Jan Levine: Game 77: NYR 3 VAN 1, St. Louis Gets 1st as Ranger But Focus Is On McDonagh
St. Louis gets his first as a Ranger, but only concern is McDonagh's status

Jan Levine: Game 77: NYR 3 VAN 1, St. Louis Gets 1st as Ranger But Focus Is On McDonagh
St. Louis gets his first as a Ranger, but only concern is McDonagh's status
- airjan23

Good blog Jan. Thought the game analysis was spot on. Lundqvist played really well. Seems the day off did him a lot of good. It was need. Cammalleri's goal in Calhary doesn't go in if Hank isn't a little fatigued. He save the team last night, especially during the 2nd period. (Wanted to talk about something other than Mcdonagh-Burrows)

Hopefully the word on McDonagh is good. Good game though and the boys are rolling. Is that 7 wins in the last 8 now?

edit: Just re-read the blog and yes it is 7 wins int he last 8

Good Game and good luck the rest of the way. Very decent team this year.

Good blog Jan. Thought the game analysis was spot. Lundqvist played really well. Seems the day off did him a lot of good. It was need. Cammalleri's goal in Calhary doesn't go in if Hank isn't a little fatigued. He save the team last night, especially during the 2nd period. (Wanted to talk about something other than Mcdonagh-Burrows)
- tomburton99

The one point that really can't be understated is the Rangers bottom six is more productive than most teams, including many of the teams in the playoffs, with the exception of Boston. This bodes very well, given how our top four has the ability to shut down the other team's best players (unless Mac is out of course, then disregard that last part)

The one point that really can't be understated is the Rangers bottom six is more productive than most teams, including many of the teams in the playoffs, with the exception of Boston. This bodes very well, given how our top four has the ability to shut down the other team's best players (unless Mac is out of course, then disregard that last part)
- Blueshirts4ever

What we have been saying for a while. The Devils and Bruins fourth lines cost the Rangers in the playoffs the past two seasons. This year, they now have a fourth line that can complete and a third that is really their first.

The one point that really can't be understated is the Rangers bottom six is more productive than most teams, including many of the teams in the playoffs, with the exception of Boston. This bodes very well, given how our top four has the ability to shut down the other team's best players (unless Mac is out of course, then disregard that last part)
- Blueshirts4ever

Agreed. That's why I don't understand the hate for Boyle that much anymore. The dude has killer chemistry with his linemates, historically raises his game in the playoffs, adds much needed size to our relatively small team, and is our best PKer.

Speaking of the PK...why were Nash and MSL out there at the same time? Was it the middle of a linechange or did AV do that on purpose? I love Nash on the PK though. He's defensively responsible and is extremely dangerous short-handed.

Kassian would have tuned Carcillo.

Kassian would have tuned Carcillo.
- Scooby_Doo

Kassian would have tuned literally any player on our roster.

Kassian would have tuned Carcillo.
- Scooby_Doo

Carcillo already beat Vancouver to the tune of the 1st goal

I thought it was dirty, thats your best defenseman lying on the ice, Burrows should have been picking his teeth up. The second after that hit, a ranger should have been on him punching the poop out of him.

What we have been saying for a while. The Devils and Bruins fourth lines cost the Rangers in the playoffs the past two seasons. This year, they now have a fourth line that can complete and a third that is really their first.
- airjan23

Brian Boyle has very quietly had a solid season. Talk about ignoring numbers, just doing what he does, night in and night out, I know I am in the minority but I would like for him to come back. I asked last night, at what point do we consider the Brass line our top line? What a luxury it is for a coach to have a enough confidence in a line to also constitute your top PP unit.

And, I think Mike Babcock should get credit for giving AV a heads up that Nash was going to be used to kill penalties in Sochi, so as a courtesy and bc of the injury to Dorsett, he used him. He has been brilliant on the PK.

like how the team is rolling lately but would prefer miller back in

like how the team is rolling lately but would prefer miller back in
- webleedblue

Matter of trust right now. Carcillo stays within himself, he understands he is limited. Miller is highly skilled and athletic and probably tries to get away with things that might work in the "A" and at lower levels but gets exposed at the NHL level. This is exactly what Torts did with Kreider last season, I think we all have to accept this as part of his development.

Kesler and Sedin both thought they should have won the game, they must also think that Eddie Lack is a decent goaltender and they're gonna be in the playoffs, more dreams that aren't coming true

Carcillo already beat Vancouver to the tune of the 1st goal
- cranford93

And we thank him for that.

