Sather not certain to return as Rangers GM

Posted on June 5, 2015 by Derek

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According to a exclusive report from New York Post’s Larry Brooks, Rangers GM Glen Sather is uncertain about returning as team general manager.

Asked whether he would be returning for his 16th year as GM, or whether he had yet to make that decision, Sather replied: “Sorry, I don’t have anything to tell you.”

It was an email between Brooks and Sather regarding his future. The 71-year old just completed his 15th year as Rangers GM. He denied the Bruins and Maple Leafs interview requests for assistant general manager Jeff Gorton who has been with the organization the last four years. If Sather decides to move upstairs and become the full-time President, Gorton would be the number one candidate to replace him in the day-to-day operations.

Sather is one of three candidates nominated for General Manager Of The Year along with Tampa’s Steve Yzerman and Anaheim’s Bob Murray. Despite the team falling short a second consecutive year of winning the Stanley Cup, Slats has put together a good roster. Built around Henrik Lundqvist along with core members Ryan McDonagh, Dan Girardi, Marc Staal, Derek Stepan, Rick Nash, Mats Zuccarello, Chris Kreider, Derick Brassard, the Blueshirts boast a bright future thanks to graduating prospects J.T. Miller, Kevin Hayes and Jesper Fast.

Slats also added Keith Yandle to bolster the blueline at the deadline risking top prospect Anthony Duclair and more draft picks. That’s how he’s gone about it. With the window still open for Lundqvist and the team to win a Cup, he’s gambled rolling the dice by dealing Ryan Callahan and two first round picks for Martin St. Louis and a second round pick now that the Bolts have made the Stanley Cup Final. Unfortunately, it came at the Rangers’ expense after they reached it last year. Things changed dramatically with St. Louis not the same only recording one goal and six assists. He’s unlikely to re-sign.

Of course, Sather also made a bad decision letting valuable defenseman Anton Stralman leave for Tampa for the same cost he signed aging vet Dan Boyle for. Boyle did perform in the postseason after a tough regular season but he has a year left while the younger Stralman is a fixture on the Bolts’ top pair with Victor Hedman. Slats also watched Brian Boyle go to Tampa and replaced him with Tanner Glass, who scored one goal. Even with a more inspired postseason, he had one assist and is signed another two years. Alain Vigneault gets blame too for that one.

Sather did make two good moves at the deadline sending Duclair to the Coyotes with John Moore and a 2016 first round pick and 2015 second round pick for Yandle while also parting with a fourth rounder to Minnesota for James Sheppard. If only Vigneault had dressed Sheppard for Game 7. But he opted for Matt Hunwick due to Ryan McDonagh’s broken foot going with seven defensemen and playing Glass instead after Sheppard scored a big goal in Game 6. The unrestricted free agent will probably leave due to limited cap space.

The offseason will be focused on locking up Derek Stepan and re-signing key restricted’s Carl Hagelin, Miller and Fast. Sather also gets credit for signing backup Cam Talbot for another year. Talbot was largely responsible for the Blueshirts winning the President’s Trophy. He is good trade bait. Though it’s advisable to retain him so Lundqvist isn’t overworked. Talbot could be dealt next March. That largely depends on what happens.

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Girardi and Staal have successful surgery

Posted on June 5, 2015 by Derek
Close Call: The Pens nearly tie it but Marc Staal denies the opportunity in front of Henrik Lundqvist who made the big save on Evgeni Malkin in the second period. AP Photo by Frank Franklin II/Getty Images

Marc Staal had a bone chip removed from his ankle. Dan Girardi underwent a successful procedure for bursa in his ankle.
AP Photo by Frank Franklin II/Getty Images

The Rangers announced today that both Dan Girardi and Marc Staal had successful surgery Thursday. Girardi underwent a procedure for a bursa excision on his ankle and Staal had a bone chip removed from his ankle. Both defensemen are expected to have a full recovery and be ready for training camp.

It just confirms how injured they were during the postseason. It’s why I don’t jump to conclusions and make blanket statements. Anyone who followed them closely knew something was wrong. Neither Girardi nor Staal had particularly good series against the Lightning with the latter struggling most of the playoffs. Girardi was a standout against the Capitals. Both top three D saw their minutes managed by coach Alain Vigneault who went with healthier options Keith Yandle and Dan Boyle.

