NY Rangers (14-11-1) vs Chicago Blackhawks (8-17-2)
• 09 Dec 2024 19:00 EST
• MSG
• TV: NHLN, MSG, CHSN •
The Rangers host an original six tilt against the bottom dwelling Blackhawks tonight, a competition between 3-7-0 (NYR) and 2-7-1 (CHI) in their respective last ten. Garden faithful will be hoping for an offensive explosion, preferably from the men in blue and any line will do.
Line up changes tonight for the Rangers: Berard (upper body) may play back in, if so Vesey will sit. Congrats to new daddy Shesterkin (a girl if you wish to send a present) who will be back in goal tonight, and hoping for a better defensive effort in front of him than Quick got yesterday afternoon against Seattle. Mrazek is out for a few weeks after being injured over the weekend so Soderblom (2.60 GAA, 0.915 SV%) in for CHI. Keep in mind Chicago’s goalies are pretty good but their offense is terrible.
The zebras tonight are old friend Kelly Sutherland (1554 GP) and youngster Mitch Dunning (28 GP). Both tend to let the boys play, though Sutherland has been a little more involved than last year, targeting the visitors more often unlike his partner who finds slightly more fault with the hosts.
Keys to a Ranger victory tonight: Play like you do not want to lose to the worst team in the NHL. Try not to confuse Berard with Bedard.
On this date in history: In 2017, Henrik Lundqvist notched his 419th career victory with a win over the NJ Devils, passing Tony Esposito for second-most wins by a goalie for a single franchise.
Probable NYR lineup
Forwards
1st line ⊳ Panarin ⋄ Trocheck ⋄ Lafrenière
2nd line ⊳ Kreider ⋄ Zibanejad ⋄ Smith
3rd line ⊳ Cuylle ⋄ Chytil ⋄ Kakko
4th line ⊳ Edström ⋄ Carrick ⋄ Berard
Defensemen
1st pair ⊳ Lindgren ⋄ Fox
2nd pair ⊳ Miller ⋄ Schneider
3rd pair ⊳ Jones ⋄ Mancini
Goalies
Starter ⊳ Shesterkin
Backup ⊳ Quick
Healthy scratch: D Mackey F Vesey F Brodzinski
Injured: Vaakanainen (upper body)
In the Cooler: none
Long-term IR: none
179 responses to “It’s Go Time!”
First/
I mean – first among equals…
LGR!
Let’s Go Hawks!
obligatory LGR
when are they gonna bench this mutt
Vlasic? A great name in the NHL? That’s quite a pickle 🥒.
and here we go. Sheesh. The Rangers are fragile.
play the 4th line 20 minutes. Only guys with o zone time
Our opponents have benefitted more from Zika than we have all season.
Hoot!
Let’s Go Rangers!
As always too much passing not enough shooting.
Go the net….. that’s where the goals are. This isn’t rocket science.
If we lose this one and Drury doesn’t do something by the next game and Lavy doesn’t bench Zika sometime in this game, they should both be fired.
61 days since Shesterkin’s last shutout. AKA 61 days since the Rangers have played decent defense in front of Shesterkin.
I’ve gotta ask- if we lose this one, what’s next? Who’s next? It won’t remain the status quo, no?
anyway there was that time when the rangers won the President’s trophy, then missed the playoffs the next season, then won the Cup the year afterwards. so there’s that!
did it without a salary cap and an untradeable DJ though…
get him off
F@#$these guys out the second unit on
Thank you
Valley Kat’s chart says Kraken had 6 goals on a total of 7 high and moderate danger chances. Probably their worst goaltending effort in a while. Expected goals was 3.5 to 1.7 Rangers.
Other PP down thecdrain.
Haven’t seen a single difficult save by Soderblum since I turned this game on.
where is Laffy going
Quit poke checking and last the hurt on that little punk.
Will the Chill!
Mr. Cuylle is a hockey player.
Simple ..go to the net but the rest of these mutts won’t do it
Our 4th line center just did what none of our skill players have done all friggin season. Way to go to the net Carrick.
thar goal was all Carrick. The pretty boys would do well to study it
start by taking mika off the pp
the DJ turned the puck over on the goal because he was afraid of getting hit
only way to get his attention
We got a way better return on trading Georgiev’s rights than the avalanche got back for the actual player. LMAO
Valley must have gotten a stern talking to. Doesn’t seem himself. Neutered.
while I don’t like messing with what works, next step would be move chytil and carrick up and mika 4c
If Zika just removed his giveaways in the defensive zone and moved them to the neutral zone, it would be a huge improvement.
