Twenty Games Left

The Olympics are over, and the Rangers push for the playoffs will begin tomorrow in Ottawa. The Rangers currently sit in 10th in the East, with a record of 28-27-7 and 63 points. This puts the Rangers one point behind the 8th place Montreal Canadiens, with a game in hand. The Rangers will also have to leap frog the surprising Tampa Bay Lightning, who also have 63 points, but two games in hand on the Rangers.

In the next 40 days, our beloved Blueshirts will play 20 games. That is a possible 40 points to be earned by the Rangers in this stretch. Considering the way the standings sit, I am guessing that a total of 95 points to be guaranteed a playoff spot, but 93 points should be enough for the #8 seed. That means the Rangers will need to earn 32 points to be in, and 30 points to be on the bubble. That is no easy task.

Of these 20 games, a whopping 12 of them will be against teams currently in the playoffs. An additional two games are against teams just out of the playoffs, and only 8 of these games will be at the friendly confines of MSG. Putting these games aside for a moment, this means that the Rangers must, absolutely must, win all six games against the non-playoff teams (St. Louis, Islanders x 2, Toronto x 2, Florida). That gives the Rangers 12 points. Of the remaining 14 games, the Rangers will need 18 more points out of the possible 28 to just be on the bubble for the post season.

There are two separate stretches that will define the Rangers playoff drive, the first one begins tomorrow in Ottawa, where the Rangers begin a stretch of five games where the weakest opponent will be the Buffalo Sabres, who are securely in the playoffs. The second stretch begins on March 25, where the Rangers will play six straight road games, of which three will be against playoff teams.

The team is going to need stellar performances from Henrik Lundqvist, but will also need some quality starts from newly acquired Alex Auld. If the Rangers add some offense and a crease clearing defenseman at the deadline, then anything is possible.

Good win but where does that leave us?

A good win against the Lightning even if it, again, was devoid of a complete 60 minute effort.

The game perhaps left more questions than answers though;

• This 3 in 4 stretch. What does this make the Rangers come deadline day – buyers or sellers? you know my opinion (sell, sell, sell)
• Where is Christensen’s best place on the roster? top line, top 6? 3rd line? Clearly he has talent (as his 18 goal season in Pittsburgh proved) but to be a top 4 team in the East does it reflect on our depth if he’s permanently a top line player?
• Will Henrik get any rest as we battle for 7th, 8th? Clearly its going to be a scrap all the way. Does Torts have the guts to dress Chad Johnson for atleast 2 full games?The King will need a break at some point but we’ll need every point here on in.

Finally… this team really is at a cross roads and as a fan it’s very frustrating. Against the Pens in particular but also against Jersey and 40(ish) minutes against Tampa this team showed it can (should) be a top 6 team in the East…. but then you have the Nashville yawner inbetween. Dare I give him some slack, but this team isnt an easy one for Sather to gauge (though that is mostly his fault in the first place)…..

So what now?

After another listless, lifeless game where only really the King distinguished himself what next for the Rangers?

If there was one thing to come out of last night’s loss (and it wasnt the Rangers finishing ability) it was the fact that this loss should push the Rangers closer to being sellers. In my opinion, the right direction. Even though they’re still in with a playoff chance in the comparatively weak East, when we look at those teams around the Rangers in the standings it doesnt look great….

The Flyers in 7th, have 2 games in hand and are 4 points up on the Rangers. 8th placed Tampa have the same advantages as Philly and both have momentum and are playing well. Boston in 9th and back to winning ways have 2 points more than the Rangers and also 2 games in hand.

How bad is our form? In the East only the Islanders have as few points as the Rangers in the past 10.

Lets not forget the Rangers next go to Pittsburgh to face the Pens where 2 points are anything but a given and very unlikely (sorry, i am nothing if not honest). The game to close out league play prior to the Olympics against an in form Tampa squad is huge. Could the entire season (and subsequent roster moves) rest on that game or will Sather act before Sunday?

Here’s hoping Sather does the right thing.

1 Step Back To Take Several Forward?

Hi all! Just like to say im thrilled to be able to post here on Blueseatblogs, my favourite Rangers blog. I love the honesty and intelligence of the blog and it makes me keep coming back. I write for nasports.co.uk  which is a website aimed at North American sports for, in the first instance UK fans, but also anyone who enjoys the sports we cover. Anyway…..

