Game 67: Rangers at Thrashers

Another day, another must-win game for the Blueshirts. Will they get it done?

OPPONENT: Thrashers

RECORD: 28-28-10

LEADING SCORER: Nik Antropov, 17-38-55

GOALIE: Johan Hedberg, 2.64 GAA and a .910 save percentage

RANGERS LINES:

Prospal-Jokinen-Gaborik
Dubinsky-Anisimov-Callahan
Prust-Christensen-Drury
Shelley-Boyle-Lisin

No Avery. Hank in net

STATE OF THE BLUESHIRTS: In need of a win. This is another must-win game for the Rangers. Especially because they are fighting with Atlanta for the 8th playoff spot. They need a win. Not in OT or a shootout. In regulation. They need Gaborik to be Gaborik. They need Hank to be Hank. They need their stars to come out and play their best. Atlanta is beatable. Of course, Johan Hedberg is a Ranger killer. But, they are beatable. I very curious to see how the Rangers respond to the Avery benching. I don’t think Torts ever gave him a fair shot. They seemed to have a prior beef, with Torts ripping Aves when Torts was on TV. Maybe they just don’t get along. But, Avery has done nothing since Torts took over. Will Lisin work? I don’t know. He shows flashes, but never consistently. The top line is stacked with their best players. Prospal, Jokinen, and Gaborik have to produce.

CRAZY THOUGHT: Lisin will score

ON THE iPOD: Astair, Matt Costs

FINAL PREDICTION: Rangers 4, Thrashers 3

So, watch, discuss, have fun. LET’S GO RANGERS!!!

Game 66: Rangers at Devils

This may be the biggest day of the Rangers year. For one, it’s a must-win game. Lose this game, especially in regulation, and your playoff picture is looking cloudy. And two, it’s my birthday. Rangers wouldn’t want to lose a game on my birthday. It wouldn’t be good.

OPPONENT: Devils

RECORD: 28-23-3

LEADING SCORER: Zach Parise, 30-35-65

GOALIE: Martin Brodeur, 2.37 GAA and a .910 save percentage

RANGERS LINES:

Prospal-Christensen-Gaborik
Dubinsky-Jokinen-Callahan
Avery-Anisimov-Drury
Prust-Boyle-Shelley

Hank in net.

STATE OF THE BLUESHIRTS: Not great. Bad loss against Buffalo. Loss three in a row–although two they got points in. Still, they need two points. I don’t care if you need to go to OT, or a shootout. Need to get two points. Hank needs to be huge. Gaborik playing well would be nice. Someone needs to step up. Someone. Anyone.

CRAZY THOUGHT: Hank gets a shutout

ON THE iPOD: Just Friends (Sunny), Musiq Soulchild

FINAL PREDICTION: Rangers 3, Devils 0

So, watch, discuss, have fun. LET’S GO RANGERS!!!!

Game 65: Rangers vs Sabres

After a disappointing loss last night, our beloved Blueshirts are back at it again.

OPPONENT: Sabres

RECORD: 34-20-9

LEADING SCORER: Tim Connolly, 15-42-57

GOALIE: Ryan Miller, 2.16 GAA and a 9.30 save percentage

RANGERS LINES:

Prospal-Christensen-Gaborik
Dubinsky-Jokinen-Callahan
Avery-Anisimov-Drury
Prust-Boyle-Shelley

Hank back in net

STATE OF THE BLUESHIRTS: Once again, down. Bad loss against the Caps. Just looked flat out there. Getting shut out by Jose Theodore? Child, please. Not good enough. And, now they face our national hockey savior, Ryan Miller. Look at his numbers. .930 save percentage? Crazy. Rangers will have to try and pepper him with shots, hoping he makes a mistake. Other than that, Hank has to be huge. This is a huge game. After getting one point against the Pens, none against the Caps, they need two here against Buffalo. They need two.

CRAZY THOUGHT: Shelley gets into a fight

ON THE iPOD: Miley Cyrous, Hathbanger (It’s basically a remix of “Party in the USA”, by Miley Cyrus, and “Party and Bullshit”, by Biggie Smalls. It’s actually awesome. And I don’t like Miley Cyrus.)

