It’s Go Time!

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Four games tonight:

Blue Jackets (1) vs Lightning (0), 7 pm start, TV-CNBC ( tough channel to find, on Fios in NY it’s 602)

Penguins (0) vs Islanders (1), 7:30 pm start, TV-MBCSN, MSG, MSG+

Blues (1) vs Jets (0), 9:30 pm start, TV-CNBC

Golden Knights (0) vs Sharks (1), 10:30 pm start, TV-NBCSN

1-1 after 2, anyone?

135 responses to “It’s Go Time!”

  1. TYM Avatar
    TYM

    Go Time for what? The NHL Draft is tonight?

  2. Whiskey India Charlie Kilo Yankee Avatar
    Whiskey India Charlie Kilo Yankee

    Lol

  3. Pete Avatar
    Pete

    JPP, from previous post, so few of their current crop of NHL forwards (let’s put aside Kravtsov and #2) are any good though that really I don’t think it’s an issue clearing out space if better options present themselves. And even worse on D on both sides, as not one regular defenseman (ie not Hajek or Lindgren) from this year that i’d lose any sleep over if we got rid of via trade or buyout.

  4. Whiskey India Charlie Kilo Yankee Avatar
    Whiskey India Charlie Kilo Yankee

    Papa
    I thought if the word started with a vowel it was “an” and if not it was “a”

  5. jpp Avatar
    jpp

    Pete
    That was the point. So many forwards who are you resigning, who are signing, who are you trading?

    What combo of what. There are a lot of defensemen that will be available via trade by clubs looking to remake their team/locker rooms to a GM with the right assets, Gorton has so much to work with.

    My initial thought with the 2OA was does that change anything with panarin or anybody else.

  6. jpp Avatar
    jpp

    The rangers were growing a really good pool of talent. Gorton had a lot to work with… but teams knew Gorton knew he needed top line players and the league knew they would be able to drive a hard line on $$.
    Well suddenly the rangers land the 2OA and Mika has the season he had and kravtsov is coming over and maybe panarin wants in and suddenly these teams who need to trade guys for the betterment of their entire teams can’t hold the Gorton over a barrel anymore.

    It changes a lot. I’m sure they are just beginning to wrap their heads around what a 1st line winger or 1C dynamo will look like on the trickle down effect and where there suddenly becomes a surplus

  7. jpp Avatar
    jpp

    Look if the price to move up to a top 2 top or to trade for that caliber of player is what it is. What would it be. Half of the haul we’ve produced the last season and a half in trades. Hitting that lotto likes equals half the work they just did.

    F’ing Luck

  8. jpp Avatar
    jpp

    Did i break it again
    I seem to break everything i touch broomhandles, hearts, bones.
    You name it
    😉

  9. tomk19 Avatar
    tomk19

    Wow. Squirrelly Bowman might start twitching soon.

  10. jpp Avatar
    jpp

    I can’t spell the bolts goalie’s name.
    But I saw him meltdown in the 3rd period of game 1 and I see it growing. They need to take him out if this game gets away from them before he costs them game 3 before they know it. He’s playing small and there are seemingly a ton of holes

  11. tomk19 Avatar
    tomk19

    I’d happily take the 1st round pick from Tampa if they win the cup and if Columbus goes on a run, it might be tougher to get J.D. and Bread Man, but I have to root for Columbus in this series.

  12. tomk19 Avatar
    tomk19

    Blue Jackets won’t take their foot off the gas after having the Caps on the ropes last year and watching it unravel. Wouldn’t be easy, but a win tonight would be big.

  13. tomk19 Avatar
    tomk19

    Lightning=punks

  14. TYM Avatar
    TYM

    The problem with Tampa is that, for every McDonagh there is a Cedric Paquette. I admire Stamkos and Kucherov, but otherwise Tampa is very difficult to pull for. And that is before we even get to Squirrely Bowman.

  15. Papa Bear Avatar
    Papa Bear

    Wick, only has to sound like a vowel.

  16. Papa Bear Avatar
    Papa Bear

    But I’ll defer to Coos for the ruling.

