Posts tagged ‘Eric Rothman’

Well thanks Washington!  Way to go Boston!  The help the Rangers needed to get home ice or a second round match up against Montreal never came to fruition.  Instead, it’s Sidney Crosby and the Penguins the Rangers will be facing in the second round.

Folks, I’ll be honest with you, this is the one match-up I did not want for the Rangers.  At least not until the Eastern Conference Finals.  The Pens handled Ottawa in round one.  Granted it was Ottawa, but it’s still impressive.

The Rangers are going to have to deal with the run and gun offense of the Pens and rely on the King to stop Sid and Malkin.  Also, Jagr is going to have to deal with the Boo-Birds, like Steve touched on in the podcast.

It is going to be an interesting match-up, one I’m sure the league is happy about.  The Rangers can win of course…the question is, will they?

Let us know what you think about the series in the comment section below.

Let me go out on a limb and say this game should be good. Forget who’s got the confidence coming into this one, the Rangers MUST WIN this game. You can not allow the first two wins of the series to go to waste. My pre-game first star…Sean Avery. He’s going to have a good one after the Avery Rule change. Game 4 STARTS NOW! LET’S PLAY HOCKEY!

7:11 pm: Girardi gets the first shot of the game. Off a Rangers face-off win, one aspect of the Rangers game that definitely needs improvement from Game 3.

7:16 pm: OH MY! Marty barely got a piece of that one. Great start by the Rangers…Gomez, Girardi, and Staal had great chances to take the first bite in this game.

7:20 pm: First shot all day by the Devils. Took them 7 minutes. Rangers doing a nice job of getting back quickly on defense.

7:24 pm: Penalty on Drury. He doesn’t agree, so therefore I don’t. Replay should be coming so I can make a more objective decision.

7:27 pm: Penalty now on the Devils. Great job by Backman and Drury to reset to waste time and let Henrik off the ice. 4 on 4 for a bit.

7:29 pm: GOMEZ PP GOAL!!!! Great job by Tyutin and Girardi to keep the puck in and a fantastic finish by Gomez. Rangers lead 1-0.

7:36 pm: Have to clear the puck quicker than that. Devils got a great shot off after they were able to keep a Rangers center ice clear in. Have to play smart.

7:39 pm: Dubi and Clarkson go in the box. 4 on 4.

7:41 pm: What an excellent series by Staal. Having a great game so far. 4 on 4 over.

End of 1: Great start for the Rangers. Take a 1-0 lead into the locker room. No chances for the Devils, defense a huge improvement from game 3. Got to keep it going for all three, but a nice way to start it off.

8:03 pm: Devils GOAL. Terrible way to start the second period. Rangers don’t get back quick enough and not picking up the open man. Tied 1-1.

8:07 pm: THATS HOW YOU RESPOND! DUBI to STRAKA…RANGERS GOAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Way to execute the 2 on 1, the MSG crowd is right back in it. Rangers lead 2-1. I’m not to sure Dubi can be considered a rookie anymore, he’s playing like a guy who’s been there before.

8:10 pm: Coincidence that the goal came right after the Garden was blasting Bruce Springsteen????

8:12 pm: Rangers get called for to many men on the ice. Second PP for the Devils, on the first one the Rangers were able to draw a penalty of their own.

8:15 pm: Well that’s not what the Rangers wanted to do. Devils GOAL. Tied 2-2.

8:17 pm: Devils called for a high stick that drew blood on Rozi. Double minor coming up for the Rangers. 4 minutes of the PP.

8:22 pm: Two shots in four minutes. What a terrible job by the Rangers on the PP. No intensity, no movement, no shots.

8:23 pm: WHO NEEDS A PP? Rangers GOAL!!!!!!!!!!! Drury deflection off the shot by Tyutin. Rangers lead 3-2.

8:25 pm: Penalties upcoming. Looks like on both sides, more info when the commercials over. But it looks like Freddy Shoes for interference is one of the penalties. Brodeur called for diving. 4 on 4 hockey. I don’t get that penalty, Sjostrom got pushed into Marty, where’s he supposed to go?

