch prior to last night where he went 2-2-4 with a plus-four rating in three games. A Group II this summer along with Fast, it would be nice to hang onto him. Lindberg gives the Rangers four lines. He also wins face-offs. Along with Zibanejad, he’s over 50.0 percent for the season.

Back to the original topic. Subtracting Stepan would be tough. While I get the argument for it due to his cap hit and NMC, he’s not easily replaceable. Even if he’s not a number one center, he remains the Rangers’ best. Unless the plan is to shift Miller, who should get a significant raise in 2018, it’s hard to assess the team’s center depth without Stepan. A player who has good chemistry with USA buddy Chris Kreider, Zuccarello and captain Ryan McDonagh. Just in case you forgot, here’s a friendly reminder:

In Game 5 of the second round series against the Caps in the 2015 NHL Playoffs, the Rangers were up against it. They hadn’t solved Braden Holtby all night. I was lucky enough to be there with my family in our seats up top in 419. I uttered to my brother, “They need a miracle.”

Sure enough, off a rush Stepan found Kreider open for the game-tying goal with 1:41 left in regulation. It was then in overtime facing elimination, Stepan took a Fast feed and dropped the puck for McDonagh’s emotional OT winner sending the series back to Washington. After holding off the Caps late to get the series back to MSG, an epic goalie battle between Holtby and Henrik Lundqvist resulted in a great series needing sudden death to decide. It was Stepan who won it with this rebound off a face-off win:

Might I add that it was the rebound of a Dan Girardi shot? The thing about this team is they have a very likable core who have been through the wars. However, if part of that core has to go if they suffer an early elimination for a second straight Spring, so be it.

When it comes to Stepan, it’s never about effort. He is an honest player who plays both ends. What he lacks for in talent and face-off capability, he makes up for in hockey IQ. It’s why I remain iffy on whether they should move him in the off-season. It will probably depend on what happens with the team in the playoffs.

Can they go through the Canadiens and another potential Atlantic opponent to reach a fourth Conference Final with essentially the same group? That remains to be seen. Lundqvist returns tonight. He has the last few games to get ready.

If they do defy the odds and make a run, you better believe Stepan will be in the middle of it. He tends to Step up in big moments. For now, instead of killing him for what he isn’t, Ranger fans should embrace him for what he is. The team’s most consistent forward since Messier, Leetch and Graves were around in the glory days. The same for Rick Nash, who remains a constant in all three zones.

Let’s enjoy the rest of it.

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Prince Raanta blanks the Kings in Rangers 3-0 shutout

Posted on March 26, 2017 by Derek
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Prince Raanta: Antti Raanta dons the Broadway Hat after making 30 saves for his fourth shutout of the season in a Rangers’ 3-0 win over the Kings. AP Photo via Getty Images courtesy NYRangers.

If Henrik Lundqvist is King Henrik, then Antti Raanta is Prince Raanta. That’s what I’ve been calling him lately. All he does is play well in net. With Lundqvist missing another game, Raanta made his eighth consecutive start and pitched his career best fourth shutout of the season. He blanked the Kings 3-0 to win a career best 16th game.

It’s Raanta who has two more shutouts than Lundqvist this season. It’s also the Fresh Finnish Prince who has a better goals-against-average and save percentage. Where would this team be without him? My guess is they’d be struggling just to make it fighting among the Bruins, Islanders, Lightning and even the resurgent Hurricanes <gasp>.

When the Steven McDonald Award is presented in April, Raanta will be one of the prime candidates. Along with J.T. Miller and Michael Grabner, the popular backup goalie is among the favorites to win the Extra Effort Award.

In a game they were out-shot 30-20 and out-attempted 70-41, it didn’t matter. The Rangers do what they always seem to do. Win on the road. Win when giving up more shots. It’s why I don’t put much stock in Corsi. This team never does anything the easy way. If they did, they’d win more consistently at home and win when outplaying opponents which means out-shooting them. It’s not in their DNA.