Of course, injuries are part of sport. I’m sure both the Lightning and Blackhawks are playing through pain in their chase for the Stanley Cup. A series Chicago leads 1-0 entering tomorrow’s critical Game 2 for Tampa after blowing Game 1 literally. During last year’s run, the Rangers were luckier. They didn’t have as many players banged up. You have to have some luck to win. It just wasn’t their time.

In other news, twenty-year old goalie prospect Mackenzie Skapski is out four to five months due to arthroscopic surgery on right hip to repair a labral tear. Skapski debuted on Feb. 20 making 24 saves in a 3-1 win over the Sabres. The ‘Buffalo Killer’ also won his second start on Mar. 20 stopping all 20 shots for his first NHL shutout in his MSG debut over the Sabres.

A sixth round pick in 2013, Skapski appeared in 28 games in his first pro season for the Wolf Pack going 15-8-3 with a 2.40 goals-against-average and .914 save percentage plus three shutouts. He only got into two playoff games during Hartford’s run to the AHL Conference Finals before Yann Danis replaced him.

The Wolf Pack advanced to the third round with wins over Providence and Hershey before getting swept by Manchester. They were led by vet Chris Bourque in scoring with 17 points. Forward prospect Oscar Lindberg was second with 16 points including 13 assists. The 23-year old center who made his NHL debut could vie for a roster spot in September.

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Lundqvist Tweets On Postseason, Thanks Fans

Posted on June 4, 2015 by Derek
Bishop gets congrats from Lundqvist: A defeated Henrik Lundqvist congrats Ben Bishop following a heartbreaking 2-0 home loss in Game 7. AP Photo by Kathy Willens/Getty Images

Henrik Lundqvist broke his silence on Twitter tweeting about the postseason while thanking the fans. 
AP Photo by Kathy Willens/Getty Images

Six days following a disappointing ending to the season, Henrik Lundqvist tweeted his thoughts on the postseason which didn’t result in a Stanley Cup. As usual, the classy 33-year old Rangers netminder expressed how fans are feeling.

Obviously, the all-time winningest goalie in Rangers franchise history sounds as empty as we feel. I’m still not over it completely. I could barely watch last night’s game opting to flip between Law and Order SUV repeats on USA Network and the third period on NBC. This one hurts more due to the team having a better regular season and higher expectations. I’m admittedly not myself and not into the Stanley Cup Final.

I’m sure this is a sentiment shared by many loyal and passionate #Blueshirts. We live and die with our team. I know we’re not alone. I’m sure Ducks fans are feeling similar frustration over their team falling short again. At least their championship came in the past decade. It’s now 20 seasons in the books since that one Cup making it 75 years. For the older generation, at least we got to see them win. It doesn’t take away the pain. Seeing our Dad cry afterwards was depressing. He’s an emotional sort.

For myself, I can express my thoughts clearly via social media or through our blog. As Rangers fans, we’re used to disappointment. Something I wish wasn’t true. When you have as special a athlete as Lundqvist, it kills you inside to see him still without a championship. Will he become another Patrick Ewing? I still believe he’ll get one on Broadway but it’ll only get harder.

While other teams should improve this offseason, GM Glen Sather will likely have mostly the same roster unless he buys out Dan Boyle or makes a unpredictable trade for cap relief. We’ve probably seen the last of Martin St. Louis. Slats will give a big raise to Derek Stepan and have to dole out for Carl Hagelin while penny pinching Jesper Fast and J.T. Miller.

In a nutshell, the off-season sucks. Especially when they came so close. I still keep expecting there to be a big Game 2 at MSG Saturday following the Belmont Stakes. Instead, it’s back to reality. A long summer awaits.

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Devils announce Hynes as new head coach

Posted on June 1, 2015 by hasan4978

New coach John Hynes (NJ.com)

With almost every other head coaching vacancy filled up (and Detroit expected to hire its own AHL coach), the Devils had their pick of what was remaining out on the head coach market and GM Ray Shero unsurprisingly chose to hire someone familar for his first big move with the Devils, with word leaking out the team will name Wilkes-Barre coach John Hynes as the new head coach in a noon presser tomorrow.  Also not surprisingly, Pittsburgh will receive compensation for this hire, most likely in the form of one of our three third-round picks next season.

