WANTED: HOCKEY PLAYERS WHO CAN FIND THE NET.

We have a very young defense. It is the best that our defense has looked in 10 years. There are 3 issues i see that need attending to with the NY Rangers.

1. It is impossible to hide Roszival, and for the the most part, Girardi all game. Those 2, are bringing down their partners. Both of them are horrible puck movers.2. LundSwiss (as I refer to him these days!) must be challenged by another goalie that will fight him for game minutes. 3. Our offense MUST come off the rush. Not from a dump and chase style. There is no element of creativity from a team that constantly dumps and chases. If the offense comes from the rush , the opponents cannot set up their defense. When you dump and chase, the other team just sets up and blocks shots or sits and waits for you to try to reach the puck on the boards. We are way too easy to defend.

SAFE IS DEATH

If the Rangers stop playing all out everyshift, no one will realize how much they need scoring. I for one realize that this style will produce some ugly results in the short term. I am ok with that. It is time for the management to admit their mistakes on draft day and start punting. It is time to re think draft day . It is time to draft plyers based on offense only. It is time to trade prized prospects for scoring.

ITS THE FINAL SCORE STUPID!

THATS RIGHT! If the other team can score more than your team YOU LOSE!. Play all the scenarios you want in your hockey strategy minds. But you have to score goals to win. If you want the other team to respect you, you have to score goals. You have to score on the power play. You have to score at even strength. You even have to put one in shorthanded from time to time. Your team has to score from center position. It must score from the wing position. Scoring from the defensive position is imperative to gaining the opponents respect.

There is that word RESPECT again!. What does it mean in hockey? Well for one it does not and never will mean being afraid of your teams goons. No No No. Respect is derived from your teams ability to convert chances into goals. Your opponent is very fearful when you can score from every situation on the ice. Opposing teams prepare WAY WAY different for you when you have proven to be a goal scoring team. .. They cannot take liberties. Because they pay for it on the scoreboard. How do the Rangers lose? When THEY do not respect teams that can score from all areas. And the only way the Rangers will gain ANY RESPECT from any opponent is when they can score from all areas and situations. So let us all stop making up all the excuses. From "why did the coach bench a dressed player" to " Lundqvist was sitting" to " we were playing a second game after getting in at 3:00 AM." to Using Drury at the point on the PP. ....etc

Can somebody just say that no one can score on the Rangers . So NO TEAM in the NHL respects them and lets get on with it. Danny Heatly was available. The Senators could have had Dubinski, Stahl, Callahan, and Drury for him as far as I am concerned. Because he is a player who is respected in the NHL. Remember; RESPECT IN THE NHL IS WHEN YOUR TEAM CAN SCORE GOALS. NOT WHEN YOU CAN BEAT SOMEONE UP WITH YOUR FISTS. OR YOU ARE A GOOD GUY OFF THE ICE!

OK. I HAVE HAD A GOOD LOOK AT THESE RANGERS

I have been a good soldier for 15 or so games. It is time to let loose. Good or bad. The Rangers are losing hockey games for 2 reasons. Their style of play has reverted to mostly dump and chase . With the majority of the offense being generated behind the goal line . They are not putting the players in front. They are not taking chances like they were in games 1 to 7 . The other issue is the goaltenders. Neither goalie is playing well. Hank is looking more and more like a late round draft pick. Valle is just not that good. I don't think this team can survive another season without having 3 lines that go for goals. I am really pissed that Torts has pulled in the defense. Personally, I do not care if we lose 6-4 . I just want to see this team score 4 or more a night. The Rangers are falling right back into the protect the defensive zone mode. I hope it is an adjustment. By the way.. If Avery or Boyle or Dubinsky cannot find a reason to take out Glenncross then none of them belong on this team. Another point. When all 3 of your leaders are not aggressive players, and your so called edgy players refuse to engage at the proper time, you have a lame team concept.

ONE WEEK INTO THE REGULAR SEASON

NUMBER FOUR, MICHAEL DEL ZOTTO. Thats all we need to know right now. Del Zotto has transformed the klunky , hands of stone, Rangers defensemen into a confident, keep your head up, look for an outlet pass, contribute to the offense, defense corp. Along with NUMBER NINETY SEVEN, MATT GILROY, opponents have learned that you can no longer flood the Ranger zone with reckless abandon, and be sure that you will not suffer an odd man rush against. Thats all Ranger fans need to know for now. Yes, the third and fourth line are beefier and can stand toe to toe in front and on the cycle. Marion Gaborik makes some very deceptive plays, and Chris Higgins is tougher than I thought he was. But the the defense is the story up to know.

