John Jaeckel: Rangers At Hawks GameDay Preview

First....

Haven't watched much of NYR, but is Lundqvist starting to slow down? Great goaltender, great career. He can still play top notch IMO.

Joe, quote function isn't working, but as to your question about Lundqvist he has been average at best this year, maybe even worse in some people's eyes. Lately he has been outplayed by Raanta, your former third string keeper. Whether he is starting to slow down, who knows. He's been through slumps before and bounced back, so I guess we shall see.

The Rangers are real banged up right now, missing Nash, Vesey, Buchnevich and Zibanajed from the lineup last night. A lot of Hartford Wolfpack players will be in the Rangers lineup tonight. But, it happens, just have to find away to battle through it.

Hopefully it will be a good game tonight.

No Crawford.
No Toews.
No Seabrook.

Playing a Top 2-3 Eastern team.

This is "Gut-check" time. Win or lose, let's see if we can put in a 60 minute effort and see who steps up during a tough time to be a difference maker.

Anisimov is a guy I think can be a key guy. Can't wait to watch this game. Hope Hawks make it worth watching!!!!

Joe, quote function isn't working, but as to your question about Lundqvist he has been average at best this year, maybe even worse in some people's eyes. Lately he has been outplayed by Raanta, your former third string keeper. Whether he is starting to slow down, who knows. He's been through slumps before and bounced back, so I guess we shall see.

The Rangers are real banged up right now, missing Nash, Vesey, Buchnevich and Zibanajed from the lineup last night. A lot of Hartford Wolfpack players will be in the Rangers lineup tonight. But, it happens, just have to find away to battle through it.

Hopefully it will be a good game tonight.
- Pete V

Pete. If you click the title of JJ's article at the top of the page. All quotes will work then.

Keith, Kane, Hossa, Hammer, Kruger...plenty of solid veteran leadership.

excited for the game, but honestly think NY comes away with this one. They've been playing some real good hockey this year. Hawks have a chance of course, but I think the Rags offense will prevail.

6-3 Rangers.

Keith, Kane, Hossa, Hammer, Kruger...plenty of solid veteran leadership.

excited for the game, but honestly think NY comes away with this one. They've been playing some real good hockey this year. Hawks have a chance of course, but I think the Rags offense will prevail.

6-3 Rangers.
- BlazinMike

not sure about that but should be a good one nonetheless as it always is when we meet.

rangers have really slowed of late, and are now (like the hawks) hit with the injury bug with a significant number of forwards out.

i have a feeling raanta goes again tonight for the rags

not sure about that but should be a good one nonetheless as it always is when we meet.

rangers have really slowed of late, and are now (like the hawks) hit with the injury bug with a significant number of forwards out.

i have a feeling raanta goes again tonight for the rags
- NYRangers1124

NO chance!!! Rangers will have the KING in to face the "powerful" Hawks. This is no game for playing the back-up. I would be shocked if Lundqvist didn't start this one!!!

NO chance!!! Rangers will have the KING in to face the "powerful" Hawks. This is no game for playing the back-up. I would be shocked if Lundqvist didn't start this one!!!
- hawk35

i mean if hank is in nobody including me would be shocked but rannta is hot. sometimes, you stick with the hot hand.

So anyone else kind of disappointed in this season overall?

Not just from a hawks perspective but from the NHL on the whole. There haven't been a lot of excellent games except for when Austin Matthews went gang busters in the first few games of the year. Otherwise, its been relatively boring monotonous hockey with the diluted talent pool and plethora of injuries.

Dare I say the league would be better off with 8 teams that were a hell of a lot of fun to watch compared to this?

Anyway, Hossa two transition goals the other night and demolishing everything less then the other teams top line. Remember that one time someone said getting Hossa away from that worn out cycle stuff wrist shot from the half boards would get him goals?

No Crawford.
No Toews.
No Seabrook.

Playing a Top 2-3 Eastern team.

This is "Gut-check" time. Win or lose, let's see if we can put in a 60 minute effort and see who steps up during a tough time to be a difference maker.

Anisimov is a guy I think can be a key guy. Can't wait to watch this game. Hope Hawks make it worth watching!!!!
- hawk35

I thought I read Toews would play against us or is that at MSG?

I thought I read Toews would play against us or is that at MSG?
- KreiderBomb

Ruled OUT for tonight, Sunday iffy....

So anyone else kind of disappointed in this season overall?

Not just from a hawks perspective but from the NHL on the whole. There haven't been a lot of excellent games except for when Austin Matthews went gang busters in the first few games of the year. Otherwise, its been relatively boring monotonous hockey with the diluted talent pool and plethora of injuries.

Dare I say the league would be better off with 8 teams that were a hell of a lot of fun to watch compared to this?

Anyway, Hossa two transition goals the other night and demolishing everything less then the other teams top line. Remember that one time someone said getting Hossa away from that worn out cycle stuff wrist shot from the half boards would get him goals?


