Rangers Up, Rangers Down
Thursday, December 4, 2008
After a great shoot-out come from behind victory against the Pittsburgh Penguins, 3-2, The Rangers headed north for a showdown. The showdown was against a team that, I feel, will be a force to be reckoned with come playoff time - the Montreal Canadiens.
Boy, was this a downer from the start. Montreal just looked like the hungrier and faster hockey team. On the flip side, the Rangers looked like they were just standing around, had no energy, no hustle, and another slow start left Henrik Lundqvist out to dry. Sorry, there is no way to sugarcoat this one.
The Habs got 2 quick goals by Kostitsyn and Begin within a span of 55 seconds, midway through the 1st period. With the Rangers down 3-0 after the end of the 1st period, something very interesting happened. Lundqvist, instead of leaving the ice, headed to the bench and had words with coach Tom Renney. What was said? I don't know, but it sure didn't look good! For Lundqvist, it has to be frusterating night after night watching the Rangers get off to such slow starts. I think the fans are feeling the same, Henrik.
Getting back to the game... Montreal did whatever they wanted for the most part with the Rangers looking like pylons. Standing and watching... admiring the play of Montreal. The shots were 39-20 in favor of Montreal... and the box score was filled with minus players up and down the scoresheet.
With Calgary coming to MSG, the Rangers had better get this one out of their system... fast. I also wanted to mention the nice tribute by the Canadiens before the game showing off some of our Ranger greats. It was nice to see, especially seeing my good friend Ron Greschner taking part in the ceremony. Does someone want to tell me why his jersey isn't hanging up with the other Ranger greats yet? Over and out.
Oh, and I'm off to Quinnipiac on Friday doing the broadcast against Providence. The Stanley Cup will be present at the Banknorth Sports Center! Check it out if you're in the area!
» Bobcats Link: http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x981.xml
8 comments:
Kots---The ceremony was the only good thing that happened all night---How embarassing it must have been for the Ranger Greats to have to watch that effort while in the company of the Habs??--When you see these guys it brings back some great memories of seeing them play (and hating them.---As for our guys--I had wanted to see Zherdev play with Gomez, so I'll wait and see if they produce ---I'd still like to see Callahan on Dubi's line---When Betts get back I'd like to see Pruch play with Drury--But as the saying goes--crap in one hand and like in the other--which one fills up first!!---Did I see Gomez was -4 last night??--thats harder to do than being +4---I thought they moved pretty good for the first 7 or 8 minutes---making plays off the rush and controlling the puck down low (I was actually waiting for the fatigue excuss) for coming out slow after a tough game the night before--Orr played a nice game didn't he??He got Crosby off his purpose!!and if not for a KALININ hand off to Lips he probably stays off the score sheet also!!---But last night--after those fist 7-8 minutes, I think they renamed the neutral zone into the Habs zone---they OWNED IT !!!----the defense--I give up if it hasn't been pointed out by now, that you must take the body and stop with these ef-in stick checks than it will never sink in!!!--The Habs dominated the ice down low all night--I'd be surprised if the fowards for the Habs don't get hit more in practice than they did last night---O.K--for half the game they played without Redden (I thought that was a plus) and the D had to start to wear down after awhile considering they played the night before---But wearing down and playing like crap are two different things--They were terrible before he got hurt---If you ask me the Kalinin virus IS starting to spread to Mara,slowly but surely it creaping in---I know that this game is to fast and to physical to play without making mistakes--night in and night out the greatest players of all time made them--it's basically impossible to play the game mistake free--but when the same players make the same mistakes time and time again--without learning from their errors, I start to think that it;s their game that is the mistake --it's just the way they play and thats it !!! If all I see from Kalinin's game is all he has to offer, than the King shouls chop his ankels and do us all a favor!!that guy SUCKS--I know what I see!!--One last vent!!---If the refs(who made alot of non-calls on stuff that were penalties before the changes) are going to let Begin crash the net and push the King below the goal line while a shot is closing in on him without a penalty--dont't you think the Rangers should take the penalty for busting someones face in??? You have to protect your goalie!!! the league made it a big issue to protect them--so how is it that the ref misses one like that ,when the play is right there involving the King -it's not like it happened behind the play IT WAS THE PLAY an they missed it ??--Anyway Girardi was there -Redden was late but there--Zherdev how showed that he has an edge,was there--Naslund and Gomez I didn't see down low, but I'm sure they saw what happened--in fact I'm sure every Ranger on the bench saw it and yet Price had a pretty easy night!!!Alright i said what i needed to say ---Sunday this Calgary team is pretty Physical I hope the stick checking stops by then or else the King is going to have to be more than that once again!!!
mr.hockey: Mr.Hockey, it was a pathetic performance to say the least. A 1 hour flight from NY and your tired? Please...
No hitting, No skating, No hustle and not showing up period is inexcusable. The pre-game ceremonies should of added a little fire. Not! Montreal was playing like there was no one else on the ice.
Have you looked a the + - on this team on the year? Minus players all around and up and down, Kalinin leads the team in that category, followed by some very big names.
I am worried that Lundqvist is going to blow up soon. He let Renney know how he felt after the 1st period. What was said? is up for grabs but it wasn't pretty.
Kots--When you really think about it,there were a few games where they played better and a few games where they played worse---but other than those handful of games, last nights performance was precisely the way they have basically played ALL YEAR---If it wasn't the King or a lucky break or a late goal or just that the other teams didn't take advantage and make them pay---whatever the reason---they got away with that type of play--secured a nice cushion and a nice spot in the conf.standings---If teams start to take the upper hand in the weaknesses that we have (all teams have em)(just can't have em all the time)---We can be in for a long winters night!!---Rissmiller, who was a good 3rd line checker on the Sharks went to Hartford because the Rangers can't afford a good 3rd line checker ---they need a good 3rd line scorer, because they don't get goals from their top 2 lines the way San Jose does!!!so long Patty it's been good knowing you....
That game was brutal last night. I'm glad for the few days off so I can try to forget about that debacle. Just terrible on so many levels.
Wonder how long Redden is out for? Maybe we can see someone come up from Hartford.
mr.Hockey: Mr.Hockey, It's unfortunately true in what you say. The Rangers have basically been living off the "King" the whole season.
The overall record is still better than expected. How long it last is up to Henrik Lundqvist. Plain and simple.
wrath of sanity: Wrath Of Sanity, I agree "Brutal" summs it up pretty good about the performance against Montreal.
Get it out of their heads fast, because here comes Calgary.
Finally..Potter ..phew...now do do Kalinin what we did with Rissmiller..send him to hartford..he needs to learn the basics...
leatherneck: Leatherneck, Well Potter's got his chance now. I hope he takes advantage of this opportunity.
You don't get endless shots at sticking with the big club (unless you have huge contact like some we know). I'm pulling for him to do well.
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