TIME TO DROP THE PUCK 2009-2010

WE ARRIVE AT THE SEASON OPENER .

I am curious about this Rangers team at this point. It does not look as if it is a set group. The players seem to be feeling it out up to now. I mean, Dubinsky looks Dubinsky like. As does Callahan. The defense seems to have found an identity in the rookies . Not the vets. Thats a good thing. I do not think this Rangers team is ready for prime time. They seem like a team that will sneak away a couple victories, but on most nights they will fall just short. I like the new blood in the bottom 6 forwards. That is refreshing. But the top 6 have not proven anything in the past. I hope they change my opinion of them .

PRE SEASON SPECIAL

We are at the 3/4 pole of the pre season. The NY Rangers have played a bunch of rookies in games and used them in all situations. The coaches have been utilizing the teams faster players on PK. The result is average. Not so much that the forwards are not playing well. But that our defense is still way too soft. I heard that Stall and Garardi were asked to be tougher to play against in the goal area. Well that would be real nice of them. The leftovers from last years number 1 and 2 defense, Redden and Roszival, are soft and do not deserve top 4 status on this years team. The defense has shone from the offensive point of view. Matt Gilroy can truly go end to end with gusto. Mike Del Zotto is the most poised Ranger defenseman of the pre season with control of the puck.

The forwards are doing some new things from past Ranger teams. There seems quite a bit more push to the front of the net. Even from the back board cycles I can see the goal of the shift is to put the puck in the net by every line. Anisimov is already getting attention from the Hockey News. It is deserved. This kid may be the number one center. Grachev and Paranteu , along with Lisin and Callahan, have been dynamic at forcing the play. Marion Gaborik made a beautiful one time pass that hasn't been seen in MSG by a Ranger since Messier, Leetch and Kovelev. I hope Marion can skate in real games too.

Rangers Rookies Invade Traverse City

All eyes point towards Traverse City. The Rookies are coming! The Rookies are coming! Starting this weekend September 5th, The Rangers coaches will be assembling lines and combinations of Ranger prospects to play against some of the top NHL prospects in Traverse City. Del Zotto, Bourque, Gravchev, Chad Johnson, to name a few.I can't wait! NHL Network will be the tv source. The tournament is fun to watch. It reminds me of the rookie games between the Rangers and I'sles at Rye Playlands' Ice Casino when the team used to practice there. Lots of excitement. With alot of players with something to prove.

YOU CANNOT TEACH SPEED

It is a fact. You can train a player to play defense. You may be able to improve the shooting skill. It is also possible to teach a player how to train properly. But you cannot teach speed. No way , no how. Chris Kreider is the best and fastest skater in the 2009 NHL draft. A very smart pick by Glen Sather. Kreider is an entering college freshman at Boston College. Not a shabby place to play university hockey. Sather knows at the point the Rangers were drafting, the gems were gone. So he takes the kid with the fastest legs. Kreider is young. And will not make an impact immediately. But his pedigree is a given. Nice job Rangers.

Congrats to the Penguins...Now Lets Go Rangers!

I go through this phase of the hockey off season pretty much every year as a Ranger fan . The questions of what to do with the past roster. This off season is a very different one than any since Mike Keenan,Neil Smith, Colin Campbell, and Mark Messier were around. IT IS THE FIRST OFF SEASON THAT THE NY RANGERS FACE WITH A TRUE TOP FLIGHT HEAD COACH.
The roster will be purged in my opinion. Torts will need a far more aggressive and offensive minded group of players. I predict that 50% of the roster will change. That is right 50%. It will be a fire sale on some players. Few to be honest. Because most of the pro roster is made up of patch work, career journey men type players and a few rookies that aren't indispensable by the least .
The emphasis will be on fitness and offensively slanted pro players. Not necasarily snipers. Just offensive in nature versus defensive . The Rangers coaches will be gunning for the cup. They will mold and sculpt this team into goal scoring chances that were always available, but never thought of as important under the old coaches. That alone will make a major impact.

I do not see it any other way this off season.

2009 Playoffs Sans Rangers

We are being saturated with talk of Next Year in the New York papers. As well as Sean Avery and even more Sean Avery. All along, there are hockey games being played by the teams that the NY Rangers must become like if they will ever compete in May hockey. But the NY Papers want to cover the bullshit about next year even though none of the writers in the newspapers have any input or clue as to what needs to be done to improve the NY Rangers. Watch and report on the NHL playoffs ny sportswriters! Write articles that show in comparison, how the current Rangers match up to the teams that are still playing. Thats what matters .

