Rangers ( 19-12-4 ) vs Maple Leafs ( 21-14-1 ). TV- MSG, NHLNet.
Big news- Auston Matthews is returning to the Toronto’s lineup after missing 6 games with a concussion.
But even bigger news- Jesper Fast ( quad strain ) is out. Could be 2-3 weeks. They are going to miss him in a big way. One of the most under-appreciated players on this team, at least by some fans. But not by coaches, and not by his teammates.
Boo Nieves returns to the lineup. JT moves to the wing. Kampfer prucha’d.
Hank in net.
LGR!!!!!
315 responses to “It’s Go Time!”
Leafs were good and made less mistakes
Fewer mistakes. (Sorry, English teacher, occupational hazard.) But your take is more accurate than mine.
There is no accountability in this organization, starting with Contract for Life Sather and continuing on down. It has been like this for years and years. AV needs to go, along with Hayes, Nash, Holden and others. AV should be ashamed that his team comes out unprepared to play at the start of the game, night after night. It’s a disgrace he still has a job.
Trade Hayes NOW! Why was he not benched after that disallowed goal? It was an inexcusable, stupid, careless mistake. I would understand if he was skating and was offside. But he wasn’t. He was just STANDING there! All he had to do was make sure his skate was on the blue line. I do not want him on this team anymore. AAARRRGGGHHH!
Just finished the game. Luckily my dumb friend accidentally alluded to the Rangers losing so I was able to watch it with less subjectivity and more objectivity.
My observations:
Hayes is a &$@#ing moron. At what age do players learn about offsides? I’m guessing it’s not 25.
End of the game JV/Kreider bench minor special…just atrocious. You’re not scoring a goal when you pull your goalie just to have the same number of players on the ice as the other team does. Not that the Rangers were scoring a goal with more guys than Toronto either though. Which leads me to my next observation….
The power play. Do they even practice this? They look like they have no idea what to do when they have the man advantage. They’re pretty good at passing the puck around the outside and even sometimes through the zone. But none of that matters when your shot selection is at a Helen Keller level. “Hey look! No one’s screening the goalie! This it’s a perfect opportunity for me to shoot the puck right into the logo on the goalie’s chest!”
A 5 on 3 should turn it around, right? Nope. The Rangers haven’t scored a 5 on 3 goal this season. I have no idea how many they’ve had but if it’s any more than 3 that’s pretty horrible. Once again….shot selection did them in. I felt that this was kind of sudden they lost this game. Toronto took over after that and it began to look like we were playing back to backs against New Jersey.
Speaking of shot selection, there was a situation (second or third period…can’t remember) where the Rangers held the puck in the Toronto zone for a while at even-strength and the Toronto players looked exhausted. The Rangers kept passing it around the zone until McDonagh decided to send a floater in on Anderson with no one from either team near him allowing them to get a whistle and a change. Which leads me to my next point…
The OPAG Rangers strike again and once again it was the third period. They can’t continue to play the first 2 periods as if a consolation trophy is what’s at stake. They don’t show any passion or intelligence in the first two periods this season way more than they do the opposite. They continually get behind in games and assume they can catch up. They’ll be lucky to win a couple of games in the first round of the playoffs that way, if they even get that far. Something needs to be done about their starts and it needs to be done soon. They’re almost as close to the top of the division as they are from the bottom. It won’t take much for them to fall out of the playoff picture if the OPAG Rangers are the only ones that continue to show up in games. The Hayes and JV/Kreider brain farts wouldn’t have seemed so important and heartbreaking as they were if this team had just shown up for the initial puck drop.
Final thought:
Lundqvist has began &$@#ing unreal as of late. 3 stopped breakaways?! 3?! Are you kidding me? This guy is playing outstanding hockey and getting no rewards because the team in front of him doesn’t have the drive to show up for 60 minutes like he does. At least when they suck and lose it’s been exciting and a joy to watch him cover the crease.
Next up…Buffalo, which would be exactly what they needed right now if it wasn’t the Winter Classic spectacle which sometimes brings the best out of the worst teams. Hopefully they’ll continue their outdoor winning streak though, especially because I’ll be in the house at the time. LGR!
