Everything's coming up goals for revitalized Rangers power forward Rick Nash posted by Rangers Fan

The first goal showcased Rick Nash’s dominance. He pounced on a turnover and took off on a 2-on-1 rush. A split-second before the defender could deflect the shot with an outstretched stick, he fired from the left circle and beat the goalie cleanly, giving the New York Rangers a 1-0 lead over the Pittsburgh Penguins 26 seconds into the game Sunday.

The second goal showcased something else. The Rangers won a faceoff. Nash backed up with the puck above the left circle. While still backing up, he flicked the puck on net. It went off the stick of a defender in front, fluttered over the right arm of the goalie and fell across the line. It gave the Rangers a 3-1 lead and turned out to be the winning goal in a 5-2 victory.

There are two parts to Nash’s season: good health and good luck. He’s skating the way he used to skate, and he’s getting the bounces, and he’s tied for the NHL lead with 28 goals. He’s on pace for 53 goals, which would shatter his career high, as he heads to the All-Star Game in Columbus, the city where he spent his first nine NHL seasons.

 “It’s amazing,” Nash said. “When the puck’s going in, it’s going in. And when it’s not, it’s not.”

 This will be Nash’s 6th All star Game and it’s ‘weird’ for the former Blue Jacket to be in Columbus again.

They drafted him first overall in 2002, after their second NHL season. He became the face of the franchise and went to the All-Star Game five times – but the playoffs only once. He ended up requesting a trade.

Islanders flog Flyers to end first half on top of Metropolitan Division posted by Islanders Fan

No one expected the New York Islanders to head into their All-Star break on top of the Eastern Conference, not even coach Jack Capuano.

He knows his club has played surprisingly well, though he claims he doesn't know just how well.

That's OK. He likes what he sees, and he wants it to continue when the Islanders get back on the ice next week.

"I don't even know our record," Capuano said after New York's 7-4 victory over the Philadelhpia Flyers on Monday. "We come to the rink and we get better every day. I know we've won some games and things are going well for our team right now, but we can't lose sight of how we need to play."

The Islanders, 15-2 against divisional foes, are off until they host the Rangers next Tuesday. New York is 16-4 overall at home.

"The thing about our hockey team is believability and trust. Accountability and leadership," Capuano said. "No one gave us a chance, and that is why you play the game. I am very pleased up until this point with our hockey club. We've done a lot of good things, not only winning hockey games but how we're winning games and how we're playing within the structure and the framework."

"We wanted to have a bounce-back game and go into the break on a high," Josh Bailey said. "It will be a much-deserved break, but we're going to want to pick up where we left off."

Last season's team went only 13-19-9 at home and missed the playoffs after making it the year before.

"It's no secret it was a big disappointment last year and one of the reasons why we didn't have much success," Tavares said.

How will the New York Rangers Deal with Dan Boyle’s Injury? posted by Rangers Fan

The biggest blow for the team was the departure of Brad Richards. The 6’ centerman departed to Chicago after $60 million nine year contract. He scored 20 goals and had 51 points in total. Alain Vigneault and manager Glen Sather will have to fill the gap left by Richards’s departure.

Key Acquisitions

Several acquisitions have been made this season. They include Dan Boyle, Matthew Lombardi, Nick Tarnasky, Chris Mueller, Mike Kostka, Tanner Glass and Lee Stempniak. Unfortunately, the rangers will have to do without Dan Boyle who is currently out on an injury. Boyle, one of the key acquisitions this season broke his hand on the first game of the season.

Injury

Finding a replacement for Boyle is one of the biggest headaches for Vigneault this season. Kevin Klein who has played his position in some of the games, has failed miserably to defend the team.  Alain Vigneault may have to seek replacements from outside. Unfortunately, this may not be possible as there aren’t many available players to pick. He may have to go back to his draft.

The Rangers can boast of the fact that they have one of the best goaltenders in the NHL; Henrik Lundqvist.  Lundqvist has been consistent in his performance and is an asset for the team. He finished last season with a .927 save percentage and has a career save percentage of .922.

The team lacks good first line players to work with Derick Brassard and Derek Stepan who are the team’s second line centers. New acquisition Matthew Lombardi who was playing with Genève-Servette a top tier team in Switzerland’s National league, does not have a lot of experience to play for the league. 