The current playoffs show that the Rangers must be in much better physical shape next year. It's not about how many fights Colton Orr has. It's really about if Colton Orr can chase a puck down after he loses it in the corner and get it back. It is about crashing the net with purpose . Not to just fall into the goalie or to skate past the crease and out of position.It isn't about being the best shot blocker as is Blair Betts . But to block just as many pucks but end up with a goal at the other end after you block it. That takes stamina and determination. Just to block em is great in the AHL . Not in the NHL.

The NY writers should be paying close attention to the Goalies that are still in the playoffs. There is no room for a night off after a great game if you want to win it all. Cam Ward knows how to win. As does Marc Andre Fleury. Write about how Hank needs to learn how to be 100% consistent in the playoffs.

Lets face it. The Rangers need to rebuild into a scoring machine in 2009. It will not be easy but it is imperative that they remove the AHL talent and replace them with true NHL caliber forwards.

Lets Just Play Hockey

Play hockey for crying out loud! Who cares about the refs? Who cares what happened Sunday? JUST PLAY HOCKEY.

If Henrik plays his game, and Drury and Gomez play the way they are payed to play. Or more honestly, if Drury and Gomez get their heads out of their asses,The Rangers will have a good chance to win game 7. The defensemen cannot run like a bunch of pansies from the offensive zone. The defense has to take the body. HELLO!!! TAKE THE BODY. There is no running away in playoff hockey. And do me a favor Rangers. make a good pass.

You Cannot Build Rome In A Day!

It's useless to comment on the stretch run this year. Your basic team is in evaluation mode while being in playoff contention. It becomes painfully evident that Chris Drury is being very vocal about how much he wants to be the man. Problem is, Drury is never. and I reiterate NEVER in the location that made him a clutch goal getter in his career. That location is In front of the net. Drury can be found in the corner, along the side boards, on the point, but never in the slot untli the play is over. Captain Drury loves to use his slap shot. Why??? It sucks. Get back to where you came from Chris. And you will start to score.
Gomez and Avery are a great pair. As long as Gomez looks for Avery. Which Scott fails to do at an alarming frequency. Why??? I dont know. Gomer skates it up , then loses all the playmaking ability that made him lethal as a Devil more often than not. I shake my head. It's almost like Gomer chokes.
The Redden Saga ....... Is he on drugs? Or is it just that Wade relies solely on his natural hockey abilities and doesn't put the time in to study the league? Redden is constantly surprised by opposing skaters coming down his side. Wade needs to go back and do some homework I feel.
The power play lives on the boards instead of feeding a slot man. It is incredible that no Ranger will plant himself in the slot and NOT MOVE. Albeit, Antropov is the strongest presence the Rangers have in front these days. I'm done for now.

It Shows!

I am proud of the Rangers. They split the weekend in points. But they played to win. Tortarella has transformed this team from wimps to hard nosed, determined hockey monsters. And it shows! Sjostrom, Dubinsky, Callahan, Morris, Antripov. Gomez, Stall, are all stepping it up. It Shows! Torts allows Avery to play his brand of hockey in his style. And it shows! King Henrik is making tremendous saves at critical times of the game . This is all attributed to Coach Tortarella. He has the team playing to win and win big. It shows!

Flyers Rangers = Hockey

Coach Tortarella put his players on notice Thursday in Nashville. The boys were turned into men. It was just in time for a trip to Philly during the playoff push. I remember way too many of these Flyer-Rangers scenario's in my Ranger fan life span. Not many turn out right by the way. Tortarella gives the Rangers the best chance to beat the Flyers at crunch time . I am not going to get into the coach's well overdue benchings and ice time reductions because to me, that is standard operating procedure in a good, successful hockey organization.

The Rangers are scoring 1 full goal more a game now. That is why they are winning more. Torts will continue to reinforce the attack idea and the Rangers will be much more successful and much much more entertaining.

LETS GO RANGERS!! FLYERS SUCK!!

