Battle Of Hudson

Everyone, a reminder. It’s just a game.

Devils won 3-1 on Monday. Nik Bergfors potted 2, Rod Pelley added the other goal and Brodeur played for the 1st time.

Devs take on the Islanders tonight in Lowell

There was no broadcast of the game again last night, but the Rangers lost 6-1 against the Detroit Red Wings. Henrik Lundqvist was again sub-par in his performance in net. Scott Gomez tallied the only goal for the Rangers on the powerplay from Jaromir Jagr in the 3rd period. This game was a little disheartening, even though it is only the preseason, because it was played with several more Rangers regulars in the lineup. Henrik obviously still has some summer rust to still shake off, Jagr and Gomez need to start clicking, and the Rangers defense needs to tighten up. We have two more preseason games left, as well as 10 or so more cuts to make. We’ll see what happens towards the end of the preseason.

Also, just to clarify a few things. I am a die-hard Rangers fan. Along with that, I despise the Islanders, Devils, Penguins and Flyers. It’s a rule. While many of my views and opinions will be pro-Rangers, I have no problem pointing out when a Ranger does something wrong. It was in my opinion that what Simon did to start the brawl on Monday was completely unnecessary and uncalled for. I had all the respect in the world for Simon before his baseball bat swing to Hollweg last year. I respect any guy that is willing to drop his gloves and protect his teammates. But not when it is from behind, with a stick, or in an unnecessary situation.

Rick DiPietro’s antics also came off as unnecessary. Sure he was caught up in the whole moment like the other 10 players on the ice, but it was even strength. There were five Rangers on the ice and five Islanders on the ice. When Strudwick and Orr jumped on Simon, which they probably shouldn’t have done, it is the job of the other skaters to separate that. Ricky D. jumping in made the sides uneven, forcing Montoya to come down. Montoya didn’t want to fight, and DiPietro baited him in, then saluted the crowd when it was over.

Ryan Hollweg plays hard. Does he play safe? Not all the time. Does he go out with the intent to injure? Not at all. He knows that he is a replaceable player in the NHL, and he needs to keep his energy up and keep the crowd going. He doesn’t do that with goals, and he’s not even all that good at fighting, but man, he can throw a big hit. Players who play as hard as he does will occasionally do something dangerous. When that time comes, it will be addressed. But Hollweg has never swung sticks at people, which I feel is a whole lot worse than what Hollweg is known for.

Again these are my views on things. I welcome a good debate, and will admit when I am wrong. But I would like to keep it as civil as possible when it comes to Rangers v. Islanders (which sometimes does include a brawl or two).

Thankfully, most readers of this blog site are hardcore fans who actually watched the game, otherwise one might think the Isles were the second coming of the ’75 Flyers.

Reading these Rangers blogs is kind of like watching the Fox News channel. Fun for a couple of chuckles, but with biases that run that deep, all objectivity is out the window. When Hollweg is defended regularly, you know that the looking glass is a bit foggy. Hollweg will hurt someone the same way McAmmond got hurt, and then we’ll revisit this discussion. Funny that Hollweg averaged 1.7 pims per game last season vs Simon’s 1.1 pims per game. How can that happen? Hollweg is a future Lady Bing candidate. And Simon is Charles Manson.

Anyway, it has been funny being tag-teamed by the Rag Bloggers the way Simon was double-teamed by Strudwick and Hollweg. Maybe one day Hollweg will fight his own battle without needing help from a teammate. Hollweg = Gutless Puke.

Let the games begin.

The only punks I saw were the ones in Islander jerseys last night. We respectfully disagree. What a shock there.

The Islanders had every intention of starting that brawl and of course it would come courtesy of a cheapshot from the biggest punk of them all who shouldn’t have even been playing. A “one-time incident” for a stick swing which could’ve inflicted a lot more damage? Biased much?

Let’s be honest. Simon should have been kicked out of the league for that and would’ve if Hollweg had his career ended. Instead, he got a reprieve.

There are no excuses. And what does this idiot who’s been in the league over a decade do? Punches Hollweg in the head from behind. Typical crap from a bush league team which is what the Islanders are. And their best player sure leads in that category with his disrespect for Montoya hitting him while he was defenseless on the ice.

The Isles have been known for stuff like this. Now, they got a blatant cheapshot artist in Sutton added to the mix of trash which includes Witt.

The fact you would cheer for injuries to opponents speaks volumes. There’s nothing funny when that stuff happens. You sure didn’t see me applauding Avery’s antics when he shoved Oduya into Weekes last Friday. That was inexcusable. At least I realize what Avery’s action was. Classless.

That btw is the difference between a Ranger fan and an Islander fan. We don’t root for injuries.

