Game 40
Rangers vs. Sabres – 7:00 PM MSG
The Rangers come back home to start the new year after a road trip against some of the minnows of the league. They were not playing well the last time they were home. It will be interesting to see how they come out of the gate tonight.
I am back at the helm of the blog, but even so, E3 will provide tonight’s review. Clearly, this is a HAV.
Tonight’s possible lineup for the Rangers (26-12-1):
Chris Kreider-Derek Stepan-Mats Zuccarello
Jimmy Vesey-Kevin Hayes-Michael Grabner
JT Miller-Oscar Lindberg-Jesper Fast
Nicklas Jensen-Marek Hrivik-Brandon Pirri
Ryan McDonagh-Kevin Klein
Marc Staal-Nick Holden
Brady Skjei-Dan Girardi
The big news, of course, is that Matt Puempel is out with a concussion. Nicklas Jensen was recalled to take his spot in the lineup. Jensen has 24 points in 29 games with Hartford, had no points in his four games with the Rangers earlier this season. JT Miller finally finds his way into some PP time in place of Puempel in front of the net. Henrik Lundqvist gets the start.
Rick Nash is getting closer to returning. If he comes back before the bye* week, it seems like Saturday against Columbus is the only possibility. There are still no definitive timetables on Buchnevich or Zibanejad. Buchnevich supposedly just needs to regain his conditioning.
For the Sabres (13-15-8),the story is about falling out of their playoff race and not progressing as they had been expected to, while fellow former tankers Toronto Maple Leafs and Edmonton Oilers are already well on their way to contending for playoff spots. Apparently Eichel blew up in the dressing room following their last loss, so we may be in for a repeat of when he torched the Rangers a month ago.
Don’t forget to tell everyone you know and to follow me on Twitter @rangersreport2. And don’t forget to vote for your three stars after the game!
[polldaddy poll=”9569860″]
214 responses to “Rangers vs. Sabres… It’s Go Time!”
Squash the Slugs!
First
This game is on NBC Sports. woo hoo. LGR!
With me at the helm it’s at least a 5/8 azz venture.
Auntie Raanta is Antti Raanta’s auntie.
Attention all Bloogers. I come in peace. I will not harm you. Simply do as I say and no one will get hurt.
I’m voting JT, THE, and VC.
No pumped up kicks to deliver the hattie? I guess THE will have to deliver.
Rangers 5
Sword-boys 1
Papa John’s -1
E3’s plumbing -2
LGR!!!!!
anybody score yet?
According to Orr:
“What’s a Sabre?”
“A baby buffalo.”
Miss that guy.
Shay is becoming a bit of a machine, no?
Baby buffaloes having their way with the rangers so far. Not a good start for nyr
Is that Ray-ho’s kid that plays for the small bison?
Finally an HD feed & the boys are playing like girls.
At least we got some Kenny A & tap-in Kathryn
Honk!
i sure don’t miss Sam and Joe
Lindberg & Fast >>> Hedberg & Nillson
Honk! Honk!
FIRE SATHER! Sigh… another year.
Shay is a 6’3 210 lb baby. Figures that we would get one of those.
Sire Father!
Freddy Hedberg and Gomer Nillson.
LGR !!!
…May their first shot be a masculine one…
Who made Giannones glasses? Navin Johnson?
Hank leans forward with his hands on the ice and his arse in the air again. What position does Benoit call that
Plenty of time… for what? I don’t know.
Beers?
I think it’s called The downward spiraling dog.
So which team came to play and which team is taking them lightly?
Eo fR team that scored, Baby buffaloes wants the 2 points
First game back home curse?
The give a dog a bone?
Stellar start.
Just tuning in. Who has the Rangers’ shot?
This team sure knows how to suck! When they want to they do it well!
McDonuts. Two feet wide and gloved. Called a shot on goal.
Hasek was better.
So are t hey televising the Rangers morning skate? Snoozing so far.
Filth in the Metro
Would youse guys frikkin relax
What is the rangers all timecrecord in games where they gave up the first goal? Probably not 0-fer
They lost every opponent’s shutout.
Vomit
Disgusting.
Sire Father!
Rangers set themselves their usual 2-goal challenge.
Good period?
Our D will win all the shuffleboard games down in Boca Raton when they retire, so we will have that going for us.
First!