Talk about a low bar.
Beezle, I would love to move Zika down to the 4th line. One problem. That’s supposed to be a physical line and Zika would trade his own children to avoid playing physical.
I think 93 is either washed up or something is not working between the ears because he is just not present.
MIka giveaway and then the scorer is the unmanned opponent closest to him. Done as done. Does not care about hockey
Colorado’s current starting and backup goaltenders were both new jersey backups. Smh
Sam Carrick is a man
thats true but I don’t want Mika anywhere near Cuylle and Kakko
let mika center the twin towers and send berard back down
All these young new players look good, then they catch Rangeritis and it’s always fatal.
there is a simple explanation as to why nobody goes to the net. They are showcasing the whole team and are therefore bubble wrapped
This stupid team just hates playing defense.
berard doesn’t deserve to be sent down
how many unforced turnovers so far?
Miller turnover Chicago goal; rinse repeat
Miller sucks. Amazingly horrible
Hoot Hoot
can Mackey be worse than Miller or Lindgren?
no
KAM strikes again. Also no forward gets back and another ineffective snow angel. Housley should go. Snow angels have grown exponentially since he arrived.
I seriously hope they lose. It’s the only way our dumb GM will change things up. This team is soft dog sh-t.
The Chytil line should be used as PP1 with Jones and Panarin. The current edition of PP 1 is so rotten even the rats are offended in their olfactory senses.
another wraparound on Mary Miller
that’s one way to split up the Huggy twins
when Pat Maroon is doing toe drags..you suck
Man this is ugly. Can’t even make a simple pass.
They are getting outplayed by the worst team in the league. I’m ready for some football.
Not to worry. Hawks couldn’t hold a lead if you spot welded it to their hands.
If any doubts had remained we can put them to bed now……Rangers are a steaming pile of 💩 sadly.
Schneids with a nice hit
This will be this season’s San Jose loss. Only problem with that is last season’s team didn’t play this awful for this long.
It would behoove the Rangers to dispense with 16, 20, 23, 55, 79, 91 and 93 if at all possible. The culture needs changing.
when is Perrault playing?
Clueless Drury will probably sign Miller to an 8 year deal with full NMC.
another stretch of 3 or 4 out of 10 makes playoffs a stretch. Thats when Dreary will finally do something
“Rangers third period upcoming”
Anyone else see that as a threat at this point?
Isn’t that the truth!!!! Rangers players too busy living the good life in NYC to concentrate on winning a Stanley Cup. The young learn from the Fat Cat leaders.
Rangers are closer to the bottom of the conference than the top of their own division.
I forgot they were playing. Think I’m going to continue forgetting.
all you need to know about this team is the msg crew always refers to the other team as hard working but never our team
I know I have been critical of 79 and 93 . It is not my imagination then when they screw up the puck usually winds up in our net. Whatever they do firing the coach is not a solution. They have to clean house. There is no other way out of this mess.
Between Rangets and Giants I might have pick the wrong time to stop drinking and doing drugs. These two teams are just not worty goi g crazy over.
SCREW BOTH OF THEM.
How do you feel about the team’s execution?
too late now
I’ve heard Assad is looking for work …
Rangers yawn!
Rangers learned zilch during the intermission.
Can only hope that the only reason that Miller has not been a healthy scratch is because Drury is actively trying to trade him. There could be no other reason for him to be dressed for every game. The problem with that, is every game he plays, other GMs see just how awful he is. They will be lucky to get a 7th round pick for him.
I’m all for it.
Laughably pathetic hockey team.
”A let’s go Rangers chant goes up from the….. excuse me, Joe…that’s “f-ck you Rangers.”
I was thinking that.
Two shots in the first seven minutes of the third period in a game they’re trailing, against the worst team in the league that has horrible numbers in the third period.
smh
This game is like watching two fat ballet dancers.
The situation with Miller pisses me off more than most others. What on earth has the coaching staff been doing with him? He’s gone backwards the past 100 games. Something is very wrong there
There is no urgency or life with this clown show.
