Good morning, Boneheads!
This time difference in Montana is really interfering with my blog management.
I don’t want to sound redundant so I’ll skip raving about how the lines are starting to gel, how two new stars are seemingly finding their spots and showing what they can (still) do, about the great timing of Shesterkin finding his game, etc…
I’ll just say this game was a beauty. So was the the TOI distribution by GG ahead to another game in less than 24 hours.
My little observation though. I know Fox has not been the same this year defensively, but I’m starting to see a little hesitation in his first strides and his pivoting. Is he playing hurt? And if yes, they need to start giving him some time to recover as soon as Lindgren is back.
57 responses to “Rangers-6, Penguins-Oogatz”
Ilb is a Fox apologist. 😁
Brady Skjei has 15 goals! Who saw that coming?
Admiral
I wanted to finish the game after the 1st period, I just had too much going on. I checked the score after a crazy day before turning in for the evening. There is not much I enjoy more than seeing our boys trounce the pens! I will watch the 2nd & 3rd today.
Kravtsov was a healthy scratch last night. Nils back in the lineup after 5 straight healthy scratches. He played a little over 2 minutes.
Bdl
Private Kravtsov?
I would have liked to have seen Montana
CC were shut out last night. Their season is over. Did not see the game, so I don’t know if Laba was a factor. Pretty good freshman season for him.
‘ By the way, Nils Lundkvist has been a healthy scratch the past five games for Dallas, and Vitali Kravtsov has one assist in eight games for the Canucks, for whom he is getting less ice time per (10:52) than he did with the Rangers (11:25).’
So much for the Bruncher narrative of the Rangers getting “Fleeced” by Vancouver for Kravtsov.
Gallant took a lot of crap from the twitter fan base, and the younger beats, about how he handled Kravtsov. The Rangers have cup aspirations. Vancouver is out of the playoff picture, and they are healthy scratching him. Maybe Gallant wasn’t the problem?
Chris Kreider has the 6th most goals scored in Rangers history. 21 more and he’d be 3rd. Getting to second overall is not out of the question.
Kravtsov is behind DiGiuseppe on the depth chart?
It looks that way Gravy.
Got to credit Drury for the return he got on Nils. (And for that matter the return Gorton got for Lias Andersson). Wish Drury had moved Kravtsov last summer. Not only would the return have been better, we might have had more cap space today. At least Kravtsov’s gone now. The first time he scores, I’m sure the Twitter idiots will surface again. I’m not even convinced Kravtsov wants to play hockey.
Not sure if the Rangers truly do have a problem developing players, but Gordie Clarke and Nick Bobrov were clearly a big part of the problem because, too often they were picking the wrong players with high draft picks. Can’t make chicken salad out of chicken . . .
Clarke & Bobrov were fishstick infiltrater’s.
Beating the 🐧’s 6 -0, fabulous!
I hate Fishsticks!
I guess the Canucks are also ruining his development.
Krieder gets trashed a lot by some of the fan base, but, he was a late first round pick who has lived up to his billing more so than some of the lottery picks they have had recently. He was a lower pick than Schneider or Othmann. If their 1OA and 2OA picks have as many goals in their Ranger careers I would be pleased and surprised at this point. That doesn’t even begin to talk about Lias and Vitali.
I got a chance to watch the game this morning. Last night was a rock star game with Igor being the lead singer. All the big dollar guys got on the board. If Igor played the way he has most of the year (good but not great) that game would have been much closer. Neither team was very good defensively and Igor was much much better than the Pens’ goalies. I bet the expected goal models show the game as even or the Pens with a slight advantage. The Rangers buried all their scoring chances and Igor stopped the Pens best chances. It was fun to watch and it’s great to spank the Pens but it wasn’t playoff hockey like Thursday’s game was.
The win pretty much cements 3rd place for them. Time for some NBA style “load management” starting with Fox who seems to be playing through an injury. Keep playing Igor though. He needs to stay on top of his game. 7-2-1 with Lindgren out is pretty, pretty good.
Nils has to get back in the lineup to get his 50 points so the Rangers get a better pick for him. There’s a 50/50 chance Vitali flies the coop again after the season. I thought his father was well connected so he doesn’t have to worry about taking a Black Sea vacation when he gets back.
I’m going to respectfully disagree with Larry Brooks on this one, and I’m going to say that former Secretary of Labor Walsh will make it his priority to negotiate the cap increase of more than just $1M for next season. And I believe he may be able to do it without sacrificing too much of escrow increase, if any. Walsh will have a honey moon period, and he should use it, even though Garry may bring it up in their later negotiations. While I agree with Larry that it may benefit only a third of the league players next year, it will benefit everyone in the future when they negotiate their next contracts. Having the ability to sign better players and not rely on using LTIR contracts year after year will make teams more successful and will benefit everyone going forward. The league is flourishing despite having to take this Covid related big hit, and there is no reason not to have everyone involved benefit from it. I think getting too worked up about capping next year’s escrow at 6% and not looking beyond this year in this environment is shortsighted.