  17. Olga Folkyerself Avatar
    Olga Folkyerself

    Just beat Pissburg.

  18. Scottsdale Ranger Avatar
    Scottsdale Ranger

    Why can’t he Garden sound like the coliseum does now? Ugh.

  19. jpp Avatar
    jpp

    I just had an idea.
    The nhl season should be stretched out. Same amount of games. But more 2-3 days rest between games and built in 4/5 weekends. This way teams can practice and develop in season and players will be fresher. It may be another month or two for families but with days off and practice time and long weekends, would probably have more quality time.
    Better product I’d think

  20. Papa Bear Avatar
    Papa Bear

    Bolts down 3 zip!

  21. tomk19 Avatar
    tomk19

    Makes sense to me jpp. Part of the issue is the buy-week. I can understand why the players love it, but it seems to lead to too many back to backs and 3 games in 4 nights.

  22. Whiskey India Charlie Kilo Yankee Avatar
    Whiskey India Charlie Kilo Yankee

    Papa
    Ok, someone just let me know if I’ve been grammatically incorrect or not.

  23. Whiskey India Charlie Kilo Yankee Avatar
    Whiskey India Charlie Kilo Yankee

    Hate Tampa!

  24. Whiskey India Charlie Kilo Yankee Avatar
    Whiskey India Charlie Kilo Yankee

    Karlsson looked studly for the sharks!

    Duchene and panarin have looked great for Columbus

    Check books opening league wide

    😉

  25. CCCP Avatar
    CCCP
  26. Admiral Akbar Avatar
    Admiral Akbar

    Tampa sucks.

    So does Pittsburgh.

    My money is on Boston and CBJ.

  27. Rob Avatar
    Rob

    Not looking great for Rangers getting pick #31

  28. Admiral Akbar Avatar
    Admiral Akbar

    Of course, the Fishsticks step into deep shatty and get Lamoriello, Trotz, then make playoffs in a year where the league’s best team chokes.

  29. tomk19 Avatar
    tomk19

    Tax-Free Prucha’d.
    $5.8 million with 1 year remaining.

  30. Admiral Akbar Avatar
    Admiral Akbar

    …all whilst losing their franchise player for nothing yet TOAST him!

    (Meanwhile.. Tax Free in his return to the Garden destroys the Rangers.)

  31. Papa Bear Avatar
    Papa Bear

    “it is the sound that governs whether you use “a” or “an,” not the actual first letter of the word.”

  32. Papa Bear Avatar
    Papa Bear

    Bolts look beat

  33. Admiral Akbar Avatar
    Admiral Akbar

    Torts now getting his REVENGE on a couple of players who staged the Mutiny of ‘13.

    Musky!

  34. Beezle Avatar
    Beezle

    CBJ just way harder on the puck. Tampa tight and getting nervous

  35. TYM Avatar
    TYM

    Squirrely Bowman’s team booed off the ice at the end of the second period.

  36. Scottsdale Ranger Avatar
    Scottsdale Ranger

    Isles winning cup…book it. #jinx

  37. TYM Avatar
    TYM

    Pittsburgh is getting severely outworked.

  38. Admiral Akbar Avatar
    Admiral Akbar

    Pittsburgh needs to stay out of box. Gotta be patient with the Fishsticks. Even the Rangers beat them twice, and almost a third time this season.

  39. Beezle Avatar
    Beezle

    As long as they lose in conf final I’m ok with Icelander’s winning a few rounds

  40. Beezle Avatar
    Beezle

    On Kakko needing a Finn around – just about everyone in Finland speaks English. Worry more about limiting him to #1s until he’s legal.

  41. tomk19 Avatar
    tomk19

    FWIW-Zibanijad speaks Finnish. His mom is from Finland.

  42. Beezle Avatar
    Beezle

    Brawling!

  43. Beezle Avatar
    Beezle

    Wonder if Mikka ever called AV a runkku lol

  44. CCCP Avatar
    CCCP

    Massacre in Tampa!

    LOVE IT!!!!