Zucc has a bad habit of over staying his shifts. It cost them on that second goal
They suck tonight. Makes you appreciate teams that maintain streaks that show up every night. It’s not easy. Got to give Tort some props.
Woof.
Zuccarello, some time this season I hope, may want to think about coming off the ice with his linemates every so often. God, was that a lousy play by him.
Vibin’ BDL
I saw the Shuffleboard Championships in Paris. Many people were killed.
I had a pony! When I was a little girl growing up in Poland we all had ponies!
Girardi to TroutWig: “We just have to connect the dots.” He should be the fourth brother on Three Brothers Moving Co.
I’m speechless!
MSG Hockey Show tonight!
Speaking of speechless, people who live in Gettysburg probably have a Gettysburg address.
Who figures an immigrant is going to have a pony?
I had a pony at Iona Prep for translating Virgil.
Figgers, down 2-0 & I come home to left over meatloaf.
Duguays tie is so ugly
When he opens his coat he has watches hanging for sale
Paradise by the Dashboard Lights?
DooGay – “The coaches don’t have to say anything. The players are saying to themselves, ‘we’re better than this.’”
Watching the d-zone breakdown on the first goal, Skjei and Stepan both doing the same (lousy) job trying to block a pass from the corner, hanging Kreider out to dry–he can’t decide whether to cover Girgensons or the point, decides on neither. Despicable Girardi the only guy doing his job. Awful.
A skyline of cranes
OMG, that’s such sad news about the passing of Ron Smith. What a wonderful man. Breathed hockey. Very sorry to hear.
I think I’ll use that as the title to my next chaplet of poems.
I had a strong of poloponies.
Ex Ranger coaches dropping too often
Much better.
Klein getting picked by Vegas be a blessing
Hanka III
Forget Hasek, Nilsson is better than Lundqvist.
I hope some of the guys here get left unprotected in the blog expansion draft
Fatso never played as bad as Hanka is now. $8.5 million?
Hrivik needs a trip to the batting cage, stat
Sabres only won once in past 7 games… nothing like having the Rangers around to turn that around.
I got some fancy Asian chicken with nuts all over it. I’ll take the left-over meatloaf
@Aportzline
now
#CBJ Dubinsky and #Oilers Maroon square off coming out of the corner. Dubinsky was playing McDavid hard in all zones.
Girardi and Shay, LOL
Every time Sam says “Hrivik”, I see a frog
Of course they show 35 seconds of life in the offensive zone and then immediately take a penalty
Rangers dreadful games usually occur at home. Maybe play all 82 on road.
Playing the Sabres is a thankless task that will teach the Rangers nothing about the playoffs, and they will likely come back at least a little, but what a ripoff for the paying customers. Glad I have a tutoring gig in the third.
Just get it out of your pants and eat it, Papa.
Nillson for Vezina ?
Why the hell am I still watching this?
Just turning on the game and jesus…0-3 already?! Are they playing that poorly?
Joe: “You cannot afford to get behind by four goals, Sam.”
“You’re right, Joe.”
AV might soon find himself coaching a lot of bad defenses for slot of teams
That’s was a great touch pass by girardi before the penalty whistle
It’s like watching a road accident. You stick around to see if anyone’s interested in getting out of the car.
C3, you know how sometimes you fall behind even when you’re not playing that poorly? That isn’t the case tonight.
Coos you play hockey at the prep?
What ever happened to spearing and spleen operations?
Can’t wait to hear Stepan say “we did a lot of good things tonight” and “that’s a good team over there.”
2-1 BJs!
Lol Carp… I guess beating 2 out of 3 crappy teams in a row is good enough.
Honk. Honk.
I’m surprised E3 doesn’t recite the poem from this car ad … “the long brown road.”
No hockey, at least not when I was there, Headzo. We played weekends on reservoirs and ponds with big tree limbs sticking out. 🙂
For them…
Dreadful performance. Hopefully caps pass us soon.
Good first half on that PP, and some good shifts offensively this period. But you can never count on getting three goals just by playing well.
54-51 Wisconsin!
Still love Dubi.
Coos, the stick blades break before the spleen ruptures #savethetrees
Who do you think stepan is, Curtis granderson?
Eric, as ever, rooting for the Rangers to lose. Brightens the place up, strangely.
Curtis Granderson, one of the nicest athletes ever.
Very true… And a winner. But if you remember he complimented the awful Diamondbacks this past year. Said they were a great team.
