12 Days of Rangers - Day 8

On the 8^th day of the Hottest Rangers, I give to thee…

Brian 'Boyler' Boyle

Found here via GoogleImages

He's one of my personal favourites.  I find tall guys very attractive, and the fact that I stand at a mere 5' almost anyone is tall from my perspective.

Courtesy of MSG

Boyle with @irishecho1

Courtesy of @BDubi17

Courtesy of NYR Facebook

12 Days of Rangers - Day 7

On the 7^th day of the Hottest Rangers, I give to thee…

Derek ‘Steps’ Stepan

Photo Credit: Getty Images

I think the photos may speak for themselves….

Found here via GoogleImages

Found here via GoogleImages

12 Days of Rangers - Day 6

On the 6^th day of the Hottest Rangers, I give to thee…

Michael ‘DZ’ Del Zotto

Photo Credit: msg.com

Two Italians in a row… how lucky we are.

One thing I’m quite thankful for is that he lost that gosh-awful hairdo from last year.  The shorter hair suits him better.

Found here via GoogleImages

Found here via GoogleImages

PhotoCredit:found here via GoogleImages

One Player Does Not Make A Team, Folks

Trust me on this.

Hockey, unless I missed a memo somewhere, is a team sport.  Usually it consists of three forwards, two defensemen (or two defencemen if you’re Canadian), and a goalie. The only time one skater is on the ice is for a shoot out. Golf, is a single player sport. Tennis, unless you’re playing doubles, is a single player sport.  Now that we cleared that up…

Lately, if the Rangers are playing poorly, and Avery is being sat, the loss is due soley in part to Avery being all cozy in the press box according to some fans. But it’s also due to the fact that EC was in the line up and is invisible. The losses were not because of lapses in the D.  Not because the goalie let in a soft goal.  Not because the team racked up penalties.  Not because the team wasn’t playing a cohesive game.  Not because they were skating like they had 50lb sandbags attached to their legs.  It was because one player was, or was not, in the line up.

When the Rangers went on their epic winning streak, with Avery in the line up, they won games because of Avery. Not because of Lundqvist’s stellar play.  Not because of Brad Richards’ keen ability to make beautiful passes.  Not because of Dan Girardi playing like a beast.  Not because lines were working.  Not because the defense was on point.  But because Sean Avery played. He played an average of 5 minutes a game.

Now, don’t get me wrong.  Avery has shown he has what it takes to give the team a ‘spark’, and has contributed when called upon.  But the Rangers’ don’t need spark.  They need goals.  They need them badly.  They need to start taking shots, and not verbal ones.  They need to play smarter.  They need to back check better, fore check better, body check better.  They need to put together 3 periods of solid play. This is not the work fit for one man. It’s work fit for a team.

I see many a tweet that imply that “If Avery had played…”, “If Dubi was benched…”, “If Boyle was benched…”, “If Biron was not started…”.  hindsight is 20/20 folks.  It’s a 6 in one-half a dozen in the other scenario as my grandmother would say.  The grass is always greener. Coulda, shoulda, woulda.

I agree, there are games where Avery’s style of play is warranted and welcomed. But there are times when his style of play may not match the game.  This just doesn’t apply to Avery.  The same could be applied to Dubinsky, Rupp, Boyle, EC, etc… Thus is the life of a 3^rd and/or 4^th liner.  You know there may be games sat and games played.  You can anticipate some will be rotated based on the opponent and the expected tone of the game. Rest assured if you aren’t playing up to par, you may be sat, your line may be flopped around, or you may have some quiet time down at the end of the bench. Some times you got to take one, for the team.

The takeaway from my little rant is that one person does not make or break the team. One person is not the sole reason for a winning streak or a losing streak. 

One person does not win the Stanley Cup.

The Winter Classic: Where Rivalries Drop F Bombs

Aaaahhh…. You smell that? That’s the smell of cold crisp air you’re smelling. That can mean only one thing.

The NHL Winter Classic.

As HBO premieres 24/7 Flyers/Rangers last night, one can only wonder what the cameras will bring us. A swearing Tortorella?  Feuding fashion tips from Lundqvist and Avery? Shelley taking jabs at little Dubinsky? The world awaited with baited breath.  And here it is…

“Put your foot on the fucking gas…”

Five minutes into the show, I’ve come to the conclusion that the F-Bomb can be inserted into almost any sentence. Good or bad.