8:28 pm: Refs completely missed a trip the took Gomez down. Not even close, atrocious no call. Now, to many men on the ice…what is going on?

8:33 pm: Excellent job by Avery to draw the trip on White. Just for good measure he got to plow Marty over with no consequence. Rangers on the PP.

8:35 pm: Marty is such a flopper. Play stopped because Marty was crying on the ice. Oduya and Jagr go into the box, Rangers still on the PP.

End of 2nd: Heart attack period. Rangers remain up by one, but not after the Devils put two by Henrik. Rangers lead 3-2. Nice chance for Dawes at the end of the period. Callahan has been getting lambasted with hits but he keeps coming and gets a great pass off to Nigel.

9:00 pm: Rangers start off another period poorly. Give away by Girardi right in front of Hank so he takes the penalty instead of allowing the goal.

9:03 pm: Nice PK by the Rangers but this team continues to shoot themselves in the foot when it comes to taking offsides.

9:05 pm: Devils GOAL. Tied 3-3. Hank loses his stick on a CLEAR SLASH and the Devils able to capitalize.

9:13 pm: Rangers have just gotten outplayed by the Devils in the first half of this period. The terrible calls by the refs haven’t helped but the Rangers need to step it up.

9:21 pm: Finally a good shift by the Rangers. Let’s see if they can swing the momentum and start working harder to win some loose pucks.

9:26 pm: How does Avery miss that??????????? Three quarters of the net wide open and he shoots it into Marty.

9:29 pm: STAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!! GOAALLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What a fantastic game by Staal and he caps it with the go ahead goal. Rangers lead 4-3!

9:37 pm: EMPTY NETTER GOMEZ GOAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!

RANGERS WIN! RANGERS WIN! RANGERS WIN!  WHAT A GAME! RANGERS LEAD 3-1!

Well Steve and I are officially done with our weekend trip.  Last night, although the Rangers lost, was an incredible experience.  But, because of the long day of traveling and not having much time to prepare, we are moving the show until tomorrow.

We are working on getting a guest for the show to talk about the implications of losing Game 3 and what the Rangers need to do to win this series.

Steve and I appreciate the comments on the game blog even though we couldn’t do it live.

So, get your e-mails and calls in by tomorrow so that we can get some interaction on tomorrows show.

Series may be over if the Rangers can win tonight.  Who wouldn’t like a two game lead coming home to MSG?  Let’s get it on….

7:11 pm: Early penalty on Straka.  Devils have the man up, let’s see if the Rangers PK can continue their stellar play.

7:14 pm: Good PK for the boys in blue.  Never like to start the game a man down but the Rangers kept it together. 

7:23 pm: Question of the day…how many Devils employees does it take to fix a board?

7:27 pm: Game ON!

7:31 pm: Good pressure by the Rangers to stat.  Gomez leading the charge…shocker.  Ryan Hollweg terrible turnover, this guy does not bring anything to this team.

7:34 pm: HENRIK!! Stops the two on one and the rebounds that followed.  Bad decision by Tyutin that lead to that chance.  Would have liked to see Avery finish that two on one from Gomez just before that though.  Goal could have gone to either team there.

7:42 pm: Different feel to this first period than in Game 1.  More chances for he Rangers, they are definitely the outright aggressors to start.  No goals yet but definitely a more positive feel.

7:53 pm: Penalty called on the Rangers, Staal to the box.  Devils have been putting the pressure on, Rangers need to get out of the period tied at zeros.

End of 1 st: Rangers opened up the game with high intensity, mainly Scotty Gomez generating the opportunities.  Devils crept back in the second half of the period and will start the second on the PP.  No score so far.

8:14 pm: Rangers start out the period with a solid PK.  Gomez headed to the locker room, hopefully nothing serious.

8:20 pm: Gomez back on the ice and generates the two on one.  The Rangers would be up three goals if they could finish an odd man rush.  Gomez is absolutely dominating this series.