I should’ve just added a couple more points to my last post and sent it to ilb for a game review. Lol
I’m not upset, never thought this year the rangers would be a team that could make the playoffs and go deep. The rangers are pretenders not contenders. This is the year Gorton should take advantage and make hockey trades to teams who feel they have a shot at Lord Stanely Cup and quickly turn this team in to contenders in the near future. The GM of the Devils has done it and see what there doing in the swamp.
Good morning Boneheads Merry Christmas Eve. Nice job Ev on the nor a game review. If they continue playing in this manner they will not make the dance. Anyone who believes they will belongs on the coaching staff! I’ve said this before AV>Avoiding Victory is just trying to keep his job playing the useless vets! He needs to go!
In defense of Norm: we all knew this team was not going to lead the league or conference this season. IIRC I speculated 96 pts, probably just enough to get into the show. Nothing has changed. There are 6 teams ahead of them (most not by much) in the east, same situation in the west. They are neither a very good team nor a very bad team, but probably fall somewhere above the midpoint.
This teams single biggest issue has nothing to do with skill. They just don’t know how to win games. There have been glimpses of what they can be when they play the right way but, for whatever reason individually and/or collectively, they don’t do that every night.
They lack the necessary killer instinct. If they can find it, no reason they can’t make the conf. finals in a parity league. But until they get it, they’ll remain middle ranks +/-.
AV exonerates Haze in AG Presser by saying: “I’m sure he didn’t do it on purpose.” What nitwits, both.
Missed game but from the posts sounds like very few feats of strength.
.
To quote the esteemed hockey observer and Festivus architect Frank Costanza; there’s got to be a another way.
.
Let’s Rumble!!
Who was centering Miller and Kreider on JT’s goal; read Zika was benched so DD?
Quoth Dante, “no fire.”
Put ’em all on commission.
As a former supervisor in the dental industry I remember getting ripped up and down by the lab manager for letting a flawded case through QC. He asked me if I had anything to say about the mishap. “No excuses you called it like you saw it I said.” I should have said “I need to be better.”
Brooks dead-on today. But why did it take. him 3 seasons to note that the D sucks, wanders all over the place, and is ill-coached?
SN,
Miller was centering Kreider and Buchnevich when he scored his goal. I think he played center in the 3rd.
Norm,
You proved my point for me last night. You went right after McD. Trying to distract from the horror that is Shatennkirk trying to play D.
Eli. – sounds like you were an in dentured servant, but we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.
The more they lose , or just float around 500, the easier it will be for Gorton to do what needs to be done.
Yeah, of all the truly miserable Dmen we carry, Norm goes after McDonagh.
You hit the crown right on the head coos!
What I am about to say is not a knock on Grabner, just an observation/ opinion. When Grabner plays in the top 9, he tends to disappear, until he pops up and scores a goal. I know goals are good, but what I am saying is that he gets away from all the smaller things that make him so effective.
The biggest problem is the rangers defensemen. I don’t understand resigning Smith, he is not a good defensemen, not even average. The Shattenkirk signing was just stupid but something tells me that was Sather because that signing has sather’s signature written all over it. I doubt it if Gorton trades either one but I would try and trade both of them at the trade deadline not to mention Nash, Grabner and maybe a few other players.
My issue is that the NJ juggernauts and the NY belmonts both have a good chance to win the cup this year.. especially with a good trade at deadline.
Rangers are the poster team for mediocrity and what not to do on any given night. The coaching staff should do seminars on how to Avoid Victory!
Scottsdale
We should be used to disappointment by now. Our rivals are not going away and they are better than the N.Y.R. effort is the difference!
I did not “go after” McD. Just because We All Hate Shattenkirk and We All Love The Captain means the latter didn’t make costly mistakes last night? McD is a top defender having a problematic season in which the pluses decidedly outweigh the minuses in my view. Need him to clean up the mistakes is all.
Just give the juggernauts the cup now and get it over with.
Yeah ya did.
