Rangers keep Rollin

The trade deadline passed, without any major deals for the Rangers. They went out on Monday night and shutdown a very tough Devil team, behind Henrik Lundqvist’s 7^th shutout and 30^th win of the season.  Tonight they went out and beat a surging Carolina Hurricane team, without Captain Ryan Callahan with Brandon Dubinsky benched after taking a bad penalty early in the game, and with Michael Del Zotto leaving the game early after reinjuring his hip. A game like tonight when Marty Biron, who has struggled lately, played a solid game this team showed once again, why they didn’t need to make a big trade. Why Glen Sather didn’t dismantle the roster, and showed why the fans of this team have a reason to believe. They stay the course, just like the coach has taught them, just like the GM showed by not making any trades.

This has become the true identity of this team, they are tough they are gritty and they are blue collar, just like many New Yorkers. Just when you think there could be a letdown, this team steps up, whether its Brandon Prust, or Brian Boyle or new comer John Scott who was picked up at the deadline, someone steps up and helps this team win. As it has been the case all season, this was another team win, a win where not just one player stepped up, but there were contributions up and down the line up. The GAS line of Anisimov, Gaborik and Stepan played big and they needed to, Marc Staal stepped up and played what could have been his best game of the season. Now could that be because he was playing against his brother Eric, for the first time since he gave Marc a concussion, or if it is because he starting to return to form is still to be determined, but he has been playing better as of late. The fact that Staal has been playing better is going to be a big key during this final stretch of the regular season and into the playoffs, especially if players continue to get dinged up. The continued growth of Ryan McDonagh has also started to become evident with each passing game, as he continues to play very well against the opposing team’s top players, another reason why Sather didn’t make the Nash deal because Columbus was asking for the young stud defenseman.

This team is showing that they belong in the top spot in the East and it doesn’t look like they are ready to give it up anytime soon. Tomorrow they play the Tampa Bay before a big home game on Sunday against the Boston Bruins, who are still chasing the Rangers in the East. The Rangers have a tough month ahead but this will be the final hurdle of the regular season, before the playoffs, so it will be a very good test before the playoffs and the drive for the Stanly Cup.  If you don’t think this team has a great chance to take home Lord Stanley’s Cup for the first time since 1994, watch this team play and I’m sure you will become a believer, I’m sure you will see what all the true blue Rangers fans see and love about their New York Rangers.

By Joe Clewell

Rangers’ streak snapped in 4-2 loss to Toronto

The New York Rangers (15-6-3) had a five game winning streak in their 4-2 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs (15-10-2) in hockey action on Monday night.  The Blueshirts fought back, but could not overcome a faster and more physical Leafs’ team.

Brandon Prust kept his fighting streak alive at the 2:05 mark of the first period, dropping gloves and exchanging blows with Jay Rosehill. Taking momentum in the game though was the Leafs’ who seemed to have jet packs on their skates, as Toronto hustled to every puck on the ice.

Toronto took the 1-0 lead when Cody Franson (2) connected on a wicked slap shot, which went past Rangers cager Henrik Lundqvist at the 6:01 mark in the first period.  Marian Gaborik had a great opportunity to tie things up for the Blueshirts at the 8:32 mark.

Gabby was set-up beautifully on a pass from Ruslan Fedotenko, but the duo could not connect for the first Rangers goal.  New York started to gain positive momentum after blueliner Ryan McDonagh blocked a goal-scoring opportunity by the Leafs before the end of the first period of play.

Though the Rangers played better in the second half, Toronto doubled up their score at the 5:12 mark when Tim Connolly (4) recorded a wrister for a 2-0 lead. Joffrey Lupul (13) tallied the third Maple Leafs goal one minute later, cashing in on a power play opportunity.

New York started to scratch back though, as Artem Anisimov who led the physical play on the ice for the Blueshirts, was rewarded with a goal at the 13:00 mark. Anisimov (4) connected on a quick release snap shot to start cutting into the Toronto lead.

