New York Rangers

P.A. Perfect?

October 18, 2011

The New York Islanders headed into the season with some question marks surrounding the roster. P.A. Parenteau, who had played nicely along side John Tavares and Matt Moulson in 2011, was a player who had plenty of fingers pointed at him on Isles message boards and blogs during the off-season as someone who could be replaced.

With fans wanting more offense coming from their top line, P.A. was someone that many felt could be dropped to the lower lines or even traded, despite putting up 20 goals and 53 points in his first full season in the NHL. But so far he has done plenty to silence even the harshest of critics.

In four games with the Islanders, Parenteau has registered one go...

Rangers Through Three

October 16, 2011

Glen Miller

3 Comments

Usually I like to be as original and creative as possible both when naming and deciding on a theme for a blog post. Sometimes though it is just better to keep it simple. That's the case here.

I can't tell you how many "good, bad and ugly" style posts I've read before but that is the perfect theme for today's blog.

I waited until today to post anything on the Rangers start since the first two "regular season" games in Europe felt more like an extension of the exhibition season than the stat of the regular one. Now the club is back in North America and have a game under their belts in the States. So, let's do a little good, bad and u...

Thoughts on Staal, Simmonds and Avery

October 1, 2011

Glen Miller

1 Comment

The Marc Staal situation is still no clearer today than it was weeks ago. At this point he is still in the States practicing with the Rangers AHL affiliate in Connecticut while his teammates are continuing the exhibition season in Europe. The question is when will Staal be ready to play.

Obviously the Rangers need Staal if they expect to challenge for the Atlantic Division crown. Given how much he plays against the opposition's best, a lengthy absence will force the Blueshirts to use inferior or more inexperienced defenders to counter some of the most skilled players in the league. For a team that relies so heavily on playing good defensively not having Staal in the lineup is a ...

Round 1: Rangers vs. Flyers (Things might get Messy)

September 27, 2011

Matthew Brigidi

4 Comments

For a game that was scheduled at the end of September, Monday night’s Flyers-Rangers bout would have been better served as a game that took place at the end of April. But regardless of the date on the calendar, Philadelphia’s 5-3 victory over New York was a preview to the kind of animosity that will be brewing between the two teams prior to January’s Winter Classic.

Finally, Winter Classic is Officially Official

September 26, 2011

Matthew Brigidi

2 Comments

“On behalf of the NHL I am pleased to finally announce that on January 2nd at 1 pm the 2012 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic will be played here, at Citizens Bank Park by the Philadelphia Flyers and the New York Rangers” Commissioner Gary Bettman told reporters. “Hopefully it will be easier to put on […] then it was to put on this event.”

Commissioner Bettman was also able to confirm that the ancillary project “24/7” would be produced for a second consecutive season by HBO. Last year’s show gave viewers a behind-the-scenes look at the players lives leading up to the 2011 Winter Classic.

Hockey Is Here At Last

September 15, 2011

Glen Miller

1 Comment

The air is changing. There is a crispness to it that can only mean summer is ending, fall is coming and hockey is right around the corner. And that's a great thing.

Forgive my absence of late. Bears hibernate in the winter and sometimes my brain does the same in late summer. Let's face it; there isn't much going on in the NHL in August and my creative spark can be a fickle thing. But beginning with the Traverse City Prospects tournament, my motivation has returned.

Let's start with some recent developments in Ranger-Land.

Cally Is Captain

Duh! Was there really any question Cally was going to get the "C" sewn on his sweater? Everyone in the...

Jay Pandolfo Gets Tryout With Islanders

September 3, 2011

Rob McGowan

0 Comments

The New York Islanders announced today that former New Jersey Devils forward Jay Pandolfo will be attending the Isles training camp on a tryout basis. Pandolfo's tryout is likely in the hopes of him earning a roster spot with either the Islanders or another NHL organization.

The 36-year old left wing has spent his entire 14-year NHL career with the New Jersey Devils and has won two Stanley Cups after being drafted in the second round at 32nd overall of the 1993 Entry Draft. Last year he played 12 games with the Springfield Falcons of the AHL.

If Pandolfo were to crack the Islanders line-up, he would have to earn it as the Islanders already appear to be set at forward...

Evaluating Overtime (Part One)

August 9, 2011

Matthew Brigidi

7 Comments

The NHL's current rules regarding overtime and shootouts were implemented to improve the game of hockey. However, the rules have presented some issues of their own. This is part one of a two-part look at some steps the NHL could take in order to make overtime/shootouts less controversial.

The NHL’s current overtime system was put into place in 2005-06 when the shootout was added onto the five-minute, 4-on-4 overtime period that was originally debuted in 1999-2000. In the current system, teams receive a point for getting to overtime, then earn an additional point if they score in overtime or win the shootout.

But the system didn’t always operate th...

Top 10 must-see games on the 2011-12 Chicago Blackhawks schedule

August 1, 2011

Hockeybroad

0 Comments

As the days march on towards Opening Night, and the bulk of trades and free agency acquisitions have been completed; the Draft and prospect camps are over; and the opening of Training Camps are still a few weeks away; as the weeks left until the new season drop into the single digits, there's one date circled on every fan's calendar to make it through the August doldrums: the date that their team's tickets go on sale. The Chicago Blackhawks have plenty of exciting matchups to choose from this year.

Five years ago, getting 14,000 fans in the seats at the United Center would've been considered a special night. Now, after three h...

We're All Islanders: Reasons For Voting Yes

July 30, 2011

Rob McGowan

1 Comment

I originally lived in Brooklyn, NY, which for those of you outside of New York is not very far from New York City, Madison Square Garden and the New York Rangers. I lived in Brooklyn as a kid for most of the 90's but couldn't tell you a damn thing about hockey. My closest friend and his father were die hard Rangers fans so every now and then I used to see a game on TV, especially when they were in the playoffs. But still, I couldn't say I knew much. Only when I went to my friends house would I pick up a plastic stick and fool around with a ball in his driveway, but other than that, the game of hockey was a complete unknown.

I moved to Long Island with my family in 1996. ...