Make no mistake though, nepotism aside Hynes is a worthy candidate in his own right given his excellent record in five seasons with Pittsburgh’s AHL affiliate (231-126-27), making the playoffs every season despite having largely questionable young talent.  And in what’s music to Devil fan purists’s ears, WBS was #1 in the AHL four out of his five seasons in lowest GAA.  Clearly with where this team is at they need to get back to accentuating defense first although his system isn’t entirely one-dimensional given their +49 goal differential this season.  By all accounts Hynes is also highly regarded in terms of his communication skills and hockey acumen, according to this blog from a Pittsburgh newspaper:

http://triblive.com/sports/penguins/8482001-74/hynes-penguins-coach#axzz3bqrbX8Lt

Hynes will also become the youngest head coach in the NHL, at 40 years old he’s barely older than current franchise mainstay Patrik Elias.

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Battle Of New York Poll: Do You Agree With Vigneault’s Game 7 Lineup?

Posted on June 1, 2015 by Derek

In light of the criticism coach Alain Vigneault has received since the Rangers were eliminated by the Lightning 2-0 in Game 7 Friday, I’ve put up a little interactive poll. It’s simply stated. Did he put the best lineup out for Game 7? I’m on record as saying I didn’t like reinserting Matt Hunwick as a seventh defenseman because it shortchanged the bench going against what Vigneault believes in. He contradicted himself by going with seven D and 11 forwards which hurt the rotation.

What made it worse was once Ryan McDonagh returned, Hunwick was never heard from again after taking six shifts and logging four-plus minutes. Basically, Vigneault shorted his bench by sitting effective physical forward James Sheppard. A move which made no sense especially coming off a 7-3 Game 6 win where Sheppard scored his first career postseason goal which was a big one that saw the fourth line all involved. Rather than keep him in with Dominic Moore and Tanner Glass, Vigneault risked losing that energy in a do or die Game 7.

With scoring chances tough to come by, it led to a emotionless display from the Blueshirts. The Lightning played with more passion and took the crowd out of it. Vigneault’s odd decision wasn’t the only thing off. His lack of in game adjustments hurt too. They allowed the Bolts to take away the neutral zone and keep them to the perimeter. There wasn’t enough sustained forecheck nor any Ranger willing to get their nose dirty in front of Ben Bishop. That lack of edge played right into Tampa who did what it took to win the series posting a second consecutive road shutout at The Garden.

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Injuries rocked Blueshirts with Zuccarello suffering a small fracture and brain contusion

Posted on June 1, 2015 by Derek

On breakup day, the biggest news came from Mats Zuccarello who revealed that he suffered a brain contusion and small head fracture after taking a Ryan McDonagh shot to the helmet in the third period of Game 5 against the Penguins in the first round. As it turned out, the rumors were true. The severity of the injury even prevented him from speaking for a while.

“I had a small fracture in my head,” Zuccarello told the media at the Rangers practice facility in Greenburgh. “I lost my talking and some feeling in my arm. I was in the hospital for three days. I couldn’t talk for a while, there was some blood on my brain. That affects a lot.

“I feel much better and I’m going to be getting better and better,” he said. “It will still take longer to recover but, come the season time next time, I should be ready to go.”

Prior to their elimination, Zuccarello was skating with the team but hadn’t been cleared for physical contact. He said it was unlikely he would’ve been able to return had they advanced to the Stanley Cup Final. Had they made it, that’s the last thing I would’ve wanted. His long-term health is a lot more important. That you even had fans asking if he’d be back was unrealistic. I was told by a little birdie of the seriousness of his injury. So, I never expected him back.

Encouraging is that it looks like Zuccarello should make a full recovery. There were even doubts that he’d ever play again. Thankfully, it doesn’t sound like we’ve seen the last of him. Don’t forget Zuccarello re-signed before the deadline. He’ll earn an average cap hit of $4.5 million over the next four years. If he were done, that would’ve been a huge blow. Assuming he’s back at 100 percent, he moves right back into the top six.

“You wanted to try to communicate with him but it was a challenge for him,” hobbled captain Ryan McDonagh said who was in a walking boot on crutches due to a broken right foot. “It was tough to see a very close friend and a big part of our team go down that way, in that fashion. We sorely missed him for sure in the playoffs.”

McDonagh is expected to be in a boot for four weeks. One wonders what he would’ve had left to contribute if the team had made it. Considering how banged up the blueline was, it’s hard to have seen them having much left against the Blackhawks.