Devils Beat Rangers in OT posted by Richard Kagan

New Jersey beat the NY Rangers in game 6 in OT to oust the Rangers from the Eastern Conference Finals.  I live in NY and follow hockey and admit I was rooting for the Devils to prevail 3-2.  They did when rookie Adam Henrique scored early in OT to send New Jersey in the Finals, the fourth with Martin Brodeur as goalie.  Brodeur is on his way to the Hall of Fame when his career ends, and it is fitting that he reaches the Finals to try to go out on top. 

Offensively, the Rangers are challenged.  They have a great goalie in Henrik Lunqvist, who literally, carries this team on his back, every game.  The Rangers just don't have the firepower.  You can't win the Cup when you score 2-3 goals a game.  It's just not going to happen.  You have to put the puck in the net and give your goalie a night off, so to speak.  Let the wingers or centers be accountable.  NY had a great run.  The Devils are the better team.

Kings vs. Rangers? posted by Richard Kagan

It is pretty certain that LA will come out of the Western Conference playoffs.  What remains much more in doubt is the Rangers-Devils series.  NY has a 1-0 lead in the best of 7.  But this series is by no means over.  The Rangers play almost the oppositie of LA.  They grind it out, slow down the game, and let their goalie become the anchor of defense.  A goal or two is usually all the Rangers need to win a game.  That pattern may remain in the Eastern Finals, but it will be sorely tested if NY plays the LA Kings. 

The sleeping giant, that is the LA Kings, has woke up with a vengence.  The Rangers play like the the little engine that could.  It huffs and puffs its way toward the finish line. 

True Blue has some truly high expectations posted by Julius Says

              The nhl season's right around the corner and the NY Rangers are looking to start strong. Expectations are much higher this year as the team has had one of their quietest but most succesful offseasons in recent memory. With the young core of home bred talent and leadership hitting their stride and coming to full maturity, whispers are starting to get louder about the solid squad these Rangers have. With basically one player's health in question (Staal), the Rangers are aspiring to finish the reagular season with home ice advatage to start the playoffs. They needed a quality first line center and they went out and signed the prize of the offseason free agents. They needed some toughness, went out and signed a hard nosed player like Mike Rupp. They're a solid squad on paper and now have an effective weapon on the power play with Brad Richards. This all sounds pretty good but that's why we play the games!! Let's see what we got going here.Continue reading "True Blue has some truly high expectations"

New York Rangers Sign Derek Boogaard to a 4-year, $6.5M Contract posted by Jeff Ponder

The boys in blue found a way to get even meaner on Thursday.

On a team that already sends out Sean Avery, Brandon Prust and Aaron Voros every night, the Rangers went after one of the toughest guys in the league.  Boogaard, after being involved in many rumors of him heading to the Detroit Red Wings, gladly accepted a big contract for a big man (6'8” 257 lbs.). 

After scoring four assists and 107 penalty minutes in 57 games played last season for the Minnesota Wild, Boogaard will be happy to earn his money when playing sparingly.  The slow-footed Saskatoon native will probably see a lot of time riding the bench since the Rangers' roster is stacked with players who are tough but can still skate with a lot of talent in the league. 

This deal definitely is a victory for Boogaard and his agent; the Rangers did not need him on their team.  What the Rangers should have been worrying about to start the free-agent period was goal-scoring.  They ranked 16th in the league in goals per game (2.67) last season, which is not too shabby unless you want to consider they were just one goal away from making the NHL playoffs.  Boogaard's 2 career goals will do nothing to improve those totals.Continue reading "New York Rangers Sign Derek Boogaard ..."

Golden Effort Falls Just Short posted by Brad VanFossan

A Golden Effort Falls Just Short By Brad VanFossan I know it’s more than just a hockey game when my 63 year old father is looking forward to watching, and has been watching most of the hockey games during this Olympics. I know it’s more than just a game when patrons at bars ask to turn the hockey game on, both the men’s and women’s games, as I have seen happen over the last couple weeks. This is about reliving nostalgia for those who were around for the 1980 Gold Medal team‘s “Miracle“ run. And it’s about wanting to experience that same feeling for those of us who were too young or weren’t around then. This is the kind of thing the brings generations of sons and fathers together creating memories that become part of family lore. More importantly, this is a message to the world that hockey isn’t a secondary sport in the United States anymore, but one we can excel at, and even be the best.  It’s almost time for the opening face off, winning twice on enemy territory won’t be easy, but I think if anyone can, it’s this group of relentless young men. No matter what the outcome, they will put forth an effort to be proud of.My in game thoughts from the penalty box: -In the first U.S./Canada match up the U.S. was able to score first, taking the crowd out of things for a bit, today Canada scored first, it’s the first time the U.S. has trailed all Olympics. -Jonathan Toews goal was off of a rebound, not too much cause for concern yet. The U.S. is still playing pretty well, theyContinue reading "Golden Effort Falls Just Short"

The NHL Could Learn from the NFL posted by Jeff Ponder

Did you see that crazy backhand goal by Michael Del Zotto of the Rangers that snuck its way through Boston's Tim Thomas a few weeks ago?  Of course you did, it was the only afternoon game on that Saturday.

