Kotsy's Korner

Rangers on a Roll, Joe Frazier

2011-11-10T15:21:00.003-05:00

Well, well, well, how things have turned around for the New York Rangers from what many were calling, and I’ll be nice a “Slow Start”. Not only did I have to hold hands with some Ranger fans, I also had to walk them gently off the cliff. Their record is now 8-3-3. The Rangers are on a roll (5 wins) and you can attribute much of this to the maturing of players not named Gaborik, Richards or Lundqvist. Starting with Ryan Callahan, Brandon Dubinsky, Derek Stepan, Artem Anisimov have all stepped up their games (Dubinsky’s goals will come trust me). On the backline how good has Dan Girardi been? With the Marc Staal situation not looking too good, Girardi has turned into a super all around D-man and leader of the D-Corps. Michael Del Zotto finding his offensive game and Ryan McDonaugh blossoming into a upcoming star. This is what most in the organization has projected from these players and it’s now happening before our very eyes.

I’ve said it all along for the Rangers to be successful this year and compete with the elite they will have to have contributions from others. There can be no more excuses about them being too young. It’s all a learning process for these players. They need to understand that you are on the roster for a reason and are important to the team and must contribute.

Couple of things that are bothering me… first, when a player decides to drop the mitts with a shield on please take your helmet off. What happened to Andre Deveaux and Jared Cowen in their tussle in Ottawa is cowardly. Sorry, just that’s how I see it. The NHL must step in and hand out an extra 2 minutes, an ejection, or something. With all the rules they have put in over the last few years why not this one? It only makes sense to add that one.

The other thing that’s bothering me is how is a gargantuan of a player like Andy Sutton or a Zdeno Chara, for example, going to make a clean body check on a player who is half their size? It’s almost impossible by the rules today. I know the NHL has sent videos to all teams about what is legal and what is not about head hits and hits from behind etc. Where’s the video of one of these monsters hitting a Marty St. Louis for example? Just asking…

I will be in Hamden CT. Friday (7:00) and Saturday (4:00) as the Quinnipiac Bobcats will take on Clarkson and St. Lawrence in two big home ECAC conference games. The Bobcats gave away precious points to Dartmouth and Harvard last weekend and need a bounce back big time. If you’re in the area come on by and check out it out. It’s really entertaining hockey!

One last thing, Smokin’ Joe Frazier, one of my favorite heavyweight boxers of all-time has passed away. His battles with Muhammad Ali are legendary and the first fight in 1971 at MSG was as historical sporting event as there ever was. A piece of my childhood has left me with Joe’s passing. We will miss you Joe… rest in Peace.

Instigators Link
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/pauly-d

Quinnipiac Bobcats Radio Link
http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x981.xml

Scratchin’ and Clawin’

2011-10-21T15:50:00.002-04:00

After a sluggish start with 2 losses in Europe (Shoot out/OT) and the first game on US soil against the hated Islander’s (4-2 loss) the New York Rangers have scratched and clawed their way to 2 straight wins.

On a 4 game swing through western Canada, The Rangers shut out the Vancouver Canucks 4-0 (Lundqvist stole the game) and dropped the Calgary Flames in OT, 3-2. Before I get too carried away I had to talk (Basically yell at) a few close friends and Rangers fans off the cliff about the Rangers slow start. I reminded them that 3 games into the season, and you are already chirping? Please! Passionate as they are, as Ranger fans, I believe they jumped the gun way to early. Look, it’s a long season and the Rangers have a ton of work to do that is clearly obvious. Ugly or not, give them credit for scratching out the wins out west.

So far here’s my take on what I‘ve seen. The offense needs work. You got give the King Henrik Lundqvist some help and how do you do that? By scoring goals, it’s that simple. The Rangers must get the power play going in this “New NHL” (Seems like every year I say that) penalties are being called by the bushel full and that can be a deadly weapon. Getting the team healthy would help, especially on the D (Staal and Sauer). What the Rangers have got out of their young D is quite remarkable. When you think about the ages of Ryan McDonagh, Michael Del Zotto, Tim Erixson they are gaining valuable experience. In the end though, they are going need Marc Staal, Michael Sauer, Dan Giradi to be the Rock solid foundation.

Some other thoughts. Love the Kris Newberry call up. If you are not going have Sean Avery (One of my favorites) in the line up then Newberry is a decent replacement. He’s got a little edge to him and will drop his gloves for his teammates. Something the Rangers need, in my opinion. Also what about the offensive production out of Ryan McDonagh? Those close to me know that I kind of predicted this. He got his feet wet last year and now feels comfortable with the speed of the game. In turn, he now has the confidence to join in on the rush which is something the Rangers have lacked in a long time. Still has a little trouble in his own end with giveaways, but I can live with that and I’m sure the coaching staff can as well. 2 games to go on the western road trip. Edmonton Oilers are up first and then the Winnipeg Jets (Doesn’t that sound good?) to finish the trip up before the home opener next Thursday at the new improved MSG against the Toronto Maple leafs.

Remember to check out the Quinnipiac Bobcats D1 Hockey team, who are off to a great start, and tune into the “The Instigators” radio show every Tuesday night 8:30 (subject to change). That’s it for now but feel free to opine if you agree or disagree. I might even answer back, you never know! Over and out!

Instigators Link
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/pauly-d

Quinnipiac Bobcats Radio Link
http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x981.xml

I'm Back

2011-10-04T16:17:00.002-04:00

Alright everybody, I’m back, which could only mean one thing it must be Hockey time again. I apologize for the long wait of my first posting on Kotsy’s Korner and hope my followers will continue to check it out and opine. Unfortunately it’s been a very dark off season for the NHL and Pro Hockey in general with all the tragic events that occurred this summer. I’m not going to get into the how’s and why of what happened, But I do want send my condolences to all the friends and family of all players who passed away. It has to be a hard time for them and we in the hockey world feel for you.

Let’s start off with the New York Rangers as they open the season in Europe against the Los Angeles Kings Friday afternoon our time 1:00. Not going to get too detailed about the roster and who’s in and who’s out. Most pundits have had their say (Usually wrong) and I for don’t want to speculate what the starting lineup will be when the puck drops against the Kings. I do know that I expect big things out of the Rangers this year as the core of this team is at a point where the maturation level should start to provide the results we have all been waiting for.

The signing of Brad Richards once again proved that GM Glen Sather did his job by securing the number one free agent out there. The Rangers have needed a legitimate number one center to compliment Marion Gaborik and here’s to hoping things work out for Richards and the Rangers. I do have a concern like many others over the Marc Staal headache problems that have lingered since the hit he took from his brother last year. This is something to keep a close eye on and how it all unfolds only time will tell.

Some ramblings, on the selection of Ryan Callahan as Captain of the New York Rangers. Was there really a doubt? This man exemplifies what a leader means. He gives his all, hits, blocks shots, contributes offensively, and lastly is a great communicator with his teammates and media. The last part is extremely important, believe me. As a former player I know. Just hoping Callahan can stay healthy is all Rangers fans could ask.

Not sure what’s going on with Sean Avery, but I have been a huge supporter his for years now. Whether he passes waivers or not I feel it might be a mistake by the Rangers we’ll have to wait and see. I will say this though, Avery probably would have been better served playing back in 70s or the 80s. Things were not so politically correct and soft in life like they are now. What happened in the arena and ice surface back then stayed in the arena and ice surface. The things we said to each other back then… you have no idea.

One last thing NHL teams might have to expand their rosters to the NFL number of 45 the way Brendan Shanahan is handing out the suspensions. It’s quite clear there’s a new sheriff in town, but I’m not sold on his plan and decisions just yet. This could lead to no hit Hockey faster than we expected.

Well that’s about it for now, but yes I’m still doing color commentary on the radio with Quinnipiac Bobcats with my good friend Bill Schweizer as the play-by-play guru. I will also be doing some select Princeton Tigers men’s hockey games on television as well. I’m also looking forward to another great year with Paul Scaglione AKA Pauly Dee on the “Instigators Hockey Show” every Tuesday night. You can be sure of some off the off-the-wall opinions and fun with every show. Remember, don’t be afraid to have your opinion heard and respond on the blog. Should be a great year and let’s go Rangers. Till next, time Over and out.

Instigators Link: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/pauly-d

Quinnipiac Bobcats Radio Link: http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x981.xml

Stanley Cup Finals, Ron Duguay

2011-05-29T17:16:00.003-04:00

Alright, here we go! The Stanley Cup Finals are about to begin and it’s the Boston Bruins & Vancouver Canucks set to do battle. The Canucks disposed of the San Jose Sharks in 5 games. And really, in my humble opinion, they were clearly the better team as this series proved. With Luongo and the Sedins firing on all cylinders, is this the year that Vancouver finally puts it all together? The fans of the Canucks have never tasted the Cup and have waited patiently, but a failure here would surely fire up the faithful… and not in a good way.

As for the Bruins, they came off a very grueling seven game series against Tampa Bay- who really tested the Bruins heart. Tim Thomas came up big in goal, especially the final game pitching a 1-0 shutout and basically bailed the Bruins out from that “Choke” moniker. The Beantown boys are going to have look to the past and muster up the ghosts of Bobby Orr, Phil Esposito, John Bucyk, Gerry Cheevers, Etc… If they want bring Lord Stanley home.

With all that I’m going with… Drum roll please… Can you hear it? The Vancouver Canucks in 6. I know, I know. I was a Bruins fan growing up and all that, but I just feel the Canucks are a more balanced and steady team. That’s not to say the Bruins can’t win (You still have to play the games people)! I just see to many inconsistencies in the Bruins game. Some nights they are unbeatable and others, well, a beer league team would give them a tough time. That’s all I got once again my pick Canucks in 6!

One other thing I’d like to comment on is the officiating so far in this years NHL playoffs. Do us all a favor… PLEASE stay out of it and let the players decide the winner of this years Stanley Cup. You and the NHL executives are not the show. You never have been and you never will be. Take a hint… look back at game 7 of the Boston/Tampa series. There were no penalties. Now, I don’t expect a penalty free game in the finals… however I do expect penalties that called are earned and not made up because of the silly NHL rules. The fans of this great game deserve better! More common sense and less embarrassing moments that has littered this years playoffs. Now wouldn’t that be nice?!

Also a reminder to tune into the Instigators Hockey Show this Tuesday as Pauly D and I will have former Ranger and friend Ron Duguay on as guest. “Doogie” and I were teammates in my only year with the Blueshirts and this is a rare appearance so do not forget to tune in! Over and out!

Instigators Link: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/pauly-d

Boogaard Passes Away, Conference Finals

2011-05-14T13:24:00.002-04:00

Well this is not exactly how I wanted to start my blog, but the tragic death of New York Ranger Derek Boogaard is something that needs to be talked about. I met and chatted with Derek at a Ranger golf outing before this past season started. We talked for about five minutes and discussed his coming to New York and what the team was going to look like. We also talked about his role on the team and what his expectations were. It was the usual hockey jargon that a present day player talking to a player from the past would be like. I found Derek to be a engaging individual, although a little bit on the shy side. But overall just a real nice person. His passing has struck the Ranger family hard. How and why this happened doesn’t matter at this time. What matters is that his life was cut way too short at a tender age of 28 and to me that’s brutally unfair. It’s a sad time for all. My heartfelt condolences goes out to his family, friends and his team mates.

Here are my picks in the Eastern and Western conference finals.

Boston Bruins vs. Tampa Bay Lightning

The Bruins slapped the Flyers around like they were nothing. Revenge and payback is what the Bruins got by sweeping the Flyers 4 straight, really embarrassing the Flyers. The Bruins look strong and have that something extra going on that will be tough to deal with no matter who is in their way. Tampa, on the other hand, has really defied most of the experts (Not me) in disposing the over-hyped Alex Ovechkin and his Washington Capitals. The Lightning have won 7 games in a row and have a confidence level that is sky high. This one is a tough call for me. I still have a soft spot for the Bruins as I grew up a big fan of theirs, but I’m going against my heart and taking the Lightning in an upset. Going the limit of 7 games.

Vancouver Canucks vs. San Jose Sharks

The Canucks had a tough go with my dark horse pick Nashville, but in the end the more talented team won. I think that was pretty clear to see. Vancouver has edged even closer to the high expectations that the hockey world has given them and are now one round away from battling for Lord Stanley‘s cup. San Jose, on the other hand, squandered a chance to rest up when they allowed the “Euro Wings” to climb back after a 3-0 deficit and take it to 7 games before the Sharks finally put an end to it. They probably could of used the rest heading into this match up with Vancouver. The Sharks are battle tested and are as close a team as they have ever been. I see this one as a tight, long series as well going 7 and my pick is the Canucks.

So there you have it. Agree? Disagree? Let me know what you think and post your thoughts on here in the comments section. Over and Out!

First Round Recap, Second Round Preview

2011-04-28T15:03:00.003-04:00

Well, now that the New York Rangers were taken out in 5 games by the Washington Ovechkins in the 1st round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, it’s time to look back and see how all my 1st round playoff picks panned out!

I had 5 out of 8 correct with Vancouver, San Jose, in the West. With the wrong picks being Nashville (Although I consider that win for me) and Detroit (Sorry don’t care…Will never pick the Euro Wings). In the East, I had winners with Boston, Philadelphia, and Tampa Bay and lost with my beloved Rangers (Like Detroit, I will never take the Caps… ever)! So I wasn’t too bad with my picks, giving up a couple of easy ones with the teams mentioned above. I will take credit for the Nashville win though as I picked them on my radio show the “Instigators” as the dark horse of all teams in the playoffs and was extremely pissed when they had to play Anaheim because I felt the Ducks too could of caused some damage to the rest of the Western teams. Oh well! Any how, here we go with my picks for the next round of the playoffs.

San Jose Sharks/Detroit Red Wings… I think you know how I feel about the #%$@ Euro Wings. Going with Joe Thornton and the Sharks. They took care of a pesky LA team, still not on anybody’s radar. I like them in 6.

Vancouver Canucks/Nashville Predators. The Preds took down an excellent team in Anaheim with their tough in-your-face style of Hockey. Their team defense is as good as it gets. As for Vancouver, they could have had an easier time over Chicago but that choke label is still there for this team. Luongo and the Sedin twins will have the weight of the hockey world on them as well as the City of Vancouver. My pick the Predators in 7… their time has come.

Wasington Capitals/Tampa Bay Lightning. Tampa shocked the Penguins after being down 3-1 to win it in 7 games. Plenty of star power in this series. The Caps disposed of the Rangers in 5 games, including 2 OT wins. I’m going with the Lightning in 7. I like their stars better and again I emphasize, much like the Red Wings, I will never pick the Capitals. Sorry, if you don’t like it… too bad!

Philadelphia Flyers/Boston Bruins. Old time Hockey? Bloodbath? Maybe. Will it be like the 70s match ups between these two teams? Probably not, but I can dream, can’t I? Both teams had their troubles in the 1st round and had to go 7 games to win and move on. This should be a physical series and in the end I like Tim Thomas over anyone that the Flyers have in net. The Bruins take this one in 7.

There you go. Agree? Disagree? Let me know what you think! Over and out.

The Battle for Lord Stanley's Cup

2011-04-11T20:37:00.004-04:00

The new season has arrived for the New York Rangers. That’s right folks, the Rangers are in the playoffs and will face the Washington Ovechkins… Sorry, I meant the Capitals. How they will do is still yet to be seen, but I got give them credit for fighting through injuries and the usual ups and downs of a season in the NHL. To those who feel that the Rangers did not deserve a spot in the playoffs… go take a long walk on a short pier! They played by the rules that the NHL set in order to make in the playoffs and they did! Lump it! With that being said here are my fearless straight up predictions for the upcoming Stanley Cup playoffs.

Eastern Conference Predictions

Washington/New York... Sorry can’t go against the Blue Shirts. Lundqvist needs to shine a bright as ever and the team will follow his lead. Capitals have struggled this season with the Rangers. Hopefully the Rangers will continue to give Ovechkin and his cronies nightmares. Rangers in 7.

Philadelphia/Buffalo… This a tough one to call. Flyers haven’t been that great down the stretch and goaltending is still a big question mark for me. On the other hand, you have Ryan Miller who needs to be big in this series for Buffalo or I’m afraid the Sabres are done. Throwing you a curve ball- Flyers in 6.

Boston/Montreal… An original six match up. Got like that for old times sake. With all the hoopla surrounding Zdeno Chara’s hit on Max Paciorety this should be a dandy series. The Bruins at times this year have looked like world beaters and at other times the opposite. As for the Canadiens, I’m not sure if they can drum the magic they had last year. Bruins in 6.

Pittsburgh/Tampa… Don’t know if Crosby is coming back, because if he was this would be easy. The Penguins played well without their superstar’s in the lineup. Tampa has befuddled me all season. Great at times and then not so great. Stamkos needs to find the scoring magic that has left him that last few months. I’ll go with the Lightning in 7.

Western Conference Predictions

Vancouver/Chicago… Is this the finally the year for the Canucks? Can they finally slay the dragon that is the Blackhawks? Can the Sedin’s and Louongo rise to the occasion? This one is really simple for me. No Dustin Byfuglien, no physical presence, no headaches for Vancouver, no win for Chicago. Canucks in 5.

San Jose/Los Angeles… Losing Anze Kopitar to injury really hurts the Kings chances here in my mind. The Sharks are a big physical team and have been quietly under the radar this season. Sharks in 6.

Detroit/Phoenix… Did the Coyotes learn from their grueling loss to Detroit in last year’s playoffs? If so then they have a good chance of pulling an upset here. The Redwings much to my dismay are still well… the Redwings. Coyotes in 7.

Anaheim/Nashville… This is probably the toughest series to figure out. I think both teams could ruin the party for others in the west. Unfortunately one has to lose. The Ducks have been playing solid hockey at their right time and Corey Perry is on fire. Barry Trotz has the Predators playing tough, stingy hockey and not giving up many goals. Can I pick a tie here? Ducks in 6.

That’s it those are my picks, care to disagree please feel free to. I'd love to hear your comments. Also, Paul Stewart former NHL player & referee will be the guest on this week’s Instigators Radio Show. Here is the link, check out the show! Over and out!

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/pauly-d

It's All About the D

2011-03-28T17:41:00.004-04:00

Wednesday night the New York Rangers will be in Buffalo to take on the Sabres, in what really turns out to be the biggest game for both teams this year. The Rangers are currently tied with the Montreal Canadiens at 87 points. Buffalo has 85 points, followed by Carolina who has 80 points. Both of those teams have have one game in hand on the Rangers and Canadiens.

The question most Ranger diehards have is how did the Rangers get to this point? With a 8-1-1 run in their last ten games (Timing was perfect for this run) and 41-30-5 overall record it’s the one thing that may have gone unnoticed and that my friends is the overall team defense that the Rangers have played this year. Starting, obviously, in the nets with the “King” Henrik Lundqvist- who has quietly maneuvered himself up the ladder in the numbers department of the top goalies in the league. The King leads the league with 11 shutouts and with a goals against of 2.24 that’s good for 5th best in the NHL. Lundqvist should get some serious attention when it comes to the Vezina Trophy voting.

The other part of the overall defense of the Rangers are the defensemen themselves. Mark Staal, Dan Giradi, Ryan McDonagh, Michael Sauer, Steve Eminger, Brian McCabe, and Matt Gilroy have contributed greatly in the Rangers fortunes. These names on the D may not frighten many opponents when it comes down to the nasty, physical department (Someday?) but they have done the job blocking shots and playing smart hockey. I mean, really, check these numbers: the Rangers have scored 218 goals, 181 goals against (2nd in the East and 3rd overall in the NHL) with a goal differential of +37. The +37 ranks in the top 4 in the entire NHL! That folks is absolutely incredible! The numbers don’t lie in a league where scoring is almost extinct. You have to rely on solid team defense and the Rangers are getting that from goaltender on out. Impressive? I’d say so.

Okay now for some of Kotsy’s thoughts on a few topics that need to addressed… First off how about the comments coming out Detroit from Kris Draper and Nicklas Lidstrom concerning the cheap shots and hits the NHL has a problem with today. Both player’s have hinted that maybe the NHL should get rid of the instigator rule… Really? I’m all for that, but I also hold Redwings mostly responsible for why the game is what it is today. So to hear this from them, I’m not really sure it passes the laugh test.

“The Hammer”, Dave Schultz has surfaced and came out with some strong opinions about the state of the game when it comes to the respect- or lack there of. It’s a good read check it out at the link below.

http://www.torontosun.com/sports/hockey/2011/03/26/17768281.html

Finally, I wonder if most hockey fans realize that the NHL might possibly be without a 50 goal scorer this season. Corey Perry currently leads with 44 goals and Steven Stamkos has been stuck on 43 for a while now. I thought the NHL improved it’s game with all the rules changes over the last few years to open up the game? At least, that’s what we were told… wasn’t it? Over and out!

Rangers Rolling, Cooke Strikes Again

2011-03-21T15:08:00.003-04:00

Rangers fans you have to like what you see with Boys in Blue lately. After a lousy effort on the road against the Anaheim Ducks (A horrendous 5-2 loss) the Rangers have been on quite a roll winning 4 games in a row. Starting with the 3-2 shoot out win in San Jose over a strong Sharks team, 6-3 over the Islanders, 6-3 over the Canadiens (both at home) and finishing up with a tough hard-earned win in Pittsburgh, 5-2. Yes, you could say the Rangers are rolling and the timing couldn’t be better as the playoff race is winding down. Great goaltending by Henrik Lundqvist, solid play by all 3 defense pairings, and just super all around effort by the forwards has led to this nice run by the Rangers. With 2 home games coming up against Florida and Ottawa the Rangers can further distance themselves from the teams that are chasing them and solidify there spot in the chase for Lord Stanley’s Cup.

Couple of thoughts by the big man (That would be me LOL.) I was present for the Rangers win over the Montreal Canadiens, a team the has given the Rangers all sorts of problems over the past few seasons. The fight to start the game involving Brandon Prust (How good has he been for the Rangers) and Travis Moen was a perfect way to get the team and the fans going at MSG. I mean come on, one second into the game? Just perfect, in my opinion, and the Rangers used that to dominate the Habs to a tune of 5-1 at the end of the 1st period. When was the last time the Rangers had a lead like that over anyone in the 1st period?

One other thing from the that game was the constant hammering of Henrik Lundqvist. Intentional or not- this has to stop. For some reason the NHL seems to do a poor job when it involves the Rangers, sorry that’s just how I see it. That being said the Ranger players must come to his aid and make it quite clear you touch our goalie- you pay the price. Every now and then it’s okay to take a message sending penalty in order to protect your biggest asset which is the King himself. I’m okay with that and I’m pretty sure coach Torts would be too.

Now let’s talk about the Matt Cooke blatant elbow on Ryan McDonagh. To me this one was so obvious as Cooke cocked his elbow straight out a good 5 feet before the contact with McDonagh’s jaw. When Matt Cooke hit Marc Savard a few years back he followed through with the elbow and we all know the end result in the damage to Savard’s health and his career. This might sound like I’m a homer, but to me this one was much clearer on the replay than the Savard hit. Ryan McDonaugh was and is fortunate the damage was very limited. As for Cooke what his penalty will be… who knows? I will go on record and repeat what I’ve saying for years when will the NHL realize that all it’s rules and suspensions have done nothing to deter players from incidents like this. The more they tinker with these type of plays the worse it has gotten Anyone who thinks that the NHL can remedy this alone is sorely misguided.

I’ll say it one more time 1st take the instigator rule out, make these players face the music immediately by letting the players police their own game. It will not eliminate all the cheap shots, but I will bet anything the numbers will decrease to a livable number. If the NHL feels it has to be the overseer then makes the fines substantial. A player like Cooke as well as others have made a small fortune and have plenty of money put away in the bank that 20 to 50 thousand (Can’t believe I’m saying this about these numbers, just crazy isn‘t it?) doesn’t hurt them like most would think. Make the fines 100 to 200 thousand and then watch if they will continue to play on the edge. I think not. Over and Out!

Remember to check out the “Instigators Hockey Show” as my co-host Pauly D and I will be discussing the Rangers and the Cooke hit and much, much more.

Instigators Link: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/pauly-d

Rangers, Barry Beck, and More!

2011-03-09T13:51:00.002-05:00

The Rangers are in Anaheim tonight to take on the Ducks to begin an all important western road swing that will keep the Rangers above water in the race to the playoffs or drop below it. After 2 straight wins over Ottawa on the road and at home against the Flyers (What an ass kicking that was!) the Rangers must keep the momentum on their side. The time is now! Points are getting to be more precious for the Rangers than gold is on the open market. Players like Dubinsky, Callahan, Staal, and of course the “King” Henrik Lundqvist must lead the way. If Marian Gaborik is healthy (That’s still questionable?) and finds his scoring touch the better off the Rangers will be. All four lines need to do their jobs, The defense pairings must step their game up as well. Hard work and effort has been the key to the Rangers this season. Nothing less than that is acceptable. It’s playoff mode for the Rangers. They got a few gifts last night with Buffalo, New Jersey and Toronto losing. However, relying on others to do your job for you, is in my opinion, a certain way to miss the playoffs. It’s all in the players hands and there can be no excuses because excuses left the building a long time ago.

Tuesday night on the “Instigators Hockey Show” my co-host Pauly D and I had the great pleasure of having former Ranger Captain and Legend Barry Beck on as a special guest for a very informative chat. Barry was gracious enough to come on the show even though there was a 13 hour time difference (Bubba lives and works in Hong Kong) and stay on for over an hour to talk with us. If you are a Ranger fan you don’t want to miss out the chance at listening to what Barry’s up to these days and his time with the Rangers. We had plenty of laughs and great story telling. Trust Me! If you wish to listen to the show you can hit the link below.

As for me I will be in Ithaca NY Friday night for a best of 3 to do the color for the Quinnipiac Bobcats as they head on the road to take on the Cornell Big Red in the 2nd round of the ECAC playoffs in men’s Division 1 Hockey. This should be a great match up and after all it is the playoffs so one never knows, do they? If your interested in listening to play by play man Bill Schweizer and I hit the link. Tune in it’s great hockey!

Please feel free to make your comments known on the blog site and I will respond back to you. Don’t be afraid…Over and out!

Quinnipiac Bobcats Radio Link: http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x981.xml

Instigators Link: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/pauly-d

No Place Like Home?

2011-03-03T17:21:00.003-05:00

Regardless of how tonight’s outcome with the New York Rangers/Minnesota Wild game ends up (Hopefully a win for the Rangers) . One thing is certain, the Rangers have treated MSG like it was a house of horrors this season. Home ice has not been to kind for the “Boys in Blue” over the last few seasons. Think back to last year’s one-game showdown with Philadelphia for the right to make the playoffs in the final game of the season. It shouldn’t have come down to that had the Rangers taken care of business at home. This year it’s much of the same with a record of 14-15-3 at the world’s most famous arena. I certainly don’t have the answers and it’s obvious no one else does either. One thing I do know is that playing in your own barn is supposed to be an advantage for the home team. Clearly this isn’t the case for the Rangers. Games are starting to have more meaning as teams chasing for a playoff spot are closing in. The New York Rangers must find a way to start winning their final games at home in order to secure a playoff spot. The time is now! and let’s all hope it starts tonight with a win over the Wild.

Now that the trade deadline has come and gone. I personally liked the fact that Glen Sather didn’t do anything drastic and ruin the good this organization has done in a short period of time. It wasn’t long ago that the Rangers were pushed to limit salary cap wise… which was a huge problem. Adding huge potential contracts (Brad Richards) through the trade deadline would have put them back to square 1 with no room to maneuver and that is something you don’t want. This team has gotten younger and the core players have yet to reach their full potential. I feel that if you want to make moves or add to the roster you do it in the off-season where no one has a gun to your head. That’s the way I feel and I’m sticking by it!

It’s obvious that with out a healthy Marion Gaborik the Rangers are going to be challenged to find the dynamic offensive player for the stretch run. That being said, it’s up to the players on the roster to find a way to score- plain and simple. “How”, you say? To me it means someone has to play the hero role each and every night. Not just one or two players, it has to be done by committee. If the Rangers can do this it should be more than enough win and proceed to the playoffs. It wouldn’t hurt to spot Henrik Lundqvist a few goals would it? (Especially now that Biron’s injured).

This Friday night I will be in Hamden CT for the 1st round of the ECAC playoffs where the Quinnipiac Bobcats and Brown Bears get under way in a best of 3 series. If you are in the area come by and check it out. If you want to listen to the game here’s the link below.

Quinnipiac Bobcats Radio Link: http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x981.xml

Also this past Tuesday My co-host Pauly Dee and I had the pleasure of chatting with a former Ranger/Whaler and a teammate of mine in Toronto Jeff Brubaker. “Bru” was a tough, team first type player and was very insightful and really gave the listeners a realistic look into what it took for him to play in the NHL. Also we had Lou Lafrado, who runs one of the best hockey websites in “Pro Hockey News”, on to talk about his site and Hockey in general. If you missed the show you can go back and listen to it in archive just hit the link. That’s it over and out!

