Game #11 Pens@Rangers

First meeting since the Pens knocked off the Rangers last spring.I despise Crosby but more for the fact how all these commentatots suck the guy off. Like he is the only reason to watch hockey.Crosby this,crosby that.Malkin is better than that crybaby crosby.Anyways about half way through the first Daryl sydor made it 1-0 Pens on a slapper that beat Henrik. The Rangers really didn't look that great the first but did have some chances. Crosby scored in the second to give the Rangers a 2-0 lead. The Ranger had a full 5-3 PP but since their PP is awful they couldn't do anything and actually lost momentum from this. Chris Drury is dreadful to watch on offense so far this season.Second ends Rangers still trail 2-0 and I admit I really don't have any hope for them starting the third trailing 2-0. They get a PP in the third and Naslund is able to cash in and score to make it 2-1.A big PP goal from Naslund who'd been struggling also.We get down to under a minute the Rangers are still trailing 2-1 and off a brillant pass from Naslund that was started by a nice Dubie play Nik Zherdev scores off a wicked wrist shot to tie the game at 2 with 9 seconds left.Holy shit!I did not expect that.Rangers get a point and we go to OT.In ot the pens get 4 shots all turned aside by Henrik.We go to a shootout.Zherdev stopped by fleury,letang stoned by Henrik,Dawes stifled by Fleury.Sykora stopped by Henrik.Sjostrom comes in third for the Rangers and scores off a nice deke and barely beats Fleury.Rangers lead.Crosby is last for the Pens.Crosby does a bunch of dekes and head movements and Henrik doesn't flinch at any of them and stops Crosby.HAHAHA!Henrik owns Crosby,Rangers win in a shootout.Next game Mon at the nassau coliseum against the isles(piles)
Soup for Zherdev,Henrik and Dubinsky
No soup for Chris Drury

Game #10 Rangers@Columbus

Before this game even started I had bad feelings considering the Rangers normally do not play good against the jackets especially in their building. Things started off bad also as Jakub Voracek scored to give the jackets a 1-0 lead.The Rangers did very little well in the first period. They started off the second a little better and Henrik Lundqvist continued his outstanding play.Dan Girardi scores off a shot from the point on an assist from Zherdev to tie the game at 1. Later on in a controversial call,Brandon Dubinsky scored on a redirection of his skate on a pass by Zherdev to give the Rangers a 2-1 lead.It was deemed the kicking motion was after the puck went in so the goal stood.The Rangers caught a break there imo. In the third once again Henrik came up big with some great saves to keep the Rangers in the lead. Later on Nik Zherdev scored on a brillant backhander he lifted to the top corner to gibe the Rangers a 3-1 lead and thats who it would end.Nik Z was very good in his return to columbus,the kid is extremely talented and this was a huge game for him.Henrik also was very sharp and my pick for player of the game.Next game versus the Penguins.
Soup for Zherdev and Lundqvist
no soup for Chris Drury

Game #9 stars@Rangers

I was really pumped for this game.The return of my favorite player Sean Avery to the garden,his first since signing with the stars in the offseason.Before warm ups he was already yapping at Valliquette and Dubinsky.This is what I lvoed about the guy,he always made sames entertaining. Well the Rangers got off to a quick start when Markus Naslund scored to give the Rangers a 1-0 lead.Kind of a dull period,Avery was yapping with Henrik and Dubie again and actually got some boos.Orr also gave him a sucker punch.I would have cheered him like crazy. The second period was not good,the Rangers looked flat and what chances they had they missed the net on. Brendan Morrow scored a nice goal from the ice to tie the game at 1. Chris Drury btw still is invisible. The third also sucked for the Rangers,not much offense,I think all these games in so many nights has finally caught up to them. Mike Modano scored next to give the stars a 2-1 lead and thats how it would end. The Rangers were unable to muster anything else offensively.Sean Avery had a pretty quiet game for the most part. The Rangers really need to get Drury playing cause right now he looks like shit and I'd bench the guy,captain or not. Next game friday at columbus
soup for hmmm Henrik Lundqvist
no soup for Drury and most forwards except Dubie and Gomez who played well.