It was revealed that Marc Staal played with a hairline fracture in his ankle which was sustained at the end of the regular season. That better explains why he struggled mightily. The key second pair shutdown defenseman wasn’t the same getting victimized often and falling down. How he even played is beyond me. His ice-time was cut down by coach Alain Vigneault.

So too was Dan Girardi’s and for good reason. He played the final three games with a Grade 1 MCL strain. There was no question he wasn’t as effective. The previous round during the comeback against Washington, he was brilliant. Of course, you had ‘experts’ suggesting trading him. If you unloaded his contract, who exactly slots in next to McDonagh? It is puzzling how Danny G always gets bashed. The Rangers’ Iron Man is so vital. He’s a first pair right-handed shutdown D. Those don’t grow on trees.

Keith Yandle admitted that he suffered a shoulder AC joint injury in the first round on Blake Comeau’s hard hit in Game 2. Remember how much he struggled? Clearly, he improved leaps and bounds in the Conference Final becoming the team’s most consistent D. Yandle led the blueline with seven points (1-6-7) against the Lightning and went 2-9-11 plus-seven in 19 postseason games.

What does it all mean? Just that the Blueshirts weren’t as lucky this Spring. Last year, they were mostly healthy with Chris Kreider returning for Game 4 of the second round against the Penguins. They weren’t as banged around rallying from a 3-1 deficit and then ousting the Canadiens in six in advancing to their first Stanley Cup Final in 20 years.

Henrik Lundqvist always talks about how you have to get the bounces and have luck during the postseason. Despite winning the President’s Trophy and setting team records in wins (53) and points (113), they fell short of their ultimate goal. Derick Brassard admitted that it was “a ___ way” to end the year getting shutout at MSG.

Lundqvist reiterated that. The 33-year old franchise netminder finished five wins short with the team of winning that elusive Cup. Aside from Martin St. Louis who probably will be a cap casualty, they should have most of the roster back.

That’s gonna do it. Another year ends for the Blueshirts. One that was still pretty special. When you think about what they accomplished following Lundqvist’s scary injury, they achieved plenty. The team rallied around great backup Cam Talbot coming back to win a division and finish with the league’s best record for the first time since ’93-94.

They fought hard showing the resiliency that’s made them one of the toughest outs in rallying from a 3-1 deficit against the Capitals which included Kreider’s tying goal and McDonagh’s Game 5 winner along with Derek Stepan’s overtime clincher in Game 7. They didn’t quite have enough to beat the Lightning who now will play the Blackhawks. It’s still an empty feeling. But just think how the players and coaches feel. They’ll have to live with it and prepare even harder for 2015-16. The goal remains the same.

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Hawks and Lightning for the Stanley Cup

Posted on May 31, 2015 by Derek

So, it’s Hawks and Lightning for the Stanley Cup. The Blackhawks prevailed over the Ducks 5-3 in Game 7 last night allowing another road team to prevail. So much for home ice.

As it turned out, Chicago’s championship experience and will to win was enough to make Anaheim a loser at home in a Game 7 for the third straight time. They also blew a 3-2 lead to the Kings in last year’s second round losing 6-2 in the seventh game. When it comes down to it, the Hawks’ dynamic duo of Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane are better in big games than the Ducks’ tandem of Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry. Toews scored twice in the first period and Kane recorded three assists.

Before the Ducks knew what hit them, they fell behind 4-0 on second period goals from Brandon Saad and Marian Hossa. Hossa’s goal the back breaker counting when video review confirmed that he didn’t kick the puck in. Brad Richards set it up. He had a good night tallying two assists. For the series, the former Blueshirt registered a goal and six helpers. Not bad for a guy who once was benched by John Tortorella in an elimination game.

At least to their credit Anaheim still competed with consecutive goals from Ryan Kesler and Perry cutting the deficit to two with 8:24 left in the third. They gave their fans something to get excited about until Cam Fowler took a dumb penalty over a minute later that led directly to Brent Seabrook’s power play goal from Kane and iron horse Duncan Keith. Keith who is probably their leading candidate for Conn Smythe with his three assist game in their Game 6 win and all the ridiculous minutes he played in sudden death. He’s a warrior.