Instigators Link: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/pauly-d

Rangers End Skid, Whalers Fest, and More!

2011-02-15T16:31:00.003-05:00

Hey Ranger fans… you can breath again after beating the Pittsburgh Penguins by a score of 5-3 and putting a halt to a season high 6-game losing streak. Those who were thinking about jumping off a cliff or off the bandwagon should relax. I know it’s only one win, but really folks knee-jerk reactions about the state of the team are just silly. Remember losing streaks happen in the NHL and how your team reacts to them shows what kind of personality they have. We will soon see how the Rangers deal with it. Are they out of the woods? Of course not, but they are still in a decent position to make the playoffs.

The team is finally getting most of their roster back minus a couple players and what is needed is finding that chemistry that made the Rangers a tough team to play against for most of the year. With the time off between Penguins game and the Kings game coming up on Thursday at MSG, hopefully the coaches and players reacquainted themselves during the practice sessions. Having a familiar lineup is the key to any team’s success and the Rangers are no different. What I’d like to see is line combinations that stay together and the PP chosen few the same. With games dwindling, this team needs to find that cohesive togetherness that made them a hard team to play against.

On to other NHL news. I have a few thoughts about Mario Lemieux’s comments after the brawl with the Islanders last week. First off, I totally respect Mario for what he has done as a player in his HOF career. All of us who had the great fortune of playing in the NHL wished we could have had the ability and skill of a Mario Lemieux. No one can deny that. I do realize that some cheap shots were obviously taken by the Islanders and they were subsequently dealt with fines and suspensions. That being said, I believe that his timing was very suspect to say the least. Not one time in his tenure as an owner has Mario ever spoke out about any of the transgressions that any of his players that he has employed. If Super Mario feels that strongly about what happened in Long Island… then why doesn’t he take the lead and start by purging players on his team like Cooke, Goddard, Rupp, Engelland, Asham and see how that works out for him? Self-serving? Hypocritical? Certainly looks that way to me.

As most of you know, I will be playing with the Hartford Whaler Alumni against the Boston Bruin Alumni this Saturday in the Whale Bowl at Rentschler Field the outdoors home of the UConn Huskies Football team. The game will take place before the CT Whale/Providence Bruins AHL game. I’m looking forward to seeing some of my former teammates and the die hard Whaler fans. Howard Baldwin and Howard (Bubba) Baldwin Jr. are the masterminds of the great event and have put in a ton of hard work and money to put this event on. It’s a showcase for the city of Harford and the state CT. So don’t be afraid to show up and let’s break the outdoor record for attendance for an AHL game. Check out the link!

Whalers Hockey Fest 2011 Link: http://www.ctwhale.com/default.asp?ctwhale=134

Don’t forget to check out the “Instigators Radio Show”. Tuesday night 8:30 with my co-host Pauly D and I as we talk everything hockey. Just hit the link below. Over and out!

Instigators Link: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/pauly-d

Crisis? What Crisis?

2011-02-09T18:19:00.003-05:00

Well Ranger fans the New York Rangers have hit a critical point in the season. After losing 5 in a row the Rangers find themselves treading water playoff-wise heading into a huge match up in Atlanta with the Thrashers Friday night. Carolina, Atlanta, Buffalo and even Florida are fast on the Ranger’s tails. Is it time to panic, as many of my Ranger friends have suggested? I think not. Is there reason for concern? Absolutely! The Rangers have played with effort and energy- there’s no denying that. What they haven’t been able to do during this losing streak is score goals. Plain and simple.

Let’s break it down a little bit here. 1st the Big guns have not, and I repeat have not, pulled their weight in producing offense that the team desperately needs. We can all look to Marian Gaborik as the lead man and his lack of production and the trickle down effect goes right down the line of the roster from there. Gaborik needs to pick up his game and lead the Rangers in scoring, that’s what he does and from there the rest will fall into place. Second, how about crashing the net and creating more traffic in front of the goaltender? More goals are scored from a few feet out than any other place on the ice. It may be down right ugly, but it sure is effective.

Other thoughts I have at this point of the season. One thing that I’m sure of is you can’t point fingers at the goaltending with Henrik Lundqvist as the lead man and Martin Biron. They are, in my opinion, as good a tandem in the entire NHL. Has there been night’s where the “King” has looked less than stellar? For sure. Overall though, in my humble opinion, there is really no concern in this area. The defensemen on this team have done an admirable job all season and really surprised most us with their play. Once again no problem there. Now if you want to talk about the PP that’s another story… Yes you can point a huge finger in this area. I do know one thing about Power plays and that is you can’t SCORE if you don’t SHOOT the puck. I know I’m beating the dead horse here, but really stop with the “Euro I’m going to paint you a pretty picture perfect goal” attitude on the Power Play. PASS PASS PASS… No shots, just keep passing it. Drives me nuts! If you watch the successful PP’s in the league they shoot the puck every chance they get. Why is this? Well maybe it’s because most goals that are scored on the PP come from rebounds and deflections. Duh! The Ranger players have got to start shooting the puck and forget about painting a picture.

This past Tuesday, Pauly D and I had the great pleasure of talking with Hartford Whaler legend Blaine Stoughton on our “Instigators Hockey Show”. “Stash” as he is commonly referred to, also played a short time with the New York Rangers. The show was filled with stories and laughter. It is a must listen You can go back and listen to the show by hitting the link below.

One other thing I’d like to give Claude Julien head coach of the Boston Bruins a standing ovation for his comments about the players taking more responsibility for the head hits and hitting from behind. Finally someone with some kind of stature and importance in the NHL telling it like it is. Julien basically called the players out and I applaud him for that. You can read the whole article here: http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=352460

Finally, I’m looking forward to the Rangers game on Friday night. This game will tell us plenty about the Rangers and where they are heading. Feel free to make your voice heard here on “Kotsy’s Korner” by adding your 2 cents. I dare ya! Over and Out!

Instigators Hockey Show: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/pauly-d

A Much Needed Rest

2011-01-26T16:21:00.004-05:00

Well Rangers fans we are now at the All Star break. Some might say I took mine a few weeks ago with this blog, oh well that’s the way it goes! Anyway, the New York Rangers definitely needed this break with all the injuries this team has had this season. I’m not going to sit here and feel sorry for the “Boys in Blue” because in the NHL one never knows how things will go from year-to-year when it comes to injuries. Last year hardly any games lost due to injury, this year it’s the complete opposite. What is impressive is how this team has been able to ride out the storm, so to say, with key players missing (Callahan, Dubinsky, Prospal, Christensen, Boogaard, Girardi) from the lineup and just as impressive are the call ups from the CT Whale who have done a admirable job. The organization from top to bottom has held this team together. Now is the time for a little rest, get a few of the walking wounded back after the break and push onward toward the playoffs.

Just a few quick hits… Who cannot be impressed with the play of Mats Zuccarello? I, for one, was skeptical about him but have to admit he’s been a pleasant surprise. He has the hockey smarts and his shootout goals have been nothing short of spectacular.

I love the play of Ryan McDonagh. He’s looks very calm and cool when he’s on the ice. Very steady in the defensive zone. This was a great pickup by the Rangers.

Henrik Lundqvist and Martin Biron have been superb, in my opinion, this season. When you get goaltending like they have provided for the Rangers it bodes well for the playoffs. The “King” has and will continue to carry the load, but you can’t underestimate Biron’s contribution to this team. He gives Lundqvist the much needed rest he deserves and in turn Lundqvist’s performance level has never been better.

On the down side of things the power play needs to pick up it’s pants and get productive. Too much thinking and not enough shooting for my liking.
Stop looking for the picture perfect goal and SHOOT the puck!

This past Tuesday my co-host Pauly D and I had the great pleasure of talking with Ranger legend Steve “Sarge” Vickers on our Blog Talk radio show “The Instigators”. It was just awesome to hear Steve talk about his time with the Rangers. We were joined by another great Ranger Ron Greschner and let me tell that the stories were hilarious and informative at the same time. You must go to the link and listen to this once in a lifetime show. You will not be disappointed.

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/pauly-d/2011/01/26/the-instigators-hockey-show

I’m off St. Lawrence and Clarkson to do the color on the radio for the Quinnipiac Bobcats huge ECAC games this weekend. Just hit the link if you want to listen in. Over and Out.

http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x981.xml

41 Down, 41 to Go

2011-01-06T16:41:00.003-05:00

With a stirring 2-1 OT win over the Carolina Hurricanes thanks to Mats Zucarrello Aason’s 1st NHL goal in front the of the home crowd at MSG last night the New York Rangers have hit the half way point of their schedule. 41 games in the Rangers have placed themselves nicely with a 23-15-3 record- that’s good for 49 points and 7th place in the Eastern Conference. Not bad…Not bad at all.

Let’s face it Ranger fans, you have to be more than pleased with the current state of Boys in Blue. No one in their wildest dreams could have or would have expected this kind of progress so quick and so fast. You have to start by giving the players most of the credit. They have done the job on a fairly consistent basis most of the season so far. This team is tough on the road (Lead the NHL with road 13 wins) and getting better at home. John Tortorella and his staff deserves some of the credit as well in getting the Rangers to play a hard nosed, bring it in your face style of Hockey. That folks is the identity of this team. Injuries have not held this team back. When one goes down someone has stepped in and done the job and that shows how much more the cupboard is full these days depth-wise. Although I certainly would like to see Ryan Callahan back as soon as possible. There’s 41 more games to go and where the Rangers need help obviously is in the scoring department. That’s a big question mark in my opinion. Sure would be nice to see one more proven goal scorer in the lineup along with Gaborik. Unfortunately it’s not that easy to find one. All the top teams have at least two major threats, some even more.

Now the Rangers head out on the road for a couple of tough games with Dallas and St. Louis. If they show up and work hard they should be okay.

Okay, now I’d like to talk a little about the Michael Del Zotto demotion. First off let’s not get too crazy and in an uproar over this. MDZ is a big part of the picture for the New York Rangers. Obviously he’s had a tough go of it this year, no offensive production and defensively he’s struggled at times. This demotion or send down to the CT Whale should be a wake up call to MDZ that it’s not that easy to play in the National Hockey League or stay in it either. MDZ has loads of talent, but needs to work on his deficiencies and the key word is ‘work’! The coaching staff has let him know what he needs to do and hopefully he understands that it’s up to him to regain his form.

World Jr’s are now over after a stunning comeback by the Russians over Canada. Canada led 3-0 heading into the 3rd period in the Gold medal game, When the Russians blitzed the Canadians with 5 straight goals to secure the gold. You have to give credit where it’s due. The Russians were the “Comeback kids” of this tourney (They did it 3 times) and congratulations is in order. As for Canada and the US it was a major disappointment in my opinion. Silver and Bronze respectively not exactly what both teams had in mind.

Last thing on my mind. I think it’s time that the Winter Classic involves the New York Rangers. Don’t you think? Yankee Stadium would be a nice fit… I’m Just saying. Happy belated New Year everyone over and out!

Rangers Rout Islanders

2010-12-28T14:46:00.003-05:00

The New York Rangers took care of business last night with a total demolishing of the New York Islanders by a score of 7-2. I won’t get too detailed about it but after an early 2-1 lead by the visitors, the Rangers buckled down and fired 52 shots at a beleaguered Dwayne Roloson for a season high shot total.

My take from this game is it was nice to see Matt Gilroy assert himself and play with some confidence. Gilroy might have gotten a little lucky on both of his goals but as I always say, “They don’t draw pictures on a score sheet”. I’m hoping, like most Rangers fans, that Gilroy will finally “get it” and understand that he has to be consistent game in and game out.

Now the Rangers will take on the New Jersey Devils and much like the Islanders the boys in blue must and I mean MUST be ready to play. It’s the beginning of a mini road trip for the Rangers (Devils, Lightning, Panthers) and these points are ever so important. The East this year is a tough conference to be in. Playoff spots will be hard to come by. While the Rangers are in a good spot presently, they can’t relax. In fact, there’s no time to relax… period!

Some other musings… I keep hearing that MDZ might be on the trading block? Well, in my opinion, if he is it better be a lopsided trade in favor of the Rangers. Otherwise, forget about it! MDZ is having a tough year and his production is obviously down. But really, he’s just 20 years old and he will bounce back- trust me!

Another thought… just how far has the New York Islanders organization fallen? For that matter, you can throw in the New Jersey Devils this season too! If only the Flyers could join them and make it a tri-fecta. It would certainly make Rangers fans jump for joy! Just my thoughts.

Speaking of Rangers fans. I want to thank all of you who follow Kotsy’s Korner and listen to the Instigators radio show. You guys are the best! I would also like to thank all of the Rangers fans and friends that I have made when I venture into the big city to catch a game. Whether at Café 31 or the Parlour Restaurant. You guys make it enjoyable for my wife Lisa and I. If I could, I would thank you all personally… but you know who you are and I thank you all, big time. Oh well, onto the New Year! Over and out!

Kings of the Road

2010-12-10T13:26:00.002-05:00

Roger Miller once had a hit single crooning out “king of the road”. Well folks, the New York Rangers at this moment are truly the kings of the road in the NHL. With last night’s (sometimes ugly and mistake prone) game, the boys in blue hung on and took a 5-3 victory over the Ottawa Senators. This win guaranteed that the Rangers now have the most wins on the road sporting a very impressive 11-4-0 record. You have got to like the resilience with this team. Last night when Ottawa would score the Rangers would answer back almost immediately. The game winner would come from rookie d-man Michael Sauer (Who’s coming along nicely, I might add) for his first ever NHL goal. The goal was set up by Chris Neil’s dumb penalty he took for running Ryan Callahan. Sean Avery and Brandon Prust did all the hard work as Sauer blasted a slap shot through the 5-hole on Brian Elliot to give the Rangers the late 4-3 lead. Brandon Dubinsky finished off the game with an empty netter. All in all, the Rangers will take the crucial 2 points as they head to Columbus for a match up on Saturday.

Was this one pretty? Of course not. Ugly at times? For sure. Plenty of mistakes were made and it was nice to see Sauer set up and make up for his major blunder on Ottawa’s first goal. It’s a good sign when a player who’s trying to find his way can shrug off any adversity and play his game. My hat’s off to Sauer and getting that first goal is always something you dream about as a player- it’s something you will never forget!

A couple of things that I took from this game. First, what on earth were the officials thinking when Matt Carkner punched Derek Boogaard first in the back of the head as he chased Boogaard down after a clean hit on an Ottawa player? Not only that, but Carkner then swung again as soon as Boogaard turned around. Is that not instigating? If it isn’t, then I don’t know what is. Carkner should have got 2 for roughing, 2 for instigating, 5 for fighting, 10 min misconduct and a gross misconduct. The gross misconduct for flicking blood at the Ranger bench. A totally classless act. We’ll have to see if the “Grinch” Colin Campbell will look into this or will he let it slide by like nothing happened.

Now, on to Chris Neil. First off, I know he’s a tough guy and all of that… but I watched him for a few years now when he plays the Rangers. How is it that he never caused crap when Colton Orr or Derek Boogaard were sitting on the bench? Then, all of the sudden, when they are conveniently not available through a fight or a healthy scratch- he plays tougher than he really is? Last night, once Boogaard was gone he ran everything in sight and when he ran Callahan he essentially lost the game for the Senators as the Rangers made him pay for it on the ensuing power play. Sorry, Chris. Bonehead move by you and the Ranger fans thank you and are very grateful.

The Quinnipiac Bobcats beat Harvard by a score of 3-1 on the road. A big win for the Bobcats after struggling at home last weekend. Next up for them is Providence at Schneider Arena in Rhode Island.

As for me, I will be in Hartford, Connecticut on Saturday signing autographs before the Whale/Manchester Monarchs play from 6:00 to 7:00 PM at the XL Center Atrium. Should be a fun time. Also, I will be in the city on Sunday to catch the Rangers and Capitals game at MSG. I will be at Café 31 and the Parlour restaurants before the game. That’s it for now, over and out!

Rangers Lose to Pens

2010-11-30T13:24:00.002-05:00

I was in attendance last night for the Rangers and Penguins battle and I was very interested to see how this game would compare to the debacle in Pittsburgh. You know, the one where the Rangers had to overcome horrible officiating to grind out a 3-2 OT victory. This one didn’t quite have the shenanigans as the previous meeting (although I believe Sidney Crosby got away with 2 slewfoots, just saying).

The Rangers lost this one by a score of 3-1. It all came down to one period of hockey and that was the 2nd period. The Penguins outplayed and outscored the Rangers by a 2-1 margin and it could have been more if not for Henrik Lundqvist. There were way too many odd man rushes given up by the Rangers. 2 on 1’s, 3 on 2’s, you name it. I think I counted at least five 2 on 1’s. It’s one thing to be aggressive, but it’s another to be smart about the situation. Pittsburgh took advantage of the Rangers aggressiveness and put the game away when Chris Conner made it a 3-0 game. Gaborik did answer with a goal late in the 2nd and the Rangers tried valiantly in the 3rd to rally but to no avail.

The game did have a couple of spirited scraps. First, Brandon Prust and Mike Rupp. Prust was giving away many pounds and inches to a super heavy weight in Mike Rupp. I think Rupp was surprised at how tough Prust is as it was probably scored as a draw. The 2nd bout was Sean Avery trying to rile up the Garden and his troops immediately after the Penguins made it 3-0. His dancing partner was Tyler Kennedy (Tyler, please take off your helmet if you wear a shield) and I’ll give Avery the unanimous decision on that one.

The Rangers are 4-3 in their last 7 games. Now it’s off to take on the struggling New York Islanders for a home and home series starting Thursday in Long Island (then back at MSG on Friday). Got to get ready for these two games. The Islanders may be down but they will be a perfect trap game (or games) for the Rangers. The Blueshirts will have to knuckle down and get back to outworking their opponent. If they, do they will be just fine!

Lastly, to all of my loyal followers, what is it that the Rangers need to get deep into the playoffs this year:

A number one center?
A proven scorer?
A tough, stay-at-home D-man?
Something else?

Let me know what your thoughts are on this. Over and out!

Random Thoughts

2010-11-18T16:12:00.003-05:00

Last nights 3-2 loss to the Bruins has still proven, to me at least, that the Rangers need to be more dominant at home. I know I sound like a broken record but to be a serious contender this problem has to be fixed. 4-6-1 just isn't gonna cut it!

On the positive side- How about that unbelievable comeback in Pittsburgh? The Penguins had everything going their way- the referees, the NHL, and late goals. Basically the kitchen sink was thrown at the boys in blue. However, the Rangers persevered and stuck it in the you-know-what of the Pens, the NHL and the Refs! Good job!

The Rangers go on the road for four of the next five games. These five games will be very important as to the state of the Rangers. Precious points in what is a very even division with lots of parity in the eastern conference!

Can there be anyone but Ryan Callahan next in line for being the next captain of the New York Rangers? Callahan does it all: hits, contributes offensively, kills penalties, plays in key situations, and oh yeah- drops the mitts once in a while (witness the decision over Mike Comrie). He gets my vote for sure!

On a very serious note- as most of you know I do a radio show every Tuesday with my co-host Pauly D. This past Tuesday we had on a very special guest in Kurt Walker (former Toronto Maple Leaf). Kurt was very forward about how the NHL Players Association, The NHL, and The NHL Players Alumni do absolutely nothing to help the former players in need of medical and monetary assistance. Trust me when I say as a former player, I know there are many others who are also in this situation. Kurt chronicled his career, what he thought his pension was and what it actually turned out to be. The numerous surgeries he has had to endure from injuries received during his playing days. It is time for the NHL, Players Association, and the Alumni to step up to the plate and take care of their own who sacrificed their bodies and health to help make this great game what it is today… Check out the pod cast of the show to hear more.

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/pauly-d/2010/11/17/the-instigators-hockey-show

One last thing- What do you all think about Colin Campbell’s Email-gate? I’ll keep it simple: If Sean Avery can be disciplined for words towards another player- why can’t Campbell receive the same discipline? I’m just saying… Over and Out!

1-2 Punch

2010-11-02T16:56:00.003-04:00

Now that the Rangers have passed the ten game mark (11 to be exact), 1/8th of their season is behind them. With no Marion Gaborik, Vinny Prospal and Chris Drury the boys in blue have themselves a very nice 6-4-1 record for a total of 13 points. I, for one, feel that it is quite an accomplishment and well deserved. The team has pulled together and picked up the slack.

There have been many pleasant surprises so far this season. Sean Avery’s play, Brian Boyle, Brandon Prust, Arty Anismov. I could go on and on, but really it comes down to two players: Ryan Callahan and Brandon Dubinsky. What can one say about these two? They have grown into bona fide team leaders who are currently leading the team in all offensive categories. Callahan leads the team in points (4G 9A 13Pts) and Dubinsky in Goals (7G 4A 11Pts). The effort these two are putting out every night is just what the Rangers brass and fans have been waiting for. It’s like it has finally clicked in their minds that they can be the men on the team that you can count on. The “I Can” attitude is there… and you can see it! The maturation process has taken its course with these two players and believe me, they will be better off in the long run.

For me personally, I had a short and to the point talk with Brandon Dubinsky at a Ranger golf outing. I looked him straight in the eyes and said- “It’s time isn’t it?”. He looked at me and nodded his head and said- “yes it is”. We both knew what the point of the conversation was- that this was the season to shine… And so far so good. Just one more thing- the growth of Callahan and Dubinsky will rub off on others, and that folks can only be a positive. Next up- The Flyers… YUCK!

Please check out the Instigators radio show. Pauly D and I talk about the state of The Rangers & Hockey every Tuesday at 8:30 on Blog Talk Radio. Over and Out!

Bobcats Link: http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x981.xml

Instigators Link: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/pauly-d

No Gabby, No Problem

2010-10-25T17:07:00.003-04:00

When Marian Gaborik went down with a shoulder injury in a home loss against the Toronto Maple Leafs I think the whole Ranger world took a deep breath and began to wonder- How on earth are the Rangers going to create offense and win the game? Personally, I thought this was a perfect time for this Ranger squad to show their makeup and mental ability to stand up and face adversity. With added pressure comes greater responsibility, and the boys in blue responded with flying colors!

After a terrible showing at home in a 3-1 loss to the Avalanche, the Rangers went on the road for two. First, in Toronto, with a 2-1 win in which I thought they were the dominant team. The score was not indicative of the play. Then it was off to Beantown for a 3-2 win (didn’t get to see this one). By all reports it was a well deserved win- at least that’s what my son Cody told me and I value his opinion greatly. The next test came at home last night against the hated New Jersey Devils (boy, have they got problems). The Rangers played two periods of dominant hockey and had to hold on in the end for a 3-1 win in which Lundqvist was solid. In these three games the Rangers have proved to themselves and the coaching staff that they can handle a major crisis (Gaborik’s injury). More importantly they have found a formula that works. It’s really quite simple, work hard and play to your limits. Nothing more, nothing less. I can’t stress enough that if you outwork the other team the results will tend to lean to your side. Playing smart and to your limits means- do what you are capable of. If you meet these standards, that’s all you can ask!

It also helps when you get great goaltending and the duo of Lundqvist and Biron have stepped up in a big way. Martin Biron shut down a tough Maple Leaf team in Toronto and the King did the same in Boston. Lundqvist’s performance in the third period last night as the Devil’s were trying to claw their way back was vintage Lundqvist. Listen folks, I’m not an idiot. Trying to replace Gaborik is absolutely out of the question. Gaborik is a star player who is a major threat every night he laces his skates, and the opponents know it! Are the Rangers better with him in the lineup? That goes without saying. But until he is healthy and ready to go the Rangers MUST stick to the formula that has them winning: Hard work! Hard work! Play within your limits! It’s really that simple.

I just want to give a shout out to a player who I believe is a throwback player if I’ve ever seen one. Brandon Prust is first and foremost a great team player. He is tough and competes like no other. Prust gets cut over the eye in Boston (looked serious) and plays the next day! That’s old time hockey for you and I will speak for most Ranger fans that we are glad to have him in a Ranger uniform. Up next is Wednesday at MSG against the Atlanta Thrashers. Over and out!

Rangers Give Gift to Isles

2010-10-11T17:56:00.004-04:00

After a very nice road win to start the season in Buffalo (6-3 win), and a bit of a coming out party for Rangers rookie Derek Stepan (hat trick), the boys in blue headed to Long Island to take on the New York Islanders in the (affectionately dubbed) "Mausoleum".

This game had it all. Pre-game festivities during warm ups with Avery and Konopka, a really long and great fight between Brandon Prust and Zenon Konopka, and great back and forth action. However, in the end, the Rangers came out on the short end of a 6-4 loss. At times the Rangers looked good (PP, forecheck) and at times just awful (MDZ's giveaway, late second period goal by the Islanders). That, folks, was the killer to me. The boys in blue should have started the 3rd period with a 3-2 lead. But because of sloppy and lazy play, it cost them the lead. Matt Moulson was able to fire home a rebound that, quite frankly, the Rangers all fell asleep on. This is unacceptable late in any period.

In the 3rd period, the Rangers battled hard to take the 4-3 lead on a nice shot and finish by Artem Anisimov. It looked like the win was in the books. When Ryan Callahan was called for a rather dubious tripping penalty, Marc Staal then got careless with his stick and received a high sticking penalty shortly there after. As a result, the Islanders were on the 2 man advantage for over a minute down by just a goal. That's when it happened. P.A. Parenteau tied it up (...I think I've heard of him before) and then Blake Comeau got the game winner. The Islanders later added and empty netter to finish the Rangers off. It was a game in which the Rangers could've, should've won... but didn't. The Islanders got gifts handed to them and took full advantage of them to secure the win! Next up for the Rangers, my old team the Toronto Maple Leafs... that will not be easy!

Just a little about the Quinnipiac Bobcats. The Bobcats split last weekend at the Q with the Ohio State Buckeyes. They won a goaltenders dual, 2-1 on Friday night. However, they dropped the next game 4-0 the very next night. Much like the Rangers, the Bobcats looked very good at times but very sloppy as well. It's early and this is a young team (no seniors at forward) and they will have to grow up as a team real fast as the college season is not an 82 game schedule. It should be fun!

Bobcats Link: http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x981.xml

Remember to listen in Tuesday nights to the Instigators hockey show with myself and Pauly D. That's every Tuesday night at 8:30 PM EST. You never know what I'll have to say! Over and out!

Instigators Link: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/pauly-d

Soon it all Begins

2010-10-07T16:59:00.004-04:00

With the NHL kicking off the 2010/11 season somewhere in Europe, the boys in blue will start theirs Saturday night in sunny Buffalo. There will be new faces (like Frolov, Stepan, Boogaard, etc) and some old ones gone (Redden, Jokinen, etc). While I look at this team with guarded optimism, I liked what I saw in the pre-season.

Let's face it, you still have one of the best goalies in the world in Henrik Lundqvist (now with a seasoned backup in Marty Biron). You added a proven scorer in Alex Frolov (who needs to rebound from last year) to go along with Marian Gaborik... this might be a great one-two punch on offense. You have replaced Jody Shelley with Derek Boogaard (the most feared man in hockey). Also new to the club are additions such as Fedotenko, Eminger, White, and Kennedy. The Rangers have quietly built some legitimate depth in the organization. I mean, when you can send down players like Ryan McDonagh, Pavel Valentenko, etc... that proves that there is some solid building of talent for the Rangers.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention Derek Stepan, who so far looks ready to make the big leap to the NHL. I like this kid a lot. With the core of this squad: Staal, Dubinsky, Callahan, Del Zotto, Anisimov, and Gaborik locked up for a while things look bright for the Rangers. In the end, you have to applaud Glen Sather- like it or not. He and his staff did some brilliant work under the radar this off season. I will remind you results are what matters the most and only good results are needed by the Rangers.

This Friday the Quinnipiac Bobcats start their season with back to back home games against the Ohio State Buckeyes. The Bobcats will have to find some offense, as much of it left with the senior class last season. Goaltending and the D should be strong points. If you would like to listen to my play by play partner Bill Schweizer and I call the games, here is the link: http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x981.xml

Also, my co-host Paul Scaglione (better known as Pauly D) and I kicked off our radio show this past Tuesday night and it was a good one. This year we renamed the show, "The Instigators" and you can tune in every Tuesday night at 8:30 PM EST to listen: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/pauly-d

Hockey Anyone?