Our rivals will win multiple cups before we win one. #reversejinxattempt
“Yeah ya did.” No knocking that argument. Here’s me going after McD: “Pretty big by McD, Staal and Hayes there 5 on 3. Gave them NOTHING.”
@PR_NHL
Derek Stepan became the third player in @ArizonaCoyotes / Jets franchise history to score two shorthanded goals in a game, joining Keith Tkachuk on April 7, 1995 vs. VAN and Tobias Rieder on Dec. 1, 2014 at EDM. #NHLStats.
Rangers have yet to score one SG as a team.
You left out quite a bit of what you said last night. Just own it Norm.
So glad they traded Stepan and got out from that contact. The guys in the lineup that they traded for are really helping this team.
I absolutely own it BDL. Here it is again:
First, I praise him for the 5 on 3.
Then “Looking at those goals, tough night for McD again, and Zibanejad, each at fault for two goals, three for McD if you count his being in the box. It’s all about Shatty giving and taking away, rightfully so, but McD is firmly in the same boat.”
Then “Two steps forward and one back for McD is worrisome, but as long as it keeps getting better for him overall, there’s hope.”
Finally, “McD gets a coos star? Love the guy, but so many mistakes, tonight included. His third period was good, granted.”
Yeah, I sure tore him a new one. Not sure what’s up with the sacred cow view of this really good player. But I guess e3 and I are off the reservation saying he didn’t have a good night.
Compared to every other defenseman we own here and in Hartford, he should. win the Nobel Prize.
McD is the R’s best defenseman, yes, probably trying to do too much, doesn’t need to. Skjei gaining on him, best skater on the team. Shatty the biggest producer, but horrific in-zone. Staal steady as a rock, Holden almost as steady, Smith a work in progress.
Now you are throwing e3 under the bus? Norm, you are not alone. All the Shatennkirkians are bashing McD. Trying to deflect how awful Shatennkirk is in his own zone. The big one being used be the Shatennkirkians is, he’s a net positive. Love that one.
Staal and Holden steady?! LMAO!!!!!!!!
AND LMAO even more!
Throwing e3 under what bus, BDL? The bus under which people can see what is happening on the ice right in front of them? And who are these Shattenkirkians you speak of, bashing McD? The best I’ve read about Shatty here, aside from when he makes a good offensive play, which happens, is that he is what he is. Is there anyone here–anyone at all–who thinks he’s good in his own zone? That McD has made mistakes has Nothing To Do with Shatty. It’s right up there with McD can’t be good because Holden.
The college kids, brought in to make up for no draft picks, have sufficed and certainly helped, but their days of promise have hit a wall. Time for upgrades. Just do it!
coos, I get it that you hate Staal, but by now I thought you’d be relieved that he’s playing as well as he has been. Or were you hoping he’d be as bad as you want him to be, so the Rangers could out-and-out suck? And I know Holden was not supposed to be as good as Smith, but isn’t it an overall positive that he has been?
And on D, we could probably put up with Shatty’s shabby work if we paired him with Donuts or Shay and seriously upgraded the other 3.
Norm – no matter what posiness and phony complements are sprayed on Staal, he stinks. He’s slow as a sleepwalking tortoise, he will not take the body in front of Hank, is constantly out of position either stupidly joining his partner chasing pucks behind the net and leaving the crease totally unprotected, wandering around. up ice like a bewildered tourist, or, if he is near the crease, he turns his back to the enemy and faces Hank, further screening and. irritating him. It’s so damned obvious.
Only if you break a stick over #18’s noggin does he awaken and, the fact. is, if opposing coaches. realized how easy it is to get him to take a retaliation penalty, they’d bang him more and heavier.
The narrative is obvious, coos, that’s for sure. You are all in, doubled down, so to speak, wedded so firmly to a viewpoint so harsh that there’s no coming back from it. Staal is on the downside of a fine career, true, and he’s not what he was. But his good defense, particularly on the PK, has been evident for anyone who watches the games, especially since the Vegas turnaround. You can’t see it, or won’t, and I’ll never convince you otherwise, no worries there. But you might want to visit a game log, see what you make of his last two weeks, say.
