Live Blog – Rangers @ Devils
Regulation. That is the key word. The Rangers/Devils playoff match up is already guarantee. Thank Boston for that. Today’s game is for home ice advantage. The Rangers need a win in regulation to attain the fourth seed and home ice. If the game goes into OT and the Rangers win, total points between the two teams would be tied and the Rangers lose the tiebreaker. This is a prelude to the playoffs folks, I would love an 8-0 season record going into a series where the Blueshirts have home ice. Candlesticks always make a nice gift, and uh, maybe you could find out where she’s registered and maybe a place-setting or maybe a silverware pattern…alright boys? LETS GET TWO! (Bull Durham references anybody?)
3:08 pm: Great start by the first line. Nice set up by Straka to Jagr. Have to put pressure on Marty and keep forcing turnovers on the defensive end.
3:12 pm: Devils GOAL. Rebound gets stuffed back in Madden. Henrik needs to cover that one up but at the same token the Rangers can’t let the Devils plant themselves in front of the net. Devils lead 1-0.
3:20 pm: Shot from the point by Backman turns into a 3 on 2 breakaway for the Devils. Rangers are lucky that it’s not 2-0 right now.
3:21 pm: Henrik is just getting bombarded. Penalty against the Rangers. Things are not looking good for the Rangers right now. Charging call on Drury, can’t say that’s a good call, looked pretty clean to me.
3:25 pm: Nice PK for the Rangers.
3:26 pm: Devils GOAL. Rupp goes five hole on Henrik. Hank just didn’t get position on that shot, maybe was looking for the pass instead of the shot. Either way, Devils lead 2-0. Oh Boy.
3:32 pm: I think everyone’s gotten right in the comments section. The defense looks off it’s game. Malik on both goals. Girardi letting Madden stand at the net and take a whack at the puck. Someone on that side of the puck needs to step up. Powerplay for the Devils. Straka called for holding.
3:36 pm: PK successful again. Anyone for playing with four men for the rest of the game?
End of the 1st: Rangers down 2-0. This game could not have started any worse. Two periods to turn it around.
3:57 pm: Two shots in the 1st. One shot, one GOAL! in the second. Drury cuts the lead in half. Devils lead 2-1. Great set up by Dawes.
4:01 pm: Rangers absolutely buzzing to start the second. Marty is the one getting bombarded now and that’s how it should be.
4:12 pm: Jagr’s skating really well. Nice shot from the point fended off by Marty. Pace is up in this period but unlike the first the Rangers seem to have their heads on straight.
4:20 pm: Penalty called on the Devils. First PP of the game for the Rangers. If the Rangers can continue to pressure Marty on the PP like they have been all period than the can find themselves in a tie game.
4:24 pm: Rangers PP can not prevail. Didn’t get many shots and gave up two SH opportunities. Still they continue to pressure, I’m looking for a garbage goal.
End of 2nd: Big turnaround for the Rangers this period. A quick goal and than solid play for the rest of the period. Some long rebounds that the Rangers could have gotten in but other than that not to many complaints. One goal in the third is doable. But let’s not forget, only a win in regulation matters, the Rangers need two goals.
4:55 pm: JAGR GOAL!!!!!!!! This game is tied ladies and gentleman. Beautiful set up and great finish, this game is up for grabs in the final 15 minutes.
5:00 pm: Brawl, that’s what I like to see. You know this game means something when Jagr is throwing punches. Got to like the resiliency this Rangers team is showing right now. Malik and Jagr get put in the box along with two Devils.
5:07 pm: Nice work by Callahan. I know we mentioned on the podcast how hard this kid works, but I don’t think it can be overstated. He plays with a lot of heart. Great hit by Staal on Zubrus.
5:14 pm: Penalty upcoming on the Rangers. Malik gets called. Not shocking he has had a TERRIBLE game.
5:17 pm: WHAT A SAVE! Henrik sprawls out and stops the go ahead goal….incredible. Heart attack city right now.
5:25 pm: Henrik Pulled.
5:26 pm: Penalty on the Devils with 30 sec to go. Rangers playing 6 on 4 hockey right now.
End of Regulation: Rangers take the fifth seed, no home ice.
5:31 p.m.: Steve taking over for Eric here. As I said in the comments section this is still important. Another come from behind win and an 8-0 regular season record agains the Devils would be very nice. Don’t allow the Devils to know what a win over the Rangers feels like…
5:33 p.m.: That was, without a doubt, the single worst call I’ve ever seen in my life…
5:36 p.m.: Another fantastic penalty kill. If I had a nickel for every time I typed those words…
5:38 p.m.: Lundqvist just polishing his game up a bit before Wednesday! Shootout…
5:45 p.m.: Well there you go. Look at it this way, hopefully now the Devils got it out of their system! Either way 7-0-1 against the Debbies ‘aint bad!
And it’s just been announced: the Rangers have indeed wont the Metro Ice Challenge! Everything else from here on out is gravy.