2010-09-15T20:11:00.004-04:00

Well, it’s about time isn’t it? Baseball just goes on and on and quite frankly- it bores me to death. Anyway, I know hockey season is near when the NFL season starts up. Therefore, NHL training camps will be in full stride this week. The New York Rangers will start the year off with training camp this Friday. To me there are plenty of questions that need to be answered. However, for this blog, I will not delve in too deep about who should or shouldn’t make the big club. Too often I’m asked what I think, as well as other bloggers, and in the end sometimes we’re right and sometimes we’re wrong. I think for this season I will wait and see how training camp and the pre-season unfolds before I give my (so called) expertise. Really folks, opinions are fun and interesting, but results are what counts. The results simply have not been there lately for the boys in blue, but I, like many remain optimistic. If you have opinions, I will respond to them. I’m looking forward to hearing from you.

Nice to hear that Marc Staal has been secured for the next 5 years. Glen Sather and Staal’s agents should be applauded for the deal. 5 years and 3.975 per year? Very reasonable and it should give Marc the stability that he was looking for. I like this signing, big time.

As for me personally, I will be heading into my senior year at Quinnipiac where I do the color commentary for the men’s hockey team on the radio. My man Bill Schweitzer (play by play) and I will be back at it when the Bobcats try to improve upon last season’s heartbreaking loss to Union in 3 games after winning the longest game ever to start the series. I, for one, am expecting bigger and better things from coach Rand Pecknold’s squad.

Also in the past year I was fortunate to meet up with a passionate Rangers fan by the name of Paul Scaglione (aka Pauly D). As most of you know by now, we had done a BlogTalk radio show called “The Pauly D Program”. We covered everything hockey and of course, the New York Rangers. Well, we’ve decided to continue with the show and it will now air on Tuesday nights during the hockey season. The 1st show will be Tuesday, September 28th and here’s the kicker- it has been renamed “the Instigators”. I’m looking forward to it and hope you all can join us! Check out the info on Facebook (Pauly Dee & Chris Kotsopoulos). Over and out!

I'm Back!

2010-07-27T23:33:00.003-04:00

Hello everyone, I’m back! Well, sort of. First off I’m sorry for the lack of postings (it’s been almost a month) but I am not going to apologize for it either (not my style). For me, personally, there really hasn’t been much to talk about. A couple of deals here and there, but not much else really. Oh, but there has been the whole Kovalchuk fiasco. It still is continuing this very moment! Sorry, but I find the soap opera laughable and boring at best. The NHLPA has now gotten involved. I just make it simple: Kovalchuk is a very good hockey player. But is he Crosby or Ovechkin caliber? Hardly! That’s all I have to say about that…

There is some decent Rangers news in the signing of Alex Frolov. Frolov, the former LA King, signed a 1 year deal at 3 million dollars (probably incentives?). I believe this was a good move by Glen Sather. Frolov automatically gives the Rangers an upgrade at forward. For some reason he had a falling out of LA Kings coach Terry Murray’s good graces. Frolov now has a great chance to resurrect his career (only 28) and give the Rangers a much needed offensive boost. I like the acquisition. It’s now up to the player to perform and live up to the expectations.

The Rangers prospects will gather on September 11 in Traverse City, Michigan to begin their respective journeys into becoming a bona fide NHL player. My question to all the Rangers fans is: Which player will make the jump to the big team? I’m looking forward to your responses. Over and out!

PS: due to spam we have switched the blog’s comment system to moderator approval first- I was getting annoyed with all the foreign spam comments!

Rangers News & YMCA Golf Outing

2010-06-30T20:38:00.004-04:00

First off, I don’t want to hear about how the Rangers passed on supposedly superior talent when they selected Dylan McIlrath with the 10th overall pick. After Hall and Seguin, let’s face it… it’s a crapshoot! The Rangers went for the beef. I love this pick. McIlrath is 6 foot 4, 212 pounds and he’s only 18 years old? Give this young man some time and he will be exactly what the Rangers have been lacking on the D since the days of Jeff Beukeboom. Or even the 80-81 team with Barry Beck, Ed Hospodar, Tom Laidlaw and yes… even myself! McIlrath is a mean, nasty, and tough crease clearing bulldozer of a d-man. Oh yeah, did I mention that he sticks up for his teammates as well? What is remarkable to me and this is real important… is that he was rated as the most feared player in the 2010 NHL Draft. All this as a 17 year old in the wild and crazy Western Canadian Junior League. Like I said, I love this pick!

Also I would like to thank all of those who attended and played in the Pocono Family YMCA 2nd Annual Celebrity Golf Outing this past Sunday and Monday. The event took place at the legendary Shawnee Inn & Golf Resort. It was simply a blast! I personally want to thank my former teammates and good friends Ron Greschner, Nick Fotiu, Ron Duguay, and Ed Hospodar. I also would like to thank Stephen Baker (NYG, The Touchdown Maker), Jack Fisher (NYM), Bob Kelly (Flyers), SGT. Slaughter (WWF/WWE), Russell "Stats" Baxter (ESPN), and local celebrities John “Super Cop” Jacobsen, as well as Gary “In the Morning” Smith. Thanks a lot guys!

When the clock strikes midnight tonight, the NHL free agency period will begin. Who will go where? Who will the Rangers be pursuing? Any trades? We shall find out soon enough. Over and out!

49 Years No More

2010-06-10T00:11:00.001-04:00

Congrats to the Chicago Blackhawks.

Hawks on the Verge!

2010-06-08T12:27:00.003-04:00

The Chicago Blackhawks are one game away from ending the longest drought without winning the Stanley Cup. It’s been since 1961... 49 years to be exact (The Leafs are next longest). The Hawks have it in their sights and they can taste it! Only one problem… the Philadelphia Flyers are standing in the way in Game 6 at Wachovia Center. I had Chicago winning the finals in 6, but now I’m not so sure that it doesn’t head back to Chi-town for a Game 7.

Chicago played a marvelous first period in Game 5 that lead to a 7-4 victory, but the Flyers still had plenty of fight left in them. Which, in turn, leads me to believe that if Chicago wants to end it in Game 6- they will have to play their best game of the series. Plain and simple. While the Stanley Cup finals has been highly entertaining, the officiating again is a main topic on most hockey fans minds. I, personally, think both teams and their fans have a legitimate gripe! Plenty of “soft” calls and missed calls throughout these finals. It’s getting to the point where it’s just not funny anymore. It’s a big problem and it needs to be fixed. Oh, and please, no more rule changes. That’s what caused the problems in the first place.

If Chicago wins the cup, who will be the MVP? Same goes for Philly. Let me know your choices and I’ll get back to you. Over and out!

Hawks Take Hold, Up Two Heading to Philly

2010-06-01T15:06:00.005-04:00

The Chicago Blackhawks have defended home ice by winning games 1 and 2 at the United Center (otherwise known as the Madhouse on Madison Avenue). Both games were extremely close as the Blackhawks prevailed in Game 1 by a score of 6-5 and in Game 2 by a score of 2-1. My thoughts on Game 1 were, "what in the hell was going on in the defensive zones of both teams"? I thought I was watching house league 6 year olds on a cold Saturday morning. It was laughable how two NHL teams that are battling for the Stanley Cup stood around all night and watched the puck. I’m pretty sure that both coaches were having heart palpitations watching it all unfold. Sorry, folks… it was not pretty! In the end, the Hawks will take the W. Pretty or not!

In Game 2, things were much different as I’m sure both teams got taught a lesson on the off day about defensive zone coverage 101. The Hawks once again eked out a 2-1 win with Antti Niemi holding down the fort. Niemi was spectacular down the stretch of the third period when the Flyers made it a 2-1 game. Honestly, I thought the Flyers were going to score and send the game into OT. However, Niemi and his Hawks would have none of that. I’ve got one question for you all… has anyone heard of Antti Niemi before the playoffs? I have to admit, I knew nothing at all about him. I certainly do now! Anyhow, the Flyers have been in this situation before. Can they fight back into this series? Games 3 and 4 are in Philly and I’m sure the Flyers faithful will be ready. Chicago is a monster on the road, though (8-1 in the playoffs). Only time will tell.

Lastly, I have one more thought on the Finals. It’s time to rant! Again, the officiating has been a huge topic of discussion. Why? Well, what goes on during the regular season apparently doesn’t apply in the playoffs. Confusing? You bet! I’m confused (doesn’t take much though), the players are confused, the referees are confused, the NHL is confused, and most importantly the fans who pay their hard earned cash are confused! It’s like beating a dead horse, but I have to keep doing it. The NHL has created this problem. There’s way too much tinkering of the game over the last 5+ seasons. How can Chris Pronger and Dustin Byfuglien hack and slash each other in front of the net (which I personally love) and not receive penalties? While a touch stick foul is still called? The fans around the league see this and the NHL wonders why it’s hard to sell the game? This happens too frequently… message to the NHL: the fans are not stupid! Wake up and review some of the rules that have been implemented in the last 5+ years. It’s time! Over and out!

Flyers/Hawks, Who Ya Got?

2010-05-27T16:12:00.003-04:00

Well hockey fans… it will be the Philadelphia Flyers and the Chicago Blackhawks doing battle for Lord Stanley’s Cup. What’s remarkable to me is the run that both of these teams are on. It’s really quite incredible. The Flyers, who took care of the Montreal Canadiens in 5 games, put an end to the magical ride that the Habs were on. In turn, the Flyers really have turned into a tough, no-holds barred team to be reckoned with. As much as it hurts me to say it, these Flyers will be a tough out for the Chicago Blackhawks.

As for the Hawks, this is the moment that this franchise has been waiting for. Good drafts, nice trades, and some free agent pick-ups have brought them to this great chance to win the Cup. The Blackhawks took care of the San Jose Sharks in 4 games. Fluky? I think not. The Hawks are a team with loads of talent and depth. The latter to me is the most important! A few weeks ago I would have picked the Hawks to finish off Philly with ease… now, I’m not so sure. Byfuglien Vs. Pronger, Richards Vs. Toews, and Niemi Vs. Leighton. There are plenty of great matchups in this series. In the end, however, I am going with… drum roll please… the Blackhawks in 6! Let me know your thoughts on the outcome. Whether you agree or disagree with me!

Some other quick thoughts on the happenings in the NHL… Steve Yzerman is now running the show in Tampa Bay. I think this is a great hire. Yzerman is all class and he has done his time in the administration department since his retirement. I just hope he doesn’t try to replicate the Euro-wings part II in Tampa.

Can somebody, anybody please give the Phoenix Coyotes and my former teammates Don Maloney, Dave Tippet, Doug Sulliman, and Ulf Samuelsson a break?! Sell the damn team to the Blackberry billionaire. That’s right, I said billionaire, Jim Basille. Put a stop to all the nonsense that is the Phoenix Coyotes! It’s a soap opera that has gone on too long.

One last thing. Congrats to the Czech Republic for winning the gold medal over the 0-for Russians by a score of 2-1 in the finals. Three cheers to Jaromir Jagr... you made my day! Over and out!

The Conference Finals Have Begun!

2010-05-16T22:07:00.003-04:00

In the West, the Blackhawks drew first blood as Antti Niemi was outstanding in a 2-1 Chicago victory over the San Jose Sharks (Who I thought played good enough to win). There was a combined total of 85 shots between Niemi and Nabakov. Niemi turned away 44 of 45 shots, while his counterpart turned back 38 of 40. Both teams, I thought, had their moments. They showed why they are in the Western Conference Finals.

The Blackhawks got a big goal in the third period by Dustin Byfuglien (Can we get him a Ranger uniform please?) with 6:45 remaining. Byfuglien’s goal gave the Hawks a 2-1 lead that they would not relinquish. San Jose put plenty of pressure on Niemi in the closing moments, but it was to no avail. Boy, when you look at what the Blackhawks have done on the road this year in the playoffs… it’s simply amazing! They are now a very dominant, 6-1 on the road. That, my friends, can only spell trouble for the Sharks. Game 2 will be a must win for San Jose or the representative from the West in the chase of Lord Stanley will be the Chicago Blackhawks.

The Conference finals are also underway for the Eastern Conference. The Philadelphia Flyers, who pulled off a magical and historical comeback over the Bruins, totally dismantled and humiliated the Montreal Canadiens in Game 1. The Flyers won by a score of 6-0 in front of a raucous home crowd in the Wachovia Center. The Flyers never gave the Canadiens a chance in this one. The best Montreal could do was attempt one shot and then their offensive attack was done! It sounds familiar… this is how the Habs have played their way to this point!

Jaroslav Halak was not Superman tonight. In fact, he fell back to being a mere mortal. His stat line looks like this: 4 goals allowed on 13 shots. He was then chased and Carey Price ended up finishing the game for the Habs. Michael Leighton, for the Flyers, was steady and solid. His teammates gave him a comfortable lead and they played stingy defense all night long. They played the way that Montreal has almost perfected during this playoff run. I, personally, was surprised by the outcome. Is this the Montreal that many have been waiting to see? It’s possible. I know it’s only one game, but the Flyers were very impressive and really they have been since they were down 3-0 late in the first period in Game 7 in Boston. Since then, the Flyers have scored 10 straight goals and have surrendered nothing! Not even one goal! That, to me, is a tough thing to do. Although after winning the Bruins series, what is considered tough for the Flyers these days? Over and out!

The Wild Wild East

2010-05-13T00:35:00.002-04:00

The second round is almost over with just the Bruins and Flyers left to finish up their war with Game 7 in Boston on Friday night. Where do we start? Oh, in case you haven’t heard, the Montreal Canadiens have landed in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Jaroslav Halak has taken his Montreal team and have slain the two giants of hockey. First, Alexander Ovechkin and now Sidney Crosby. The Canadiens, against all odds, walked right into Mellon Arena in a winner take all 7th game and they shocked the Penguins, their faithful, and probably the NHL hierarchy. With a stunning 5-2 victory, the Canadiens sent out Mellon Arena on a sour note for the Pittsburgh faithful. You have to be impressed with this Montreal club. Halak is making history like other Montreal legends before him. Legends such as: Ken Dryden, Patrick Roy, etc. His team has followed his lead and with tight defensive coverage and opportunistic scoring they have become a monster of a team. I didn’t see this one coming and I’m sure most of the hockey experts didn’t either! If they did, well… they’re full of s***! Sorry to cuss, but it’s a perfect word to describe it! Whoever they play next had better do a lot of studying! If Ovechkin and Crosby couldn’t figure them out, then why would you think the Bruins or Flyers can?

As for Pittsburgh’s failure, there’s no excuses. Overall, you just got beat! M.A. Fleury was outplayed by Halak. Malkin, for the most part, played very uninspired hockey. Crosby tried and worked his tail off, but to no avail. He got shot down just like the rest of them when it counted. Like I said, no excuses. Montreal deserved to win. It’s that simple.

Now, onto the Bruins and Flyers. How on Earth did the Boston Bruins forget to close the door on the Flyers? Easy. They got too cocky and confident of what they have been achieving. The only problem is that it takes 4 games to win a series. Not 3. Now that the Flyers have walked through that door, I believe that it’s anyone’s game to take in Game 7. Pressure is now on the Bruins because they don’t want to make history in blowing a 3-0 lead. The Flyers, on the other hand, have a lot of momentum. I still like the Bruins, but the way the East has gone… who knows?

Now, how about we talk about one of my favorite teams? Not! The Detroit Red Wings, who were finally put out of their misery by the San Jose Sharks. I don’t want to dwell too much on this series, but the Sharks were too hungry and the Red Wings are starting to show their age. Again, I personally want to thank the Sharks for eliminating the “Euro-Wings”. Thank you!

The next opponent for the Sharks will be the Chicago Blackhawks. The Hawks totally dismantled the Vancouver Canucks in Game 6 (in Vancouver) to take the series. The Blackhawks are the ultimate Jekyll and Hyde team. When Dr. Jekyll shows up, the Hawks are passive, not aggressive, and seem generally uninterested. When this happens, they are very beatable. When Mr. Hyde shows up, look out! They are tough, fast, in-your-face, and physical. They can’t be beat when they play like this! San Jose/Chicago should be a very good series. Plenty of big names and lots of skill on both side. The question is… can Dustin Byfuglien be the one who tilts the series in Chicago’s favor? Only time will tell. Over and out!

Playoffs Starting to Take Shape

2010-05-07T01:26:00.002-04:00

I have to admit, it’s not much fun writing this blog without the Rangers somehow involved… that being said, what could’ve and should’ve been wasn’t in the end. That’s the reality, folks. Let’s hope this doesn’t happen again anytime soon for the Blueshirts. That’s all I have to say about that!

Let’s talk about the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs. They are starting to really shape up! In the Eastern Conference, it looks like the Montreal Canadiens are as serious as a heart attack in their belief that they can do the unthinkable. First, they take down the number one seeded team in the East and now they have forced the defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins into what looks like a long series! The Habs have shocked the world and are now tied 2-2 with the Pens heading back to Pittsburgh for Game 5. The Pens, I believe, will be more than ready. But, you never know. Could it be a Montreal/Boston matchup in the Eastern Conference Finals? I think not, but…

Has there been a team that has flown under the radar like the Boston Bruins? I don’t think so. In one of the more closely contested series (as far as play goes), the Bruins have played gritty playoff hockey when it counts the most. As a result, they are now up 3-0 against a tough, but depleted Philadelphia Flyers squad. The games have been close, but in the end Tuukka Rask has been the star for the Bruins. In return, his team in front has followed his lead. The Bruins in the Eastern Conference Finals? Who would have guessed? Not me!

Now, onto the Western Conference… the Vancouver/Chicago series. What has happened to the Canucks? After a solid effort in Game 1 (5-1 win) on the road, they have completely fallen apart! The Hawks, on the other hand, have woken up and used their great size and youth to win 2 straight games. Game 3 was a dominant physical win for the Hawks by a score of 5-2. Dustin Byfuglien single handedly destroyed the Canucks with his awesome combination of size and skill. Vancouver had no answer for him. The Canucks have to find a way to match the Hawks physical presence or this series might not go the distance (as I had predicted).

Although San Jose got manhandled in Game 4 by Detroit (7-1), they are still in a great position to finish off the Wings. The Sharks will have to show up early in Game 5 back in San Jose and not give the Red Wings a reason to believe. The Sharks know that their legacy rides on this series and playoffs. Failures of the past are still talked about. It’s time for the Sharks to discard all of that and put the Wings out of their misery. They have been the better team overall, but now they need to prove it! Over and out!

Habs Storm the Capital

2010-04-29T13:23:00.003-04:00

I just got to tip my hat to the Montreal Canadiens (How could you not?) after taking down the Washington Capitals in 7 games. Sure, the Caps outshot the Habs and Halak was out of this world in between the pipes… but really, who thought after being down 3-1 heading back to Ovechkin Land that the Canadiens had any chance at all? Not me. If anyone tells you that they did, they are full of it.

The only people who knew they had a chance were the players themselves. That’s why you have to be impressed with this team. Where they go from here, who knows? But you got to tip your hat to the Habs. As for the Caps, well… it all comes crashing down. A great regular season, the second best player in the NHL (That’s right, I said second), and the President’s Trophy winners. What did it get you? Nothing. Why? Big time players play big in the big games. Yours simply did not.

Now that the first round is over, I’ll give you my take on the second round of the playoffs.

Western Conference Semi-Finals

#1 San Jose Sharks Vs # 5 Detroit Red Wings

San Jose had a big wake up call early in their series against the Colorado Avalanche. There’s no questioning that. However, they found a way to snap out of their historic playoff funk that they have been known for. Could this finally be their year? No so fast! Detroit, who struggled mightily against the Phoenix Coyotes, still find a way to drum up some of that magic (much to my displeasure). When it’s needed most, they usually get the job done. However, I’ll take San Jose in 6.

#2 Chicago Blackhawks Vs #3 Vancouver Canucks

The Blackhawks were very fortunate in that Nashville series and they just managed to escape. If not for Nashville’s indescribable meltdown in Game 5, Chicago might be on vacation already. That being said, a rematch with the Canucks who lost to the Blackhawks last year in the playoffs should be very interesting. Vancouver showed some great comeback ability in taking care of Los Angeles and they got great goaltending from Roberto Luongo (Finally). This will be a tough one, but I’m leaning towards the ‘Hawks in 7. This one could go either way.

Eastern Conference Semi-Finals

#1 Pittsburgh Penguins Vs #8 Montreal Canadiens

The Penguins proved they are in it for the long haul by taking care of the Ottawa Senators in 6 games (with neither Crosby or Malkin involved in the offense in Game 6). That is not good news for the rest of the league as Sidney Crosby has once again showed the way for the Penguins with 14 points in 6 games. Can they repeat? They sure can. As for the Canadiens, how’s this for fun? First you have to slay Goliath in round one, and then you have to slay King Kong in round two. The Habs took down the Caps with a tight and stingy defense that gave up a lot- and I mean a lot of shots. Halak was marvelous in nets, but I don’t believe they will get away with this two series in a row. Something has to change in order for them to win. Pittsburgh in 6.

#6 Boston Bruins Vs #7 Philadelphia Flyers

The Boston Bruins beat the Buffalo Sabres in 6 games. I didn’t believe they could do it, but they did (shows what I know). They did it by playing tough and hardnosed hockey with solid goaltending by Tukka Rask (He outplayed Miller). Marc Savard is now skating and he could be in play for the Bruins in the next round! It would help for sure. Now, onto the Flyers who are well rested after embarrassing the New Jersey Devils in 5 games. However, they are a very wounded hockey team. Jeff Carter, Simon Gagne, and Ian Laperriere are out for the Flyers. I’m not sure that I want to put my trust in Brian Boucher one more time. The Bruins will take this one in 7.

Well, that’s it. Over and out!

Playoffs: So Far, So Good

2010-04-21T14:26:00.005-04:00

I can’t help but think, “If only the New York Rangers had managed, somehow, someway, to sneak into the playoffs this year”. Things might have looked up for the Blueshirts. Oh well, just a thought!

I got to tip my hat to the overall performance by the teams that did make it. It’s been fast, physical, and damn fun to watch. The only negative that continues to be a problem is the inconsistency of the officiating. Sorry, I know it’s an old story, but I’m sticking to my guns on this. There has been too many soft calls and my only hope is that it doesn’t rear its ugly head and cost a team a critical game or series. The NHL has to take most of the blame for this, but I also think the NHLPA deserves some as well. With all that’s been done since the lockout to tinker with the game, I think its obvious to the fans and privately talked about by the players… just let them play! With that said, I still like the overall picture of how the playoffs have progressed and I am looking forward to more games.

Here’s my take on what I’ve seen so far:

#1 Washington Capitals Vs #8 Montreal Canadiens

The Caps got an early wake up call, but Montreal blew a golden opportunity by losing Game 2 after having a 4-1 lead. Sorry, Habs. You had your chance and now the series is tilting in favor of the Capitals.

#2 New Jersey Devils Vs #7 Philadelphia Flyers

Boy, oh boy! A shocker! Well, not really. The Flyers have dominated the Devils all season long and it’s continued so far in the playoffs. The Flyers are now up 3-1 in the series. Boucher over Marty? Who would have thunk it? The Flyers will not be without adversity though in Game 5, the early reports are that Jeff Carter and Simon Gagne will be out with injury.

#3 Buffalo Sabres Vs #6 Boston Bruins

One thing Ryan Miller can’t do for the Sabres is score. Losing Vanek to injury hurt them big time in the scoring department for Lindy Ruff’s team. Honestly, Boston has outplayed Buffalo in all 3 games so far and deserved to be leading this series. Plain and simple!

#4 Pittsburgh Penguins Vs #5 Ottawa Senators

Ah, the defending Stanley Cup champs. They had their attention span checked in a home loss to the Sens in Game 1. No question about that. Since then, Sidney Crosby has taken his game to a new universe. He is the best player in the world (Sorry Ovechkin fans). The Pens are now on a roll and look to close out the series at home in Game 5.

Now, out West we go!

#1 San Jose Sharks Vs #8 Colorado Avalanche

The question in this series is will the Sharks even win in the playoffs? After the Dan Boyle debacle, the Sharks bounced back to even the series at 2 games a piece. But, I’ll tell ya, it hasn’t been easy and it won’t get any easier going forward. The Avs have been tough, especially with Craig Anderson in goal.

#2 Chicago Blackhawks Vs #7 Nashville Predators

This is another head scratcher. I thought that for sure Chicago would be ready for a serious run at Lord Stanley. My thoughts were that they gained valuable experience in last year’s playoffs. Oops! Wrong. Nashville has showed the hockey world that the Blackhawks might not be ready just yet. Stay tuned to this one!

#3 Vancouver Canucks Vs #6 Los Angeles Kings

I’ll keep it simple on this one. The Kings going in were my upset special in the playoffs. Vancouver, well… I believe in them when I see them win a big time series. They haven’t been able to do this yet, period.

#4 Phoenix Coyotes Vs #5 Detroit Red Wings

Give the Coyotes full compliments on a season that could have easily been a disaster. The series is now tied at 2 games a piece with the Wings. I, among others, would love to see the Coyotes move past the Red Wings and advance further into the playoffs.

So, that’s it. Just a little run down on the playoffs thus far. As I said in the title: so far, so good! Over and out!

Shootout Ends the Rangers Season

2010-04-11T20:13:00.003-04:00

First of all, I’m not a fan of a skills competition that decides games… let alone one that decides the playoffs. I just want to make that clear. However, it’s no excuse for the New York Rangers (who lost in a shootout to the Philadelphia Flyers in the final game of the season). 82 games wasn’t enough. A 5-minute OT didn’t decide it. A circus act that the NHL instituted called a “Shootout” did. The Flyers were able to beat King Henrik Lundqvist twice in three attempts as the Rangers failed to match. The season is now over. Just like that.

The Rangers, who battled like no other team down the stretch, put themselves into a winner takes all final regular season game. Unfortunately, they failed to take advantage of great goaltending by the King and timely scoring by Jody Shelley. Shelley’s goal gave the Rangers the lead that lasted until Matt Carle's PP goal in the 3rd period. The PP was brought about by a terrible interference call by Kerry Fraser on PA Parenteau. With all that was on the line and many fouls that were overlooked, you call interference there? Give me a break.

In the end, the big guns for the Rangers failed to provide the offensive spark that this team so desperately needed. In the biggest game of the year, they failed to produce. No excuses! Lundqvist and the fourth line of Shelley, Prust, and Anisimov were the best players for the Rangers (as has been the case lately). There were obviously others who did their job, but the best simply did not. The Rangers got outshot 47-25... That alone is plenty of proof. Oh well, not much you can do about it now…

For me it will be a little strange with no Rangers playoffs, but it is what it is. Over and out!

Rangers in the Drivers Seat

2010-04-04T18:46:00.003-04:00

After conquering the state of Florida (5-0 over Tampa, 4-1 over Florida), the New York Rangers have to be feeling very good amongst themselves. They did exactly what was needed and received some of the help that we knew was coming from the teams ahead of them (Although they got no help today from Detroit in Philly! Nice job, Dets!).

The Blueshirts are sitting in the drivers seat, but they are not as comfortable as they would like to be. Never the less, they are in control of their own fate. A tough game in Buffalo on Tuesday is next up on the Rangers list. It will not be easy. The game will pit against each other two of the best goaltenders in the world in a high profile game. The Rangers have to live in the moment and not get too far ahead of themselves. Trust me, they absolutely cannot look forward to the showdown with the Flyers just yet. They have to take care of the business at hand first. Nothing more, nothing less.

A few tidbits and thoughts… how good has Lundqvist been for the Rangers? Outside of the soft goal he gave up in Toronto, his play has been what you would expect out of the King! Let’s hope that he continues to play well and leads this team into the playoffs. What about Jody Shelley, Brandon Prust, and Aaron Voros’ contributions lately? How good and clutch have they been? Also, if Chris Drury’s tying goal in New Jersey was the biggest goal of the season- where do we put Marc Staal’s goal against Florida? In my book, that was as big as any for the Rangers this year. No doubt! Over and out!

Rangers Get Wake-Up Call, Win 4-3

2010-03-30T22:09:00.004-04:00

The New York Rangers got a major wake-up call from the New York Islanders after being down 2-0 after the first period. There was a severe lack of urgency and they played quite listless. The wake-up must have occurred in between periods, because in the 2nd period it was all Rangers.

Skating, forechecking, hitting, and scoring 3 straight goals to take control of the game. The big guns who had gone MIA for the last few games came through. Vinny Prospal's quick wrist shot cut the Islanders lead in half and really was a big goal. If the Islanders had gotten the score to 3-0, it might have been all over for the Blueshirts. From there, Olli Jokinen tied it up on a steal from Kyle Okposo that surprised net minder Dwayne Roloson. By the way, that was Jokinen’s first goal in the last 15 games! Where’s he been? Just asking… Marian Gaborik, who I thought played very well, had a little jump in his game and put up his 40th goal of the season on a nice feed from Aaron Voros. Voros did all of the dirty work in order to set up Gaborik on this goal. The Rangers totally dominated the 2nd period and took all of the momentum that the Islanders had built up. In the third period, Marc Staal scored off of a nice feed from Vinny Prospal to make the score 4-2. Later on, the Islanders cut the lead to one- but the Rangers shut them down for the victory. It was a big win, for sure.