8:24 pm: High stick on Backman.  That’s a four minute penalty, knocked two of Parise’s teeth out.  That may be a suspension on Backman.  Not good.

8:29 pm: Great save by Henrik off the deflection from Tyutins leg.  Someone other than Callahan has to make a hit on someone in the slot.

8:31 pm: EXCELLENT PK!  Four minutes of solid defense and some SH opportunities.  Henrik continues to play out of his mind.

8:34 pm: Penalty on the Devils.  Avery draws it on Zubrus.  Let’s see if the PP can play up to the PK.  First PP of the game for the Rangers.

8:37 pm: Little extra curricular activity after Marty makes the save.  Shanny pushing and shoving with Colin White.  Now Langenbrunner and Gomez.  This is Rangers Devils hockey ladies and gents.  Shanny and Gomez in the box with White and Langenbrunner.  Rangers still a man up.

8:40 pm: Rozsival and Zubrus going at it after the Rangers PP ends.  Looks like Zubrus is going to the box, Rangers get another two minutes with the man up.

8:42 pm: This is the only series where each team is happy to go on the PK, that’s where they get all their chances.  Bad Rozsival turnover that led to a two on one.

8:49 pm: Devils picking up the intensity much like they did at the end of the first.  Jagr looked like he got away with hook but I’m not complaining.  Can’t let the Devils score a quick one before the end of the period…..These fights are just not stopping, every whistle to stop play starts a new fight..Dubi getting into it with Zubrus…got to love the kids intensity.

8:51 pm: How bout Henrik slapping Zubrus on the back of the head?  Zubrus and Clarkson, Shanny and Dubi all get sent to the box.  Second period shots and hits for each team are equal.

8:55 pm: Avery gets called for interference with Marty.  TERRIBLE CALL!  Another period where the Raners finish a man down.  That call is made because it’s Marty, make no mistake about it.

End of 2nd: Fun period of hockey.  Game got quite chippy, lot of penalties for both teams.  Still no score.  Rangers will start the third a man down.

9:15 pm: Another exceptional PK by the Rangers to start the third.  A Let’s Go Rangers chant at The Rock, love to hear that.

9:18 pm: JAGR GOAL!!!!!!!!!!!!  Marty made a great save on Backman but let’s one from Jagr go in.  Rangers lead 1-0.  Great hustle by Jagr to beat Colin White and confuse Marty.

9:20 pm: Avery GOAL!!!!!!!!  That was quick.  Great shot by Avery.  Rangers lead 2-0.  This game just went from Good to AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!  I’m calling for all Ranger fans to do their best Avery fist pump celebration in honor of that goal.

9:23 pm: Chant at The Rock is MARTY! MARTY! 

9:28 pm: Three on two for the Rangers, Colin White’s skate got in the way.  Nice chance none the less. 

9:33 pm:  Hustle play by….Ryan Callahan of course.  Nice try at the wrap around.

9:37 pm: Play is getting reviewed.  No way that’s a goal.  Great job by Hank to get his left pad kicked out to make that save.  Wouldn’t have this problem if Hollweg could have cleared the puck in the first place.

9:41 pm: SCORE UPDATE: Washington and Alexander the Great come back from down 4-2 to win 5-4.  A.O. is out of this world.

9:47 pm: Rangers 17 shots this period.  Devils 8.  Empty Net for NJ.

9:49 pm: Devils GOAL.  This one is not over yet folks.  Still 1:20 remaining.  Hold the phone.  Rangers lead 2-1.

9:51 pm: Rangers time out.  Blueshirts are getting dominated on the face offs.  Can’t keep letting the Devils gain control of the puck, have to milk the clock sometime.

9:52 pm:  Penalty on the Devils.  Langenbrunner goes to the box.  Big break for the Rangers.

End of Regulation:  Who said I was crazy when I said the Rangers would win in five.  Maybe I was crazy, maybe I should have predicted a sweep.  Rangers go into Jersey and take the first two of the series.  Blueshirts get away with some close calls there at the end, especially that icing that the Devils are allowed to take with a man down.  Also, that cross check went uncalled.  But, a win is a win is a win is a win.  GET READY FOR THE GARDEN!  LETS GO RANGERS!