The Rangers continued their second period comeback, when Marian Gaborik (13) cashes in on a 5-on-3 opportunity at the 14:32 mark.  Gabby was set-up beautifully by the combination of Derek Stephan (11) and Brad Richards (13), who continue their fine play for the Rangers.

For Richards, the center now has a six game point streak, as for Gaborik the winger now has four goals in the last six games. Toronto continued their barrage but Lundqvist (26 saves) was up to the task in turning away the Leafs before the end of the frame.

Fans of the Blueshirts had a scary moment at the 16:15 mark when Michael Del Zotto who hit the boards hard, thankfully the blueliner returned quickly and skated well for the rest of the game.

New York continued to skate hard, but was unable to avoid dropping their second game to Toronto on Madison Square Garden ice this season.  The Leafs capped off the victory on a short-handed empty net goal at the 19:55 mark when David Steckel (5) recorded the wrister for the 4-2 victory.

The Rangers will look to rebound in a Thursday night showdown against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The game between the Blueshirts and the Bolts will air on the MSG network, with the face-off slated for 7:00 p.m.

Stacy Podelski

http://www.smacksportvideos.com/

New York Rangers on a Roll - Blueliner special as Rangers down Carolina 5-3

The red-hot New York Rangers (14-5-3) earned their fourth straight victory over the Carolina Hurricanes (8-15-4) by a final of 5-3 in hockey action on Thursday night. New York has been showing true grit in this winning stretch, as all aspects of the game have been clicking for the Blueshirts.

Using a two goal lead to gain their fourth, the Rangers skated away thanks to the extra effort by their defense. Thanks to their efforts, two members of the Rangers defense were rewarded with goals as Ryan McDonagh and Michael Sauer found the back of the cage.

Things didn’t start the way of the Blueshirts at first, as Carolina scored on a face-off 0:35 into the first period, as Jiri Tlusty (5) recorded a snap shot for a 1-0 lead. Captain Ryan Callahan (10), who has been the face of the Rangers blue collared effort, recorded a wrister at the 1:42 mark to tie things up a one.

Jeff Skinner (11) recorded a slap shot at the 19:51 mark, to give Carolina the 2-1 lead.  The Blueshirts regained momentum in the second period of play, with four goals in the frame. New York has liked the later part of the game, as it has been the trend for the Blueshirts barrage to open up the game scoring wise in the second and third periods.

McDonagh (4) started the Blueshirts barrage with a wrister at the 8:54 mark, before Marian Gaborik (12) gave New York a 3-2 lead with a wrister with 11:50 on the scoreboard.  ‘Gabby’ was set-up beautifully on the third goal, as Artem Anisimov (11) faked a shot and passed the puck to the Rangers sniper.

Hardworking Sean Avery (3) was rewarded for his efforts on the ice with a wicked snap shot goal at the 13:47 mark of the frame, to give New York a 4-2 lead.  Carolina made it a nail-biter at the 19:51 mark, cutting the Rangers lead to one on a Derek Joslin goal-his first in a hurricanes uniform.

The Rangers buckled down in what was a scary third period of play, finding the cushion necessary from a goal from Michael Sauer-who recorded his first goal of the season.  Three scary moments afterward occurred for the Blueshirts faithful, as injuries to Marty Biron, John Mitchell and Derek Stephan all happened-thanks to the gritty effort by the guys.

Biron (28 saves) and Stephan (one assist, plus one rating) returned to the ice, while Mitchell (plus one rating, two blocked shots) did not return. John who left the arena with blood falling from above his eye, as the rookie was making his second blocked shot of the game.

The good news for Rangers fan is that Mitchell left the ice on his own power, though it is not yet known if there are any other injuries thanks to the sacrifice that was made. In the other good news department is that Carl Hagelin aka the Energizer Bunny recoded his fourth point in four games with the club-helping to set-up the final goal of the game.

New York will end this road trip with a visit to Tampa Bay on Saturday to take on the Lightning.  The game between the Blueshirts and Bolts is scheduled to air on the MSG network, with the face-off slated for 7:00 p.m.

