Richards is so soft - good god lol .. not even defending kaleta either,if anybody else in the league would have did that i would say the same thing... Richards acted like he just got his wrist shattered, but came right back and plays rest of the game like nothing happened... but on the same note, he COULD have gotten severely injured, i am not disputing that,luckily he didn't..But come Richards, your a stanley cup champion, no need for the dramatics.
- SkunKy

how could anybody say that Richards is soft and then point out he came back very quickly after the hit, don't these two things contradict one another?

how could anybody say that Richards is soft and then point out he came back very quickly after the hit, don't these two things contradict one another?
- jimbro83

Just glad this jibber jabber can end w the Buffalo folk & we can entertain our friends from Philly.

Just glad this jibber jabber can end w the Buffalo folk & we can entertain our friends from Philly.
- B2B76

yes, lets see what shenanigans develop from tonight's tilt

this is a big one, a win gets us back into the playoff top 8 with games in hand on pretty much everyone

yes, lets see what shenanigans develop from tonight's tilt

this is a big one, a win gets us back into the playoff top 8 with games in hand on pretty much everyone
- jimbro83

I want to see Hank be Hank. He has been mediocre for most of this year so far. Can't allow Bryz to out play him tonight.

I want to see Hank be Hank. He has been mediocre for most of this year so far. Can't allow Bryz to out play him tonight.
- B2B76

I'd like a good second period from everyone, including Hank.

It's definitely been our worst period of late.

The formula has been to come out like gang busters, take a bad penalty that kills our mojo, play a dreadful second period, and then play with urgency in the 3rd period.

60 minutes you phuckers

I want to see Hank be Hank. He has been mediocre for most of this year so far. Can't allow Bryz to out play him tonight.
- B2B76

I want to see a Rick Nash hattrick... I just pray they don't jynx him by calling it a nashtrick... look what happened to Ovechkin.

I want to see a Rick Nash hattrick... I just pray they don't jynx him by calling it a nashtrick... look what happened to Ovechkin.
- envyonthecoast

it was nice to see a regular shot finally go in for Nash other other night.

I think all of his goals have been those awesome dispy doodles around the goalie.

But finally one of his shots from a bit of a distance went in. We need more of that fo shizzle

it was nice to see a regular shot finally go in for Nash other other night.

I think all of his goals have been those awesome dispy doodles around the goalie.

But finally one of his shots from a bit of a distance went in. We need more of that fo shizzle
- jimbro83

Exactly.. even if the initial doesn't go in, Hags has been right in front ready for the rebound.

Zach Boychuk is on waivers again today from the Penguins

we were all disappointed when we missed out on him, and he did nothing in 7 games with the Penguins.

Another shot? I'd say no

Zach Boychuk is on waivers again today from the Penguins

we were all disappointed when we missed out on him, and he did nothing in 7 games with the Penguins.

Another shot? I'd say no
- jimbro83

I don't think he would be an upgrade over halpern.

I don't think he would be an upgrade over halpern.
- envyonthecoast

Two different players. Halpern is a good fourth line center fit, in that he can kill penalties and is good in the faceoff circle. A guy like Boychuck is probably a top 9 nine or bust player, and when two organization have given up on you within a matter of a couple of weeks, that is probably a pretty bad sign for your career.

I have actually liked Halpern lately.

I'd like a good second period from everyone, including Hank.

It's definitely been our worst period of late.

The formula has been to come out like gang busters, take a bad penalty that kills our mojo, play a dreadful second period, and then play with urgency in the 3rd period.

60 minutes you phuckers
- jimbro83

Here is the problem with the second period, in my opinion. Last year and this year, the Rangers can sometimes have trouble getting the puck deep for line changes. In the 1st and 3rd periods, it's not much of a problem because the bench is right there. It becomes a problem in the 2nd because of the long change. It seems that a few times each game I see a defensive pair get stuck out for an extended shift because the puck wasn't dumped in deep enough to get a full change. That's ususally when the Rangers get themselves in trouble. It's not the whole problem, but I think it contributes to their weak 2nd periods.

Two different players. Halpern is a good fourth line center fit, in that he can kill penalties and is good in the faceoff circle. A guy like Boychuck is probably a top 9 nine or bust player, and when two organization have given up on you within a matter of a couple of weeks, that is probably a pretty bad sign for your career.

I have actually liked Halpern lately.
- Pete V

I've liked him most of the season. I've seen some haters on here and I just don't know why (maybe someone can enlighten me?). Halpern is a much better skater than I thought he'd be at his age. I have absolutel no problem with Halpern as our 4th line center. He seems to be getting more and more comfortable with his role for this team.

I've liked him most of the season. I've seen some haters on here and I just don't know why (maybe someone can enlighten me?). Halpern is a much better skater than I thought he'd be at his age. I have absolutel no problem with Halpern as our 4th line center. He seems to be getting more and more comfortable with his role for this team.
- gravey914

I've fallen into the logic at some points, but its most likely due to people wanting top level talent on all four lines.