Unwatchable… school of mistakes. It’s scary even to think about tomorrow game against Philties.
Agreed, Norm. It always makes me smile. Love that guy.
Leave it to the Norris Trophy winner.
Double Bubble strategy. We’ll spot em 3 maybe 4 boys, then we’ll work on our come from behind system.
Hello Dolly!
Holden ’em in it…
Catcher!
Doogay: “I think we all have to look in the mirror. (Especially me.)
Titties!
Nick Lindstrom, err, Holden!
Nice by Holden, but the other half of the scoring machine, Puempel, unavailable.
Good times Coos
Got to Know when to Holden
No norm rooting for 4th in metro. Let jackets win metro and pens caps play each other. We crossover vs Habs. Rather price then metro.
We have 2 percent chance vs pens as constructed.
‘save the trees.’ lol
Keith Yandle’s who?!
Yandle*
Wonder how Florida fans feel about him?
Holden unlikely to play with anyone in the Glass family, but Rangers might bring Sal Inger up.
Part of me (probably because I’m going to miss the period) would like to see the Rangers wax the Sabres for a second straight period but again score only one, to learn the hard way to remember to start games in front of the home fans that pay some of their salaries. The other part wants AV to put in the JVs and rest up for tomorrow.
Nick Holden seems like such a cool, solid guy. Seems like he loves it here.
Is it a good idea, really, Eric, for the Rangers to go into the playoffs thinking there are some teams they can beat but not others? Or do they have no Cup aspirations at all.
I’m guessing they will go into the playoffs thinking they have a shot, Norman.
Norm
Trust me I want another cup bad as much as anyone. We have 1 percent shot staying in metro.
Pens would wipe the floor with us as we’ve seen
Maybe NHL realize the old format 1-8
2-7 3-6 4-5 was better.
Yes, the Penguins are dying to play the Rangers in the playoffs–they always win that matchup.
Yank Hank.
Ok, tonight may not be our night. Tomorrow will be!!!
Stellar start
Dingleberry
Chef Ger-ar-dee with a nice assist there
Well, if our #1 goalie doesn’t return to form, it’s unlikely who we play in the PO’s will matter, anyway. #Paging Hank.
They should be ashamed of themselves here.
Boy, is 2017 dragging or what?
The Sabres are the much hungrier team here.
Amazing how much Kreider gets interfered with going in on forecheck but gets a penalty when he breathes on someone
The can is an appropriate place to write this game’s review. All you E3
I agree scottsdale
As much as we are talking about defense mistakes (mostly rightfully), I absolutely believe that Hank’s inconsistence play became a REAL problem. He is not saving games anymore, causing a lost of some games and affecting collective confidence. Team is different last 1.5 seasons because of that, IMO. It’s not like I blame just him for anything what’s wrong with this team, but he became a big part of it.
So get this. The Blue Jackets only have to score two to get half off Papa Johns
” score twice, half price ”
Ain’t that sumpthin.
4ever, agreed. He has always been a slow starter. This is beginning to get a bit worrisome.
Guess it’s not to be, but I was really hoping they’d at least win 1 frikkin game………….
this year
At end of the day this group/core with only one real change won’t win a cup. That’s the real story
Let’s remember they are missing their best offensive player, #2 center, and a very good rookie. When all the parts are here, with Hanka playing like Hank, they’re a good team.
Of course, toothless, shotless offense in 3rd period by our trailing team is not Hanks’ fault…but it is different part of critique. Embarrassing feeling doesn’t leave me during games like that. I almost feel guilty pulling for this team on ice. There is no shame to lose to good team, it all depends HOW.
Sad part is we have no glove-droppers to fire up the team & crowd. Seems like an absolute morgue in there.
Stink fest.
For one, I am pleased I sold my tix for tonight. And for a 40% premium. Phew!
I don’t think they’re going to come back…
Stars: catcher, ranta Claus, Zamboni driver
What pisses me off no end is not losing, it is that no one, coaches or players, will apologize to the paying fans for this piss-poor, un-energetic performance. The balls!
Don’t forget to vote.
Raanta, Puempel and Pirri.
Three players who did nothing in this game.
Well, that was a rough one. Hope they wake up for tomorrow night. Raanta should be in goal, eh?
Sneaking a peek–glad I missed it, I guess. At least they won’t have to wonder what caused the problem. Hayes, as an example in the first period, started a rink turn of such a wide radius that he couldn’t finish it without hitting the boards.