However, this game was not without its problems. They had a slow start, dumb line changes, and selfish penalties. All of these factors could have easily cost the Rangers the game. This kind of stuff can’t and shouldn’t happen this late in the season. The Blueshirts did show some resolve though in fighting their way back to take the game from the Islanders (who were fired up from getting embarrassed last game at MSG, 5-0). The best players were the best players tonight as well. It was nice to see them bounce back from a terrible OT loss to the Leafs.

The job ahead is not going to be without peril. The Rangers need to play with desperation in mind and they have got to win their games- no questions asked. Waiting for help from other teams is out of their control. Obviously, they will need help somewhere- but it won’t matter one bit unless the Rangers take care of their own business. Onto Tampa Bay next, this is gonna be fun! Over and out!

Well, Well, Well...

2010-03-26T13:31:00.002-04:00

Just when you think it’s over for the Rangers, the boys in blue turn around and defy the odds to come back into the NHL’s Eastern Conference playoff race. How? First, they dismantled a New York Islander team at MSG Wednesday by a score of 5-0. I know people will say that they beat a team that has “packed it in” and all that. However, it was a dominant performance in a game where the Rangers really needed the victory. Gaborik was big in this game with 2 goals and 1 assist. Artem Anisimov, Michael Del Zotto, and Dan Girardi all figured in the other tallies for the Rangers. Lundqvist was sharp when needed- stopping 27 shots for his 3rd shutout of the season. If that outcome had any meaning, it would have to show the next night as the Rangers headed over the river to take on their hated rivals, the New Jersey Devils.

The Rangers showed great will and determination by fighting their way through a tough game. With their playoff aspirations on the line, the Rangers pulled through with a dramatic 4-3 shootout victory at “The Rock”. Chris Drury (yes, the Captain!), scored what would turn out to be the goal of the season (if the Rangers were to make the playoffs). With 16.8 seconds left in regulation, Erik Christensen found Drury in front of the net with a feed and Drury buried it to send the game to OT. Wow! That was all I could think as Drury slammed home the “playoff hopes” for the Rangers. From there, both teams had decent chances in OT, but couldn’t capitalize. Onto the shootout we went! Erik Christensen, who played a great game, started the shootout with a fantastic goal. The goal took replay to confirm, but the move he made on Brodeur was beautiful. That, my friends, turned out to be the game winner as King Henrik stopped all 3 attempts by the Devils. The Rangers left the Rock with what could be the most pivotal win of the season. I know it won’t be easy, but the Rangers have a chance (and a good one at that) to make the playoffs. 6 games on the road, 2 at home- with all the teams being played being very beatable. While on the flipside, Boston, Philly, and Atlanta all have much tougher schedules to contend with! There’s a song that I used to listen to when I was a teenager and still do… it’s by guitarist Johnny Winter, “Still Alive and Well”. The Rangers are still alive, the well part is yet to be determined… stay tuned!

I did attend both of the past two games and I met some really good people on both nights (Thanks to our good friend, Larry “Ratso” Sloman)! My wife Lisa and I had the great fortune to meet and hang out with Peter Criss of the Kiss fame. That’s right! Kiss! We also met Rob Echeverria (Helmut and Biohazard), a guitarist who is a die-hard Rangers fan. Peter was at his 1st ever NHL game at MSG according to Rob. I think we have a new hockey fan! Fantastic time in meeting them! We shall meet up again.

In New Jersey, the wife and I were privileged to attend the game as guests of two good friends: Jeremy and Lori Lont. They invited us to witness the Devils/Rangers game in a luxury suite. We had a fun time, of course. We also had fun talking hockey with Jeremy’s brother, Josh. Although on this night we were surrounded by Devils fans, it was a great night all around! Over and out!

Rangers Lose, Still Alive

2010-03-18T22:47:00.002-04:00

Two of the biggest games for the Rangers all season… first, Montreal on Tuesday and second, St. Louis. The result? 3-1 and 4-3 losses. Most importantly, 0 points.

I was present for the Montreal game and honestly there were only 2 Rangers who even bothered to show up to play that night: Sean Avery and Henrik Lundqvist. The rest of them took the night off. It was very disappointing.

Now, onto the Blues game. I have to admit, the Rangers were obviously more engaged. However, in the end, the results are what count and the result was another loss in a game that had major playoff implications. I keep beating a dead horse… but as usual, the home record is awful. These last two games did nothing but add to the disappointing record at MSG. There’s really no use to give a total run down of this game. I watched it and you watched it. Although, I would be remiss if I didn’t give a big shout out to that great “Euro Style” 5 on 3 PP that the Rangers had in the 3rd period. Keep on passing it! How about, oh… I don’t know… shooting the damn puck?! What a concept: shooting the puck! I think too often we get all happy when we see that “Euro Style”/pretty passing work on a PP. But really, haven’t you had enough of players giving up shots for the extra pass? It’s sickening to watch how much it’s influenced this great game. Like the “Big Whistle” Bill Chadwick used to say, “Shoot the puck, Barry!” If Bill was alive today, it would be, “Shoot the puck, Rangers!”… God rest his soul!

Well, off to Beantown they go. Hey, the road has actually been better for the Rangers this year than playing at MSG (I still don’t get that). So you never know… do ya?

Lastly, I’d like to give thanks to the Quinnipiac Bobcats for another great season. Although it didn’t end the way we all wanted it to, it was a good ride while it lasted. I’d also like to give a special shout-out to my man Bill Schweizer, the voice of the Bobcats. As usual, I had fun working by your side. Over and out!

The Defense Rests

2010-03-10T21:38:00.002-05:00

While I was away last weekend working the Bobcats games, the Rangers dropped 2 games in a row. One to Washington by a score of 2-0 and the other a 2-1 OT loss at home against the Buffalo Sabres. So, heading into “The Rock” for the cross-river battle with the Devils, I was thinking… “Okay, if the Rangers could create some scoring, they have a good chance at winning” (Wins would be good at this point of the year, wouldn’t they?). So what happens? The Rangers come up with a dud of a game defensively. It was quite simply: horrible.

No backchecking, giveaways, too many odd man rushes, and absolutely no support for Henrik Lundqvist. Oh, did I mention the score? 6-3 final in favor of the Devils. You know, that offensive juggernaut of an NHL team. I’m not going to go over every goal and really, why should I? It’s simple. When you play sloppy on the defensive side of your game, you deserve to get pummeled on the scoreboard. The games are dwindling down for the Rangers and wins are what they need. The next 4 games will tell the story of this years squad. It’s sink or swim time!

Now, I really want to discuss the “hot topic” of the NHL at this moment: head hunting and blindside hits. The GMs and NHL brass are in conference as we speak and they have come up with a half-assed rule that will be in the NHL’s upcoming 2010-11 season. Well, let me be the first to tell you… I’m sick of all the crybabies who scream out about every hit in the NHL. Yes, some hits are dirty and cheap. The problem is the monster that was created by all of the NHLs rule changes. Has anyone asked why so many hits like this have occurred? All one has to do is think back to the post-lockout thirst to open up the game. They eliminated obstruction (hooking, holding, interference). At the same time there was chatter for ending fighting, so the instigator rules were to be enforced more. So what did all these rule changes provide the NHL... High scoring hockey? Nope. Numerous 50 goal scorers? Nope. What it did is provide the NHL with a problem. A lack of respect amongst its players. That is why you have all the questions and crying about hits (that are for the most part legal). The NHL will not let the players police their own when these situations occur.

First, if a player reacts to what one feels is a dirty hit or play, it will cost that player a truck load of money in fines/suspensions. Secondly, this is where the lack of player respect comes in… If you know no retaliation is coming, what fear do you have as a player? None! Lastly, the players have a responsibility to understand that this is a physical game played at a high speed. It doesn’t give you the right to admire your pass or shot for too long- or you will get destroyed. It’s as simple as that! A message to the players: Keep your head up! You must know your opponent and who is capable of taking your head off. The last part is the most important to me. If you are not aware of who’s on the ice when you are on, then shame on you! Hockey is not just about skill. Hitting is and always will be part of the game… I hope.

Well, I’ll be in Troy, NY this weekend where the Quinnipiac Bobcats will take on the Union Watchmen in a ECAC quarter-final round (best of 3). My man Bill Schweizer and myself will do the radio broadcast at 7:00 PM on AM 1220 WQUN. If you get a chance, listen in! Friday and Saturday for sure.. And maybe Sunday for a potential Game 3. Over and out!

Bobcats Radio Link: http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x981.xml

Olympics and the Rangers

2010-03-01T13:10:00.005-05:00

Wow! What a way to end the Winter Olympics in Vancouver. In a big showcase game, Canada defeated a tough and stubborn USA squad by a score of 3-2 in an OT thriller. Sidney Crosby found a way to win it for the Canadian team with a quick shot that beat a surprised Ryan Miller at the 7:40 mark of the OT. The reason the OT session was even needed was because the USA squad (that could have folded numerous times) came back from a 2 goal deficit to tie it up with the goalie pulled and 6 attackers on the ice.

I have to tip my hat to Team USA- big time. They probably where the most consistent team throughout this tournament and it showed how much the gap has closed on all of their opponents. Individually, Ryan Miller (MVP) showed the hockey world that he is the best goaltender in hockey today. Rangers fans might disagree, but if he’s not… who is? As for team Canada, the pressure was enormous and somehow they got the job done! At times they were the most dominant team (see the Russian game) and at times they were not so good.

One thing that I will take away from these Olympics is that North American hockey still rules the world as proved by Canada and the USA (in both the Olympics and the World Juniors). I was extremely happy to see the USA and Canada battle for the gold. It was fast, tough, highly skilled, and physical hockey. Just the way the fans want it. I’m pretty sure if you asked the players, they would agree as well. I hope the NHL takes a good look and figures out a way to get rid of the silly rules and just let the players play!

As for the New York Rangers, a game is coming up at Ottawa on Tuesday. I know the players who didn’t participate in the Olympics have been practicing and getting ready for the big playoff push. I’m sure there’s a few questions that need to be answered: How bad is Gaborik’s injury? Can Lundqvist carry the load down the stretch (Goaltender Alex Auld was picked up)? Will the Olympic break help or hurt the Rangers? What trades are on the table with the trigger ready to be Pulled? It goes on and on.

One thing is for sure- the New York Rangers will have to play better than they have been all season. Currently they are out of a playoff spot with 20 games to go… .500 hockey will not cut it! Stay tuned. Over and out!

Rangers Come Up Large

2010-02-14T19:25:00.003-05:00

After an excellent road win in Pittsburgh (3-2, OTW), which has been a house of horrors for the Rangers in recent years, the boys headed home for a 1 PM matinee. The Rangers squared off against the Tampa Bay Lightning, who just came off of a loss to the New York Islanders the day prior. Like in Pittsburgh, there was no Gaborik or Del Zotto. The Rangers needed to get these 2 very important points before the Olympic break.

Early on, the game didn’t look too good for the Rangers. The Rangers looked slow, lifeless, and really uninterested. As a result, the scoreboard showed it. Down 2-0 with the fans showing their displeasure, the Rangers turned it around with a 4-goal 2nd period. Sean Avery ignited the boys in blue with a gorgeous goal on a penalty shot. On the shot, he completely faked out Mike Smith and roofed a beauty high into the empty net. From there, King Henrik Lundqvist had to make several key saves- especially on Nate Thompson and Marty St. Louis- to keep the Rangers within reach.

Vinny Prospal evened the game on a nice rebound shot with traffic all around the Tampa net. From there, Erik Christensen took over as he scored 2 goals in a row. The first goal was a nice 5-hole shot and the other was very Gaborik-like. It was Gaborik-like in the sense that he got the shot off extremely fast and the quick release surprised Mike Smith. Honestly, that second goal surprised me as well! Christensen should have had the hat trick as he missed 2 glorious opportunities on his next shift. Oh well… who’s complaining? Chris Drury finished off the scoring with an empty netter to make the final score 5-2 in favor of the Rangers.

Some of my observations from the game… first, the bad. How many times are we going to watch the Rangers forget that the game starts when the puck drops in the 1st period? Duh? I just don’t understand it at all. Obviously, the players don’t either. Lastly, there are way too many odd man rushes against the Rangers. If not for some outstanding goaltending by Henrik Lundqvist, the Rangers could have easily been blown out of this game in the 2nd period. Now we’ll focus on the good in this game. I didn’t get to see the win over the Penguins (I was working a Bobcats game), but it sure was nice to see the fight and resiliency that the Rangers showed in Pittsburgh as well as the comeback today. These 2 wins and 4 points will go a long way for the Rangers if they are going to grab a playoff spot. For now, at least, it keeps them close and in decent position to make a good run at it after the Olympic break. Also, isn’t it nice to see the other teams having to be aware of the sudden "toughness" that the Rangers have with (recent acquisition) Jody Shelley, Brandon Prust, and Aaron Voros? It’s been a while, but believe me… teams will take notice if they haven’t already.

Have fun watching the Olympic hockey everyone. But to me, what still counts first is the how the Rangers finish the season… and in 2 weeks or so, we shall find out! Over and out!

Getting Critical

2010-02-08T14:19:00.005-05:00

Coming off of an excellent win last Saturday over the New Jersey Devils (who have been leaking oil lately), the New York Rangers get a few days off before their next tilt against the Nashville Predators. It’s getting to that point in the season where I believe the Rangers must get on some kind of roll as far as wins go. In fact, I think it’s critical to do so.

There are now 23 games left for the blueshirts: 10 at home and 13 on the road. That’s a tough schedule ahead of them. The inconsistency that has plagued the Rangers all season has got to disappear and disappear fast! In order to finish up strong the Rangers will need Henrik Lundqvist to play like he did against the Devils (Sorry Marty, the King still owns you). The team must play disciplined hockey at both ends of the ice. The D must step up and become more like snarling dogs in defending their zone. The forwards have to create offense and score on a nightly basis. Special teams… well, it’s very simple. They must be special!

The outlook is tough for the Rangers. The mentality needs to be one of a playoff mentality. The playoff push starts early for the Rangers. It starts now!

Now, on to some Quinnipiac Bobcats news… Finally! A win! Yes, the Bobcats struck gold on Saturday night with their first win in their last 10 attempts. The Bobcats won with a 2-0 shutout over Colgate. Goalie Dan Clarke got the shutout and Zack Hansen & Greg Holt scored for the Bobcats. I hope that this will finally get this team going after struggling for so long. Over an out!

Into the Belly of the Beast

2010-02-03T13:55:00.004-05:00

The New York Rangers are now heading home to face the Washington Ovechkins this Thursday night at MSG. Talk about going right into the belly of the beast (the Caps are now on an 11 game winning streak)!

The Rangers must regroup after a less-than-stellar west coast trip which ended with 1 win and 2 losses. Once again, the effort overall was there… but the lack of scoring and offensive creation was a huge factor in this trip. Let’s face it folks- 6 goals in 3 games is not going to cut it in the NHL or any other level of hockey.

I’ve got one observation that I’d like to make from the road trip. The poor officiating once again reared its ugly head (Example: Prucha’s nice acting job at the end of the Phoenix loss). Sorry, but this is what was bound to happen and believe me it will continue to grow as long as the NHL continues to play games with changing the rules of this great game. Trust me, there’s more that I could talk about… but I think the fans have picked this up and are disgusted as well.

Now that I have strayed from talking about the Blueshirts, let’s get back to them. First, Gaborik has been a monster again for the Rangers. He’s done everything that a Rangers fan can ask for. However, the scoring has to come from others! That’s where Olli Jokinen comes in. You do know that the Rangers made a trade, didn’t you? Just kidding! GM Glen Sather made what I feel was an excellent trade. He was able to unload Ales Kotalik and Christopher Higgins for Olli Jokinen and Brandon Prust. It’s a win/win situation for the Rangers. Kotalik and Higgins (I’ll be nice) underachieved in New York- period. Kotalik was brought in to boost the PP and unfortunately, all he ever did was make loud sounds when his shots hit the boards. One question that I have is: how does a player the caliber of Kotalik warrant a partial no-trade clause? On to Christopher Higgins… it was a nice story. He was coming home to New York and all that. In his case… yes, he worked hard and played many minutes. But in the end production is what counts and Higgins simply did not produce, it’s as simple as that.

The recently acquired players made their Rangers debut last night against the Los Angeles Kings. Going forward, Olli Jokinen should be able to give the Rangers a major lift in the scoring department. Yes, he has struggled for a while but he is going to get every opportunity to shine with the Rangers. Also remember that he’s also playing out his contract… if it works, it works. If it doesn’t work, then the Rangers can clear some cap space which is a big thing for this team. Now I would like to talk a little bit about Brandon Prust. If you want physical play, energy, toughness, and a player willing to fight for his team- then you’ve got the right guy. Prust is by no means a heavy weight, but he sure plays like one. I believe Rangers fans will love Prust. I know one thing for sure. The opponents of the Rangers, especially the defenseman, will know where he is and that’s a good thing!

Let’s hope the Rangers can fire it up against the Capitals on Thursday night. They have no other choice. Over and out!

Rangers Hit Rock Bottom

2010-01-28T16:28:00.003-05:00

I finally ventured to MSG last night to take in a Rangers game… and what I saw was not very good. The fourth straight loss and to a team in the Carolina Hurricanes, who let’s face it- they should beat. I can’t put a finger on it and I don’t think anyone really can as to why. The Rangers, at times, show some life and then at other times they look absolutely terrible in all aspects of the game. It’s been an ongoing pattern throughout the year. My personal views are nothing short of being repetitive: If you can’t muster any offense then you have to show up in other ways. By that I mean you have to play a tough, physical and grinding type of game. It’s that simple.

Also… what is up with the lack of life at home? The Rangers record at home is hurting this team big time. 12-13-4 is unacceptable at home. All the teams above the Rangers in the standings have winning records at home… go figure! I, along with many others who I played with in the past, just keep shaking our heads about this home ice dis-advantage (I’m sure Rangers fans are as well). I am still hoping that somehow this will turn around. However, the clock is beginning to tick faster and faster each and every day. Rangers fans are also growing impatient as the Rangers playoff hopes are on the line.

I just want to take the time to thank everyone who we saw last night at the game. My wife Lisa and I had a great time. Too bad we couldn’t witness a win, but that’s just how it goes. A big shoutout to my man Ron Greschner. Always good to see Gresch and his friends. Oh, I almost forgot! I also saw my former owner in Hartford, Howard Baldwin. With him was his son, Howard “Bubba” Baldwin. We got a chance to sit and talk extensively with them while drumming up old stories and memories. There were lots of laughs! Over and out!

Flyers Smother Rangers

2010-01-21T22:52:00.002-05:00

You knew it was bound to happen… the Rangers were on a nice offensive streak with 14 goals in their last two games and the Flyers definitely knew it! What transpired was a large, orange blanket that the Flyers threw at the Bueshirts’ offense and limited them to only 5 (maybe 6) good scoring chances on this night.

Philly was the better team from the start. They out forechecked, backchecked, and took away all the momentum the Rangers had going into this one. All of the scoring the Flyers would need came off a James van Riemsdyk backhand rebound on a breakaway. Henrik Lundqvist made the first save, but gave up a terrible rebound right back to van Riemsdyk- who made no mistake with the put back. The second Flyers goal was an absolute killer for the Rangers. While trying to kill a Marian Gaborik penalty at the very end of the second period, a failed clearing attempt by Chris Higgins turned into a back-breaking PP goal with 2.5 seconds to go in the period. The goal deflected in off of Marc Staal’s skate and went into the net just before the time expired in the period. You have to be better than that and know the situation of the game. Just a bad play and it turned into a fluke goal- which essentially killed the Rangers on this night.

There’s really not much else to discuss about the game itself as it was played. The Flyers were better, not by much- but just enough. Case closed. Now we can talk about some of the festivities that occurred during the game. To me, the fun stuff started when Arron Asham was allowed to run over Henrik Lundqvist. Sorry, if the NHL isn’t going to protect him- then a teammate should have. As a player, if you haven’t figured out by now who your bread and buttger is (The King) then you don’t belong on the ice. Next, we have Marian Gaborik tangling with Daniel Carcillo. Are you f*#!ing kidding me?! How did this happen? Carcillo showed how ballsy he was by grabbing Gaborik and then pummeling him to the ground. I know Gaborik dropped his gloves, but this is a mismatch of great proportions. Again… somebody? Please? Anyone should have been all over Carcillo- immediately!

I will give Sean Avery and Aaron Voros props for doing what’s right in these situations. First, Avery took on Scott Hartnell (who’s overall game, I personally like). One thing that I don’t like is a player who drops the gloves but wears a face shield. Case in point: Scott Hartnell. Sorry. That just doesn’t impress me one bit. Avery also took on Carcillo in a decent scrap a little later. You just got to love Avery and Voros (Who fought Asham) for providing the Rangers with some toughness and energy. If more Rangers would learn from these guys, it certainly would help in the long run.

Well, on to Montreal. Over and out!

Raucous Rangers Beat Habs, 6-2

2010-01-17T22:37:00.001-05:00

After two disappointing regulation losses (2-0 to Ottawa at home and 4-1 to St. Louis on the road), the New York Rangers faced off against the Montreal Canadiens at MSG in a Original 6 showdown. Unfortunately for the Rangers and their fans, the Rangers fell behind 2-0 in the 1st period to the Habs. The Garden Faithful let the Blueshirts know this as a cascade of boos carried the Rangers to the locker room for the first intermission. Even Henrik Lundqvist showed some anger after the 2nd goal and was probably wondering, “What on Earth is going on with the Rangers and their poor play at MSG?”. I’m not sure what happened in between periods, but the Rangers came out for the 2nd period with a major snarl and it proved to be a tonic for the Rangers’ woes.

First, Ryan Callahan scored. That was then followed up by a goal by Brandon Dubinsky. After that, Dubi had an encore and potted yet another goal. Three straight goals! Wow! The goals gave the Rangers the lead that they would not relinquish. The Rangers were physical, nasty, and it let to some nice old-time hockey. Sean Avery squared off with Josh Georges in a spirited battle. After that there was almost a 5 on 5 skirmish which led to Wade Redden squaring off with Benoit Pouliot. To me this showed that the boys in blue were “all for one and one for all”. That, I think, is something Rangers fans have been waiting for: team unity! I liked what I saw and I also believe there are points in a season that ignite or bring a team together. This might be one of those points! At least… let’s hope so.

Heading into the 3rd period, Ryan Callahan scored on a PP (nice to see that, even if it had to be reviewed a little after the fact). Marian Gaborik then broke out of his “goal slump” by one-timing a beautiful pass from an unselfish Brandon Dubinsky. Dubi could have shot the puck to score the hat-trick, but he opted for the pass and it was a nice gesture that had a nice result. I give Dubinsky all the credit on that one. Chris Drury then finished off the scoring for the Rangers with a late goal to make the final score, 6-2. A much needed W and 2 big points in the standings for the Rangers.

Lastly, don’t read too much into the Avery/Tortorella exchange after Avery’s second penalty. Sure, it lead to a goal by Montreal… but a little verbal barrage never hurt anyone- even if it’s with your head coach. A nice win tonight and hopefully they can use this type of game as a rallying point in their season. Over and out!

Rangers Shutout in Shootout

2010-01-12T22:41:00.003-05:00

I just got back from a friend’s house after watching the Rangers lose 1-0 in a shoot-out to the hated New Jersey Devils at MSG. What I witnessed was a classic goaltenders duel between two of the finest in hockey today.

Marty Brodeur out-dueled Henrik Lundqvist by stopping 51 total shots and 4 in the shootout. Lundqvist had quite the game himself by turning away 45 shots and 3 in the shootout, but it just wasn’t enough to get the 2 points. The final shooter in the shootout, Patrik Elias, nailed Lundqvist with a clean shot over the shoulder to seal the victory for the Devils. Both teams had their chances in this one, but sadly for Rangers fans- Marty wins the day.

I was happy to see that the Rangers were able to compete and play hard against one of the elite teams in the NHL. At least the Rangers salvaged a point and they proved for one night that they are capable of playing at a high level. I do realize that goal scoring is still the Rangers' Achilles Heel (proved again in the shootout) and needs to be fixed, but their record in the last 13 is damn good. In the last 13 contests the Rangers acquired 20 of a possible 26 points- can’t do much better than that!

How about the Alex Burrows and Stephane Auger controversy? All I can say is that if it’s true, then the NHL has a big problem. If not, it will just go away fast. In my day referees were mostly respectful of the players and the game. I will say this though... some thought they were the show- instead of the players.

Lastly, one more topic. My Quinnipiac Bobcats have sort of hit rock bottom after a blazing start in the ECAC. After getting 7 wins to start the season they have now lost 6 in a row in the ECAC. Struggling? Yes. Down and out? No. It’s time for the players to dig down deep and play themselves out of this funk. What other choice do they have? Over and out!

Avery Leads the Way

2010-01-07T13:29:00.005-05:00

Sean Avery was in classic form last night at MSG where the New York Rangers defeated the Minneso... er, Dallas Stars, by a score of 5-2. Avery scored and assisted on 3 other goals, got in Marty Turco's face (as well as everyone else), and he really had the Dallas Stars' attention last night. Remember- this is the team that signed Sean Avery to a 4-year, 15.5 million dollar deal and when things went wrong, they blamed it all on Sean. Give me a break! Luckily for Rangers fans, he ended up back in Ranger blue and now the Stars have no one else to blame but themselves. Like I always have maintained, Sean Avery could play for my team any day, any week, any time.

Getting back to the game... The Rangers found themselves down early on a fluky goal by Brad Richards. I was thinking to myself, "Here we go again". Luckily for the Rangers, Sean Avery responded with a goal on a slap shot that beat Marty Turco on the shortside. There was a nice pass by Matt Gilroy to set up Avery’s goal, by the way. Later in the period Sean Avery’s passing attempt found Marian Gaborik (who yet again showed he has the fastest gun in the East) who made a nice forehand to backhand move that defied logic. I’ve played and followed hockey for a long time and I am thoroughly convinced that Marian Gaborik has the fastest and quickest hands that I have ever seen.

Heading into the second period the Stars managed to fluke yet another goal off of a Rangers stick (that was held by Chris Drury) as Jere Lehtinen got credit for the goal. Ales Kotalik (believe it or not) blasted one past Turco’s short side yet again after a nice feed by Sean Avery to give the Blueshirts a 3-2 lead with one period to go.

In the third period Avery managed to pull off a magical spin move off the left boards that allowed him to find a hard charging Chris Drury for a nice empty-net deflection. See what happens when you go hard to the net? The Rangers then held on to a 4-2 lead and Ryan Callahan finished off the scoring with an empty net goal making the final score 5-2 in favor of the Rangers. The win gave the Rangers their 2nd in a row at home (Wow! Really?) and a big 2 points in the standings. Overall it was a very good night for the Rangers: Lundqvist was solid, the D was strong, the effort was there, and Sean Avery was clicking on all cylinders. With a record of 7-1-2 in their last 10, have the Rangers finally found some consistency? Who knows. One thing that is for sure is that if you play smart, hard, and give everything that you got- the results usually fall in your favor. The proof is in the pudding, there’s no fooling anyone.

Well, next up for the Blueshirts is a tilt in Atlanta against the struggling Thrashers tonight. The Rangers find themselves in the midst of a playoff push and right now all points are as valuable as gold. Let’s hope that the Rangers can put together another solid effort and take one on the road. With reports being that Chad Johnson will make his first career NHL start, the Rangers will need to give it all they have to make things easier for their rookie net minder.

Lastly, I want to take the time to congratulate Team USA for winning the gold medal in the World Juniors Championship. They had a thrilling OT victory over Team Canada (who mounted a late, third period comeback). As you know, I am Canadian and I was cheering Canada all the way- but you have to appreciate and give credit where it’s due. Team USA, led by Rangers prospects Derek Stepan, Chris Kreider, and Ryan Borqoue, deserved the victory. No sour grapes from me. This win may get more fans in America to start watching and get into the great sport of hockey- because let’s face it, it is needed! Over and out!

By the way... check out this great post-game gem from the one and only Sean Avery.

The Playoff Push

2010-01-01T13:31:00.002-05:00

With the new year upon us, the New York Rangers have essentially reached that point of the season where the playoffs are the number one goal. After being totally embarrassed at MSG by the Philadelphia Flyers (in a game where the Flyers kicked sand in the Rangers faces) the boys in blue rebounded with a good win over the Carolina Hurricanes in Raleigh by a score of 2-1.

Yes, I said a “good” win. Not a great one as the Canes are cellar dwellers. I will give the boys credit though as they played with effort and inspiration on the road to take the win. I know some are wondering why the Rangers do this more so on the road than they do at MSG. I don’t know why, but if you have the answer… then please let me know!