This entry might’ve been a little animated but when my fellow Islander blogger can’t be objective and takes this rivalry too far, then he deserves this.

I honestly don’t care anymore. Your dirty team will get theirs. Keep celebrating your “big” preseason comeback win because that’s all you’re going to have to get excited about.

Kind of tells you all you need to know really about the Islanders.

Chris Simon. He did his job. He rightfully gave Hollweg a taste of his own medicine. We have seen Hollweg’s dirty play time and again, and it is just a matter of time before he ends someone’s career with a cheap shot from behind. As I’ve said before, Simon’s cheap shot on hollweg last year has no place in hockey and Simon has affirmed this repeatedly since the incident. but let’s not forget Hollweg’s face slam of Simon’s head against the glass that could have caused serious injury as well. Simon’s stick chop to Hollweg’s face was a one time deal. Hollweg’s cheap shots from behind happen regularly. So good for Simon. Sitting this game out would have shown softness from the Islanders and would have continued the Hollweg saga from last season. Simon was eligible to play, he played, and he played his game well.

Ted Nolan. His job is to get his players ready for the season. Maybe Renney should have sat Hollweg last night in order to avoid “half the fisticuffs” as our Broadway leaning blogger has stated.

Rick DiPietro. The only concern I had was for his previously concussed head. According to Lenny, DiPietro should have let Strudwick and Hollweg continue their double teaming of Simon. Yeah, okay. And to berate DP because he baited Montoya into a fight? If Big Al is going to skate all the way down ice to join the fray because DP is involved, then Big Al has to be ready to take the DP beating. And he did!!

Let’s give it up to the Isles for their comeback win against the Broadway punks. Way to wipe that silly grin off of Renney’s mug. Get ready for more Hollweg. Keep hitting from behind and see where it gets you. At least the new Isles got the chance to see how dirty he plays and can be ready for him when the season starts. I predict that Hollweg hurts someone badly this year. I also predict that someone beats the #%& out of him this season as well. I for one won’t be sad when that happens as hollweg is one of the dirtiest players in the league by far.

Dean McAmmond was taken out on a stretcher in the second period after being on the receiving end of a dangerous high hit to the head from Flyers rookie forward Steve Downie during the Ottawa-Philadelphia preseason game tonight.

The underrated Senator had just released the puck behind the Philly goal when he was leveled by Downie, a former 2005 first round pick who is trying to make the Flyers.

It was determined that the 34 year-old McAmmond suffered a concussion but was moving his extremities thankfully.

If Downie made the Flyers, he’d be subject to a suspension pending a league review. The 20 year-old forward has never played a game for the club.

This latest incident comes on the heels of an ugly brawl during last night’s Rangers-Islanders exhibition at the Nassau Coliseum. On one hand, diehards like myself love the occasional scrap. But much like what one of our other bloggers Lenny noted, when it gets that out of hand, it’s embarrassing and a detriment to the NHL.

Downie’s dangerous hit came at a bad time. With more and more of these types of situations happening in meaningless games this Fall, it might be time for the league to consider cutting down on the number of preseason contests. Especially when it puts key players at risk before what’s a grinding 82-game schedule.

I’ve been on record as being in favor of seeing that schedule cut down a few games. But the odds are slim to none that the league would go from 82 to say 74 or 76. Especially with them reconsidering the unbalanced schedule and looking to insure that fans see every team in the opposite conference at least once.

They should also be paying more attention to these exhibitions which get out of hand. It’s time to slice the schedule down to four or five max.

The growing question is can these types of incidents we’re seeing an increase in be prevented? Yes. By making coaches accountable. Have them submit lineups that don’t guarantee a melee like last night. What did Ted Nolan expect to happen when he dressed suspended forward Chris Simon who still has time left to serve on his suspension for his baseball swing on Ryan Hollweg?

There’s just no reason for this stuff. It’s one thing if it’s a heated regular season game but quite another in a pointless exhibition where you’re supposed to have players competing for roster spots.

It’s time for the league to step in.

By now anyone who follows hockey knows about the Rangers v. Islanders game last night. A fight filled affair that saw the “enforcers” as well as the common players, and goaltenders drop the gloves. On one hand, it was great to see the players, preseason or not, stick up for each other. On the other hand, it was disgraceful to watch. Here’s my take on everything:

Chris Simon. We’ll start with the worst I guess. Because of loopholes in the NHL rulebook, Simon was able to play preseason games, even though he still has an outstanding suspension to serve. One has to think, if Simon is not in the lineup last night, half of the fisticuffs that occurred would have been avoided. Give it up for Orr, who stuck up for Hollweg by scrapping with Simon early in the first and then again on Simon’s unnecessary, dirty hit from behind on Hollweg setting off the brawl. The league should be reviewing tape right now, and tacking on 10 more games to Simon’s suspension.