FINAL PREDICTION: Rangers 2, Sabres 1

So, watch, discuss, have fun. I’ll be at the game tonight. Not sure where I’m sitting. But, if you see a ridiculously good looking guy in a Drury sweater, it’s probably me. LET’S GO RANGERS!!!

Game 64: Rangers vs Capitals

After a heartbreaking loss, the Rangers are back at it, hoping to get back on the winning track.

OPPONENT: Capitals

RECORD: 43-13-8

LEADING SCORER: Alex Ovechkin, 42-48-90

GOALIE: Jose Theodore, 2.88 GAA and a .910 save percentage

RANGERS LINES:

Hip, hip, hooray! Gaborik is back!

Prospal-Christensen-Gaborik
Dubinsky-Jokinen-Callahan
Avery-Anisimov-Drury
Prust-Boyle-Shelley

Alex Auld will be making his Ranger debut. Lisin and Voros are scratched.

STATE OF THE BLUESHRITS: Up and down, as per usual. Hank has been stellar, and they should have beat Pittsburgh, but they fell in OT. You score that many goals–without Gaborik, no less–and you lose in OT. The point was important, to be sure. But, the Rangers need two points. This is a big game. They get Gaborik back. If Gaborik is healthy, then this team becomes a lot better. That Jokinen acquisition is looking pretty good. He adds another dimension.

CRAZY THOUGHT: Avery scores

ON THE iPOD: Kids, by MGMT

FINAL PREDICTION: Rangers 4, Caps 2

So, watch, discuss, have fun. LET’S GO RANGERS!!!

Game 63: Rangers vs Penguins

First game after the trading deadline, but there were no major moves for the Blueshirts on deadline day. Will that come back to haunt them? We’ll find out…

OPPONENT: Penguins

RECORD: 37-22-4

GOALIE: Marc-Andre Fleury, 2.65 GAA and a .910 save percentage.

LEADING SCORER: Cindy Crosby, 42-37-79

RANGERS LINES:

Prospal-Christensen-Callahan
Drury-Jokinen-Dubinsky
Avery-Anisimov-Lisin
Prust-Boyle-Shelley

MDZ back in. Hank in net.

STATE OF THE BLUESHIRTS: Not bad. Good win after the break against Ottawa. Of course, they are missing Marian Gaborik. We haven’t seen the Rangers without Gabby for any extended period of time. If he’s out that long (let’s hope not), it will be very difficult for the Rangers to make the playoffs. If he’s back soon, they can squeak in. They beat the Pens before the break with Gabby only playing a couple of minutes, so it can happen.

CRAZY THOUGHT: Shelley scores

ON THE iPOD: Heart In A Cage, The Strokes

FINAL PREDICTION: Rangers 3, Penguins 2

So, watch, discuss, have fun. I think Dave said he’s going to be at the game, so give him a holla. I’ll be at a fundraiser, so I’ll count on you guys to fill me in. LET’S GO RANGERS!!!

Game 62: Rangers at Senators

So, the Olympic break is over. We’re back to NHL action, and a fight towards the playoffs? Will they make it? Who knows. But, this game is the start of making the playoffs.

OPPONENT: Senators

RECORD: 36-23-4

GOALIE: Brian Elliott, 2.59 GAA and a .910 save percentage

LEADING SCORER: Daniel Alfredsson, 17-32-49

RANGERS LINES:

Prospal-Christensen-Callahan
Drury-Jokinen-Dubinsky
Avery-Anisimov-Lisin
Prust-Boyle-Shelley

No Gaborik. No Del Zotto. Potter in for MDZ. Even though Lisin was waived, he’s still able to play (not sure why). Hank in net

STATE OF THE RANGERS: Well, it’s been two weeks. When we left off, Olli Jokinen scored an overtime goal to beat Pittsburgh in maybe one of the best games for the Rangers all year. Now, it’s a whole new season. Twenty games. It will decide if they make the playoffs or not. Good news: Jokinen has to be hot, after his incredible game against Slovakia. Drury was outstanding in the Olympics. Will it carry over? Not sure. But, there’s reason for optimism.

CRAZY THOUGHT: Drury scores twice

ON THE iPOD: Life on Mars?, David Bowie

FINAL PREDICTION: Rangers 3, Sens 0

So, watch, discuss, have fun. LET’S GO RANGERS!!!!