The Rangers are basically now at the half-way point. 40 games, 19-17-4, 42 points, and 8th place in the Eastern Conference. The scary part is that only 7 points are separating 10 teams! That’s right… 10 teams! Ranging from 4th to 13th place the playoff push is on big time for the Rangers. I believe the biggest obstacle for the Rangers is themselves. When they play hard and with effort, you can live with the results- win or lose. When they don’t, then you get what you deserve. The Eastern Conference is jammed tight with playoff contenders, it should be fun to watch how it all ends up!

On a sad note, us in the hockey world send out our thoughts and prayers to OHA linesman, Kevin Brown. He is currently in serious condition after a skate blade slashed his throat while breaking up a fight. Get well soon. We’re thinking of you. Over and out!

Rangers Comeback Falls Short

2009-12-27T11:13:00.003-05:00

Hey everyone, it’s Kotsy here back from the Christmas break. I hope you all had a good holiday and enjoyed our special guest blogger.

Well, so much for that Rangers winning streak! The New York Islanders put an end to that with a 3-2, OT win over the Boys in Blue on Saturday night. Where do I start with this one? A nice, furious comeback by the Rangers, which was led by Brandon Dubinsky and his 2 goals in the 3rd period, allowed the game to even get to the OT period. His second goal was scored while Lundqvist was pulled from his net for a 6th attacker. Considering the Rangers were down 2-0 heading into the 3rd period, it was nice to see the Rangers show some fight and dominate the Islanders for most of the 3rd period. I was thinking, “Where was this effort in the first 2 periods?”. This lack of effort was what put the Rangers in the precarious comeback scenario to begin with! Sorry, you have to be more intense and involved early on.

Anyways, with the momentum on the Rangers side heading into the OT- I’m sure the whole building thought the Rangers would prevail. Whoops! It didn’t happen. Kyle Okposo challenged the Rangers by going on what started as a 1 on 3 and ended up being a game winning deflected shot from 45 feet out. Yes, it hit Marc Staal’s skate and changed direction and clanged off of the post and in. A bit of a fluky goal? Call it what you want, but the Rangers have got to find the right formula for winning at home. This simply cannot continue if the Rangers wish to be successful. Losing precious points hurts. But to be positive, they found a way to get a point when it looked like they wouldn’t get one at all.

Wednesday the Flyers come into town. Let’s hope the Rangers can straighten out this dismal home record and start winning at MSG. It’s your house, protect it! Over and out!

Spreading the Christmas Cheer!

2009-12-23T21:36:00.005-05:00

Hey there, guest blogger here filling in for Kotsy as he enjoys the Holidays...

Another nice win for the Rangers tonight! 4 in a row? Wow, unbelievable! It's nice to see a streak finally put together by the Blueshirts. Let's all hope that they can keep this going after the short Christmas break. And boy, oh boy- isn't it great that we won tonight? I, for one, will be resting much easier knowing that Chris Drury's Christmas will most definitely not be ruined this year (To be fair, he's playing great since Torts called the veterans out).

I would just like to talk briefly about the holidays. A nice time of the year which consists of spending time with the family, giving, receiving, and just having an all-around good time. Santa Claus is getting ready for his trip around the world to deliver amazing gifts to those who have been nice and coal to those who have been naughty. And, oh boy... are there those on the Rangers who have been naughty...

I hate to continue to beat up on this "dead horse" that Kotsy has mentioned in previous posts, but I would hope that Santa has some nice lumps of coal ready for certain individuals on the Rangers blueline. Michal Roszival and Wade Redden (check out the rare picture of Redden and his twin brother to the right) have certainly been naughty since they received their contracts from the Slats Claus two off-seasons ago. I mean, really, how can anyone defend these guys? They don't provide any offense, they don't hit, they are slow, and have no confidence. Other than that, I guess they are doing a great job! I'm working on compiling a soundtrack (available this upcoming off-season) of the various sounds they make while getting destroyed by their opponents. Beautiful sounds, I tell ya. It sounds almost as good as the backboard sounds from the numerous wide slapshots by Alice Kotareek.

But, to be fair, Slats has given us Rangers fans quite a nice gift this past off-season: Marian Gaborik. What is there to really say? This guy just gets the job done. He's just a pure scorer, sniper, or whatever you wish to call him. For once, a lucrative contract handed out to a FA seems to have paid off for the Rangers. It's a scary, scary thought to think of where this team would be had Montreal not traded with us for Scotty Gomez. Yikes! And, as usual, Henrik Lundqvist has been a pleasant gift for the Rangers. The guy truly is amazing and it showed just how important he is when he wasn't on the top of his game- the team struggled mightily. Does he give up softies? Yes. Does he have a weak high glove hand? Yes. But without this guy, we might have John Tavares right now.

Before I bid my farewell, here's something (albeit silly) for us to all enjoy. A nice little video of all your favorite Rangers: http://elfyourself.jibjab.com/view/O0zpIybBAtefw3dY

Happy holidays, everyone. Stay safe. And most importantly... LET'S-GO-RAN-GERS!

-- Anonymous Guest Blogger

The Math Doesn't Add Up

2009-12-15T19:01:00.003-05:00

48 shots, 2 goals, and another loss (although it was in a shoot out) for the New York Rangers. I hate to beat a dead horse here, but I’m going to anyways. I’ve heard it from all angles now, “Get rid of Slats”, “Fire Torts”, “Lundqvist needs to play better”, “Get rid of the big salaries”, etc. one can debate and argue about all of the above. There’s no question about it. I’ve got absolutely no problem hearing an listening to passionate, hardcore Rangers fans. It’s your inherit right to assess and gripe about your beloved team.

Now, when I say I’m gonna beat a dead horse- here it is. It’s going to sound much like my previous blog entry! Scoring is a state of mind. To score, you have to be relentless and bear down with all you can- period. I did not see this last night and I have not seen it in quite a while. It’s ridiculous to lay blame at management’s feet. Management doesn’t put on a jockstrap, skate, or shoot. More importantly, management does not score for you. We can debate the players that have been brought in forever (and I know you all will) but how’s this? 88 goals for, 96 goals against. Not very good!

You can do the math anyway that you wish and it still stays the same. This, again, is a players only problem that was created by players and only players can solve it! With back-to-back games coming up against the rival Islanders, it’s critical that the Rangers find that elusive scoring touch that has yet again gone missing in action. If not, well, you know…

Sorry if I bored you with this one, but it truly fits (again). 48 shots and only 2 goals? Ugh! Over and out!

Can you say "Frustrating"?

2009-12-07T21:26:00.004-05:00

After a good road win in Buffalo against a stubborn defensive Sabres squad, the Rangers came home in less than 24 hours to take on the Detroit Red Wings. The Rangers were hoping to make it 2 in a row and get headed in the right direction. Unfortauntely for the Rangers and their fans- the boys in blue found a way to let victory slip through their hands with a 3-1 loss.

The Rangers went 0-3 on the PP in the third period which proved costly as Henrik Lundqvist let in a soft goal with just over 2 minutes to play. The goal ended what I would call a very frustrating game for the players, coaches, and fans. Did the Rangers deserve better? Probably. But when things break down and scoring is scarce- little mistakes become big ones. Those who want to lay the blame on the King, have at it. Yes, he has not played up to his standards. But I ask- where would this team be without Lundqvist? This team has forgotten how to score and the pressure on Hank is 10 times what it should be. That alone makes it frustrating for all involved.

I can understand not scoring goals against Ryan Miller, but not scoring against Jimmy Howard? Who is he? You have got to be kidding me! It seems like a broken record for the Blueshirts that has continued on from years past. The lack of scoring is so evident now that I had to take a good look at the stats for the Rangers squad. Gaborik is obviously a fantastic scoring machine, as we all know. However, if you look at the players after him and his 21 goals- boy does it sink like the Titanic! The next 5 leaders goal totals are 6, 6, 5, 5, and 5. Not good! Way too big of a discrepancy from the top to the next 5. Coach John Tortorella has tried every coaching trick in the book. Juggling lines, benchings, sitting players out, giving players more ice time, putting players on the PP… and still nothing seems to work. I wonder sometimes how players can get to the NHL level and once they are there, they forget the basic fundamental of the game (scoring)!

With the Blackhawks coming up next on the road, the Rangers are in for another tough one. This is no time for the players to feel sorry for themselves. They made this mess and only they can get themselves out of it! What other choice do you, as a player, have?

As for my other team, the Quinnipiac Bobcats got sent back to Earth this weekend with 2 straight losses (7-4 to Yale and 2-1 to Brown) and have fallen to #7 in the country. They have no excuses because in reality, they just got outworked by both teams. If you don’t put in the effort and energy, you will lose. It’s fairly simple. I still believe in this team and I hope they learned a big lesson with these losses. Over and out!

A .500 Hockey Club

2009-12-01T13:16:00.003-05:00

Well folks, after a 7-1-0 start the New York Rangers are now a .500 hockey club. With a 5-2 loss at home to the defending Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins, the Blueshirts record now stands are a very average 13-13-1. How could this happen?

When this year’s version of the New York Rangers broke camp there was much anticipation and excitement with new additions and youth being injected into the lineup. I, for one, have to admit that I was drinking the Kool-Aid- big time! Why wouldn’t I? It was obvious to me that the talent level had been increased over the past few years. For anyone to not see that, well… that would be moronic! However, what has unfolded since then has Rangers fans, Rangers brass, and me scratching all of our collective heads. I think we can all point fingers at certain weaknesses that the Rangers have (and there are many). However, I truly believe that 2 areas have hurt this team the most.

First, when you don’t score goals on a consistent basis, you have to be able to tighten things up play-wise to be successful. By that I mean you have to play tough, grind-it-out, physical hockey. Oh yeah, smart hockey would help too! Every shift in a hockey game there’s a right move and a wrong move to make. It’s that simple. You, as a player, have a choice to make and the move that you make can either help or hurt the team. Right now the wrong moves are being made more often than the right ones. That comes down to just being intelligent enough to understand the game. Right now, that’s not happening for the Rangers. No excuses.

Secondly, the players themselves have lots of blame to take. We can argue back and forth about who’s a first liner or who’s a fourth liner (which is a common gripe by Rangers fans), that’s all fine and dandy. However, the real problem is a pattern of under-performing that continues to haunt the Rangers. Too many players have simply not lived up to their expectations and billings. It’s one thing to talk about effort and intangibles, but the reality is that stuff is just a way of sugarcoating the under performance or underachieving of a player. Outside of Marian Gaborik and Vinny Prospal up front- can anyone really look in the mirror and say to themselves that they have played to their potential? The same goes for the backline. Taking the rookies out of the argument, of course. Can even the "King" himself say that he’s played up to his potential? I think not. It doesn’t matter what style of play you are asked to master (Tortorella’s or Renney’s). You, as a player, must execute and that my friends is what it all comes down to! The Rangers have simply not been able to execute, play smart, or play tough/physical defensive hockey when called upon. I could go on about other problems, but these to me are the biggest ones!

Now, in other NHL news… I see that Alex Ovechkin has done it again. More reckless play and dirty hockey. Last night he issued a knee-on-knee collision with Carolina Hurricanes player, Tim Gleason. I’ve said in the past that Ovechkin’s the best individual skilled player in the NHL- there’s no doubt! I’ve also said that he’s right at the top when it comes to cheap shots and dirty play. You think Colin Campbell will finally place Ovechkin here he belongs in the “repeat offender” category? Or will the NHL continue to cover their eyes and continue to allow his actions to be non-issues? Show some guts and do the right thing here NHL!

Lastly, the Quinnipiac Bobcats are now ranked number 4 in the nation after a great come from behind overtime victory against the U-Mass Minutemen. Next on the schedule for the Bobcats are battles with Yale and Brown this upcoming Friday and Saturday. Keep it rolling boys!

Rangers Bust Out!

2009-11-24T12:40:00.003-05:00

I almost had to slap myself to see if I was dreaming when the New York Rangers scored 4 goals in the 2nd period (3 in just over a minutes time). The goal explosion led to a 7-4 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday night at MSG. It certainly took everybody by surprise, especially since the Rangers have struggled to find the net lately. I don’t give a damn what others might say.

The Rangers needed this win in a huge way. When the Blueshirts fell behind 2-0 in the 1st period things were looking a bit grim. This is where I tip my hat to Coach John Tortorella for taking a time-out! At first, I thought a major blasting was about to happen, but that did not occur. Torts came out and kept it real calm and spread encouragement instead of fire. Good job, Torts! From there, Marian Gaborik went to work and the rest of the Rangers followed in turn. Gaborik, Anisimov, and a beautiful solo rush by Del Zotto gave the Rangers a lead that they would never relinquish.

At this point, I was really impressed with how the Rangers had rebounded from a 2 goal deficit to grab the lead. It’s not easy on any day in the NHL, let alone when you have been struggling to find scoring from anybody (other than Gaborik and Prospal). In the 2nd period, the boys in blue went wild. Avery scored twice and Gaborik picked up his 2nd goal in a flash to give the Rangers a much larger, 6-2 lead. Matt Gilroy then made it 7-2 for the Rangers on a nice breakaway move. That’s right, a breakaway from a d-man- it was nice to see! The Jackets scored a few more to make it look good, but really this game was more than over.

A couple of things that should not go unnoticed… Aaron Voros gets a lot of criticism by many Rangers fans and I in the past have been one. This year, he’s done everything for the team that you could ask for. He answered the big hits on Marc Staal by taking on Jared Boll when the game was out of reach for the Blue Jackets. I like that. It shows team spirit and to tell you the truth, he did very well in the fight against a rather tough opponent. Voros is what he is. But one thing’s for sure, he’s a team player (more Rangers players could learn from him). The other is Henrik Lundqvist once again gets run over by Rick Nash and all you do is grab a hold of him? How about throwing him to the ice (like teams do to the Rangers)? Or how about taking a 5 minute major to get a point across that it’s not acceptable and that it has to stop? Lundqvist needs to be treated like a fine piece of art. No one and I mean no one should even get close to him without paying for it.

There, I vented a bit but it needed to be said! Now on to the Quinnipiac Bobcats (Now ranked #9 in the country). They won 2 games over this past weekend at Colgate and Cornell (5-3 and 3-2, respectively). I believe this team has the goods this year and they are making believers with each game that they play. Good job fellas and keep it rolling! Over and out!

Rangers Can't Bottle Caps, Lose 4-2

2009-11-18T15:55:00.005-05:00

It seems like we’ve been here before, haven’t we? The New York Rangers dropped to 11-9-1 with a 4-2 defeat at the hands of the Washington Capitals last night at MSG. I’m not going to go over the game in much detail, but there is one thing that bothers me about this contest. I can accept losing the right way. What I can’t accept, at all, is losing the wrong way.

Last night’s game came down to a terrible pinch-in with just under 5 minutes to go in the 3rd period during a 2-2- tie. The bad pinch was created by defenseman Wade Redden and what ensued was the go-ahead goal by the once bloodied Matt Bradley, of all people. Sorry, but this was a dumb decision by Wade Redden. You have to play it safe in a situation like that. There’s no excuse.

Another thing that I was kind of shocked about was that Matt Bradley actually outskated Matt Gilroy down the ice to roof it over Lundqvist’s shoulder. In my opinion, this game should have went to OT and possibly another shoot-out. Unfortunately for the Rangers and their fans- valuable points were denied. Now the Rangers find themselves struggling to stay afloat at the .500 mark. The other teams in the Eastern Conference continue to win on a regular basis and with games in hand over the Rangers, things are getting tight. To beat a dead horse, the players need to take it upon themselves and be responsible for their own play. It can’t be just Gaborik night after night (which it has been for a while now). I still believe the talent is there, the question is will the talent live up to the expectations? Let’s hope so. Over and out!

*Just a side note, I will be away this weekend to do the color commentary on the radio for the Quinnipiac Bobcats Men’s Hockey Team (who are now ranked 13th in the country). They are playing 2 road games at Colgate and Cornell with the man himself, Bill Schweizer calling the play. Feel free to check them out!

Link: http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x981.xml

Enough is Enough!

2009-11-09T21:44:00.003-05:00

The New York Rangers have a few days to rest up after a not so successful Western Conference swing through Canada (1-2-0). The final game of the road trip proved much more damaging than Rangers fans could have imagined. News that Brandon Dubinsky will be out for around 6 weeks with an apparent broken bone in his right hand surfaced after the game. The injury was sustained after blocking a shot in the game against Calgary. Chris Drury was also KO’d in the same game by a hit from Curtis Glencross (Who has recently been suspended 3 games) early on in the contest. Drury has not yet been ruled out for this upcoming Thursday’s contest- there is word that he may be able to give it a go. Here is the perfect point where I might as well vent about how I feel about the state of the Rangers…

It’s time for the players to understand that this is a team and these are your teammates that are getting hit! The Drury situation really bothers me. The hit by Glencross was cheap and nasty- period. The hit was very early in the game and there was about 59 minutes or so of hockey left to be played. Yet, there was no response by the Rangers as a team. Sorry, but Glencross needed to be dealt with sometime before the game ended. The Rangers find themselves being the target of most of the big hits, rather than being the ones that are dishing them out. It’s time for a pack mentality to set in for the Rangers and they have to stick up for one another. If not, this kind of thing will happen again and again.

Now, on to the other part of the problem: The NHL’s rules. The NHL thought it would be neat to take away obstruction-type plays and place the instigator penalty for those who felt like taking the law into their own hands. I wonder if the NHL has taken a hard look at how common it has become for hits from behind and head shots since they tried to “clean up” the game. More and more players are getting plastered all over the ice and I think I have a few thoughts that might make them re-think a few of their cherished revisions.

First off, obstruction. What a joke that has been. It hasn’t opened up the game or given the NHL that huge explosion of offense that it was supposed to create. What it has done has gotten the players in trouble with hits from behind at high speeds. In my day, we would shield a player just enough so that kind of play rarely happened. I’m not saying reach and extend your stick to obstruct, what I’m saying is to let the players slow down an opposing player who is coming at a high speed and chasing a defenseman/forward for the puck. I don’t recall as many hits from behind in the “good old days” as there are in today’s NHL.

As for the headhunting that is surfacing, that has a lot to do with the lack of respect that the players have today. There is no payback with the instigator rules in effect and the huge fines that hit the players and organizations in the pocket. I would definitely think twice if I had to pay a huge fine and possibly be suspended. We used to police our game by ourselves back when I played and believe me, if you had the balls (which some did) all hell would break loose! Overall though, headhunting was not quite as evident as it is today because there is no payback. Therefore, there is no respect amongst your peers. The NHL has had a lot to do with all these cheap shots and injuries that have been occurring. Constantly trying to “improve” the game is noble and I’m all for change when it works out the right way. But it takes a big man to admit when they are wrong. Do you think the NHL ever will? Enough is enough! Over and out!

Rangers Bounce Back

2009-11-06T11:22:00.004-05:00

In the second game of a 3-game Western Conference swing, the New York Rangers bounced back with a 4-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers. After dropping a 4-1 tilt in Vancouver to open the road trip (a game, by the way, that was tied 1-1 with 10 minutes to go), the boys in Blue came up with a great team effort with Steve Valiquette tending the net.

A couple of things that I took from this game... first, the PP. What a weapon it can be when it's firing on all cylinders. With 3 goals coming by the way of the PP courtesy of Ryan Callahan, Ales Kotalik, and (guess who?) Marian Gaborik- I think it proves my point. Also, it was nice to see Christopher Higgins pop another goal. I had him penciled in for 20-25 goals this year and boy we all know that the Rangers need to find some scoring to go along with Gaborik. It was also important to see Valiquette give Lundqvist a rest and come up large with a win. Good job! It's not easy being a back-up to a goaltender who plays 80% of the games.

On the negative side, boy I wish the Rangers had more team grit. I just don't understand why is it that most teams out hit and play more physically than the Rangers. “Soft” is a word that is used too often, but in this case? Well... Even coach John Tortorella wants to see this team be "harder" to play against (Harder is a nice way to say it).

Oh well, nice bounce back win for the Rangers. Now it's off to Calgary where the Rangers are going to have to pick it up another notch or two to beat the Flames. Hopefully the Blueshirts can end this western road trip in style. Over and out!

Rangers Blank Bruins

2009-11-01T17:48:00.004-05:00

Well, that's more like it! The Rangers were all healthy and back to their usual selves. The King played like The King and Marion Gaborik took care of the only goal scored as the New York Rangers defeated the Boston Bruins in a Sunday matinee at the Garden. The timing of this shutout for Lundqvist was perfect considering the 50th anniversary of the goalie mask being introduced by Jacques Plante. The Rangers, as a team, really needed this one!

After dropping two in a row to a couple of bottom feeders (Minnesota Wild, New York Islanders), the Rangers played with enough effort to get the job done. They played with something that was clearly lacking in the previous games. With Marion Gaborik, Sean Avery, and Chris Higgins back- the Rangers had the full lineup intact. What was clear to me was that the Rangers gave as good as they got in the hitting department and it was about time! I mean, really, getting physically manhandled by the Islanders and the Wild was embarrassing. Today was definitely different and it showed. I mean, really, how much effort does it take to hit someone? Not too much, but I digress...

It was very nice to have Gaborik back from his injury today. Gaborik's goal was typical Gaborik. A quick release and it's in the back of the net. He gave no chance for Tim Thomas to set up. Also the great penalty killing today by the Rangers was to be applauded. The Rangers killed off all 5 PP's today that the Bruins had. The Rangers also needed a game like this from Henrik Lundqvist and he most certainly delivered. Good job all around!

Now it's on to Vancouver and the West Coast for some late night hockey (for us East Coasters). Over and out!

Rangers Stop the Bleeding!

2009-10-26T22:24:00.005-04:00

After dropping 3 straight games (2 at home, 1 road OT loss) the New York Rangers put an end to the first mini-crisis of the season. The Rangers won 5-2 on Monday night against a good and fast Phoenix Coyotes team (coached by my former teammate, Dave Tippet). The Rangers came out with the energy that seemed to be lacking during the losing streak. Anisimov, Gaborik (PPG), Prospal, Gaborik (Again on the PP) all scored giving the Rangers a 4-0 lead midway through the 2nd period. Then- It happened.

The same problems that have plagued the Rangers in the previous losses crept in. The boys in blue stopped skating, forgot to play defense, and basically played lazy. Well, 2 quick goals by Phoenix (one short handed) turned what could have been a laugher into a serious battle. Not the way that you want to finish a 2nd period after being up by 4 goals! As this was happening, I turned to my son Cody and mentioned if the Coyotes get a PP, things could get even tighter. Well what do you know? To open the 3rd period that's exactly what happened. Dan Girardi got called for tripping and the Rangers faithful got that uneasy feeling. Fortunately, the penalty kill was excellent and the Rangers killed it off. Enver Lisin finally put this game away with a blast to make it 5-2 and the Rangers picked up a much needed victory.

It wasn't perfect, but a win is a win. There's lots of work to be done with this team, still. Neutral zone play and the defensive zone need to be addressed. I'm sure coach John Tortorella and his coaching staff see this. Trust me, it will be taken care of. You won't become a great team until you learn how to play in all 3 zones of the ice. In the offensive zone, it's easy to work hard. Especially when the goals are going in. It's the other 2 zones where it's easy to get lazy. Players must understand that!

Unfortunately this win was on a down note of sorts. Marian Gaborik left the game late in the 3rd period after flexing his knee/leg for a short while on the ice. Al Trautwig said during the broadcast that he saw Gaborik "limping" to the locker room. There is no definitive word yet on the status of Gaborik. Hopefully it's nothing major.

Also, on a sad note, my condolences go out to the "Big Whistle" Bill Chadwick's family. He truly was a big part of the Rangers history. A true legend. RIP, Bill.

**Quick Update thanks to Andrew Gross... Gaborik was NOT limping after emerging from the trainers room. He said whatever was sustained tonight was NOT related to either his hip or groin. Status still unknown for tomorrow's practice or the game on Wednesday against the Islanders. Either way, seems like some good news.

Reality Check

2009-10-19T22:07:00.003-04:00

It was probably something that the Rangers needed: a good thumping by a decent team. The San Jose Sharks came into MSG and started slowly at first, but in the end they gave the New York Rangers more than they could handle. You could almost smell this one coming after a win in Toronto where the Rangers were outshot and did not play all that spectacular.

The Rangers started out this game like most have started out this season. They had a nice early 2 goal lead thanks to goals by Chris Drury and Michael Del Zotto. But it all changed quickly and by the end of the 1st period things were tied up at 2 a piece. The only thing that really bothered me in the 1st period was Heatley’s goal. He had his head down with the puck at his skates and no one pounds him with a hit? You can’t stick check a player of Heatley’s stature and get away with it! Plus, as I said, he was prime for a bone crunching hit and no one took advantage of it! The Sharks proceeded to blow it wide open in the 2nd period with 3 more goals (5 straight counting their first 2). Sloppy play, penalties, and poor goaltending did the Rangers in tonight. The 3rd period was just basically going through the motions for both teams. The game was really over after the 2nd period.

My take on this thumping? It was bound to happen sooner or later. You can’t win them all. However, Torts will have to remind them that they are a team that still needs a lot of work. I’m pretty sure most fans did see this coming at some point and it came at a good time. There is no need to panic. The Rangers are a good hockey team- just not great yet!

The Devils are coming up next for the Blueshirts on Thursday. The Rangers will have to come out with a better effort against a hated divisional rival if they hope to get back on track. Over and out!

Winning is All That Matters!

2009-10-14T22:28:00.003-04:00

With wins over the Anaheim Ducks (3-0), Toronto Maple Leafs (7-2), and the Los Angeles Kings (4-2), the New York Rangers are proving to be a very versatile team early on in this season. The Rangers have been versatile in the sense that the boys in blue have won games while playing the full 60 minutes, won while taking some 2nd periods completely off, won after getting outplayed during the course of a game, etc. To me, these are all good signs. Signs that lead me to believe that something very good is brewing in Ranger Land.

I mean, how bad is it when we as fans start to worry about a period of bad play? Or a game in which the Rangers got outplayed and still end up victorious? Are we getting spoiled? I hope not. Of course we must always remember the “It’s early in the season” line and yadda, yadda, yadda. But you know what? The Rangers are winning and that’s all that matters!

Getting off subject a little bit here, but isn’t it time to get on board with Donald Brashear? Enough is enough! He’s a Ranger now and that is not going to change. Brashear has done his job so far and has done it well. The fans just have to get over the past and embrace “The Donald”. Colton Orr, much beloved by Rangers fans and by myself, is no longer here. It is time to get on board and accept the man who has one of the toughest jobs in all of sport- let alone hockey. That man is Donald Brashear and he is a Ranger! Over and out!

This Team is Different!

2009-10-08T23:35:00.003-04:00

The Rangers invaded the Washington Ovechkin’s arena- Oops! I mean, the Washington Capitals. For what was to be a great early season test to see how this Rangers team would fair against one of the best teams out there. To me, it’s not so much that the Rangers got the win by a score of 4-3, it’s more so about how they did it.

Starting off… Ryan Callahan. Would he play? Or would he not? Well Rangers fans, not only did he play- but he played his tail off and supplied the Rangers with a huge goal and an all-around outstanding performance. I’ve said it before and I’ll stay it again. Ryan Callahan will someday be “Captain Material”. You can take that to the bank! Next, was “The King”. Henrik Lundqvist totally gaffed on a dump in from near center ice by Nicklas Backstrom which ended up knotting up the game at 2. Shortly thereafter, this Rangers team rallied around their franchise goalie and Lundqvist himself came along for the ride. Lundqvist made many big saves down the stretch. Sure, the Capitals scored on a PP (Bad penalty by Voros) to take the 3-2 lead. I’m also sure there were many Rangers fans thinking, “Here we go again”. Well, that’s when it happened.

Something that Rangers fans have not seen from a Ranger team in years. A quick strike by Marian Gaborik tied up the game at 3-3 just 18 seconds later. A few minutes after that, Gaborik struck again off of a beautiful feed from Michael Del Zotto (Boy can this kid pass!) and the Rangers were now in front 4-3! What? A Comeback after facing adversity? You better believe it.

That’s the difference that I see so far with this Rangers squad. They do not sit back and lay down like dogs. They kept the pressure on the Caps and just continued to play their game. As a result, they were victorious in the hostile Washington arena. I saw a team tonight that cared for each other out there. They bailed out their star goalie by making sure the Voros penalty’s PP goal would not be the lasting impression of the night. That’s what the word “team” means and this win proves that. This Rangers squad is different in more ways than one. You have to like what you see so far! Over and out!

Three Games In...

2009-10-05T22:03:00.003-04:00

Well, we are officially 3 games into the 2009-10 NHL regular season. The New York Rangers are currently sporting a 2-1-0 (4 pts) record... not bad. So far, so good!