  45. Papa Bear Avatar
    Papa Bear

    Frig Panarin. Sign Dooshane

  46. 4everanger Avatar

    So glad McD and JT Miller are not with the Rangers anymore. Playing terrible.

  47. jpp Avatar
    jpp

    Anyone catch Keith Jones say
    ‘Torts isn’t coaching against Barry Trotz this year’

  48. Olga Folkyerself Avatar
    Olga Folkyerself

    Bolts are shot.

  49. Whiskey India Charlie Kilo Yankee Avatar
    Whiskey India Charlie Kilo Yankee

    Wow shocker, dirtiest punk in the league.

    Tampa plays with zero honour.

    I’d be embarrassed to root for that team.

  50. Beezle Avatar
    Beezle

    Squirrelly’s post game speech:

  51. Whiskey India Charlie Kilo Yankee Avatar
    Whiskey India Charlie Kilo Yankee

    Even hedman becoming a punk, chirping the bench like a tough guy but won’t go with Anderson.

  52. jpp Avatar
    jpp

    Yup wicky I’ve been thinking the same thing
    Herman is being exposed as talk. He needed to go or wrestle with someone and all he has done is get frazzled and yap.
    Hedman, vaselisky leading the way

  53. Admiral Akbar Avatar
    Admiral Akbar

    Fishsticks overtaking the Ice chickens

  54. Rob Avatar
    Rob

    I think the St. Louis Blues are the National Hockey League franchise I am most apathetic about

  55. Alex Avatar
    Alex

    Islanders will win the cup. It’s pre destined.

  56. Rob Avatar
    Rob

    What’s the opposite of ‘Like’ ?

  57. Olga Folkyerself Avatar
    Olga Folkyerself

    Pens lose!

  58. jpp Avatar
    jpp

    Somethings fishy with Mallon and kessel

  59. jpp Avatar
    jpp

    Malkin

  60. Beezle Avatar
    Beezle

    Malkins a pos just like his sister Cindy

  61. Beezle Avatar
    Beezle

    Its loud in that old dump. Why is the Garden never that loud?

  62. Rob Avatar
    Rob

    Seats are too expensive at the Garden

  63. tomk19 Avatar
    tomk19

    Too many corporate seats.

  64. Beezle Avatar
    Beezle

    Oy these games are so late. I just don’t have Olga’s late night stamina any more! Need espresso beer

  65. bobbyo2019 Avatar
    bobbyo2019

    Don’t forget about Washington fellas

  66. Whiskey India Charlie Kilo Yankee Avatar
    Whiskey India Charlie Kilo Yankee

    Islanders aren’t winning the cup or even coming out of the east.

  67. Whiskey India Charlie Kilo Yankee Avatar
    Whiskey India Charlie Kilo Yankee

    Wheeler=beast

  68. Whiskey India Charlie Kilo Yankee Avatar
    Whiskey India Charlie Kilo Yankee

    Beezle
    Suck it up buttercup
    😉

  69. Olga Folkyerself Avatar
    Olga Folkyerself

    Beezle, priorities, priorities.

  70. Olga Folkyerself Avatar
    Olga Folkyerself

    We need some 3OT’s.

  71. TYM Avatar
    TYM

    Squirrely Bowman was not looking too good after the game tonight. Writers are demanding a recount for the Jack Adams trophy.

  72. TYM Avatar
    TYM

    Guess this was an onions game for Logan Couture. Yikes!

  73. SN Avatar
    SN

    Who called Bolts over rated?
    Winnipeg Mounties have an APB MIA out for Blazed Donuts

  74. Scottsdale Ranger Avatar
    Scottsdale Ranger

    Remember when the Garden used to be one of the loudest arenas in hockey? Now it’s the quietest. We have a thing or two to learn from fish stick fans.

  75. TYM Avatar
    TYM

    Blues up 2-0. That Winnipeg first rounder is looking like about pick #17 right now.

  76. Olga Folkyerself Avatar
    Olga Folkyerself

    ST. Looooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo 2-0 series lead.

  77. Evtankriser Avatar

    LET’S GO BLUES!!!!