- fattybeef

Nope. And Nope. Respectfully disagree. I've really enjoyed this season, I just wish the whole league would stay healthy.

Living in northern NJ I have tv access to every Ranger game and trust me they are very good, especially on offense. Very fast and very accurate shooters. Darling has to stand tall and the Hawks will need to play their best 2-way game to come out with points tonight.

Personally I would like to beat the Rangers more than any other team because they have consistently gotten the better of the Hawks off the ice recently. Beating us out for Hayes and Vesey, and picking our pocket in the Ranta for Mashinter trade really annoys the hell out of me. I'm hoping for a win but, honestly, I'm not very optimistic. I think the Rangers are just a better team right now.

Living in northern NJ I have tv access to every Ranger game and trust me they are very good, especially on offense. Very fast and very accurate shooters. Darling has to stand tall and the Hawks will need to play their best 2-way game to come out with points tonight.

Personally I would like to beat the Rangers more than any other team because they have consistently gotten the better of the Hawks off the ice recently. Beating us out for Hayes and Vesey, and picking our pocket in the Ranta for Mashinter trade really annoys the hell out of me. I'm hoping for a win but, honestly, I'm not very optimistic. I think the Rangers are just a better team right now.
- garacat

Agreed. Especially with the injuries. A fair bit better IMO. Yes, Nash and Vesey may be out. But compared to the impact of Toews, Seabrook and Crawford all out....not even close. Darling will have to steal this one, and a scorer or two will need to emerge....

Don't forget about the Hawks' former 1st round draft pick who also spurned StanBo as an NCAA UFA....Kevin Hayes (11G, 9A in 28 GP). Any word on the specific injury Seabrook sustained? Back? Concussion?

Anybody have access to Scott Powers article : 10 observations from Rockford Ice Hogs ?

Don't forget about the Hawks' former 1st round draft pick who also spurned StanBo as an NCAA UFA....Kevin Hayes (11G, 9A in 28 GP). Any word on the specific injury Seabrook sustained? Back? Concussion?
- EnzoD

Hey Enzo...gotta be the noggin. If you saw the play from the other night Seabs' head really hit hard when he went down. Didn't look good.

Sad to report this morning another passing of one of the greats - Greg Lake from ELP gone at 69. Greg of course also one of the founders of King Crimson as well. RIP sir.

that was a huge bummer. I think him and Vesey played together before New York. Maybe part of the reason he chose there.
Just imagine if this team had both of those guys on it

Hey Enzo...gotta be the noggin. If you saw the play from the other night Seabs' head really hit hard when he went down. Didn't look good.

Sad to report this morning another passing of one of the greats - Greg Lake from ELP gone at 69. Greg of course also one of the founders of King Crimson as well. RIP sir.
- DK002

Drag! All that's left from that band is the yute, Carl Palmer.

RIP Greg

Joe, quote function isn't working, but as to your question about Lundqvist he has been average at best this year, maybe even worse in some people's eyes. Lately he has been outplayed by Raanta, your former third string keeper. Whether he is starting to slow down, who knows. He's been through slumps before and bounced back, so I guess we shall see.

The Rangers are real banged up right now, missing Nash, Vesey, Buchnevich and Zibanajed from the lineup last night. A lot of Hartford Wolfpack players will be in the Rangers lineup tonight. But, it happens, just have to find away to battle through it.

Hopefully it will be a good game tonight.
- Pete V

I saw him in person a couple of weeks ago in Columbus and he gave up 2 incredibly soft goals and one that was trending that way. One game, but that was the worst I had ever seen him play.

So anyone else kind of disappointed in this season overall?

Not just from a hawks perspective but from the NHL on the whole. There haven't been a lot of excellent games except for when Austin Matthews went gang busters in the first few games of the year. Otherwise, its been relatively boring monotonous hockey with the diluted talent pool and plethora of injuries.

Dare I say the league would be better off with 8 teams that were a hell of a lot of fun to watch compared to this?

Anyway, Hossa two transition goals the other night and demolishing everything less then the other teams top line. Remember that one time someone said getting Hossa away from that worn out cycle stuff wrist shot from the half boards would get him goals?


- fattybeef

Season/league overall? No, because of the influx of significant young talent. I also sense some of the "world order" of the league starting to shift, which leads me to the Hawks . . .

Where I think if they don't get healthy pretty quickly this whole thing could be an epic poop storm before too long. A good game tonight would provide significant hope, but I am conversely not getting terribly high over the AZ win either. And before that, they weren't exactly ripping it up for a while.

Haven't watched much of NYR, but is Lundqvist starting to slow down? Great goaltender, great career. He can still play top notch IMO.
-93Joe

He is still a pretty damn good goalie, but at least this year (and tail end of last year) he no longer looks like the unbeatable brick wall he once was

Was really looking forward to tonights game and got tickets long ago especially since I lived in NY for 9 years and was born and raised in Chicago

Sucks both teams are hit with so many injuries right now and this came I think could be a blowout either way with so many key guys out