Oooooh Contest!

So.
Who would like to make me a logo?
I'm semi-artistically challenged, but I know many of you are super at designing logos and what not.
So, if you're up for the challenge, here's what I'm looking for:

• it should say "Two Minutes in the Penalty Box" or "2 Minutes in the Penalty Box"
• include the colours: red, blue, white and possibly yellow.  I am partial to the colours on the Rangers' Heritage jerseys (the 'muted' blue and red, and off-white).
• Other than that, you have free rein.

email me your submissions.  If I get enough, I may put up for a vote, or I may just be autocratic and choose it myself.

The winner gets recognition. and maybe a cookie or something.

Gaborik and Richards… NHL’s Peanut Butter & Jelly

When I was younger, I loved it when my mom would make me a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.  They went well together, and plus, it was how it was supposed to be done, right?  Well, one day my mom had no jelly (insert gasp here), so I was forced to switch things up.  I scoured the fridge for a replacement. Mayonaisse? Yuck. Mustard? Yuck. Pickles? Gross.  Ham? Ew.  Etc… But hey, I attempted to find a suitable replacement rather than just give up.  So, I sucked it up and ate a peanut butter sandwich. All on its own.  And it was darn tasty. Trust me, there’s a correlation between this and Gaborik and Richards. 

The next day, my mom came home with a jar of jelly.  Now, me being the ingenious person that I am, I thought to myself “Self, if peanut butter and jelly taste good together, and peanut butter tastes good by itself, wouldn’t it stand to reason then that jelly would taste equally as good by itself?”  (I was 10 at the time and perhaps a very forward thinker. Or just really hungry. Either way, I’d consider it genius.)  So, I set upon making a jelly sandwich. And gosh darnit, wouldn’t you know, it was equally as delish as the peanut butter sandwich.  The one great combination of peanut butter and jelly could be divided into two great stand alone sandwiches.

This leads me to dynamic duo of Gaborik and Richards. (Please, don’t attempt to decipher my train of thoughts. Unless you are a qualified professional, then by all means, do so. Pro Bono, of course.)  While they look good together on paper, are they really a good match on the ice together?

Take the game from Ottawa on Saturday. Richards had some pretty nice chemistry with his new linemates, Callahan and Dubinsky.  Specifically, Richards and Callahan seem to have created some good juju between each other.  Gaborik seemed to work well with Stepan and Wolski. Richards and Gaborik each produced 3 points in that game. They each played like they are ‘expected’ to play, just not together.  They generated offense and they made things happen. There was chemistry on each of their lines.  However, on the power play, Richards and Gaborik manage to generate chemistry between each other. Mind boggling.  I was happy to see that Tortorella kept those lines pretty much intact for the next game against the San Jose Sharks.  Although the game had it weak points, those two lines were spot on. They seem more comfortable on separate lines, than on a line together. Less pressure to produce, maybe?  I’m not sure. 

Either way, they’ve proven that together they are good, but separate, they are even better. Like peanut butter and jelly.

It's Like One Ginormous Jigsaw Puzzle

The Rangers have all the pieces to succeed. On paper, they are easily an above .500 team. Easily. Translating that to the ice seems to be the problem.  I see it as a big jigsaw puzzle, all the pieces are there, they just need to be put together so they fit.  At the center of the puzzle is something we all want to see. Wins.  Getting all the pieces to surround the center piece seems to be the issue.

Consider the corner pieces. Richards. Lundqvist. Callahan. Staal.  Alone, they’re good, but they don’t connect to the center.  You need to find the pieces that fit.  And if you’ve ever done a jigsaw puzzle, you know that takes time and patience.  You may find one that looks like it’s going to fit, but one side doesn’t quite match up.  So you find another piece, and that one is slightly off.  It takes time to find the one that fits perfectly. We’ve seen line changes a plenty so far in the 9 games that they’ve played so far, all in an effort to find something that fit. We’ve seen the highly touted Gaborik-Richards duo split up, then rejoined, and different wingers swapped off and on their line.  All in an effort to find something that fit.  We’ve seen Avery sent down to the Whale, and now a possible recall. We’ve seen bad coaching, good coaching.  We’ve seen the star goalie make a sub-par appearance.  We’ve seen players sent down, called up, injured, benched… All pieces to the puzzle. 

The one thing the Rangers have on their side, for now, is time.  Being only 9 games in to the season is not an ideal time to be struggling, but it is also not the worst time.  It could be worse, having these issues with 40-50 games left.  Time is another piece to the puzzle, but one that has to find its place fairly quickly.

So, who is putting all these pieces together?  One could blame Tortorella for the shuffling of pieces.  But, in reality, he’s a puzzle piece himself.  Everyone is in control of their own piece to the puzzle. Players, coahes, management.  They all need to work together and put forth the effort to make the pieces fit. And quickly, there is only so much of my acid reflux medication I can take in a day...

Stunningly Disappointed.

That sums up the Rangers first home game of this season.

All of the hoopla at MSG pre game lead to an anti-climactic game.  While the Rangers dominated (and I use that term loosely) the first period, they lacked energy in the second and third. Again, unable to put together a solid 60 minutes of play.  I could go on and on about their game, but it's tiring to keep saying the same thing over and over again. So, to save me some carpal tunnel, go and read twitter, my previous blogs or any blogs pertaining to the Rangers as of lately.