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!

Well folks, now that the Rangers are in the playoffs, it will be interesting to see how they come out and play. I’m hoping for an exciting game with a lot of goals because the Blueshirts need a win to remain in the hunt for home ice. And frankly, it would be embarrassing to lose to this Islanders team to end the season series. I want to see a thoroughly dominating game by the Rangers. Lets get it on…

7:06 pm: Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award presented to Brandon Dubinsky.

7:18 pm: Slow pace to start this one. Shanny and Jagr both getting decent looks, only Shanny’s on net. Not to many hits, but the fourth line did a good job of keeping the puck in the offensive zone during their shift.

7:20 pm: Hollweg put on some nice moves. Just shows that he can be successful against the Sound Tigers. Intensity has picked up real quick.

7:24 pm: Islanders putting the pressure on, getting some decent opportunities. Putting some pucks on net, Henrik hasn’t had any trouble though.

7:28 pm: GOAL Islanders 1-0. Quick wrister gets through the legs of Henrik. Puck didn’t look screened, Henrik should have been able to stop that one. He got a piece but it still slipped past him.

7:30 pm: Just a fair warning. Bill McCreary is the ref tonight, this should be interesting.

7:35 pm: Nice couple saves by Hank. Rangers just look lethargic, maybe it’s the back to back games. Maybe it’s cause they clinched yesterday. Either way, the only player on the Rangers skating with some intensity and purpose is Ryan Hollweg.

7:38 pm: Penalty on the Islanders. Both teams miss 2 on 1 opportunities, Jagr draws penalty. Let’s see if the PP success can continue.

7:42 pm: Penalty on Islanders, boarding. First PP got some nice shots, rebound chances. Let’s see if the back to back PP can score a goal.

7:43 pm: Penalty on the Rangers, Gomez. 4 on 4 hockey for one minute. High stick was the call, right call.

End of 1st: Frantic finish to the first. Dubi misses great chance from Jagr. Islanders regain full strength and get a breakaway. Puck skids wide as Henrik gets plunged into the net. Islanders lead 1-0 at the break.

8:06 pm: Rangers GOAL! Dan Girardi wide open look from the point just after the Rangers regain full strength. Great way to start the 2nd, great PK turns into an odd man rush and a goal. Tie game 1-1.

8:10 pm: Islanders GOAL. Henrik makes the stop than can’t find the puck. Poked in by Satan. Islanders lead 2-1. Delay of game penalty right after on the Islanders. Rangers fo on the PP.

8:14 pm: PP gets no shots. Way to many passes and the Islanders PK wasn’t giving an inch.

8:17 pm: Henrik having real trouble finding puck on rebounds. Islanders should have had their third goal right there but Hank did a good job of just sitting on the puck. Penalty upcoming on the Islanders, boarding is the call.

8:22 pm: Best PP of the night for the Rangers. Dubielewicz made a couple of nice saves on a Rozsival shot and Jagr chance. Still no PP goals for the Rangers tonight.

8:24 pm: Rangers GOAL! Nigel Dawes gets the goal off a deflection from an Islanders skate. It’s all about putting pucks on net folks, thats what Dawes does best. Game tied 2-2.

8:29 pm: Penalty called on the Islanders. Fifth PP chance for the Rangers. Drury draws the call.

8:31 pm: Islanders SH Goal. That was unbelievable. Rangers get not only a man up, but a 5 0n 3 and give up a breakaway SH goal right off the face off. Islanders lead 3-2. That was absolutely inexcusable.

8:35 pm: Rangers continue the 5 on 3. About 3,000 shots are taken and Dubielewicz able to make some spectacular saves. Rangers shoot themselves in the foot by allowing a goal when they were up two men.

8:37 pm: Rangers penalty upcoming. Maybe the Rangers PK can get a SH goal.