  78. Evtankriser Avatar

    Winnipeg’s first rounder is looking better and better…..

  79. Olga Folkyerself Avatar
    Olga Folkyerself

    Tampa’s first rounder is starting to fade…

  80. Olga Folkyerself Avatar
    Olga Folkyerself

    Is everybody happy?

  81. Admiral Akbar Avatar
    Admiral Akbar

    Not happy

  82. Admiral Akbar Avatar
    Admiral Akbar

    How loud is Nassau Colliseum?

    Obviously too loud to be a legitimate NHL arena, as per HOF Commissioner Bettman!

  83. James G Avatar
    James G

    Scottsdale how about stopping by for something other than your neurotic whoas anytime the islanders win a game? 🙂

    2-2 after4.

  84. DaveB Avatar
    DaveB

    I want that extra R1 as much as the next person. But if it’s not meant to be…the next best thing would be Tampa getting embarrassed in Round 1. I hate Jon Cooper. Arrogant little crapweasel.

  85. DaveB Avatar
    DaveB

    Beezle – re: Kakko and needing a Finn – fair point. My concern is rooted in Jesse Puljujarvi’s story. I had read somewhere (and now can’t find it) that Edmonton didn’t do squat to make him comfortable and ease his transition – and he had a lot of trouble communicating with teammates. Though looking at the rosters, Edmonton DID have a guy by the name of Pakarinen his first year, and Koskinen each subsequent year. So yeah – it’s probably more of having the right leaders in the locker room making sure there’s a good environment. And we all know how toxic that Edmonton situation was/is/will be.

  86. James G Avatar
    James G

    True. And “crapweasel” would just look plain strange engraved on the Cup 🙂

  87. James G Avatar
    James G

    I wouldn’t worry. Overall this organization is very good with its players- especially when it comes to that stuff. I can’t recall a young Ranger having issues adjusting due to culture or language barriers etc.
    They’ll do a good job with him.

  88. James G Avatar
    James G

    If the Sabres were willing to trade Risto I think the Rangers should be aggressive in trying to acquire him but not because of Kakko. That kid checks a lot of boxes as far as organizational need right now.
    The Kakko thing is just a bonus.

  89. James G Avatar
    James G

    I can’t help but wonder though, is there a dialogue among management about this being their big chance to draft a franchise/big time center. Guys like Tavares or Stamkos don’t become available that often and when they do there’s usually a destination they have pre determined.
    With the way successful teams have been building down the middle for a while now, I think it’s a legitimate question to ask.

  90. tomk19 Avatar
    tomk19

    Dave-As I said last night, my understanding is that Zibanijad speaks fluent Finnish.

  91. Rob Avatar
    Rob

    Kakko probably speaks fluent English though, too. I think the idea to get a Finnish player is more a cultural need than linguistic.

  92. tomk19 Avatar
    tomk19
  93. SN Avatar
    SN

    But James, everyone says you have to draft Hughes or Kakko so just get in line and Keep your aberrant thoughts to yourself!

  94. St Pete Eli Avatar
    St Pete Eli

    Good morning Boneheads welcome to Saturday! Well I was out with the wife last night and ended up watching the bolts, jackets game recorded. My son was right in saying the bolts are not built for the playoffs. Vasilevskiy looks shaken, I guess a 2nd rd pick will have to do. Can’t see the Tampa winning 4 of 5.

  95. ilb2001 Avatar
    ilb2001

    Good morning, boneheads!
    Wow, first round looks all upside down at the moment

  96. SN Avatar
    SN

    To note, the Caps drafter OV #1 and waited 13 seasons for a Cup winner for a winger who is perhaps the greatest goal scorer in league history.

  97. ilb2001 Avatar
    ilb2001

    You want someone to make Kakko comfortable in NY who speaks Finnish? Hire Esa Tikkanen.

  98. tomk19 Avatar
    tomk19

    I’m rooting for Columbus, but I’m not writing Tampa off yet.

    Could see them inserting Tax-Free and possibly starting Louis Domingue.