Putting the game aside, what was an even bigger faux pau was the lack of tribute towards Derek Boogaard and the players of Lokomotiv.  I have CenterIce, which is notorious for not joining the game until the puck drops.  I figured that I had missed it in all of the pre-game hoopla that started early (people were lining up at the Blue Carpet at 3:30pm). Nope.  Then I figured it was during the player introductions.  I had gotten home just as Brad Richards was being introduced to the ice (impeccable timing I have, but I digress). Nope, wrong again.  I checked Twitter a little bit into the first period, cause Twitter is the most reliable source. I saw only a few say that there was a tribute done. During a TV timeout.  On the scoreboard.  When most people were out attempting to find a bathroom to relieve themselves of the overpriced beer, or to purchase an obnoxiously expensive, or trying to find their way back to their seats.

Really Rangers?  Vancouver had an amazing tribute to Rypien.  The video was available almost immediately after the ceremony.  The Rangers? Nope. I can't find anyone that was fortunate enough to witness it, and they've not put it online as of lately.  Somehow I find this slightly worse than the game itself last night.  It truly is a damn shame that no tribute was done that could be viewed uninterrupted, no moments of silence were done in remembrance, and that what was done for Boogaard has not been made available for us to view.

This deeply saddens me as a Rangers fan.  We've always touted ourselves as being more 'classy' fans.  I can show you my twitter timeline pre-game of people that anticipated a tribute to Boogaard  that would rival Rypien's.  But alas, we were let down.

Hey, at least Where's Waldo was there!

New York, concrete jungle where dreams are made of...

There's nothin' you can't do.

It's times like this that I miss living in New York.

The players are excited.  The coach is excited. And most importantly, the fans are excited!

It's been 190 days since the Rangers last played on MSG ice, let's make this an awesome one!

Let's Go Rangers!

*For those, like myself, who can't be at the game, follow me on twitter as I will be retweeting updates from those who are at the game. I'll also be tweeting my own updates, which should keep you entertained. I might even swoon for a moment or two...
You can also check out the following:

@NYRNation Twitter

NYRNation Website 

@TheNYRBlog Twitter will be bringing you all the pregame festivities starting at 5pm!

Mom! We're home!

Yes.

The Rangers are back at MSG.

Tortorella's knee-jerk reaction? (hold the sarcasm on the word 'jerk' please.)

"We love what we see," said Tortorella. "But we need to win here. That's what makes a building good."

Give that man a cookie!

Richards is looking forward to butterflies.

"...I'm excited, I'm sure I'll have butterflies tomorrow. I can't wait to experience it."

I'm looking forward to seeing him in a nice blue jersey.

And if this isn't the most beautimous site ever, then I don't know what is.

Twit of the Week

This is a better honour than it sounds, really.

I think I may make this a weekly thing. Only if I find a gem. Which, on twitter, isn’t too hard.

This week’s “Twit of the Week” is quite funny, if you take it in context.

Let me preface this by saying that I follow this person with sheer respect of him as a player. Even if his dad played for the Islanders.  I’ve followed his career (in a non-creeper/non-stalker type way, I swear!) along with fellow Long Islanders Mike Komisarek and Chris Higgins.  But being on Twitter now, has given me a whole new respect for the man.

He’s one of the few players that take the time to respond to almost every tweet directed towards him, negative or positive.  When the incident against Fedun happened, there was a flurry of well wishes, concern and utter hate directed towards him.  All were handled with the utmost respect for Fedun, the NHL, and himself.  He truly is a class act.

Besides that, he has a love for Long Island bagels. How could I not like the man?

But this twit made me laugh.

@enystrom23 Eric Nystrom

To clarify, i love being a piece of meat. I have the best job in the world, but moneyball gives a great inside peek!!

24 Oct via Twitter for iPhone Favorite Retweet Reply

(the above is thanks to blogger for not having the blackbird pie widget, and I'm not savvy enough to figure out a better way of quoting a twit...)

People took it waaaaaaaaaay out of context. Way out of context. So much so that it was actually quite captivating to sit and read.  I didn’t get much studying done that night.

So, there you have it. My ‘Twit of the Week’, Eric “Piece o’Meat” Nystrom.

Well played.

Women's Wear

As a woman, and a hockey fan, am I destined to wear pink sparkly jerseys?

SidCro would look fetching in this...

Good gravy, I hope not.

Now, don’t get me wrong…  I wear pink.  I have a few pink shirts.  I usually steer clear of bedazzling and sparkles.  But it's all good, in moderation. And not on sports clothing.

I browsed the shop on NHL.com, and I am a fan of most of the womens shirts on there. Only for the sheer fact that the women's cut ones are more fitted rather than tent-like.  And I love the Hockey Fights Cancer items. 

What I don’t like, are the Fair Isle jerseys. And the pink jerseys.  And anything with bedazzling.  

I looked in my closet, and took inventory of my sports wear.  I have 3 NY Rangers jerseys (all are the game ones. No pink. No sparkles.), I have 2 NY Rangers t-shirts (while they are womens cut, there are no sparkles or pink here) and an assortment of Atlanta Braves T-shirts.  Nope, nothing pink and sparkly for my jerseys.

I’m not sure who is doing the market research, but please, no more bedazzley, gem-encrusted Maalox pink jerseys.

Western Canadian RoadTrip: Part Deux (That’s Part Two for my non-French speaking readers)

I’d like to sum up the second half of the road trip in one word.

