Good Seats Still Available and Valiquette in Goal

Before I get into anything too Ranger specific, I want to make a quick point on the league’s attendance this year. Twelve teams have sold out all of their home games this year, including the Rangers. But the bottom five teams are what should concern the NHL; New Jersey, St. Louis, Washington, Chicago, and NY Islanders all have an average attendance around 75 percent. Jersey has a new arena, Washington has Alexander the Great, Chicago is an Original Six team, the Islanders are contenders, and St. Louis is no expansion team. Yet, these teams can’t put butts in the seats on a consistent basis. Amazingly, teams like Tampa Bay can fill their games to capacity every night. The NHL has to figure out what works for teams like the Lightning and implement that into the perennial hockey towns that have become hockey wastelands. There has to be some solution.

• Rangers television ratings on MSG Network are up a reported 85%…yes 85% from last year. Great to know that if the fans can’t get into the Garden they are watching the games from their recliners.
• Steven Valiquette will start at goal tonight against Toronto. I guess Lundqvist isn’t a super hero after all. If there is anyone in the league who deserves a day off, it’s the King. Toronto is the only logical game to get Vali between the posts; no way Henry is sitting out any of the four divisional games that follow tonight’s game in Canada.
• Make sure to check out the latest Podcast from the NYRangerscast. Also, give us a call at 347-410-9093 or e-mail us at hosts@nyrangerscast.com. The show is all about fans being heard so don’t hesitate to give us a ring.