Game #8 Rangers@Red-wings

I'll start by saying I didn't have expectations for this game seeing how good detroit is and how much we have struggled in heckeytown. From the get go it looked like I would be right, 2 quick goals by the wings had me going "oh boy this is going to get ugly quick. However Ryan Callahan scored off a beautiful pass from Gomez to get the Rangers into the game. A much needed goal cause it was looking like we were intimidated by the wings who were without Henrik Zetterberg. First ended with a 2-1 wings lead. Eventually Holmstrom would make it 3-1 wings with a nice goal.However the Ranger showed resiliency when Nigel finally i showed up to play Dawes scored his first goal of the season. The new line of Gomez,Dawes and Callahan played really well. The second ended with the Rangers trailing 3-2. The third began and i was thinking well at least we are hanging with them. But then boom Aaron Voros scores 2 goals to give the Rangers a 4-3 lead.wow!!!!!!!!!!However the refs decided to call a too many men on the ice penalty to the Rangers(a marginal call) and detroit capitilized when Jiri Hudler tied it up at 4. Henrik Lundqvist made some big saves down the stretch to get this game into OT. OT however ended really fast when Hossa scored 23 seconds in off a pass from datsyuk.Shame we lost but we did get a point out of this.Stll waiting for Chris Drury to show up for a game,naslund also.
Soup for the Gomez line and Dubie Line.
No soup for Chris Drury and Markus Naslund...wake the fuck up please.
Next game Monday night against SEAN AVERY and the stars.

Game #7 Leafs at Rangers

The Rangers coming off their first loss of the season decide to start Valliquette in goal saving Henrik for Dallas and Detroit. Vally was coming off a damn good game against Philly. He has played some good games against the leafs dating back to last season.The Rangers looking for scoring from their first line switched some lines around. Cally was moved up to play with Gomez and Dawes was back in the lineup to play on this line.Drury moved down to the third line to center fritsche and naslund.The first happened to be one of the most boring periods i've watched in recent times.Gomez can't finish,drury is invisible and nas looked washed up.Scoreless first. More of the same the second,Drury had some more chances and still sucks.All around no one can finish at the moment.Vesa Toskala did play pretty good for the leafs.Another scoreless period. the third is where it actually became funny how bad we are at finishing.On one shift we hit both posts on one shot and the crossbar on the following shot. Laughable. Vally did make some nice saves and we head into overtime where each team had one good chance.OT ends,shootout time. Zherdev scores,Vally stops Stajan. Dawes misses. Kulemin scores. Sjostrom scores. Vally stops the rat Blake. Rangers win. Still have just one line that can score and 3 that can't finish.
One thing greatly missed about these 2 teams was the constant Avery vs Tucker feud. Those 2 definitely would have made this game more watchable.
Soup for Valliquette,Zherdev
No soup for Drury,Naslund
Next game: at Detroit

Game #6 Sabres at Rangers

A terrible game all around for the Rangers. I figured a loss was coming after a 5-0 start. Started out decent with Scott Gomez giving the Rangers a 1-0 lead but not an exciting first period to watch. The Rangers took some terrible penalties in the second and their penalty killing streak was stopped at 22 I believe when Ales Kotalik scored on the PP. 7 mins later anothe rPP goal from Thomas Vanek made it 2-1 Sabres. This game it really became apparent our first line is complete shit.Drury has been horrible,wake the eff up and do something,you are the captain. Naslund left his legs and shot in Prague and Gomez has been off. Just 1:10 into the third the Rangers give up a SH goal to Vanek and that just about does it. The Rangers had some decent chances but have no firepower other than Zherdev and Dubie.Final score Sabres 3 Rangers 1.Shit.
Soup for Petr Prucha
No soup for the entire first line