POWER OUTAGE DUE TO HURRICANE

You don't stand a chance if you do not score. The Rangers went to Carolina for the opportunity to win 2 points. They did not. The team had problems finding the net. The Canes blocked many many shots from the points and face off circles. 28 shots on goal these days by the Tortarella Rangers suggests the opponents played superior defense. The Canes did just that. What the Rangers were forced to do by Carolina was to try to generate chances from behind the goal and along the walls. The Rangers were ok with that part. But they failed in getting the rest of the players to the front of the goal. This game needed a lot of slot pinching by the defense. They did not do it enough. Stall was the only defensemen who drove the slot. Michael Roszival needs to go. He is the worst passer in the history of the Ny Rangers in my opinion. Roszival's inability to process information on the fly is down right criminal. The amount of time it takes him to make a move is amateur in caliber. It must be fixed. He plays too much.........UPDATE
IN GAMES LIKE LAST NIGHTS AGAINST THE HURRICANES IS WHEN IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THE RANGERS NEED TO RE TOOL THE FOURTH LINE. THEY CANNOT AFFORD TO GIVE UP 3 ROSTER SPOTS TO NON OFFENSIVE PLAYERS. THEY HAVE A 25% LESS CHANCE OF SCORING A GOAL IN THIS LINEUP. OVER A FULL SEASON, THAT IS AN IMMENSE DEFICIENCY.

The After Trade Deadline Party

Here we are. Feeling just a bit empty after a boring trading day in the NHL. The economy as well as the inability to move players to teams without contractual obligations past this season has quieted the general managers .

The Rangers let one of their most loyal employees get away . Peter Prucha. Prucha has been the epitome of a Ranger. He would have fit in with the Messier Rangers like a glove. Peter bleeds Ranger blue. I will miss him. If the Rangers could figure how to draft more Prucha character players, they would be way ahead of the game.

The reality is, there are not many Ranger players who have Pruch's big heart and guts. The kid was black balled by Renney. He was not allowed to play power play minutes at all under Renney for 2 years. The only explanation I can think of for that decision by Renney is that the coach would not be able to move Prucha out of the lineup if he was scoring goals on the power play. Renney would not be able to re insert his bulky , no talent , forwards which Renney coveted far more than smaller skilled players who can score. If Prucha was given a legitimate shot at the power play, it would have painted Tom Renney in a corner and the coach would have had to give Prucha a regular spot. Thats how I see it.

With Avery, Antropov, in place of Dawes and Voros the Rangers have basically re shuffled the deck to a more attack style lineup. Morris replacing Kalinin is an upgrade on defense. Please remember that Wade Redden will be getting a starring role on the Ranger power play and to join the rush under Torts. We will see what makes Redden a better offensive defensemen now. You have to trust that to evolve under Tortarella.

Antropov reminds me of Ryan Smyth. It will nice to see if he can pop in a few garbage goals on the PP.

Ranger Hockey

It is time for Ranger Hockey. John Tortarella style. The new coach set the new tone quickly.

You know, some hockey fans forget how basic a game this is. Hockey is all about scoring more goals than the other team. In it's glorious history, hockey has been played in a brash style. Where men with skating, passing and shooting skill compete to score goals. The more goal scoring chances you create, the more likely you are to win. Thats it. Simple.

Over the many years, Hockey has found its way into the hands of big business. This led to corporate level creative departments being enlisted to SELL THE GAME. All of a sudden, hockey was no longer about the will to score but it changed to a business model. Big business devised ways to make winning a hockey game less about the better team and more about keeping the games close enough so that any skill level team could have a chance to win. Thus the birth of trap hockey, overtime, and shootouts. At this point, big business invested in franchises throughout the United States. Often in areas that were not suitable for hockey in its purest form, which again, is who scores more wins. It wouldn't work the old way because the expansion teams created by the investment of big business created a dilution of talent throughout the league. This expansion necessitated the need for coaches that understood the corporate model. That model would be defined by the corporate operations manual. The coach would have to be educated in strategies that employed tactics that would allow his inferior product to shine in competition by playing it safe. This corporate coach would not be tolerated if he could not GET ALONG with the players/employees. That is a Very Important chapter in the operations manual of big business today. And so on .And so on.

These big business franchises are coached by very successful people skills, tactical men. These coaches are 2/3 corporate 1/3 hockey. They have fit in so well in some places that it isn't even noticeable when their teams flounder for seasons at a time. In the corporate hockey world, coaches hire players who are above all, non desrcript. The players fit in . That is the priority. Their skill level becomes secondary in a corporate coaches needs( see Strudwick,Betts, Orr Roszival) But their individual ability to just fit in and follow the corporate procedure manual is tantamount. Some hockey fans call these type players " players who do what they are asked of." That is really sweet. They are good guys. LOL!

This is what is wrong with the NHL today. This is why the ultimate corporate coach, Tom Renney was so well liked. Not exactly pure hockey is it? These are the signs of the era of the financial bubble. Well , as we all know that bubble has gone POP!