In recent weeks rumblings are abound from Ranges fans that the Rangers should be sellers at the deadline or whenever the trade party gets into full swing. Hell, even the NY media are demanding the same thing. Are you, as a fan, willing to accept a losing season because we’ve blown up and started again? Personally I am. So long as it’s for the right reasons…

Its one thing to start, and then emphasise, a rebuild it’s quite another to be horrible for half a decade (take a bow Pittsburgh, Washington). I won’t accept being that bad and just taking it on the chin and I don’t see it as necessary. The Pens were very lucky that when they did suck there were generational talents available in the draft however if I was a Pens fan I would be saying to myself ‘you know what? We’re only good because we were that bad!’

Personally I don’t see why the Detroit (and more recently the Sharks) model cant be followed. A core roster, solid drafting, timely additions and good personnel – as a fan I’d take much more satisfaction out of that. This is why I don’t think long term pain is necessary for the Rangers as I see some very important parts already in place. The Rangers have a good young core (think Henrik, Gaborik, Staal, Del Zotto, Callahan and Dubinsky) and in the past 3-4 years they’ve made good draft picks including; Stepan, Bourque, Grachev, Anisimov etc. It’s the (free agent) additions that Sather gets wrong. Do we have a good staff? Well their track record says so. Are they right for NY? I say give them time. Bear in mind this team or the core of it is very young - patience is required - but we all appreciate patience is at a premium in NY and with Sather is around.

Back to my point. To what depths will you watch your team go to and at what cost?

Remember the move New Jersey made when they shipped ex Ranger Malakhov’s deal to the Sharks for a 1^st rounder?  It cost them a very good pick but they rid themselves of a major headache. So would you be willing to accept, for example, Sheldon Souray for Wade Redden Michael Roszival AND a 1^st round pick plus perhaps a 2^nd? It’s a lot to give up (and that kind of deal may cost more) but the team rid themselves of a lot of cap and get a 1 year deal coming back. Its only theory but I use it as an example.  Do you have any ideas?

I want this team to take a clear direction. Lose and don’t stack up (a la Antropov last year) and instead sell. Win and stay pat; back the team already on the ice. Don’t move picks or prospects for a quick fix. Take what comes.

If we don’t make the playoffs this year I wont be (too) disappointed so long as I see the youth on the team develop. A good boxer can take a hit and comeback. One bad season wouldn’t destroy us. I really want a high pick this year. I want the team to move more players, get more picks. I want what’s best for the New York Rangers.

Quick heads up; i’ll be posting my thoughts on the Olympics here at BSB so hope you’ll stop by read and contribute!

I Hate When I’m Right

I really do. Watching Crosby hoist the Cup hurts. At least he didn’t win the Conn Smythe.

By the way, Gary Bettman is a tool. Can you promote Cindy Crosby more? “You will be the youngest captain to hoist the Stanley Cup?” Really? Who cares? He’s a great player, sure, but was the necessary?

I’m bitter. Ugh.

Fleury’s Redemption

What a game by Marc-Andre Fleury. I mean, wow. He followed up his abysmal performance in Game 5 with theis stellar performance last night, and stole Game 6 for the Penguins. You could tell he was on his game early, and that breakaway save on Cleary, that would have tied the game, was huge. This really have been an exciting series, and we all knew it had to go to Game 7.

True to my prediction, I think the Pens will manage to win Game 7, at the Joe. I can’t imagine an entire Finals where the home team wins all seven games. But the fact that the home team has won all six games so far just highlights the brilliant coaching done by both Babcock and Bylsma. Hockey is the only sport where home-ice is actually an advantage, because it’s written into the rules: the last line change. This series has been a series of matchups, with the home team always winning.

Game 7 is Friday at 8pm. You should be watching. This will be a fantastic game.

Wings Put Pens on Brink

This is a day late, but I was traveling all day yesterday, so I didn’t have time to update the blog at all. Anyway, the Wings destroyed the Pens on Saturday night, and Fleury looked like a peewee goalie. Those were some extreme softies. As alarming as Fleury’s play was, it was just as alarming how much of an effect Datsyuk had on the Pens. He leveled Malkin, who had been red hot, and really set the tone for the game. He is such a complete two-way player. He did it all; two assists, drawing penalties, and shutting down the other half of the Crosby/Malkin combo.

