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Monday, February 20, 2012

Stepanwolf Hunts Down Extra Point in Overtime, Rangers Hold On To Victory


Star of Anise takes flight after a tie-breaker tally when the Rangers failed to convert on a long 5 on 3 PP

MSG Network is back on television so the Brigade can continue--Thank You Jeremy Lin. Do you think this letter affected the stalemate at all? Haha I was at the game against Columbus last night (to scout Nash) and let me tell you, the best player on the ice...was Michael Del Zotto. I love where this kid's game is heading right now, though I've been a supporter for the last 3 seasons. He's tougher this year, more disciplined, and is showing signs of another impressive Rangers' offensive defenseman, cup-winner Sergei Zubov. Aside from dominating the Overtime sesh, MdZ was a beast all game and also dominated the last shift of the 2nd period where he broke up 2 plays in the defensive zone then sprinted into the rush as the 3rd man high with Step and Cally and "scored" on Mason, even though it "didn't count". Apparently the MSG network clock and the MSG arena clock were not synced so even though everyone saw the puck in the net with .1 of a second remaining, the official clock was at 0.0. No goal.

Rick Nash--True story, before we signed Richards, Nash was the big signing/trade I hoped the Rangers would make. He's big, a sniper, low-maintenance (ego-wise, not contract wise) and has fantastic numbers against Henrik Lundqvist, which is my measuring stick of how good a player is in the NHL. If you remember Nick Antropov I would say Nash is similar in that they are 2 big players with sniper hands. Nash is definitely much better, but there was something recognizable about Antropov's ease when sniping on the powerplay that is undeniable. Some players have it, others never will. Antropov has it. Nash has bundles more of it. Who would turn him down? The answer is probably no one, but the more important question is what do I have to give up to get him? With the way the Rangers are playing for each other this year, it's hard to say you'd give up anyone. Dubinsky is obviously a name that is being thrown around. He held out to sign a bigger contract and has only put up 6 goals this year. If you could trade one for one with Columbus, sure it would be crazy not to pull the trigger. The thing is, Columbus would be crazy to settle for Dubinsky, even if they like him. Watching the game last night it was clear that Columbus has no one. Jeff Carter is practically invisible, Prospal and Vermette are non-factors. Nash is the franchise. So to take Dubinsky (with his 6 goals and most likely bitter attitude) is a horrible move for the Jackets. To unload Nash they need to get a huge package in return because they'll have to rebuild. And if you're Columbus, you'd like to rebuild with some of the prize Ranger possessions like Del Zotto, McDonagh, Step, Hagelin, or some of their 1st round picks like Kreider or JT Miller.

I wasn't wildly impressed with Nash last night, despite the PP goal to tie the game--which I admit, was clutch. I've been way more impressed with him in past tilts against the Rangers (his hat trick against Lundqvist last year comes to mind, his breakaway dominance in particular.) To be fair, I wasn't impressed with Dubinsky either. I thought he would've met the rumors head-on by going out there and nailing Nash on his first shift (but it was actually Captain Cally who did that)--making a statement that he deserves to be here for this postseason. But instead he looked nervous, timid, and probably affected by all the trade talks. Also he missed a wide open chance in front in the 3rd period and kind of blew the coverage on Nash on the game tying goal. Still, I like Dubi--he's not the most talented player, but he has heart and he works hard. But I think his days as a new york ranger are unfortunately numbered. And that probably wouldn't be the case if he had 20 goals right now, but he has 6. Open season, my dude. Sorry.

One thing that concerns me about jumping for big fish at the deadline is in the last 10 or 15 years can you remember one blockbuster deal at the deadline that led to a Stanley Cup? No. It's all role players. The expectation that comes with a blockbuster deal can backfire big time, but on the other hand, the Rangers have a set identity, so in a way, Nash is like a role player. If we can make the deal with minimal damage to our roster (current or future) it's a smart move, but it sucked to hear "We Don't Want Him" chants last night from the Garden Faithful when a main reason for our success this year has been our improved home record. Still, that would change if Nash puts up numbers.

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Dear Time Warner Cable, The Dolan Family and MSG Network Executives:

FUCK YOU!!!