250 dollar hockey tickets for seats to a regular season game that means close to nothing? To watch a 2-1 game mired by bad passing,low shot totals, or high shot totals from shots that couldn't stir the cat in the middle of the night. 250 bucks to watch a 60 minute game take 2 hours and 45 minutes ? To witness center ice play for 2/3 of the game and then watch the game be settled by a gimmick called the shootout? Someone better wake up at the NHL Governors meetings.

Words of Wisdom

As Keenan know firsthand, coaching a team in New York also carries its own unique pressures and demands.

"Obviously (coaching in New York) is scrutinized quite a bit and more so than some other markets," Keenan said. "It doesn't nearly have the scrutiny that the Maple Leafs have, but in New York you are scrutinized very closely and you know that going in there. I knew that going in there as part of what the expectations were for me as a coach. On the other hand, I knew the team was dedicated and had the resources to put the best possible team on the ice and were committed to do that. I do enjoy working in that type of environment as opposed to an environment where they don't have the resources or are not committed to try to excel to win the Stanley Cup."

reprinted from NHL.COM

A NEW NEW YORK RANGERS ERA BEGINS TODAY

It's about time. I was really disgusted after the Rangers continued to lose and play as if they were wearing blindfolds and ear plugs for the past weeks. It finally came to a head last night. 2 bench minors in one game. Not from the coach complaining about the officiating mind you. But from too many men on the ice! Twice! Shameful.
Tom Renney was always labeled a good guy. I have said enough.
Now lets turn the page and get some winners in here to run the show. There will be an immediate culture change. Yes Sather is a winner. But he wasn't visible to the fans. Slats is always hiding from the cameras.
The slant to offense is imperative. Lineup changes should happen immediately. I am excited to watch the Rangers again.

They Don't Get It

As I sit down to watch the Rangers Sabers last night, I am having a discussion with my cousin who is a long time Rangers/ hockey fan,  about the state of the NHL today. As well as how boring and unattractive the Rangers have been for 2 years. The conversation starts out about how much tougher the NHL was 15 or so years ago from a skill perspective. Then the debate moves to the comparisons between players from 20 years ago versus what we have to watch on the ice today that pass as NHL players. At this point, the talk turns to the Boring Rangers and how they fit in to the NHL as a whole. We discuss the fact that the Rangers are an Original Six team, which still means a great deal to us, and how the NHL has blurred the lines when it comes to that distinction. We hate it. We both feel that the NHL should do more to promote the game in its purest form. Skating, passing and shooting. Then the conversation goes back to todays NHL'er. We both agree that the players today are not as skilled as years ago. We feel that expansion has created at least 20% of NHL players today that are not worthy to be in the league period. They cannot skate, pass , or score. As we watch the Sabers go up 3 zip, he asks me why I still watch the Rangers. My cousin says this isn't hockey that we are watching. He states that watching someone playing NHL 09  the video hockey game,is more exciting than watching the Rangers!.  He goes on to say that to him,  watching the Rangers games today, is the equivalent to watching Dancing on Ice. Comparing a Rangers game to the old popular figure skating show. I can't say I do not agree with him. What I do say, to defend myself, is that I always hold out hope that a Real hockey game will appear one of these nights.  I can only hope. Lets Go Rangers!

Welcome Back My Friends To The Show That Never Ends!

Where did the Rangers management go wrong with this version of the N Y Rangers?

  In the summer of '08 , GM Sather decided to forgo Shanahan, Jagr, Avery ,Straka, Malik, Strudwick, Hollweg, Tyutin, and Backman.

  Sather replaced them with Zherdev, Rissmiller, Fritsche, Voros, Naslund, Redden, and Kalinin.

Where are we today vs last year? 

First line of Jagr, Straka, Dubinsky has been replaced by Gomez, Naslund , Zherdev. I do not think this new line has done any worse than the first line of last year. Numbers do not lie.

Second line of Drury, Avery, Shanahan was replaced by Drury, Dawes, Callahan.  The line from this year is far worse in points, and aggression. Downgraded from last year.

Third line was  Gomez, Sjostrom, and whoever was replaced by Dubinsky, Korpokoski,Voros. These lines are  AHL Caliber. No upgrade made.

Defense was Roszival, Stall, Backman/Malik, Mara,Tyutin, Girardi

Today it  consists of  Stall, Redden, Roszival, Mara, Kalinin, Girardi. The two groups seriously lack aggression. Mobility was a big reason for the changes made from last year.  It hasn't been exploited in the Renney System of Flat footed Hockey.

   In Hartford

Parrenteu, G Moore, Sanguinetti, Anisimov, Potter have a need to be in the NHL when the big club cannot execute. If not , they need to be traded for offense. 