Game #5 Devils at Rangers

Before the gamne started we were alerted of a terrible tragedy.Alexei Cherepanov,the Rangers top prospect died in Russia while playing for OMSK of the khl,he collapsed after a shift with former Ranger Jaromir Jagr.They apparently revived him 5 times but had problems with the ambulance being later and the defibrillator.A terrible tragedy,just 19 yrs old.RIP Alexei Cherepanov.
The Rangers stuck first on a surprise Brandon Dubinsky goal,this kid and his line continues to impress.Rangers had a good first,skating really well and Henrik didn't see many shots.Only bad thing is the first line just isn't clicking at the moment.
6:37 into the second Aaron Voros who is playing really good scores a PP goal to make it 2-0 Rangers,Dubie with an assist.John Madden of the devils cut the lead in half at the end of the period with the devs taking control of the play.3rd begins and Voros in front of the net deflects a Mara shot by blowdeur for a 3-1 lead that would hold up.Brandon Dubinsky with an unselfish play at the end opting to pass to Callahan for an empty net goal.Rangers win 4-1.Now all this talk about Voros being Avery's replacement and while I like the guy 5 games doesn't make a season,if he keeps this up consistently i would be thrilled.Still Avery > Voros.Brandon Dubinsky now has 7 points in 5 games,what a start for this kid,he is amazing and lets not forget Henrik who is now 4-0 and the Rangers 5-0 with a chance to break their record for best start on wednesday against the sabres.Knock on wood.
Soup for Voros,Dubie and Henrik
No soup for the first line
Next game:wednesday against the sabres

Sean Avery watch

Played 2;53 seconds before getting into a fight with Dan Hamhuis of the predators and getting 2 game misconducts and 25 PIMs.Also was having words with a lady while he was in the penalty box..haha..Will always miss this guy.

Game #4 Rangers@Flyers

Was really skeptical about this game given that this was the flyers home opener and this was our second game in 2 nights.Sarah Palin dropped the puck for this game.The Rangers came out absolutely flying.Nik Zherdev who is looking like a steal opened the scoring to give the Rangers 1-0 lead.Orr then fought Cote and soon after Zherdev taking Orr's spot on the 4th line set up Blair Betts of all people for a goal to make it 2-0.Betts is probably good for 2 more goals this whole season.Soon after Freddy sjostrom scored on a beautiful wrap around goal to make it 3-0.And then on the PP Michael Rosival made it 4-0 Rangers.Another higlight of the first was Bradnon Dubinsky fighting Mike Richatds,2 good young players settling it like they shoudl.First period dominated by the Rangers but I knew the flyers would come back,this game was somewhat reminiscent of the Rangers game vs the Habs last season when we blew a 5-0 lead.
It started unraveling soon when Scott Hartnell scored SH to make it 4-1,Simon Gagne then made it 4-2 after Richards plowed over Valliquette while the ref just watched with his thumb up his ass.We really sat back and let the flyers back into the game in the second.The third line of korepdo,Cally and Rissmiller really didn;t get much going and the Gomez,Naz and Dru line had some chances but couldn't finish worth a lick.The Rangers were able to get out of the period still leading 4-2.
The third was more of the same,Mike Richards scored to make it 4-3 and soon after were had to kill of a 5-3.Vally starting his first game of the season made some big saves in the later part of the period.He is a flyer killer.His career record against them is impressive.In the end we hang on to win 4-3 and are 4-0 for the first time since 1983-84.I wasn't impressed with how we sat back on a 4-0 lead and didn't like the way we took so many penalties.Also our first line is going to have to start netting some goals.The Dubs,Z and Voros line looked good again and they may have to carry us offensively.Nigel Dawes was a healthy scratch and deservedly so.Fritsche still deserves a chance.NMext game Monday agaisnt Blowdeur and the devils.
Soup for Blair Betts,Nik Z and Vally
No soup for Gomez who had an off game which is rare.