Ouchthathurtlikeamofo

                

The Rangers were beyond flat in the game against Edmonton.  Be-f’ing-yond.  Lundqvist was okay in net, allowing two goals.  He did throw out some fantastic saves, keeping it a 2-0 game.  It easily could have been worse.  But him leaving 8:25 into the third period sent everyone into a panic.  There were suspicions of groin injury, a Richter-like injury, diarrhea, or possibly nausea from watching the game.  Either way, it cause my twit-feed to go berserk.  All of the female population, and some Rangers fans were relieved when it was made public that it was his skates.  Yes, his skates.  Turns out he was breaking in his second pair.  That was the most exciting part of the game.  Prust gets props for taking on Andy Sutter.  Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, aka BoyWonder, proved to be a puzzle for the Rangers scoring the game winning 1^st goal.

Winnipeg brought the arrival of Wojtek Wolski and Woywitka (say that three times fast).  For the first few moments of the game, I got the TSN feed and they showed Mark Stuart.  I swooned for a moment, then regrouped myself.  The Rangers were dominated for most of the game, only getting 17 shots on net.  Winnipeg could not convert on their power plays, the Rangers come back and score two power play goals.  Yes, you read that correctly – TWO power play goals. They also only took two penalties. It was a game where the Jets could not capitalize and the Rangers got lucky.  Really lucky.  Biron proved to be “Lundqvistesque” in this game, obviously sitting on the bench watching Lundqvist paid off.  That and wearing skates that fit.  There was a scary moment when both Richards and Prust looking a little banged up in the third, and Gaborik spent some quality time on the bench.  But, after a flurry of action in front of Biron, the game ended with a 2-1 win.

So, leaving Canada with a 3-1 record ain’t to shabby.  It doesn’t matter how ugly the wins were, all that matters is points were won.  Don't jump onto the life boats yet folks. We're only 7 games into the season.

Maybe for the home opener, Torts can put names in the Broadway Hat and draw names out for who goes on the ice next.

Western Canadian RoadTrip: Part One

Can I get a 'hell yeah' for Lundqvist?

Outstanding in the game against Vancouver.  Must've been the sparkly new helmet.

Ooooooh. Sparkly.

Marian Gaborik seems to have returned to being the Marian Gaborik we all hoped he would be.  And by that I mean someone who scores.  Erik Christensen was invisible on the ice, Mike Rupp scored, and the Rangers had more penalty killing opportunities than power play opportunities.  Justifiably so, Lundqvist was given the first star by the New York Rangers for his part in the 4-0 shutout.

Lundqvist's performance also lead to the birth of... the Broadway Hat.  He was awarded the Broadway Hat by Brad Richards for his outstanding play in the win.

I've never wanted to be a hat so badly.  But I digress...

Moving on to the Flames.  Pretty decently played game.  The real Marian Gaborik stood up, and Ryan McDonagh went from the sacrificial goat to hero in mere minutes.  Kris Newbury stood up for Brad Richards, earning him super bonus points in my book. Prust scored one against his old team, and Tim Erixon (also known as 'Jan Erixon's son') was greeted every time he touched the puck with a resounding chorus of BOO's in B flat minor.  Oh, and the Broadway Hat made it's way to Prust.  I'm not quite sure why.  The Hat works in mysterious ways.

The Rangers have 2 more games in good ol' Canada: one Saturday against Edmonton, and one Monday against Winnipeg.  Then, the long awaited return to the fancy new MSG on October 27th against the Leafs. 

Is Avery Really the Answer?

Let's think about this seriously folks. I'll put aside my utter disdain for him for a hot minute while we do so.

I saw a mass amount of people that wanted Avery in last nights game for a 'spark'. Seriously, the last thing the Rangers needed was a 'spark' from Avery, since 'sparks' usually involve him taking a penalty or dropping the gloves. The Rangers don't need a 'spark', they need to play smarter. Will having Avery up in the big club help them play smarter? I highly doubt it, since he would have racked up more time in the box last night, than actually being on the ice.

All of which is a moot point anyways, since he still is practicing no-contact with the lovely yellow (appropriately fitting colour) jersey in CT. I do not foresee Avery making the trip to NY, unless the team is taken out by the black plague or food poisoning. I think Avery's schtick has well worn out it's welcome. The Rangers have many other more versatile players that can fit his 3rd/4th line presence. This was evidenced by Rupp's goal and Newbury's physicalness (which was felt, but not seen in the box).

Unless the team is looking for fashion advice, which they apparently don't need by the induction of the 'Broadway Hat', I think Avery will be at home in the Whale.

Edited to add:
I see its a possibility for Avery to make his AHL debut on Friday with the Whale.  IF he can play a smarter more disciplined game, I'm all for him getting another shot.  But based on past experience, he still is to me, a loose cannon.   And with the Rangers taking the amount of penalties they have taken as of lately, is it really wise for him to be with the Rangers?

Rick Rypien - a video tribute

Tonight We're Going to Play Like it's 1997...

Or something to that effect.

Yes, it's been almost 14 years since the Rangers have won in Vancouver. 14 years.  That's a long time. 

However, take a look at the overall stats, Rangers v Canucks:

Overall: 72 - 30 - 8 - 0
At MSG: 39-13-5-0
At Vancouver: 33-17-3-0

Feel a little better?

Well, how about this?
The last time they played against each other, granted it was at MSG, Lundqvist stopped all 31 shots and Wojtek "wonky groin" Wolski scored the lone goal.

The Rangers just need to pretend that Rogers Arena is really MSG. And stay out of the box.

Zucc to the Whale.

Shocked?

I'm not.

The kid has talent, as many know.  But he's not a 4th liner.  He has too much talent for that.  With the Rangers having a somewhat solid top 6 forwards, sending him to the Whale where he can get more ice time is beneficial.