End of 2nd: This should be a tie game at worst folks. Rangers give up a goal when they are up two men. All five goals in this game have been weak. Frustrating.

9:01 pm: Rangers GOAL! Jaromir Jagr! Beautiful 2 on 1 breakaway with Jagr and Straka. There’s that chemistry that we have heard so much about. That was a beaut. Tie game 3-3. Jagr has 6 goals in the last 7 games.

9:05 pm: Scrum in corner. Hollweg vs. the Islanders. Can’t say for sure but I’d give the Fish Sticks a slight advantage. Rangers go on the PP, there seventh of the game.

9:10 pm: SCORE UPDATE Devils trail Philly 3-0. These two points against the Islanders are huge if the Rangers can win and the Flyers hold on.

9:13 pm: Rangers are showing new life. They are firing on all cylinders. Credit Dubielewicz for having a fantastic game because he is just getting bombarded with shots. 42 shots so far.

9:25 pm: Penalty upcoming on the Islanders, to many men on the ice. Rangers eighth chance at the PP tonight.

End of Regulation: Rangers climb back to push the game to OT. Huge point, keeps the Rangers in contention for home ice advantage if the Devils don’t come back. Although, the second point is even bigger because the Rangers wouldn’t have to win in regulation against the Devils if they get it.

9:37 pm: Rangers called for hooking penalty, Gomez to the box. Terrible call. Rangers PK needs to step up and hold off to a shoot out. There’s the call I have been expecting all game, bad, bad call.

9:41 pm: GREAT PK by the Rangers. Two SH opportunities and the Rangers take it to a shoot out. Big point up for grabs, Henrik vs. Dubielewicz. Let’s Go!

Rangers lose 4-3 in OT.  Great effort by Dawes and Sjostrom to keep it alive.  Two of the shots Henrik should have saved, no doubt about it.  The one point is important but to get home ice the Rangers will have to beat the Devils in regulation.  Not the greatest game for the Rangers but they are able to get a point.  Devils struggled tonight against Philly, a prequel to the playoffs in the last game of the season on Sunday.

So who was expecting an April Fools joke from the guys at the NYRangerscast? After doing an hour long episode yesterday, I don’t think Steve or I had the energy to come up with one. So consider yourselves lucky NYRangerscast faithful, we’ll get you next year. Or, maybe we’ll surprise you and have a belated April Fool’s prank sometime in June.

Either way no hockey has been played in the past few days but there are some injury updates to report. Courtesy of Rangers Report, we learn that Blair Betts and Brendan Shanahan will be game day decisions for the game against the Fish Sticks. I expressed my view on resting Shanny the last three games in the Podcast. I think the Rangers are in a spot now where they can afford to rest him and (YES Steve) play Jason Strudwick for a game or two. I would much rather have a healthy Shanahan come playoff time, rather than a hurt one.

With Betts, I think you have to be careful about bringing him back too soon. But, if he is healthy and ready to go, I will be excited to see him back on the ice. The Prucha/Sjostrom/Betts line is an intriguing one for me and I’m interested to see how they play together.

In other news from around the league. ESPN.com is reporting that the NHL is close to completing a new advertising deal with over thirty North-American corporations. The goal is to integrate the corporations logos onto NHL Jerseys, goalposts, and ice over the next five years. That’s right, the NHL is going the way of professional soccer to generate income. No word yet on what corporations have been picked for what team. But, the Rangers were mentioned as possibly being sponsored by Virgin Mobile. This is not official but it looks like a new look is coming to the NHL and I’m not sure it’s for the best.

This is a prototype of what the new jerseys would look like…let me know what you guys think.

It would be a huge understatement to say this game is huge. But, ladies and gents this one is HUGE! With a win the Rangers move into a tie for fourth in the Eastern Conference. With a loss they would remain at 91 points and in danger of being eclipsed by Philly and Boston. The key for me is to keep the speed of the game as slow as possible. The Penguins will skate until your feet fall off, that hurts the Rangers. Time to see some bouncebackability by the Rangers…

7:13 pm: Not to many chances so far for either team. Rangers need to continue to pressure and play a little more physical.