I’m telling you, this has the makings of a classic series. Don’t be shocked to see it go 7 and have 3-4 games go into overtime. It’s going to be tough on the heart.
Great regular season folks and Eric and I will be back with a new episode tomorrow as we begin our expanded coverage of the Rangers’ 2008 playoff run!
This entry is filed under Uncategorized. Subscribe to the
Comments RSS feed.
Tags: Eric Rothman, Live Blog
57 Responses
Brendan S April 6th at 2:06 pm
LET’S DO IT
Brendan S April 6th at 2:12 pm
Is Shanny on the 4th line? I thought I just saw a Shanny-Betts-Sjostrom line…
Brendan S April 6th at 2:16 pm
Girardi should have been checking Madden’s brains out on that one…
balter16 April 6th at 2:24 pm
AWFUL CALL
Eric Rothman April 6th at 2:25 pm
Agreed balter. Charging? Let em play.
Brendan S April 6th at 2:26 pm
Devil’s power play looks better than usual tonight…
Steven Gelbs April 6th at 2:28 pm
Have to jump in here quickly. Our boy Malik looks awful. First goal was his fault and he looked confused on that last goal.
Brendan S April 6th at 2:30 pm
Because of course, we must redeploy Malik to make sure we don’t get home ice…
balter16 April 6th at 2:30 pm
i havent seen our D been beaten so bad in a game in a while…this is not good ….
Brendan S April 6th at 2:32 pm
It’s because Malik is playing. If he plays a single playoff game, I will go out of my mind… And of course, Malik crashes into Lundqvist just to do maximum damage
mckeever April 6th at 2:35 pm
rangers need to pull their head out of their butt and start playing
balter16 April 6th at 2:41 pm
11 to 2 in shots…this is really bad
Brendan S April 6th at 2:42 pm
I’d rather play with 5 D-men than keep Malik on the ice…
mckeever April 6th at 2:44 pm
i think we are better off playing 4 on 5 for the rest of the game
mckeever April 6th at 2:59 pm
FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!! no more shutout!!!!!
balter16 April 6th at 2:59 pm
another reason why we got him…he changes games
Brendan S April 6th at 3:00 pm
Looked like a momentum changer to me…
Brendan S April 6th at 3:06 pm
Back to Jagr-Gomez-Avery…
adampasz April 6th at 3:07 pm
What is going on with the Rangers’ lines???
Brendan S April 6th at 3:08 pm
….or not
balter16 April 6th at 3:58 pm
our cap…getting hot baby!
mckeever April 6th at 3:59 pm
new contract for jagr anybody
balter16 April 6th at 4:02 pm
malik is going to blow this game for us…if he doesnt step up now!
Steven Gelbs April 6th at 4:16 pm
Malik has been an unmitigated disaster in this game.
One of the worst games I’ve ever seen him play.
Going to have to agree with Balter.
balter16 April 6th at 4:17 pm
what did i say about malik
Eric Rothman April 6th at 4:18 pm
Looks like a chicken with his head cut off.
balter16 April 6th at 4:18 pm
this game should make renney sure not to put him in the playoffs…he lost a spot, that at one point he had..we need you mara
mckeever April 6th at 4:19 pm
what a save
balter16 April 6th at 4:19 pm
shanny is not the same
Steven Gelbs April 6th at 4:20 pm
At this point he’s making Strudwick look good!
Steven Gelbs April 6th at 4:20 pm
Clearly kidding on that one…
balter16 April 6th at 4:21 pm
no ur not ur correct
Steven Gelbs April 6th at 4:25 pm
25 seconds left, Henrik out, 6 on 4…doesn’t get better than this.
This series, no matter where it starts, is going to be unbelievable.
mckeever April 6th at 4:26 pm
I LIVE FOR THIS
mckeever April 6th at 4:28 pm
oh well
Steven Gelbs April 6th at 4:29 pm
That Isles loss comes back to bite the Rangers in the rear.
Don’t discount this overtime though. It’s still to go 8-0 and hold that possible psychological edge.
Remember, the Devils were up 2-0 in this one. This would be yet another come from behind win.
mckeever April 6th at 4:30 pm
did the rangers win the Hummer Metro Ice Challenge
Steven Gelbs April 6th at 4:33 pm
Yes Mckeever they did.
balter16 April 6th at 4:34 pm
hands down worst call ever
Brendan S April 6th at 4:34 pm
Why is Malik on the ice?!
Steven Gelbs April 6th at 4:36 pm
Probably to give him one last minute in a Rangers uniform Brendan…
mckeever April 6th at 4:36 pm
sweet
balter16 April 6th at 4:43 pm
something is wrong with shanny he doesnt look right
mckeever April 6th at 4:44 pm
the curse of scott gomez strikes again
mckeever April 6th at 4:44 pm
….or not
Steven Gelbs April 6th at 4:44 pm
Couldn’t agree more balter…worst game i’ve seen him play as a Ranger. He looks very off.
balter16 April 6th at 4:45 pm
sykora anyone?