So, who do they bring up?

No. Not Avery. Silly gooseses. Remember, Tortorella hates Avery, so why should he call him back up? /sarcasm>  With Avery still nursing a bum shoulder, let's call up Kris Newbury.  A good choice for a fit on the 4th line, who also has 8 points in 4 games.

Adequate temporary fix.

Sauer Out. Woywitka In. Wolski’s Groin.

Young defenseman Michael Sauer will not be playing with the Rangers when they take on the Islanders tomorrow.  It’s all thanks to the injured right shoulder from the preseason game vs the Flyers. With Sauer being out of the line up, it gives us a chance to see Woywitka play.  I am curious to see Woywitka play.  I don’t remember ever hearing his name when I watched a Rangers vs Stars game, but I also never paid much attention to the Stars.  It looks as if he’ll be paired with Emminger, which could be interesting.  He may want to rethink the whole wearing number 6 thing though.  Bad juju.

And that’s a good segue to Wolski’s groin...

He returned to practice on Friday, that would be today, after having just about a week off to rest the wonky groin.  Unsure if he’ll be in the lineup on Saturday, he is saying it’s feeling better.

I feel better than I did last week, and better than I did in Europe. Each day it seems like it's less and less painful, which is positive. The strength is coming back, too, so that's a big move in the right direction. I have no idea (about Saturday). I'm just trying to go day by day and see if it keeps getting better.

-Wojtek Wolski

Female Hockey Fans: Why can’t a girl just like the game for the game?

I got the idea for this article after one of my recent blog posts about superstitions.  The idea also popped into my head while having a discussion via twitter with a couple other Rangers bloggers who all happen to be males.  It’s an idea that I toyed with and decided to run with.  I run slowly folks, so this could be a long run.

My story started back in September of the year 1992.  I was 13 and in 8^th grade, my last year of middle school.  I probably was sporting some stretch pants with stirrups and a redonkulously oversized inside out sweatshirt. I remember my French class, there were three guys in there who all were Rangers fans, I believe.  And in traditional Michelle fashion, I tried to impress them by watching hockey.  Now, I’ll be honest, I watched my first game in the den of my house alone (it’s not as creepy as it sounds, trust me).  I couldn’t figure out why the guy wearing the C on the upper corner of his jersey had his position on his jersey. Did they do that so they made sure they played in the right spots on the ice?  Was it so the other C could keep an eye on him on the ice?  What the heck was the A for? I was convinced that centers had to stay with the other team’s center, LW with LW, etc…  I got annoyed with the TV and shut it off mid-game.  The next day, I went to my local library as we didn’t have the internets then, and checked out a book on hockey.  It would have been a hell of a lot quicker if Google existed back then… but I digress.   I read the book front to back, back to front.  It had lots of pictures.  Days later… It was then that I had a better grasp on the game, and now knew that the C on the jersey was for CAPTAIN, not CENTER.   This was also the first year I watched Olympic hockey. Being in NY, I became a Rangers fan.  Not really sure why, but I did.  By Olympics time, I had a better grasp of the game and actually enjoyed watching it.  I loved the fast-paced action, and the fights.  Oh the fights…  It was the glorious era of Jeff Beukeboom, Tie Domi, Joey Kocur…  I remember some of Beuke’s fights.  Man that guy could that guy throw a right.  Besides the fights, I loved watching Messier, Leetch, Graves and Richter on the ice.  While I wouldn’t call them poetry in motion, they were quite lovely to watch.  I remember that while I loved the game, watching the players wasn’t so bad.  I loved the energy of the game, the chasing of the puck, the speed of the skaters and the agility of the goalies.  Even watching at home, you could feel the energy at MSG through the TV.  I remember my first game at MSG, my first game at Nassau Coliseum.  Both were extremely loud.  I cried when the Rangers won the cup in 1994. I loved watching the play, and to this day, I love analyzing the PK.  I don’t know why, it just fascinates me.  I used to love when games went into OT back then.  I thought it was the cat’s pajamas to have another 20 minutes of play.  Now, I’m a big fan of the shootout. Big Fan.  Except when Erik Christensen shoots wide. But again, I digress…

I also had developed an interest in playing.  I played all during high school, ice and roller hockey. But mainly roller hockey.  I was far less graceful on ice.  I played in 2 leagues most years, and played on all-male teams.  I loved playing, loved the quickness of the game.  I watched games on TV intently.  I could dissect a PK better than most guys. It was my specialty when I played.  I could rattle off the roster, complete with jersey numbers in alphabetical order or numerical order, you decide.  It was quite marvelous.  I wasn’t big on stats, I just liked watching the game.  Occasionally, we’d meet players at autograph sessions, but I never had the idea of heading to a hotel in hopes of actually hooking up with a player. 

When guys asked me, and still do, who my favourite players are, I tell them.  If a player is remotely good looking, they assume that I like them solely based on looks.  Now, while that argument does hold some truth, it is not the sole reason why I like a player.  I like them based on their performance on the ice and off the ice (minds out of the gutter people).  I’m talking charity, giving back, being a genuine class act.  That being said, who are my favourite players, you ask?  Well, since you asked so nicely I’ll indulge you…

Brad Richards – yes, setting aside his devilish good looks, he is really a talented player.  Have you seen this man pass a puck?  It’s a thing of beauty.  I could watch video of him passing the puck for hours.  He’s a humble guy, team player, and a fantastic giver-backer. Yes, that’s the technical term.  +1 for charity!  +1 for being able to pass the puck dead on backwards!

