Petr Prucha is a late scatrch. He was slashed last night and is sitting this one out. Marcel Hossa took his place.
Lively crowd with a number of Canadien fans making noise and mixing it up with the Garden Faithful.
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This post was written by Joe McDonald on December 30, 2007
Tonight the Rangers take on the Montreal Canadiens after demolishing the Maple Leafs last night 5-1.
Henrik Lundqvist is back in goal, but other than that, the same lineup will go out with both Marcel Hossa and Jason Strudwick taking seats.
Tom Renney is looking to build some momentum by getting three in a row for his Blueshirts before they take the dreaded Western Canadian trip next week.
And for those who are counting that’s five games in a row against teams from the north and six out of seven.
Oh Canada!!
Even with such a bad December, remember the Rangers are only three points behind the Devils for the second most total in the conference. So it’s not so bad.
With the power play coming alive and Sean Avery back, the Rangers look like they can take on the world in 2008.
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This post was written by Joe McDonald on December 30, 2007
Is it me or are these recent Ranger games starting to become formulaic like the sitcoms of the early 1980?
Look at the sitest perios. The Rangers played great and have nothing to show for it and now, is history holds true, Carolina will score and take the lead, deflating the Blueshirts.
Just an observation, but it just seems like it’s going in that direction.
Where’s Silver Spoons and the Facts of Life when you need them?
Posted under Blog
This post was written by Joe McDonald on December 26, 2007
As John Amirante finished up his National Anthem – still the best in my opinion – Brandon Nolan was on the ice to start for the ‘Canes, who as some of you know is the son of Islanders coach Ted Nolan.
In his first game, on Saturday against Tampa Bay, Nolan assistsed on the Hurricanes’ first score and took two shots of his own.
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Posted under Blog
This post was written by Joe McDonald on December 26, 2007
The Rangers look to make their holiday wishes come true tonight with a win at home against the first place Carolina Hurricanes.
The Staal Brothers will take center stage with Eric facing off against Marc [In case you were wondering all three bothers spent Christmas in Carolina with Eric and Marc coming up here together].
Tom Renney is scratching Nigel Dawes, Marcel Hossa and Jason Strudwick, all have good reasons.
Hossa is still ill, but you would have to believe could play if he was contributing more. And Dawes and Strudwick may be sitting because the team may be showcasing Petr Prucha, Paul Mara and/or Marek Malik. The latter two will be paired up together on the third defensive set, while Prucha will slot back in on the third line.
According to Larry Brooks in today’s Post, Columbus is looking at those three in a possible trade. They have has scouts at the last few games with the Rangers looking at some help as the team has struggled over the last 10 games [going 2-6-2].
In the Post story, the Rangers are looking at defensemen Adam Foote and Rostislav Klesla with others may be in the deal as well, depending on how much Columbus takes back from the Blueshirts.
None of this can happen until tomorrow anyway, since the NHL roster freeze goes until tomorrow.
Posted under Blog
This post was written by Joe McDonald on December 26, 2007
The Wolf Pack finished up a four-game homestand last week, with a 2-1 shootout loss to Bridgeport in GEICO Connecticut Cup competition Friday, and a 4-3 defeat to Syracuse on Saturday. Those represented the Pack’s first back-to-back non-wins since November 3rd and 4th, and the Wolf Pack still have at least a standings point in 10 of their last 12 games (8-2-0-2). Hugh Jessiman scored the Pack’s only goal in Friday’s game, and Thomas Pöck notched his first two-goal game of the season Saturday.
This week:
The Wolf Pack hit the road for a three-game weekend. The Pack make their first visit of the season to Springfield Friday night (7:30), head to Bridgeport for another GEICO Connecticut Cup tilt vs. the Sound Tigers Saturday (7:00), and make their last of four trips to Manchester on Sunday (4:05).
Friday, December 28th at Springfield (MassMutual Center), 7:30 p.m.
·        This is the third game of the year between the Wolf Pack and their I-91 rivals the Falcons, but the Wolf Pack’s first trip to Springfield. The Wolf Pack have swept two previous meetings in Hartford, 2-1 in a shootout October 26th and 6-2 on December 1st.