7:15 pm: Avery KO’s Malone. Great right hook by Avery, good fight to get the intensity going at the Garden. Avery vs Mayweather during the off season?

7:20 pm: No shots for the Pens so far. Five for the Rangers. Top line is looking good, everyone is hustling. My expert analysis says that if the Pens don’t get any shots, it will be tough for them to score goals.

7:23 pm: Rangers are getting some good chances, they’re keeping the pressure on and controlling the tempo. On a side note, for as much as people bash the VS. coverage of the NHL, these playoff commercials are pretty awesome.

7:27 pm: Nice job by Gomez to bring the puck up quickly and generate that opportunity. Penalty upcoming. Gomez gets called for tripping, time for the PK to step up.

7:32 pm: Great PK by the Rangers. Drury is a one man clearing machine. Nice 2 0n 1 chance with Shanny and Cally. That PK supports Steve’s theory that the Rangers are better off down a man than up. Penalty on the Pens, anyone up for only putting 4 out for the Rangers?

7:36 pm: Shocking, no shots on net for the Rangers on the PP. Only two pucks were thrown somewhere in the same zip code as the net. Why is it that the Rangers lack any presence in the slot during the PP?

END of 1st Period: Tie game. Rangers really controlled play during the first. Nine shots for NY, one for Pitt. Like I asked for earlier the Rangers controlled the tempo for the most part and didn’t allow themselves to start chasing the Pens up and down the ice.

8:00 pm: Dawes breakaway gets stopped. Got to finish those, especially Dawes who has been so good on shootouts this year.

8:03 pm: Crosby just made Shanny look silly. Shanny hasn’t played great today, couple of turnovers that could have bee costly. Dawes and Callahan with two nice chances, someone has to finish.

8:05 pm: Fourth line getting a great opportunity. Prucha and Sjostrom working hard, of course they have to, to compensate for Hollweg.

8:11 pm: Dawes and Callahan put two shots off the post/crossbar. Got to love the way those two are playing tonight but it’d be nice to get a goal. The Pens are turning up the heat, Rangers can’t get caught in a track meet.

8:14 pm: Prucha playing great, working hard to generate that opportunity. No goal but the Rangers will go on the PP. Oh wait, that’s not a good thing, BAD JOB Petr!

8:17 pm: Rangers have a 5 on 3 and they almost give up a goal.

8:18 pm: Can’t tell if Gomez touched the puck. Looks like he hit it right at the same time it was gloved by a Pen. Tough call, let’s see. Review looks like Gomez missed it, should be a goal.

8:23 pm: Jagr GOAL! After the review, Gomez didn’t hit it, off Fleury’s head. PP goal on the 5 on 3…Rangers up 1-0!

8:29 pm: First test on Hank right there. Nice save, even better job to avoid letting up a rebound.

8:32 pm: Just want to throw this out there. One reason I’ve been impressed with Backman’s play is the fact he seems very confident in his puck handling ability. He looks in control when he has the puck. Penalty upcoming on the Rangers. Can’t let the Pens get a quick one before the end of the period.

8:36 pm: Hank all over that PK. Girardi also had a nice heads up play to clear it. Rangers just have to hold out for the next 35 seconds.

End of 2nd Period: Rangers lead 1-0. Pens really started to turn it on with about 2:30 left to play in the period. Rangers need to regain their legs and get a quick goal to start off the third. I thought the opportunities the Rangers had in this period were higher in quality than in the first. Defense has looked good, just got a little lax there at the end, got to clear the puck quicker, can’t be giving up multiple opportunities as a time.

8:58 pm: WOW! That was a fast start to the third period. Great saves by Hank and another great chance generated by Dawes and Callahan. Rangers don’t seem to be fazed by pressure from the Pens.

9:00 pm: Shanny still out. No word on what the injury is or the extent of it.