  99. Rob Avatar
    Rob

    I’m still rooting for Tampa because I want that pick

  100. SN Avatar
    SN

    McD is their only good Dman who actually plays Defense; other than that the backline is suspect starting with the Big Soft Swede

  101. ilb2001 Avatar
    ilb2001

    Adam Graves, upon arrival to Edmonton, sitting on the bench next to Jari Kurri and Esa Tikkanen who is yapping nonstop in what sounds like Finnish. “Mr. Kurri, what is he saying?”. “I have no effing idea!”

  102. St Pete Eli Avatar
    St Pete Eli

    Tarasenko>Beast!

  103. ilb2001 Avatar
    ilb2001

    Pittsburgh hasn’t lost at home yet. Tampa looks defeated. Not over yet, but they have no answer starting from period two of the first game. Columbus is playing the way Torts wants them to- they’re going through them and taking a single step back.

  104. Admiral Akbar Avatar
    Admiral Akbar

    Tampa hasn’t met sustained adversity this season. If they respond positively, they win Cup.

  105. James G Avatar
    James G

    Tik would be a great hire. Only problem is then Kakko would understand but no one else would have a damn clue about what the hell he was saying!

    Funniest moment ever was ‘97 playoffs when he wins it in OT and only he knew it. Blasted it off the camera. Richter skates over to him to try to get clarification and Tik is just laughing and babbling and hugging him. You can see through his mask that he’s all frustrated like DUDE WHAT ARE YOU SAYING? Are you sure it’s in?!

  106. Bdl Avatar
    Bdl

    I think Tampa wins the next 4. I don’t think Pitt wants it as bad as the Islanders. Go Blues!

  107. James G Avatar
    James G

    I think Tampa’s biggest issue is that they tore through the first couple of rounds last year. And Torts has his team fired up. Bad combo. 3-3 after 6

  108. ilb2001 Avatar
    ilb2001

    Good point, Admiral.

  109. Alex Avatar
    Alex

    How bad is Stralman hurt?

  110. Beezle Avatar
    Beezle

    @TomK: Kiitos Mika youtube. Terve!
    @Dave: There is a pretty large Finnish ex-pat community in the metro area, last I knew there was even a Finnish slum in Greenwich
    @ilb: No to Esa. He’ll have the boy drinking #4s in a strip club and talking about Chinese fireplaces at practice. Esa has a place in my heart but I really don’t know that he is a role model.

    The first time Tikkanen shadowed Wayne Gretzky, the Great One dubbed the hectoring “Tikkanese.”

    “He’s somewhat like a little junkyard dog,” Reekie says. “He just keeps scrapping. Once you get inside someone’s head, you’ve won the battle.”

    And what’s inside Tikkanen’s head?

    Reekie pauses. “A hamster?”

  111. St Pete Eli Avatar
    St Pete Eli

    We will certainly find out just how good Tampa is if they come back and win this.

  112. jpp Avatar
    jpp

    It’s the goalie. He got shook in the 2nd/3rd periods of game 1 and hasn’t made a tough stop since.
    I’ve watched every minute of the series.
    Go to the backup who you just went 7-3-2 with a month ago

  113. jpp Avatar
    jpp

    And hedman is being exposed as someone who you can play hard, target, and all he will do is get in your face and talk. He’ll stand there and talk to all 5 CBJs and they are like keeping talking, but if your not gonna physically make me stop, I’m not gonna. And he’s off his game bc of it

  114. Whiskey India Charlie Kilo Yankee Avatar
    Whiskey India Charlie Kilo Yankee

    I let Ilb know what Tampa’s weakness is during skiing and although the series is not close to being over, they clearly can be beaten.

    I didn’t have them getting past the second round.

  115. Rob Avatar
    Rob

    Backup couldn’t be any worse, jpp

  116. Rob Avatar
    Rob

    Put the backup in and the team will score 7 goals in front of him

  117. Beezle Avatar
    Beezle

    Just watched that interference call in the SJS/VGK game… bogus. Should have been a goal.