This game marked the return of Dan Girardi. After missing 12 games with a bad ankle, he was back on the top pair with sidekick Ryan McDonagh. The veteran right defenseman showed some rust as expected. He had three giveaways but got stronger in a steadier third period in which the Black & Blueshirt sacrificed his body to block a pair of shots while on the penalty kill. He also took a hit along the boards to make a play that led to Rick Nash’s empty netter which sealed it. That effort rewarded him with an assist and plus-one in 20:03.

There were moments where Girardi and McDonagh were pinned in for long stretches. One such instance occurred during the second period when they and the top line couldn’t get the puck out against the Jeff Carter line. Mats Zuccarello made a diving block and clear but the Kings got it back in forcing Girardi and McDonagh to stay out for about two straight minutes. They bent but didn’t break with Raanta making one key stop to get a stoppage.

But in a game that brought them two points closer to another playoff berth, the Rangers were opportunistic. They were able to combat the Kings’ heavy forecheck with speed and skill. One such play occurred when Zuccarello was able to set up Brendan Smith for a shot that rebounded out to Derek Stepan, who put it home for his 14th at 13:02. It had to feel especially good for Stepan, who leads the team in shots (193) but has had no luck. If it’s any consolation, Zuccarello paces the team in scoring with 54 points and ranks second in shots (186). He has 15 goals but leads the club with 39 assists including a pair tonight to overtake J.T. Miller for the team lead in scoring.

Speaking of Miller, he was reunited with Kevin Hayes and Michael Grabner on the cohesive third line. Grabner got some quality chances including a breakaway but missed the net. He also was denied point blank by Jonathan Quick. The former Conn Smythe winner is now on a declining team that will miss the postseason for the second time in three years. One that can’t score. They rank 25th in scoring averaging 2.40 goals-per-game. Astonishingly, the Kings are in the top five in average shots (31.4). You get the idea.

How bad is it? Anze Kopitar has only 11 goals in 68 games but ranks second in team scoring behind Carter (31-30-61). Tanner Pearson ranks second in goals with 23. He’s one of the few bright spots because he’s a young player improving. Tyler Toffoli has been miserable and Marian Gaborik looks finished. Dustin Brown has as many goals (11) as Kopitar.

If you can’t score, you can’t win consistently. That’s why the Kings find themselves 11 points behind the Flames and nine behind the Blues for the wildcard. LA has eight games left. They’re not running the table. There are big question marks surrounding them. Will Darryl Sutter be fired? He’s a superb coach who won two Cups, squeezing as much as he could out of a core that needs to be revamped.

As for the Rangers, they’re now up to 96 points closing in on the century mark with seven games remaining. A power play goal by McDonagh off a face-off from Mike Zibanejad early in the third gave them breathing room. Zuccarello helped set it up. MSG thought it was Zibanejad’s goal but it deflected off a King, giving McDonagh his sixth. A nice reward for the captain.

Chris Kreider took some ill advised penalties. One wasn’t his fault. He was somehow called for goalie interference despite being pushed in by Derek Forbort, who roughed him up along with an ornery Quick, who went after Oscar Lindberg too. How Kreider wound up with that penalty was mind boggling. It was even up. Quick of course got nothing. What would you expect from a hypocritical league that turns away whenever the golden prince Sidney Crosby gets away with dirty stuff that would have other players fined and suspended?

Even with Kreider doing his best to give the Kings a chance, it didn’t matter. The Kings couldn’t put the puck in the ocean. The end result was predictable. The Rangers improved to 27-9-1 away from MSG. They upped their mark to 28-6-1 when out-shot by opponents. This is who they are. An odd team that at least can win on the road.