Regarding Fox. I have noticed a difference in his game since the all star game. If as some of you have said it is an injury then by all means rest him before the playoffs. Yesterday’s game was a joy to behold. Top players all looked good and goalie looked great. Would like to see how we stack up against Bruins before playoffs.
How are all you guys able to watch the re-run of the game this morning?
Ilb
You’re in Montana?!?!?!
Akbar
Espn+ I think
PK has been awful good since Motte arrived
Admiral
I have Sling TV so I recorded it on abc I also have espn+.
ORF, agree with you, rangers defense is not good. Igor made incredible saves that most goalies in the league would not have made the save. Fox defending has been bad. Fox also has made some awful passes for giveaways in his own zone.
Miller also makes some dumb passes, still shaky on the defensive side.
Headzo 9:16, hope you’re eating rabbits with your round American wife up in heaven.
ESPN + and DirectTV stream gives me everything I need for rangers anytime anywhere
Finally !
More ascerbic Carp :
What are the team records
Thought carp knew hockey enough to not just point to a singular stat
Kind of annoying that he gaslights people for no reason
I liked the tenor here where it was positive that most of not all the boneheads have been happy for Sammy for find his game
Carp laughing is not a good look
What happened to him? He used to be the blogfather. Bitter now cause he was forced into retirement mid season ?
My expectations are higher for him maybe inappropriately.
?going senial
If he’s not a ranger fan why does he pay so much attention to them when it’s no longer his job?
Maybe the Carp has turned into a blowfish. I hope not, but for someone who knows hockey that tweet is spitting into the wind.
Blues 4-6-1 last ten games with that game breaker Sammy blais
Rangers 7-2-1 with tarasenko last ten games who apparently needs more goals than Sammy to make the trade look good.
Sheesh. I haven’t watched any blues games. But watching every minute of the rangers tarasenko has really filled a huge need in the top 6 in all 3 zones and helped set up several important goals that were scored by his teammates
How many assists does Sammy have?
Sjkel- 15 G
Fox 10 G
Quick. Get carp to tweet that stat so we can trade to get Brady back! Will have to send fox and a sweatner to oral him away from the canes.
Peal not oral
Gross 🤮 autocorrect!
Blais – 3 assists since trade
Tarasenko – 8 assists since trade
It’s a shame for Carp.
I agree it’s not a good look for him at all. It reeks of sour grapes and is even unprofessional.
JD and Hedgehog don’t publicly wring their hands over being fired by the Rangers, and they have more beef with the Rangers than Carp could ever.
It just makes Carp, 26, look like an old, bitter man.
Tarasenko’s addition energized a team that’s bound for the playoffs.
Blais gets a bigger role on team that’s re-tooling.
Works for everybody. Isn’t it nice when a trade works equally well for both teams and all players involved?
Beat wide with 15g, nevertheless he’s still beat wide regularly.
Good point admiral
Carp seems to have an axe to grind with Drury cause Drury keeps his cards close to the vest
Wonder if it goes further back like to when Drury was captain?
I love JD still. I wish he was still a part of the rangers. Seems like He chose to be loyal to Gorton and maybe Quinn who weren’t even his hires. That was his choice. Sucks how it ended for him here but that’s the chance you take in that position.
But…. Giving the keys to Drury seems to be the best move possible. He is many times better than Gorton and as President he has more autonomy and maneuverability
The Enigma 150g away from Rod Gilbert, I don’t think he gets there. But he’s only 70g away from Ratelle for 2nd place all time. I say he makes it.
At the end of this year Rangers will have to decide how much to give Miller and Laffy for new contract. I am all for keeping Laff at a good price. With Miller I do not think he will develop into more then we see now. Too many d zone problems and almost no snarl.
If you were the GM do you extend Lingren or give Miller a bridge deal and hope he gets better or you can trade him?
Maybe Chytil, Miller, and Jones can be moved in the off season to possibly find that 3 & 4C? I do know they wouls stillneed to relpace Miller. Maybe Mikkola is the guy. Like Wicky has said speed isn’t everything, but Kakko and Busto could use some improvement.
That was one of the issues with Brady. He was supposed to be a stay at home D and his offense became his major strength.
The biggest takeaway last night was Igor’s play. Ranger team D was not great. Lots of odd man rushes and other grade A chances. It has been better recently. Those game happen occasionally. They were much better Thursday and gave the Pens a lot fewer chances. Let’s see how it goes tonight. I assume Halak will be in net.
Igor looked very intense last night – at least from the highlights I saw.
Real encouraging sign!
Save of the year to preserve the shutout was the hasek like windmill scissor kick
Not sure what to call it but that was insane
This is good news, but still shouldn’t look past this one tonight. The 3rd line needs to start producing or else,(as many have said here before), maybe there shouldn’t be a kid line.
Halak in net.
No Lindgren tonight. Gallant “would bet a lot that he’s in next game.”
Rangers need to keep piling up points. Lankinen is no slouch they must take tonight’s game seriously. Forwards must be engaged defensively, 3rd line advice, shoot the puck, crash the net!
Hopefully no hangover from the Pittsburgh pounding. You da man, Jaro!
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