Stacy Podelski

http://www.smacksportvideos.com/

Wild’s Waiver Claim of O’Sullivan Hardly Oh-My-God Material

It’s not often you get a do-over, but, even so, the Minnesota Wild must surely be looking at its re-acquisition of Patrick O’Sullivan on Monday as nothing more than a “meh” on its indifference scale.

Who really cares that once upon a time he got traded away (along with a first-round pick) for Pavol Demitra to try and get Marian Gaborik to stay with the franchise well into the twilight of his career? Gaborik probably never intended on staying no matter what the team did, however much money the team threw his way.

Who really cares that the Wild have basically just gotten back a human suitcase more well-travelled than the worn body of a 40-year-old prostitute on the verge of retirement? All that matters is the here and the now.

Who really cares, all due respect to O’Sullivan and the publicized personal trials and tribulations he’s had to endure, about what has transpired in his past? It is just a business after all.

And who really cares that the 10-7-2 Wild are actually surpassing expectations early this season? No one should be, especially no one affiliated in any shape or form with the Wild, because to care would be to become content with what is still by and large a mediocre record. That’s why the rationale behind this move is so confusing, because the team has in essence turned to the one player who has been complacency personified over the course of his career.

O’Sullivan first got drafted by the Wild in the second round of the incredibly strong 2003 draft. While the first round saw such gems as Ryan Getzlaf, Eric Staal, and Zach Parise get drafted, even in the second round, names such as Patrice Bergeron, Shea Weber, and Jimmy Howard were still available to be had. Many thought O’Sullivan belonged in that special group of talent-laden players, especially after his 53-point season in 2007-2008 with the Los Angeles Kings. And yet his career took a different turn when he staged a mini-hold-out to start the following season, failing to show up for training camp and signing a three-year, $8.775-million contract four days before the team’s season opener. I mean, as far as salaries go, a $2.925-million-per-year average isn’t too crazy, but let’s just say everyone’s lucky Mike Richards didn’t captain the Kings then or we all would have been told to death just how bigger than his britches O’Sullivan was acting.

After getting the contract he wanted with the Kings that year, his production and development didn’t so much regress as it did just stall. And then came the kiss-of-death trade to the Edmonton Oilers, a three-way deal that saw Justin Williams go to L.A., Erik Cole go to the Carolina Hurricanes, and O’Sullivan to what would become the graveyard of his career in Edmonton, where he posted a league-worst +/- -35 last season en route to being placed on waivers this past off-season before eventually signing a two-way contract with Carolina.

"So, let me get this straight: I shouldn't be letting pucks go in my net?"

If you’re getting the impression that O’Sullivan is just an oversized human hot potato no one really wants to hang to for too long, you’re not alone. I mean, no one even took a chance on him when Edmonton placed him on waivers, leading to the Oilers trading him for defenseman Jim Vandermeer, his consequential buy-out by the Phoenix Coyotes (because the Coyotes are so adept at goal scoring, didn’t you know?), and his short-lived stint as a Hurricane.

Really, the only reason Minnesota is taking a chance on him now is because injuries are starting to pile up at forward with the none-too-bright James Sheppard still trying to figure out where he went wrong riding an ATV in the off-season, Chuck Kobasew nursing his lower body, Pierre-Marc Bouchard still out with a concussion, and Guillaume Latendresse conveniently requiring surgery to repair both a torn labrum and a bilateral sports hernia and taking his sweet time to return, lest he be discovered for the third-liner he really is who just got insanely lucky 20 times over last season.

As such, O’Sullivan should get plenty of opportunity to prove to the Wild (and to the Hurricanes, and to the Oilers, and to the Kings, and to the Coyotes) that the team made a mistake getting rid of him initially.

Hopefully the presumed chip on his shoulder isn’t made of potato like the rest of him and lasts at least the remainder of this year so he can resurrect what’s left of his career. And if it doesn't help the Wild right off the bat, so be it. It's not the end of the world. Because it is a move made to at least try and improve the team, because judgment should only be reserved for a few weeks in anyway, and, finally, because the only thing Wild should ever really live to regret is investing all that time and money in Gaborik.