BONY 3 Srars:

3rd Star-Mats Zuccarello, NYR (2 assists, 2 blocked shots, +1 in 19 shifts-17:07)

2nd Star-Derek Stepan, NYR (goal-14th of season, 5 SOG, 7 attempts, +1 in 21 shifts-16:16)

1st Star-Antti Raanta, NYR (30 saves, 4th shutout of season, career best 16 wins)

Dan Girardi talks about getting back in:

Goalscorer Derek Stepan assesses the team’s performance:

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Hungrier Islanders own MSG again with 3-2 comeback win over Rangers

Posted on March 23, 2017 by Derek
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The Islanders celebrate a goal after once again owning the Rangers when it mattered most at MSG to post a big 3-2 win. AP Photo via Getty Images courtesy NYIslanders.

When you have a wounded opponent down, you have to step on them. When it comes right down to it, the Rangers never finish anyone on what’s supposed to be home ice at MSG. Instead, they let opponents get up off the ropes and dictate play until they come away with two points.

In the latest installment of a classic rivalry between bitter foes, the Islanders again used The Garden as their personal stomping ground to come back and post a 3-2 win over the Rangers. It couldn’t have come at a better time. With the win, they stayed in play for the final wildcard. They had to win due to the Maple Leafs defeating the Blue Jackets 5-2 to vault over idle Boston into third place in the Atlantic. It’s now the Bruins the Islanders are chasing. They trail them by two points with one game at hand. Boston has nine left while the Isles have 10. It includes a pivotal showdown in Brooklyn this Saturday following a visit at Pittsburgh Friday night.

The Islanders didn’t play a perfect game by any stretch. But when it mattered most, their desperation and intensity came through outscoring the Rangers 2-0 in the third period. A period the Manhattan side is usually their best in. I guess it doesn’t apply when they’re home. They’ve now dropped seven straight games at MSG. The longest home losing streak in 24 years. In a word, pathetic. Emotionless and passionless hockey that never is 60 minutes. Had they kept up the battle level instead of taking their foot off the gas pedal, they’d be two points closer to the playoffs.

The game swung on two Rangers penalties. Special teams was a factor. The penalty kill continued to fail miserably allowing consecutive Islanders power play goals by Nikolay Kulemin and Andrew Ladd to lose the hockey game. For some reason, they can’t kill penalties anymore. Not to say I told you so. But the penalty kill failure has come with Dan Girardi out. Does he make that much of a difference? One thing you know. Girardi will get his body dirty when they’re shorthanded.

The two goals scored by the Isles were almost identical. Kulemin’s coming in front off a second and third effort set up by rookies Anthony Beauvillier and Joshua Ho-Sang. Ladd’s also came thanks to some yeoman work from Anders Lee behind the net. Lee had a good game finishing with a goal and assist. Ladd simply parked himself in front and got rewarded with his 20th coming with 7:22 left in regulation.

The truth of the matter is it was a very winnable game for the Blueshirts. They played an emotional second period scoring both their goals sandwiched around a Lee tally. Mats Zuccarello started it when he finished his 15th in front off a Mika Zibanejad feed for a power play goal. Derek Stepan added a helper.

With the crowd still buzzing, the Islanders did what they always do. Come right back to silence the Ranger side. They used a good transition rush to draw even. Started by Nick Leddy, he passed for Beauvillier who cut in and got off a tough low shot that Antti Raanta couldn’t control. That allowed Lee to steer home his 27th less than a minute later. He beat rookie defenseman Brady Skjei, who didn’t have a good game. It happens.

As promised, Alain Vigneault made two changes following warm ups. Playing a tough rival who plays physical, he dressed Tanner Glass on the fourth line. He replaced rookie Pavel Buchnevich, who didn’t deserve to be scratched. He had assists in the last two games while finding chemistry with Oscar Lindberg and Jimmy Vesey. But the coach wanted more toughness also dressing Steven Kampfer in place of Adam Clendening as the sixth defenseman.