John-Michael Liles (Toronto) – again, yes he’s good looking.  But the man is solid on D.  Solid.  A great play maker and knows when to step up and when to stay back.  Again, he’s a great community presence in the Denver and now Toronto community.  He, like Richards, did a charity event only minutes after he signed with the Leafs.  Keepin’ it classy.  Plus he’s ridiculously funny and watches “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”. +1 for ‘hashtag JML’.  And did you catch his hair last season? SICK. Give that man another +1!

Henrik Lundqvist – No explanation needed here.  The man OWNS the net. + infinity, cause he’s Henrik Lundqvist!

And last but not least Mark Stuart (Winnipeg) – I remember watching him play while he was in Boston.  I liked his style of play.  He’s not afraid to put his body in front of the puck, and he’s not afraid to use his size and strength to win battles in the corners.  When he’s on the ice, his physical presence is felt.  He’s also an amazingly humble guy with awesomely epic taste in music. +1 for being my musicsoulmate!

Now I was curious.  Does that classify me as a girl who likes the game solely for the players’ good looks?  After several cups of coffee and bantering back and forth with myself, I came to the realization that it does not. I’ve never referred to myself, in person or on the internets as ‘Mrs Richards’ or ‘Mrs Liles’ as I’ve seen many people do.  I’ve not photoshopped myself into a photo with them.  I’ve not stalked a player outside of their hotel.  The closest I’ve come is putting someone’s number at the end of my screen name or a password.  I’ve never chased down a player to get an autograph to only slip them my number.  I have, however, joked about blindfolding Brad Richards (solely for the purpose of seeing if his passing is really that good), and kidnapping Roman Polak… But it was all in good fun.  And frankly, if anyone is strong enough to wrestle down the Polak Bear, tie him up and ship him to me, they can do it.  But I wish them much luck and a speedy recovery. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good swooning every once in a while, but taking it to the point where I watch hockey only for the ‘hotness factor’ will never come.  But I won’t lie, it does make for watching the interviews that much better…

Then I got even curiouser.  I have many female friends who love hockey.  I wanted to hear their stories… how they got into hockey, why they liked hockey, etc…  Here’s what my scientific research lead to:

I guess the speed & that it isn't boring like the other sports.. (football takes too long to line up really need to start doing so while the clock is going tho I can sometimes watch) Basketball I just don't like no idea why & Baseball well to me they’re a bunch of wusses. (Get a papercut & out for a week). Golf. Need I say Golf is like watching Paint dry? There's a lot more going on, on the ice & around than I think during other sports/games. Plus I loved the environment. The electricity in the air even tho it isn't a playoff game or any of importance.

-Kim Marie, NJ Devils Fan

I really liked it [figure skating], but quickly became enamored with hockey. Very fascinated by the player whose last name looked like "rabbit tail"... who was that?! Luc Robitaille!

In high school I finally started going to games. A neighbor of mine worked with Wayne Gretzky's race horses and gave my dad and I tickets to a game vs. the Sabres. Kings won 7-2, what a great time I had! And that season (92-93) the Kings did well & exceeded all expectations, moving on to the finals. If not for Marty McSorely's curved stick... who knows what could have happened? One very-cool experience I had was during the finals--my friend Hilary & I got up at 5am to go see the Stanley Cup on display at a nearby hotel. We got there & she, her dad, and I were the only ones there! I know that doesn't happen in Canada, ha! It was great, seeing all the trophies up close.

-Lisa, Boston Bruins Fan

I started being a hockey fan probably when I was like 7 or 8.  Growing up in Montreal, you have almost no choice of being a hockey fan as the city lives and breath hockey.  My dad would take me to go see the Montreal Canadiens Juniors, the farm team of the Montreal Canadiens back then.  I remember watching Pat Lafontaine playing for them.  Of course I started by being a Montreal Canadiens fan as I didn't know any better.

-Sandra, St Louis Blues Fan

When I was a sophomore in college, I became friendly with a classmate who was a die-hard New York Rangers fan and got seriously into hockey because of this person.  I started going to games, memorizing stats, collecting memorabilia, and occasionally meeting players. … I did enjoy collecting memorabilia though, and used to go to card shows pretty frequently on weekends.  I still have a few unusual pieces of memorabilia such as a set of Red Army cards, a Russian Penguins hat, an '85 Edmonton Oilers guide, etc. 

But what draws me more towards hockey is that aforementioned energy level, the speed, and complexity of the game.  There's so much going on all at once, which, for me, is part of the thrill….I appreciated -- and still appreciate -- hockey because it's energetic, engaging, and deliberate.  It's a very straight-to-the-point game which everyone can follow.  It's got action and athleticism, but also, a universal appeal.

-Krista,  NY Rangers Fan

So, as my scientific research proves, we’re not all about the looks.  I asked these ladies what they like about the game and what drew them into the game.  Not one of us said that the looks of the players drew us in.  We all were enamored by the speed and energy of the game.  But we all do have an occasional swooning moment.

See? We can like the game for the game.

Loyalty To Your Team: Do you stand by them, even when you’re not in the same city?

"My Niklas Sundstrom jersey circa 1997"

Hi. My name is Michelle and I’ve been a NY Rangers fan since 1992.  It’s been a long 19 seasons, which shows my age a little.  I cringed when I tallied it up.

