Game 27: Rangers vs Penguins

After two straight embarrassing losses, the Rangers are at it again, this time in front of the home crowd.

OPPONENT: Penguins

RECORD: 18-9-0

LEADING SCORER: Sidney Crosby, with 30 points

GOALIE: Marc-Andre Fleury, with a 2.54 GAA and a .900 save percentage

GAME TIME: 7 PM, MSG

RANGERS LINES:

Sean Avery-Vinny Prospal-Marian Gaborik
Christopher Higgins-Artem Anisimov-P.A. Parenteau
Donald Brashear-Chris Drury-Ryan Callahan
Ales Kotalik-Brian Boyle-Aaron Voros
Matt Gilroy-Bobby Sanguinetti
Marc Staal-Michal Rozsival
Michael Del Zotto-Dan Girardi

Hank is back in net

STATE OF THE BLUESHIRTS: Once again, not good. Dave wrote earlier today about not panicking, and that we have the pieces for a successful team, we’re not just putting it together. No secondary scoring. Lundqvist isn’t as consistent as we’re used. If these parts come together, like they did in the beginning of the season, then you have a good team. Clearly, the Redden injury has hurt, as both games he’s been out have been disasters. We need a D-man to step up. Also, some secondary scoring would be nice. Okay, Rangers? Thanks

CRAZY THOUGHT: Ryan Callahan gets into another fight.

ON THE iPOD: Senorita, by Los Lonely Boys

FINAL PREDICTION: Have a good feeling about this one. Not sure why. Rangers 4, Penguins 3

So, watch, discuss, have fun. But most of all, LET’S GO RANGERS!!!!!!

Anisimov In, Lisin Out

It looks like Artem Anisimov isn’t feeling any lingering effects from the Matt Cooke cheapshot, as he will be playing tonight in the back-end of the home-and-home.

Enver Lisin, on the other hand, will be a healthy scratch tonight. He played a total of 0:0 in Saturday night’s abomination of a game, and you have to assume that broken foot is really bothering him.

Cooke Suspended Two Games

Yes, I’m late on this. It was Thanksgiving weekend, and I was busy. Matt Cooke was suspended two games for his blatant blindside hit to the head of forward Artem Anisimov. This suspension means that Cooke will be sitting tonight.

Good to see that Ryan Callahan stuck up for Anisimov. Where was Brashear?

Panic Time!!

Let me preface this by stating that the title of the post is complete sarcasm.

In the past two games, the Rangers have been outscored 13-4. That’s pretty terrible. Actually, it’s not pretty terrible, it IS terrible. And don’t think that this is a coincidence that Wade Redden is out and the Rangers fall apart for 13 goals against. There is definitely some correlation there. But, as optimistic as I am, it has become abundantly clear that the Rangers that started the season 7-1 are not the real Rangers.

This team is rebuilding. I have said it numerous times, they are rebuilding. Rebuilding in New York is extremely tough, because you have to remain competitive while rebuilding. Us New Yorkers expect W’s, regardless of the team that is being put on the ice. In order for the Rangers to be successful this year, they needed outstanding defensive play from their veterans, and have only received that play from one player, who is now injured. Dan Girardi and Michal Rozsival have been awful, with Marc Staal not that far behind. Micheal Del Zotto and Matt Gilroy are rookies, and you have to take the good with the bad with them, not much was expected, although both have been pleasant surprises.

In order for the Rangers to be successful, they needed the secondary scoring to come alive. It hasn’t. No need to get into this one again.

They needed primary scoring. Well, one out of three ain’t bad.

Not only are the Rangers rebuilding with youngsters in the lineup, but they are rebuilding with a different system in place. The reason why the new guys (veterans and youngins) have adjusted to this so well is because they didn’t have to completely unlearn the Tom Renney system first. When you have to unlearn something, and then learn the complete opposite, it takes time and is extremely difficult. That’s why the accounting profession is so damn hard (side note, if you understand this reference, I’m impressed).

Is this current Ranger squad a playoff team? I said they are before the season started, and I still believe they are. They will hopefully make the playoffs, as a lower seed, probably a 7 or an 8. But, as the playoffs has shown, a hot goalie AND a potent offense can carry a team in the playoffs. The Rangers have both. It’s just a matter of timing at that point.

Game 26: Rangers At Penguins

The second of back to back games. And after the performance in Tampa, the Rangers need to come out strong:

OPPONENT: Pittsburgh Penguins

RECORD: 17-9-0

LEADING SCORER: Sidney Crosby, checking in with 26 points

GOALIE: Marc-Andre Fleury, with a 2.51 GAA and a .900 save percentage

GAME TIME: 7:30, MSG

RANGERS LINES:

Following last night, the lines could be changed significantly. Based on some of the pairings I saw last night, here’s my best guess:

Avery-Prospal-Gaborik

Higgins-Drury-Callahan

Parenteau-Anisimov-Kotalik

Lisin-Voros-Brashear

According to Gross, Voros is in for Boyle, a healthy scratch. D-pairings are the same. Valliquette should be in goal.

STATE OF THE BLUESHIRTS: Up and down, as usual. Two great wins in a row, followed by a stinker. Lundqvist looked awful against Tampa. Once Tampa figured out how to control Gaborik, that was the game. No secondary scoring from guys you’d expect. That’s been what this team has been about all year. They have to find a away to get some scoring from Callahan, from Higgins. And man, does this team miss Wade Redden (never thought I’d write that sentence). Sure, Sanguinetti played pretty well, but Redden is a stabilizing force back there (never thought I’d write that sentence). Good news is that Del Zotto is becoming a physical force, and Gilroy is playing really well. The Rangers need the secondary scoring. Without it, they should be called The New York Gaboriks.