While much will be made of the two lineup decisions, both Glass and Kampfer played hard. They were the least of the team’s issues. With the game tied, Glass decided to drop the gloves with Islanders defenseman Scott Mayfield. He easily won the bout landing some decisive blows especially with his left, energizing the building.

Interestingly, the Rangers responded. A couple of minutes later, Rick Nash scored for the second straight game. Taking a pass from Lindberg, he was able to squeak a shot through Thomas Greiss to put the Rangers back up 2-1 at 6:36 of the second. Greiss got a piece of it but it trickled in. Nick Holden drew the secondary helper.

The second period also featured a huge fight in the stands. It was over in the next section down below where two fans got into it. Everyone was distracted. It was a long fight before MSG security got there. I wonder what they could’ve been doing. Needless to say, both were ejected. There some heavy blows landed. Those type of fights haven’t happened at MSG in a while. It reminded me of the old days when rivalry games blew up.

In a period they got 14 shots on Greiss, the Rangers were unable to capitalize on momentum. They had some great chances including one point blank but a sliding Greiss made the save of the game. If he doesn’t make that stop, it’s doubtful the Islanders come back and win. He finished with 34 saves and deserved one of the game’s three stars. They gave Lee first and Beauvillier second while Nash got third star.

It wasn’t a good night for John Tavares. The Isles captain was very undisciplined taking three minor penalties. The second one the Rangers scored on with Zuccarello going to the hard area for the team’s one power play goal. They went 1-for-4. But it was a missed opportunity that really hurt.

Early in the third, Brock Nelson was off for tripping. It was a golden opportunity for the Rangers to extend the lead. Instead, the Islanders killed it off. When they got back to even strength, they immediately created chances with Kevin Hayes taking a bad slashing minor. That was where the game changed. Hayes had a very poor game on for a goal against and lost six of seven draws in 19 shifts (12:07). He has not distinguished himself since J.T. Miller was moved up to the second line. Honestly, Hayes and Michael Grabner shouldn’t be playing with Jesper Fast. It’s an awful experiment. At least you notice the other two when they’re not scoring.

The Islanders stuck with it. They scored with 30 seconds remaining on the Hayes penalty. How did they do it? By winning the battle down low. Ho-Sang and Beauvillier combined to set up Kulemin for his 12th at 5:01 of the third.

The second power play was set up by a needless Grabner delay of game minor. Honestly, I thought the puck deflected. But the refs ruled otherwise. And so, one of the cheesiest rules in the book cost the Rangers. Unable to stop their hungrier opponent in the trenches, they watched as Ladd slid home a perfect Lee backhand feed at 12:38. Tavares got a assist. It’s about the only positive thing he did. He really wasn’t a factor and stunk.

It says a lot about the Islanders’ character that they were able to still come from behind and win without a signature performance from their captain. They wanted it more.

I thought a big mistake was how the Rangers played with the lead. They sat back and were too passive. They let the Islanders grab momentum. At the end of the second, Raanta made a huge save on a Tavares feed at the buzzer to preserve the lead. The Isles continued to press the action and got the just reward.

Most of the Rangers’ 11 shots came once they fell behind. The shots were misleading. They didn’t get desperate until the Isles’ two goals put them down. Then they made a great effort to try to tie it. But they missed so many point blank chances, it was sad. Pathetic. At one point, they had the Isles pinned in for about 90 seconds. They were at their mercy. But the combo of Stepan, Zuccarello and Chris Kreider couldn’t score. When Greiss made an easy glove save with 2:57 left, I had seen enough.

How many times can we watch this team get outworked and out-hustled by the Islanders at MSG. It’s a joke. And with that, they lost the season series 3-1 to the harder working and more desperate team.

I’m done.

Ladd scores his game-winner on the power play:

Ho-Sang passes puck and it deflects off Beauvillier and Kulemin for the tying power play goal as Ryan McDonagh and Marc Staal watch:

Derek Stepan tries to explain away another tough home loss in what he called a riddle they have to solve. Only three home games left.