Gold Medal Game: USA vs Canada

It’s here. The Gold Medal Game. USA. Canada. Does it get better than this? Well, yes, yes it does. We’ll be chatting live–LIVE–during the game. Join myself, Dave, and fellow fans while we watch the game together. Tell your friends. Have them tell their friends. Let’s make this huge.

OPPONENT: Canada

GOALIE: Roberto Luongo, 2.35 GAA and a .919 save percentage with Vancouver.

USA LINES:

Langenbrunner-Statsny-Parise

Kane-Kesler-Brown

Malone-Pavelski-Kessel

Ryan-Backes-Drury/Callahan

Our savior, Ryan Miller, will be in goal.

STATE OF THE UNION: Pretty damn good. USA looked good against the Finns. 6 goals in the first period? Crazy. Once again, Miller will have to stand on his head. This is a different Canadian team then the one we saw in the preliminary rounds. Their offense is clicking, and that’s without Sidney Crosby for the most part. Will he break out? I think the defense is a bit shoddy, and Luongo hasn’t really been tested. I think the key is an aggressive forecheck. USA has done that in all of the games. But you know that Canada is going to come out firing. Crowd will be on their side. It will help USA to get the first goal, silence the crowd. If Canada scores first, look out.

CRAZY THOUGHT: Drury scores

ON THE iPOD: Born in the USA, Bruce Springsteen

FINAL PREDICTION: I’ve struggled with this one. I really think it could go either way. If Miller plays like he has been, then USA gets the gold. If Crosby breaks out, watch out. It should be fun. That said, USA 3, Canada 2

So, watch, CHAT, discuss, have fun. USA!!! USA!!! USA!!!

Semi-Finals: USA vs Finland

It’s here. USA will take on Finland to move onto the gold-medal game. Are you pumped? I am. And making this even more exciting? We here at BSB will be chatting LIVE during the game. It should be fun.

OPPONENT: Finland

GOALIE: Miikka Kiprusoff, 2.218 GAA and a .925 save percentage with Calgary

USA LINES:

Langenbrunner-Statsny-Parise

Kane-Kesler-Ryan

Kessel-Pavelski-Malone

Brown-Backes-Drury/Callahan

STATE OF THE UNION: Pretty good. USA looked awesome against the Swiss–that game would have been 5-0 if not for Hiller.

Technical difficulties, live chat coming soon.

Quarterfinals: USA vs. Switzerland

Team USA, the #1 overall seed in the tournament, plays its quarterfinals game against Switzerland today at 3pm. The Swiss defeated Belarus in a shootout yesterday to advance to the quarters.

OPPONENT: Switzerland

GOALIE: Jonas Hiller, 2.70 GAA and a .919 save percentage with Anaheim

USA lines are presumably the same that beat Canada, with Miller in net

STATE OF THE UNION: #1 seed in the tournament, not having to face Russia, Sweden or Canada until the Finals, so pretty good. Can’t look ahead though, they need to win tonight to just medal. Then they will need to face either Finland or the Czech Republic, which is no small task. Remember, controlled excitement.

RANGERS PLAYING IN THIS GAME: Drury, Callahan, prospect Andres Ahmbul

CRAZY THOUGHT: Callahan scores.

FINAL PREDICTION: USA 4, Swiss 2.

So, watch, disucss, have fun. USA!!!!! USA!!!! USA!!!

Game 1: USA vs Switzerland

Olympic Hockey starts today!!!! So excited. Anyway, USA hockey is on channel USA right now.

OPPONENT: Switzerland

RECORD: 0-0-0

GOALIE: Jonas Hiller, 2.70 GAA and a .919 save percentage with Anaheim

USA LINES:

Kane-Statsny-Parise,

Brown-Kesler-Langenbrunner,

Kessel-Pavelski-Malone,

Ryan-Backes-Callahan

Drury is the extra man, although he is playing. Last saw him with Ryan and Callahan. Miller in net

STATE OF THE UNION: (See what I did there?). Don’t know much, but we’ll know more after this game. Want to see a lot of shots, and an up-tempo game.

RANGERS PLAYING IN THIS GAME: Drury, Callahan, prospect Andres Ahmbul

CRAZY THOUGHT: Drury scores

FINAL PREDICTION: USA 3, Swiss 1

So, watch, disucss, have fun. USA!!!!! USA!!!! USA!!!