Despite Richards missing an empty net, Matt Beleskey’s power play goal at 19:18 was too late. There would be no miraculous finish like in the Mighty Ducks. Perhaps they could’ve used Charlie Conway, Adam Banks, Fulton Reed and Coach Gordon Bombay. Instead, they’re left to ponder what could’ve been. Similar to the Rangers who’ll have break up day at noon tomorrow.

For the losers, there’s emptiness. They’ll both be left to reflect this summer before the returning in mid-September for another long season. When the Hawks and Lightning drop the puck Wednesday in Tampa, only one team will win the Cup. The loser will join the Ducks and Rangers. That’s the cruel part of the playoffs which are unforgiving. The Rangers know it having made it to the Final Four three of the last four years. They still haven’t changed the ending.

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Agonizing Summer Ahead For Blueshirts

Posted on May 30, 2015 by Derek

They said all the right things following last night’s bitter disappointment. Instead of advancing to play for the Cup a second consecutive year, the Blueshirts will pack their bags for an agonizing summer ahead. They’ll be left to wonder how they lost at MSG 2-0 to Ben Bishop and the Lightning in Game 7 allowing them to celebrate in their barn.

As it turned out, home ice didn’t matter in a bizarrely played Eastern Conference Final. The road teams won five of seven including the Lightning taking the last three games at MSG by outscoring the Rangers 10-2 with Bishop posting identical 2-0 shutouts in Game 5 and 7. The same goalie who was lit up for 17 goals at home including seven in a Game 6 rout only had to face 22 shots Friday night without any traffic. In fact, he stopped the final 48 sent his way in Tampa’s two stunning wins.

There wasn’t enough urgency from the home team. Sure. They tried. The effort wasn’t good enough against a better Lightning who dominated the neutral zone taking time and space away. Of course, coach Alain Vigneault was quick to admit that Ryan McDonagh played with a broken foot the last couple of games. There were also rumors that Marc Staal may have had a broken ankle. Who knows. How would he have even been able to skate? If he did play hurt, it might explain how ineffective he was. Of course, injuries are part of sport. They were without Mats Zuccarello the last two rounds after he took a McDonagh shot to the helmet.

The best teams find a way. For so long, this group has always answered the call. Maybe going to another seventh game even with all the history on their side was too much to ask for. Henrik Lundqvist was right when he said both teams had a equal chance to win. Despite allowing Alex Killorn’s series winner 1:54 into the third thru the wickets on a Valtteri Filppula screen, he was heroic in defeat making 23 saves including highway robberies on Jason Garrison and Tyler Johnson late in the second that kept the game scoreless. Before Ondre Palat put it away with a rocket from Johnson on a odd-man rush, he made a diving stop to give his team a chance.

It didn’t matter because they couldn’t muster enough of an attack. That much was evident even with Lundqvist on the bench for the final 3:44 where they struggled to even test Bishop with an extra man. It reminded of the power play which reverted going 0-for-2 during the first half of the second period only getting two shots. There were no rebounds and certainly no Blueshirts willing to pay the price in front to score a greasy goal. In fact, despite dominating on offensive draws they managed only six shots the whole second which was their best period. Even then, the Bolts came on the final part outshooting them 10-6 forcing Lundqvist to stand tall.

That was the story. In the close knit tight checking games they’ve been accustomed to winning, they couldn’t beat a faster, more skilled Lightning who had younger legs and were disciplined enough to eliminate the stretch pass and keep them to the perimeter. They got in passing and shooting lanes blocking 20 shots while forcing another 11 misses. Thirty-one of the Rangers’ 53 attempts never made it to Bishop. That included Keith Yandle’s five attempts with the deadline acquisition missing the net twice. Rick Nash managed only one shot and Chris Kreider two. Martin St. Louis was all but invisible with the soon to be 40-year old on the verge of retirement.

If there was a noticeable difference, it was the Lightning’s speed on the forecheck. They got in and recovered pucks while their pinching defensemen took away the wall. That forced the Rangers into mistakes like the one that led to Killorn coming off the wall and having enough strength to get a backhand off that trickled past Lundqvist, who admitted he didn’t see it until it was too late. The Bolts’ ability to move the puck quickly opened up the slot for chances. They were faster and more desperate. They won most of the battles with former Black and Blueshirt Ryan Callahan leading the way with seven shots and plenty of hustle. He outskated his former teammates.