I got into hockey in 1992 when there were a couple guys in my French class that liked the Rangers, and I believe one liked the Islanders.  Growing up on Long Island, one would think that I would like the Islanders, but for some reason I chose the Rangers.  I had no knowledge of the sport at the time, and just picked them.  I’m kind of glad I did looking back on it.  It was one of my smarter decisions back in 1992.  My hairstyle was not so lucky.  I was a Rangers’ fan pre-94 Stanley Cup, which many people jumped on the Rangers train in 1994-1995. Which, ironically many people jumped off shortly thereafter. Sometimes they hopped back on when they were winning, then back off when they were losing.  I believe the term is called ‘bandwagoning’.  I had jerseys, shirts, one of those fancy pullover Starter jackets, stickers… etc. I watched every game on MSG, and went to a few at MSG and the Coliseum.  I watched whether they won or lost, whether they made the playoffs or not.  If the game was on, I watched it.  If I missed a game on TV I was upset.  I cheered them on from my couch.  As time went on, I considered myself a loyal fan.

When I moved to an undisclosed remote location in upstate NY in 2002, I was plunked right into Sabres’ country.  Which is kind of odd, since we were 4 hours from Buffalo, and 3 ½ hours from NYC.  MSG there carried mainly Sabres games.  That made me sad.  But I stayed true to the Blue.  I watched games when I could, usually if they carried the 7pm Sabres game, the Rangers game aired at 11pm.  I would watch the games the following day, even though I knew the score. I would log onto the Rangers website several times a day.  It was strenuous, almost a full time job in itself.

Then the lockout o’2004-2005.  I didn’t follow hockey that season, obviously.  When the ’05-’06 season came around, I contemplated about finding a different team.  It had nothing to do with how poorly they had played, it had to do with the fact that I couldn’t watch the games on TV. But the mere thought of me following the Islanders or the Sabres or the Devils made me nauseous.  It was something as a self-respecting New Yorker, I couldn’t do.  So I continued to follow the Rangers.  From the 2006-2007 season to last season, I followed hockey, but not like I had before the lock out. If I didn’t catch a game, it wasn’t a big deal. Frankly, halfway through the 2009-2010 season I did stop watching games. I was busy with life, marriage, nursing school… I did explore new players though.  A few caught my eye, John-Michael Liles (then with Colorado, now with Toronto.  I like to refer to him as ‘hashtag JML’.), Mark Stuart (with the new Jets), Chris Porter and Roman Polak of the Blues. Their styles of play caught my eye, but my loyalty was with the Rangers still.

Last season, I explored the idea of adding a western conference team to my arsenal of teams, giving me an East Coast/West Coast thing.  The team I selected?  St Louis Blues.  Yeah, I know, totally random.  I teetered back and forth, back and forth, back and forth.  Every time I thought ‘hey, I could just like the Blues’, I had a guilty feeling.  I couldn’t do it.  It felt like I was giving up my first born.  It was odd.  I swear, my Rangers jerseys would move around in the closet and jump to the front.  My jerseys played a guilt trip on me.

Giving props to the 21^st century, the internet, the iPhone and modern conveniences, it’s easier to be a fan of your team, even if you’re not in the same city, let alone the same state.  Most cable or satellite providers offer NHL Center Ice.  Or you can subscribe to an online streaming game plan.  While somewhat pricey, you can stay connected.   When I found out that we were relocating from our undisclosed upstate NY location, somewhere between Buffalo and New York City, to the city of Atlanta I was shocked.  But I also expected to be able to see some hockey games since the Thrashers were there.  But, they moved, leaving me with no hockey teams again within a 3 hour drive.

Coming into this preseason, I have a renewed faith in the Rangers and the NHL.  Not that I ever really doubted them, but I have a new found love for the game again.  A new passion.  Kind of like being a born again hockey fan.  Now, I’m a Rangers fan in Atlanta. If that ain’t loyalty, I don’t know what is.

Size vs Skill: STL vs TOR

Each week we’ll take a look at 2 same position players and pit size against skill.  Who will win, size or skill?  Let’s take a look at this week’s matchup…

It’s a STL vs TOR matchup…  Roman Polak vs John-Michael Liles.  Who will win?  The Muscle from Ostrava or #JML?  Only I know, since I write this. So read on my friends.

Let’s start with size. Or as I like to call it, Roman Polak.

Standing at 6’1 227lbs, he’s a physical force to deal with on defense. He’s quick with a hit, or the drop of the gloves.  He’s more of a stay at home Dman, not putting up more than 4 goals in the NHL in a season. However, he banked a career high 17 assists in the ‘09-‘10 season.  He also carried a career high -15 +/- in ’08-’09.  He seems to be more in the negative +/-.  Physicality and the ability to pass makes him a great asset to a team.  He also has a career high PIM of a mere 59 in ’09-’10.  Not too shabby for the big stay at home Dman. Blues’ GM Armstrong touts him as being one of their top penalty killers who is in the prime of his career.

Now, let’s move along to the skill, John-Michael Liles.  I prefer calling him ‘hashtag JML’, but I’m weird. And yes, I really do say 'hashtag' - air quotes optional.

A contrast to Polak’s size, JML (as the hockey world knows him) stands at 5’10 185lbs.  What he may lack in height and weight, he makes up for in skill and heart.  He’s an intelligent Dman, reading plays to see when to advance to center ice and when to stay home.  He’s got a quick set of legs, allowing him to scramble back to the net to defend if needed. The guy’s got a pretty dead on shot on the net.  Let the numbers speak for themselves.  A season high of 14G in ’05-’06 and ’06-’07 seasons, and a commendable 40A in ’10-’11 with the Avalanche.  Not only does he produce number wise, he also takes the body when appropriate.  Topping out at 44 PIM in ’05-’06.  Toronto was a smart cookie to pick up JML, even if he is one of the ‘senior’ members of the team. Senior meaning 30.

