Game 23
Rangers vs. Senators -7:00 PM MSG
I hope you all had a great weekend. Tonight is the first time Derick Brassard comes back to MSG since being traded over the summer (together with a seventh round pick) for Mika Zibanejad and a 2nd round pick. Zibanejad, of course, remains out with a broken fibula. Taking his place in the lineup as facing the Senator’s for the first time is Matt Puempel, who the Rangers claimed off of waivers from the Senators last week. Puempel scored on Friday in his first game as a Ranger.
Starting off our work week with tomorrow morning’s review will be James G. Thanks for he help, James! Clearly, this is an HAV.
Tonight’s probable lineup for the Rangers (15-6-1), via Steve Zipay (@stevezipay):
Chris Kreider-Derek Stepan-Jesper Fast
Michael Grabner-Kevin Hayes-Brandon Pirri
Mats Zuccarello-J.T. Miller- Rick Nash
Matt Puempel-Josh Jooris-Jimmy Vesey
Ryan McDonagh-Dan Girardi
Marc Staal-Nick Holden
Brady Skjei-Kevin Klein
The big news, of course, is that JT Miller will start this game at center after playing on the wing all year. This is just the first of many line changes, including definitive top six forward, Jesper Fast, playing on the first line. BDL must be thrilled. No longer playing center is Brandon Pirri. Wicky must be thrilled.
Honestly, I’m not sure what to make of these lines. I’ve disagreed with AV in the past and been proven both right and wrong. In this situation, my biggest gripe would be that Rick Nash has been coming on lately, so I don’t understand the logic in breaking up what was working for him. That said, after being grossly out possessed and outchanced in the last 40 minutes against the Flyers, not to mention the beat down against Pittsburgh on Wednesday, it is probably time for a change.
Raanta gets the start in goal. Lundqvist gets rested tonight after dragging the team to a win against the Flyers. I still find all of the Raanta clamoring hysterical. Everyone always loves the backup. I wonder if these people were begging for Healy in 94.
The defense remains unchanged, so Clendening remains Prucha’d for a fourth straight game. I still disagree with this arrangement. Skjei should be playing more often, not less. Although, I’ll say Nick Holden has has a good stretch here. Kevin Klein has struggled mightily this season.
For the Senators (13-7-1), the story of the season is goaltender Craig Anderson’s wife’s courageous fight against cancer. Anderson has rejoined the team and been sensational. He will get the start in goal tonight. Mike Hoffman has returned to the lineup for the Senators and has had some chemistry with Brassard.
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″]
112 responses to “Rangers vs. Senators … It’s Go Time!”
1st?
First?
Pimple with GWG!
Damn you 4!
Sorry Headzo…
Let’s hope Raanta Claus brings us a nice gift for the freshly installed Christmas tree tonight!
LGR!
No dishonor being second to you 4!
I’m afraid he got from his native Lapland bag full of pucks…
Let’s Go Rangers!
I’m humbled…Don’t make me blush. You good…
First!
FIRST SATHER!
It was a slew foot Joe
Does E-tree have Brass scoring 2 hatties tonight?
I missed begging of the game. Was there a on ice ceremony or some sort of a video tribute for Brassard? 🙂
There is my answer. Classy.
Here is an answer, CCCP
Stepan: not in my face!
He’s gone, Olga.
Did Teflon Neil get away with any attempted assaults yet?
Are you not watching the game, Carp?
How did that not go in?!
Where the puck is everyone?
everyone is here.
Good period. It ended.
I think everybody had a turkey & box of wine for dinner tonight
What’s the record?
Uncontested
All alone in front. What else is new?
Eine Kleine woof
Collapse begins.
Ranger D are like hungry dogs. Throw a hamburger in the corner and they all go after it while you rob the house.
No. 8 again.
Trivia answer is Lidstrom. Was in the pregame notes.
More heavy gravy, Headzo?
Lol Carp
Man, skjel is such a liability out there, poor Klein
Is Dianne Fan-woof still a relevant player?
Phaneuf is a lazy p.o.c.
How we will know that the last goal is on #8?
Ans: Sam will soon say…”oh, nice play by Klein.”
It’s all those sloppy seconds…
Fanoo0f is such a p.o.s. that he actually makes doofus Avery seem less out of line.
No. 8 yet again.
Ranta Claus with a nice gift
For some reason I’m excited about this shorthanded opportunity.
If pimple was waived by the Rangers & picked up by Ottawa he would have had a Hattie by now
Effing referee. Cheap penalty call, and now a cheap break.
Unreal. First the garbage call then that. Thanks ref.
And No. 8 once more.
Plenty of time. If they work it right.
The call on Smith was worse than the call on Staal.
I hate these Sunday games
This game is awful to watch.
Stellar pp again tonight. The difference in game. Klein could use a night off
It’s no secret Girardi didn’t look so good at the beginning of the season paired with skjel, then everyone wanted Holden benched (oddly when paired with skjel, now it’s Klein…hmmmm
Is Shay the new whipping boy?
No Klein is, I’m just trying to push buttons
Mmmmmmmm- whipped Shea butter
Beat wide.
Just tuning in. I assume season is over?