Well how about that exciting shootout between Colorado and Buffalo that went through 22 skaters?  Or that great defensive win by the Panthers over the Senators where Tomas Vokoun had an 18-save shutout?  No, you probably missed those because you were watching your favorite team, the Toronto Maple Leafs, get shelled by Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins, 4-1 on home ice.

The Rangers-Bruins game was broadcasted at 1:00 EST on January 9, making it the only game on between the hours of 1:00 and 7:00.  But that is when the NHL flood started; six games were played at 7:00, three games at 8:00 and three more at 10:00 or after.

What can the National Football League teach us?

On December 27 (NFL week 16), NFL fans watched a great game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens at 1:00 in which Steelers' receiver Santonio Holmes got 86 receiving yards against a tough Ravens defense, and Ravens' halfback Ray Rice amassed 141 rushing yards in a 23-20 Steelers victory.  Shortly after that game ended (approximately 4:15), NFL spectators watched in horror as American hero Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts fell to the New York Jets 29-15 to end their perfect season bid.  As if that wasn't enough, the NFL had yet another exciting game start at 8:20 between the surging Minnesota Vikings and the Chicago Bears.  Greg Olsen's brilliant catch in the endzone during the first half led the way as the Bears squeezed out a victory, 36-30.
Continue reading "The NHL Could Learn from the NFL"

8-18 Football News and MLB Waiver Wire Deals posted by Ryan Turner

1. Well, Brett Favre is back. Just as he started to drift out of our minds again, BAM, breaking news on ESPN: "Favre is a Viking." As obnoxious as this story has been for the last three years, it sure will make the Vikings vs. Packers games more interesting, especially the November 1st game when he returns to Lambeau Field. My guess is the reaction will be half cheers, half boos from the fans, all boos from Ted Thompson.

2. Another quarterback who has run rampant through the media lately is Jay Cutler. He needs to shut up right now if he even wants a chance at not topping the "Number One Douche Bag of All-Time" list. His latest remarks were after the Bears' first preseason game in which they played the Buffalo Bills. He criticized wide receiver Devin Hester for not breaking up an interception on an under-thrown pass. How about this Jay? Either make the passes in the first place or be gracious if Hester does break up the interception. If Hester can't fix your screw up, man up and take the blame yourself. That's where it belongs. Peyton Manning doesn't always own the blame after a loss, but the difference between Manning and Cutler is, Manning has the record to back up those types of comments. Cutler needs to earn the right to make those types of comments. He could be in danger of losing that locker room really quickly, if he hasn't already.

3. Marc Bulger broke his pinkie on his throwing hand during Monday's practice on a snap exchange from center Jason Brown. It's not a major injury and it should only keep him out for two weeks. However, this could open the door for backup Kyle Boller. The Ravens had some decent years with a strong defense and Boller managing games. Baltimore went 9-7 in 2004, Boller's only year in which he started all 16 games. 9-7 won the NFC West last year and it could do the same this year. I'm not suggesting the Rams' defense will be anywhere close to Baltimore's, but the NFC West isn't as strong as the AFC North typically is either.

Rangers sign Chris Kreider to 4-year, $18.5M contract (Yahoo Sports)

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2-time Cup winner Brad Richards retires after 15 NHL seasons (Yahoo Sports)

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Rangers trade Brassard to Senators for Zibanejad (Yahoo Sports)

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Rangers sign forward Kovacs to entry-level contract (Yahoo Sports)

NEW YORK (AP) -- The New York Rangers have signed forward Robin Kovacs to an entry-level contract. [read full article]

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Rangers agree to 2-year deal with forward J.T. Miller (Yahoo Sports)

The New York Rangers agreed to terms Wednesday with restricted free agent forward J.T. Miller on a $5.5 million, two-year deal. Agent Scott Bartlett confirmed the terms of the deal, which carries a $2.75 million cap hit. Miller will make a $2.5 million in salary with a $250,000 bonus next season and $2.75 million in 2017-18. [read full article]

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