   Kovelev, Pronger, Horton, Bowmeister, Jason Blake, are all available. As well as Tkachuck, Streit, Guerin. There are goals out there. Lets stop the crap on the ice.

What A Day At MSG For Hockey!

Prucha plays! Gets an assist. Sees less ice time as the game moves on. The Renney checkers were at it again today. Giving up great opportunities all over the zone. But still playing all shifts. The Redden boo birds were in full force today. It is too bad that Redden gets to play with Roszival, Girardi, Rookie Stall, and Kalinin or Rietz. That bunch of defensemen are scary to say the least. Roszival, Stall, and Girardi, as well as Kalinin all belong in the AHL. You are not going to read that anywhere else. It is too depressing.

    I heard quite a few "Gomez you suck!" comments today at MSG. Another one was "Drury you suck!" I also heard a few " Yeah, way to go Renney. Keep playing the 4th line." in sarcasm of course. Another fan was screaming, " why the f$#@ is Colton Orr out there when we are losing by 3??"  I don't agree with all these you suck comments because I feel Drury and Gomez , as well as Redden are not being used properly on this crappy team. These guys have specified talents that they have honed over years of playing in the NHL on other teams. When they signed in NY, the plan was to use them in the proper roles that made them effective in other places where they played. Not to turn them upside down  and use them in areas where they cannot possibly succeed. Gomez is not a pp specialist. He is a checking center capable of giving you 20 goals. Drury is not a go to guy. He is a 2nd line player who's strength has always been following the big offensive line out on the subsequent shift when the opponents top checkers had left the ice after guarding the top line. Drury excelled because his talent was good enough to score against the secondary players of other teams. Now he has become Captain and go to guy? Redden needs to play with offensive players. Period. Players with vision. Not Roszival or Stall or Girardi. Give me a break man! 

   But the Big One was " Fire Renney!" Yes. Renney has overstayed his welcome in MSG. It is time for him to move on. 

   The Flyers came in on back to back game days and just dismantled the Rangers in our house. Disgusting. The Flyers were ready for national television. Renney did not prepare his team at all. Embarrassing.

   The NY Rangers upper management must change the coaching staff. It is an insult to the fans to do nothing and watch all this happen.

AHHHH! Fresh Air!

What a difference an attitude adjustment makes. For months the Rangers stubbornly used a 1 -4 checking system or a 2-1 -2 system but would set up outside the opponents blue line. Last night against the Caps the 2-1-2 was used again. But wait a minute! The Rangers were set up within the opponents end zone! Amazing! Clear genius! Game changing!

   Yes. With that simple adjustment , The Rangers were able to take second, and dare I say it, third shots in sequence. And what happens when you can sustain an attack from the front of the net?? You score goals . Thats what happens!. You get the crowd into the game with the ooohh! and aaahhh! factor. Throw in a couple of early heavy weight bouts  and  it becomes a much more enjoyable game. 

    Let the defensemen join the rush without penalty from the coach and you get pressure. All of a sudden the game opens up. The Rangers look more potent. And the "we do not have any goal scorers" crowd recedes to the back of the room. 

   Let them play. And put Peter Prucha back in the lineup. Thats all we want. 

Under Achievement

Under Achievement is the only word that describes all aspects of the Rangers offense. In my opinion, this is a result of allowing underachievers to continue to run the management of this original six franchise.
As always, and in every industry, when underachievers are allowed to take over the top spots of an organization , all aspects of that particular organization will be set up to reward and accept mediocrity. The Rangers are a far cry from the organization that was. When the battle cry from the top was we will settle for nothing less than a Stanley Cup. In those days, the management was committed to that goal. The management understood that you needed to score many goals to win in the playoffs and ultimately , the Cup. A well balanced score sheet, where all lines contribute to scoring, was the priority. This is an important factor. The philosophy of achieving by scoring goals is risky. It may mean that a coach will look less favorable to the organization if A. the team does not achieve the scoring or B. the team gives up too many goals and lose more often than win.
The difference of an achieving based organization is that you must, and I reiterate, must, take risks and stick your neck out much more than a conservative manager would. This may cost a manager his job. But lets think what that would be like if the NYFD or the NYPD chose to be tepid and conservative in there respective roles. I don't think New York's finest and bravest could or would. It is a character trait of a hero. Rangers fans desire a hero. A risk taker. It is the very fabric that has made NYC great.
With every great success, comes many failures . An achieving organization knows and accepts the fact that if they go for it and fail they may be fired. I do not see that character trait in the N Y Rangers organization today.
I implore the NY Rangers to change back to achievers with the hiring of Mark Messier and Brian Leetch for starters. These two would bring back some of the urgency that is missing from the organization. Accountability is a very overused and very rarely executed term in the Rangers management today. I for one,as a fan, want to feel that responsibility from our Ranger management . So that it will be demanded from our players.