·        The Falcons (16-12-2-3, 37 pts.) are tied with Portland for third place in the Atlantic Division, four points behind the second-place Wolf Pack.
·        Rob Schremp is the top point-getter on the Falcons’ squad, with 8-25-33 in 31 games. That is good for a tie for fourth in the AHL in assists. Goaltender Jeff Deslauriers is tied for second in the league in wins with 14.
·        Radio – live with Bob Crawford on ESPN Radio 1410, and on the web at: www.hartfordwolfpack.com, or watch on B2 Network! Go to www.harfordwolfpack.com for details.
ÂSaturday, December 29th at Bridgeport (Bridgeport’s Arena at Harbor Yard), 7:00 p.m.
·        This game is the fourth of ten GEICO Connecticut Cup battles on the year between the Wolf Pack and Sound Tigers. The Pack are 1-1-0-1 thus far in this year’s series, and won their only previous visit to Bridgeport, 5-3 on November 23rd. The Wolf Pack have come away with a victory in each of their last six trips to the Arena at Harbor Yard.
·        The Sound Tigers have won four of their last five games to climb to 13-15-1-0 for 27 points. They are in sixth place in the East Division.
·        Bridgeport scoring leader Jeff Tambellini (13-15-28 in 26 GP) had a four-game goal-scoring streak (6-1-7) snapped in the Sound Tigers’ 5-1 home loss to Manchester Saturday night.
·        Broadcast – live with Bob Crawford at www.hartfordwolfpack.com, or watch on B2 Networks! Go to www.hartfordwolfpack.com for details.
ÂSunday, December 30th at Manchester (Verizon Wireless Arena), 4:05 p.m.
·        The Monarchs are currently a .500 team, 13-13-3-1 for 30 points, and are in fifth place in the Atlantic.
·        Rookie Teddy Purcell (11-28-39 in 30 GP) still leads all AHL first-year pros in points and assists, but has fallen to second overall in the league in helpers and into a tie for second in points.
·        The Wolf Pack are 2-1-0-1 in the season series vs. the Monarchs, and this is their last visit of the season to Manchester, where they are 1-1-0-1 in three previous trips.
·        Broadcast – live with Bob Crawford at www.hartfordwolfpack.com, or watch on B2 Networks! Go to www.hartfordwolfpack.com for details.
ÂRecent Transactions:
Ryan Callahan – Recalled by the New York Rangers December 17th.
Greg Moore – Returned to the Wolf Pack by the New York Rangers December 17th.
Al Montoya – Recalled from the Wolf Pack by the New York Rangers December 17th, and returned December
18th.
Matt Zaba – Reassigned by the New York Rangers from the Wolf Pack to Charlotte (ECHL) December 18th.
Artem Anisimov – Reassigned by the New York Rangers from the Wolf Pack to the Russian National Junior
Team December 23rd.
Practice:
All Wolf Pack practices are open to the media at the XL Center or Champions Skating Center in Cromwell. As schedules are subject to last-minute changes, please call the public relations department at (860) 246-7825 before attending a practice.
Thurs., December 27Â Â Â Â Â 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM, XL Center
Fri., December 28         10:00 – 10:30 AM, Champions Skating Center (Game at Springfield)
Sat., December 29Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Game at Bridgeport
Sun., December 30Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Game at Manchester
Mon., December 31Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM, Champions Skating Center
ÂPack Tracks:
Wolf Pack Confidential, the Wolf Pack’s weekly Tuesday-night talk show, will return to the air January 8th. The show originates live from the M&M Restaurant at the Hilton Hartford, located at 315 Trumbull St. in downtown Hartford, from 7:00-8:00 PM.  Fans are welcome to be on hand at M&M for an exclusive opportunity to ask questions and speak one-on-one with the guests. Wolf Pack Confidential can be heard live on the radio home of the Wolf Pack, ESPN Radio 1410.
96.5 TIC’s Acoustic Café Volume 7, the proceeds from which benefit the Hartford Wolf Pack Community Foundation, is on sale now at the Wolf Pack store at Hartford 21, Strawberries and FYE stores and on-line at www.965tic.com. Acoustic Café Volume 7 features exclusive performances by Daughtry, KT Tunstall, Lifehouse, Avril Lavigne, Mat Kearney, Bowling for Soup, The Fray, Collective Soul and Mandy Moore. The CD costs only $9.65, and each CD also includes a voucher redeemable for a free ticket to a Wednesday or Sunday Wolf Pack home game.