In the biggest game of its season, the Blueshirts weren’t sharp. They were far too tentative especially against a goalie they beat routinely. It was the same script as Game 5. They weren’t instinctive enough. Shots were hard to come by. They didn’t generate enough consistent forecheck which was their bread and butter. Derek Stepan, Kreider and Jesper Fast were the most effective with Stepan and Fast getting chances while Kreider wasn’t in the right place. Nash and Game 6 hero Derick Brassard skated along with J.T. Miller but didn’t have that little extra. The third line of Carl Hagelin, Kevin Hayes and St. Louis did zilch.

Oddly, Vigneault worked in Dominic Moore and Tanner Glass due to dressing Matt Hunwick as a seventh defenseman over grinder James Sheppard. Without four lines due to McDonagh’s injury, the team wasn’t as effective. The second-year coach made a mistake not playing Hunwick the last two periods shorting his own bench. Basically, the Rangers were a man short the final 40 minutes which didn’t make much sense. It wasn’t as if Hunwick looked out of place in his six shifts. If it was his last game with the vet defenseman turning unrestricted, it was incomplete due to the coach.

Vigneault gets a lot of credit for what he’s accomplished in his first two years. Taking the team to its first Stanley Cup Final and winning a President’s Trophy while making the Final Four again is nothing to sniff at. However, his team failed to adjust at home the final six periods. Where was the same style they played to come back against the Caps? Was it that the Bolts were faster? And what about keeping an ineffective St. Louis on the top power play over Nash? They had success in the series but wouldn’t it have made sense to give your best finisher more power play time in a do or die game?

These are fair questions. You wonder how much kids Miller, Hayes and Fast can improve. Assuming he’s back, Zuccarello replaces St. Louis and moves right back into a top role. His creativity and grit were sorely missed. Glen Sather must re-sign Stepan to a long-term deal that should pay him around six million on average. Hagelin is also restricted. I would keep him as his speed is still an asset and he’s a top checker and penalty killer. He disappointed after Round One. Both Miller and Fast are Group II and will get bumped up.

For all his yeoman effort, Sheppard is probably gone. More a cap casualty. He was effective due to his physicality and energy. Plus he was versatile enough to shift to center. They missed him last night. St. Louis won’t be re-signed. It doesn’t make sense as he doesn’t have enough left. His experience and leadership will be missed. It’s a shame how it’ll end on Broadway following such a memorable run last Spring.

What else can they do? That remains a bigger question for management. One thing to consider is that this team did things the hard way. They were forced to come back from a 3-1 series deficit in the second round a second straight year. They have always needed to go the extra mile. At some point, they need to make it easier on themselves by scoring more consistently and closing series sooner. Do they have the right personnel for that? I don’t know. What I do know is it’s sad that there won’t be hockey in June.

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Former Blueshirts Get Last Laugh

Posted on May 30, 2015 by Derek

Well, so much for logic prevailing. Perhaps the Lightning had a secret ingredient in their locker room that helped them bounce back from a Game 6 7-3 home humiliation to respond in the best way possible. By shutting out the Rangers in a Game 7 at MSG. A place that had never experienced defeat along with a nearly impenetrable goalie.

It didn’t matter much because the Lightning were by far the better team in a stunning 2-0 Game 7 win that mirrored their Game 5 victory. That both came by identical scores summed up an unusual series. Remarkably, the home team only won twice. For the Rangers, home ice meant zilch along with history as they managed to drop the final three games at MSG by a combined score of 10-2.

Part of the reason Tampa prevailed was the play of former Blueshirts Anton Stralman, Ryan Callahan and Brian Boyle. Stralman was one of his team’s best throughout the Eastern Conference Final doing some stellar defensive work alongside partner Victor Hedman against the Rangers’ top guns. After a bad Game 6, he responded with a stellar game blanketing the top line of J.T. Miller, Derick Brassard and Rick Nash. Stralman also blocked four shots while being on for the final four minutes to preserve the Bolts’ big win.

As for Callahan, he got better as the series went on. In fact, he was one of the few Lightning to show for Game 6 beating former teammate Henrik Lundqvist on a breakaway. In Game 7 back at a familiar building that once revered him, Callahan was a force recording a game high seven shots. As it turned out, the Rangers former captain who was traded over a year ago for Martin St. Louis was much more visible. In on the forecheck and outracing many Rangers to loose pucks, his experience came through. The hunger showed for a player who now gets to compete for his first Cup.

