I would like to retract my statement in the post below, I cannot attend tonight’s game. If you want the tickets, please email me at shapirodavidm[at]gmail[dot]com. Tickets are Section 338, Row F, $56 a piece. You will need to meet me at my office in NY (midtown, 10 min subway from MSG) to pick them up.
First person to email me gets them.
EDIT: Sold.
This week is a bit rough on the ole sanity. Today’s going to be another rough day. I won’t be updating at all today, other than this.
Awesome post, right?
Press release from the NHLPA in regards to an auction for Haiti:
NHLPA ONLINE AUCTION TO RAISE MONEY IN SUPPORT OF HOCKEY FOR HAITI RELIEF EFFORT
…Proceeds will go to Hockey for Haiti relief initiative through World VisionTORONTO, ON (January 26, 2010) – The National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) announced today that hockey fans can join the NHLPA in raising funds for the Hockey for Haiti relief project by participating in an online eBay.ca auction, which fans can locate on www.nhlpa.com. All proceeds raised from the auction will help World Vision strengthen Haiti’s ability to provide critical healthcare and medical care to the Haitian people.
The auction features one-of-a-kind hockey memorabilia donated by the NHLPA, its members and other charitable individuals. The first phase of the auction features many fantastic items, including signed jerseys by players such as Sidney Crosby, Zdeno Chara and Luke Schenn, as well as signed photos by Alex Ovechkin, Tomas Plekanec, Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Toews. In addition, 2009 Winter Classic jerseys worn by Patrick Kane, Brent Seabrook, Pavel Datsyuk and Kris Draper are included in the first phase of auction items. Game-used, autographed sticks from soon-to-be Olympian goaltenders Antero Niittymaki and Jaroslav Halak will also be included in the first phase, as well as game-used, autographed sticks from Scott Gomez and Sergei Kostitsyn.
Fans will be encouraged to make a financial contribution directly to the Hockey for Haiti project through an online link to the World Vision website www.worldvision.ca/hockey. Players are also encouraged to pledge a donation, through the players-only intranet site.
Notable items will be added to the auction over the coming days, including an autographed Ovechkin jersey; numerous framed autographed photos of NHL players; several signed sticks by NHL players, including the entire Tampa Bay Lightning roster; event-worn jerseys from the 2009 and 2010 Winter Classic games; and a heritage stick signed by members of Canada’s 1972 Summit Series team. Items donated by world-class boxer Jean Pascal and mixed martial artist Georges St. Pierre will also be included in later phases of the online auction.
Last week, the NHLPA and veteran NHL player, Georges Laraque, announced a partnership with World Vision to support the people of Haiti through the Hockey for Haiti project. To launch the players’ relief support for Haiti, the NHLPA Goals & Dreams fund pledged an initial donation of $100,000 to Hockey for Haiti, through World Vision.
Fans are encouraged to visit www.nhlpa.com to connect to the online charity auction, which is being hosted on eBay.ca. Information and updates will be posted regularly. The auction is expected to last approximately one month, and updates on each round of the auction will be announced.
It’s for a good cause. If you’re interested in this stuff, go check it out. If you’re not, check it out anyway.
Jim Cerny is reporting that Ales Kotalik, a healthy scratch for six in a row, is back on the point on the first powerplay unit. He will likely be back in the lineup tomorrow.
If I had to guess who he replaces, I’ll go with Brashear. Voros and Lisin have earned the right to stay in the lineup for at least another game.
So, I lost power last night. It literally just came back on 15 minutes ago, and it was down for 24 hours. (Aside: I lose power a lot. Every time it’s windy out, I lose power. I’d invest in a generator, but I’m moving in the summer. Not because of the power issues. But, that did play a (small) role. But I digress).
Anyway, I had to listen to the game on the radio, which really isn’t the same. But, the name I kept hearing was Artem Anisimov. Anisimov with the puck. Anisimov with the defensive play. Anisimov with the goal. It appeared that Anisimov was the best player on the ice last night (Those who watched please confirm or deny).
Anisimov is not going to score 30 goals this year, like he did in Hartford. But he may get 20. He’s quickly learning the defensive side, and he’s a really good in his own end. He can play on the power play, and kill penalties. In the future, Anisimov will be a 30 goal scorer. He’ll be great in his own end.