 Advantage: Liles

Let’s take a look at the overall stats.

Polak has played 229 NHL games, netting 8 goals, 42 assists, 50 points and 143 PIMs.  Liles has 525 games, netting 68 goals, 208 assists, 276 points and 220 PIMs. Given that Polak has played in the NHL for almost half as many games, he’s doing a pretty good job in the NHL.  One could predict that when he hits around 520ish games, he’ll be around 20 goals, 80-100 assists and around 300 PIMs.  Still not touching even close to #JML’s points. #JML has the gross advantage notching 276 points in 525 games versus Polak’s 50 points in 229 games.

Advantage: Liles

Game. Set. Match.  LILES

Well played ‘hashtag JML’, well played.

Both photos courtesy of Jen Krechel & Diane Ruff 2010

Will The Days Off Be Used Wisely?

Having time off between the return from the not-so-Swede trip in Sweden and the game against the Laughlanders could prove to be a remedy or a poison. Depends on how they use it.

Penalties were the killer in both games in Sweden. Well, one of the killers.  They have to be a bit more conscious on the ice.  Or at least make an attempt to do something stupid out of the view of the refs.  7 penalties in the game against the Kings, with the Kings only taking 2 penalties.  Then, 9 penalties in the game against the Ducks on Saturday, with Dubinsky taking credit for 4 of those.  Discipline kids, discipline.  That was drilled into me from day one of my first practice.

"Discipline kids!"

The other killer?  A sloppy and slow 1^st period.  Anyone that watched the Rangers last season, knows they shone like the freaking North Star in the 3^rd period. And sometimes even in the shootouts.  But you can’t rely on that.  Especially when the king of shootouts, Mr Erik Christensen, decides to shoot the puck instead of finessing his way. Which, wouldn’t be so bad had he actually had gotten the shot in the proximity of the net.  Both games in Sweden started out with a slow 1^st period by the Rangers, who seemed to be 5 steps behind the play, but then got better as the time went by. But, by that time it was too late to mount any sort of a comeback.

All that being said, they can’t rely on Lundqvist to play as stellar as he did in those two games every night.  It’s a lot for one player to carry, or feel like they’re carrying.  It all starts in front of him, having a solid D and a solid disciplined top 6.

The Ducks Vs Lundqvist. Cause Frankly No One Else Showed Up.

As pictured above, the Rangers were afraid to touch the puck.  And when they did, it wasn't pretty. Passing pucks into the shins of the Ducks players, shooting wide (even in the shootout)...  Again, the Rangers had a slow and sloppy first period.  They seemed to be 5 steps behind the play.  Play got better as the time ticked down.  However, banking on EC scoring in the shootout proved fatal.

I've seen almost every shootout attempt by Erik Christensen.  And I don't recall a time that he ever shot the puck. Ever.  And he chooses to shoot. Wide.  I'm sure Tortorella is kicking himself. They sure could have used Avery to block Hiller with his nifty screening moves.  Or he could have skated circles around Hiller, praying on his recent bouts with vertigo.

The shoot out was miserable.  First EC goes wide, Richards fumbles the puck upon pick up...  The only two who had a decent shot was Zuccarello and Anisimov.  Lundqvist again, was almost stellar.

Again, penalties proved costly. A sloppy first period proved costly.  Being 2 steps behind the Ducks proved costly. 

The keys to the next couple games?  Stay out of the box, and don't rely on coming back in the 2nd and 3rd periods.  Because obviously that didn't work out so well.

The Three Stars of the game:

3. Lundqvist

2. Lundqvist

1. Lundqvist

 

Here are Lundqvist, Richards and Callahan on the game.

Hopefully a week from games will be good for them to regroup.

Will EC redeem himself?

With Wojtek Wolski out with a tweaked groin, Erik Christensen has found himself in the lineup.  Will he bring his A Game tonight?  Heck, after his lack-luster pre-season performance, even his B Game would be an improvement.

Most likely being on the line with Stepan and Zuccarello, will he play better than Wolski in yesterdays game?  Probably not.  His only saving grace? If the Rangers can stay out of the box, take the game to OT, not take penalties, and send it to a shootout.

Who wants a long shot, eh?

Update - 12:40pmEST-  EC will be centering Rupp and Zuccarello.  I predict 5-8 minutes of ice time for that line.  Moving Boyle to Stepan and Prust will be a better line, hopefully giving Stepan more ice time.

Superstitions. Even Fans have them.

"You know what, I probably dont have a whole lot of rituals... I do, but i change them all the time whether were winning or losing. um there's a couple things that I do that have to be staples, but uh, I'm too embarrassed to tell you. I'll leave those to myself. Nothing to do with underwear... I clean all that..." 
Brad Richards

SidCro won't call his mom on game days.  Apparently everytime he called her pre-game, he got injured. Hitman anyone?

and the ever present playoff beard.

So... I'll preface this by saying I'm an odd duck. In case you haven't figured that out yet.  I also have OCD, a compulsion for numbers, and a fascination with shiny things...

That being said, let's rewind the calendar to somewhere's around 1996ish.  I would watch Ranger games on MSG. With my Rangers jersey. And a notebook.  I would jot down the opening lineups, the 4 lines and 3 D pairings. With a blue ballpoint BIC pen.  I may have also had a bad Ogilvie perm at that time, but that information is irrelevant...

I did this for every game.  It took dedication, blood, sweat and tears.  The blood, of course, coming from paper cuts.  It's a brutal job.