For Stralman and Boyle, they were here last year with the Rangers. Both key cogs that Glen Sather couldn’t afford to keep last summer, they improved their Game 7 perfect records with Stralman now 7-0 and Boyle 6-0. Don’t think falling short to the Kings for the Cup didn’t play a role in helping motivate their younger Lightning teammates including captain Steven Stamkos along with Triplets Tyler Johnson, Ondrej Palat and Nikita Kucherov.

Having those kind of gritty players who know what it takes to win in these kind of games had to be a big reason the Lightning were able to brush off tough home defeats in Games 4 and 6 by shutting the Rangers down. By playing a more defensive oriented style which all three former Blueshirts were part of, they allowed Ben Bishop to see the puck. He stopped all 22 shots for his second shutout of the series with both coming at the Garden. They did the same thing to the Red Wings in Game 7 of Round 1.

Not much was said about Tampa’s more experienced players which also include Matt Carle and Braydon Coburn. Perhaps that was a factor in allowing them believe they could do it. They’re moving on.

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Lights Out: Lightning shutout Rangers in sad Game 7

Posted on May 30, 2015 by Derek
Bishop gets congrats from Lundqvist: A defeated Henrik Lundqvist congrats Ben Bishop following a heartbreaking 2-0 home loss in Game 7. AP Photo by Kathy Willens/Getty Images

Bishop gets congrats from Lundqvist: A defeated Henrik Lundqvist congrats Ben Bishop following a heartbreaking 2-0 home loss in Game 7.
AP Photo by Kathy Willens/Getty Images

I’m trying to come up with the right words. But can’t. It’s so hard when the team you root for all year puts you through the ringer. I knew that Game 7 wasn’t a lock despite all the history on our side. That along with a President’s Trophy were meaningless. So too was the home ice with the Rangers losing their last three games at MSG by getting outscored 10-2 including 2-0 shutouts in Game 5 and Game 7.

Lights out. The Lightning are moving on to the Stanley Cup Final after doing an about face by dominating another road game. The final score said 2-0 but anyone who watched knew better. The Rangers generated nothing in 60 minutes. In fact, they did the unthinkable not scoring in the final six periods at home. Home disadvantage.

They never supported Henrik Lundqvist, who was blameless on Alex Killorn’s winner which he admitted he never picked up with Valtteri Filppula screening in front. Once Ondrej Palat converted a three-on-two from Tyler Johnson off a Kevin Hayes turnover, it was over. There would be no Garden party on this night. No more perfect record at MSG in Game 7’s. No goals. And no offense to speak of. Even when they got the only two power plays despite one being a tacky call.

The way the game was played, I knew they were in trouble. Tampa Bay played the perfect road game. Going back to a more defensive oriented style which resulted in turnovers and allowed them to forecheck and force Lundqvist into some difficult stops, the Bolts were the superior team. They also had an advantage with coach Alain Vigneault forced to dress Matt Hunwick as a seventh defenseman over grinder James Sheppard due to the injury status of Ryan McDonagh. That became a big story with the Rangers captain not taking a shift until late in the first after going to the locker room with trainer Jim Ramsay.

Something was off when they came out before intros. Why else would Hunwick be dressed for his first game since Round 1 over Sheppard? As it turned out, Vigneault revealed afterwards that McDonagh played with a broken foot the last two games. He was even a question mark for tonight which probably better explained why Hunwick played over Sheppard reducing the Blueshirts to 11 forwards. The polar opposite of what Vigneault prefers because he couldn’t roll four lines.

What made it worse was that once McDonagh returned, Hunwick never left the bench basically making them a man short. He only got six shifts (4:17). McDonagh still took 25 shifts playing 17:33. He definitely wasn’t skating as well and was hesitant to shoot the puck. The one time he did was at the tail end of a power play when he got a good shot on Ben Bishop, who kicked it out with Chris Kreider missing a rebound wide. Bishop had a weird series going 3-1 at MSG posting two shutouts while allowing only four goals. He struggled at home giving up 17. That about explains how odd the Eastern Conference Final was.