Ted Nolan. The Rangers had their lineup posted 3 days in advance. Each team plays about 6 preseason games. Simon could have played in any of the other five and not this one. He knew there would be fireworks if Simon was in the lineup. It surprises me that with the players that he did dress, that Brendon Witt wasn’t also in the lineup.

Rick DiPietro. Was there any reason for him to jump in? And why did he have to bait Montoya into the fight. It was apparent the Monty didn’t want to fight, he has a spot to win. I give him all the credit in the world for sticking up for his team.

Tom Renney. Anyone read his post game comments? Sure the elbow to the head of Callahan was dirty. And sure it was probably a contributing factor to the rest of the night’s activities. But to dismiss blame on Simon just makes no sense to me. He did it with the stick incident last year and then again last night. He should be saying how much Simon should be suspended, and how proud he is of his players for sticking up for each other. Here’s to hoping Orr, Hollweg, Strudwick and Avery are all in the lineup come the first regular season game between these two.

Just my opinion on the game. Give it up to players like Dubinski, Pock, Hossa, Strudwick and Orr. I enjoy the occasional scrap. Especially when it comes from sticking up for your teammates. Without them, there would be no way to police the sport, ridding the league of incidents like Marty McScorley, Todd Bertuzzi or Chris Simon. I don’t even hold anything against the rest of the Islanders, minus Simon and Sutton. Anyone else feel like sharing some thoughts?

The Islanders scored the last four as they cameback to defeat the Rangers 5-4 in overtime. Ruslan Fedotenko netted his second power play goal of the night, converting down low on a 4-on-3 to give the Fishsticks their first preseason victory.

Brendan Shanahan lost his cool as he was baited in by Freddy Meyer, who also got a minor penalty with Shanny getting the extra two.

Chris Drury had the Rangers’ best chances late in regulation and in OT before Fedotenko won it. He was very active and played well. Also looking good were Marc Staal and Nigel Dawes as they bid to make the club.

As for who didn’t impress, defenseman Andrew Hutchinson struggled and was undressed by Vasicek in the third for the Isles’ tying goal.

The Isles had to be pleased with the play of their top unit of Fedotenko-Comrie-Guerin as they scored four of the five goals and had good chemistry. Also playing well was Vasicek who netted the tying goal and got a couple of more chances.

The New York rivals will meet once more this preseason on Friday night. The game will be aired by MSG if you want to check it out.

When the Rangers and Islanders get together to renew their bitter rivalry, it’s always worth watching because you never know what might happen. Even a meaningless exhibition game has proven yet again why this is one of the best rivalries going.

It didn’t take long for things to turn nasty as new Islander defenseman Andy Sutton cheapshotted Ryan Callahan with an elbow resulting in Ranger enforcer Colton Orr getting retribution by pounding the ex-Thrasher in a scrap.

It escalated from there as Chris Simon and Ryan Hollweg fought as did goalies Rick DiPietro and Al Montoya later in a second period marred by fights, penalties and seven combined power play goals with the Rangers leading 4-3.

Here’s what the penalty festlooks like thus far:

Orr also got the better of Simon in a scrap continuing to look very impressive. It should be noted that in an easy win over Jesse Boulerice this past Saturday against the Flyers, he busted the former Canes’ nose.

The Ranger enforcer is quickly building a reputation as one of the league’s toughest guys since he KO’d ex-Flyer Todd Fedoruk concussing him.

We caught the always entertaining goalie scrap courtesy of Islanders TV as Montoya came across the ice and eventually obliged DiPietro by taking his mask off and engaging in battle which the Islander netminder won not surprisingly. But while he did win, he also lost some respect by getting in a couple of cheapshots while Montoya was on the ice breaking the code. It was a bush league move.

As for the game itself, Hollweg has one of the Ranger goals which probably ticked Simon off because he then punched him which started the chaos.

Even Thomas Pock and Andy Hilbert dropped ’em.

The game is currently still going on at Nassau Coliseum in the third with the Rangers still ahead by one.

Goals so far:

Rangers- Drury, Hollweg, Pock, Callahan
Islanders- Fedotenko, Comrie, Guerin

Bryan Berard who is trying to make a comeback with his first team where he won the Calder a decade prior setup the first goal with a brilliant rush behind the net before passing it to a vacated spot in front for Fedotenko to find.

Out for the Rangers are Jaromir Jagr, Marty Straka, Scott Gomez, Petr Prucha and Sean Avery.

Josef Vasicek has tallied for the Isles to tie the game.

More later.