FIRE Sather!!!!
Bee-Jays 16 in a row
Rangers win 5-4
Norm, LOL!! To boot, KK with the assist on a rookie’s first goal. Girardi with a Buffalo assist. ‘Twasn’t our night.
This is when I miss Torts’ post game honesty.
E3 taking ad vantage of a newly legalized biologic in his home state!
CBJ just sustained their 16th win in a row 😉
And the Rangers s-stained the bed tonight.
Me too, coos
Mucho vanilla upcoming …
Catcher. Love that nickname.
The one guy who seemed a bit angry and used the body was the Captain.
Crap, I forgot to delete the old poll results. HAV.
You guys watching the MSG Hockey Show?
Team has zippo personality, zippo fire, zippo intestinal fortitude.
–
That being said, I voted hated, machine, and know when to Holden…in no particular order
This team absolutely needs a shake up trade or a coach dismissal.
Or they just need to get their top 3 point producers back from injuries… 😉
Oh and get rid of Girardi and Klein…
And Staawhl.
What show is that, Carp?
Cccp
Even with the injured guys back, team still lacks what was stated
I just watched the msg what not to do in a hockey game show.
Second!
Carp – that MSG ‘hockey’ show is the absolute pits IMHO.
Anson Carter is a former NHL star?
Our D needs a representable bottom four, maybe five.
No chance at all for this team to win a cup! Except for Mac Truck the D stinks and IMHO Hank is done! He ain’t the same goalie he once was!
There is the day when every athlete is done, but we don’t usually realize it totally until it is so obvious and sad that no one even wants to talk about it. I hope a few of those (unnamed) whom we watch at MSG have not yet fallen into that particular Dante-sian Circle of Hell.
E3 presently sharpening the pencil of his wit.
3 games now that I haven’t bothered to watch this year. That’s probably more than I’ve missed in the last decade. These guys suck.
At least we should be ok in the playoffs. We lay most of our stinkers against the crappy teams.
Looking forward to being part of the Blue Jackets historical win on Saturday. Smh
I voted for David LeNeveau, Alex Auld and Michael Sauer. In that order.
I voted for Auld, Lang, and Syne.
Honorable mention to Feliz Navidad.
I also voted for Kwon Zah.
Season just ended for the 13th time.
This team is so inconsistent that it defies all logic entirely.
Injuries have nothing to do with anything. The BlueJax have been without Dalton Prout for quite a number of games, and you don’t see that stopping them.
Who’s going to be the next Ranger player of the week that forgets to show up the week after? I’m referring to the goalies since I have no idea how Kreider was tonight. Lol
Dalton Prout could be our goaltender and it would make us better.
Fire Beukeboom! Isn’t the D his responsibility? I remember, on his way out, Ulf said that AV gave full control of the D to him (Ulf). Should we assume the same with Beukeboom?
I’m pretty sure the season isn’t over, the team just needs a few changes.
Missed the game in House of Cards marathon (yeah, I know, late to the party, but Frank is pure evil genius)
.
Who won?? Did Skapski play?? Should we trade for Kane, Franson or the other Kane’s taxi driver??
.
It could have been worse, you could have been there live. Tix were going for big bucks on secondary market with the kids home from school.
.
E3 – need more colon blow for manana; love for Phil Hartman (aka Caveman Lawyer)
http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/colon-blow/n9822?snl=1
Changes in health status and a recommitment to the speed game with which they began the year. They can float for a while longer during the overlong regular season, but not too much longer.
Klein passed one right to the Sabres, Mcdonagh right to the Sabres. who else? Girardi had a terrible game.
Clendenning should be in tomorrow.
Zucc missed a back check on one goal. Holden missed a back check on a goal. Just no commitment to Defense by the whole team tonight.
The Rangers are icing two fourth lines, but they were not good. The offense was not good tonight either, except for the Kreider line.
What happened to Kevin Hayes? Miller made some good plays, especially on that goal.
The good thing is that they play tomorrow, I expect a much better game.
New post – game review
Who is here to inspire this bunch when they need a kick in the azz? I hate to say it, but I think Secretariat was correct that McDonagh is too quiet. A Fotiu or a Glass or an Asham or even a Carcillo might have lit the fire last night. We have no one anywhere near any of them in terms of pizzazz.