Only reason a ‘fan’ wouldn’t realize that Staal sucks is that everyone around him sucks, too, in varying degrees of suckitude. The last wildly over-rated Ranger I (correctly) railed on was Richards who finally left in a huff with the crown jewels while complaining about his mistreatment.
And won another Stanley Cup.
And it’s official, the Rangers are a sucky team of suckiness that sucks on its suckitude. I guess we disagree about that, but in the holiday spirit let’s find something we can all agree on: the Staals are an admirably wonderful family. Marc has two brothers, you know, who play in the NHL.
I think that there is lately (might be) a wide conspiracy among Ranger management and employees (including SalmonJoe, Dave M., Giannone, etc. to build up #18 so as to promote a trade of some sort, or at least a dump without paying most of his salary obligations. If that’s the case, they are doing a swell job with their accolades. No excuse for anyone (knowledgeable) on this blog, though.
‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through the blog,
the Boneheads were restless while sampling the ‘nog;
Their fingers were tapping the keyboards with care,
In hopes that Carpiniello soon would be there;
Some bloggers were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of turnovers danced in their heads;
And Sittoo in her ‘kerchief, and Norm in his cap,
Had just yelled at Shatty to mind that big gap.
When on their computers there arose such a clatter,
the boneheads sprang up as one to see what was the matter.
Away to their devices they flew like a flash,
Tore open the lids while their teeth they did gnash.
The glare on their screens was blinding at first
But slowly resolved as they feared for the worst,
When, what to their wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer.
With a little old driver, so lively and sharp,
they knew in a moment it must be St. Carp.
More rapid than eagles his followers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;
“Now, Wicky! Now, Doodie! Now, Cooscoos, and SN!
On, Beezle! On Olga! On Headzo, and Merton!
Now Papa! Now Evrock! Now Eli, and Bdl,
Hey E3! Hey TomK, Ilb and Chytil!”
He was dressed all in blue, from his head to his feet,
And he readied himself to speak with some heat;
He gazed at his acolytes trembling in fear,
And yelled really loud, “France in the Air!”
“Now Boneheads”, he said with somewhat of a sigh,
“We’ve discussed this before; are all of you high?”
“Our sexy, sexy boys are right on the bubble,
Thinking anything else will just lead to trouble.”
“So get off that ledge and start enjoying the ride,
Stop fighting over nothing and allow me to guide
All of you on the path to pure hockey bliss.
So take a deep breath and listen to this.”
“Since Halloween night, our boys have been fine.
The King is aging, but like a fine wine.
Nash is no longer the sniper of yore,
But his yeoman work will continue to soar.”
“Zuccy and Mika impress with their skill,
While Grabner and Hayes excel on the kill,
Buchy and Vezey improve every day,
With Miller and Kreider blazing the way.”
“The Captain is turning his season around,
And Smitty and Shatty will hopefully rebound.
While Holden and Staal could use an assist,
Brady Skjei is definitely on the nice list!”
“Lord Stanley’s Cup is not remotely in sight.
But that doesn’t mean they can’t put up a fight.
In Bettman’s parity league, anything can happen,
And other Metro teams can be caught nappin’!”
After surveying his disciples on this Christmas Eve,
Carp sprang to his sleigh and he prepared to leave.
But we heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD-NIGHT!
His brothers should be here and he should be shot out of a long cannon to land wherever.
Carp sprang to his sleigh? Other than that, I’m impressed. 🙂
Good God, Sittoo. You just won blog MVP in one post! It is but to bow and to scrape in your general direction. Outstanding!
Haha! 30 minutes of fun on this lovely, snowy morning. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year gang!
Hockey Sitoo!
WELL DONE! AND A MERRY MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
Or Fetivus, Chanukah, Kwanzaa, Winter Solstice or whatever you and yours find peace and love.
Happy post-day Festivus. Pick anything over my head and I will admit it.
Perry White?
Feet of us? Oh, FESTIVUS!
BDL
Grabner does other good plays besides scoring goals. His speed is a weapon that other teams need to be aware of. He draws penalties. He set up Hayes last night but of course Hayes did not take advantage of the opportunity.
Still trying to figure out what it is that has kept Grabner from becoming a superstar.