Olga are you doing the post game?
I really didn’t plan to but I could try. How do I get it to you and when?
Let the boos rain down a short time from now.
Written about the NYG but perhaps applies to NYR too:
Good teams find or manufacture luck. Bad teams are repelled by good fortune.
Something like this happening at MSG might actually wake Dolan up:
For a ticket into MetLife Stadium for Sunday’s game against the Saints, the cheapest ticket before fees was listed as $1, per NFL’s Ralph Vacchiano.
Several seats were up for grabs with other tickets up in the nose bleed section ranged from $7 to $12. Those closer to the field could be seen listed with a $22 price tag.
Your 3rd highest paid player got creamed and… nothing
We’re playing the Panthers, right?
email whatever you got to mbeezle @ yahoo dot com
If you can get to me by say 10am that should be fine
that’s what he gets for trying throw a check
After this game, even buffalo will only be 2 points behind us. 🤦🏼♂️
Chytil tripped behind net , play on
fox elbowed, play on
fox barely grazes Blackhawk, 2 min cause refs have eagle eyes
the refs are too busy laughing
This team is so f@#$ing retarded!
The schedule gifted them with 4 free points in two days. They decided… Naaaahhh
Word Ethic; skating hard, support
it’s been a long long time since we’ve had legit reason to all be on the ledge
maybe the rangers doing their part to unite the people of NY
Every time you think they’ve hit a season low….
NAH NAH NAH NAH. NAH NAH NAH NAH. HEY HEY HEY. THESE GUYS SUCK.
and being not much bigger than a pony
Drury, you’re on the f@#$ing clock.
Ranger 2018 1st round draft class completely useless. Kratzov, Lundquist, Miller. Just a waste.
wowowowow. Unreal.
can’t believe this is basically the same team that had the best record in hockey last year
This is the worst I’ve seen the Rangers since Hlavac days.
Our #79 got 1st star of the game for the Blackhawks. Miller sucks
“…and they’re on their feet, setting fire to their seats, at the Garden ..”
should you be the head coach if you keep putting Zibanajad on the ice when you need a goal
Who closed our window?!
Are we in the dark days again?
I remember saying that in 2018
probably not
Even good teams go through funks but this has a really bad vibe to it.
Mika did
It would be nice for the fans to show something too lol
C3po, if there aren’t any changes quick, yes, it is.
I don’t like Hanks suit… has he put on a few pounds?
And Valley.. get a real shirt and learn how to tie a knot
well that was inspiring
Why wasn’t Cuylle out there?
C3
Like I’ve ssid before, the light at the end of the tunnel is a black hole.
The Rangers are a street hockey team that’s what they are.
I can believe what I just saw!
I skated harder sitting on my couch.
Quenneville?
Good thing Drury got Igor to sign that lucrative contract. Where would this Cotton Candy Crew be without him 😉
Bones to Kirk “There dead Jim.”
In the same place they are now…..sinking to the bottom.
flbfbhflfbf…and it goes in!!
That’s funny, I had the same observation recently.
We have officially hit rock bottom when Hank is not looking impeccable.
Don Cherry!
maybe Hank needs to Vulcan mind meld with them
at least they raised a banner (?)
per @NYP_Brooksie
Henrik Lundqvist’s tailor has been waived.
HL: NYR need a new team shrink
The Rangers are discombobulated and Laviolette is completely befuddled. Sounds to me like he no longer knows what to do. They are blowing up like the Hindenburg.
{insert We Suck Again meme]
This isn’t on the stripes. The PP is in the crapper. It wouldn’t have made any difference. I hope this is rock bottom. It certainly feels like it. It feels like right before the letter.
Bertuzzi Goal
Who is covering whom? I’m confused.
The next 10 which also closes out 2024
BUF/LAK/STL/NSH/DAL/CAR/NJD/TBL/FLA/BOS
Babcock…they may cry
Mika was covering Lindgren after giving them the puck
They did too.
Mike Keenan is coming.
Make Messier our next coach!