CRAZY THOUGHT: Higgins scores a goal

ON THE iPOD: If I Could Fly, by Joe Satriani

FINAL PREDICTION: Just can’t see the Rangers winning. Penguins 3, Rangers 2

So, watch, discuss, have fun. But most of all, LET’S GO RANGERS!!!!!!

Game 25: Rangers At Lightning

Happy Day After Thanksgiving! Hope you all aren’t too full. After two wins in a row, the Rangers look to keep the streak going.

OPPONENT: Tampa Bay Lightning

RECORD: 9-6-7

LEADING SCORER: Steven Stamkos, with 26 points

GOALIE: Mike Smith will be in net tonight. He has a 3.37 GAA and a .890 save percentage

GAME TIME: 7:30, MSG

RANGERS LINES:

Christopher Higgins-Vinny Prospal-Marian Gaborik

Sean Avery-Artem Anisimov-P.A. Parenteau

Ales Kotalik-Chris Drury-Ryan Callahan

Donald Brashear-Brian Boyle-Enver Lisin

Aaron Voros sits for Kotalik. With Redden out, here are the defense pairs:

Staal-Girardi

Sanguinetti-Gilroy

Rosival-Del Zotto

Lundqvist is in net.

STATE OF THE BLUESHIRTS: Pretty good. Two straight impressive wins. We saw teammates sticking up for each other. This team is looking grittier. They’re going in the corner, fighting for pucks. They’re using a really aggressive forecheck, that’s leading to chances.  The Redden injury hurts. We don’t what we’ll get from Sanguinetti. He’s been tearing it up in the AHL, though. The Rangers, even though they only scored a goal against Florida, were getting a lot of chances. Chris Higgins is beyond due. So is Ryan Callahan. With Kotalik returning, the power play will look better.Drury also looked great on the point; he’ll probably replace Redden on the second power play unit.

CRAZY THOUGHT: Sanguinetti scores his first NHL goal

ON THE iPOD: If You Don’t Know Me By Now, By Seal

FINAL PREDICTION: Torts wins in his return to Tampa Bay, winning 3-1

I’ll be watching the game on my brand new TV I got for Black Friday. It’s awesome. I’m excited. So, watch, discuss, have fun. But most of all, LET’S GO RANGERS!!!!!!

Redden Out One Week

It looks like Bobby Sanguinetti is not going to be a ‘just in case’ call up. Wade Redden will be out one week, guaranteeing we will be seeing Sangs play during the three games in four night stretch beginning tonight in Tampa.

Sangs has been lighting it up in Hartford, and many fans have been calling for his recall to get Michal Rozsival out of the lineup. So you get half your wish, as he will definitely be playing. Let’s hope that training camp showing was just a blip on the radar, and not a sign of things to come.

Sanguinetti Recalled

Considering today is Thanksgiving, I didn’t expect to have anything to post other than the Happy Thanksgiving post below. Alas, I was mistaken. With the Wade Redden injury, the Rangers need another defenseman. It looks like fans are going to get their wish, as Bobby Sanguinetti has been recalled. He will be filling in for the injured Redden for the road trip. Dare I say that Sanguinetti has some tough shoes to fill? Well, I do. Redden has been great this year.

Sanguinetti has been tearing up the AHL, at the tune of a point per game. He deserves the call up. I bet his Thanksgiving just got a lot better.

Happy Thanksgiving

The Rangers brought us to this holiday with two good wins in a row. Let’s hope they can build off this momentum and right the ship.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Game 24: Rangers At Florida

Happy Thanksgiving eve! After a rousing win against the Jackets, the Rangers are back at work.

OPPONENT: Florida Panthers

RECORD: 10-9-3

LEADING SCORER: Nathan Horton, checking in at 19 points.

GOALIE: Tomas Vokoun, he of the 2.72 GAA and a .923 save percentage

GAME TIME: 7 PM, MSG

RANGERS LINES: This is going on the assumption that Ales Kotalik will be out:

Chris Higgins-Vinny Prospal-Marian Gaborik
Sean Avery-Artem Anisimov-P.A. Parenteau
Enver Lisin-Chris Drury-Ryan Callahan
Donald Brashear-Brian Boyle-Aaron Voros

D-pairs are the same. We should see Hank in net.

STATE OF THE BLUESHIRTS: All is well right now in Ranger-land. They played one of their best games of the year against Columbus. But we must remember that is one game. The Rangers need to play games like that more often. The good thing is Sean Avery had his best game of the year. So did Artem Anisimov. I thought Chris Higgins fit really well with Gaborik and Prospal. It’ll also be interesting to see how Drury plays. Will he be rusty? And if Kotalik does not play, who takes the hard shot from the point? Do they move Gaborik back there? Drury?

CRAZY THOUGHT: Drury scores in his first game back.

ON THE iPOD: Aja, by Steely Dan (BTW, saw them in concert this summer, at Beacon Theater. What an unbelievable concert. They played the Aja album all the way through, plus some classics. So good)

FINAL PREDICTION: Rangers 2, Panthers 0

Last game we had a BSB record with 108 comments. First, thank you. It’s awesome to see that kind of involvement and discussion. So, watch, discuss, have fun. Who knows? Maybe we’ll set a new BSB record. But most importantly, LET’S GO RANGERS!!!!!