In today's New York Post, Larry Brooks commented that the Rangers have no soul or identity. He was mirroring the Ranger Pundit who yesterday said the Rangers have neither the fortitude nor the talent for the playoffs. This dismal Ranger season has now come down to the last three games and they are against hated, desperate and hot teams. The Canadiens come into the Garden tomorrow night, followed by The Flyers on Thursday and then the finale against the Flyers in Philadelphia on Sunday. It will be the red hot Ranger nemisis, Alex Kovalev tomorrow night and the quintet of 20 plus goal scorers of the Flyers.
Who will step up for the Rangers? Let's face it. If Henrik Lundqvist doesn't step up and stand on his head the Rangers are doomed. John Tortorella's attempt to turn this defensive oriented, obsessed team into an uptempo fierce forechecking, high scoring unit has hit the wall of time. Time is running out on a team that has no killer instinct, has one of the worst power plays in the NHL, collapses in the third period and doesn't have one skater who can take over a tough game and turn it around. We have no one, except our goalie, who can carry a team.
We have 8th place because we have one more win than Florida. Florida has the Flyers and the Thrashers on the road and then finishes up with Washington at home. So there doesn't seem to be any favorite and its quite possible that both teams might blow all three and the Sabres could sneak in. But let's hope for the best and maybe someone else plus Lundqvist will step up. If not, I am sure we will have some repercussions maybe in the front office and maybe the Stealth GM. Is that too much to hope for? But for now, let's stay positive and maybe we can sweep the last three games or at least take two out of three, which I think should do it. Let's hope!
ICINGS:
Rangers Report:
Simply enough the staff that Glen Sather has fielded has not gotten the job done. Examples:Rangers = Mr. October?
Redden: Salary: 6.5 million Stats: 78 Games played with 3G 22A- 25 points. (I don’t need to say anything more)...
Gomez: Salary: 7.1 million Stats: 74 Games played with 16G 41A- 57 points. (For 7 million a year I need a lot more than 57 points and 16 goals...
Hockey Rodent:
Fact: On October 30, 2008, the Rangers were 10-2-1.
Fact: Since October 30, 2008, the Rangers are 30-28-8.
Do not be misled.
I'm saying that since October 30, 2008, the Rangers have lost six more games than they have won...
Larry has had some good reads this year - that one might have been one of his best. Nail on the head.
I just wish it wasn't the truth.
I think the reason Avery is so popular is that the rest of the team is so vanilla and milk-toast. No one says boo if they win or lose, or even phone it in. At least he has a pulse.
Why is it that I keep singing "It's all over now, Baby Blue?"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E06SoECIp1U
For this Ranger team, this lyric is the one with meaning:
"Strike another match, go start anew
And it's all over now, Baby Blue."
I'm going to go out n a limb here.
Do we really want to win? Honestly?
Let's say we win 2 of 3 and that is enough to get us 8th place. We play Boston. I know once you're in anything can happen, you just have to take it a game at a time. But, let's be honest, the form guide says we go out in 5 games.
We'll have made the playoffs, excuses will be made and we'll try to come back again next year. But, if we don't make the playoffs, surely there is a chance (no matter how slim) that the big changes we've all been praying for might just become reality?
I still want them to win. In this world of uncertainty, one constant in my life is that I want the Rangers to win every game they play.
And the chips can fall whichever way they may after that.
Let's Go Rangers!! Stick it to the Habs!!..(please?)