My point is this: Anisimov is a star in the making. He’ll center the first line for years to come. Best part: He’s homegrown.
I think I’m just going to copy and paste this post, and the Johnson Down/Zaba Up post, every time it happens. But hey, the great goalie shuffle of 2009-2010 continues.
Think the Rangers pay for their gas?
During last night’s 4-2 loss against the Penguins, our beloved Blueshirts simply looked overwhelmed. The fact is, they can’t skate with the Pens, score with the Pens, or play defense with the Pens. Well, these are your 2009-2010 New York Rangers: inconsistent, lacking offense, and unable to compete against the elite. You know what, I’m fine with this. Sure, if they make the playoffs, they are one-and-done, but there are plenty of positives to look forward to.
This team has two superstars in Henrik Lundqvist and Marian Gaborik that will provide steady primary scoring and stellar netminding for years to come. The Rangers have a young defensive core in Marc Staal and Michael Del Zotto, with Dan Girardi and Matt Gilroy filling out the young blue line. They have a young core of forwards in Brandon Dubinsky, Ryan Callahan and Artem Anisimov, of which big things are expected of the latter. They have pest-extraordinaire Sean Avery, who quieted critics (including myself) with his selfless play and leadership that none thought possible.
The Rangers have scoring help on the way in Evgeny Grachev and Derek Stepan. Further down the road there are Ethan Werek and Chris Kreider. They have more defensive help coming from Bobby Sanguinetti. Further down the road, they have Ryan McDonagh, who will fill that gaping hole of physical, stay at home defenseman.
The present may be bleak, but the future is bright. Remember, the Rangers are rebuilding, and doing so in New York, without tanking a season, and without missing the playoffs. Appreciate this team for what it is, and expect great things in the near future.
Let’s see if we can right the ship tonight against the elite in the East.
OPPONENT: Penguins
RECORD: 32-20-1
LEADING SCORER: Cindy Crosby, 33-32-65
GOALIE: Marc Andre-Fleury, 2.60 GAA, .910 SV%
RANGERS LINES:
Vinny Prospal-Brandon Dubinsky-Marian Gaborik
Sean Avery-Chris Drury-Ryan Callahan
Christopher Higgins-Artem Anisimov-Enver Lisin
Donald Brashear-Brian Boyle-Aaron Voros
Marc Staal-Michal Rozsival
Michael Del Zotto-Dan Girardi
Wade Redden-Matt Gilroy
Hank in net
STATE OF THE BLUESHIRTS: Crappy.
CRAZY THOUGHT: The Rangers score a goal.
ON THE iPOD: Please score a goal, by Ranger Fans Everywhere.
FINAL PREDICTION: Penguins 3, Rangers 1 (HEY! WE SCORE A GOAL!)
All sarcasm aside, the Rangers really need to win this game to get back on track. So, watch, discuss, have fun. LET’S GO RANGERS!!!
Game is on Versus by the way.
As per Steve Zipay’s twitter, the scratches for tonight’s game against Pittsburgh are Erik Christensen and Ales Kotalik. Donald Brashear will be playing tonight, presumably on the fourth line with Brian Boyle and Aaron Voros.
Kotalik, making $3 million this year and the next two years, last played on January 14. This will be the sixth game in a row that he is a healthy scratch.
I stopped watching the Ranger game when it was 5-0. I guess I’m a glutton for punishment. There was no effort, no desire, and no will to win against a team that is fighting the Rangers for a playoff spot. This prompted a rather blunt comment from Sean Avery, who hit the nail on the head:
“You can say it’s a lack of preparation, but that’s BS; it’s a lack of competitiveness,” Sean Avery, perhaps the Blueshirts’ best player, told The Post. “We do not play hard enough. I don’t have the explanation for it. I don’t know if it’s us not holding each other accountable, or what, but it’s a total lack of respect for our fans and the organization. It’s a joke.”
After scoring 14 goals in five periods, the Rangers have been shutout in their previous two games. The three games before, they scored just 1 goal. In seven games, the Rangers have been shutout a whopping FOUR times. That’s unacceptable, no matter how putrid the offense is. Even the Minnesota Wild haven’t gone through a stretch like that.
The Rangers are simply not a consistent enough team to be a true playoff contender.
