Battle Of Hudson

If you haven’t read this, here’s your chance:

NHL To Be On Food Network

Some high’s:

In all my years as commissioner, I have learned that our diverse group of fans and players all enjoy food of some sort. Italian, French, barbecue, quick-and-easy 30-minute meals—you name it, one or more of them eat it,” said Bettman,

French host Hiroyuki Sakai will join play-by-play announcer Mike”Doc” Emrick and analyst Brian Engblom to form a new lead announcingteam for all Food Network games. “This partnership has been a long timecoming. If the Food Network would have been around in 1991, we wouldhave left ESPN in a heartbeat.”

Though she stated that she didn’t want to give anything away, Johnson said that the network’s first hockey-related profile will focus on Sidney Crosby eating veal and creamed spinach prepared by Roker On The Road host Al Roker.

Read the entire Onion article via the above link. The sad aspect is this spoof is actually a much better option than Versus. Hahahahahaha.

Courtesy of my hittingback blog entry, Lundqvist since January 13th against Boston:

23 games

11-7-4 record

1.74 GAA (40 GA in 1381 minutes)
.934 save percentage

2 shutouts

Pretty good stuff, wouldn’t you say? It’s kind of sad that the Rangers only won half the games in that time, which tells you that the offense hasn’t been scoring as much. And as evidenced by their recent play, they’ve needed that kind of calibre goaltending to have a puncher’s chance in this wild playoff race. They’ll need for Henrik’s heroics to continue when they visit Ottawa tonight.

From my Weekly SFM Colum at this Link:

Here’s an excerpt

Why anyone would complain about the NHL’s championing of the Warner Bros. film “300” is beyond me.

Here’s an idea: Take a hip looking movie with great technology, lots of violence and comic book-nerd credibility (the kind the NHL’s main 18-34 male demographic loves) and make a connection between the plot of the movie (300 Spartan soldiers’ fight against the largest army ever assembled) with the chase for the Stanley Cup.

You know what? “300” made $70 million this weekend at the box office.

Think the NHL doesn’t like being associated with that?

Enjoy…

The best part of the game was the crowd getting on Nylander and the god awful top power play unit, who once again refused to shoot prompting loud chants of, “Shoot the Puck, Shoot the Puck, Shoot the Puck.”

Classic stuff!

I am not even sure how they managed to get to overtime never mind the shootout which they prevailed in. Not that I saw it. Funny story. I was headed downstairs to a lower section figuring I would catch the Canes’ power play in OT before leaving. I figured they’d win after that goof Michael Nylander took another dumb hooking penalty. You think the league mandate is out. Maybe it should be renamed The Crosby Effect. Nevermind.

So as I am about to go back in and watch the conclusion, I hear a loud chorus of boos. Me being naive and a Ranger fan waiting for the other shoe to drop, I figured that the Canes had already somehow scored off the draw after their timeout. So, instead of going back to see, I headed for the exits.

I got back to the car and waited for my Dad, bro and buddy figuring they’d be there eventually. But time just kept going as I stood on 27th between 7th and 8th by F.I.T. (Fashion Institute) pacing around. What could’ve happened to them? Did they somehow get to a shootout? Or was it just the usual Garden garbage of shutting down escalators and making it as difficult as humanly possible for people to file out, probably violating fire codes??? About 20 minutes later, I saw them walking back and nobody seemed excited. So I figured I had made the wise move and left early knowing they’d lose a game they should’ve lost much earlier if not for some miraculous goaltending from Henrik Lundqvist. The Canes so badly outplayed and outskated the Rangers the last two periods that it looked like New York was in quick sand. Yet somehow the game was tied at one.

So I heard that Matt Cullen, who btw has really stepped up lately scored another big shootout goal and that a less than 100 percent Jaromir Jagr iced it to somehow give the Rangers 76 points and again the eighth spot. Not bad considering they had no business winning. Maybe that’s why I laughed when I was told they won. The funny aspect was I didn’t know till we turned on the radio and heard the shocking conclusion.