Adam Graves Is A Champion

Congrats to Adam Graves. He is the poster child of what an NHL player should be. It is never only about the numbers. Gravy did it anyway it had to be done. As Leetch said, you always knew he had your back.
The current Ranger leaders do not exist. There is a void of leadership on this version of the N Y Rangers. This partly has to do with the fact that the strongest candidates for leadership are the youngest players. These players will not step up out of respect to the vets who are not willing to lead by example . There is no Heart Of A Ranger amongst number 23 and 19. Or number 6. I am not talking about the dressing room. It is what is left on the ice that counts. Thats where it shows to the opponent.
The Rangers are not at all helped by the current coach's game plan either. The only vet who remotely challenges Renney's game plan in print is Marcus Naslund. Naslund will go on to say that his team plays better in attack style and that they should play that way all the time. He is the ONLY one who will say it.
Blair Betts has become a perpetual replacement player for a virtual injured center who never comes off the ir! Thats how it appears to me . Betts reminds me of a backup infielder who is a great defensive replacement in late innings, but has a batting average lower than his body wieght! Then the regular second basemen goes on ir for a month and the backup(aka Betts) gets to play every day for a month. After 100 at bats , the replacement has made 5 or 6 flashy plays in the field .. Maybe saved a run or two. But was 14 for 100 at the plate. That is Betts in a nutshell.

Hurricanes and Penquins

I feel like writing about the Rangers ability to play themselves out of games. On Tuesday and Wednesday, the results were completely opposite, but the team played themselves out of both games. Two on one after two on one. No goals. No creativity. No soft touch. Regardless who it was.
We all agree that The Rangers have a need for additional scoring. Renney reconstitutes the lust to recreate the NJ Devils cup teams every time he is asked about the low scoring punch of the Rangers. It needs to be clarified that the NJ Devils Cup winning teams did not go out and score one first and beat you 1-0. Or even 2-1. No. Cup contenders score 3,4 5 goals on there way to a defensive minded Stanley Cup. Renney MUST recognize this deficiency in his roster set up every night. And begin to inject a more opportunistic approach in building an insurmountable lead. Renney cannot and will not go far with a 1-4 check after a one goal lead or after giving up the tying goal. The reason the one goal lead evaporates is directly correlated to the 1-4 check in place and the over use of defensive players.
I recommend that Callahan be moved the Betts line and either Prucha or Parrenteu be put into the line up while Colton Orr takes his well earned (1 goal in 2 years) spot in the stands. The toughness will emerge if needed from productive players.

Rangers 4 Ducks 2

Shorthanded goals!! Power play goals!!! By the N Y Rangers!!! 

   This was the most complete game I have seen the Blair Betts line play ever. When I say complete game , I mean scoring, checking, defending.  Otherwise ,in hockey, it does not constitute a complete game. The hitting was spirited last night at times. The rough stuff came from junior Rangers. That was refreshing. 

    Voros and Fritsche in . Prucha and Korpokoski scratched.  I will only presume they needed a rest. LOL!  What a bonehead personnel change by the coach. It should have cost us the game . Given Voros's ability to find the penalty box instead of the front of the net the way Prucha does. Fritsche spent most of his ice time falling down and being non effective instead of Korpokoski's speed and superior puck handling abilities. 

    The PK and the PP were the deciding factor for the Rangers.