Brendan S April 6th at 4:53 pm
The coaching staff should have known that that’s what happens when you put Malik on the ice. 2 goals under his watch, 2 3rd period penalties to prevent us from scoring for a good 4 minutes, and absolutely no upside. If I ever see Malik on the ice at MSG again, I will hang myself…
Inferno April 6th at 6:06 pm
4 words.
Devils…dont….scare….me.
Michael April 6th at 9:06 pm
Playoffs, shmayoffs…Hummer Metro Ice Challenge champions baby!!!!!
All kidding aside, it will be a quick exit if the defense plays like they did today, and we need Shanahan to really step his game up next week. We can’t count on superhuman goaltending like we got tonight, not for more than a game or two at least.
Steve, what about Strudwick?!? Come on, he’s no worse than Malik was today. Rozy didn’t play particularly well either.
Steven Gelbs April 6th at 9:22 pm
Michael, are you trying to rile me up? The six defensemen are Rozsi, Backman, Staal, Tyutin, Girardi, and Mara and that’s the bottom line.
Strudwick can do a good job in the Eddie Olczyk ‘94 role throughout the playoffs (although Eddie O. did get a few games and we don’t want that for Strudsy).
Michael April 6th at 10:13 pm
Yeah, I don’t think Strudwick will play in the playoffs either, but Malik and Mara are barely better options. Against the Devils, you need players who are willing to bang bodies and throw their weight around, and that’s not Malik or Mara’s styles. I don’t see why Strudwick shouldn’t at least play a game or two if the Rangers are getting muscled off the puck and aren’t being physical.
This series will come down to who can protect home ice the best. I can see both teams winning two games out of the first four (one in each other’s arena), and then it’ll become a best-of-3 from there. Can we steal one at the Rock? We’re going to have to at some point, and maybe two if we can’t hold serve at MSG.
Steven Gelbs April 6th at 10:30 pm
Michael, let’s hold off on the Strudwick talk. I’m trying to enjoy the playoff berth and I don’t want to get upset.
Mara is a much better option than Strudwick and when Malik is playing well, he is too. The big man had a hellacious game today and because of that, probably won’t see the ice again. But just in case you haven’t heard my take on Strudwick throughout the first 48 episodes, he flat out is not an NHL caliber player.
I understand the notion that he is more physical than M & M, but to throw a hit you need to be able to catch up with an opposing player. Strudwick’s got the skating skills of a defenseman on a Pee Wee hockey ‘B’ team.
In the end, if Strudwick playing or not playing becomes an issue, it means the Rangers are in big time trouble.
Michael April 6th at 10:55 pm
I’m not too sure why we’re all “enjoying” and celebrating a playoff berth; I mean come on, we’ve been to the playoffs the past two seasons and brought in Gomez and Drury last summer. The playoffs should’ve been a given, not some sort of accomplishment, and for it to have been as tight as it was doesn’t make it any more special.
Just making the playoffs with the roster this team has means nothing. If they don’t at least reach the Eastern Conference finals with the expectations that they, as an organization, and we as fans, had, this season will be a disappointment.
Richard S. April 7th at 7:17 am
This just shows how stupid and spoiled you are Micheal. Get off your high, thesis writing horse, and get over yourself. In case you forgot, they didn’t make the playoffs for 7 years in a row!!! Be happy for everything they accomlish regardless of the expectations. I mean we could be the Blue Jackets, or the Islanders even.
Michael April 7th at 1:25 pm
No offense, but 7 years isn’t exactly a lifetime..It’s not like we’ve spent an eternity just waiting for them to make the playoffs, we’ve done it three years in a row now.
I know what waiting to make the playoffs/tournament is like. I’m a fan of all things Michigan Wolverines, and we haven’t officially made the NCAA Tournament since the early 90’s after results were vacated with scandals and whatnot, and going to the NIT means nothing. I’m also a Braves fan, and although we won all those division titles in a row, we only won the World Series once. Once you make the playoffs or advance, it’s great, but after a while you need to start doing something once you get there and not just be satisfied with making the cut.
Think of what it’s like to be a fan of the Brewers, who haven’t gone to the playoffs in 25 years, or the Royals, who haven’t gone in 22, or the Pirates, who are about to set a new MLB record for consecutive losing seasons, or the Cubs, who are in their 100th season since winning their last World Series. The Panthers, Blackhawks, and Kings haven’t been to the playoffs in a few seasons, so just getting there would be good for those organizations and their fans.
Sure, it’s nice that we made the playoffs, but OVER HALF OF THE TEAMS IN THE NHL MAKE THE PLAYOFFS; what’s the great accomplishment about that? It’s not just about getting there anymore, we lost in the quarterfinals two years ago, semifinals last year, and this year we need to actually make a long run to validate bringing in Gomez and Drury, at least in the short term.
Richard S. April 8th at 8:07 am
So since over half the teams make the playoffs each year, 7 years is a lifetime. And just because you are a fan of crap programs that can’t sell out a playoff game doesn’t mean you take out your disappointment on the Rangers.