As I aged, and paper went by the wayside, I had different superstitions.  I had to add all the shots to get an even number.  I'd calculate the total digits of the line up and divide it down to its smallest numerical value.  I would drink coffee out of my Rangers mug, with the logo pointing due east.  I would eat only Orville Redenbacher popcorn.

It was a tough job, but someone had to do it.

After taking a couple years off of watching the NHL circa the lockout era, I had forgotten all about my oddities until today...

I couldn't find my beloved Rangers mug.

I guess I need to get a new one.

Let's go Rangers.

3-2 loss in OT. Not so Swede in Stockholm

I think Mike Rupp's facial expression sums it up.

After a not-so-nice first period filled with sluggish legs and bad passes, the Rangers seemed to redeem themselves in the second and third.  Lines looked a little better, passing was great, but those penalties... ah the penalties.

Boyle's ill-timed penalty with 2:03 left in the third put the Rangers on the PK for the last two minutes.  Then came the McDonagh penalty. In OT.  Yes folks, in OT. Jack Johnson put a fancy wrist shot behind Lundqvist.  Thanks McD.

On the brighter side, we now found out that scoring from behind the goal line is possible. At least for Callahan it is. They call it a wrist shot.  I call it impossible.

And, everyone knows I'm a HUGE Brad Richards' fan.  HUGE.  Like in REALLY BIG fan.  Man, can he pass.  I'd like to see him play blindfolded once. Just to see if he is really that dead on.  Maybe he uses the force? I really don't care, as long as he passes and it doesn't take Gaborik more than a nanosecond to realize how perfectly the puck was placed on his stick.

All in all, not to shabby of a start.  The key is to not take penalties. Especially in OT.

Got it McD?

The Season Begins!

ahhhh.... the long awaited season opener.  In Stockholm.  Yes, Stockholm.

I can see all of the play-by-play announcers sitting in their seats practicing saying "Woywitka to Wolski.... Woywitka to Wolski".  Be honest, you've practiced saying it too.

A big question around this season is 'Will Richards Spark Gaborik?'

I know there is a lot of pressure on Richards' shoulders, many fans have high expectations of him, hoping that he alone will win the Cup.  Is that a logical expectation?

No.

I think his role with the Rangers will be one to motivate, one to lead, one to mentor the young guys, one to inspire.  I think he could potentially be the missing link in Gaborik's scoring and performance.  Look what he did in Dallas with Eriksson, helping the guy to a 70pt season.  I'm convinced that Richards either has eyes in the back of his head, or has GPS devices attached to everyone and knows where they all at all times. Most of his passes are spot-on and he's got a good read of the ice and the situations.

He'll prove to be a big asset to the Rangers this year.  But it won't be Brad Richards on the march to the Cup.  It will be the NY Rangers.



Marc Staal Out For The Opener

With Staal out for the opener, and probably for an 'undetermined' amount of time, what does that do for the Rangers defense?

Woywitka.

Say it with me now.... WHO?

Jeff Woywitka.  I'll admit, I like saying it.  It's almost as fun as saying Wojtek Wolski. Almost.  But I digress...

I've not seen Woywitka play, but based on his stats, he could potentially add a little, I said a little, depth to the defense.

Erixon, while on the younger side, has been playing well during the preseason, earning his spot in the big leagues.

Look for MDZ, Girardi, Sauer and McDonagh to step up their games.


And, Finally, Who Will Score First?

My bet is on Gaborik. With Richards assisting.

Your thoughts?

Now that Avery had his 15 minutes...

Let's take a look at some other things.

Dale Weise.

The 6'2" 210lb Right winger from Winnipeg was snatched up by Vancouver while he was on waivers.  He's an AHL pro, but with the stocked up top 6 the Rangers now have, there was no room for him.  Last season he had 10 games with the Rangers, 19 PIM, and a -1 rating.  He's a gritty 4th liner, not afraid to drop the gloves when needed.  Although most times the decision was against him.  Gotta give the kid credit for his heart.

Looking ahead to Stockholm.

Who is going to be the wingman on the first line?  After watching the EV Zug game, I'm hoping Wolski will be able to play on the first line with Richards and Gaborik.  Dubinsky could be a good fit, giving him a chance to play with two top forwards who could set him up nicely and open up opportunity for him.  It might give him a burst of confidence to up his game a little more.

Knowing how Tortorella likes to play with the lines, it'll be interesting to see who is on the first line for the first game. And where Christensen will fit in the lineup.

Staal is out for the Europe trip, which is no real shocker.  Pretty vague updates about him on Blueshirt United.

Oh My... Sloppy Seconds, bye bye!

So, what better way to restart this blog than with a blog about Sean Avery being put on waivers?

Yeah, I didn't think there was a better way either.

I think most people know that I am in no way a Sean Avery fan. At all.  Putting that aside, both Sean Avery and Eric Christensen have their pros and cons.  I don't envy the NY Rangers management/coaches for having to make that decision of who to put on waivers.  Both could be a good fit, but both could bring down the team in one way or another.

Avery, while a gritty player, has been inconsistent.  EC, who is a stellar shoot out player, has been inconsistent.

Either way, they both have good plays and horrible plays.  It seems, based on all the action on Twitter today, that this decision was made before camp even started, or the trip to Europe began.  Was it a salary decision? Who knows...  There is no guarantee that just because Avery was put on waivers that EC will stay.  Will the Rangers unload him in a trade? Send him to CT and bring someone else up?

Only time will tell...