Rangers Win In Chicago Despite The Penalties And Lose In Pittsburgh

Play the trap. Play against the trap. It doesn't make a difference with the Rangers. The Renney Robots have found a way to get 7 points on the road trip. Drury thinks it took the team a while to figure out how to retrieve the puck from the dump ins against Pittsburgh. Wow!
My prediction for second half of the Rangers season is that they will be the most penalized team in the NHL . (see the Hawks game) My reason is that the management has figured out that the Rangers are number one in penalty kills. Therefore they will cheat until caught. It works for as long as no team scores 3 power play goals on a given night against the Rangers. It is a sucky way to watch your team play. This is only my opinion of course. I could be totally wrong. The Rangers could just be the laziest and lowest IQ team collectively in the NHL. I might be giving the management too much credit on this point. It has been discussed that the Rangers must take penalties to stop scoring chances. This requires quick thinking. That being said. It seems the Rangers are willing to hook. hold, and interfere their way to a win .
Where do the goals come from in April? Where are the Rangers going to turn when the opponent scores on the power play?
A classic example of Rangers offensive ineptitude happened in Pittsburgh. To frame it, look back at the Pens first goal that came on a one timer from the slot off a gorgeous blind pass by Sykora. The one timer was placed off the ice and to the stick side of Henrik. GOAL PENS. In the third, the Rangers passed a puck from behind the net to the slot for a great one timer opportunity for Blair Betts. Betts shot the puck low and into the goalie. The goalie has NO CHANCE to react to a one timer like that. But Betts reacted even slower than Fleury. Typical Ranger play. Reason? Opportunities do happen for the Rangers. But the players the Rangers utilize do not react well to offensive opportunities because they are not prepared for offense, Instead, the Rangers are ultra prepared for back checking. This affects the offensive phsycie in my opinion. Lending itself to choking on offense by the Rangers.

Islanders Provide The Rangers With A Win ('Cause The Rangers Sure Didn't Deserve It)

A 1 -4 checking scheme for the whole 2nd half of the game? What is going on here? Is anybody at the least concerned in Rangersland about the obvious lack of scoring chances every single night ? Do any of the upper brass ever check in to what the coach has created ? Renney has created a team that can only win by the thinnest of margins. This is not due to a lack of team speed, or quality scorers. (Historicaly, Naslund, Drury, Zherdev, Prucha, Redden, and EVEN Gomez have put a few pucks in the net at the NHL level) But Renney and the coaching staff keeps shoveling the lack of attention to detail crap as HIS argument for the need to play a non aggressive , no attack style. Which ends up reinforcing his LAME LAME LAME argument that the Rangers are not a high scoring bunch.
Why is Renney allowed to continue in this fashion? It will not get this team deep into the playoffs. It stifles the development of scoring touch from the younger players. And most of all , it makes me feel like we LOST the game when we win!! I hate the style. I hate the fact that the N Y Rangers play this way in the biggest market and most famous arena in the world.

Friday In Buffalo And Saturday In Ottowa

What did I learn from the Rangers games this weekend? Nothing. Absolutely nothing.  The Sabers and Senators are sleepwalking these days. I can't remember the last time the Rangers went to Ottowa and didn't get pasted from wire to wire until Saturday. Who was the impostor of the Ottowa Senators that played the Rangers???

   Ryan Miller was as good as Stevie V Friday night. But yet again. Who were those impostors in Sabers uniforms? That wasn't the Lindy Ruff coached team that I have been accustomed to seeing . Albeit, the Sabers did use a 5 man forecheck at times during the game. But not nearly as much as they normally do against NY.

   The Rangers played like The NY Rangers usually play in 2008-2009.  No forecheck, very few scoring chances, and borderline defense. Good enough to tie and win  for 3 points in Buffalo and Ottowa. This road trip is about beating the teams you are supposed to beat at this point of the season. The Rangers did that so far. 

WE NEVER BEAT MONTREAL (The Rangers had beaten Montreal four straight times at home...Hockey News ) WELL, IT JUST SEEMS LIKE IT.

WHEN DOES IT END? THE RANGERS DEFENDERS DO NOT STAND UP. THE FORWARDS LOOK DISORGANIZED ON ALL ASPECTS. THE 4TH LINE STARTS THE GAME ON HOME ICE. ALL BUT MAILING A HAND DELIVERED MESSAGE TO MONTREAL AND THE REST OF THE RANGERS THAT RENNEY DOESN'T THINK HIS NUMBER ONE LINE CAN MATCH THE CANADIAN'S TOP LINE. WHY NOT JUST STAY HOME NEXT TIME AND CALL THE LEAGUE AND FORFEIT THE GAME?
THE RANGERS LOST LAST NIGHT BECAUSE THEY USED THE FOURTH LINE TOO MUCH. WHICH CAUSED THE REST OF THE OFFENSIVE PLAYERS TO NEVER GET A RHYTHM.

Prucha Scores in Loss Vs Caps. Prucha Assists in WinVs Pens

The Rangers need 3 more Peter Prucha's in the lineup every night. He drives the net on every chance. He passes the puck to the front of the goal whenever he can. In other words, Prucha CREATES.
Creating chances is what the NY Rangers, A K A Renney Robots, are lacking in a big way. If Sather is going to trade, he needs to bring 2 to 3 skilled forwards to the STARTING LINEUP. I emphasized starting lineup because I am afraid the Renney would not insert skilled offensive players in the lineup every night. Skilled , gifted , offensive players cannot be trained to be Robots.