Maybe that’s why I didn’t feel confident going in. The way the entire series was played, you couldn’t predict what was gonna happen. Maybe Tampa coach Jon Cooper knew when he said his team is young and they don’t know any better. And as he and Killorn, who ironically felt the Rangers were due to lose a Game 7, they played like Game 6 didn’t matter. The extra day off had to help their psyche. They played terrific defensively blocking 20 shots while keeping the Blueshirts to the perimeter allowing Bishop to stop all 22 shots. He never was forced to make a difficult save.

Credit must be given to the Lightning. They were the better team. As hard as it is to admit, they out-Rangered the Rangers to take the series and did it in enemy territory by scoring twice in the third to silence the Garden. History didn’t mean a thing to the Bolts who were led by Ryan Callahan. Remember him? The former Blueshirt had a tremendous game registering a game high seven shots. He was all over the ice forcing Lundqvist into some tough stops. Callahan was his team’s best player also in Game 6.

Of course, former Rangers Anton Stralman and Brian Boyle had strong defensive games. In fact, Stralman was on for the final four minutes helping the Lightning shut it down even with Vigneault pulling Lundqvist for an extra attacker with 3:44 left. The sad aspect is they didn’t even get a sniff. That’s how locked in the Bolts were. Victor Hedman doing his part along with the forwards who all came back and made life difficult.

Even now, it’s hard to believe they got shutout by identical scores in Games 5 and 7. At least we didn’t go to this one. We went to Game 5 and that was bad enough. I can’t imagine how fans must’ve felt walking out of there. As soon as Killorn was somehow able to get that tricky backhand off beating Lundqvist at 1:54 of the third, the game was over. So too was the series once Palat scored with one of those deadly accurate wrist shots top shelf off a Johnson feed that made it 2-0 with 8:43 remaining.

It’s going to be a long summer. One that will leave many questions asked. Was their last best chance to win a Cup with Lundqvist, who’s not getting any younger? He’ll be 34 next Spring. How many times can the King be asked to carry this team? As was proven yet again, he can only do so much. Look at some of the acrobatic saves he made the first two periods yet some idiots had the audacity to blame him for Killorn’s winner. What great fans. I feel sorry for him because he always lays it on the line. Maybe if his team could actually figure out how to play at home and win more comfortably, they might still be playing. Instead, it’s another Cup-less summer.

The defense wasn’t good enough with Marc Staal in particular dreadful. McDonagh at least showed despite his injury and god knows what Dan Girardi played with. Kevin Klein wasn’t the same after he returned. Their best defensemen were the two guys everyone targeted. Dan Boyle and Keith Yandle. They provided offense in this series and did the job. Staal might want to do some soul searching because he was badly exposed against a faster skating opponent.

It’s hard for me to get on the forwards. I thought Derek Stepan, Kreider, Derick Brassard, Rick Nash, Jesper Fast, J.T. Miller and Carl Hagelin all competed. There just wasn’t much room. Especially for Nash, who managed only one shot. He was guarded tightly and even when he tried to skate to open ice, it was quickly covered. Stepan made some good passes in the third to set up chances when they were down a goal but they weren’t cashed in on due in large part to a Lightning-like D.

Not having Sheppard adversely affected the rotation. Vigneault wasn’t able to roll four lines and on both Lightning goals, had different personnel caught out including ole reliable Dominic Moore for both which is so unlike him. On a night where they dominated on faceoffs (40-and-24) particularly in the offensive zone in a better played second period, it didn’t matter. At the end of the day, the Bolts were better and now await the winner between tomorrow’s Game 7 of Hawks and Ducks.

A pretty sad conclusion to a very good season. Just not great. That can’t be used now. While it’s easy to say it was a failure because they didn’t win, only one team does. For the 21st consecutive year, it won’t be the Blueshirts. They’ll be left pondering what could’ve been.

Lights Out: The Lightning celebrate their Game 7 victory advancing to the Stanley Cup Final at a stunned MSG. AP Photo by Frank Franklin II/Getty Images

Lights Out: The Lightning celebrate their Game 7 victory advancing to the Stanley Cup Final at a stunned MSG.
AP Photo by Frank Franklin II/Getty Images

BONY 3 Stars:

3rd Star-Ben Bishop, Bolts (22 save shutout-2nd of series, saw everything)

2nd Star-Henrik Lundqvist, NYR (23 saves incl. 10/10 in 2nd-only reason it wasn’t a blowout)

1st Star-Alex Killorn, Bolts (scored series winner with 18:06 left in 3rd, overlooked forward had big impact)

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