9:02 pm: Penalty called on Jarko Ruutu, high sticking. Got Tyutin right in the face. Here we go, the circus that is this Rangers PP gets another chance.

9:06 pm: Well a bad PP gets even worse, penalty called on Rozsival. 4 on 4 for thirteen seconds, than Rangers go on the PK.

9:09 pm: Another great PK by the Rangers. Callahan another opportunity, quick little back hand that find Fleury.

9:10 pm: Pens GOAL. Talbot puts it by Hank. Pens have been pressuring all period, Rangers need to pick it up.

9:16 pm: Rangers are getting outplayed right now. As much as you want the Rangers to win in regulation, they can’t afford to lose it in regulation just as much.

9:20 pm: Penalty on the Rangers. Refs completely missed the high stick by Crosby on Avery. It’s the correct call on Avery.

9:27 pm: Another GREAT job by the Rangers PK. Two minutes left, a goal would be nice. But a point should be the focus.

9:30 pm: Timeout taken by Pitt. 34 seconds remaining, Hank has made some excellent saves here in the last minute. Hold your breath and cross your fingers.

End of Regulation: Tie game 1-1. Rangers make it out of regulation alive and with a point. Now the focus shifts to the second point. Rangers need this one to move into a tie for fourth place. Five minutes to go.

9:34 pm: Penalty called on the Pens. Whistle blew real fast, Jagr still had the puck. Let’s see what a 4 on 3 PP can do for the Rangers.

9:37 pm: RANGERS WIN!!!! It’s a Power Play GOAL by Captain Clutch Chris Drury. HUGE two points for the Rangers. That was the best PP in a while for the Rangers, lot of hard shots on net and great passing by Jagr.

    Last night’s game against the Flyers was the most disappointing game I have seen all year.  Sure the Rangers have lost heart breakers this year; i.e the 5-0 lead they blew to Montreal.  But no other game stung me like last nights.  This was a game the Rangers DESERVED to win.  The men in blue absolutely outplayed Philly for 45-55 minutes of this one, but like the Rangers of February, couldn’t close the deal.  Unfortunately, sloppy play and lack of hustle down the stretch led to the Rangers ultimate demise. There is no way you can be satisfied with just getting one point out of this game.  With how close the Eastern Conference is that one point could have kept them a point behind Ottawa, instead of a point in front of Philly, which is where they are now.

A few things from the game…

1) This Power Play is sickening.  Once again, it’s the difference between a W and an L.  1-31.  That’s right ONE for the last THIRTY ONE.  Coincidently, I think 1/31 was the date of the last P.P. goal for this team.  Something has got to change quick.

2)  Fantastic game for Jaromir Jagr.  Quite possibly his best all-around performance of the year.  Not only does he put one in the net but he draws three penalties.  If only he could produce like that on the P.P., the Rangers would be in business.

3)  This team missed Rozsival and Gomez.  Not to say that their replacements were the reason for the loss but I think it would have been a different result with those two in the line up.

4) Petr Prucha looked good.  I just don’t know what to do with him now.  It would have been easier if he had played poorly so you could justify sitting him.  His performance last night should grant him another shot.

5) Rangers finish their season series against the Flyers with a 5-1-2 record.  Very good record despite the fact last night should have been the sixth win.

Also, we have gotten some great responses to the question “Who Can the Rangers Not Afford To Lose?” that we posed on the last podcast.  Keep those e-mails and phone calls coming on that question and also on any other comments you have about the Flyers game.

Just when things were going so well, Blair Betts will miss 2 to 3 weeks of playing time. Betts underwent minor foot surgery and he will be replaced in tonights lineup by Ryan “Hollywood” Hollweg. All this according to the Rangers Report and Sam Weinman. This is not good news folks, Betts is one of the most underrated centers in the league and the line definitely drops a few notches with him out.

Also Sam Weinman reports that contrary to what Steve and I hoped for, Stephen Valiquette will start in goal tonight against the Flyers. You can’t really argue Vally’s productivity against the Flyers but you can question whether it’s the right time to sit Henrik.