The new style of play is very refreshing to see. This team will continue to be aggressive, exciting, and scary all at the same time. With the top line of Gaborik, Dubsinky, and Prospal- the Rangers now have a line that puts fear into the eyes of the opposition. Opposing teams will definitely have to account for them when they are playing the Rangers. If they don't, well, they will be in for a long night! Overall the forwards will be in a "go" mode and not be held back by an overbearing defensive style.

The new additions of Gilroy and Del Zotto (as well as the returning cast) have brought both some good moments and some scary ones in this early part of this season. Really though, how can you not like what the defensive youth brings to the team? There will be breakdowns, there will be lots of odd man rushes, but over time the Rangers will tighten it up on the defensive end (Torts will make sure of that).

One thing is for sure though: there will be no restraints put on the attacking offensive style that Coach Tortorella is trying to install. The real early test will come on Thursday night in Ovechkin Land. Can the Rangers seek a measure of revenge for last year's 7-game playoff exit at the hands of the Capitals? You'll have to tune in to see. Over and out!

No Better Place to Start!

2009-09-29T18:41:00.004-04:00

Friday, October 2nd in "Crosbyville". That's where the 2009-10 season starts for the New York Rangers. I can think of no better place to start than this. With all the hoopla and festive atmosphere that will be going on with the Penguins' banner raising, this game should give the Rangers a good idea as to where they stand, how far have they come, or how far they have to go.

The Rangers have made a ton of changes to the roster this year (11 new players in total). Starting up front there are 7 new faces with the biggest, of course, being Marian Gaborik. I'm not going to get into each player individually, but I do feel that this bunch will score. Let me repeat: they will score. As we all know that's something that the Rangers have seriously lacked in the last 2 seasons. It's a good mix of veterans as well as some youth injected along the way. They will attack, be faster, and they will be held accountable by coach Tortorella. You can bank on that!

The D will see a much needed injection of offensive-minded rookies with Del Zotto and Gilroy. These two will provide a little more offense from the backline than what we have seen over the previous years. I'm also looking to Marc Staal to have the breakout year that we all have been waiting for. He has it all- no question. This is the year to put it together and become "the man" on defense. Obviously if you have been reading the scribes, some players need to pick it up and get back to playing their game to their fullest. We all know who they are, no more exsuses. Just go out and play!

In the end, the Rangers will be a more exciting team to watch. It may take some time to figure each other out, but I feel that as the season progresses this team will get better. Yes, there will be some tough times. Especially with the attacking style that they will play. Will there be breakdowns defensively? Sure. But isn't that why you have arugably the best goaltender on Earth in Henrik Lundqvist? I, along with all Rangers fans, am eagerly anticipating the start in Pittsburgh. Remember though, you have to take the good with the bad!

Oh yeah.. make sure to check out the Pauly D blogtalk radio program on Monday nights at 8:30 PM EST. Yours truly has been known to join Pauly on a regular basis and talk Rangers hockey. What more can you want?

Link: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Pauly-D

So, Who's Staying?

2009-09-22T11:12:00.004-04:00

I know that there are two games left in the pre-season (both against the Ovechkins), but I have come to my conclusions of who should be in the starting lineup come October 2nd in Penguin-land. As a former NHL D-man, I will tackle the Rangers defense first. If Matt Gilroy and Michael Del Zotto haven’t impressed the Rangers faithful, then I don’t know what would. Matt Gilroy has speed, puck handling, and appears to be a finisher. You gotta like this guy’s game. It kind of reminds you of Brian Leetch when he jumps into the play offensively. What about that goal that he scored on the semi-break away against the Devils? Speed and hands… a deadly combo!

Now, I know this one might cause some of the Rangers pundits to scream, “he needs some more seasoning”. But, frankly, that’s a crock of… you fill in the rest. Michael Del Zotto’s performance has been one of a steady calmness. He looks very composed on the point during the PP (better than most) and is he not already the best passer the Rangers have on the D? Both players will have their ups and downs, but I believe that their positives outweigh the negatives. The final piece to the defense with the obvious 4 that are penciled in is Alexei Semenov. He’s exactly what Tortorella’s been looking for- a veteran presence. He’s big and physical and I think that he has played solid enough to win a job.

Now, for the skaters up front. You gotta be a little bit excited when you look at some of these youngsters. Anisimov, Grachev, and Lisin have all proved that they belong. Let’s take Artem Anisimov for instance. He’s got the size at 6’4”, some professional experience (Hartford), and when was the last time the Rangers fans were treated to highlight reel goals like he has scored? I think it was a guy that wore number 68. Next is Evgeny Grachev. The size is also there with him at 6’4”. The skill and offensive ability is just being touched with this guy. He is a good passer and will score goals, trust me on this. Enver Lisin- much like the aforementioned players also has some size at 6’2”. Do you see a pattern here? I’ll admit, I knew nothing of Lisin coming into camp. However, from what I have seen so far, he appears to have a knack of being in the right place at the right time around the net. Can you say, sniper type player? All in all, I think the Rangers will score this year and with the veteran additions the team has made. Gaborik (don’t worry, he’ll be okay), Higgins, Kotalik, and Prospal and it will make life easier for guys like Callahan, Drury, Avery, and Dubinsky. Some people may disagree with me, but this is how I see it and Tortorella does want an influx of youth!

Lastly, you have to like the fourth line combination of Boyle, Brashear, and Voros. They looked good together and have caused a lot of havoc when they played in the pre-season. One thing is for sure, they will come in handy against a team like Philly, wouldn’t they? Over and out!

Rangers Golf Classic

2009-09-11T16:32:00.005-04:00

I just got back from two wonderful days with the New York Rangers alumni in White Plains, NY. We held our annual members meeting at the Crowne Plaza Hotel and needless to say it was just awesome to be there! The players that were present, was basically a “Who’s Who” of former Rangers. Nick Fotiu, Ron Greschner, Andre Dore, Rod Gilbert, Eddie Mio, Pat Hickey, Ed Hospodar, Kelly Kisio, Dave Maloney, Brian Mullen, Brad Park, Pete Stemkowski, Steve Vickers, Gilles Villemure, and yours truly.

We discussed many things that were happening with the Rangers Alumni, treasurer’s report, updates, and the NHL Alumni itself. However, the best part of the night was the presence of Head Coach John Tortorella at the meeting to give us an update on this year’s New York Rangers team. Torts was just fantastic. He talked about everything- Gaborik, Brashear, who’s going to fill in the defense this year, what he want’s from his team, how the best players will play the most, etc. He didn’t shy away from some of our questions and he answered everyone. I was really taken by the admiration he has for the former Rangers and old time hockey players. John simply stated that we, who played before, played in an era that he called, “When hockey was hockey”. I was personally thankful for the recognition he gives for the past history of our great game and I think all of us in that room got a little bit of a boost from listening to John. What I also got from Tortorella’s talk was that this Rangers team will be in shape. They will be on the attack and he promised they will be ready to go on opening night in Pittsburgh.

The next day we played in the New York Rangers Golf Classic at the Westchester Golf and Country Club (My group and I finished in 2nd place, not too shabby). As usual, the Rangers spared no expense and the night was capped off with the Rangers Alumni honoring two of New York’s own- Nick Fotiu and Brian Mullen. Let me tell you, it went perfect! Sam Rosen mc’d the event and every player, past or present, took a bow. The best, however, was saved for Nicky and Brian. Both defied the odds and proved that if you want it bad enough, you can succeed. I have a special fondness for Nick Fotiu. He was a teammate of mine, a good friend, and better still- just a good person. Congratulations to both of the honorees, you earned it!

On a personal note, it was great to see some of my former teammates like Steve Vickers and Ron Greschner again. And, I can’t tell a lie, we did break curfew both nights. I guess we will have to pay the fine! Over and out!

Catching Up...

2009-08-28T16:18:00.003-04:00

I know I haven’t posted anything for almost 3 weeks now. The reason for that is that I’ve been busy doing some golf outings for charity. Anyways, I also didn’t find the hockey happenings to be that interesting. I’m all for the signing of Vinny Prospal. The price was right, the coach is familiar with him, and the length of the contract is short at 1 year. Nice pick-up, period. Obviously Vinny and Tortorella have had their moments together, both good and bad. Torts has put that aside and knows what he’s getting- that’s all that I need to know.

Other than that, what’s new? The Dubinsky situation is status quo and rumors of Kessel, Heatley, and so on being acquired by the Rangers are floating around like the constant beating of a drum. I’ll believe these rumors when they happen, not before. On to a better subject, who will step into the 5th and 6th and possibly 7th spot on the roster as a defenseman? Unless a trade or two happens, it looks like the top 4 are solidified with Staal, Girardi, Redden, and Rozsival. That means there is job opportunities for a few. The early leader appears to be Matt Gilroy, who I believe is penciled in already because of the contract that he signed (2 years, 3.5 million, 1-way contract). So now we’re down to 2 spots. Will a youngster like Michael Del Zotto be ready? Or will it be Corey Potter’s time? What about Sanguinetti… is he seasoned enough yet? These are some of the names, but you never know, do you? Maybe someone else will stand out in camp and in pre-season. The jobs are there, all a player has to do is sieze the moment and take it. I look forward to this as a former d-man in watching who jumps out and takes the bull by the horns and earns a spot on an NHL roster.

Okay, I said earlier that the news around the NHL is sort of bland or rehashed day after day. So here I go! The Dany Heatley story is getting beyond boring. It kind of reminds me a little of Mats Sundin from last season. Remember that crap? Anyways, here’s my take on it... Heatley is obviously disgruntled in Ottawa. He asked for a trade and it hasn’t happened yet. If he wants out so badly, why doesn’t he just not show up for camp? Force the issue. Heatley has a value and many teams would like his services. GM Bryan Murray is asking a king's ransom for a disgruntled player and no one has stepped up their offers to his liking. Money is not the problem with Heatley- he’s made a fortune. So take the steps you need to take or just stay where you are. Over and out!

Rangers Made the Right Call

2009-08-09T15:32:00.002-04:00

Alright Rangers fans, I know that I'm a little late with my latest post, but now I feel that we have had the time to digest Nik Zherdev's talent and skills being shown the door by Glen Sather. I believe 100% that it was the right move and I commend Glen on making this tough decision. When you look at Zherdev's numbers, you say to yourself, "How could this happen"? Well, to me, it's really simple. This is the NHL where you have to show up every night! Not when you feel like it. Zherdev, unfortunately, fell into that category and it was almost like the second coming of Alexei Kovalev (remember him)? Some nights Zherdev's skating, stickhandling, and overall talent was amazing to witness. On other nights, he would totally disappear. Sorry, that just doesn't cut it with me. Look at Ryan Callahan, for example... while he's not perfect night after night, he will give you his all and that is all about having heart. Nik Zherdev lacked in this department. It's one thing to have the world by the tail, but if you don't have the heart then you just waste the talent. It's sad, but true! The Rangers made the right call on him.

Now, onto Brandon Dubinsky and his rather puzzling situation. I honestly haven't a clue what's going on there. Should be he signed by now? Yes! Is there something holding this signing back? A potential trade or new addition? Obviously center is a weak spot for the Rangers so it's going to be very interesting to see how this ends. Stay tuned!

On to other happenings in the NHL... what were the Chicago Blackhawks thinking when they signed Marian Hossa to that ridiculous contract? Was there a doctor in the house? Just asking... The Dany Heatley story is starting to bore me as well as many other hockey fans. Time to get this situation straightened out once and for all... Last but not least, Theo Fleury. Wow! When's the last time you heard his name? Theo has made some rumblings about playing again in the NHL. Crazy? Probably. But you never know. Over and out!

What's Your Opinion?

2009-07-23T13:39:00.003-04:00

Things have settled down a bit in Rangerland after what I think most would call a "major" overhaul of the roster. I still think that Glen Sather has one more trick up his sleeve before training camp starts. Also, you have the pending outcomes of the Brandon Dubinsky and Nikolai Zherdev contract negotiations/arbitration. Aside from those three situations, there's not much else left to do. So what I want from you die-hard Rangers fans is your opinion and thoughts on all of the moves that were made, how the roster looks, who will make the jump to the big club, etc. I will respond to any and all opinions and comments. Don't be afraid to be brutally honest with your thoughts!

Lastly, I will be playing in the Ron Greschner Foundation's 8th annual golf classic on Monday, July 27th at the Edgewood country club. This is a great event and all proceeds go towards autism research, awareness, and assistance. If you would like to see more information on this event, please check out: www.rongreschnerfoundation.com. Over and out!

Alaska You Say? Fantastic!

2009-07-12T20:46:00.004-04:00

I just got back from Anchorage, Alaska after attending the Scotty Gomez Foundation dinner/auction event and let me tell you: it was a fantastic experience. The people of Anchorage should be very proud of the hospitality that they showed towards me and the other guests. I personally want to thank Scott and his dad Carlos who invited me to come up and get a real taste of the Alaskan Way. It was truly enjoyable in every way possible. Myself, Ron Duguay, Ken Daneyko, and Ken’s friend E.J. Solimine flew up together and met some really good people. The list is too long, so I apologize for not naming them. For anyone who has never checked out Alaska, you should check it out and that's all I have to say about that! Oh, and by the way, yours truly managed to finish first in the golf tournament. How? Don't ask, but I think my foursome carried me!

As for the hockey front, I did get a chance to meet and chat with Scott Gomez, Chris Drury, Brandon Dubinsky, Aaron Voros, and the great Willie O'Ree. All were very personable and it was great to have the chance to talk with them. I see while I was away that the New York Rangers had made some noise with the signing of free agent winger, Ales Kotalik (formerly of the Buffalo Sabres and Edmonton Oilers). Nice signing. Good size - and skill to match. Dane Byers has re-upped again and I think it’s time for him to make a splash with the big club, it's time! On a little bit of a down note, Paul Mara has signed with Montreal. Boy, how much money do they have left? I have always liked Mara, he's a good solid d-man and a great team player. I guess it's time to turn a new leaf in Ranger land as this team will yet again look totally different from last year. Is there more changes to come? I think there is. But the who, when, and how is yet to be determined.

Lastly, one of the great characters of all-time in the NHL has passed away in Reggie Fleming. I watched Fleming growing up and he was one tough hombre. I have been fortunate to have heard many stories about Reggie from some of his Ranger teammates and they’ve always been good ones. My condolences goes out to his family and friends!

What's Next for the Blueshirts?

2009-07-06T20:32:00.003-04:00

A lot has gone on for the Rangers over the past week. Scott Gomez is no longer a Ranger (I gotta admit, this one shocked me) via a trade for Chris Higgins. The Rangers also signed super star winger Marian Gaborik (or is it Gab-break). There was also a very touchy addition/subtraction with Rangers fans in bringing in Donald Brashear to replace Colton Orr (now with Toronto).

After all the negative emotional reactions to “The Donald” wearing a Rangers jersey, what were the Rangers really to do? Whatever the reasons for not resigning Colton Orr, the bottom line is that they did not resign him and the Rangers needed to fill that spot on the roster. You can all hate on Brashear all that you want, but he is still a bonafide deterrent and the Blueshirts have filled that role with his signing. He will, however, have to win a lot of Rangers diehards over.

What’s going to happen to Callahan, Zherdev, and Dubinsky (the first two of which have filed for arbitration) as far as the contract negotiations. Who is going to step up and be counted on from the youngsters? Grachev? Anisimov? Or will it be someone else?

As far as defense goes, will the healthy stock of d-men in the minors and juniors finally bring the Rangers a jewel? In my opinion, I believe the center spot must be addressed. Also, I know I’m repeating myself from past posts… but a tough, stay at home d-man would be nice, wouldn’t it?

I also believe that GM Glen Sather is not done yet making deals. Could there be a trade on the horizon? Or maybe two? Slats has something up his sleeve, but what? I don’t know for sure, but stay tuned… something must be brewing.

On another note, yours truly has been invited to Alaska to attend the golf tournament put on by the Scotty Gomez Foundation (I believe there will be fishing as well). I want to thank Scott and his dad Carlos for extending this invite and I’m sure it will be a blast! I will have a full report when I get back (Leaving tomorrow, be back sometime this weekend)! In the meantime, check out the Scott Gomez Foundation website at: http://www.scottygomezfoundation.com/

Rangers Draft: It's a Guessing Game

2009-06-28T14:23:00.004-04:00

Well, Rangers Fans, the 2009 NHL Draft is over and the New York Rangers had a total of 7 picks. Starting with the 1st selection at number 19 overall, the Rangers went with Center, Chris Kreider. Kreider is a 6'2" 200 pounder from Andover High School. He's a big kid with good speed - in fact, he was rated as the best skater by all of the scouting reports. I like the pick, as the Rangers went with the size and skill factor over a player who might have been "ready" sooner. With Kreider, the Blueshirts might have to wait a few years. But, again, the size is the key to me.

With the 2nd round pick, 47th overall, the Rangers went with Center, Ethan Werek from the Kingston Frontenacs. From what I hear, he has good skills and can contribute offensively. Then, with the 3rd round pick, 80th overall, the Rangers selected Ryan Bourque. That's right, Ray Bourque's son. Don't know much about him, but if he's anywhere near his dad in ability and skill, he could be a good choice. He's a little undersized, but only time will tell if that's a problem or not! The Rangers then selected Roman Horak (another center) from the Czech Republic, followed by Scott Stajcer (a goaltender) from the Owen Sound of the OHL, Jr. league. All accounts point to him being a solid netminder who does everything by the book as a goaltender.

With the 6th round pick, the Rangers might have gotten themselves a steal with defenseman, Daniel Maggio of the Sudbury Wolves, OHL Jrs. Hey, the kid has good size at 6'3" and 200 Lbs. A knee injury held him back, but his upside is really good. Love the size once again! Finally, the Rangers last pick was Russian defenseman Mikhail Pashnin, a stalky 5'11", 190 pounder who was drafted No. 1 by the Russian Pro league in the KHL. If things don't work out in Russia, he will come to the NHL. A gamble? Sure. But a worthy one at that.

In other action during the draft, the Rangers also picked up Chad Johnson from the Pittsburgh Penguins (a former 2006, 4th round draft pick) in exchange for the Rangers 151st overall selection. Johnson has finished his college career and should be good "bench strength" at goaltender for the Rangers organization. They also made a trade with the Los Angeles Kings to acquire former 1st round selection, Brian Boyle. Boyle has tremendous size and there's still some hope for him yet.

How would I rate this draft? I'd give it a B to B+. I know many fans might disagree with me, but honestly if you are not picking at the top of the draft, you're not going to find instant NHLers at the 19th pick. Sorry, doesn't happen that way. What the Blueshirts got is good potential for the years ahead and patience is the key. Lastly, about the draft, does anyone really know how things turn out with all of these prospects? It's a guessing game at best! Over and out!

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Looks like the majority of you would like to keep Antropov next season, but from the preliminary reports - it's not looking good. Some quotes by GM Glen Sather over the weekend suggest that his agent is making outrageous offers. Anyways, check out the new poll question involving newly acquired Ranger, Brian Boyle.

The NHL Awards, Shake Gate, and Random Thoughts

2009-06-20T15:22:00.006-04:00

Well, the NHL Awards were handed out on June 18 in Las Vegas and I really can't argue much with the results. Well, maybe one. That one would be Alexander Ovechkin over Evgeni Malkin for the Hart Trophy (The love affair continues for Ovechkin). Overall though, I think they got it all right.

Why is Kris Draper whining still over Sidney Crosby's so called "Shake Gate" snub? Stop it, Kris. You look like the bad guy now and just get over it. Every TV station in the world was trying to get a live interview with the Penguins captain and he obliged. If the Wings couldn't wait, that was their choice.

The NHL Draft is coming up real fast and to me the lesser known names (see previous blog) are the interesting stories. Not Tavares, nor Hedman. There is plenty of good, young talent in the "lesser knowns", but not much fan fare compared to the top 3 or 5 players in the draft. I only hope that the Rangers can pluck a stud with their pick... they are over due!

Why is it that billionaire, that's right... billionaire like Jim Balsille can't find a way to purchase an NHL Hockey team? He's got the money, is that not a good thing in today's economic crisis? You would think that the NHL would love to have an owner like Balsille in their league, but obviously there's a problem between Bettman and Balsille. I shake my head over this one!

Free agency, anyone? I am going to predict that the money previously thrown around over the last few years will not be there this time. It doesn't make sense to pay big dollars for so little, those are just my thoughts.

Why is the NHL still trying to get rid of fighting? Fights still get the fans out of their seats and there is no denying that. It's part of the game. Always has been, always will be!

And with the 19th pick in the 2009 NHL Draft, the New York Rangers select... Over and out!

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Yours truly will be talking hockey with The Mouth on WUSB 90.1 FM on Tuesday, June 23rd between 9 AM and 11 AM on The Nick Show. Check it out! It should be a blast! For more information you can check out The Mouth's post on this at his blog: http://www.rangercrisis.com/2009/06/mouth-and-ex-ranger-chris-kotsopoulos.html

Looks like the majority of the Rangers fans think that we should not pursue Marian Gaborik according to the last poll. Well, check out the new one dealing with Nik Antropov!

The NHL and its Draft!

2009-06-16T13:41:00.003-04:00

Now that the Pittsburgh Penguins have been crowned the 2009 Stanley Cup Champions, we can move on to more important topics like the NHL draft. A good friend of mine who I met over the last few years at Café 31 before Rangers games, Joe Tucciarone (who is a die hard Rangers fan), has pain stakingly dissected and written about the upcoming draft. His work on it is very good and insightful. So, here it is... check it out and leave some feedback!

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Well it’s just about that time of year again. The Stanley Cup playoffs are over, and the new Champion Pittsburgh Penguins have been crowned. It’s the time of season that fans start to wonder what their respective team is going to do next season to better their clubs. Free agency looms approximately 15 days away, but before it does all 30 NHL teams will meet in Montreal for the 2009 NHL Entry draft. The NHL in past seasons has done a much better job in shedding light on the new draft eligibles. This year was no different. The NHL network did a tremendous job in airing the World Jrs and the Memorial Cup. Also Fox sports have done a great job airing collegiate hockey in the past couple of seasons. With that said, hockey fans have much better access to take a good look at prospects before the entry draft. I am one of those fans.

This is the third year that I have put together my mock draft, and I have tried to separate mine from the rest of the mocks that are out there by including small scouting reports on players. I drew my conclusions on these players by watching entirely too much hockey…and also ordering every single draft guide I could get my hands on. With that, I studied from start to finish Redline Report, ISS, McKeens, and the Hockey News. I also paid attention to Central Scouting’s site for updates as well. After gathering all the data I could I looked at the strengths and weaknesses of each player, and re-ranked them according to who I thought were the best players. After that I looked up each team’s prospect system to see how deep they were in certain areas, and how weak they were in others. Lastly I also visited each team’s official sites to see not just what the sports writers were saying, but also what the diehard fans were hoping the draft would bring to better their favorite NHL clubs. With that said, I offer you my 3rd annual 2009 NHL Mock Entry Draft.

1) NY Islanders : John Tavares Ht 6’ 0” Wgt 195

With the 1st overall pick of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft the New York Islanders proudly select from London of the OHL, Center John Tavares.

Verdict is still not out yet as to whether or not the Isles truly made a draft blunder by not drafting Nikita Filatov with the 5th overall in last years draft. He hasn’t made the show yet, but he is currently ranked the 3rd best prospect by Hockeys Future. This year though, there once again seems to be controversy surrounding Garth Snow and his 1st overall pick. This year’s controversy is between which of the top 2 draft eligible players the Islanders are going to draft. The consensus has been Tavares will go number one for most of the season, but Victor Hedman seemed to gain steam as the season went on. So much steam that Redline and McKeen’s guide services ranked the big Swede 1st overall. No matter which way you slice this one, John Tavares has to go to the Islanders with the first overall. Tavares completely outplayed the larger Hedman when the teams faced off. Overall in the World Jrs where Hedman found himself playing mediocre hockey, Tavares was out there winning MVP’s. Bottom line is he brought his “A” game to a World stage when it counted most. Tavares in the simplest of terms is the best pure goal scorer in the 09 NHL Entry Draft. He is a true sniper, who is dangerous down low. Tavares rarely misses on a scoring opportunity. He is also tenacious on the puck on very rarely gives up on a play. Tavares goes to NY and the club immediately helps their franchise by adding the best pure goal scorer in the 2009 draft. With a late birthday Tavares narrowly missed last years NHL Entry draft, which would have certainly seen him battle it out with Steven Stamkos for the 1st overall. In Tavares the Islanders have the most marketable player to wear the sweater since Roberto Luongo. Expect big things from him on Long Island…As long as Wang is able to keep the franchise afloat in Long Island! Tavares is the best suited player to help turn this once great organization around.

ISS Ranking #1
Redline Ranking #2
CSS Ranking #1 NA Skaters
McKeens Ranking #2
THN Ranking #1

Style Compares To Dany Heatley

Projected To Be A Franchise Forward, Competing for Goal Scoring Titles

2) Tampa Bay Lightning : Victor Hedman Ht 6’6” Wgt 216

With the 2nd overall pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft the Tampa Bay Lightning proudly select from the Modo, of the Swedish Elite League Defenseman Victor Hedman.

Last year the Tampa Bay Lightning were lucky enough to land the first overall pick of the draft landing them the dynamic Steven Stamkos. This year, the luck continues as the best defensive prospect of the draft goes to them at number 2 overall. Victor Hedman is a monster! 6’6” 216lbs at the age of 18. Now normally when you describe a defenseman 6’6” 216lbs you immediately think physical specimen, punishing hitter, bad attitude. But in the case of Hedman those are not his best qualities. He can throw the body, but his forte is his offense. Victor is arguably the best offensive talent from the Blueline in the 09 Entry Draft. All the tools are there already, speed, size, skill, booming point shot…but maybe Hedman best asset is his ability to take control of a game. In playing against veterans already in the SEL Hedman has shown incredible confidence with the puck in his own end, and an uncanny ability to see the ice and jump into the rush at opportune times. He has challenged Tavares all season long for the number 1 slot, but falls short and goes 2nd overall to Tampa.

ISS Ranking #3
Redline Ranking #1
CSS Ranking #1 European Skaters
McKeens Ranking #1
THN Ranking #2

Style Compares Him To Jay Bowmeester

Projected To Be A Franchise Defenseman

3) Colorado Avalanche : Matt Duchene Ht 5’ 11” Wt 200lbs

With the 3rd pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, the Colorado Avalanche proudly select from the Brampton of the OHL, Center Matt Duchene.

It’s a perfect match! At the tail end of his career, Joe Sakic gets to personally welcome aboard the player that best exemplifies his attributes in the 09 draft. When watching Duchene it very apparent that he is the best player on the ice on just about any given night. His creativity with the puck can dazzle the fans, and make opponents look silly on a nightly basis. Duchene is the best playmaking forward in the draft, but not only does his offense stand out…Duchene is also a responsible two-way player, who isn’t afraid to get his nose dirty. He is one of those players who can hit top speed in his first three strides, in doing so he makes defenders look as if they are standing still. Duchene becomes the newest member of the Lanch at 3rd overall. Some scouts feel in 4 years from now Duchene will be the best prospect to come out of the 09 draft. 79 pts in 57 games for Duchene who actually was 2nd on the depth chart at center for Brampton behind Canucks prospect Cody Hodgson. Duchene has a very good chance of cracking the Avs lineup next season and potentially making it to their top 6.

ISS Ranking #2
Redline Ranking #2
CSS Ranking #2 NA Skaters
McKeens Ranking #3
THN Ranking #3

Style compares him to Joe Sakic

Projected to be future All Star Center

4) Atlanta Thrashers : Evander Kane Ht 6’ 1” Wt 180lbs

With the 4th pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft the Atlanta Thrashers proudly select from Vancouver, of the OHL Center Evander Kane

After being cut from the Canadian World Jr team, Evander Kane never looked back. Instead, Kane improved in nearly every aspect of his game, and was eventually called back to the team. What scouts seem to love most about him is his intensity. He doesn’t give up on a play and isn’t afraid to get physical. With that, he also posseses a lightning quick shot to go with the burning desire to compete on a nightly basis. In last years draft the Thrash bolstered their Blueline by adding one of the best all around Blueliners in the 08 class in Zach Bogosian. This year with the 4th overall they gobble up one of the most complete forwards in the draft in Evander Kane. And no, Evander is not the younger brother of Patrick Kane in Chicago, the two players are not related. Most scouts consider Kane very close to NHL ready. H should get plenty of icetime in Atlanta to mature.