So somehow this banged up team has gotten points in their last five (9 of 10) winning four. Not too bad. Let’s just call it a day cause the road doesn’t get any easier this week. They take on Ottawa Tuesday.

And finally, responding to my blogger comrade Rob regarding the Hollweg-Simon situation, you see it the way you do. I see it differently. I know you might not want to hear this but our NY SportsDay Isles’ beat writer Brian Bohl termed it as “hard but legal check.” That’s how I saw it as well. Whatever side you’re on, so be it.

As far as the officiating, I heard Fishstick fans complaining about the shootout loss at the Garden. A game in which Rick DiPietro stood on his head and saw the Rangers dominate for long stretches. That night, they had nothing to be upset about. Thursday, I only can recall one situation where you have a point and it involved Sean Avery on Sean Hill, which they missed before getting the retaliation. More examples would certainly help. The Islanders did play better and were superior the entire first half but only led by a goal because of Lundqvist. But once Paul Mara tied it, the Rangers woke up and raised their level.

I have had my own beefs with the officiating this season. They’re calling those hooks all the time. But what about the other stuff such as the crosschecks, high sticks, etc? When does that get addressed? Ask Dr. Evil.

Here’s the official NHL press release courtesy of nhlmedia which addressed the Chris Simon situation, ending his season:

Jagr and Cullen finish off the Canes in the Skills Comp. 2-1 Final.

Great crowd at the game. Loud at all times and unafraid to eat their team alive when they refused to shoot.

In the other NBC game, Boston beat Detroit 6-3, in a big surprise. The Bruins stay alive in a game they needed. Marco Sturm had two goals and a helper.

Here’s an Updated East 6-13:

# Team Points Games Left Next Game
6. Atlanta 82 12 Monday vs. WSH (7PM, VERSUS)
7. Islanders 78 14 Tuesday at MTL (7:30PM, FSNY)
8. Rangers 76 13 Tuesday vs. OTT (7PM, MSG)
————————————————————————
9. Carolina 76 12 Tuesday vs. FLA
10. Toronto 75 13 Tuesday vs. TB
11 Montreal 74 12 Tuesday vs. NYI (7:30PM, FSNY)
12. Boston 71 13 Thursday vs. WSH
13. Florida 71 13 Tuesday at CAR

Ahh, my poor deluded Rangers blogger. Just because Hollweg came in on an angle does not mean that Simon was not completely facing the boards face first. Hollweg plastered Simon face-first (not side first) into the glass and should have received a boarding call. But you can justify it any way you’d like. and I’ll say it again, I’m not justifying Simon’s action, for it was wrong. But I’m tired of Broadway getting favoritism at the first sniff of a possible playoff spot, and that game was rife with Rangers bias from the refs and the replay judges.

Just broken by Countdown to Faceoff on NBC. Simon is banned for the season AND the playoffs regardless of how far the Isles go. And, if the Islanders do not play 25 games the rest of the way, season and playoffs combined, or they do not make the postseason, he will serve up until the total of games reaches 25.

Carolina at the Rangers on NBC today. Strader, Hayward and Micheletti on the call. As Derek said, Jagr will go.

Heading out now for the big game at The Garden against the Canes. Bottom line: Jagr or no Jagr, the Rangers must get the ‘W.’ No excuses. Who are we kidding? Jagr will play. Whether or not he’s effective is another story.

Why am I upset about the Caps Steve? Because they are mailing it in buddy. The Flyers are up to 49 points. I believe that’s 12 off the pace for 14th. I wouldn’t be shocked if they catch them. That’s how pathetic what Washington is doing is.

I just haven’t had time lately to chat. I’ve been pretty focused on my Hitting Back blog the past week. Maybe we’ll chat when I get back.

Anyway, it’s time to leave. See ya later.