Norm yes,never winning another game. 2004 fire sale all over again at the deadline
Beat wide 😉
Pitiful Anderson can take the 3rd period off! Does the slide back to reality begin? My question what has happened to Kreider? The guy should dominate!
Should not be manhandled at home by ottawa, who’s played 3 games in 4 nights. This is unacceptable.
Craig Anderson owns the Rangers. As does Ottawa at msg.
St Pete
It’s why some of us call him enigma
Plenty of thyme.
Pappa John in business for another day
No possession whatsoever.
Next goal = not small
#8 – GAG – goof a game
Burn the tape [or wipe the hard drive] of tonight’s match!
Next goal = not from the Rangers
Well at least it’s not pass pass pass with NYR. They can’t make two in a row let alone three.
The 3 in 4 thing at this stage of the season shouldn’t even be considered.
We suck again?
Burn another tape…we seem to being doing that every time we play a playoff style no room game
Brady shay needs a game off
3clunkers in a row…fire AV
They need 3 quick goals. Where’s Mosienko?
Last minute. Sixty sloppy seconds.
I voted Raanta Lunqvist Peumpel. 3 players I didn’t think would score anyway…
Hire Gallant!
It’s gonna take a week to get that stink out of the building.
What a borefest…that coach Guy guy should be shot in the face, twice, for making his team play this type of hockey.
Brutal.
That game suuuuuuuucked.
I voted exactly how you did Olga. lol
Just when you thought NYR were turning the corner… Another corner.
I voted know when to Holden, hated, and jooris prudence…in no particular order
Ottawa ?
Why ?
Shutout?
Again?
Pee ewe
Can you imagine if Neil was able to get to Stepan?
Oh and – wake me in April when we’re healthy. I’m not getting upset in November about giving up two goals. Don’t care how ugly the recent giveaways have become
All I can say is this game was over Fast! I was embarrassed just watching it they couldn’t make a pass all night. I guess the word is out clog the neutral zone and the Rangers are easy pickens! We Suck Again! The truth is they are not built for playoff hockey!
Once again I remind all our listeners that pessimism does not equal insight. Never has
2 things…did they say karlson leads the league in blocked shots? Not the thing that comes to mind first when you think of his game. Is this like the torts in Vancouver having the sedins block shots? Will it last?
–
So Florida fires coach due to apparent personnel disagreements with upper management. Gallant wanted actual guys that could play hockey (upset over gudbranson trade) and GM wanted advanced stat “players”.
I’m with fat guy…and I’ll take his PSA a step further, optimism does not equal facts.
There’s only 3 teams with more than 30 points. Montreal, Rangers and Black Hawks. I’m 2/3 happy.
Optimists have no ledge.
And, what is more, Montreal is doing it without Prust.
No panic, but, reason for concern. Not a horrible effort tonight. The breaks are just evening out a little and they are seeing some better goaltending. They have to be stronger on the dump ins and execute better. Need to be tape to tape not into the skates. Teams are watching them and adjusting. They (AV and staff) need to respond.
Florida fires coach. Not playing McIlrath a factor?
I had to laugh. Ottawa hasn’t practiced their pp, yet it looked better than ours. The difference is they move around. The Rangers just stand in one place and pass the puck around, which is the same thing they did last season. Joe even mentioned that the passing lanes were blocked up for the Rangers. That’s not hard to do when the players aren’t skating. UGH!
Joe: “Kline skated the puck out of the…”
Sam: “Hold on Joe. A ‘Let’s go Rangers’ chant up from the crowd”.
When you see the following…doesnt make that Yandle trade too bad after all:
According to Nick Kypreos, Anthony Duclair can be had “for a pretty penny.”
Advice: “I’m hearing teams are saying that Duclair could be had at the right price,” Kypreos noted on Saturday’s Hockey Night In Canada.
1G 3A in 17 games, playing 12 minutes a night. Bag of pucks anyone?
James – high praise from your senior editor;
Starting off our work week with tomorrow morning’s review will be James G. Thanks for he help, James! _Clearly, this is an HAV_
Good morning, boneheads!
This game was unwatchable. Yes, mr. Bettman, let’s add a couple of more teams so we can dilute the talent even further.
As for NY, time to adjust. 3-4 games in a row opponents plug the middle zone rendering NY’s transition game ineffective. The word is definitely out, nobody is engaging in track and meet with them. This will become a norm not an exception. Time for AV to make the next move.
That was the worst game I’ve watched since playoffs. What impressed me with this year’s model, was the full team style of play. Chances were taken, because from what I saw, every Ranger on the ice was aware and able to cover any mistakes the higher risk plays could expose. That was missing last night.
And has been in decline the last few games
By the way, on the first goal, while Klein has definitely unnecessary over-committed to the puck carrier leaving Pageau alone, Hayes also took a nap after losing the draw.
when AV ‘balances’ the lines by including a D focused forward (Fast) with 2 offensive forwards, it ends up diluting the NYR greatest strength; Ozone possession time from speed and passing.
.
Are we seeing a repeat of last year? Start strong and hold on for PO spot while flaws are exposed but not fixed…
Last season the team didn’t start strong… they won a bunch of games at the start the didn’t deserve to win given their play.
As I remember some guy nicknamed Carp referred to last year’s team as find a way.
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