I think 24/7 gives fans the ultimate insight into what it’s like behind the scenes.  As a player myself (retired 2001 from a 9 year stint in ice and roller hockey), I find it utterly interesting to see how the pros do it in the locker rooms.  Torts definitely knows how to light a fire.

It opens up with the NYR game against the Leafs. I damn near swooned myself off the couch with a half naked Gaby. Apparently Boyle being mic’d up makes him unable to think too.  Seeing Sauer and DZ’s hits again was painful.  Nothing like re-living a subpar game again, eh?

Then it shifts to the Flyers. Now, I’ll tell you a secret. I have a Flyers jersey. It’s an oldie. Shawn Antoski. Yeah, I don’t know what I was thinking either. I’ve come to the conclusion, that what ever Bryzgalov is drinking I would like a nice big helping of… “solar system is so humungous big…”  I believe his brain probably works similarly to mind. And in that case, the man is pure genius.

Oh, those kids with Boyle. That’s probably how I’d look if I stood next to him.  I love seeing the guys with the kids. And yes Boyle, we all saw you oogling the Rockettes.  Avery is one handsome dude. The camera loves that man.  He sees his trip to The Whale as an obstacle. I’ve noticed his composure about this season is somewhat more mature and respectable.

I’d like to chop Briere’s hair off. Really, I’d do it. He doesn’t scare me.  However, I do miss Jagr’s mullet.  Can we get it back please?  But he needs to stop rocking during his interviews. I started getting seasick.

“Ya gotta take some shots… ya gotta take some shots…”  wise words, from a wise man.

Oh, I’ve been sniped.  Yes, the sniping, er Anisimoving incident. Apparently he was just reloading. I think we can all breathe a sigh of relief now.

Focus again on the Flyers and Laviolette.  The man is dedication itself. Then it focused on Wayne Simmonds and his thoughts on being one of the few African Americans in the NHL.

Now, back to the Rangers…Anisimov describes why he chose that celebration.  In Russia, sniping is tolerated.  Then came the Callahans, and some of the Rangers eating a few tables away.  I like how they decide who pays for dinner.  I may try that next time I’m out. Although since both me and The Hubs have the same credit cards, it’s kind of a moot point, eh?

Best quote of Part 1?  “It’s nothing going around the bushes…” Gaby discussing how abrupt and blunt Torts is.

G’ma Callahan stole the show. Get that woman a TV contract.

And Giroux’s medical check up and Bryzgalov give tips on hunting in China. Long story short: don’t shoot a tiger.  Then the Flyers team party. Baby Bryz should be a backup somewhere.

I could sit here and reiterate the back and forths in depth that this show took, but it’s better to watch it. Words can only describe the emotion that you get watching it.  Makes you proud to be a fan of the greatest sport. Ever.

12 Days of Rangers - Day 5

On the 5^th day of the Hottest Rangers, I give to thee…

John ‘Torts’ Tortorella

Found here via GoogleImages

Ok, I know he’s not a player, but I promised this to our very own the_nange…

The mustache.

The goatee.

The antics behind the bench that look like a 2 year olds tantrum at times.

His affinity for the f-bomb.

His somewhat dashingly good looks.

His ability to be both the man you love to hate and the man you hate to love.

This, my friends, is Torts….

Found here via GoogleImages

Len Redkoles/Getty Images

Photo Credit: Associated Press

12 Days of Rangers - Day 4

On the 4th day of the Hottest Rangers, I give to thee...

Brandon "Dubi" Dubinsky

PhotoCredit: BlueshirtsUnited

Ok, he's not my cup o' coffee, but he has a certain je ne sais quoi that many a fan find attractive.  I'm not sure if it's his utterly awful fashion sense (Lundqvist, help a brother out. PLEASE), or his Mad Men-esque hair do.  But some fans find him attractive, and possibly even swoon worthy.

I can see the attraction. That was until I saw the mustache.  Good Gravy, that thing needed to be put to its untimely demise.

So for those that like baby faces, I give you Brandon Dubinsky.

Photo Credit: NYR Facebook

Found here via GoogleImages

Photo Credit: Jemal Countess/Getty Images