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Game Preview: Desperation time for Islanders in visit at Rangers

Posted on March 22, 2017 by Derek
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The Islanders will be desperate for a win at MSG against the Rangers as they battle the Leafs for the final wildcard. AP Photo via Getty Images courtesy NYRangers.

Tonight marks the final regular season meeting between bitter New York rivals the Islanders and Rangers. The big game will take place at MSG in an NBC Sports Network exclusive on Rivalry Night. That means the later start time of 8:10 PM. Something I could do without. But it will definitely have emotion and impact in the standings.

While the Rangers enter the second game of a back-to-back with Antti Raanta starting yet again comfortably locked into the first wildcard with 94 points, the Islanders find themselves in desperation mode. They had played so well under interim coach Doug Weight that it looked like the playoffs were a foregone conclusion. But a recent slip in play has cost them valuable points. They enter play having lost four of five only gaining three of a possible 10 points.

That’s allowed the Maple Leafs to take over the lead for the second wildcard. With Toronto able to post some big wins, they’re up to 81 points. Three ahead of the Islanders with each team having 11 games remaining. If you’re wondering about the first tiebreaker, both clubs have 32 ROW (regulation/overtime wins). They don’t play each other again. The Isles took the season series 2-1. But it won’t matter if they don’t beat Toronto out.

There are only three games on tap tonight. One includes the Leafs at the Blue Jackets. A game of interest to the Islanders. That one starts an hour earlier. If you don’t think they’ll be scoreboard watching, you’re wrong. They’ll have the corner of their eyes on it while doing what they usually do at MSG. Win an important game.

So far, the home team has won all three games in the season series. The Rangers prevailed on home ice back on 10/13 winning 5-3. The Islanders took the two meetings in Brooklyn winning by identical 4-2 scores on 12/6 and 2/16. Andrew Ladd leads the series with three goals including two in last month’s meeting at Barclays Center. John Tavares and Josh Bailey each have three points. Chris Kreider leads the Rangers with three points which tie him with rookie defenseman Brady Skjei. Jimmy Vesey has two goals in the series.

It won’t be Henrik Lundqvist in net against the Islanders. They’ve lit him up for 10 goals on 82 shots in 176 minutes. It’ll be Raanta, who has continued to play well since Lundqvist went down. With the starter close to returning when the Rangers head to California, this will be Raanta’s seventh consecutive start. He enters with a career high 15 wins with a 2.32 GAA, .920 save percentage with a team best three shutouts. As a starter, he’s 15-5-2 with a 2.19 GAA, .926 save percentage and three shutouts in 24 games.

Thomas Greiss has been a workhorse for the Islanders. The problem is he might be wearing down. Over his last 10 games, he’s given up four goals in half and at least three in seven. In other words, Greiss has slowed down. It’s tough having to start every game when your backup is unproven. Maybe the rest over the past few days will help. This is the first Islanders game since Mar. 18 which was a tough 3-2 overtime loss at home to the Blue Jackets. Greiss has still had a successful season posting a new career high in wins (24), shutouts (3) with a 2.69 GAA and .913 save percentage. His 44 starts and 46 games are career bests.

Tavares leads the team in scoring with 61 points (27-34-61). The top line featuring him, Josh Bailey (12-37-49) and Anders Lee (26-16-42) are dangerous. Actually, they made a switch with Ladd now replacing Lee on the first line. Lee will work with rookie Joshua Ho-Sang and rookie Anthony Beavillier. Since his recall, Ho-Sang has shown potential with three goals and three assists in 10 games. The former first round pick has great wheels and lots of skill. It’ll be his introduction to the rivalry. Here are the projected lines:

Ladd-Tavares-Bailey

Lee-Beauvillier-Ho-Sang

Nelson-Strome-Chimera

Kulemin-Cizikas-Clutterbuck

The Islanders are still minus defenseman Johnny Boychuk, who was on the ice for a third straight day after not skating for two weeks. Nick Leddy anchors the back end. His 39 points rank fourth in team scoring just ahead of Nelson’s 38. After him, it really drops off from an offensive standpoint. You knew Dennis Seidenberg would cool down. Calvin de Haan remains a budding shutdown defenseman capable of contributing. He blocks shots and will see plenty of key shifts. Travis Hamonic has been a disaster with a minus-20 rating in 44 games. Thomas Hickey remains underrated. He sat out last game with both Adam Pelech and Scott Mayfield playing.