ISS Ranking #5
CSS Ranking #3 NA Skaters
Redline Ranking #5
McKeens Ranking#5
THN Ranking #5

Style Compares Him To Devin Setoguchi

Projected To Be A Top 6 Forward

5) Los Angeles Kings : Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson Ht 6’ 1” Wt 200lbs

With the 5th pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft the Los Angeles Kings proudly select from Timra, of the Swedish Elite League LW Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson.

LA Already posseses arguably the best prospect pool in the entire NHL. Every year it seems they keep adding another top 5 pick, and this year barring a trade they will once again pick in the top 5. Really not too many holes in the system, cept for the left side in LA, which is why they snatch MPS with the 5th overall pick. MPS made the Swedish Junior Club at the age of 16 yrs old. From there he kept getting better cementing himself as a can’t miss prospect in the 09 draft class. Kyle Woodlief of Redline lists him as the best skater in the whole class. He has gifted hands, and is dangerous in close. LA in the last draft landed the top rated defenseman with Doughty, they also landed defenseman Colton Tuebert later in the same round. This year they can’t pass up on the highly ranked Swedish prospect…and for good reason. MPS is a prospect that has many scouts drooling over.

ISS Ranking #4
Redline Ranking #6
CSS Ranking # European Skaters
McKeens Ranking #10
TSN Ranking #7

Style compares to Alexander Mogilny

Projected to be a Top 6 Scoring Winger

6) Phoenix Coyotes : Oliver Ekman-Larsson HT 6’ 5” Wgt 225lbs

With the 6th pick of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft the Phoenix Coyotes proudly select from Lesands of the Sedish AI, Defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson.

Another club that seems to just land top 10 pick year after year, this year the Wayne Gretzky’s Coyotes take the podium with the 6th overall and select Ekman-Larsson. Yotes in the past three years landed top notch offensive prospects in Mikael Bodker, Kyle Turris, and Peter Mueller. In this class, Larsson is way too much for them to pass up on. Larsson is been in the shadow of Hedman as thus his name hasn’t been mentioned quite as much, but he is now climbing the rankings and emerging as one of the best defensive prospects in 09. Really not too many holes in his game. Incredible poise for a 91 born player, and QB’s the power play as good as anyone in the 09 class. Has a terrific shot from the point and also isn’t afraid to play physical and throw the occasional big hit. Phoenix at 6 opts for the 3 Swede to go in the top 6.

ISS Ranking #9
Redline Ranking #7
CSS Ranking #4 European Skaters
McKeens Ranking #4
THN Ranking #13

Style Compares To Niklas Lidstrom

Projected To Be A Franchise Defenseman

7) Toronto Maple Leafs : Brayden Schenn Ht 6’ 0” Wt 200lbs

With the 7th pick of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft the Toronto Maple Leafs proudly select from Brandon of the OHL, Center Brayden Schenn.

Toronto made a move in the 2008 NHL Entry draft moving down to draft hard hitting defenseman Luke Schenn. This year Brian Burke and company are exstatic to take the podium and draft the Luke’s younger brother Brayden. Schenn is one of the best natural leaders in the 09 draft class. Teammates love him, opponents respect him. Schenn is similar to his older brother to where he likes to play a physical brand of hockey. Above average in every area of his game but some scouts claim his skating is suspect…Which I personally don’t agree with. I compare his skating to Michael Nylander, he just has a tendency to look akward, but there is nothing wrong with his speed and ability to keep up with the play. Brian Burke likes his physical players, and adding the younger Schenn is a great way to start the rebuild process in Toronto.

ISS Ranking #6
Redline Ranking #4
CSS Ranking #4 NA Skaters
McKeens Ranking#6
THN Ranking #6

Style Compares To Brandon Dubinsky

Projected To Be A Top 6 Physical Forward, Potential Captain Material.

8) Dallas Stars : Jordan Schroeder Ht 5’ 8” Wt 175lbs

With the 8th pick of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, the Dallas Stars proudly select, from the University of Minnesota, Center Jordan Schroeder.

The little engine that could! …Jordan Schroeder is 5’8”, but don’t tell him that! Schroeder dazzled in the world jrs in Ott earlier in the year for team USA. His performance caused him to climb up in the rankings, and his play as a Freshman for the University of Minnesota got him even more notice…but his overall physique, and althleticism at the Draft Combine should leave no doubters on Schroeder’s ability anymore. He is a gifted playmaker with an uncanny ability to draw players to him and find the open man. He also has that extra gear which he can kick in quick to blow past defenders to make game breaking plays. Schroeder also has a tremendous wrist shot which he can fire off on the fly ala Joe Sakic. Dallas a team that needs help in all areas of their prospect pool lands a gem with the 8th overall in 09.

ISS Ranking #14
Redline Ranking #11
CSS Ranking #5 NA
McKeens Ranking #13
THN Ranking #9

Style Compares Him To Steve Sullivan

Projects To Be A Top 6 Forward

9) Ottawa Senators : Jared Cowen Ht 6’ 5” Wt 220lbs

With the 9th pick of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, the Ottawa Senators proudly select from Spokane of the WHL, Defenseman Jared Cowen.

A shocked and surprised Ottawa Organization cannot believe Cowen is still there at #9. The only reason Jared Cowen didn’t go in the top 5 was a season ending knee surgery he underwent in February. With that, Cowen drops to 9th where the Ottawa Senators just cant pass up on him. Cowen is the closest thing you will find to a Chris Pronger among the 09 draftees. Cowen has excellent size and strength, and is a punishing defender. His skating is above average despite his size. He is a winner wherever he plays. Cowen has already built himself a nice resume for a kid his age. His Rookie season he was on the Memorial Cup winning Spokane Chiefs. He also has gold medal under his belt from the Championship winning team Canada in the World Jrs. If he fully rebounds from the knee surgery Ottawa gets an absolute steal with the 9th overall.

ISS Ranking #7
Redline Ranking #8
CSS Ranking #9 NA
McKeens Ranking #8
THN Ranking #4

Style compares him to Chris Pronger

Projected To Be A Franchise Defenseman

10) Edmonton Oilers : Dmitri Kulikov Ht 6’ 0” Wgt 185lbs

With the 10th pick of the 2009 NH Entry Draft the Edmonton Oilers proudly select from Drummondville of the QMJHL, Defenseman Dmitri Kulikov.

Forget about is he going to come over and play in North America?... Kulikov is already here. He was the 2nd overall pick in the CHL import draft last season. Kulikov’s lateral movement might be better than any defenseman in the 09 draft. All around he is considered a very safe top ten pick with lots of potential to crack an NHL lineup within a short time. ISS labels Kulikov as the best defensive prospect to go through the QMJHL in a long time. At 10 the smooth skating Kulikov bolsters the Oil defense for years to come.

ISS Ranking #10
Redline Ranking #9
CSS Ranking #11 North American Skaters
McKeens #7
THN Ranking #11

Style Compares Him To Andre Markov

Projected To Be A Top 4 Defenseman

11) Nashville Predators : Nazem Kadri Ht 5’11” Wt 170lbs

With the 11th pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft the Nashville Predators are proud to select from the London Knights, of the OHL Center Nazem Kadri.

When Nazem Kadri wants to…he has the skills to be the best player on the ice…Again when Nazem Kadri wants to! This kid can fly, and he has the hands to go with it. At times Kadri can look like Pavel Pure in the mid 90’s…at other times he can look like a disinterested Alexei Yashin when he was with the NY Isles. But…for Nashville , a team that is pretty much stacked at the prospect system, the risk/reward here is worth the gamble. Kadri may wind up one of the better offensive threats of the 09 drafts. Nashville snatches him up with 11 and crosses their fingers that the flashes of brilliance Kadri shows develop into the next Nashville star, and not the next Pavel Brendl!
ISS Ranking #8
CSS Ranking #15 North American Skaters
Redline Ranking #17
McKeens Ranking #9
THN Ranking #8

Style Compares To Alexei Yashin

Projected To Be A Top 6 Forward…Or Bust!

12) Minnesota Wild : Scott Glennie Ht 6’ 1” Wgt 180lbs

With the 12th pick of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, the Minnesota Wild proudly select from Brandon of the WHL, Right Wing Scott Glennie

Want to get yourself drafted in the first round of the NHL entry draft? Take a path similar to Glennie, who threw up 42 helpers, and 28 goals in only 55 games this year With Brandon of the WHL. Of course playing alongside Brayden Schenn doesn’t hurt your chances, but at times you might wonder which of this dynamic duo was the better player. Glennie did all the little things right, but his creativity in the offensive zone is what had scouts flocking to Western Canada to watch him play. With a wealth of very good defensive prospects in the system, Minnesota opts for who they believe to be the safe play, and best forward available on the board. Glennie at 12th overall.

ISS Ranking #19
CSS Ranking #7 North American Skaters
Redline Ranking #18
McKeens Ranking #14
THN Ranking #14

Style Compares Him To Patrick Sharp

Projected To Be A Top 6 Forward

13) Buffalo Sabres : Ryan Ellis Ht 5’ 9” 175 lbs

With the 13th pick of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, the Buffalo Sabres proudly select from Windsor of the OHL, Defenseman Ryan Ellis

Last season the Buffalo Sabres suffered a tremendous blow when Defenseman Brian Campbell opted to test the free agent market, and eventually bolted for greener pastures in Chicago. Apprximately 11 months later the Sabres fill the void that Campbell left by drafting Windsor Defenseman Ryan Ellis. Despite his small frame Ellis is one of the best PP Quarterbacks in the entire 09 draft class. Not too mention, this mighty mite has probably the best point shot of any player in the whole draft. Ellis needs to work some on the defensive aspects of his game, but offensively he is way ahead of the competition. Ellis tore up the OHL this year scoring a whopping 89 pts in just 57 games. Did I mention that Ellis is 5’9”?...Did I also mention Ellis is a Defenseman? At 13th overall the Sabres take Ellis off the board.

ISS Ranking #13
Redline Ranking #13
CSS Ranking #16 North American Skaters
McKeens Ranking #11
THN Ranking #17

Style Compares Him To Brain Rafalski

Projects To Be An Offensive Defenseman And PP Specialist

14) Florida Panthers : Jacob Josefson Ht 6’0” Wt 185lbs

With the 14th pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, the Florida Panthers are proud to select from Djurgardens of the Swedish Elite League, Center Jacob Josefson.

Not a happy time in the Florida Panthers organization. The club opted not to move cornerstone defenseman Jay Bowmeester at the trade deadline last season and come July 1 there is good reason to believe they are going to lose him via free agency. With that Florida does have a relatively deep prospect pool, but not overly strong in any area. Scott Luce, director of scouting in Florida will more likely than not go the safe route here by selecting BPA. With that they grab the safe pick, and arguably the best two way player available in Swedish born Jacob Josefson. Josefson is one of those players that seems to outthink his opponents. Always in position, puts the puck where he knows his teammates are going to be…not where they are! He goes to the Panthers at 14th overall.

ISS Ranking #11
Redline Ranking #32
CSS Ranking #3rd European Skaters
McKeens Ranking #16

THN Ranking #15

Style Compares To Matt Cullen

Projects To Be A Safe 2nd Line Pivot, With Offensive Flair

15) Anaheim Ducks : Louis LeBlanc Ht 6’ 0” Wgt 178lbs

With the 15th pick of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft the Anaheim Ducks proudly select from Omaha Lancers of the USHL Center Louis LeBlanc

If Burke was still with the organization the would have snatched up Kassain with the pick, but a handful of those types of players and a new GM and direction pulls them into a different direction. At 15 the Ducks draft the pesky Louis LeBlanc. LeBlanc is all heart, and has some good tools to go with it as well. Has the shot, certainly has the speed and skating to go with the fiery attitude. Can do everything at top speed and with that the Ducks pounce on the opportunity with the 15th overall. LeBlanc is committed to Harvard next season. At 15th LeBlac adds a spark, and speed to the Ducks.

ISS Ranking #12
Redline Ranking #10
CSS Ranking #13 North American Skaters
McKeens Ranking #15
THN Ranking #29

Style Compares Him To Derek Roy

Projected To Be 2nd Line Center, Oozing Grit And Determination

16) Columbus Blue Jackets : David Rundblad Ht 6’2” Wgt 190lbs

With the 16th pick of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft the Columbus Blue Jackets are proud to select from Skelleftea of the Swedish Elite League Defenseman David Rundblad.

In the past three consecutive entry drafts Columbus found themselves with relatively high choices, and each year grabbed offensive minded forwards. This year, sitting in the middle of the 1st round they opt for a well rounded defenseman David Rundblad of Sweden. Rundblad is a gifted puck mving defender, who knows when and when not to jump into the play. He’s a very fluid skater with and has great acceleration. But it isn’t just his offensive tendencies, Rundblad is very good in his own end as well, making him very well suited for todays NHL. Can be more physical, but has all the right tools to become a solid 3/4 defenseman.

ISS Ranking #22
Redline Ranking #12
CSS Ranking #6 European Skaters
McKeens Ranking #23
THN Ranking #

Style Compares Him To A Poor Man’s Mike Green

Projects To Be A Top 4 Defenseman

17) St Louis Blues : Drew Shore Ht 6’2” Wgt 190lbs

With the 17 pick of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft the St Louis Blues proudly select from the US U-18 of the NTDP Center Drew Shore.

When John Davidson went to St Louis, the organization made a promise to itself that they were going to strip is down and rebuild it from within. Focus was on drafting wisely, and stockpiling assets. With that, the Blues organization has done a terrific job with the players they have selected. They implemented a BPA strategy, and focus on bringing in players with the best conditioning. With that the team takes a slight gamble on wildcard Drew Shore. Shore is a member of the USA U-18 team and is one of this years draft wildcards. He has been ranked as high as 18th overall, and as far back as 65 by Redline. But…Woodlief has a tendency to bury some draft prospects, similar to what he did with Sanguinetti in 07’s class. Back to Shore, big bodied kid, with gifted offensive instincts. Like’s to throw the big hit, and always seems to be involved in the play. He has excellent vision, and should only continue to get better in the great program the Blues have.

ISS Ranking #18
Redline Ranking #65
CSS Ranking #28
McKeens Ranking #20
THN Ranking #23

Style Compares Him To RJ Umberger

This Wildcard Projects To Be High Risk, High Reward Top 6 Or Bust!

18) Montreal Canadiens : Simon Despres Ht 6’ 3” Wgt 205lbs

With the 18th pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft the Montreal Canadiens proudly select from Saint John of QMJHL Defenseman Simon Despres

Despres was the first overall pick in 07’s QMJHL entry draft. He is listed as having all the potential in the world. Fluid skater, lanky, but doesn’t shy too much from the rough stuff. Good shot and even better instincts. With that Despres is still a few years away from the NHL, but he does have tremendous upside. Despres earlier was ranked higher, but his stock fell as the year progressed. At 18th he is a very safe bet still and should be able to eventually crack the Habs lineup.

ISS Ranking #30
Redline Ranking #33
CSS Ranking #8 NA Skaters
McKeens Ranking # 19
THN Ranking #12

Style Compares Him To Brent Seabrook

Projects To Be A Top 4 Defenseman

19) New York Rangers : Zach Zassain Ht 6’ 02” Wgt 210lbs

With the 19th pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft the New York Rangers proudly select from Peterboro of the OHL, Right Wing Zack Kassain

Gordie Clark takes the podium this year all smiles as the Rangers make Zack Kassain their 1st selection of the 2009 NHL entry draft. Kassain is arguably the best power forward prospect in the 09 draft. He has the size at 6’2” and he is a pretty good skater despite his large frame. Kassain’s physical play has earned him a reputation in the OHL, and scouts have drawn comparisions of him to Milan Lucic, others don’t understand the hype and say Jessiman revisited. Kassain likes to drive the net, and get his nose dirty in the corners. He also likes to drop the mitts, and will do so to protect himself and teammates when situations arise. Rangers land a big fish in 09 in Kassain and finally add a potential future power forward to the top 6.

ISS Ranking #20
Redline Ranking #16
CSS Ranking #10
McKeens Ranking #18
THN Ranking #16

Style Compares Him To Milan Lucic

Projects To Be A Power Forward

20) Calgary Flames : Carter Ashton Ht 6 ’2” Wgt 205lbs

With the 20th pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft the Calgary Flames proudly select from Lethbridge of the WHL, Center Carter Ashton

At 20th overall there is Sutter-like player waiting to go to his new home. Carter Ashton already has ties to Flames Organization. His dad is Brent Ashton who at one point was also member of the Flames. What you can expect from Carter Ashton is one of the most well conditioned athletes in the 09 draft. He excelled at the combine. On the ice Ashton is the type of player that will get leveled with a big hit, dust himself off and park his ass right in front of the net again to chip in a garbage goal. Ashton like Kassain likes to drop the mitts, and when he does he usually gets the better of his opponent.

ISS Ranking #33
Redline Ranking #22
CSS Ranking #12 North American Skaters
McKeens Ranking #22
THN Ranking #20

Style Compares Him To Billy Guerin

Projected To Be A Power Forward

21) Philadelphia Flyers : Chris Krieder Ht 6’ 2” Wt 200

With the 21st pick of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft the Philadelphia Flyers proudly select from Phillips Andover of the USHL Center Chris Krieder

The Flyers at 21 opt for the explosive Chris Krieder. Krieder can fly, and he uses his quick bursts of speed to find open ice. One on one Krieder can be dangerous. For a HS kid, he also has good size already 6’2” 200lbs at 18. The overall package is well worth the risk, and considering the Flyers seem to be pretty good at the draft table with the mid to late first rounders, Krieder and the Flyers are a perfect match. Kreider has committee dto Boston College next season. Could be a real steal of a pick in the midlle of the 1st round.

ISS Ranking #24
Redline Ranking #27
CSS Ranking #14 North American Skaters
McKeens Ranking #31
THN Ranking #24

Style Compares Him To Jeff Carter

Projected To Be A Top 6 Forward With Breakaway Speed

22) Vancouver Canucks : John Moore Ht 6’ 2” Wt 190lbs

With the 22nd pick of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft the Vancouver Canucks proudly select from Chicago of the USHL defenseman John Moore

The Nucks at 22 are chomping at the bit to get to the podium to welcome John Moore to the Organization. A couple seasons ago Moore was considered too small to play in the OHL, or NCAA as well…Which was a shame considering he was among the best o fhis age group. What happened next surprised everyone. The 5’9” Moore had a growth spurt, and now stands 6’2” 190lbs. With that his game also grew to new heights. Central Scouting was so high on him they ranked him 6th among North American Skaters.

ISS Ranking #16
Redline Ranking #21
CSS Ranking #6 North American Skaters
McKeens Ranking #12
THN Ranking #18

Style Compares Him To Joe Corvo

Projects To Be An Offensive Defenseman

23) New Jersey Devils : Landon Ferraro Ht 5’ 11” Wgt 165lbs

With the 23rd pick of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft the New Jersey Devils proudly select from Red Deer of the WHL, Center Landon Ferraro

Landon is the son of former NHL’er Ray Ferraro. He exemplifies a lot of the same skills and determination his dad played with. He during the season continually proved critics wrong, and eventually climbed the rankings in all the guides. Ferraro is a goal scorer and was heavily relied on by his team do carry them in that area. He did a good job in the process, but showed he won’t break under pressure. He was voted the teams MVP at the end of the season.

ISS Ranking #17
Redline Ranking #38
CSS Ranking #18 North American Skaters
McKeens Ranking #32
THN Ranking #28

Style Compares To Ray Ferraro

Projected To Be A 2nd Line Center

24) Washington Capitals : Jeremy Morin Ht 6’ 0” Wt 193lbs

With the 24th pick of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft the Washington Capitals proudly select from US U-18, of the NTDP Left Wing Jeremy Morin

Late in the first round Washington hops on the opportunity to draft Jeremy Morin. Morin, earlier was a member of the USA U-18 that won the gold medal in the IIHF U-18 World Championships in that tourney he posted 6 goals and 10 points total in only 7 games. He was best when the game counted. Kyle Woodlief of the Redline report believes Morin to be the best pure sniper after Tavares in the 09 Entry Draft. That’s pretty good company to be compared with. Morin has signed a contract to play in the OHL next year with the Kitchener Rangers.

ISS Ranking #27
Redline Ranking #15
CSS Ranking #33 North American Skaters
McKeens Ranking #37
THN Ranking #21

Style Compares Him To Zach Parise

Projected To Be A Top 6 Scoring Winger

25) Boston Bruins : Ethan Werek Ht 6’ 0” Wgt 191lbs

With the 25th pick of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, the Boston Bruins proudly select from Kingston of the OHL, Center Ethan Werek

Boston has their own system of drafting and developing players…they aren’t afraid to go off the board to snatch someone they like. Similar to what they did when drafting Lucic and look how that panned out for them! In the case of Werek, he’s a player that is ranked no higher than 26th, but it hasn’t stopped Boston from meeting with him now 3 separate times. Werek is the type of player that doesn’t do anything great(cept for winning faceoffs), but is very good in all areas, making him one of the better well rounded prospects in the draft. Werek on a bad team was the only bright spot this past season. He has been labeled a good garbage goal guy…And that’s why Boston happily takes him off the board at 25.

ISS Ranking #26
Redline Ranking #46
CSS Ranking #32 North American Skaters
McKeens Ranking #38
THN Ranking #34

Style Compares Him To Chris Drury

Projected To Be A Top 6 Forward

26) New York Islanders (From San Jose) : Nick Leddy Ht 5’ 11” Wt 180lbs

With the 26th pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, the New York Islanders proudly select from Eden Prairie, of USHS defenseman Nick Leddy

The Islanders were the talk of the 08 NHL entry draft, and made some very controvercial moves. Now in the 09 Entry Draft, they are in great shape with 2 picks in the top 26. The first pick got them the best sniper in the draft, with the 2nd they go the BPA route and select Nick Leddy. Leddy is a slick puck-moving defenseman who has great mobility. He can stop on a dime, and has tremendous lateral movement. Leddy was also this years recipient of the “Mr Hockey Award” which is rewarded to the best high school player out of Minnesota. He is committed to Universiy of Minnesota next year to continu his development.

ISS Ranking #21
Redline Ranking #19
CSS Ranking #24 North American Skaters
McKeens Ranking #24
THN Ranking #25

Style Compares Him To Brian Leetch

Projected To Be An Offensive Defenseman

27) Carolina Hurriacanes : Zach Budish Ht 6’ 2” Wt 230lbs

With the 27th pick of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft the Carolina Hurricanes proudly select from Edina of USHS-MN Right Wing Zach Budish

At 27 the Hurricanes look to hit one out of the park. The team has expressed the lack of size and physicality in their respective top 6. In Budish they certainly add both. Budish it another huge wildcard but there is good reason why scouts were so high on him. He is built like a Mack Truck and he plays a physical brand of hockey. He also has pretty good hands for such a big body. In just 25 games at Edina, Budish managed to put up 50 points. If he ever realizes he is twice the size of the opposition, and he can run over them, he will be a force to recon with. The negative for Budish was that he missed the entire season due to injury. But as in the case of Jared Cowen, he is expected to recover fully.

ISS Ranking #51
Redline Ranking #29
CSS Ranking #22 North American Skaters
McKeens Ranking #22
THN Ranking #44

Style Compares To Ryan Getzlaf

Projected To Be A Power Forward

28) Chicago Blackhawks : Peter Holland Ht 6’ 2” Wt 185

With the 28th pick of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft the Chicago Blackhawks proudly select from Erie of the OHL, Center Peter Holland

With a late first round choice the Hawks choose to draft via BPA. With that they select Peter Holland of Guelph. Holland is a big boy who thinks the game well in all three zones. The type of player that anticipates where the puck will be before the opposition. Gifted hands, and a good skater for his suze. Holland must improve on his physical game, and actually play like his size suggests. He is a safe pick at 28, and probably should have been drafted higher with all of his potential.

ISS Ranking #15
Redline Ranking #24
CSS Ranking #18 North American Skaters
McKeens Ranking #25
THN Ranking #19

Style Compares To Kristian Huselius

Projects To Be A Top 6 Forward

29) Detroit Red Wings : Toni Rajala Ht 5’ 10” Wgt 165lbs

With the 29th pick of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft the Detroit Red Wings proudly select from Iilves Tampare of Finland, Left Wing Toni Rajala

Well it seems every season the Detroit Red Wings manage to somehow pluck the diamond out of the rough. This year the focus on Finnish LW Toni Rajala. Here’s what you need to know about Rajala. First, the negatives…He’s tiny! He pretty much looks as if a stiff wind can blow him over. He also can be intimidated, and at times shuts down against physical play. The positives…How about this kid broke Alex Ovechkins scoring records in the World Jrs! This year in the World Jr U-18’s he won the scoring title by putting up 19 points in 6 games! In Jrs over in Finland Rajala has been a steady PPG producer. Detroit takes notice and with the 29th overall selects Rajala.

ISS Ranking #31
Redline Ranking #34
CSS Ranking #11 European Skaters
McKeens Ranking #45
THN Ranking #49

Style Compares Him To Marty Straka

Projected To Be A Top 6 Forward Power Play Specialist

30) Pittsburgh Penguins : Dylan Olsen Ht 6’ 2” 205lbs

With the 30th pick of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, the Pittsburgh Penguins proudly select from Camrose of the AJHL Defenseman Dylan Olsen

Dylan Olsen didn’t get too much notice untill the World Jrs came around. That’s where scouts opened their eyes to realize Olsen had the right stuff to get him potential first round notice. Olsen like to throw the body, and his timing is on the mark when he does. But he also has an excellent outlet pass, and he’s quick to anticipate where his forwards are going to be and get the puck there with quick passes out of the zone. Olsen is committed to Minn-Deluth next season.

ISS Ranking #39
Redline Ranking #28
CSS Ranking #27 North American Skaters
McKeens Ranking #17
THN Ranking #41

Style Compares Him To Brooks Orpik

Projected To Be A Physical Two Way Defender

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There you have it! Special guest blogger Joe Tucciarone's NHL draft breakdown and preview. Hope you enjoy it and leave some feedback. Also, there is one day left on the poll. Don't be afraid to check it out and vote! Over and out!

He's About 5 Foot 8...

2009-06-12T22:59:00.004-04:00

Maxime Talbot. Enough said.

Penguins Force Game 7

2009-06-09T23:41:00.002-04:00

Well hockey fans, it comes down to a 7th and final game to decide this year’s Stanley Cup Champions. The Pittsburgh Penguins took Game 6 at home over the Detroit Red Wings, 2-1, in a wild affair.

Up until Jordan Staal gave the Penguins a 1-0 lead early in the 2nd period, I thought the Penguins had squandered a great chance to be up by at least 3, maybe 4 goals. The Penguins certainly dominated the play. Unfortunately for them, Chris Osgood was on his game and gave Detroit the backbone they needed to have a real chance at taking home the cup. Tyler Kennedy looked like he gave the Pens an easy insurance goal with his great hustle in the 3rd period and it was looking mighty good for the Pens at that point. However, this is the Detroit Red Wings - and I sensed desperation from this team like no other time in these playoffs.

The Detroit Red Wings showed why they are the defending champs, as Kris Draper cut the lead to 1 on a nice rebound shot past Marc-Andre Fleury. With the lead cut to just 1 goal, I felt Pittsburgh sort of backed off a little too much. In doing so, the blueline for the Pens was easily crossed by the Wings in their attempt to tie up the game. Marc-Andre Fleury had to make many key saves, especially after Brooks Orpik (who had a strong game) coughed up a terrible pass inside the Wings blueline that led to a Dan Cleary breakaway. The game very well could have been tied up due to his gaff! Not smart, not smart at all! In the final seconds of the game, Detroit did everything that they could to tie it up, but they were denied by Rob Scuderi - not once, but twice inside the crease. And no Pierre McGuire, he did not put his hand on the puck!

So what do we have now? What we have is the ultimate game… Game 7 in the Stanley Cup Finals. Both teams have defended home ice and now Detroit has the opportunity to win 4 in a row at home to defend their cup. Pittsburgh, on the other hand, has gained one game over last years finals and has a legitimate chance to upset the Red Wings. Game 7 will be interesting, to say the very least.

Lastly, Pierre McGuire is starting to drive me nuts! He continues to be very overbearing with his constant input during the game. For example: “That’s a penalty!”, “That was dangerous!”, “That should have been interference!”. Just stop it. It’s hockey. It’s a tough and physical game to play... Enough said! Over and out!

EDIT: Well, the poll has closed. It looks like Rangers fans think Ryan Callahan should be the #1 RFA priority to attend to. I can't say I disagree! Go check out the new poll on the lower right hand navigation bar - relating to Marian Gaborik.

The Old Dog Still Has Bite!

2009-06-06T23:20:00.002-04:00

What can you say about a total ass kicking that the Detroit Red Wings laid on the Pittsburgh Penguins by a score of 5-0? Domination, suffocation, you name it - it was there. Pittsburgh had one chance and once chance only… and that was wasted in the first 5 minutes. A lousy PP and she was all over from there.