I've fallen into the logic at some points, but its most likely due to people wanting top level talent on all four lines.
- envyonthecoast

In today's salary cap NHL, all I want from the fourth line is good, serviceable players that can do some other things (i.e., penalty kill, faceoffs, the occassional energy shift, et.). It would simply cost too much to have top level talent on all four lines, so guys like Powe and Halpern are fine with me. Indeed, the current fourth line reminds me a little of the days when the Rangers had Betts and Sjostrom on the fourth line.

In today's salary cap NHL, all I want from the fourth line is good, serviceable players that can do some other things (i.e., penalty kill, faceoffs, the occassional energy shift, et.). It would simply cost too much to have top level talent on all four lines, so guys like Powe and Halpern are fine with me. Indeed, the current fourth line reminds me a little of the days when the Rangers had Betts and Sjostrom on the fourth line.
- Pete V

That's exactly my feeling. I know his offensive stats are pretty much at a career low right now, but look at who he's been playing with. He does his job as far as I'm concerned. The line of Asham-Halpern-Powe was starting to look like a decent checking line before Asham got hurt. It was getting to the point where Torts was basically rolling four lines, which he never does. That says something about those guys.

In today's salary cap NHL, all I want from the fourth line is good, serviceable players that can do some other things (i.e., penalty kill, faceoffs, the occassional energy shift, et.). It would simply cost too much to have top level talent on all four lines, so guys like Powe and Halpern are fine with me. Indeed, the current fourth line reminds me a little of the days when the Rangers had Betts and Sjostrom on the fourth line.
- Pete V

Definately. I feel, though, as times get hard a lot of fans just focus stats (numbers) alone and don't put each players role in perspective. As I stated earlier, I have fallen in this thought process out of sheer frustration.

I, too, have been a fan of the Powe acquistion and eventhough we lost some size (in Rupp), we were able to bring more energy to the bottom 6. Halpern has been servicable through out the season and has not been a glaring liability when called upon.

Zach Boychuk is on waivers again today from the Penguins

we were all disappointed when we missed out on him, and he did nothing in 7 games with the Penguins.

Another shot? I'd say no
- jimbro83

Sounds like a Garth Snow grab to me.

All those top draft picks and he has built a waiver wire team.

Definately. I feel, though, as times get hard a lot of fans just focus stats (numbers) alone and don't put each players role in perspective. As I stated earlier, I have fallen in this thought process out of sheer frustration.

I, too, have been a fan of the Powe acquistion and eventhough we lost some size (in Rupp), we were able to bring more energy to the bottom 6. Halpern has been servicable through out the season and has not been a glaring liability when called upon.
- envyonthecoast

Numbers-wise, Halpern as been good for 15-20 pts in recent seasons. So figure 5-10 pts for him this season, maybe. It's just unrealistic to expect big offensive numbers from the guy.

Definately. I feel, though, as times get hard a lot of fans just focus stats (numbers) alone and don't put each players role in perspective. As I stated earlier, I have fallen in this thought process out of sheer frustration.

I, too, have been a fan of the Powe acquistion and eventhough we lost some size (in Rupp), we were able to bring more energy to the bottom 6. Halpern has been servicable through out the season and has not been a glaring liability when called upon.
- envyonthecoast

Thank God we were able to get anything for Rupp, turns out we got a solid Torts type of guy in Powe we needed, a la Mitchell last year.

Asham is really wearing on me with his groin. This is just the type of game we need him for & he's out AGAIN! At least Philly traded the hair puller so there's 1 less goon on the Flyers. Still, Stu better be ready to go tonight.

ESPN SN Question:
"What do you make of the Sabres' Patrick Kaleta's five-game suspension for his hit on the Rangers' Rick Nash?"

ESPN SN Question:
"What do you make of the Sabres' Patrick Kaleta's five-game suspension for his hit on the Rangers' Rick Nash?"
- envyonthecoast

I'm glad that Wayne Gretzky suspended him.

ESPN SN Question:
"What do you make of the Sabres' Patrick Kaleta's five-game suspension for his hit on the Rangers' Rick Nash?"
- envyonthecoast

My god they suck

My god they suck
- mrhattrick27

Well, the Rangers only have two players (according to ESPN)... Rick Nash and Lundqvist.

Thank God we were able to get anything for Rupp, turns out we got a solid Torts type of guy in Powe we needed, a la Mitchell last year.

Asham is really wearing on me with his groin. This is just the type of game we need him for & he's out AGAIN! At least Philly traded the hair puller so there's 1 less goon on the Flyers. Still, Stu better be ready to go tonight.
- B2B76

The that Fourth Line has been so much better since that trade. While not providing much in the way of offense , both of those guys skate hard and are noticeable on the ice and do little things to help this team.