If there’s one thing the Isles do, it’s forecheck. They have always given the Rangers fits in these rivalry games with their strong work ethic. They usually win the battles in the corners and out-hustle the Rangers. The Rangers need any combination of seven points to clinch an 11th postseason in 12 years. That’s any combo of games won with Islander losses. So, if they can match the Isles’ urgency and win in regulation, they could really do damage to their playoff hopes.

Alain Vigneault indicated that there will be some lineup decisions based on warm ups. If there are no changes, here are the projected lines:

Kreider-Stepan-Zuccarello

Nash-Zibanejad-Miller

Grabner-Hayes-Fast

Vesey-Lindberg-Buchnevich

McDonagh-Staal

Smith-Holden

Skjei-Clendening

Raanta

Dan Girardi is ready to return. It’s just a matter of when the Rangers decide to take him off the IR. Given that it’s the Islanders, does Tanner Glass make a cameo for Buchnevich? Hard to do with Buchnevich fitting in on the Kids Line. What about reuniting Miller with Hayes and Grabner? Hayes isn’t as effective without J.T. Miller has been working with Nash and Zibanejad mostly. Fast is a hard worker but is miscast in this role.

Clendening has played the last couple. When Girardi comes back, it’s probably for him. But Holden has really struggled. Maybe he should watch a game. Not that I expect the coaching staff to do it.

Here are some of Derek Stepan’s thoughts on what they must bring tonight to the table against a hard working rival:

Stepan is the real leader in that room. He may not be having much puck luck scoring. How many more posts can he hit? But he speaks loudly and truthfully about the team. Maybe he’ll get one tonight.

Posted in Game Preview, NY Islanders, NYRangers | Leave a comment

The Good, Bad and Ugly: Crosby and Ristolainen

Posted on March 22, 2017 by Derek

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In yesterday’s Penguins/Sabres game, there was the good, bad and ugly in Buffalo. Let’s start with the good. The good obviously being the game’s best player Sidney Crosby scoring one for the highlight reel. How about a one-handed backhand goal to give his team a 1-0 lead in a game they won 3-1 to clinch the playoffs? Here it is in all its glory:

Undoubtedly, a world class play by a world class hockey player. Since falling behind Brad Marchand in the goal scoring race, Crosby has responded in epic fashion with six goals over his last three games including a hat trick to reach 40 in a shutout over the Panthers. Then for good measure, he abuses the Sabres who all just stood and watched for a ridiculous one-handed backhand that beat Robin Lehner. That gives him 41 goals in 66 games. Four ahead of Marchand with the Bruins suddenly reeling. Are they about to collapse again?

The bad would also involve Crosby who later gave an excuse me underhand swipe to Ryan O’Reilly’s groin area during a play in which nothing was detected. Why would there be any penalty? This is something Crosby has gotten away with before. Here it is:

MSG color analyst Rob Ray labeled it “dirty pool.” The former Sabres tough guy would know. Of course, no one took a number and retaliated. Unless you consider an undisciplined Evander Kane hi-stick double minor on Crosby some sort of twisted revenge. You have to wonder why no one ever goes back at Sid. Well, almost no one except Brandon Dubinsky, who could wind up facing Crosby in a first round match-up between the Pens and Blue Jackets. It all depends on who wins the Metro. With a 4-2 win over the Flames, the Caps are up by one on Pittsburgh with 10 left for each team. Columbus is two back with 11 remaining.