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This Saturday, December 29th, the Wolf Pack’s lovable mascot, Sonar, and members of the Wolf Pack “Pack Attack†promotional team will be appearing at Middletown Nissan, 1153 Newfield St. (Rt. 3), Middletown (860-632-6550). 96.5 TIC will be doing a live remote as well.
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At the Wolf Pack’s home game Saturday, January 5th vs. the Lowell Devils, the first 5,000 fans will receive a free Wolf Pack team poster, courtesy of Click it or Ticket. The CT Department of Transportation’s Click It or Ticket campaign is a reminder that everyone needs to wear their safety belt — every trip, every time; “It’s the law – click it or ticket.”
Posted under Blog
This post was written by Joe McDonald on December 26, 2007
According to Sam Weinman, the Rangers will get an early Christmas present tonight with Sean Avery back in the lineup. After losing the two game West Coast trip, although getting a point, the Blueshirts will need a spark in order to get themselves back on track.
With Avery, the Rangers had a hot November, and vaulted into first. Without him, the team struggled this month, losing seven of nine.
Renney is alos scratching Paul Mara with Marek Malik in and Petr Prucha also may be sitting in favor of Nigel Dawes, but we will find out more about that later.
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Posted under Blog
This post was written by Joe McDonald on December 23, 2007
I hate to use the word trap game, but the Rangers are in somewhat of a tough pickle tonight with Ottawa in town With Christmas two days away, coach Tom Renney is trying to get his team focused, even though they came back from a tough road trip.
“I hope not,” Renney said. “This is the Ottawa Senators. This is the NHL. This is what we get paid to do to put a product on the ice in front of our fans. They want to support us for the right reasons. We have to play.”
The fans will get to see the play of Sean Avery, who Renney said will provide spark to the team as he comes back from surgery back on Nov. 27. The wrist is fine and after the doctors checked it out this morning, he was given the good to go.
“What he brings us is what he always has,” Renney said. “He’s an intelligent player, who doesn’t scarifice the defensive side of the puck to do his things. I like his speed, naturally. He’s an abrasive guy.”
What Renney is hoping for is a trickle down effect, where the rest of the Rangers follow No. 16’s lead.
“To a point,” said the coach. “There are a number of times during the hockey season where you are looking to establish traction and gets parts of your game back. When he is not in the lineup, there’s a vital part of our game that is missing to a point. He helps everybody to understand this is [what we are missing.]”
Avery will be in. Petr Prucha is a scratch, along with Paul Mara. Marek Malik in, as will be Nigel Dawes on the third line.
Posted under Blog
This post was written by Joe McDonald on December 23, 2007
I put this on the Islander Scene, I figured I would share it with Ranger fans as well.
Please feel free to comment.
Posted under Blog
This post was written by Joe McDonald on December 19, 2007
Sean Avery will be with the Rangers on Thursday and Friday on their western trip, but according to Tom Renney he’s still a ways away from suiting up.
“[He'll] drive us bananas because he is itching to play,” Renney said. “He’s a few days away from serious contact and there’s still a little bit of pain there. We can rehab him, and he could be day-to-day in two days.”
***
Al Montoya was called up in case Henrik Lundqvist was not ready after coming down with the flu. Based on last night’s perfromance, The King was ready.
***
The line shakeups seems to work very well.
Jaromir Jagr seemed pleased with playing next to Scott Gomez: “From the first time we played together, Scotty is a lot more confident. He’s gotten a lot quicker.”
Gomez on Jagr: “I think that was the problem in the beginning, I was thinking too much,” Gomez said with a laugh. “We get in trouble when we start to think. We’re just a bunch of hockey players.”
Chris Drury and Brendan Shanahan also seemed pleased, although Shanahan wantes to take some time before passing judgement. Said Shanahan: “It was good. I though at a certain point of the game, it seemed like we were getting more special teams shifts together. We killed a lot of penalities. He had a lot of shifts with Nigel [Dawes], but then we couldn’t string them together. It’s tough to gage.”
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This post was written by Joe McDonald on December 19, 2007
