The scariest part of last night’s game for me (after the first period of course) was thinking Staalwas going to dislocate his shoulder celebrating his goal.  He was dominant throughout the game defensively, and joined the offense a few times.  It’s amazing what he can do when he hits the net with his shot.  (See, I agree with Torts on at least one thing.)  The guy gets a tough wrap in NYC cause he’s had some moments of less than stellar play.  But that has to be expected.  First, he plays against the NHL’s elite wingers every night.  Second, he’s [...]

ESPN polled 50 random NHL players.  (Statistically, all you need is 30 for an accurate sample size.)  18% of them voted Tortorella the last coach they’d want to play for.  That was almost double the percentage for second place.  This can’t be good for signing free agents, assuming we had cap space anyway.  And it definitely lends credence to the argument (certainly made by me previously) that his style is not suited for the young psyches on the team currently.  Good move Slats.
(I tried linking to the poll, but you need to be an ESPN Insider to access it.)

This REALLY bothers me.  There’s an etiquette to fighting in the NHL.  Everyone knows it, especially the big boys.  For example, you don’t hit when the opponent is down on the ice or says “stop, I’m hurt” and you don’t turn down a fight when the other guy accommodated you last time when you were the home team.
Another “rule” is being broken recently:  engagement.  A new development seems to be that once the players tap each other on the pads and face-off wiggling their gloves to drop them, one guy fakes the other out and fake-drops while the other actually drops his [...]

What do we have here?  Hope?  I’ll buy in.  I’ll be a sucker.  That’s what we Rangers fans are.  We’d have been P.T. Barnum’s favorite customers.  There’s still Kool-Aid left if you want some too.
Last night’s victory was 45 minutes of solid hockey.  (I’m discounting the first period debacle.)  Dubsinky was a monster on the puck.  A mini-Jagr in the way he controlled it in the corners.  Christensen is starting to consistently show his talent.  Definitely the most creative non-Slovak on the team.  Anisimov gets better with every minute he plays.  So play him more.  And The King held court again.  [...]

I don’t know what was my favorite part of last night’s game?  The 5 goals, the shutout, or the Rangers shooting/making quick decisions at the points.  I lied.  It was none of these.  Unquestionably, my favorite moment was something the refs did.  It only took a year plus, but the refs finally did not call a penalty on Avery simply cause he’s Avery.  When Avery got jumped in the corner after cleanly hitting Tavares, and then shoved back, the refs saddled the Fishsticks with 16 minutes and Avery was allowed to laugh from the bench.  It was the correct call.  [...]

I was the “winning” bidder in an auction for two tickets to the Rangers-Islanders game on Wednesday.  (The auction benefited law students who want to do public interest work to help society.  Not as popular as abused dog rescues, or the Human Fund, but it’s something.)  Today the Rangers called to cancel the tickets, claiming the 3D cameras were being installed in those seats.  They offered 2 tickets (same seats I think) to the Toronto game instead.  Hmm.  Maybe.  Sounds like a bait-and-switch.  I was not paying what I bid for Leafs tickets.  Could be legit though – it is [...]

I don’t even want to discuss the last game.  Brutal.
 
What I want to discuss is the annual Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award.  This night is one of my favorites of every season, if for no other reason than to see Steven McDonald’s perserverance and the reverence the entire Garden and players have for him.  (Even if it does make me feel old to see his son, Conor, grown up.)  There’s an energy in the building on this night, regardless of the team’s spot in the standings.  Players want to win this award.

 
The award goes to the player that most goes “above and beyond [...]

Where you Flyers fans/Avery haters at now?  After getting sat last game, Avery started and turned in perhaps his greatest game ever.  (Maybe Torts knows what he’s doing after all….  haha.)  2 goals, 2 drawn penalties, 1 penalty taken (and a borderline one at that; at least it took Pronger off as well), and 1 hit post negating a hat trick.   And lots self-control.  It was the game Avery is designed to play, and why two teams (Dallas still is on the hook for half his salary) are paying him millions.  The best part is that his actions — not his antics [...]