YOU FAT, CORPORATE SCUM, GREEDY EVIL BASTARDS MAKE ME SICK. YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT YOUR CUSTOMERS, YOU JUST CARE ABOUT SQUEEZING AS MANY DOLLARS OUT OF HARD-WORKING PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE. I HAVE PUT UP WITH EXACTLY 31 DAYS--1 MONTH!!--OF RANGER GAMES BEING BLACKED OUT WHILE YOU "NEGOTIATE" THIS CONTRACT AND THAT IS AN ABSOLUTE DISGRACE. THE RANGERS ARE IN 1ST PLACE! I LIVE IN NYC! DENYING YOUR OWN CUSTOMERS ACCESS TO THEIR LOCAL TEAM AS A MEANS TO LEVERAGE POWER IN A TELEVISION CONTRACT DISPUTE IS PATHETIC AND INSULTING. I HOPE YOUR ENTIRE INFRASTRUCTURE CRUMBLES TO ONLINE PIRACY AND FREE STREAMING. YOU WILL HAVE NO ONE TO BLAME BUT YOURSELVES YOU MISERABLE, FAT SACK, BLOODSUCKERS.

WHAT IS ALMOST WORSE THAN PULLING THE MSG NETWORK DURING THIS DEBACLE IS SENDING OUT LETTERS AND EMAILS AND PLACING ADVERTISEMENTS STATING THAT YOU "ARE SPORTS FANS TOO" AND YOU "EMPATHIZE WITH THE FRUSTRATING PREDICAMENT OF YOUR CUSTOMERS". I AM A RANGERS FAN. YOUR CUSTOMERS IN NYC ARE SPORTS FANS. YOU CLEARLY ARE NOT. SO AS FAR AS IM CONCERNED WE HAVE NOTHING IN COMMON. IN FACT I HOPE YOU ROT IN THE PITS OF YOUR SOULLESS HELL AND YOUR CHILDREN GROW UP UNRELENTINGLY ASHAMED OF YOU.

TAKE YOUR POWER TRIP AND SHOVE IT UP YOUR ASS

SINCERELY,
RICH BAIOCCO

FAITHFUL BLUESHIRT FAN

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

The Gang Gets Classic


B. Radical:: Clutch


What a game! So many great storylines:

24/7 buildup.

Tight standings between these 2 teams.

Staal's return.

Rupp ribs Jagr with some gamesmanship antics.

Jagr injured in the 2nd period.

Dubi and Cally combine for 21 HITS!

Richards proves he is a clutch performer (actually he's been doing that all year, doubters...6 GWGs. Leads the league)

Lundqvist stops a penalty shot with 19 seconds remaining in the game.

Bottom line: Our jerseys were better. Our team identity was stronger. Our goaltending was more secure. And we battled through the elements and 'disgusting' officiating to score 3 unanswered goals on the road for the win.

Turning Point of the game: Mike Rupp responds to the Flyers 2-0 lead late in the 2nd by firing a wristshot past Bobrovsky's blocker on a nice dish from Prust. The timing of this play was clutch as the Flyers were beginning to pour it on with 2 quick goals in the second after Lundqvist made key breakaway saves on both Giroux and Jagr in the first.


Rupper notched the tying goal early in the 3rd, catching Bobrovsky leaning and sneaking a hard snapper short side off his elbow and into the net. Don't let his 4th line status fool you, Rupp is a big game player. This was his 2nd Winter Classic and, oh yeah, he scored the cup clinching goal for the Devils in 2003.


And of course it comes down to Lundqvist, who stood his ground against the always dangerous Danny Briere. You know Hank was thinking of payback after that game 82 shootout loss two seasons ago to Philly. Not this year. Bow to the King.

On the officiating towards the end of the game--of course the league wanted overtime. Especially with the home team having a chance to tie it up. I couldn't believe the Callahan call, I thought Capt was going to charge that ref straight through the boards. Holding the stick? Oh you mean wrenching it free from his clavicle? Sure. The actual penalty shot call was close. I thought McDonagh punched at the puck rather than close his hand on it, but whatever. We sustained the onslaught and earned the 2 points. Victory hasn't tasted sweeter for this club!

Great event overall, even though it would've made better sense from a marketing perspective to have the game at Yankee Stadium, which is a much more historic ballpark than Citizen's Bank. I guess the Steinbrenner's wanted college football instead. Must've thought it would be a bigger draw. Rutgers? doubt it.

**My pick for next year's Winter Classic is St. Louis v. The Red Wings in Motown.**Let it be known. Leave your pick in the comment section.