Re too many men call. I saw the Dallas game in person and saw in the ot that Nash was gassed and nowhere near the bench when someone else jumped on from the other side of the bench to help get back on the defensive side as Dallas rushed up the ice. Too many men should have been called. Maybe refs are a bit more lenient in 3 on 3 if the team is trying to help on the d side of things.
re last night Skjei was taken down in front of Henrik and lost the puck. If Toronto scored off that trip and turnover that would have been a sin. Saw last night live as well. The 3rd period was fun the rest not so much. I hated the Hayes offside on the should be Grabner goal. Both the rule and Hayes lazy play are hard to stomach.
Boston tried the downbench switch 3v3 vs. the Rangers, after Marchand blew a tire, and would have gotten away with it if they hadn’t put 5 out there instead of 4.
Hayes’ play wasn’t lazy. Would have been if he’d drifted across (as he did later). Just spacey. He straddled the blue line just as he should have, except for one, uh, minor detail. Between those offsides and joining the McD-Holden corner runaround earlier on the AustOn goal, shall we say not his strongest game of the year? Made some good plays and killed on the 3v5, but overall blech.
Am I the only person who thinks Hank has a serious shot at the Allstar game? Bob and Holtby are the other 2 Metro possibilities for Goalie, but Hank is right with them in all relevant stats. Although I’d love to see him there, it would probably be better if he gets a rest…
Ah forgot Schneider and he’s been good. Will be interesting. But other than Hank who qualifies from the Rangers? Certainly not one of the D. Mika, Grabner, or Zuuc only others who come to mind.
Kevin Shattenkirk is good in his own zone. Larry Robinson got nothing on him!
“Truth” broke the blog!
East Goalies:
Vasilevskiy, .932, 2.13, 23-5
Andersen, .924, 2.59, 19-10
Bobrovsky, .922, 2.36, 18-10
Schneider, .921, 2.54, 16-6
Lundqvist, .921, 2.61, 17-9
Rask, .918, 2.28, 11-8
Holtby, .918, 2.65, 20-8
He’s in there, but I wouldn’t give him much of a chance, or does the Metro get three? I don’t pay much attention to how they do it these days.
coos sleepwalking tortoise Lol! That’s better than comparing him to an Ent!
Norm, Metro gets 2 I think. The big issue is who else is on each team. You know for Caps that Ovi is a given and Kutznesov is right up there so Holtby probably not in the mix. On Columbus, Panarin seems like a shoo-in and same for Hall on Devils. I do think Bob gets in for being reigning Vezina winner. Who is a shoo-in for the Rangers? I can’t find one other than Henrik.
Thanks, Sittoo. Hank and Grabner are the only contenders I can think of. Maybe Zucc. Nash if they paid attention to 200-ft. guys who play 5-5, PK and PP–which they don’t. No need for that type in a skills game anyway.
Bravo Sittoo!!
An intant classic a week before the Winter Classic!
Merry Christmas!
http://i64.tinypic.com/2ibguuq.jpg
very informative on Eddie O and what he’s been through. Go get em Eddie
3D. – ever see a Chinese family eating. in a Jewish deli? Me neither.
*3C
I call you 3D because your comments figuratively burst through the screen.
I’ve been earing so much these past few days, that I will be in 3D shape very soon!
Earing = eating.
Fingers getting fatter.
Thanks Tom! It was fun to write. I love engaging with the boneheads – seemed like a good present for the blog!
Just spent Christmas eve with family in Crystal River about 1 1/2. hrs north of St Pete. We had a blast I ate my way through 3 different rooms. I’m not sure my clothes will fit Tues. morning! Maybe there will be a juicer under the tree, but it will probably be more cheesecake Ho Ho Ho!
https://nypost.com/2017/12/24/rangers-must-start-considering-their-ryan-mcdonagh-options/
larry on the captain and what do do
Well done, Sittoo! I thoroughly enjoyed your version of The Night Before Christmas. We certainly have some talented people on this blog.
Thanks Eddie!
Fleece Navidad
Basil Rathbone: “I’ll be Holmes for Christmas.”