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NEW YORK – Don’t expect the NHL to go to a NFL type, game a week schedule, but after the 5-1 drubbing of the Buffalo Sabres at the Garden by the New York Rangers, the Blueshirts may lobby for it. That’s because a different Ranger team took the ice, one that pressured the net and controlled the game, while staying true to its defensive roots. It took the lead 10 seconds into the game and never looked back. “The start was certainly we all hoped for,” said coach Tom Renney, who worked his team this week and certainly had them prepared for battle. “And made it real clear to Buffalo, who have certainly been very good lately, that they will have their hands full. From that point of view, we were satisfied with our start.”

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by Patrick Hickey, Jr. | Senior Writer – NY Sports Day | Saturday, February 9, 2008

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Through the miracle of moden technology called Verizon, I am writing this on the train ride home.

If you were at the game or watched it at home, you saw the Rangers dominate on shots, but also watched as the Ducks capitalized on Blueshirt mistakes.

Here’s the problem: The Rangers play a different game at home compared to on the road. That said, the Blueshirts make too many mistakes at home, and hope that Henrik Lundqvist can save them.

Unfortunately, he can’t.

As good as Lundqvist has been, the Rangers still can’t leave their goalie naked out there for odd man rushes. They limit those on the road, but get out of the gameplan at the Garden. The result comes a loss for the Blueshirts, a frustrated crowd and an angry Tom Renney, who is not at fault here.

Until the team cuts down on their mistakes at the Garden expect more of this, because the Rangers can’t go toe to toe with the high scoring teams.

Just my throughts on the train. I will have the NYSD game story up later.

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After the 2-1 win over the Devils, I was able to poll a few Blueshirts on their picks. While some didn’t really follow football enough to give a pick, others fearlessly forecasted a Giant win.

Here are the results:

Henrik Lundqvist: First went with the Pats 24-15, but then changed it to Giants 32-24

Jason Strudwick: 24-14 Pats

Fedor Tyutin: Giants 24-21

Stephen Valiquette: Giants 24-14

Dan Girardi: Giants 30-21

Scott Gomez: Giants 28-17

Tom Renney: Giants 26-23

 

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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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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?

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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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After the first half of the first period of the game, the Rangers took charge and dominated the play and outshot the Leafs 12-4 for the period.

The duo of Drury and Gomez is playmaking as the Rangers scored two power play goals.

With that momentum, the Blueshirts need to stick it to the Leafs this period.

On a side note, Howard Berger is here and credentialed, so now that’s two things he’s incorrect on. Is he ready for strike three?

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The last time the Toronto Maple Leafs were in town on Oct. 27, the 4-1 loss was so bad, the Rangers regrouped and then went on their hot streak.

Now things have changed. The Blueshirts have gotten their grove on and are tied with the Flyers for the divisional lead.

But a 4-0 loss to the Hurricanes on Monday has given Tom Renney some concern. So he worked his team for two hours on Tuesday and according to the Ranger reporters not moonlighting the Winter Meetings, were to a man determined to put that loss behind them.

And with the Leafs still trying to keep the puck out of the net, this may be the perfect team for them to rebound.

I will have some more later as it comes in….

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