Game #3 Hawks@Rangers(home opener)

Nice pre-game ceremony with Graves,bathgate(#9s)both getting their numbers retired this season and Howell.Decent start for the Rangers early on,gomez was flying and the Dubinsky line which is now Dubie with Voros and Zherdev.Rangers strike first,drury throws a shot on net and Huet leaves a bad rebound and wade(norris)redden scores to make it 1-0 Rangers.Patrick Kane a good young player scores to tie it at 1.Cally gets into a fight,didn't do too bad.Rangers a little sloppy towards the end of the period.
Second period,Voros scores his first goal as a Ranger on a beautiful play by Dubie,Dubie then scores off some nice work by Voros who looked nice on that line.This goal by Dubie was pretty sweet,he made some quick moves and then finished with a nice up high.Zherdev played great all night,very physical and very active all over and made some impressive moves and later in the third he nets his first as a Ranger on another beautiful play by Dubie who was awesome all night.This came after the hawks cut it to 3-2.Rangers hang on to win 4-2 and are 3-0 for the first time since 89-90.Nigel Dawes once again was invisible for the third straight game and needs to be sat for a game or two and Dan Fritsche needs to be in the lineup.Sjostrom took prus spot and wasn't too noticeable either.All in all Im pleased with the way they played and especially Dubie and Zherdev.Dubie is already the best center on the team.
Soup for the playstation line of Dubie,Zherdev and Voros
No soup for Mr Invisible Nigel Dawes
Next game tommorow at Philly for the cryers home opener

Game #2 Rangers vs Lightning (from Prague)

Game 2 thoughts
Rangers dominated throughout the first completely outshooting the lightning and controlling the play.15-3 the Rangers outshot them yet somehow as the Rangers always manage to do found a way to miss numerous easy chance and went down 1-0 when Adam Hall(who was the most useless Ranger ever) scored.
More of the same in the second,completely dominating play but unable to score for shit until Redden finally got one passed Kolzig on a nice pass from Naslund on the PP.Redden looked much better overall today and so did the whole Rangers defense.Gomez was flying again today and scored a nice rebound goal to give us a 2-1 lead.Dawes hustled a lot more today and Zherdev continues to show much more than we had been led to believe.Korpikoski had another good game,very quick and strong to the puck.Prucha was relatively quiet and really needs to find a way to score some goals.And the the 4th line,the vbo line(vert bad offense) actually had some chances but couldn't score.The PK was solid again and Henrik wasn't tested much but made the saves when he had to.Rangers start 2-0.Next game,home opener friday against the Blackhawks.
soup for Gomez,Redden and almost the whole team
no soup for.......can't pick any,solid team effort.

Game #1 Rangers vs Lightining(from Prague)

Game 1 Thoughts
The Rangers defense looked very shaky at times especially in the first period giving up numerous odd man rushes and a breakaway to Vinny Lecavalier.Redden looked somewhat shaky and Rosy didn't look particularly sharp either.Kalinin looked not so great either getting beat a few times.Henrik was awesome early on stopping a couple odd man rushes and a breakaway by Lecavalier.
The Gomer,Drury Naslund line looked decent and had some good chances,Naslund in particular(some beautiful moves and close calls) and Dru had a semi breakway only to be stopped.Gomez was absolutely flying all night.I have no use for Renney's 4th line of Betts with Orr and Voros,is there really a need for both Orr and Voros in the lineup at the same time and on the same line.Furthermore his decision to scratch Dan Fritsche also boggled my mind since he's played well all pre-season and looked like he has decent speed and decent offensive abilities.Nigel Dawes nearly invisible all pre-season continued on this trend and i don't even recall seeing him except for one missed chance on a PP.Prucha was average but to stick around needs to score or he will find himself in a familar spot.His linemates Korpedo and Cally played hard all night and this line has some nice speed,Korpedo in particular.Brandon Dubinsky and Nik Z worked well together and I think as time goes on will become a good duo.Dubinsky will have a breakout season in my opinion and Z could as well.
soup for henrik,Dubie,Naslund and Gomez
no soup for Dawes,and the Rangers Defense