Brooks Avery Yandle and McCabe spittin chiclets tomorrow. Popcorn please
that’s called puck watching; take a man, let the goalie worry about the puck
BHs have 2 guys in front of the net open
I switched to YouTube TV because DIRECTV was ridiculously expensive but YouTube TV doesn’t have the NHL network and after what happened the last two nights I think maybe I’m better off because I couldn’t watch either game. It’s just hard to believe that nobody in that locker room steps up and throws a tantrum or whatever else to get these guys to pay attention and execute. This is awfully fast for a coach to lose a team don’t you think a year and two months in and the players have tuned them out already? While I don’t like the ice time dolled out by this coach, I think it should be more balanced. This has to be on the players, not on the coaches.
1-4 now in person
i’m trying to get a friend to buy me more games than the 8 i still have. he’s diehard isles guy and despises rangers. one caveat i told him i won’t do it for rangers vs isles. those i stay far away from. he says he doesn’t want to give rangers any money. i told him he’s not thinking strategically. can bet way over the price of the tickets and laugh all the way to bank
meanwhile during pregame spoke to guy who brought his son to his first game. and during the game sat next to couple from the uk. also their first game and first time in ny. gave them some helpful tourist type tips
not for my nemesis eyes.
but during pregame saw only fox and bread with letters. not for 20 or mika. and nobody else had one either
lots of problems in ranger land that’s for sure. drury better not trade any 1’s to fix this mess. even our 2’s which were traded already are approaching bottom of rd 1 status.
He needs to acquire #1’s not trade them. If he trades them then the Rangers will be a bottomless hole for years.
Meeka -15 on the season but that stat means nothing I’m told
Miller leads D with -5
would even as august a hockey mind as Chris drury, look at this team and say, yep buyer at the deadline, just one or two expiring UFAs away from a trip to the SCF?
BRADY TKACHOOK IS COMING!
I was patient with Miller and thought he would eventually come around and start using his size and playing the body more. I now realize that was a pipe dream. He needs to go as I don’t think he will ever figure out how to play defense, especially since it requires a compete level that he doesn’t seem to have.
Pathetic how bad this team plays in their own end.
They have had a very soft schedule to this point and still can’t compete. It’s going to get far uglier once the schedule starts getting much tougher.
They could very well be in 8th place in the Metro with the highest paid goalie in the league, and the dumbest GM. Riddle me that?
All the obvious issues with this organization will never change until they have a serious owner. That is the truth. The Rangers are just not very good and they just flushed 11.5 million Dolans down the can on a back stop who ain’t that great either.
John McKay!
I’m surprised I haven’t heard any rumblings on Laviolette getting fired. Rangers can’t be this bad, something isn’t right. The only logical assumption is the coach has lost his team.
I am a prophet, I saw this coming after the letter. A complete rebuild was needed. I was told by some who are no longer the blog how wrong I was, that a retool was the way to go. I specifically said in 5 years the team would be in the same exact place as they were when the letter was read. I was off by what 2 years? Now they can’t realistically do a complete rebuild because of Twerkins contract. A complete rebuild is the only thing that will save this embarrassing clown show. Boys whether you believe it or not, we are screwed! The Minx has Spoken!
They are/were a Cup Pretender, Playoff team which made two ECFs in the past 3 years so if the Cup is the only prize; you are a masochist for remaining a fan.
What team is the example of a complete rebuild that won a Cup in the ‘hard cap’ era? Only Vegas I guess because they started with absolutely nothing or possibly Chicago Kane/Toews teams.
SN
I don’t appreciate the accusation. Name callinng is unnecessary. I honestly don’t care if youu agree with me, or not.
It is possible you don’t understand what I mean by rebuild. Signing Panarin is not a rebuild drafting Andersson.because he appears to be NHL.ready it’s not a rebuild.
Drury is not rebuiliding…hes re-tooling…the question is if its for this season or next
bobbyo
Of course he is retooling. I never said he wasn’t. ‘The song remains the same.’
masochist – a person who enjoys an activity that appears to be painful or tedious.
intent was to describe your ongoing fandom as an exercise in enjoying pain management as you continue to follow a team that only disappoints , nothing more.
SN
I don’t play that game. And you wonder why fans exit the blog. Enjoy the season, Maybe I’ll catch up with you all some other time. The Minx is out.
*NEW POST SORRY PLOWING DRIVEWAY*
how many coaches does drury get to fire. when is it his turn
pitt too. crosby, malkin, fleury
but point is well taken. 2 semis in last 3 years is not nothing. gave us a good ride.