Jan Levine: Game 77: NYR 3 VAN 1, St. Louis Gets 1st as Ranger But Focus Is On McDonagh
St. Louis gets his first as a Ranger, but only concern is McDonagh's status
- airjan23

I don't believe the Rangers are not interested in sticking up for each other, they have no one other Carillo and Dorsett to go anyway. Once the playoffs start, and the Rinaldi's, Lucic's of the NHL world, begin banging the Rangers shift in, shift out, what will AV do? Nothing.

Matter of trust right now. Carcillo stays within himself, he understands he is limited. Miller is highly skilled and athletic and probably tries to get away with things that might work in the "A" and at lower levels but gets exposed at the NHL level. This is exactly what Torts did with Kreider last season, I think we all have to accept this as part of his development.
- Blueshirts4ever

I didn't really watch much of the game until the 3rd last night. What were the lines for most of the night? Moore was in the top 6 and Hags was with Nash and Stepan?

Moore can skate well and can fill-in for the top 6 more than any of the other guys on that 4th line IMO.

I don't believe the Rangers are not interested in sticking up for each other, they have no one other Carillo and Dorsett to go anyway. Once the playoffs start, and the Rinaldi's, Lucic's of the NHL world, begin banging the Rangers shift in, shift out, what will AV do? Nothing.
- OLDSCHOOL#6

Pretty bold statement. I like to think this team will stand up for each other when the time is really needed. But imagine if Girardi did drop the gloves and got injured? That would be beyond devastating.

Pretty bole?d statement. I like to think this team will stand up for each other when the time is really needed. But imagine if Girardi did drop the gloves and got injured? That would be beyond devastating.
- rangerdanger94

It doesn't matter if they stand up for one another. I'm not speaking about last night, although with Burrows being AV's boy, I'm not surprised nothing came of it. That said, my point is, hits like last night's on McDonagh will be common place once the playoffs start. What will the Rangers response be?

I didn't really watch much of the game until the 3rd last night. What were the lines for most of the night? Moore was in the top 6 and Hags was with Nash and Stepan?

Moore can skate well and can fill-in for the top 6 more than any of the other guys on that 4th line IMO.
- rangerdanger94

Hags-Step-Nash
BR-DMoore-MSL
Pouliot-Brass-Zucc
DD-Boyle-Car

The 3rd and 4th playing more like our 1st and 2nd and out 1st and 2nd are playing like our 3rd and 4th

It doesn't matter if they stand up for one another. I'm not speaking about last night, although with Burrows being AV's boy, I'm not surprised nothing came of it. That said, my point is, hits like last night's on McDonagh will be common place once the playoffs start. What will the Rangers response be?
- OLDSCHOOL#6

The best I can say is tune in April 16th or so and see. No way I can predict, but know your view on it already.

It doesn't matter if they stand up for one another. I'm not speaking about last night, although with Burrows being AV's boy, I'm not surprised nothing came of it. That said, my point is, hits like last night's on McDonagh will be common place once the playoffs start. What will the Rangers response be?
- OLDSCHOOL#6

This Rangers team is small and lacks any edge outside of Dorsett and Carcillo (who happen to be...small). The only true response the Rangers could have is to draw penalties on hits like that and make the opposition pay. If we score 2 or 3 powerplay goals against the Flyers after a couple goon hits, I guarantee their coach tells them the next person to take a dumb penalty on a cheap hit gets his ass stapled to the bench for the rest of series.

I've been watching the replay of the hit over and over. The angles make it fairly tough to see what happened. They go into the boards and Burrows does get his hands up. But, it wasn't a head injury, it is a shoulder/arm injury. Burrows stops skating when he gets to the circle, and his skates (at least the right one) don't leave the ice.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eseS0k41pqM

I'm not sure exactly how the injury happened, but Burrows was able to exert some pretty good force, and definitely came in high. As much as I am a Flyers fan, I hope McDonagh has no long-term effects.

This Rangers team is small and lacks any edge outside of Dorsett and Carcillo (who happen to be...small). The only true response the Rangers could have is to draw penalties on hits like that and make the opposition pay. If we score 2 or 3 powerplay goals against the Flyers after a couple goon hits, I guarantee their coach tells them the next person to take a dumb penalty on a cheap hit gets his ass stapled to the bench for the rest of series.
- rangerdanger94

Yes, that will most likely be their only plausible response.