Crosby: no show. Malkin: no show. Marc-Andre Fleury: no show. I think you are getting my point! The Red Wings had their way with the Penguins, the “new NHL way” and no one does it better than them. I really don’t think Osgood had to make a tough save all night! The big red blanket of the Wings was draped all over the Pens and their efforts to create offense were just shut down. This was a crushing blow to the Penguins after coming off of a big high from Games 3 and 4. Now the question is… can they bounce back? I hope they can, but it will be tougher than most people think. I could get into making plenty of excuses for the Penguins, but this was Detroit’s finest game yet and even I can’t take that away from them. When the Wings are on, they are a real tough team to beat. Not only that, but they are allowed to do it with the comfort of the NHL’s umbrella in the new age game (very tough combo to overcome). Good luck Pittsburgh, you’re gonna need it!

One last thing. Can someone please put a cork in Pierre McGuire? What does he want the Penguins players to do? They know they can’t win the game, so you want them to just be choir boys? Sorry, Pierre. The NHL has taken just about everything that they can out of the game when it comes to physical and nasty play (something that should have a place in the game, just ask the fans) and you want some more composure? It’s alright though for Helm, Holmstrom, Franzen, Kronwall, etc. to run around and hit everything in site? Of course when they are challenged, they cower like dogs. Or in Franzen’s case, he gets hit with an elbow and then acts like he’s in excruciating pain - yet somehow manages to contribute on the ensuing PP. Give me a break! Over and out!

Well Fans, We Have a Series!

2009-06-04T23:29:00.003-04:00

The Pittsburgh Penguins have tied up the chase for Lord Stanley at 2 games a piece. With a gargantuan 2nd period effort of 3 goals in just over 4 minutes, the Penguins overcame a 2-1 deficit and won Game 4 by a score of 4-2.

The biggest goal by far was the Jordan Staal shorthanded effort when he used his big body to gain an edge on Brian Rafalski. Staal was able to rip a quick forehand shot past a stunned Chris Osgood. I knew that he had Rafalski beat at center ice and Staal finished it off perfectly. Big goal? Probably the biggest goal of the series thus far. Had Detroit scored on that PP, it would have been all but over in my eyes. From there, the Pens exploded with 2 goals, one by Sidney Crosby (on a great pass from Malkin) and the other by Tyler Kennedy (after a nice forecheck effort and passing play). Those goals really put Detroit behind the 8-ball for the rest of the game. How nice must it be to have the luxury of not one, but two of the best players in the world playing on the same team? If only my Rangers… oh, well!

So what have we learned so far other than both teams have held serve at home? Is Detroit showing some sluggishness and age? I doubt it! Can Pittsburgh maintain this youthful run that they are on? Who knows. I know one thing for sure, it’s now a series to watch with great expectations. No one has the edge yet and Game 5 should be a real beauty!

Now, on to my appearance on Ron Duguay and Ken Daneyko’s awesome radio show, “Ice Breakers” on Sirius XM Radio. What a great show it was tonight with “The Maven” Stan Fischler and former Full House actor, comedian, and huge Red Wings fan Dave Coulier (he saw me play for the Windsor Spitfires back in 1975, how cool!). We also had the pleasure of talking to Ron Greschner, who just launched his new website (www.greschnersports.com). If you want authentic sports memorabilia, that’s the site for you. The final guest on the show was current New York Ranger, Scott Gomez. I must admit, at times I’ve been very critical of him, but after talking to him… I have a better understanding of the pressure that he is under. Oh, by the way, he’s very funny as he was giving up some old Ken Daneyko stories. It really was a great show. Be sure to check it out, you will not be disappointed. Trust me on that.

I'd also like to thank Eddie "The Mouth" over at http://www.rangercrisis.com/ for coming up with some old DVDs of me playing with the Rangers! Over and out!

The Pens Make It Interesting, Win 4-2

2009-06-02T22:58:00.004-04:00

The Pittsburgh Penguins, left for dead by many, have made the Stanley Cup Finals at the very least an "interesting" series with a 4-2 victory over the Detroit Red Wings. The Pens got a nice hand from the NHL and the officiating as they were given the benefit of the doubt more often than not in Game 3. Much like Detroit was given in the first 2 games.

The Penguins started out fast and controlled the opening play with a ton of pressure. In turn, this got Pittsburgh the lead on a nice shot by Maxime Talbot which beat Chris Osgood on the short side. All the momentum was lost however when the Penguins got confused with the new line changes (trying to get Crosby away from Zetterberg) and Zetterberg tied the game up at 1-1 on a nice snapshot. The only question that I have on this one is why was Crosby gliding behind his net while there was 2 Detroit players in front? Sorry, Sid. That's a no-no! From there, Detroit took all the momentum that the Pens had and turned it into their own. Although I thought it was a cheap call on Brooks Orpik, the Wings took advantage on the ensuing PP with Johan Franzen roofing one by Marc-Andre Fleury to give the Wings the 2-1 lead. Pittsburgh was able to tie the game back up at 2 on a PP when Kris Letang (who almost whiffed completely on the first attempt) was able to get his shot off and it flew between Osgood's legs. At this point I thought it was crucial that Pittsburgh tied the game up before the period ended. It was a big boost for the Pens.

Detroit came out flying in the 2nd period and really controlled the play the entire way through. On the flip side, the Pens looked really sloppy and a step slow. Fortunately for the Penguins, it was a scoreless period for the first time in the Finals. Fleury had to be sharp in this period as he turned away 14 shots. In the 3rd period, Pittsburgh was the aggressor and really took it to the Wings. Their hard work finally paid off with a PP goal on a blast by Sergei Gonchar. Osgood did get a piece of the shot, but it was not enough. The final 9 1/2 minutes of the contest was just wild as both teams went up and down the ice with reckless abandon. Maxime Talbot finally put it away with an empty net goal, making the final score 4-2 in favor of the Pens.

When you look at this game, you gotta wonder once again about the officiating. It was horrible. If you're a Wings fan... you start with pointing out how on Earth does an officiating crew miss 6 players on the ice for Pittsburgh for 20-30 seconds! Let's see... 2 referees, 2 linesmen, and the Detroit bench screaming. Not one official picks up on this? You have got to be kidding, right? Basically what has happened is that both teams have benefited from non-calls and each has resulted in wins for both sides. Is this a good thing? I don't think so. But this is what we have and it's not going to get any better. Trust me. At least we have a series! I think... Over and out!

**Also, the poll is closed and a new one is up. It seems like the majority think Colton Orr will not be a Ranger next season. I hope this isn't the case! Well, go ahead and vote on the new poll.

2 Down, 2 To Go For the Wings

2009-05-31T23:26:00.003-04:00

What a disappointing start to this Stanley Cup Finals if you're a Pittsburgh Penguins fan, or a player for that matter. Two games, two losses by the same score of 3-1. Not very good! For the Red Wings, all is fine. Two big wins and now they are heading into Pittsburgh up comfortably in the series just looking to steal one game to take total control of these finals.

The first game was Detroit at their best! Get the lead, play New Jersey Devils style trap defense, and shut your opposition down. The same exact thing happened in Game 2. However, this time the Red Wings got a lot more help from the officiating. On the 1st goal by Detroit, a Detroit player clearly interferes with a Penguin off of the face off and there's no call. On the 2nd Detroit goal, Pascal Dupuis stick gets slashed out of his hands by Marian Hossa. Still, there's no call. Seconds later, Valtteri Filppula scores... come on, give me a break! Just poor officiating, period. Now, I save the best for last... the Henrik Zetterberg "save". How is he allowed to fall on a puck on the goal line to make a save and there is no penalty/penalty shot awarded? I knew right away that it was an illegal play, but the referees on the ice sure f***ed that one up too. Why that is important is because it's the rule you idiots, get it right!

Not exactly the best game for the officials and it deserves a much needed look by the NHL. It's embarrassing to watch. Oh well, enough of my rants. Can Pittsburgh get back in it? Sure. But I don't feel very good about this one anymore. Over and out!

Penguins and Red Wings To Do It Again

2009-05-27T23:53:00.005-04:00

Well it was really just a matter of time wasn't it? Detroit took care of the young and upcoming Blackhawks in OT in Game 5 by a score of 2-1. Which in turn set up a do-over for the Pittsburgh Penguins - who systematically dispatched the Carolina Hurricanes in one fell swoop with a 4-1 victory in Game 4. The Penguins have just too much talent. My hats off to the Hurricanes for the great run, but the talent overcomes all and they were clearly lacking in that department. As for the Hawks, the talent is there - but the experience factor wasn't and in the end that's what was the deciding factor that tilted the series in Detroit's favor. Talent and battle tested, that's Detroit in a nutshell.

So, here we go again! A rematch of last years final in which the Red Wings took care of the Penguins in 6 games. It was inevitable that these 2 would collide once more for Lord Stanley. It's almost funny to me that all the exhibition and regular season games meant nothing to the rest of the league... almost as if the season doesn't count and they are just playing another 7 game series again.

Pittsburgh is one year more battle hardened, on a roll, and Marc-Andre Fleury is playing great. Detroit on the other hand, is Detroit. They have no real weaknesses in their game (maybe injuries?). They just smother you and feast on your mistakes. I believe this one is a toss-up. Both teams are very talented, but goaltending will be the deciding factor. Who are you betting on? Fleury or Osgood? Over and out!

EDIT: On a sad note, my condolences go out to the Zezel family on the passing of former NHLer, Peter Zezel. It's always sad to lose someone, especially at such a young age. Rest in peace.

EDIT 2: Also make sure that you guys check out the new poll. It's on the right hand navigation, towards the bottom. Thanks!

Penguins and Red Wings in Control

2009-05-24T19:25:00.004-04:00

Well, it looks like the Carolina Hurricanes great run in this year’s Stanley Cup Playoffs is just about over. With a convincing 6-2 win over the Hurricanes, the Pittsburgh Penguins were led by the awesome two-headed monster of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. The Pens are now 1 win away from heading back to the Stanley Cup Finals. Carolina just doesn’t have enough talent to deal with Crosby, Malkin, and company. Sorry, but if you think they do - then where has it been? I give the Hurricanes great grades for their run in the playoffs, no doubt. They had to beat the best team in the Eastern Conference all season long in the Boston Bruins, as well as the Atlantic Division champion New Jersey Devils. However, to play and win against the Pittsburgh Penguins you have to be perfect and the Canes have been far from that. Malkin, who woke up towards the end of the Capitals series, is on fire right now! Also, as usual, Sid “The Kid” is playing like the star that he is - tough tandem, wouldn’t you say? Even with the Canes scoring first and the Raleigh crowd as loud as ever, the Pens were too much once again. The Pens outshot the Canes by a 40-34 margin. That is becoming a habit for the Penguins in this year’s playoffs. Can the Hurricanes win one? Sure. Can they win the series? Forget about it!

Onto the Detroit Vs. Chicago series. Try to bear with me a little bit here as I’m trying to condense 2 stories into one! Here it goes… In Game 3, the Chicago Blackhawks looked like a lost hockey club for almost 2 full periods. However, they still managed to pull out a dramatic 4-3 victory in OT. Patrick Sharpe became the hero of the night as he snapped a Samuel Pahlsson pass (which was a beauty) past Chris Osgood 1:52 into the first OT session. The Hawks did a little growing up in this contest as they were able to rebound after blowing their commanding 3 goal lead in the game. I’ve gotta tell you, Chicago definitely looked like the inexperienced team that I thought they were. At times during the game it seemed like the rink was cut in half in Detroit’s favor for the entire 2nd and 3rd periods. Detroit just shot down any and all Hawks efforts to attack offensively. One last point about this game: Niklas Kronwall. I usually jump on this guy all the time due to the fact that the majority of his hits are illegal (he leaves his skates like there’s no tomorrow). In Game 3, however, I have got to lean on his side with his hit on Martin Havlat. It hurts me to say it, but it was a clean hit (Marty, keep your head up).

In Game 4, the Detroit Red Wings proved what I suspected all along. The Chicago Blackhawks youthful inexperience finally came to the forefront. The Hawks looked very nervous, slow, and shockingly tentative after coming off the big OT win in Game 3. Detroit showed it’s poise and experience in a commanding 6-1 win. The Red Wings have now placed the stranglehold on the young Hawks and this series with a 3-1 lead. Detroit is just too good for the Hawks. With the rules of the NHL being what they are, the Red Wings have built their team according to suit. I personally don’t care for this style that they play and I could debate anyone in the NHL on it. But, it is what it is and Detroit plays it perfectly. The Blackhawks on the other hand got a little flustered and frustrated trying to exact some physical punishment on the Wings. Sorry, it doesn’t work in today’s NHL! The Wings may be the most talented team, I will admit that. On the flip side, they are also the game’s best actors and fakers. Oh well, enough for today. Game 5 in Detroit doesn’t look very good for the Hawks - this series may be over soon. Over and out!

EDIT: New poll added. Go vote! The last poll has closed: "Who Will Win The Stanley Cup", the majority of the votes went to the Red Wings and the Penguins. They definitely have the best shot as of now!

Malkin, Pens Take Care of Canes, 7-4

2009-05-21T23:07:00.006-04:00

Evgeni Malkin possibly heard that Alex Ovechkin had won the Sporting News Player of the Year Award for the 2nd year in a row. Malkin proceeded to own the Carolina Hurricanes with a hat trick and a 4 point performance in Game 2. This is not what I had expected, especially on the Hurricanes behalf. Wide open pond hockey with nary a care for defense. The Pens outshot Carolina 42-28 and in the end they deserved this win, no question about it. I just keep thinking that how could the Canes be lured into Pittsburgh's strength? Their strength is wide open offensive hockey. At least against Carolina, the Pens have that advantage in my eyes. I give Carolina an "A" for answering each of the Pens goals early in the game with one of their own, but this is a recipe for disaster - and that's what it became. Crosby and Malkin... and the Hurricanes are gonna match them with who? Eric Staal? Not quite! Looks to me like we might be heading towards a rematch of last years final, unless the Canes re-group at home in Raleigh (which is not out of the question). They will have the crowd on their side (loudest in the league), but they have to get back to what they do best! Pressure, play good D, and capitalize on mistakes. If the Hurricanes do not rebound, much like the Western Conference Finals - this one will be over quick.

Speaking of the Western Conference playoffs, Detroit won again (yawn), 3-2 in OT. Damn those Red Wings! Just when most of us thought Chicago was going to steal a game in Detroit and tie the series up at one. The Red Wings took advantage of the Blackhawks like playoff experienced teams do. They turned a huge blunder by Brian Campbell into a game winning goal in OT. First off, what in the world was Campbell thinking? Let's see... he had 3 options. 1) Shoot the puck on the net, 2) Dump it in the corner, and 3) Make a pass across the blueline with the Red Wings in the way? We all know what number Campbell chose in this scenario. Detroit is a tough enough team to play as it is... but jeez, don't make it easy for them! That's the game in a nutshell. Coach Joel Quennville has to be horrified by the turnovers in the first 2 games by his defensemen (which in turn led to Detroit goals). My last count is at least 3 goals have been scored by the Wings off of Blackhawk turnovers - including the OT winner. The Blackhawks played much better in Game 2, probably good enough to win. But, you can't, and I repeat you can't make dumb plays like Brian Campbell did against Detroit. If you do, like I said in my previous blog, this series will be over in a blink of an eye. Let's hope not! Over and out!

EDIT: http://greschnersports.com/ is now up. It's the sports Memorabilia website started by my good friend Ron Greschner, as well as Nick Fotiu and Vic Hadfield. If you want authentic autographed memorabilia, this is where to look! Go ahead and spend your money, people!

Let the Games Begin

2009-05-18T22:35:00.005-04:00

The games are now on! The Pittsburgh Penguins escaped Game 1 against the gritty Carolina Hurricanes by a score of 3-2. If not for some outstanding goaltending by Marc-Andre Fleury, the outcome of this game could have been quite different. Pittsburgh struck twice in the 1st period in a span of 1:24 on goals by Miroslav Satan and Evgeni Malkin. Satan’s goal was on a breakaway after serving a penalty for holding. What were the Cane’s thinking as the PP was winding down? They did not keep check of the time left on the penalty… big mistake! Malkin then fired a screened backhand past Cam Ward to give the Pens the early 2-0 lead. At this point in time, I thought this game was going to be a blowout. The game most definitely would have been a blowout if it wasn’t for Cam Ward’s save on Billy Guerin early in the 2nd period. Fortunately for Carolina, the Hurricanes were able to re-group and really outplay Pittsburgh for the majority of the game that remained.

The Hurricanes finally struck gold on a goal by Chad LaRose making the score 2-1. LaRose was able to outwait Fleury on a situation where it appeared there was one too many passes going on (Carolina had many of these throughout the contest). Now, heading into the 3rd period things were starting to look better for the Canes. Unfortunately, about midway through the 3rd period, Matt Cullen took a delay of game penalty in which the Pens capitalized on. Philippe Boucher took a Sidney Crosby pass and squeaked one through Ward to give the Pens a crucial 3-1 lead. Still, the game wasn’t over yet. Late in the game with Carolina on the PP (thanks to Brooks Orpik’s elbowing penalty) Joe Corvo was able to blast one by Fleury - who got a piece of it, just not enough. These turn of events helped set up a very wild ending. The Hurricanes still had their goalie pulled for the extra attacker down by a goal and had really 2 or 3 great chances to score the equalizer. Eric Staal had the best shot at tying the game, but unfortunately the puck jumped off his stick blade right back into Marc-Andre Fleury. The net was wide open! This series is looking like it’ll be a good one. How long it will go? I can’t say. Pittsburgh had their chances to bury the Hurricanes, but in typical 08-09 Hurricanes fashion - they came storming back. This was a good one to watch, but I believe the best is yet to come.

Now, onto the Western Conference Finals. Detroit sure took Chicago down in workman-like fashion by a score of 5-2. Even after giving up the 1st goal to Adam Burish early in the 1st period, the Red Wings really were never threatened by the young Hawks. I thought that early in the 3rd period when the Hawks tied the game at 2 on a PP goal by Kris Versteeg… that maybe, just maybe the Blackhawks had something going. Unfrotunately for them, it was not to be as Detroit answered the Blackhawks push at every level. Dan Cleary was the star of this game with 2 goals (Although Khabibulin should have had the first one) and the veteran team was too much for the Hawks to handle in the end. Hey, even Osgood played great when he was needed. The Wings outshot the Hawks 42-32 overall and there was no question in my eyes who was the boss in Game 1. Chicago had better tighten their game up if they want to make this a series. Detroit is too good (and that hurts for me to say) for Chicago to play wild and reckless hockey. The Wings really feast on that style of play. We will have to see what new strategy that coach Joel Quennville will come up with for Game 2 and beyond. The Hawks are down, but not out! Over and out!

Oh yeah, also check out the poll below on the lower right hand navigation. There will be poll questions weekly, so be sure to give your opinion!

Sean Avery & The Final 4

2009-05-15T15:17:00.005-04:00

I was fortunate enough to be invited once again by Ron Duguay and Ken Daneyko onto their weekly radio show, "Ice Breakers" on Sirius XM Radio. Sean Avery was the first guest and I won't get into everything that was talked about, but what I took from Avery is that he's one cool dude who understands the baggage that he carries. I also stand by his coming back to NY. This is where he thrives and belongs. Ron and Ken handled the interview like 2 seasoned pros and Sean seemed real comfortable in this, his first big interview since he came back to the Rangers. Good job guys! Larry "Ratso" Sloman was another guest and Ron, Ken, and I talked about a book that was groundbreaking at the time, "On Thin Ice", a year about the New York Rangers (I was in the book). "Ratso" is a good friend of mine, as well as many other former Rangers (My wife adores him). It was a good time had by all. I want to thank Ron, Ken, and Rob Raju (President/CEO of AXIOM Sports & Entertainment) for keeping me in the mix. Check out the damn show... it's great!

The Final 4

The Pittsburgh Penguins will take on the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Finals. Who would of thought that the Carolina Hurricanes would be in this position? Wow! Boy, did they shock the hockey world with a 3-2, OT victory in Boston. You just have to tip your hat to this team. They continue to impress me with their speed, style of play, and superb goaltending. As for the Penguins? What an ass-kicking they put on the Washington Capitals. Sidney Crosby, who may stomp his feet and whine at times, proved without a doubt that he is the best player in the NHL. Sorry, Alex. Maybe next time! For now, Sid "The Kid" rules the roost as he played big in a big-time game in a hostile territory. Alexander Ovechkin, on the other hand, came up with an unclutch performance after doing a little chirping about how it would be to the Caps advantage playing at home. Oh, really? One more thing... I wonder what Alexander Semin has to say now about Crosby after trashing him earlier in the year? I like Pittsburgh in the ECF, but Carolina has defied all the experts - so what do I know?

Now that Detroit took care of Anaheim on a lousy goal (controversial?), the Hawks and Wings are meeting in an Original Six Western Conference Final. You have to like this if you're a historian of the game. The question is, can the Hawks rise to the level of a team that is hardened with experience and has Stanley Cup rings? I really like this Chicago team. They have a lot of talented players up and down their roster, but Detroit has been here before. Can the youthful exuberance overtake the grizzled veterans? We will have to wait and see. Over and out!

Game 7 Anyone?

2009-05-13T02:12:00.006-04:00

The Pittsburgh Penguins may look back at Game 6 as the turning point of their season. The Washington Capitals came through, in what was the best game of the series by far, 5-4 in OT. David Steckel deflected Brooks Laich's shot past Marc-Andre Fleury to send the Penguins faithful abruptly to the exits. What a game. There were lead changes and a total disrespect for defense in the 3rd period when 4 goals were scored in a 10-minute span. If you're a Penguins fan, boy, a 5 on 3 PP early on in the 1st that went nowhere when they were up by 1. Also, the real killer was not being able to connect on a crucial PP with just over 2 minutes to play in regulation when the game was tied at 4. That, my friends, may come back to haunt the Pens. Opportunities lost! Give the Caps credit though, they stuck around - even though they were outshot 42-24. Varlamov was fantastic and some of the lesser Capitals players came through. With Game 7 being in Washington, you never know. But it will be hard for the Pens to rebound from this in my estimation.

The Chicago Blackhawks fought back and closed their series with a 7-5 win over the Vancouver Canucks. Just when it seemed like Vancouver was ready to take it home for a Game 7, Chicago really stepped up. The Blackhawks answered twice in a span of 49 seconds to erase a 5-4 Canucks lead. What a wild 3rd period it was! Sort of made the Pittsburgh and Washington 3rd period look like child’s play! 6 goals were scored and Vancouver had the lead not once - but twice! However, Patrick Kane's hattrick lead the Hawks past a much more veteran laden team in the Canucks. I've said this earlier, this Blackhawk team reminds me a whole lot of the Edmonton Oilers of the 1980s. This is a talented group of youthful exuberance. It may not be their time now, but I would be real careful about how you approach playing this team. Calgary and Vancouver found out! Who's next?

Well, well. Something or someone has stirred and awakened the Boston Bruins. With a 4-2 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes, the Bruins have put a stop to all the talk of early hibernation. The series now heads back to Beantown all even at 3 games a piece. The Bruins set the table early with 2 goals in the first 5:04 of the 1st period. Mark Recchi (still productive!) and Steve Montador gave the Bruins a 2-0 lead after one. In the 2nd period, the Canes cut the lead to 1 on a goal by Matt Cullen. However, the Bruins would answer with 2 goals - one by Marc Savard and the other (a late goal) by Chuck Kobasew. The goals gave the Bruins a commanding lead heading into the final stanza of play. In the 3rd period Carolina would get one back when ex-Bruin Sergei Samsanov scored, but that would be it! The Bruins would be outshot 14-4 in the 3rd, but Tim Thomas continued his good play and basically shut down any hopes of a Carolina comeback. What a huge turn around in this series! Games 2, 3, and 4 the Bruins looked slow and completely out of whack. Now they have fought back and head home for the all-important Game 7. Can the Hurricanes shock again? Or will the Bruins, the best team all year, find their stride?

Wow, what a wild ending in Anaheim! The Ducks have forced Game 7 with a 2-1 victory. But what definitely got my attention was at the end of the game. It almost turned into old-time hockey as Ryan Getzlaf and Marion Hossa tussled. This then led to Scott Niedermayer and Pavel Datsyuk exchanging punches, as did Corey Perry and Brian Rafalski. Wow! What a set-up for Game 7 in Detroit! The Ducks controlled most of this game as Getzlaf had a goal and an assist on Corey Perry's tally. Detroit cut the lead in half with just over 2 minutes to play on a nice passing play with Johan Franzen finishing it off with his 8th of the playoffs. Jonas Hiller was superb in the nets for the Ducks and made many spectacular saves to help the Ducks force yet another Game 7. Three of the series left remaining are now headed to a Game 7... you gotta love that (Chicago ruined it a little)! Over and out!

Playoffs? You Talking About Playoffs?

2009-05-10T22:28:00.003-04:00

I stayed up late on Saturday night to watch Game 5 of the Canucks vs. Blackhawks. With a 4-2 win, the upstart Blackhawks proved once again that this team is one to be feared. It may or may not happen this year, but I see a young, talented, and physical hockey club who has now pushed the Vancouver Canucks on the edge of elimination. The Canucks looked to be in control when Mats Sundin blasted a shot past Nikolai Khabibulin to give Vancouver a 2-1 lead. But, later Dustin Byfuglien tied it up late in the period to set up a crucial final period of play. When Kevin Bieksa took a really dumb high-sticking penalty (And it wasn't his only one), the Blackhawks took advantage of it with a beautiful tick-tack-toe passing play that ended up on Dave Boland's stick who found nothing but an empty net. Marty Havlat then finished off the Canucks with an empty netter to make it a 4-2 final in the favor of the Hawks. A couple of things from this game... Vancouver is supposed to be the more veteran and experienced team - well that's not happening! The Blackhawks have shown more composure and refuse to retaliate. Good coaching job by my former teammate, Joel Quennville. The other thing I want to talk about, is Dustin Byfuglien. How much money has this guy added to his next contract? He's big, tough, physical, hits, skates, and actually leads his team in hits. Oh yeah, almost forgot - he's a very skilled player for a big

man.

Over in the Pens and Caps series, Game 5 was a beauty. Evgeni Malkin's attempted pass to a wide open Sidney Crosby was deflected in by Tom Poti past Simeon Varlamov to give Pittsburgh the 4-3, OT victory. Alexander Ovechkin, who was not suspended (what a joke) for his intentional knee-on-knee hit on Sergei Gonchar, lead the Caps with 2 goals and 1 assist. However, it was not enough as Pittsburgh outplayed the Caps for the most part and deserved the win. It was nice to see if you're a Pens fan, the waking up of Jordan Staal along with his linemates (Matt Cooke and Tyler Kennedy). That line really gave the Caps fits all game. I also think that Bruce Boudeau's gamble on putting Sergei Fedorov on the defense backfired as Malkin flew around him on the winning goal. Second guessing? You betcha! Give the Pens credit, odds were against them with no suspension on Ovechkin and missing your best PP defenseman in Gonchar. Good job!

Game 5 in Detroit with the series tied at 2, was a yawner to me (The Wings won by a final of 4-1). Someone forgot to tell the Ducks the game starts in the 1st period and not halfway through. If not for a nice bounceback game by Jonas Hiller (and 3 goalposts), this one could have been much worse. Goals by Franzen and Hudler for Detroit gave the Wings a 2-0 lead. In response, Anaheim showed a bit of life on a goal by Ryan Whitney on the PP. I guess you would call the save by Chris Osgood a game saver a little bit later on Erik Christensen. However, I never felt that the Ducks were in this game at all. The shots on goal prove my point - Detroit 38, Anaheim 17. Case closed. Late goals by Darren Helm (goalie interference?) and an empty netter by Henrik Zetterberg topped it off for the Wings. I question Randy Carlyle's continuing to put Ryan Getzlaf on the ice, shift after shift. If he's hurt or sick, he should sit down. Getzlaf looks lethargic at best. In fact, he looks terrible. No drive, energy, or zip in his skating. The Ducks may be done, Detroit is too good of a team to play half speed with. If the Ducks don't wake up in Game 6, the Red Wings will have no problem putting them out of their misery!

The "Big Bad" Bruins in Game 5, well they played like the Big Bad Bruins should play - tough and physical. They really took it to the Carolina Hurricanes with a 4-0 shutout. This is the Bruins team that we all expected to see in this series. Lucic and Chara were nasty. Phil Kessel netted 2 with Lucic and Recchi getting the other goals for Boston. No questioning this one, Boston needed it and they stayed alive. Now the series shifts back to Carolina for Game 6. Can the Bruins find the same recipe for victory? Or will the Canes finish off the Bruins at their crazy confines in Raleigh? Over and out!