  118. SN Avatar
    SN

    Bruins game tonite will be fun

  119. tomk19 Avatar
    tomk19

    @Beezle- I speak Swedish, but not a lick of Finnish. It’s Tikanese to me.

  120. TYM Avatar
    TYM

    I would like to see Ristolainen in Ranger blue. I just don’t see how they make that happen. Watching Winnipeg………they never seem to achieve what they should based on their skill. I actually think they put too much emphasis on running guys into the boards then they do making plays and scoring goals. And Hellebuyck seems nothing close to the goalie he was last year. I see all of the hopes up hear of the Rangers somehow grabbing Jake Trouba. I don’t see that he is all that either. Would he be better than what they have on the right side now? Sure. But that is more a testimony of how weak they are then of a Trouba being some all-world defender.

  121. CCCP Avatar
    CCCP

    Looks like teams with at least one ex-Ranger on (except for Stars and Caps) are losing the series so far. The curse is alive!

  122. Pete Avatar
    Pete

    James, were you suggesting yesterday that they don’t draft Kakko at 2 and get a center instead or trying to trade for another top pick to draft said center?

  123. St Pete Eli Avatar
    St Pete Eli

    If the Tampabay lighting lose to BJ’s >This one will last a lifetime! LOL!

  124. jpp Avatar
    jpp

    Ristolainen is making 5.4 million and will be a UFA in 3 years. I mean what, he’s got 3 years left in buffalo. They should trade him now and get either someone they will have longer or someone who will help them become a playoff team next year, so they can try to build repeat playoff appearances

  125. jpp Avatar
    jpp

    Ghost in philly
    Trouba In Winnipeg
    Heard some of the guys in Anaheim might be available

  126. SN Avatar
    SN

    Nobody is giving up a top pair D-man without a top line forward coming back; Seth Jones for Johanssen type deal so the idea of any team gifting NYR a top pair is very remote.
    The key is to identify the next level top pair like the McD deal and trade a team closer to the Cup their present day need over a Dman that could help them in 2 seasons.
    Conversely…
    Kreider could be that chip, but has only 1 year left on deal so more of a rental, even if for full season. If they can swallow one more year of pain by moving him for a key piece and draft well, the franchise will be much better off long term. Don’t want to trade him, but he and Zika are the only valuable chips to move.

  127. jpp Avatar
    jpp

    I bet you kucherov gets a game. One game

  128. tomk19 Avatar
    tomk19

    jpp- I’m guessing he get fined couch-change, if anything at all.

  129. cooscoos Avatar

    Plenty of interesting discussion here the past few days, but little or none about the intelligent grit and snarl needed in a believable Playoff team. In addition to more talent on O and D, let us not forget the need to smartly deal with this long-time post-season reality and include this in our paradigm.

  130. Pete Avatar
    Pete

    McD type deal isn’t happening again, unless Bob Gainey gets another job.

    Pulling off a trade for even an up and coming top pair D will be hard for us as still think we have few great trade chips, none of whom we likely will want to or should move.

  131. TYM Avatar
    TYM

    I think there are players available in Anaheim, but guys the Rangers would not benefit by acquiring. Certainly the younger D that Anaheim (a budget team) have under control are not going to be available. You can probably pry Cam Fowler out of there by would you really want to? I wouldn’t. Manson is untouchable. And their kids are unproven. The players Anaheim wants to move are player the Rangers don’t want or need.

  132. jpp Avatar
    jpp

    Optics man.

    He was frustrated and saw a chance to headhunt and did. Had to suspect him or it’s exhibit A in the next lawsuit

  133. SN Avatar
    SN

    That hit was pretty egregious; only saw highlight but knowing score in series and the game, that should be at least one game as the guy was completely defenseless and he slammed his head into the board with his hip/thigh.
    .
    Revenge of Musky Part 2

  134. SN Avatar
    SN

    Pete – it doesn’t have to be so one sided but there are hockey deals to make and Gorton has to get creative or this slog will go from retool to rebuild to retired.
    .
    Could anybody image Mr Pink playing in any of these PO games?

  135. ilb2001 Avatar
    ilb2001
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