The Pens are in trouble, but I still stand by my prediction earlier that the team that wins Game 6 wins the series. Fleury needs to make up for his awful performance on Saturday, and steal Game 6. It’s quite obvious that Crosby cannot solve Zetterberg, and it looks like Malkin won’t be able to solve Datsyuk, even though his line controlled a good portion of the first period.

And how about that Cindy Crosby and the vicious slash he took at Zetterberg? Considering how often Crosby whines to the refs, how about showing some restraint and professionalism and not take a cheap two-handed slash to someone who is clearly shutting you down? If you want the calls to go for you, then you can’t be giving cheap shots like that.

Game 6 on Tuesday will be a dogfight. If you haven’t been watching the series, you should tune in.

Pens Tie Series

After Detroit stormed out of the gate with back to back 3-1 wins, Pittsburgh came back with two dominating performances at the Igloo to tie it. The Wings are being exploited for their weak penalty kill, and Malkin is running amok. The Wings need Datsyuk back, and fast.

This series is going to come down to two things: 1) who wins a road game, as that team will have a huge edge, and 2) who wins Game 6. Clearly, if the team that wins Game 5 wins Game 6, the series is over (duh). However, I get the feeling that if Game 6 is won by the team down 3-2, then that team will still win the series. I worded that incredibly poorly.

The NHL is guaranteed two more games on NBC, which is great for league publicity. The last three games of this series will be a dogfight, and it will be great to watch. You should tune in if you have the chance.

Wings Up 2-0

Wasn’t this the year that Cindy and the Pens took the next step in “becoming the Oilers”? Well, so far, nothing is going to plan. The Wings –those old, beaten down, injured, no dynamic scoring, no goalie, Wings– are up 2-0. They are getting balanced scoring up and down the lineup, posting a pair of 3-1 wins this weekend. Cindy Crosby, the supposed best two way player in the game, is getting shut down by Henrik Zetterberg. Sure, Zetterberg has exactly 1 point, an assist, so far in the Finals, but Crosby has the big goose egg. Malkin has just one assist as well.

Shut down Crosby and Malkin, and who scores for the Penguins? Fedotenko? Where has Chris Kunitz disappeared to? Sure, Gonchar’s hurt, but so is Lidstrom.

Shut down Zetterberg, then people like Filpulla (1 G), Holmstrom (2 A), Hossa (2 A), Hudler (1 G), Helm (1 G, 1 A), and Franzen (1 G) put up the scoring. Keep in mind, Datsyuk hasn’t played yet.

So much for Chris Osgood not being a top goalie. Everyone, including myself, wrote him off after his shaky season and inconsistent play in the playoffs. He has been brilliant, stopping 62 of 64 shots (31 of 32 in both games). If there were any questions of his Hall of Fame candidacy, there were silenced this weekend. He will go to the Hall. The fact of the matter is that Detroit is just so well balanced, and they have the right players: Skill guys who play defense, and still average a point a game in the regular season.

Can Pittsburgh get back in the series? Sure. You can’t silence Crosby/Malkin forever. But they need a sweep at home to even have a chance. If Detroit wins once in Pittsburgh, it’s over.

Wings/Pens 2

Well, the Stanley Cup Finals are set, with Darren Helm’s OT winner –and ridiculous single handed penalty kill in the 3rd, wow– the Wings will be hosting the Pens in Game 1, set to begin Saturday at 8pm on NBC. This repeat of last year is going to be a repeat in name only, as the Pens are more experienced, and Osgood isn’t as good as he was last year (but still pretty good in a big spot). Crosby and Malkin are red hot, and should be able to match the Zetterberg/Datsyuk combo goal for goal.

This series comes down to secondary scoring. Can Jordan Staal, Ruslan Fedotenko and Bill Guerin beat out Jiri Hudler, Johan Franzen and the other Swedes? Can the Rafalski outscore Gonchar? Those are the keys to the series. Everything else is roughly evenly matched, even with a slight edge to the Pens (Fleury > Osgood).

This will be wildly entertaining. I think it goes to 7 games, hopefully with the Wings repeating. I don’t think I’ll be able to stomach Cindy raising the Cup.