As bad as Crosby’s stick work was, it wasn’t the ugly. That would go to Buffalo defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen during the same game when he nailed Pittsburgh forward Jake Guentzel without the puck causing him to leave the contest. The end result was a interference major and misconduct for 15 penalty minutes. He wasn’t ejected. The Sabres killed off the five-minute major penalty. Here is how it looked:

The puck was nowhere near Guetzel, who had no chance of avoiding Ristolainen. The Buffalo defenseman stepped up and leaned into him with one foot up for what amounted to a brutal hit that had Guetzel on his knees looking dazed and confused as the Pens trainer came out to help him off the ice.

That’ll be a suspension for Ristolainen. A talented blue liner for the Sabres who made a mistake. I would say three games. We’ll see what the league decides.

In case you missed it, this Nick Holden hit on Miles Wood which was dangerously close to the glass stanchion caused Wood to lose it during the Devils’ 3-2 overtime win over the Rangers in Newark. It resulted in Wood pounding Holden into submission with a line brawl resulting. Jimmy Vesey and Blake Coleman had a more evenly matched scrap while Brendan Smith and Nick Lappin wrestled but received nothing. It certainly livened up a dead rivalry giving it some added juice. Have a look:

Maybe Holden should have let up there on finishing his check. Wood was in a tough spot near that rounded stanchion. So, I certainly understood his reaction. The other stuff made it more entertaining for everyone. It still pales in comparison to this classic line brawl in 2012 with words being exchanged between the fiery John Tortorella and Pete DeBoer:

An exciting game I attended with my family and friend. I’ll never forget how loud MSG was for that. I miss those days. The building just isn’t the same since the renovation. Old time hockey! The Rangers won that night. But they didn’t win the war in late May. I would have traded that one. But our Devils contingent wouldn’t. Oh well.

And finally. Here was an interesting tweet from popular Rangers backup Antti Raanta on the atmosphere at The Rock in Newark for Tuesday night’s overtime loss. I don’t think this will go over well with the Jersey side. But it’s also a sign of the times in the Hudson Rivalry:

https://twitter.com/ARaanta31/status/844381246381797380

Once, it was the Devils who dominated the Battle of Hudson while the Rangers were missing the playoffs in seven consecutive years. Those were long and dark times on 33rd and 7th by Penn Station. I went to a lot more games and had to deal with a lot of crap. Now the roles have reversed. The Blueshirts are on their way to another postseason while it’ll be five straight years without one for New Jersey. Hard to fathom. When they finally do get better, I wonder if the Rangers will remain as good. When both teams are competitive, that’s when the rivalry is at its peak. It’s no fun when it’s not.

If it indeed was the final time Raanta played in net for the Rangers against the Devils, he will be sorely missed. With the prospect of the expansion draft with Las Vegas coming in and trade options possible, Raanta could land elsewhere. Whether it’s Dallas, Vegas or another destination, it’s hard to see him staying. He has been one of the classiest Rangers and has made the departure of now emerging Vezina contender Cam Talbot easier to forget.

With Henrik Lundqvist not going anywhere for another four years, Blueshirt fans will likely say goodbye to the 27-year old Finn. A player who has won 15 games while posting a 2.32 goals-against-average, .920 save percentage while pacing the team with three shutouts in 28 games (24 starts). He’s outperformed Lundqvist. Something that isn’t debatable. When he returns from injury for the California trip, it’ll be Lundqvist’s net again. He’ll get ready for the postseason.

If it ever came down to Lundqvist struggling in a first round match-up against Montreal or Ottawa because that’s where they’re headed, would Alain Vigneault actually dare consider the move to Raanta? I wouldn’t object. It likely won’t happen.

When Raanta leaves, who is the new backup? A great question for Jeff Gorton this summer. One we’re not looking forward to.

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